In episode five of Whose Power? Abigail Harrison Moore and Lauren are joined by new Preservative Party members Eden, Rowan, and Esme to explore the growing impact of this youth-led curatorial group on participatory research and museum exhibitions.  Together, they discuss how podcasting serves as a powerful tool for amplifying young voices and fostering safe, collaborative spaces. Eden, Rowan, and Esme share what drew them to the group, reflecting on the welcoming environment and the transformative nature of their involvement.   Together they highlight the accessibility of podcasting, the importance of research, and the potential of youth-led work to shape museum practices and challenge broader societal perceptions.  Read a full transcript of this episode Find out more about the Preservative Party on their LinkedIn or the Leeds Museums & Galleries website.  This is a Research Podcasts production.   Episode Credits Presenters:  Abigail Harrison Moore, University of Leeds and Lauren, Preservative Party Guests: Rowan, Esme and Eden, Preservative Party  Producer: Chris Garrington, Research Podcasts  Studio and sound: Helix, University of Leeds and Krissie Brighty-Glover, Research Podcasts Music: Aura, by Tae, Preservative Party  Artwork and graphics: Preservative Party with Krissie Brighty-Glover, Research Podcasts  Photography: Andrew Lord  Funding: Research England Participatory Research Fund 2024-25    

In episode four of Whose Power? Abigail Harrison Moore and Tae speak with Hugo and Callum from the Preservative Party about the impact of collaboration in museum exhibitions. They discuss how inclusive, participatory research methods can reshape curatorial practices and empower those involved.  Hugo shares how giving young people a platform, especially through podcasting, can boost confidence and amplify underrepresented voices. Callum reflects on how working with the Preservative Party has influenced his research journey and deepened his connection to museum objects. Together, they highlight the value of diverse perspectives and the importance of co-creation in cultural spaces.  Read a full transcript of this episode Find out more about the Preservative Party on their LinkedIn or the Leeds Museums & Galleries website.  This is a Research Podcasts production.   Episode Credits Presenters:  Abigail Harrison Moore, University of Leeds and Tae, Preservative Party Guests: Callum and Hugo, Preservative Party Producer: Chris Garrington, Research Podcasts  Studio and sound: Helix, University of Leeds and Krissie Brighty-Glover, Research Podcasts Music: Aura, by Tae, Preservative Party  Artwork and graphics: Preservative Party with Krissie Brighty-Glover, Research Podcasts  Photography: Andrew Lord  Funding: Research England Participatory Research Fund 2024-25

In this episode of Whose Power? Izzy Bartley, a post graduate researcher at the University of Leeds talks about the representation of colonialism in board games and how we can use these games as learning tools within museums and the board game industry itself.  Izzy shares how participatory action research and board game play create space for open conversations around colonialism and representation. Through recorded gameplay and podcast discussions, her work highlights the need for diverse voices and the importance of trust, respect, and collaboration in both museums and the board game industry.  Read a full transcript of this episode Find out more about the Preservative Party on their LinkedIn or the Leeds Museums & Galleries website.  This is a Research Podcasts production.   Episode Credits Presenters:  Abigail Harrison Moore, University of Leeds, Rahesa and Tae, Preservative Party Guests: Izzy Bartley, University of Leeds  Producer: Chris Garrington, Research Podcasts  Studio and sound: Helix, University of Leeds and Krissie Brighty-Glover, Research Podcasts Music: Aura, by Tae, Preservative Party  Artwork and graphics: Preservative Party with Krissie Brighty-Glover, Research Podcasts  Photography: Andrew Lord  Funding: Research England Participatory Research Fund 2024-25

In this episode of Whose Power? Abigail Harrison Moore is joined by co-hosts Tae and Rahesa - two inspiring youth mentors from the Preservative Party - for a powerful conversation with Whose Power? podcast producer Christine Garrington. Together, they explore how participatory research, and the medium of podcasting, can share and amplify the voices of young people.  Christine shares her reflections on the role of podcasting in storytelling and connection, while Tae and Rahesa speak candidly about their personal journeys, the importance of being heard, and the transformative power of safe, collaborative spaces. At the heart of the episode is a celebration of trust, authenticity, and the impact of making space for real voices in research and beyond.  Read a full transcript of this episode Find out more about the Preservative Party on their LinkedIn or the Leeds Museums & Galleries website.  This is a Research Podcasts production.   Episode Credits Presenters:  Abigail Harrison Moore, University of Leeds, Tae and Rahesa, Preservative Party Guests: Chris Garrington, Research Podcasts  Producer: Chris Garrington, Research Podcasts  Studio and sound: Helix, University of Leeds and Krissie Brighty-Glover, Research Podcasts Music: Aura, by Tae, Preservative Party  Artwork and graphics: Preservative Party with Krissie Brighty-Glover, Research Podcasts  Photography: Andrew Lord  Funding: Research England Participatory Research Fund 2024-25      

In the first episode of series 2 of Whose Power? Abigail Harrison Moore and her co-hosts Lauren and Rahesa explore the critical role of trust in participatory research. Focusing on the Preservative Party at Leeds City Museum - a collective of young curators aged 14–24 - they discuss how creating a protected, deadline-free environment empowers authentic self-expression and meaningful activism. Abigail reflects on the emotional labour involved in this work and the importance of lived experience in research. Together, they uncover how trust, care, and collaboration can reshape not just museum practice, but society at large.  Read a full transcript of this episode Find out more about the Preservative Party on their LinkedIn or the Leeds Museums & Galleries website.  This is a Research Podcasts production.   Episode Credits Presenters:  Abigail Harrison Moore, University of Leeds, Lauren and Rahesa, Preservative Party Guests: Jordan Keighley , Leeds City Museum Producer: Chris Garrington, Research Podcasts  Studio and sound: Helix, University of Leeds and Krissie Brighty-Glover, Research Podcasts Music: Aura, by Tae, Preservative Party  Artwork and graphics: Preservative Party with Krissie Brighty-Glover, Research Podcasts  Photography: Andrew Lord  Funding: Research England Participatory Research Fund 2024-25  

In Episode 5 of Whose Power? we are in conversation with Preservative Party mentors Lauren and Grace.  Together they discuss how the group is working to empower young people to break down traditional barriers to influence and drive the way museum exhibitions are curated and presented, what participating in academic research means to them, what barriers and challenges they have faced along the way, and how they have helped to create new knowledge and bring about meaningful change in the sector with and for the young people they support.  Grace talks about why there needs to be wholesale change in academia and museums to create the space for young people’s voices to be shared and heard. And Lauren explains how the Preservative Party has helped them develop the confidence to pursue their own academic career.  Read a full transcript of the episode Episode credits Presenter: Abigail Harrison Moore, University of Leeds Guests: Grace and Lauren, Preservative Party Producer: Chris Garrington, Research Podcasts Studio and sound: Kerr Hunter and Alex Neish, Helix, University of Leeds Music: Aura, by Tae, Preservative Party Artwork and graphics: Preservative Party, Krissie Brighty-Glover, Research Podcasts Photography: Andrew Lord    

Series 2 trailer

In Episode 4 of Whose Power? we find out how Preservative Party member Tae came to participate in the Whose Power project.  They discuss how the group is working to empower young people to break down traditional barriers to influence and drive the way museum exhibitions are curated and presented, what participating in academic research means to them, what barriers and challenges they have faced along the way, and how they have helped to create new knowledge and bring about meaningful change in the sector with and for the young people they support.  Tae tells Abigail about why and how they questioned the original research plan in order to produce new questions that represented everyone in the Preservative Party and what inspired them to create the theme music for the Whose Power podcast. Further information Access and download a full transcript of the episode Episode credits Presenter: Abigail Harrison Moore, University of Leeds Guests: Tae, Preservative Party Producer: Christine Garrington, Research Podcasts Music: Tae, Preservative Party Artwork and Audiograms Preservative Party and Krissie Brighty-Glover, Research Podcasts    

In Episode 3 of Whose Power? Preservative Party members Bobby and Rahesa put Professor Abigail Harrison Moore in the hot seat to ask what she has learned about participatory research through her involvement with the group.  Together they discuss how and why Abigail wanted to work with them, what she has done to gain their trust and buy-in to the project and what she’s learned about her work and the role of participatory research in engaging and empowering young people.  Read a full transcript of the episode Episode credits Presenters: Bobby and Rahesa, Preservative Party Guest: Abigail Harrison Moore, University of Leeds Producer: Chris Garrington, Research Podcasts Studio and sound: Kerr Hunter and Alex Neish, Helix, University of Leeds Music: Aura, by Tae, Preservative Party Artwork and graphics: Preservative Party, Krissie Brighty-Glover, Research Podcasts Photography: Andrew Lord  

CONTENT WARNING: Please note this episode includes conversations about experiences of homelessness In Episode 2 of Whose Power? we find out what the Preservative Party means to members Bobby and Rahesa and what they have learned about the power of participating in research from the Whose Power project.  Together they discuss how the group is working to empower young people to break down traditional barriers to influence and drive the way museum exhibitions are curated and presented, what participating in academic research means to them, what barriers and challenges they have faced along the way, and how they have helped to create new knowledge and bring about meaningful change in the sector with and for the young people they support.  Bobby tells Abigail why they thought twice about getting involved and what they think academics need to think more carefully about when looking to engage with young people. And Rahesa talks about the struggles they have faced in their education and how the Preservative Party has given them the confidence to speak and be heard.  Read a full transcript of the episode Episode credits Presenter: Abigail Harrison Moore, University of Leeds Guests: Bobby and Rahesa, Preservative Party Producer: Chris Garrington, Research Podcasts Studio and sound: Kerr Hunter and Alex Neish, Helix, University of Leeds Music: Aura, by Tae, Preservative Party Artwork and graphics: Preservative Party with Krissie Brighty-Glover, Research Podcasts Photography: Andrew Lord  

In Episode 1 of Whose Power? we find out how and why Professor Abigail Harrison Moore from the University of Leeds started researching histories of women and energy in the home with an inspiring group of young curators based at Leeds City Museum.  Abigail is joined by Esther Amis-Hughes, Community Engagement Manager at Leeds City Museum who set up the Preservative Party 13 years ago. She's also joined by Youth Engagement Curator Jordan Keighley, an original member of the group, now its facilitator. Together they discuss how the group is working to empower young people to break down traditional barriers to influence and drive the way museum exhibitions are curated and presented, what participating in academic research means to them, what barriers and challenges they have faced along the way, and how they have helped to create new knowledge and bring about meaningful change in the sector with and for the young people they support.  Further reading Read a full transcript of the episode Empowering Women; Co-producing Histories of Women and Energy in the Home (AHRC funding page) Open minds with the Preservative Party (Blog) Episode credits Presenter: Abigail Harrison Moore, University of Leeds Guests: Jordan Keighley and Esther Amis-Hughes, Leeds City Museum Producer: Chris Garrington, Research Podcasts Studio and sound: Kerr Hunter and Alex Neish, Helix, University of Leeds Music: Aura, by Tae, Preservative Party Artwork and graphics: Preservative Party with Krissie Brighty-Glover, Research Podcasts Photography: Andrew Lord  

Whose Power? is a podcast that explores the power of participation and seeks to amplify the voices of young people to create new knowledge and understanding.   The podcast is a collaboration between Abigail Harrison Moore from the University of Leeds and The Preservative Party, a group of young curators at Leeds City Museum who empower young people to break down traditional barriers and influence the way museum exhibitions and events are curated and presented. Together they’ve been exploring how participation can help us better understand power, who has it, and how it’s used in different settings. Listen to Abigail explain what you can expect from this inspiring podcast series! Episode 1 drops July 11.