The Procurement Show

The Procurement Show takes a different approach to the subject of procurement. Hosted by procurement expert Jonathan O'Brien and Co-Hosted by Paul Philpott, it's the show that tackles the topics we all need to think about and sets out to explore the more interesting bits of procurement.

Brought to you by Positive Purchasing
Podcast production by Fresh Air Studios

Edited by Martin Burgess-Moon, video content produced by Mark Stephenson, marketing and publicity by Melanie Babbage and Sydney Jenkin, production support by Lisa Hartwell.

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21 episodes
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Avg 41 min
English

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#72
Yesterday · 44 min
72: Procurement in the Nuclear Industry
Procurement is everywhere. One area you have probably never considered when it comes to procurement is the world of nuclear energy. In many ways it’s totally unique and in other ways there’s something we can all learn from someone who knows all about it. That person is CPO of Urenco – one of the world’s leading suppliers of nuclear fuel enrichment services – Tony Roberts. Brought to you by Positive Purchasing Produced by Fresh Air Studios - business podcast production.
#71
August 5 · 33 min
71: Why Payment Terms Matter
We all want paying – apart from Jonathan and Paul who record this podcast for love. So, why do those in procurement consider payment a trivial, transactional thing? Who better to throw the spotlight on this matter than co-founder of Calculum – a supply chain financing company – Oliver Belin. Now, make sure you do pay … attention. Brought to you by Positive Purchasing Transform how your teams work with an integrated suite of digital procurement platforms and tools from Positive Purchasing Produced by Fresh Air Studios, Podcasting & ADR Studios in Plymouth
#70
July 8 · 34 min
70: Procurement in Financial Services
When looking at procurement in the financial services, it’s best to have not only someone who transformed the JP Morgan Chase’s procurement by implementing category management, but also someone who is currently CPO of Nationwide – as US-based insurance and financial services provider. That means it can only be Joseph Heynoski. Brought to you by Positive Purchasing, Procurement Training Experts Produced by Fresh Air Studios, Video Podcast Production Nationwide
#69
June 10 · 55 min
69: Crafting Supply Side Data Collection & Insight
What is behind getting good supplier data and intelligence? That’s a good question! So, Jonathan and Paul are asking that very question to the CEO of Craft, Ilya Levtov. He set up Craft in order to solve the problem of looking up information about companies, so he has all the information about finding information! Brought to you by Positive Purchasing Transform how your teams work with an integrated suite of digital procurement platforms and tools from Positive Purchasing Produced by Fresh Air Studios, Podcasting & ADR Studios in Plymouth
#68
May 14 · 27 min
68: No Data, No AI – Why Clean Data Matters So Much
We all need clean data. But did you know that if we don’t have good clean data, we don’t have AI! To help keep Jonathan and Paul clean is a man who has emerged from the dark side of sales and is now a Managing Partner with ProcureVue. They specialise in analysing spend data within companies. It’s Andy Symmonds. Brought to you by Positive Purchasing Discover how Positive Purchasing can help you embed sustainability across your supply base with our Sustainable Procurement program Produced by Fresh Air Studios, Podcast Studios in Devon
#67
April 17 · 42 min
67: Procurement is a Joke! – Lessons from a Comedy Writer About Why and How We Need to Be More Innovative
Innovation is the key to survival, but why are so many in the Procurement World so bad at it? Seeing as Jonathan and Paul are so funny, they decided to speak to someone that isn’t in the Procurement World … but is a comedy writer who also helps businesses rethink what they do in order to turn themselves around. He’s also the CEO and founder of Brilliant-Thinking.com and he’s Felix Riley! Brought to you by Positive Purchasing, Transformational Training for Procurement Produced by Fresh Air Studios, Business Podcast Production around the UK
#66
March 18 · 50 min
66: Digital Procurement Transformation – How Maersk Got it Right
If a lot of companies are getting procurement tech wrong, why is that? What should they be doing? Where do they get this tech from? Who can help them implement it? Jonathan and Paul explore all these questions and more. To do this they need an expert! Who better than the former Global Director and Procurement Platform Tech Lead at AP Moller-Maersk, Adam Brown…! Brought to you by Positive Purchasing, Explore our range of training programs for procurement professionals. Produced by Fresh Air Studios, Business Media Production.
#65
February 18 · 29 min
65: Driving Procurement in a High Growth Industry
If you’re working in a growth sector, that comes with its own challenges, but what if you’re working in procurement in a growth sector? Does it mean you work differently? Does it mean that AI will have a greater effect on you? To answer all this and more, we have a guest making a rare second appearance on the Procurement Show! This time he’s Director of Procurement for At North. Although he is still Andreas Takacs. Brought to you by Positive Purchasing, Procurement Training Experts Produced by Fresh Air Studios, Video Podcast Production Nationwide
#64
January 22 · 53 min
64: Why Trump Wants Greenland: Geopolitics, Power and What It Means for Business
Western influence, Arctic security and the global implications of Donald Trump’s renewed interest in Greenland - and what it means for procurement, trade and supply chains. In this breaking-news special of The Procurement Show, Jonathan O’Brien and Paul explore why Donald Trump wants Greenland, the geopolitical and strategic importance of the Arctic, and what renewed US interest means for global power, NATO, international business and procurement teams. We unpack the history behind Trump’s Greenland proposal, the response from Denmark and Greenland, and why this issue extends far beyond politics into trade, supply chains, security and economic influence, areas that procurement leaders cannot afford to ignore. Brought to you by Positive Purchasing Produced by Fresh Air Studios - business podcast production.
#63
Dec 8, 2025 · 44 min
63: What the C Suite Expect Procurement to Do
With so many crises going on in the world and having a huge effect on businesses, the C Suite will be expecting great things from procurement. But what, exactly…? Gordon Donovan, VP Research for SAP in Melbourne works with Economist Impact, so he seems to be the perfect person to ask! Brought to you by Positive Purchasing Transform how your teams work with an integrated suite of digital procurement platforms and tools from Positive Purchasing Produced by Fresh Air Studios, Podcasting & ADR Studios in Plymouth
#62
Nov 12, 2025 · 57 min
62: How to be Really Good at Buying Travel Services
With businesses getting back on the trains, ‘planes and automobiles post-Covid, it’s important for everyone to get the best deal when it comes to sending employees to conferences and meetings. To give us the best advice, we’ve got three experts on hand: Tim Fitzgerald in Spain, Scott Tempero in Manchester and Karen Thornton in the studio. All of them are Travel Counsellors. We find out what they can do for us, even whilst at home in their pyjamas. Brought to you by Positive Purchasing Discover how Positive Purchasing can help you embed sustainability across your supply base with our Sustainable Procurement program Produced by Fresh Air Studios, Podcast Studios in Devon
#61
Oct 16, 2025 · 40 min
61: Functional Extinction from AI – Can Procurement Survive?
If AI is on course to replace many functions in organisations, Jonathan and Paul ask the vital question of whether procurement can survive. The perfect man to tackle this subject is a man who sits on many boards, founded OneSupplyPlanet and describes himself as a man who challenges companies and their people to be better versions of themselves: Guy Strafford. Brought to you by Positive Purchasing Unlock greater value and innovation from your suppliers with the proven Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) approach by Positive Purchasing Produced by Fresh Air Studios, Business Podcast Producers
#60
Sep 15, 2025 · 35 min
60: The Connected Ecosystem – How Procurement and Supply Chain Can Unlock New Benefits with Ecosystem Thinking
In this episode Jonathan and Paul are being asked to change their mindsets. Not easy. But the man who is bravely trying his best is Jeff Bever, VP Sourcing and Procurement for Russel Stover. His big idea is to think of procurement and supply chain as part of one big, connected ecosystem, rather than a function. Let’s see if we can all unlock new, big benefits! Brought to you by Positive Purchasing Discover Jonathan O’Brien’s award-winning books on procurement and negotiation Produced by Fresh Air Studios, ADR and Podcast Studios in the South West
#59
Aug 18, 2025 · 46 min
59: Making the Circular Economy Happen
Cast your minds back a couple of years and you’ll no doubt remember the podcast with Chris Holmes on the circular economy. We’ve been gathering up all the feedback and we can now answer all your questions and more as we speak with Joe Murphy, Executive Lead for Business Network with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. This was set up by Dame Ellen to accelerate transition to the circular economy. So, let’s find out what Chris and his team is doing and who they’re working with in order to drive its implementation. Brought to you by Positive Purchasing. See how Positive Purchasing can help you unlock breakthrough results with Category Management Produced by Fresh Air Studios, ADR and Video Studios for Devon & Cornwall.
#58
Jul 21, 2025 · 35 min
58: The Value of Diversity in Supply Chains
It’s time to do a bit of talent spotting on the Procurement Show. Or to be more precise: talent management spotting. Is it time to have a rethink about procurement talent? And in particular, planning for the future talent we need? If so, how do we get there? Well, to answer all these questions and more, we have the talent. Not Jonathan or Paul, we mean Manager at Kearney, Priya Kumari. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this episode are personal to Priya and do not represent the views of Kearney. Brought to you by Positive Purchasing Transform how your teams plan and lead negotiations with the proven Red Sheet® negotiation planning approach from Positive Purchasing Produced by Fresh Air Studios, Podcast and ADR Studios for the South West
#57
Jun 20, 2025 · 47 min
57: AI in Negotiation
We keep hearing about how AI is going to change everything on Planet Earth, but will it change negotiation? And if so, how will it change negotiation? Jonathan and Paul speak to the best person possible, Camilla Borsani from the School of Management Polytechnic de Milano, where she is doing a PhD on the subject. Listen carefully; we might ask questions after! Brought to you by Positive Purchasing Explore the full suite of high-impact procurement training programs from Positive Purchasing Produced by Fresh Air Studios, Branded Podcast Production
#56
May 23, 2025 · 43 min
56: How Bayer is Leading the Way on Sustainable Procurement
Sustainability in procurement is a regular topic on the Procurement Show, so it seems like the perfect time to get a guest on who is leading one of the world’s biggest companies in sustainability, namely, CPO of Bayer, Thomas Udesen. Let’s find out what are Bayer’s priorities, how they work to create autonomy and who has stolen part of Jonathan’s script for this episode’s Fun Fact. Transform how your teams work with an integrated suite of digital procurement platforms and tools from Positive Purchasing Brought to you by Positive Purchasing Produced by Fresh Air Studios, Podcast Production for Business
#55
May 1, 2025 · 35 min
55: Gen Z – The Future of Procurement
Whether you’re Gen Z, Gen X or Jennifer Aniston, you’ll find something of interest in this discussion. Because this one is all about the future! Gen Z is the future of procurement, so it makes sense to have a special guest who is a self-proclaimed Procure Tech Trailblazer, has launched a series of online panel discussions, and yes, she is Gen Z, she’s Lada Samarska. Brought to you by Positive Purchasing Discover how Positive Purchasing can help you embed sustainability across your supply base with our Sustainable Procurement program Produced by Fresh Air Studios, Studios for Podcasting, and ADR
#54
Apr 8, 2025 · 35 min
54: What the Police Can Teach Us About Negotiation
Please note; this episode includes references to child sex offenders. In this unique and fascinating interview, Jonathan and Paul explore negotiating around establishing the truth, as well as finding ways to compel others to do something or give up something. So, it makes sense to get one of the ultimate experts in on interrogation and interviewing – a former detective from the UK police, who we can only refer to by his first name, Dave. Brought to you by Positive Purchasing Unlock greater value and innovation from your suppliers with the proven Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) approach by Positive Purchasing A branded podcast production by Fresh Air Studios
#53
Mar 17, 2025 · 50 min
53: Trump's Tariffs & Trade - A Procurement Show Special - A Podcast About Tariffs
A podcast about Trump's Tariffs... It’s hard to escape the news of US President Donald Trump and the various tariffs he’s either been introducing, suggesting he’s going to introduce or that he introduces, then moves the date around. So, what does this mean for businesses inside and outside the United States? How are those in procurement supposed to react? And where will it all lead? And what are tariffs anyway? Jonathan and Paul discuss tariffs, the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, the relationships between the US, UK, Canada, Europe, Russia and China and take a close look at President Trump’s negotiation tactics. Essential listening before everything changes again…! Brought to you by Positive Purchasing Discover Jonathan O’Brien’s award-winning books on procurement and negotiation Produced by Fresh Air Studios, Branded Podcast Production for Business

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