In the MEANtime
In the MEANtime
Podcast Description
Welcome to In the MEANtime, a podcast where academic research becomes accessible, engaging, and relevant. Based in Greenwich, home of Greenwich Mean Time, we dive into the exciting projects shaping our world, offering a glimpse into the "meantime" of academic exploration. Each episode brings complex ideas down to earth, spotlighting real-world impacts and insights from leading researchers. Whether you're a researcher, student, professional, or just curious, In the MEANtime delivers meaningful conversations that bridge academia and everyday understanding.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast covers themes such as consumer behavior trends, gender inequality, digital detox, literary tourism, social media's influence on travel, and passport power. Episodes feature discussions like inconspicuous consumption in Buenos Aires, women's workplace rights in India's tech sector, and the impact of social media on travel habits, providing insights into how these issues affect everyday life.
Welcome to In the MEANtime, a podcast where academic research becomes accessible, engaging, and relevant. Based in Greenwich, home of Greenwich Mean Time, we dive into the exciting projects shaping our world, offering a glimpse into the “meantime” of academic exploration. Each episode brings complex ideas down to earth, spotlighting real-world impacts and insights from leading researchers. Whether you’re a researcher, student, professional, or just curious, In the MEANtime delivers meaningful conversations that bridge academia and everyday understanding.
In this episode, host Dr. Lauren Siegel, joined by Dr. Rami Shamseen, interviews Dr. Agnieszka Rydzik (University of Lincoln) about her research on how increasing use of technology in hospitality affects workers’ experiences, especially since the pandemic accelerated tools like QR-code ordering and self-service systems. Drawing on dozens of interviews with workers and industry stakeholders, she discusses how technology can intensify work, reduce staffing, create new pressures when systems fail, and shift customer frustration onto employees, often without enough training. Agnieszka also explores how these changes can reduce meaningful human interaction with customers, coworkers, and suppliers, contributing to disconnection and stress, while affecting workers differently by role and workplace.
01:25 Pandemic Tech Acceleration
03:57 Defining The Research Focus
04:35 Peak Times Staffing Pressures
08:09 Training And Tech Troubles
09:48 Why Hospitality Matters
12:03 Tech Reduces Human Connection
14:05 Invisible Workplace Tech Shifts
17:00 Gen Z Tech Reality
17:34 Human Connection Over Apps
18:01 Worker Centric Tech Rethink
18:29 Hospitality Futures Tool
20:39 Bartender Audio Narrative
22:19 Dehumanization and Manners
29:01 Guidelines for Better Practice
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