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When the World Is Watching: Creating Moments That Matter with Martin Green CBE
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What does it really take to create cultural moments that captivate millions? Martin Green CBE pulls back the curtain on his extraordinary career spanning the London 2012 Olympic ceremonies, Hull City of Culture, Birmingham Commonwealth Games, and now the Eurovision Song Contest.
From an unexpected start helping with a school production of A Midsummer Night's Dream to directing global spectacles watched by billions, Martin's journey is testament to the power of passion and persistence. "I'm one of those lucky people who gets to do what they love for a living," he reflects, describing how a chance encounter as a teenager completely changed his trajectory from hotel management to theatrical production.
Green's refreshing candour about leadership offers valuable insights for anyone in the creative industries. He speaks with striking honesty about managing public opinion, emphasising that creating large-scale, publicly-funded events naturally invites scrutiny: "You know what you're getting into... that's sort of what it's for." Rather than being paralysed by criticism, Green focuses on protecting his team and ensuring the work speaks for itself.
Perhaps most fascinating is Martin's evolving relationship with risk. Working on the Olympics bestowed what he calls "informed recklessness"—the confidence to attempt seemingly impossible feats like placing a 75-meter wind turbine blade in Hull's city centre. His advice? Separate genuine risk from unfounded fear, and recognise when resistance stems from agendas rather than legitimate concerns.
Now leading the Eurovision Song Contest, Martin speaks passionately about this 70-year phenomenon that has accidentally created "the perfect event for the digital age." With 37 new pieces of content annually and audiences spanning 163 countries, Green sees enormous potential to unite people through music when the world desperately needs connection.
Whether you're an aspiring event producer, cultural leader, or simply curious about what happens before the applause, this episode offers rare insight into creating memorable shared experiences that resonate long after the final bow.
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Chapters
1. Meeting Martin Green (00:00:00)
2. Opinion, Perception and Public Scrutiny (00:03:11)
3. The Pressure of Creating for Millions (00:08:36)
4. Martin's Journey from Essex to Olympics (00:13:09)
5. Building Happy Teams and Production Values (00:22:08)
6. Challenge of Unboxed and Career Highlights (00:28:28)
7. Taking the Helm at Eurovision (00:39:05)
8. Closing Thoughts and Confessions (00:47:02)
8 episodes
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