Professor Chris Deacy has recently interviewed journalist and former student Jo Phillips for Nostalgia Interviews – a podcast series on nostalgia and how the past shapes us today.
Jo was at Kent in the early to mid-70s to study English and Philosophy and is an award-winning journalist and former press secretary and policy adviser to Paddy Ashdown. Jo has also worked for Bob Geldof and she was Michael Parkinson’s editor at LBC.
During the wide ranging conversation, Jo not only tells us why radio is her first love and why she wrote a book on voting, but she also reveals what happened behind the scenes with the party leaders and why Britain’s influence in the world has diminished.
“It was a huge privilege to meet Jo who recounts some fascinating memories,” said Chris on his conversation. “She has worked closely with some very key figures in the world of politics and the arts.”
Their conversation was not limited to her career as a journalist and politician. Throughout the chat, Jo reflects on her time at the University of Kent and the influence it has had on her career. “One highlight is when Jo recounts an hilarious episode involving the time when Captain Beefheart performed on campus,” Chris recounts. “Jo had to be very resourceful late in the evening when he needed her to procure for him a bottle of Drambuie.”
You can listen to the interview in full on the Nostalgia Interviews website.