The Working Well Together Podcast launched on 3rd March 2025 with new episodes released fortnightly as part of the Truth Revealed podcast series.
Hosted by Mark Thorpe from Truth, in association with AURA, with a different guest each episode, discussing how they are using the Working Well Together Charter and how it is making their research both more enjoyable and more impactful.
Episode 1
In the first episode, Mark hosts AURA Chair, Ruth Hinton, to discuss what the Working Well Together campaign is all about. Including...
π€ Why AURA is campaigning for better client-agency relationships
6οΈβ£ The 6 principles and why were they chosen
βοΈ How both agencies and clients can get involved and join the movement
Episode 2
In the second episode of The Working Well Together Podcast, our host Dr Mark Thorpe FMRS discusses with clientside researcher and longstanding AURA supporter Suzanne Lugthart, the origin of why and how the Working Well Together Charter was developed through consultation - plus:
β Why itβs a mistake for clientside researchers to let themselves be held back by hierarchy
πββοΈββ‘οΈ The risk of confusing speed and agility with urgency, by overlooking the importance of forward planning
π©΅ How Working Well Together can help every work day be a little bit better - and every project more impactful.
Episode 3
In the third episode of the Working Well Together Podcast, our host Dr Mark Thorpe FMRS discusses with experienced insight leader Nick Rich of Growth Constructors and volunteer for the Working Well Together Team, the power of conversations:
π€ Why insights is perhaps the most collaborative profession of all
β The responsibility on clients to make room for sometimes difficult conversation
β How informal chats can be preferable to formal feedback processes
Episode 4
In the fourth episode of the Working Well Together Podcast, our host Dr Mark Thorpe FMRS hears how Ciaran Acford from Ooni and Andy Haylett and Alice Langthorne from Boxclever built a great research partnership.
π€ Why starting with 'no' led to greater trust
β The importance of understanding why the research has come about, to inform better choices
β How following the WWT Charter ensures research has more impact, by enabling the agency to do their best work.
Episode 5
In the fifth episode of the Working Well Together Podcast, our host Dr Mark Thorpe FMRS talks to Nick Bonney of Deep Blue Thinking about his varied experience client side, agency side and as an independent. The conversation includes
π©΅ Organisations make political and emotional decisions, not just rational decisions, so trust and relationships are key
π The need to be intentional and explicit, to compensate for remote working and transactional, scheduled relationships
π€ Why agencies can apply the Working Well Together principles with their own suppliers too.
Episode 6
In the final episode of Series 1 of the Working Well Together Podcast, our host Dr Mark Thorpe FMRS talks to Bethan Blakeley from Simplisafe, who recently moved from insight agency to a clientside role. They discuss
π€ Great relationships lead to better results, because it makes the most of the different perspectives
π― Explaining to agency partners how you as a client like to work can be a great place to start
π©΅ Being honest if you need a sounding board, rather than being ready to brief a project, can lead to some great support
