Hello You - the Shropshire podcast with Jim Hawkins

Jim Hawkins

I’m trying to give you something a little different. Hello You is about stuff, and things. People, and stories. Shrewsbury, and Shropshire. Mental health and well-being. History and heritage. Arts, culture and music. Faith, belief and the complexities of life. I’m a good listener. It’s what I do. And for Hello You, I’m listening to (and talking with) fascinating people, mostly but not always from Shropshire, so that you can hear what they have to say. It's public-service local journalism that cares about people. Audio that brings you the voices of people you might not hear from otherwise. Interviews conducted with compassion and empathy. Thoughtful, positive, good-humoured conversations, informed local storytelling, and commentary that’s not afraid to get righteously angry on occasion. jimallthetime.substack.com

  1. WTF is happening with the BBC?

    14小时前

    WTF is happening with the BBC?

    This morning I’m angry, sad and fearful for the future of this country and one of its great institutions. I’ve worked for the BBC for most of the last forty years. I’m bloody glad I don’t anymore, for a large number of reasons. The resignations last night of the Director-General and the head of BBC News should’ve come a long time ago, but not for the reason that forced them out. We’re seeing a concerted attack on public service media in the UK, in America and elsewhere around the world. There are dark clouds gathering, as the Public Media Alliance puts it. Please take a few minutes to watch this video, and share it with your friends? And if you want to support public service media in the smallest of ways, please subscribe to Hello You the Shropshire podcast: Hello You - the Shropshire podcast from Jim Hawkins is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimallthetime.substack.com/subscribe

    9 分钟

  2. 3天前

    Hello You 148: Jonny Thaw loves his country

    ‘We could be so great, we could be great to people and do great things’ Displaying a national flag and saying that you love your country can be quite loaded gestures at the moment. But why? Shrewsbury artist Jonny Thaw tackles these issues head-on in his new show at the town’s Swan Hill Studios. And if you’d never normally go to an art show, he’s particularly keen to know what you think of it! So why not go this weekend? It’s free to enter, and it would make a change from traipsing around a retail park in the rain, wouldn’t it? I mean, where else are you going to see a St George’s Flag Amnesty Bin?! ‘I shouldn’t feel it’s a bad thing to want to display a flag, but I do’ Jonny Thaw: Loves His Country is on at Shrewsbury’s Swan Hill Studios until November 13th. You can hear all about it in this episode of Hello You the Shropshire podcast. Excited by this? Intrigued? Enraged? Join in the conversation in the comments: Thank you, Jonny! I’m grateful to Jonny Thaw for taking the time to share his art and his thoughts with Hello You the Shropshire podcast. If this episode makes you smile or makes you think, please share it with a friend, colleague or family member: And while we’re about it: You like listening to intelligent, informed, positive and progressive conversation. That’s why you’re a member of the Hello You family, isn’t it? I bet you know at least a handful of people who’d also really enjoy listening to Hello You the Shropshire podcast. Do them (and me, and yourself) a solid. Share Hello You with those people? And suggest that they, in turn, share it with other likeminded individuals, wherever in the world they may be? Start by hitting this button: Thank you, Miranda! Hello You 147 was about the lost art of noticing, and it was noticed by super-noticer, the marvellous Miranda Keeling, author of two delightful books about what she sees when she stops to notice things, and host of a brilliant short podcast called Stopping to Notice. She shared the episode with her social media followers and described it as ‘lovely’, which was very kind and generous of her. If you’re here because of Miranda, I’m very grateful to you and to her! Thank you, Emily Jayne! Something about Hello You 146: Home wasn’t built in a day has really connected with people. Emily Jayne’s story of life on the streets and how she came back from that has become the second most listened-to episode of Hello You the Shropshire podcast so far. Not only that, so many people have been deeply touched by Emily Jayne’s life and words. I’ve long since lost count of the number of people who’ve stopped me in the street, in shops and cafés and even in meetings to talk about the episode. If you’ve not heard it yet, take a listen to it this weekend? And share it with your friends? Thank you, Julia! Next weekend, I’m recording a conversation with Julia Buckley, the Labour MP for Shrewsbury. I’ll publish the interview as soon as I can after recording, but what do you want me to ask Dr Buckley? I’ve already had a lot of suggestions, but I’m still open for more. Leave your question in the comments, or send me a message: Thank you, you Thank you for being there. Putting together Hello You the Shropshire podcast isn’t easy, especially with a full-time job and lots of other things going on in my life too, so I’m very grateful that you choose to spend time with my work. Take care of yourself Take care of the people around you. And I really hope the people around you are taking care of you, too. Hello You - the Shropshire podcast from Jim Hawkins is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimallthetime.substack.com/subscribe

    27 分钟

  3. 10月25日

    Hello You 147: The lost art of noticing

    ‘I look at nature and it takes my mind away from my problems’ What do you notice in the world around you? Artist and educator Sara Bellis - ‘I identify as geek’ - is building a community of people who are reviving the lost art of noticing. Under the banner of Get Out And Get Arty they gather in a couple of special places in Shropshire to practice nature journalling. #INIWIRMO - I notice, I wonder, it reminds me of … But what is nature journalling, and how can it help you? I joined Sara and her GOGA group in Ellesmere on one of their regular visits to the area around the Mere. As well as learning about GOGA and nature journalling, we discussed … ‘I’m being called to another mission, another galaxy’ * moving to Shropshire from somewhere else * moorhens v. coots * women succeeding despite the pressures of society * public art * living with a terminal diagnosis * conkers * Gaza * dogs * what’s great about living in Shropshire (and what isn’t) * journalism * magic mushrooms * coping when you can’t do your life’s work anymore * accessible transport * ice cream and why we all love it * the National Trust * death and life after * spontaneous poetry * relieving ME symptoms by taking your fillings out * planting bulbs as a gesture of hope, faith and defiance … all in this episode of Hello You the Shropshire podcast! ‘Once you find the positive, cling onto it’ It’s a long episode, the longest yet, but I think you’ll get a lot out of it. It’s also very stereo indeed! For maximum effect, listen on earbuds or headphones, or maybe in the car? Enjoying this episode? Share it with your friends: … and join in the conversation in the comments: What have you noticed? Tell me what you’ve noticed lately, and how it made you feel. We could make an episode of Hello You together … Message me! What would you ask an MP, if you could? Back in July I talked with Julia Buckley, the Labour MP for Shrewsbury, about her first year in the job. I’m recording another conversation with Julia Buckley MP in a few weeks’ time. A lot’s happened since July, so there’s plenty to talk about, but I want to know: what do you think I should ask Julia? What topics should I bring up? What do you want to hear more about, or which issue do you want to know Dr Buckley’s stance on? Send me a message with your question and I’ll do my best to get some answers: Which other decision-makers would you like to hear from? I want to get at least another couple of the MPs for Shropshire on Hello You the Shropshire podcast before too long, but who else should I bid for? Senior councillors? Top local NHS managers? People in charge of public services? Tell me who you’d like to hear answering questions, and I’ll put the feelers out. And if you’re one of these people - MP, councillor, senior manager of a local service, anyone whose work affects the lives of people in Shropshire - get your people to talk to my people. Just kidding, I don’t have people. It’s just me. So reach out to me and let’s get something in the diary. Bench? I’ve got a list of places I want to go to do ‘bench’ episodes, where I just sit on a bench and record conversations with whoever happens to sit next to me. But I’m going to restart doing those in the spring, when the weather is kinder. Unless … you have an idea of somewhere indoors I could go? Somewhere I could sit and record chats with whomsoever’s there? Maybe at an event, or a particular location? If you know of a place or an event, tell me about it! Share the Hello You love If you enjoy informed, curious, progressive conversation for and about Shropshire, the people here and the wider world, I’m damn sure you know other people who’d enjoy it too. So be a good friend, to them and to me, and share Hello You with friends, family, colleagues, the people in your favourite WhatsApp group … … or just bring Hello You the Shropshire podcast up in conversation with them? Thank you for being a member of the Hello You family Take care of yourself. Take care of the people around you … and I hope those people are taking good care of you, too. Hello You - the Shropshire podcast from Jim Hawkins is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimallthetime.substack.com/subscribe

    1 小时 33 分钟

  4. 10月16日

    Hello You 146: Home wasn't built in a day

    ‘Sometimes I was absolutely freezing, but there was so much warmth around’ How do you feel when you encounter Shrewsbury’s street people? Walking down Pride Hill a year or two ago, you might’ve seen a young woman habitually sitting on the ground with her back to the wall, outside Holland & Barrett. Sometimes she’d be nursing a bottle of vodka. That was Emily Jayne. ‘When you drink a lot of vodka, fear doesn’t come into anything’ Emily Jayne recently responded to some hostile comments on a Facebook post about the street people of Shrewsbury, and said she spoke from personal experience. I wanted to hear about that personal experience, and share it with you. Why was Emily Jayne on the streets? What was her story? And how is she now? Find out in this episode of Hello You the Shropshire podcast. ‘… Happy Thursday!’ I’d love to know your thoughts about what Emily Jayne has to say. Please join in the conversation in the comments: You can help to support homeless and vulnerable people in our community by supporting Shrewsbury Ark. I’m proud to be a Friend of the Ark. Click on the link above and you can become one also. And how about this for a brilliant idea? The Ark will host your office Christmas party! Find out more at the Shrewsbury Ark website. Please share this episode of Hello You the Shropshire podcast with your friends, family and colleagues, using this green button: See you on Sunday night? There’s a cool gig taking place on Sunday evening at Albert’s Shed in Shrewsbury! It’s the Shrewsbury Songwriters’ September of Sound Showcase. My dear friend Charlie Jerrett is among the songwriters on the bill, and I’ll be playing bass for him. Come and hear some fantastically talented people* at Albert’s Shed on Barker Street, Sunday evening from 7pm. More info on Facebook! *and me Good hang? I’d love to hang out with you for a while. The next episode of Hello You the Shropshire podcast will be one I recorded at a meeting of Get Out And Get Arty by the Mere in Ellesmere. It includes conversations about nature, art, moving from Essex to Shropshire, living with a diagnosis of a terminal illness, dogs, friendship, colours, noticing, the afterlife and moorhens. Among other things. I’m really looking forward to bringing it to you (and looking forward slightly less to the massive editing job involved in making that happen!). You won’t want to miss this one! Make sure it drops in your inbox by subscribing: Maybe you’re part of a regular meeting or occasional event. Perhaps you know a place where people gather to chat; it could be a café, a pub, a bus shelter, anywhere. Could I join you to record an episode of Hello You the Shropshire podcast? I could create a soundscape from the atmosphere at your event or your chosen place. Or I could record conversations, listening to what people there have to say, as I did in Ellesmere. Tell me where I could visit or join you? Send me a message: Thank you for being a member of the Hello You family Take care of yourself. Take care of the people around you, and I really hope they’re taking care of you, too. Hello You - the Shropshire podcast from Jim Hawkins is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimallthetime.substack.com/subscribe

    46 分钟

  5. 10月12日

    Hello You 145: There's hope for us all

    ‘I want to be as woke as possible, and I’m not ashamed to admit it’ What is it that takes Shrewsbury-based Methodist minister Rev Richard Hall - shown above with members of the ‘Sanglier Dynamique’ scout group in Gahanga, Kigali - to Rwanda, a country of which he says ‘the fact that there’s any kind of functioning society at all there is remarkable’? And what is it about Rwanda that means Richard’s visits there give him hope for the whole of humanity? ‘There are moves in society which are deeply anti-Christian’ Rev Richard Hall also talks about how things are in the UK - ‘the danger we’re in is … setting ourselves up to blame all the things that are wrong … on the arrival of a few immigrants’ - and what we could learn from Rwanda’s recent history. What do you think of Rev Richard Hall’s thoughts on Rwanda, the UK, and being ‘as woke as possible’? Join in the conversation in the comments: Also in this episode of Hello You the Shropshire podcast: * the BBC’s Question Time from Shrewsbury * Shrewsbury Djangofest * The Big Mend takes place next Saturday Hello You 150 is on the way! When many podcasts never even make it to their thirtieth episode, or struggle to release one episode a month, Hello You is coming up to its second birthday, and the one hundred and fiftieth episode is on the horizon! I haven’t decided if HY 150 will be a special episode, but it will see the launch of a new look for Hello You the Shropshire podcast, featuring the work of a hugely talented local artist and illustrator. It would be amazing to start Hello You’s third year by adding lots more subscribers, and I’d really appreciate your help in making that happen. Think about your friends for a moment? My guess is that you know other people who would appreciate intelligent, informed, progressive, sometimes quirky public-service audio journalism that shares and celebrates people’s stories, and is curious about the world. After all, you like Hello You, and you like them, and they like you, so … Who are your most frequent phone contacts? Who’s in your friendship group? Who are you always WhatsApping when something interesting occurs to you? When you see something that catches your eye, who are the people you want to share it with? Please share Hello You the Shropshire podcast with those people. Send them this episode … … or send them the whole back catalogue … … and a note explaining why. If you’re a paid subscriber, you could even treat them to a gift subscription … … and if you’re not, then maybe you’d consider supporting my work? I’m really proud of Hello You, and I’d love more people to enjoy it. Simple as that. What or who do you want to hear on Hello You? If you have a story that you want or need to share, if there’s something on your mind that you feel more people should be thinking about, if you or someone you know has a story to tell, I want to hear from you. Send me a message … or if it involves sensitive information and you’d like to get in touch securely and confidentially, download the Signal messaging app and contact me that way My Signal username is jimallthetime.69 Take care of yourself … … in these troubling times, mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Take care of the people around you, and I hope those people are taking care of you, too. Hello You - the Shropshire podcast from Jim Hawkins is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimallthetime.substack.com/subscribe

    58 分钟

  6. 10月2日

    Hello You 144: 'It's about having the voice to express who you are'

    ‘Learning to sing is learning to find your voice’ Hello You the Shropshire podcast is about people, and stories. It’s also about amplifying the voices of people you might not hear from otherwise … or giving them a voice in the first place. Cathy Beech also gives people their voices. She helps them to discover the voices they may not even believe they have. Cathy’s a vocal coach with her own singing school, Angel Voice. She’s based in the Welshpool area and extending the reach of her work further into Shropshire. If you love to sing, or would love to sing, you’ll be interested in her work. ‘When your child dies, you’re constantly looking for your child, even though you know they’re not there’ Cathy Beech has faced a lot in her life, from debilitating illness that silenced her and obstacles in her career path to the heartbreaking loss of her baby son. In this episode of Hello You the Shropshire podcast, she tells her story. Please share your thoughts on this episode of Hello You in the comments: Also in Hello You 144: Loving autumn for lots of reasons, the final flutter of the Whole Flags Thing, politicians pumping iron (oh mate) and filming TikToks in your garage … Why not share all this with your friends and colleagues? Book me to speak! I could be the next guest speaker for your group or organisation in the Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin or West Midlands area! I have a 20-minute talk entitled ‘Lessons Learned’ which I’d gladly share with your meeting. Among other things, it reveals why I disappeared from the radio suddenly, never to return …You might be shocked (or perhaps not?), and there’s plenty of fuel for a Q&A and group discussion, so if your group, club, guild, meet-up or networking event would like an accomplished speaker with powerful stuff to share, get in touch! Thank you for being there I’m so glad that you’re a member of the Hello You family. Make yourself at home? Explore the library of previous episodes on Substack, and keep in touch with Hello You World Headquarters by subscribing: Take care of yourself Take care of the people around you, and I hope they’re taking care of you, too. Hello You - the Shropshire podcast from Jim Hawkins is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimallthetime.substack.com/subscribe

    54 分钟

  7. 9月19日

    Hello You 143: 'He makes us find joy in the simplest of things'

    ‘We have spent twenty-five years fighting to ensure he has the chance to live the life he deserves’ After the summer-showcase gig of the local music-training organisation Rockschool (here’s the episode of Hello You I recorded on the night) I was approached by Sarah Thomas. Sarah is chair of Shropshire Parent Carer Council, which supports SEND families in the county. She wants you to hear what it’s like, being the parent of someone with special educational needs and disabilities. ‘The conversation national about special educational needs and disabilities is not a positive one at the moment’ Sarah’s son Owen is now twenty-five years old. She tells me her family’s story in this episode of Hello You the Shropshire podcast. Respond, share and subscribe If you enjoy this episode of Hello You, please share it with a friend? Or just bring it up in conversation at some point over the next few days? Join in the conversation in the comments: And if you appreciate intelligent, informed, positive and progressive conversation for and about Shropshire and the wider world, why not subscribe? Thank you for being part of the Hello You family Feel free to get in touch, whatever’s on your mind: Take care of yourself, particularly in these fractious times Take care of the people around you, and I hope they’re taking care of you, too. Hello You - the Shropshire podcast from Jim Hawkins is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimallthetime.substack.com/subscribe

    1 小时 3 分钟

  8. 9月14日

    Hello You 142: To Shropshire ... and Beyond!

    ‘I want to create the pictures that my eyes see, not what the camera sees’ Shropshire is a beautiful county. So you might think a job taking photographs of it would be a breeze. But early starts, arduous walks, long editing sessions and hours of waiting are all part of the gig … along with the occasional inexplicable experience. John Hayward is the creator of those wonderful images you see on social media (Instagram and Facebook) under the banner Shropshire and Beyond. ‘When you’re just sitting looking at the landscape, the time flies by’ John and I met up for a chat about his work on Lyth Hill, one drizzly breakfast-time. We talked about John’s favourite places to shoot, his photographic techniques, the lengths he goes to for the perfect image … and an inexplicable sighting at a nature reserve! Along with some of my observations on recent events, it’s all in this episode of Hello You the Shropshire podcast. Cryptozoology klaxon! Have you ever seen something unusual in the area of the Hollies nature reserve near Snailbeach? A huge black cow? Or … a bear?! What do you make of the experience recounted by John Hayward? Let me know in the comments! Pig Trough? It’s a footpath in Shrewsbury, but can you answer John’s question about the origin of its name? ‘They’re noisy … but so are toddlers’ There’s a lot that I’m not feeling at all good about today. You may be in a similar frame of mind. Just remember: Most people are mostly good, most of the time. Those of us who are not motivated by hatred and prejudice outnumber those who are. Now it’s time for us to step up. Things are close to getting out of hand. But what can we do? What can we do? Something In this episode of Hello You the Shropshire podcast, I refer to this article by John Pavlovitz, written in response to people who tell him they’re frustrated, overwhelmed and don’t know what to do. Does that sound familiar to you? John says the one thing you can do right now to oppose fascism is: Something. What’s your something going to be? Maybe Hello You is my something. I think it could be. What will yours be? I hope you enjoy this episode of Hello You Why not share it with a friend, or a family member? I’m sure you know someone else who’d find it interesting. Hit this button? Keep up with everything from Hello You World Headquarters by subscribing! If you take out a paid subscription (you don’t have to, it’s discretionary) you’ll be helping me keep bringing informed, curious, compassionate and progressive conversation for and about Shropshire and the wider world. How are you feeling? What’s going on in your life, or where you live? What’s on your mind? Let me know by sending me a message: If you have concerns about privacy and security, especially if what you have to share is sensitive, you can get in touch with me in complete confidence and anonymity via the Signal messaging app. My username is jimallthetime.69 Thank you for being there Please, take care of yourself. Take care of the people around you, especially if they’re unsettled by what’s happened over the last few weeks and particularly this weekend. And I hope they’re taking care of you, too. Hello You - the Shropshire podcast from Jim Hawkins is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimallthetime.substack.com/subscribe

    38 分钟
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I’m trying to give you something a little different. Hello You is about stuff, and things. People, and stories. Shrewsbury, and Shropshire. Mental health and well-being. History and heritage. Arts, culture and music. Faith, belief and the complexities of life. I’m a good listener. It’s what I do. And for Hello You, I’m listening to (and talking with) fascinating people, mostly but not always from Shropshire, so that you can hear what they have to say. It's public-service local journalism that cares about people. Audio that brings you the voices of people you might not hear from otherwise. Interviews conducted with compassion and empathy. Thoughtful, positive, good-humoured conversations, informed local storytelling, and commentary that’s not afraid to get righteously angry on occasion. jimallthetime.substack.com

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