The Procurement Show Podcast

WELCOME TO THE PROCUREMENT SHOW PODCAST

Tackling the hot procurement topics we all need to be thinking about, The Procurement Show sets out to explore the more interesting aspects of procurement! Hosted by procurement expert and award-winning author of a series of acclaimed procurement and negotiation books, and the CEO of Positive Purchasing, Jonathan O’Brien, alongside Co-Host, Managing Director of a leading communications agency, Fresh Air Studios, Paul Philpott.

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Latest Episode
September 2025
35:31

Episode 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!

August 2025
46:12

Episode 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.

June 2025
35:06

Episode 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.

June 2025
47:28

Episode 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!

May 2025
43:37

Episode 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.

May 2025
36:08

Episode 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.

April 2025
35:56

Episode 54 – What the Police Can Teach Us About Negotiation

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. We interview a former detective from the UK police with extensive experience of interviewing suspects and victims. Because of the cases he has worked on, we can only refer to him by his first name, Dave. Trigger warning; this episode includes references to police efforts to catch dangerous offenders.

March 2025
50:50

Episode 53 – Trump, Tariffs & Trade – A Procurement Show Special

A podcast about 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…!

March 2025
31:28

Episode 52 – Making What We Buy Sustainable

In this edition Jonathan and Paul venture outside the world of procurement and focus on how organizations need to approach driving sustainability for what is made. They also look at how people in the roles of design, development and manufacturing might need to rethink how they engage with procurement. In the driving seat for this journey is Product Sustainability Director of TetraPak, Kristina Andric. She actually left procurement to take on this role. Jonathan is still recovering from this shocking revelation.

February 2025
46:29

Episode 51 – What’s Trending in Procurement Tech?

If you’re drowning in a sea of procurement tech, you need someone to throw a lifeline; and on this episode, Jonathan and Paul have found just the man. They are joined by Chief Research Officer and MD at Spend Matters, Pierre Mitchell. He’ll guide us through all the latest tech and will teach us one or two new bits of jargon.

February 2025
60:02

Episode 50 – Fiftieth Episode

Jonathan and Paul celebrate fifty episodes of the Procurement Show by selecting highlights from their favourite guests as they cover five themes: technology, AI, sustainability, procurement excellence and people. They also invite members of the backstage team to select their favourite past guests and to offer up an obscure fun fact. Bring on the cake and Champagne!

January 2025
29:22

Episode 49 – The Importance of Soft Skills and Emotional Intelligence in Procurement

Good emotional intelligence – or EQ – can be an important factor in a successful and healthy life, both personally and professionally. But what is emotional intelligence? Can you learn it? Can you teach it? And how can it help us be more successful in procurement? Jonathan and Paul speak to “The Procurement Protagonist” himself, Tom Mills to find out all this and more. Hopefully, he can help Jonathan to stop being a “such and such”.

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