Best Adrian Adair Podcasts (2025)

1
The water investment challenge with Siân Thomas 36:01

1d ago36:01

36:01

In today's podcast we focus on the UK’s mammoth, unprecedented, and, often, highly controversial water investment challenge. As climate pressures mount, population grows, and economic demands increase, the security of our water supply is becoming a defining issue for national resilience. Last December, Ofwat’s latest Price Review - PR24 – underscor…

1
The Painted Jezebel – A Beauty That Defies Borders 4:33

8d ago4:33

4:33

Some butterflies retreat to forests, seeking silence and sanctuary. The Painted Jezebel does not. With wings dipped in white, gold, and flame, it flutters boldly through temple courtyards, bustling gardens, and city streets. Often misunderstood because of its name, the Painted Jezebel has become a symbol of unapologetic beauty—a creature that wears…

1
Zero-carbon buildings with Lord Adair Turner 36:31

8d ago36:31

36:31

In today's podcast we focus on decarbonising the UK’s vast building stock. The global buildings sector is one of the most essential but also perhaps the most overlooked frontiers in the fight against climate change. Homes, offices, shops, schools, and factories - they're where we live, where we work, and where we gather. They are the fabric of our …

1
Infrastructure's AI realities with Tom Bartley 35:32

16d ago35:32

35:32

In today's podcast we delve into the world of Artificial Intelligence to explore the future of infrastructure and technology - and the people reshaping both. To do this we’re diving into one of the biggest - and most urgent - challenges facing the built environment: namely how we manage and maintain our ageing infrastructure in a world of rising co…

1
UK's hydrogen future with Brett Ryan 33:56

23d ago33:56

33:56

In today's podcast we focus on hydrogen – zero carbon fuel of the future or an exercise in wishful thinking? That said, as the UK sharpens its focus on delivering a net zero future, hydrogen is increasingly taking centre stage in the national energy conversation. Touted as one of the cleanest and most versatile fuels available, hydrogen holds signi…

1
Global project delivery with Jake Mumm 35:53

1M ago35:53

35:53

In today's podcast we focus on the global infrastructure market and find out what the UK might do to accelerate its ambitions to drive economic growth from infrastructure investment. My guest today is Jake Mumm, General Manager for Public Infrastructure at global construction design and delivery business Bechtel - someone who has spent the last thr…

1
The Brimstone – A Flame in the Frost 3:34

1M ago3:34

3:34

Some butterflies dazzle with color. Others with speed. But the Brimstone Butterfly captivates with something quieter: its return. Often considered the very first butterfly to appear after winter, the Brimstone rises from beneath leaf litter and ivy, its wings the color of melted sunlight. Long before flowers bloom, long before the trees awaken, it …

1
Building tall with Kamran Moazami 36:37

1M ago36:37

36:37

In today’s podcast we takes a close look at the evolution and future challenges of tall building design with engineering design mega star Kamran Moazami. Kamran is WSP’s managing director for property and buildings and with nearly half a century of design experience under his belt – most recently on projects such as The Shard, 22 Bishopsgate, and O…

1
Sponge cities to tackle urban flooding with Lee Pitcher MP 35:41

2M ago35:41

35:41

Today's podcast is another special episode recorded live in front of an audience for the second of the latest Twin Talks interview series hosted by Bentley Systems. As with the first TwinTalk event with construction minister Sarah Jones MP, today’s episode heads to Parliament for a conversation with Lee Pitcher, MP for Doncaster East and the Isle o…

1
Butterflies in Art – The Eternal Dance of Beauty and Meaning 5:23

2M ago5:23

5:23

Some creatures exist only in nature. Others take flight across canvases, scrolls, and sculptures—forever captured by the artist’s hand. The butterfly is both. From ancient mosaics in Pompeii to the notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci, from Japanese woodblock prints to surrealist dreams, butterflies have fluttered through centuries of art—symbols of the …

1
The Glistening-Green Tanager – A Living Emerald in the Mist 5:01

2M ago5:01

5:01

In this episode of Glisten of Birds, Adrian Adair, a passionate ambassador for birds and nature, guides us into the mist-shrouded cloud forests of Ecuador and Colombia to find one of the world’s most elusive treasures—the Glistening-Green Tanager. Draped in emerald feathers and veiled by mist, this delicate bird is more than a flash of color—it is …

1
ALARM25: the local roads crisis with David Giles 30:26

2M ago30:26

30:26

In today’s podcast takes a close inspection of the UK’s ever-deteriorating local roads condition. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the ALARM survey – the Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance survey – which for three decades has been the crucial benchmark for assessing the state of local roads across England and Wales. Commissioned by the …

1
The Blue Pansy – A Flicker of Sky on Earth 5:19

2M ago5:19

5:19

Some creatures demand attention, their beauty impossible to ignore. Others exist in a delicate balance—revealing their brilliance only in the right light. The Blue Pansy Butterfly is one of them. With wings that flash a brilliant, electric blue, it moves through the open landscapes of Africa, Asia, and Australia, thriving where others fade. But thi…

1
The Keel-Billed Toucan – A Beak of Light in the Emerald Canopy 5:42

2M ago5:42

5:42

In this episode of Glisten of Birds, Adrian Adair, a passionate ambassador for birds and nature, takes us deep into the lush rainforests of Central and South America to meet a bird that carries the colors of the sunrise in its beak. The Keel-Billed Toucan is a creature of paradox—both elegant and playful, striking yet perfectly adapted to its world…

1
Planning: decoding the Bill with Robbie Owen 29:26

2M ago29:26

29:26

In today’s podcast we return to the vitally important, hugely complicated and normally highly emotive subject of planning reform. And help is (potentially) at hand in the form of the long awaited Planning and Infrastructure Bill which was published last week and heralded by government as providing “transformative reforms to get Britain building, ta…

1
The Great Hornbill – A Sentinel of the Sacred Canopy 5:13

2M ago5:13

5:13

In this episode of Glisten of Birds, Adrian Adair, a passionate ambassador for birds and nature, takes us deep into the towering rainforests of Southeast Asia, where a giant of the sky reigns—a bird of ancient presence, unshakable devotion, and quiet power. The Great Hornbill is not just a creature of flight; it is a guardian of the treetops, a kee…

1
The King Bird-of-Paradise – A Crown of Fire in the Canopy 5:24

2M ago5:24

5:24

In this episode of Glisten of Birds, Adrian Adair, a passionate ambassador for birds and nature, takes us deep into the emerald heart of the rainforest to meet a creature unlike any other. The King Bird-of-Paradise—a living jewel, a feathered fire in the treetops, a bird whose very existence feels like a secret whispered by the wild. Through poetic…

1
The Barn Owl – The Silent Watcher of the Night 5:33

2M ago5:33

5:33

In this episode of Glisten of Birds, Adrian Adair, a poetic voice for birds and their untold stories, takes us into the realm of shadows and silence to meet a bird that moves like a whisper in the dark. The Barn Owl—a ghostly presence in the moonlight, a hunter of the unseen, a guardian of forgotten places. Through poetic storytelling, deep symboli…

1
The Golden Crest – A King in Miniature 5:18

2M ago5:18

5:18

In this debut episode of Glisten of Birds, Adrian Adair, an ambassador for birds and nature, takes you into the treetops to meet the Golden Crest—a tiny bird with a crown of gold, a creature so small it could be overlooked, yet carrying a quiet majesty that defies its size. From its resilience in the harshest winters to the mythology surrounding it…

1
The Peacock Butterfly – Eyes of the Forest 4:38

2M ago4:38

4:38

Some creatures vanish into the background, blending with the world so completely they go unnoticed. The Peacock Butterfly is not one of them. With wings like burning embers, it seems delicate, unassuming. But when danger approaches, it reveals its secret—eyes that are not eyes, a stare that is not real, a warning wrapped in illusion. Why do its win…

1
Embodied carbon assessment with Adrian Campbell 33:01

2M ago33:01

33:01

In today’s podcast we take a deep dive into embodied carbon and try to get a better understanding of why infrastructure professionals need to make its assessment more than just a nice add on but a fundamental part of the design process. The construction and infrastructure sectors are undergoing a major transformation as the industry seeks to reduce…

1
The Ulysses Butterfly: A Dream in Flight 4:18

2M ago4:18

4:18

In this luminous episode, Adrian Adair, The King of Butterflies, takes listeners deep into the tropical heart of Australia and New Guinea to explore the enchanting Ulysses Butterfly. Known for its dazzling, iridescent blue wings that shimmer like fragments of a dream, the Ulysses Butterfly is celebrated not only for its breathtaking beauty but also…

1
Retrofitting: the future of housing with Anna Moore 35:18

2M ago35:18

35:18

Today we head back to the vitally important issue of housing and attempt to understand the UK’s complex, and some might say, largely dysfunctional housing retrofit market. It is a market that is rapidly evolving, driven by ambitious government policies, rising energy costs, and increasing public demand for sustainable, lower cost living. But with a…

1
The Pharaoh’s Butterfly – Butterflies in Ancient Egypt 4:54

3M ago4:54

4:54

In this mesmerizing episode, Adrian Adair, The King of Butterflies, takes you on a journey back 5,000 years to the golden age of the Pharaohs, where butterflies were more than fleeting beauties—they were symbols of the soul, eternity, and divine transformation. From hieroglyphs and temple carvings to amulets buried with the dead, butterflies played…

1
The Orange Sulphur – A Sunbeam in Flight 4:27

3M ago4:27

4:27

In this luminous episode, Adrian Adair, The King of Butterflies, invites you to follow the golden flight of the Orange Sulphur Butterfly—a delicate yet determined traveler of North America’s open landscapes. Often mistaken for a drifting petal, this butterfly glows like a flicker of firelight against sunlit meadows. But beyond its beauty lies a fas…

1
The affordable housing crisis with Anette Simpson 35:37

3M ago35:37

35:37

In today’s episode we dive into the UK’s deepening housing crisis– specifically looking at affordable housing where demand is still far outstripping supply. Despite ambitious government targets to deliver 1.5 million new homes over the next five years, the reality is that we are still only seeing 50,000 to 60,000 affordable homes being built each y…

1
The Kamehameha Butterfly – Hawaii’s Living Jewel 5:02

3M ago5:02

5:02

In this captivating episode, Adrian Adair, The King of Butterflies, takes you on a journey to the misty forests and volcanic slopes of Hawaii, where one of the world’s rarest and most fascinating butterflies reigns—the Kamehameha Butterfly. Named after the legendary King Kamehameha the Great, this butterfly is more than just a rare beauty. It is Ha…

1
Whispers of the Ancestors – Butterflies in Native American Culture 4:33

3M ago4:33

4:33

In this profound and poetic episode, Adrian Adair, The King of Butterflies, explores the deep cultural significance of butterflies in Native American traditions. For many indigenous peoples, butterflies are not just delicate creatures—they are sacred messengers, carrying the wisdom of the ancestors and symbolizing transformation, renewal, and the e…

1
The Dance of Stripes – The Enigma of the Zebra Swallowtail 4:16

3M ago4:16

4:16

In this mesmerizing episode, we step into the world of the Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly, a creature of striking contrasts and graceful unpredictability. With bold black-and-white stripes and long, elegant tails, this butterfly moves like a whisper through the dappled light of North America's woodlands. Join Adrian Adair, The King of Butterflies, as …

1
Beyond academic with Jeni Giambona 34:06

3M ago34:06

34:06

In today's podcast we explore the role that academia and research can and must play in transforming infrastructure into the modern, joined up, innovative sector needed to deliver a sustainable future for communities. My guest is Jeni Giambona, Associate Dean of Knowledge Exchange and Enterprise at the University of Southampton Business School, wher…

1
The Crimson Sentinel – The Red Admiral Butterfly 3:45

3M ago3:45

3:45

In this vibrant episode, we delve into the world of the Red Admiral Butterfly—a creature whose bold colors and spirited flight capture both nature’s beauty and its fierce drive for survival. Known for its striking red, black, and white wing patterns, the Red Admiral is not only a marvel of nature but also a symbol of transformation, passion, and re…

1
The Butterfly That Endures – The Mourning Cloak Butterfly 4:25

3M ago4:25

4:25

Some butterflies bloom in the fleeting warmth of summer, their lives measured in days. Others—like the Mourning Cloak Butterfly—persist. They outlast winter’s hush, survive the cold, and reemerge stronger, enduring through the cycles of time. In this episode of Gleam of Butterflies, we uncover the mystique of the Mourning Cloak, a butterfly that: 🦋…

1
The Butterfly That Remembers - The Heliconius Butterfly 4:13

3M ago4:13

4:13

Most butterflies live in fleeting moments, but the Heliconius Butterfly moves through the world differently. Unlike its delicate counterparts, the Heliconius remembers. It learns. It returns to the same flowers, recalls familiar places, and adapts in ways few other butterflies can. It is a master of mimicry, wearing the warning colors of toxic spec…

1
The Giant of the Skies – The Birdwing Butterfly 4:21

3M ago4:21

4:21

Some butterflies flutter. Some dance on the wind. But the Birdwing Butterfly—it soars. With wings that stretch nearly a foot across, this giant of the skies is the largest butterfly in the world. It moves not like an insect, but like a bird, commanding the air with elegance and power. For centuries, its beauty made it a target—hunted, collected, an…

1
How One Wingbeat Can Change the World 4:43

3M ago4:43

4:43

A butterfly flaps its wings in one part of the world, and somewhere far away, a storm begins to form. It sounds like poetry, but in reality, this idea—the Butterfly Effect—is one of the most fascinating concepts in science, history, and philosophy. It suggests that even the smallest actions can set off chain reactions with massive consequences. But…

1
Parliament’s infrastructure insider with Mike Reader MP 36:32

3M ago36:32

36:32

In today’s episode we head back into the corridors of power to talk to Mike Reader Member of Parliament for Northampton South and chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Infrastructure. And after my recent conversation with Sarah Jones MP, minister of state for Business and net zero it will be interesting to contrast this government view of t…

1
Whispers on the Wind – The Ghostly White Butterflies 3:27

3M ago3:27

3:27

There are whispers on the wind—soft, fleeting, and often unseen. Across cultures and centuries, white butterflies have been seen as more than mere creatures; they are messengers, spirits, and omens from the beyond. Are they the souls of the departed? Are they warnings, guiding us toward an unknown fate? Or are they simply a presence—gentle, silent,…

1
Becoming: The Mystery and Magic of Metamorphosis 4:20

3M ago4:20

4:20

Transformation is one of nature’s greatest mysteries, but few creatures embody it as profoundly as the butterfly. Metamorphosis is more than just a change—it is a complete unraveling and rebirth, a process of dissolving into the unknown before emerging into something entirely new. In this episode of Gleam of Butterflies, we step inside the chrysali…

1
The Painted Lady – The Nomad of the Wind 4:50

3M ago4:50

4:50

Not all journeys have a map. Some creatures move not by following a fixed path, but by listening to the whispers of the wind. The Painted Lady Butterfly is one such traveler. With no predictable migration route, no single home, and no fear of the unknown, the Painted Lady is the most widespread butterfly in the world, appearing on every continent e…

1
The Shadow and the Light: The Black Swallowtail’s Dance Between Worlds 3:43

3M ago3:43

3:43

Not all butterflies shimmer in daylight. Some move like whispers in the dusk—elegant, elusive, and wrapped in mystery. The Black Swallowtail is one such creature, a butterfly that exists between light and shadow, myth and survival, past and present. In this episode of Gleam of Butterflies, we uncover: 🦋 The Black Swallowtail’s striking beauty and i…

1
The Monarch’s Impossible Journey – A Flight Beyond Time 4:49

3M ago4:49

4:49

Some creatures are bound to the land, forever tethered to where they began. The Monarch Butterfly is not one of them. Every year, millions of Monarchs embark on an impossible migration, traveling over 3,000 miles across North America to the mountains of Mexico. But no single butterfly completes the journey. It takes generations. A lineage of travel…

1
The Silent Conversation: How Butterflies Speak Without Words 3:45

3M ago3:45

3:45

Butterflies do not have voices, yet their world is filled with conversation. They speak in color, movement, and silent signals—messages carried on the wind. In this episode of Gleam of Butterflies, we uncover: 🦋 The hidden meanings of butterfly colors—warnings, deception, and attraction. 🦋 The dance of butterflies—how their flight is a silent form …

1
The Butterfly & The Soul: Psyche’s Eternal Flight 5:42

3M ago5:42

5:42

In ancient Greece, the word “psyche” (ψυχή) held two meanings—butterfly and soul. But why? To the Greeks, butterflies were not just delicate creatures of the wind; they were the very essence of the human spirit, a symbol of transformation, endurance, and the journey beyond this world. In this episode of Gleam of Butterflies, we unravel the myth of …

1
The Traveler’s Wings: Swallowtails and the Journey of Transformation 4:22

3M ago4:22

4:22

Some butterflies are bound to a single place, fluttering in the same fields for a lifetime. But the Swallowtail Butterfly is different—it is a wanderer, a traveler, a symbol of movement and transformation. In this episode of Gleam of Butterflies, we follow the Swallowtail’s global journey across continents, unravel its mystical symbolism in differe…

1
Ghost in the Forest: The Invisible Wings of the Glasswing Butterfly 3:51

3M ago3:51

3:51

Not all beauty is meant to be seen. Some creatures exist on the edge of sight, lingering between what is visible and what is only felt. In this episode of Gleam of Butterflies, we follow the Glasswing Butterfly—a delicate, almost spectral being whose transparent wings make it nearly invisible in the rainforest. 🦋 How does a butterfly disappear befo…

1
Wings of Azure: The Enigma of the Blue Morpho 4:19

3M ago4:19

4:19

In this first episode of Gleam of Butterflies, we step into the mystical world of the Blue Morpho—a butterfly so brilliant, so fleeting, it almost seems unreal. From the dense emerald jungles of South America to the quiet symbolism it carries, this episode unravels the beauty, transformation, and illusion of one of nature’s most mesmerizing creatur…

1
The 100th episode with Construction Minister Sarah Jones MP 39:55

3M ago39:55

39:55

In today special 100th episode we shift to the heart of the UK government to hear first-hand from Construction Minister Sarah Jones MP about how she intends to embrace and accelerate infrastructure investment as a means to deliver the government’s overarching mission for economic growth. The podcast was recorded live in front of an invited audience…

1
Modern contracting with Katy Dowding 35:32

4M ago35:32

35:32

Today's podcast is episode 99 and we are going to talk about the challenge of modern contracting. There is no doubt that we are in a world where infrastructure investment is well and truly back in fashion. That’s true whether we are transforming our energy future, racing to meet a net zero goals, improving lives and community, protecting the enviro…

1
LA wildfires + Trump's USA with Steve Burrows 37:48

4M ago37:48

37:48

In today's podcast we go Stateside to catch up on what is happening in the US as the global super power prepares for the latest iteration of the Donald Trump Presidency and as Los Angeles struggles to contain and recover from catastrophic wild fires. My guest today is Steve Burrows, ICE Representative for the West Coast of the USA. Steve is based i…

1
Infrastructure for a sustainable future with Prof Jim Hall 35:40

4M ago35:40

35:40

In today’s podcast we try to understand how the infrastructure investment we have planned across the UK can actually be turned into better sustainable outcomes for communities. To tackle this hugely important issue, my guest today is Professor Jim Hall, the 160th President of the Institution of Civil Engineers, professor of climate and environmenta…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Adrian Adair Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen