Into the Macabre: Tracing the Echoes of Dark Tourism and Fandom with Simon McFadden

In this episode, we dive into Dr Jackie Clarke and Dr David Bowen's recent and award winning (Winner of the Elsevier Award for Best Paper Award, Journal of Destination Marketing & Management.) paper on repeat tourists and the formation of familiar places. We'll explore the concepts of conversion, inheritance, and discovery in destination marketing, revealing how repeat visits shape our travel experiences. Join us for a fascinating discussion on the dynamics of tourism and the creation of cherished travel destinations. With special thanks to The British Academy and Leverhulme Trust for supporting this research study through the Small Research Grant Scheme. You can explore Jackie’s wider work on her staff profile: https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/jackie-clarke

In this episode of Oxford Brookes Unscripted, we sit down with Dr. Marion Waite, Professor Vanessa Heaslip, and Dr. Louise Stayt to explore the ethical and human dimensions of digital nursing. At the frontline of digital transformation, our guests reflect on identity, inclusion, and the evolving role of technology in care. From the impact of social media on professional identity to the risks of excluding vulnerable populations in digital service design, the episode unpacks how nurses navigate a rapidly changing healthcare landscape. Drawing on their co-authored book chapter, the team calls for more inclusive, ethical, and user-informed approaches to digital innovation. Their message is clear: one size does not fit all, and nurses must have a seat at the digital table.

In this special episode of Oxford Brookes Unscripted, we speak with Erkin Kurtoglu – a former co-host of this very podcast – whose PhD research explores how artists navigate regeneration, gentrification, and displacement in the post-industrial city. Drawing on in-depth analysis and immersive fieldwork, Erkin introduces us to two London neighbourhoods at different stages of transformation, unpacking what he calls the Artists’ Feedback Loop and his newly coined concept of passive artwashing. We explore how artists are often the first to settle in abandoned industrial spaces, inadvertently driving up cultural capital – and eventually, rents. But when the regeneration machine moves in, these same artists are displaced. Erkin highlights the difference between council estate regeneration and post-industrial contexts, offering a new framework rooted in stakeholder collaboration and grassroots activism. If you're interested in urban sociology or gentrification studies, this episode offers a compelling deep dive into the tensions and possibilities shaping the transformation of post-industrial neighbourhoods. To find out more about his research, visit Erkin’s profile on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erkin-kurtoglu/

In this episode, we speak with Dr Bryan Tang, Educational Projects Manager at Think Through Nutrition and KTP Associate at Oxford Brookes University, about the critical role of nutrition in prisons. Bryan shares insights from TTN, OBU and Ministry of Justice nutrition pilot, which uses LANAH – a virtual nutrition education platform – to support healthier eating and better rehabilitation outcomes behind bars. We explore the barriers to better prison food, the challenges of driving change in the system, and why this work is changing how we think about food, health, and hope in the justice system. You can explore more about this project at: https://thinkthroughnutrition.org

Oxford Brookes PhD Student in Psychology, Shannon Skeffington and her project supervisor Dr Adam Lonsdale explore how our relationship with music changes as we age. While younger people often gravitate towards energetic genres, research shows that as we grow older, we tend to prefer more relaxing styles like classical and jazz. Additionally, our overall engagement with music declines over time, potentially due to busier lifestyles and a reduced need for emotional expression through music. Join us as we dive into the findings of a new study that investigates music preferences across a wider age range and seeks to uncover the factors behind this shift in music engagement. You can find out about Shannon’s and Adam’s work here: https://sites.google.com/brookes.ac.uk/music-across-the-lifespan/home

In this thought-provoking episode, PhD researcher Kam Zeb delves into the rich symbolism of dragons in mid-19th to early 20th century literature - and how these mythical beings challenge our understanding of what it means to be human. Drawing on posthumanist theory, Kam explores dragons as complex figures that blur the boundaries between nature, technology, morality and identity. From Siegfried’s blood-soaked metamorphosis to mechanical dragons of the modern age, this conversation invites listeners to rethink humanity’s place in the world - and imagine a more connected future. Correction: When discussing Beowulf, Kam said that the word 'geniwad' was a hapax, but he has since discovered that it is actually a triplex - used twice in the form geniwod and one as geniwad.

What is it like to navigate university as an autistic student? In this episode of Unscripted, we talk with PhD student Ali Hutchin on the experiences, challenges, and successes of autistic students in higher education. We discuss the barriers they face, the support systems that make a difference, and how universities can foster a more inclusive learning environment. Through personal stories and expert insights, we highlight the importance of understanding neurodiversity in academia and what can be done to create a more accessible and empowering university experience. You can explore this work wider by visiting Autistica.co.uk

In the second part of our conversation on patient and public involvement (PPI), Professor Jo Brett and Dr Georgia Cook return with Dr Jenny Seddon, Dr Lucy McGeagh, and Dr Fiona Matley to dig deeper into what meaningful involvement really looks like. They reflect on the complexities of inclusion, the emotional labour of co-production, and how lived experience can challenge-and ultimately strengthen-research. From difficult conversations to unexpected lessons, this episode is an honest look at the messiness, value, and ongoing learning involved in doing PPI well. You can explore this work wider by visiting: https://sites.google.com/brookes.ac.uk/oxinahr-ppie/home If you would like to find out how to join the Oxford Brookes Service User Group, you can find more information here: https://www.brookes.ac.uk/hls/about/user-involvement

In this first of a special two-part take over on patient and public involvement (PPI), Professor Jo Brett and Dr Georgia Cook are joined by researchers Dr Jenny Seddon, Dr Lucy McGeagh, and Dr Fiona Matley to explore what meaningful involvement really looks like in health and social care research. Through reflections on real projects-from alcohol reduction and cancer care to prescription medication dependence-they share how lived experience shapes better research, and offer practical advice for those starting out. If you’re wondering how to embed PPI into your work-or why it matters-this is the episode to start with. You can explore this work wider by visiting: https://sites.google.com/brookes.ac.uk/oxinahr-ppie/home If you would like to find out how to join the Oxford Brookes Service User Group, you can find more information here: https://www.brookes.ac.uk/hls/about/user-involvement

In this episode of Oxford Brookes Unscripted, we talk to criminologist and PhD student Simon McFadden, whose work explores the strange intersection of dark tourism, screen-induced tourism, and 'dark fandom.' From Jack the Ripper-associated sites in London to crime tours in Milwaukee and Los Angeles, Simon takes us into the shadowy spaces where culture, crime, and curiosity collide. Drawing on fieldwork across the UK and US, Simon’s research investigates how true crime media, tourism industries, and online fandoms intertwine – especially in sites tied to infamous figures like Jeffrey Dahmer, Charles Manson, and Jack the Ripper. We also dive into how media representations – often glamorised with Hollywood actors – shape public memory, and why real-world tourist sites continue to attract visitors decades after the crimes. With sharp insights into criminology, media, tourism, and architecture, Simon challenges us to rethink why people are drawn to the macabre – and how society navigates its darkest narratives. To find more about his research, visit here: https://napier-repository.worktribe.com/output/2709266, https://www.revenantjournal.com/contents/i-am-the-dark-tourist-messenger-of-remembrance-by-h-e-sawyer/