Inside Henry's Head

E O Higgins
  • 5.0 (21)
  • PERSONAL JOURNALS
  • MONTHLY

Step into the world of Henry, a curious nine-year-old boy with a neuro-spectacular brain. Alongside his witless, lispy father, Henry invites listeners on a monthly journey into the peculiar topics that have been all-consuming in the last month... This podcast isn’t just about exploring Henry’s fascinating mind—it's also about joy of celebrating neurodiversity and the beauty of childhood curiosity. Be warned! You might be surprised by what you discover—inside Henry's head!

Episodes

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    Episode 6 — Zoo Quest and the History of Birds

    To celebrate the 100th birthday of national treasure Sir David Attenborough, this latest episode of Inside Henry’s Head bucks its usual tradition of throwing two completely arbitrary things together and seeing what happens, opting instead for a rare, almost sensible, all-nature outing—featuring Zoo Quest and the history of birds. We begin, as all sensible journeys do, in the 1950s, with Attenborough setting off on Zoo Quest. Exotic locations, groundbreaking television, and the faint but persistent sense that everyone involved is slightly too calm about the presence of large, carnivorous reptiles. Henry reflects on the show’s peculiar charm, the great personal dangers faced by Sir David in the pursuit of kidnapping foreign animals, and the understated bravery of turning up somewhere unfamiliar armed primarily with received pronunciation, a pack of Woodbines, and some terribly good manners. From there, we take wing into the history of birds. Yes, all of them—or at least a confidently selected handful. Henry embarks on a typically wide-ranging exploration of our feathered co-inhabitants, from their prehistoric origins and their unlikely evolution from lizard-like ancestors to their ongoing commitment to observing humanity with thinly veiled suspicion. And, naturally, no survey of avian history would be complete without an entirely necessary detour into Judith Kerr’s Mog books. As always, facts appear when they feel like it. Detours are frequent. Pronunciation guides occur uninvited. And Henry’s incomprehensible, lispy father contributes the usual inane commentary, hovering somewhere between half-remembered documentary narration and complete non-sequitur. If you’ve ever wondered what connects early wildlife television with the long, strange history of birds, the answer is ‘not very much, obviously’—but this might just be the episode for you. So, join us for another politely rambling circuit of Henry’s Head. Care for a cigarette?

    25 min

  2. 23/12/2025

    Episode 5 — Pigeons and the Moog

    In this latest episode of Inside Henry’s Head, our hero once again demonstrates his gift for pairing things that have no business being mentioned in the same sentence. This time: pigeons and the Moog from Willo the Wisp. We begin with pigeons. Yes, those pigeons. The ones everyone pretends to hate while continuing to drop chips directly in front of them. Henry mounts a spirited defence of the bird Britain loves to loathe, touching on their unexpected intelligence, their excellent navigational skills, and the quiet dignity with which they judge you from a lamppost. There are also some reflections on poo, civic architecture, and that whole fat-neck business. Then, without warning, we’re off to Doyley Woods, where the Moog lurks. Part dog, part sausage, the Moog is examined with the seriousness normally reserved for ancient myths. Henry considers its mournful mumbling, its place in British childhoods, and whether it represents the soul of the nation or just a cry for help. As always, facts appear when they feel like it. Detours are frequent. Songs emerge uninvited. And Henry’s incomprehensible father contributes the usual commentary, hovering somewhere between Internet-gleaned wisdom and complete non sequitur. If you’ve ever wondered what connects an urban scavenger with a melancholy creature from a children’s programme that scared you slightly in 1981, this is the episode for you. So, join us for another politely rambling circuit of Henry’s Head. Oh, and Happy Christmas! (We don’t mention Christmas in the episode, because we’re mavericks and we play by our own rules.)

    25 min

  3. 01/08/2025

    Episode 4 — Kākāpō and Aardvarks

    In this, the long-awaited fourth episode of Inside Henry’s Head, our hero tackles another gloriously mismatched pair of topics: the kākāpō—a rare, nocturnal, flightless parrot from New Zealand—and the aardvark, a snuffling, ant-eating beast straight outta Africa. Prepare for some unfiltered kākāpō appreciation, including info about how they’ve become endangered (not the Dutch this time), what they smell like, and why you probably shouldn’t wear a green t-shirt near them. Then it's on to the aardvark: part pig, part kangaroo, part vacuum cleaner—all adorable. Well, if you’re Henry anyway. Expect the same number of occasionally accurate facts, unexpected detours, and surprising singsongs. Plus, the usual semi-comprehensible comments from his lispy father thrown in for good measure. If you’ve ever wondered what connects an endangered parrot and a solitary insectivore (besides absolutely nothing), this is the episode for you. So, strap in for another charming, if slightly chaotic, journey around Henry’s Head. If you’d like to help save the kākāpō, please visit here. Otherwise, do please carry on helping homeless people.

    26 min

  4. 28/01/2025

    Episode 3 — Airships and Victorian Christmas

    Oh, the humanity! This month, Henry delves into two unrelated topics: the rise and fall of the Hindenburg, the iconic airship whose fiery end shocked the world, and the peculiar traditions of a Victorian Christmas—such as wassailing, ghost stories by the fire, morbid carols, and Christmas cards featuring dead birds. Yes, it’s a Christmas episode—airing in late January. I tried to tell Henry, but he couldn’t see an issue. And I don’t like to stifle him… What was it that made the Hindenburg unforgettable? And why did Victorians celebrate Christmas with such an odd mix of sentimentality and the macabre? Henry unpacks these questions to see what the two subjects reveal about history and human culture. While his very tired old man struggles in vain to form a coherent sentence.

    30 min

  5. 02/12/2024

    Episode 2 — Bigfoot and the Orang Pendek

    In this, the difficult second episode, Henry investigates one of the most enduring cryptid legends: Bigfoot, the hulking, hairy figure said to roam North America’s forests! (Plus, another one, the Orang Pendek, a small, ape-like creature reported in the jungles of Sumatra.) Drawing on eyewitness accounts, cultural traditions, and scientific inquiry, Henry examines the evidence behind these mysterious beings. And, naturally, the Dutch come in for some abuse again. What is it with those guys? Are Bigfoots (apparently, that’s the plural) and Orang Pendeks relics of an ancient past, misidentified wildlife, or simply products of human imagination? This episode delves into the compelling stories and theories, offering a thoughtful exploration of what these legends mean and why they persist – and, coming up with nothing. A must-listen for anyone intrigued by the unknown – who doesn’t want answers. Though, apparently, Bigfoot is nicknamed ‘Jacko’ – and he stinks. Oh, and 8 out of 10 dogs prefer this podcast.

    29 min

  6. 11/11/2024

    Episode 1 — Dodos and Mangel-Wurzels

    In this exciting debut episode of Inside Henry’s Head, Henry and his dad take a deep dive into two quite unrelated but equally fascinating topics: the dodo—everyone’s favourite flightless, extinct bird—and the mangel-wurzel, a curious root vegetable with a silly name. Expect chat about how the dodo met its untimely demise (spoiler: if you're a Dutch sailor, you might not like it), how it might've got its name, and whether it could ever make a comeback. Then, brace yourself for Henry’s enthusiastic take on the mangel-wurzel, a vegetable with a long history of feeding livestock and helping the anally retentive. With Henry’s neuro-spectacular imagination at the helm, expect some (possibly correct) facts, interesting tangents, and his father's futile attempts to keep things on track. If you’ve ever wondered how extinct animals and amusing vegetables could possibly share a stage, this episode will not disappoint! (Unless you're Dutch, obviously...) Tune in for a head-scratching blend of history, science, and good old-fashioned whimsy—straight from Inside Henry’s Head.

    21 min
  • 6 Episodes

5
out of 5
21 Ratings

About

Step into the world of Henry, a curious nine-year-old boy with a neuro-spectacular brain. Alongside his witless, lispy father, Henry invites listeners on a monthly journey into the peculiar topics that have been all-consuming in the last month... This podcast isn’t just about exploring Henry’s fascinating mind—it's also about joy of celebrating neurodiversity and the beauty of childhood curiosity. Be warned! You might be surprised by what you discover—inside Henry's head!

Information

  • Creator
    E O Higgins
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © E O Higgins
  • Show Website
    Inside Henry's Head