HeathTalk Podcast

Chris Smith / Chris Crouch
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HeathTalk is a weekly podcast about life in Kings Heath, Birmingham, UK. We dig into the conversations happening in the local community, cover what's on this week, and interview the people and businesses that make the area tick. Hosted by Chris Smith (technologymadesimple.co.uk) and Chris Crouch (infinitybrewing.uk). Your weekly guide to what's on, what's up, and who's who in Kings Heath, Birmingham, UK — local voices, local stories, local events.

  1. 21h ago

    Klask, Bang, Wallop!

    This week on Heath Talk, Chris Smith and Chris Crouch bring you the full round-up from Kings Heath, Birmingham, UK — and it's a big one. We've had our first ever listener voice note (a genuinely gorgeous one from Yogi Clare, no pressure to future contributors...), a chat about last week's mystery power cut that knocked out 80,000 homes, and highlights from Kings Heath Comic Con. Then it's on to what's happening this week and beyond: an urgent appeal from Kings Heath Food Bank, a new free course to help reverse type 2 diabetes, Ladies Football for Fun kicking off at Kings Heath Secondary School, Your Auntie's Art Auction in aid of Anawim, a fundraiser for the families affected by the Galston Road fires, live pro wrestling at the Irish Centre, a Kristin Hersh gig at All Saints Church, a Danish game called KLASK that neither of us had heard of until now, an open guitar jam session, Birmingham Open Studios, Thrive Gardens' open day, the Macmillan car boot sale and cake sale, a baby and toddler movers-and-groovers session, and a free liver health check pop-up for anyone eligible. It's a packed week in B14 — as ever, get in touch with your own events and voice notes at heathtalkpodcast@gmail.com

  2. Sep 16

    Stormtroopers Return: Get Ready for Comic Con! Plus an Interview With JP from Schooners

    Grab a pint and settle in — it's another week of everything King's Heath. Chris and Chris are back with the local lowdown, and this one's a packed episode. On the community front: the bowls green season kicks off in March, a new Kings Heath and Moseley Photographic Society is forming, and there's a mystery brewing at the old pound shop opposite Asda — it's being transformed into "H-Mall," a 30-unit independent trading space with food, beauty and a kids' play area. There's also a call-out from the University of Birmingham for abandoned blackbird nests (yes, really) to help with a local research study. Looking ahead: the Newt Gallery's Richard Batty photography exhibition runs through 4th October, King's Heath Community Kitchen offers free drop-in support every Wednesday, and there's a new weekly Writers Group at the Kitchen Garden Cafe. Friday brings an Oxfam clothes-swap night with a screening of The Devil Wears Prada, plus a free gig from Kings of Spain at All Saints Cafe Bar. And Saturday is a big one — King's Heath Comic Con returns to All Saints with big-name guests, the 501st Legion Stormtroopers, a retro gaming caravan, and a charity art auction in aid of the King's Heath Food Bank, alongside the King's Heath Art Market and a live Switch Radio recording at the Heath Bookshop. Then stick around for our feature interview: JP from Schooners joins us to talk running a five-year-old community craft beer bar on York Road, their "world's smallest beer festival," the new Schooners Staycation Club brewery trips, and what's coming this winter — including Friday night live music and karaoke. Got something for the show? Get in touch: heathtalkpodcast@gmail.com

  3. Sep 9

    More Jam Packed Than A Greggs Doughnut

    It's the fullest episode yet, and Chris and Chris aren't kidding around with that title. Recorded on Wednesday the 9th of September, this week's Heath Talk covers so much ground you might want to bookmark it. First up, a shoutout to Moseley Road Baths, where restoration work is coming along beautifully — the ceiling and stained glass are looking properly special. There's also a last call for the Kings Heath Library summer reading challenge, where over 200 people took part; if you haven't claimed your prize yet, Saturday is your final chance. Kings Heath Community Centre is on the hunt for more volunteers, especially anyone free evenings and weekends. Allens Croft School need raffle donations from local businesses, and the library's French sessions are gearing up for autumn. On the roads, expect overnight works around Old Chester Road South and Wheelers Lane this week, so plan an alternative route if you can. Then it's into a genuinely bursting weekend: a watercolour course at Cartland's Tea Rooms, Songs of Nick Drake live at the Kitchen Garden, a (sadly sold out, but worth knowing about) author talk at How Brave is the Wren, and a zodiac-themed Sip and Paint at the Loco Lounge. Birmingham Heritage Week kicks off too, opening up hidden spots across the city you wouldn't normally get into. Friday brings the launch of the Friday Fun Club at the Station Pub in aid of the food bank, plus live acoustic music at the Horseshoe Inn. Saturday sees basketball and graffiti take over Kings Heath Park, with a bowls taster session for anyone fancying something a little gentler, a family tapestry session at Dalbury Corner Community Garden, and a classic rock and indie DJ night at Fletchers. Sunday's a big one too: the regular Kings Heath Farmers, Artisan and Vintage Market on York Road, Mankind Barbers celebrating 25 years at Hop & Scotch (with Infinity Pizza serving up alongside), and Plant Bingo at the Loco Lounge for anyone who fancies winning houseplants instead of cash. Round the weekend off with State Within a State at the Highbury Inn or Afterwave at the mac, a gig for 15 to 19 year olds, organised by young people themselves. And if none of that's for you, Dalbury Corner's regular Tuesday morning Sips and Sisterhood get-together is there for a slower start to the week. As ever, get in touch if you've got something coming up you'd like us to mention: heathtalkpodcast@gmail.com. Kings Heath, Birmingham, UK — we'll see you next week.

  4. Sep 2

    Have You Got a Novel In You?

    Kings Heath got the bank holiday sunshine at All Saints Square for the Classic Car Show and Vintage Fair — plus we got our first ever listener voice note, live from the pizza van. Also this week: a novel-writing course from Goody & Grant, a free reading group at the library with Royal Literary Fund author Wren James, and health support coming to Community Kitchen from October. Then it's on to what's happening next: Moseley Folk Festival, a summer community event at Brandwood Community Centre, an open mic night for homeless charities, folk sessions at Schooners, the Farmers Market, mindful lino printing at Kitchen Garden Cafe, a cat-themed craft fair, mosaic-making at Loco Lounge, Dr Bike bringing bikes back to life, King's Heath Youth Choir's open rehearsal, and home ed woodland sessions at Highbury Park. Two Chrises, one Wednesday, all the Kings Heath news and what's-on you need. Get in touch: heathtalkpodcast@gmail.com

  5. Aug 26

    Anybody got £1.5 Million?

    Dolly Parton's passing gets a mention (RIP, though her Kings Heath connections remain unconfirmed), before Chris and Chris get into the actual local news: a metal recycling trailer fire on Alcester Road South, and — finally — some good news, as The Range car park gets resurfaced after Sue Reynolds' long-running accessibility campaign. The Billsley goes up for sale at a cool £1.5 million via WTS Property Consultants, and the boys briefly float buying it themselves with "pizza and podcast money." There's also a shoutout to King's on York Road for anyone after a curry with a proper vegan menu. Two great community kitchens are hiring/recruiting: Change Kitchen CIC wants a kitchen manager, and Kings Heath Community Kitchen needs five volunteers. Then it's on to next week's packed calendar — knitting at Hop & Stitch, a mobile household waste day, Nook Gallery's Birmingham-themed Cozy Cinema double bill, a bus route change extending the 50 to Wythall, and a genuinely stacked Bank Holiday Monday: a classic car show at All Saints Square (with Infinity Pizza on site), salsa classes on Alcester Road South, Jam Jar Mondays' reggae night, and multiple fundraisers supporting B14 Gorleston residents affected by recent house fires. As always: get in touch at heathtalkpodcast@gmail.com — and Chris finally promises us that long-awaited voice note from the car show.

  6. Aug 19

    Storm Troopers Are Coming to Kings Heath!

    Chris and Chris cover last week's community news: the recent partial solar eclipse (~92% coverage), a series of concerning fires near Kings Heath (Dawberry Fields, Hillmeads Road in Druids Heath, Daisy Farm Park near Maypole), and the strong community response including Warstock Community Centre being overwhelmed with donations. They note the Billesley pub closure remains unresolved, with Councillor Joe Peacock writing to Greene King for answers. Recap of last week's events (swing and jazz night, art market, Horseshoe Pub garden party). Upcoming week's what's on guide: The Station's new food menu, a SEN sensory play session at Dawberry Corner, a paint-and-sip night at Loco Lounge, a free polycraft session with Poly Partons in Brandwood, "Colouring to the Beat" at Kings Heath Library, Brum Tropicana at the Hare & Hounds, and the weekly Muso music night at The Station. The episode closes with an interview with Ollie MacNamee, organiser of Kings Heath Comic Con (AKA High-Viz Comic Con), taking place Saturday 19th September, 10am–5pm at All Saints Community Centre. Free entry, street food from Infinity Pizza/Mustard/Oh My Dough, three free workshops, cosplay and Stormtroopers from the 501st Legion, a live art auction for Kings Heath Food Bank, and a headline guest appearance from comic writer Mark Millar (Kick-Ass, Kingsman, Netflix's The Chosen).

  7. Aug 12

    Scams, Swing and Shrink Rays

    Chris and Chris are back with everything Kings Heath — the good, the free, and the slightly scammy. This week: the Enjoy Kings Heath Big Summer Weekend recap (Schooners, Hop & Scotch, Hublon — a proper Sunday), Dawberry Corner Community Garden's new lending library, and a warning about a scam email doing the rounds pretending to be from Birmingham Artisan Markets — don't get caught out. The Horseshoe Inn are offering their function room free to local musicians for gigs and rehearsals, Change Kitchen CIC want volunteers aged 16–24 for kitchen experience, and there's a full run-down of what's on next week: swing and jazz at the community centre (Fri 14th), the Kings Heath Art Market and the Car Boot & Flea Market on All Saints Square (Sat 15th), a garden party with bouncy castle and karaoke at the Horseshoe (also Sat 15th), a community centre thank-you event for investors (Sun 16th), and a shrink keyring workshop at the Loco Lounge that nobody can quite explain (Mon 17th). Plus: our chat with Olly from Kings Heath Comic Con is coming soon, and a tip involving a colander and a solar eclipse. Got an event coming up, or been to a great one? Email heathtalkpodcast@gmail.com — we want your voice notes too.

  8. Aug 5

    Fires? Not in my back yard!

    Chris and Chris are back with another packed week in Kings Heath, Birmingham, UK. This episode kicks off with a chat about the drought and wildfire risk affecting Birmingham's parks and green spaces, plus some sensible advice on keeping disposable barbecues and cigarettes away from tinder-dry grass (looking at you, Kings Heath Park, fresh off its new Green Flag status). Then it's onto the Big Summer Weekend, and there's a lot going on: an exhibition launch at Nook transforming the gallery into a fictional Birmingham museum, Friday blues at The Station, a puzzle bonanza at Kings Heath Library, the Read the Room Book Club at Loco Lounge, the York Road Artisan Market, the Tiny Beer Fest after-party at Schooners, DJ sets on York Road, a clothes swap and live music at the Hare & Hounds, a wellbeing workshop at the Community Centre, an afternoon tea special at Roots & Branches, a lino printing workshop and pottery takeover, poker and quiz nights at The Station, and a partial solar eclipse on Wednesday the 12th (get your ISO-rated glasses ready). To cap it off, the Chrises sit down with Scarlett from Enjoy Kings Heath (the local Business Improvement District) to talk street wardens, planter maintenance, community events, their new office at Kings Heath Community Centre, and how local businesses can get involved. Got something on in Kings Heath? Get in touch: heathtalkpodcast@gmail.com

    Fires? Not in my back yard!
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About

HeathTalk is a weekly podcast about life in Kings Heath, Birmingham, UK. We dig into the conversations happening in the local community, cover what's on this week, and interview the people and businesses that make the area tick. Hosted by Chris Smith (technologymadesimple.co.uk) and Chris Crouch (infinitybrewing.uk). Your weekly guide to what's on, what's up, and who's who in Kings Heath, Birmingham, UK — local voices, local stories, local events.

Information

  • Creator
    Chris Smith / Chris Crouch
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Chris Smith / Chris Crouch
  • Show Website
    HeathTalk Podcast