The Procurement Show makes the case that purchasing decisions reach well beyond price, contracts and routine administration. Hosted by procurement specialist Jonathan O’Brien and co-host Paul Philpott, the programme explores how commercial choices can affect business performance, supply-chain resilience, innovation and sustainability.
The podcast launched in 2020 and is brought to listeners by Positive Purchasing, the procurement training and consultancy business founded by O...
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’Brien. Fresh Air Studios produces the show, with Philpott, the studio’s chief executive, joining O’Brien as co-host. Apple Podcasts lists it in the Business category and describes its release schedule as monthly.
Its subject matter ranges from familiar procurement concerns, such as negotiation and supplier relationships, to issues reshaping the profession. Episode listings include discussions of payment terms, financial-services procurement, supplier data, artificial intelligence, digital transformation at Maersk and purchasing in high-growth industries. The breadth reflects the show’s central premise: procurement is not simply about buying at lower cost, but about making decisions that support wider organisational aims.
That strategic perspective is also evident in Positive Purchasing’s account of its work. The company’s services cover areas including category management, negotiation, supplier relationships and sustainability, alongside training and digital tools. Its website frames procurement in terms of value, security of supply and business results. The company’s own material is not independent evidence of the benefits it claims, but it helps explain the professional outlook underpinning the podcast.
Technology is a recurring theme, particularly the potential of artificial intelligence, analytics and better data to change procurement’s contribution. In a Positive Purchasing article about an episode featuring procurement futurist Dr Elouise Epstein, the discussion centres on using data to develop greater insight and move the function beyond transactional tasks. The argument is not that technology alone can deliver transformation: sound information, workable processes and human judgement remain necessary if new tools are to support better decisions.
The programme also gives attention to the human skills involved in commercial work. Negotiation, communication, emotional intelligence and relationship-building sit alongside technical expertise. Its discussions of supplier partnerships suggest that a more collaborative approach can help organisations manage risk and identify opportunities, rather than treating suppliers as interchangeable sources of goods and services.
Wider forces form another part of the conversation. Geopolitical uncertainty, trade developments, resource constraints and sustainability expectations can all affect supply networks and purchasing choices. These themes make the show relevant not only to procurement teams, but also to executives and professionals in operations, finance, logistics and other areas where supplier decisions shape organisational outcomes.
The format is designed to make a specialist subject approachable. Fresh Air Studios has described the programme as combining detailed professional discussion with humour, while its production gives the series a media presence beyond the procurement community. O’Brien’s experience in sourcing and negotiation provides subject knowledge; Philpott’s questions and conversational style help keep the discussions accessible.
The result is a podcast for practitioners seeking fresh perspectives, as well as newcomers curious about how organisations buy and manage supply. Its strongest contribution is to encourage listeners to assess procurement by more than immediate savings. The show presents the function as a potential source of resilience, innovation and responsible business practice, provided its professionals can connect commercial expertise with sound data, strategic thinking and strong working relationships.
Source: Noah Wire Services
