Chris Crouch is back from Mallorca, tanned, rested and immediately plunged into the climate crisis. Spooky season in Kings Heath, Birmingham, UK starts here.

First, a big thank you to Scarlett from Enjoy Kings Heath for co-hosting last week. Then Chris reports back from the National Emergency Briefing screening at Kings Heath Community Centre: stark, a bit scary, but full of practical solutions. Worth a watch (16+), and maybe worth a letter to your MP.

Book now: Blowwater Café and Screen B14 host a Secret Film Supper Club on Thursday 12 November – mystery film, matching food, vegan Japanese curry rice included. If you work out the film, please tell us.

All week: find participating houses on the Trick or Treat Map, and donate duvets, towels and blankets to the Birmingham Christmas Shelter appeal (collections every Sunday until Christmas). Plus the last of our All Saints Youth Project round-up: home education support, male carers group, half-term family fun, transgender parent/carer support and an adoption support brunch.

The half-term and Halloween line-up is huge: a fancy-dress roller disco at Cocks Moors Woods, Birmingham Tree People volunteering, family cooking and growing at the Community Centre, a Harry Potter Halloween day for SEN families, poetry and a Halloween quiz at Loco Lounge, a knitting meet-up, a paranormal book launch at Kings Heath Library, swing and jazz with Martin Leonard, a Celebrity Traitors finale watch party, a Halloween ceilidh with a live aerial act at Circus Mash, tree walks in Highbury Park, sip and paint, Coco and soup at the Community Centre, Halloween parties at the Hare & Hounds, Thrive in Kings Heath Park, Mr Scruff on Sunday, a new Queer Musical Collective, Tony's Tots drama sessions and The Lost Notes at the Red Lion Folk Club.

And one important ask. Heath Talk takes a lot of time to make, so we want to know if it's worth carrying on into 2027. If you listen and want more, email heathtalkpodcast@gmail.com and say so. If we get 10 emails before the new year, we keep going. That's all it takes.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

02:12 Last week: National Emergency Briefing

07:03 Book now and all week

15:24 Wednesday 28 October

18:15 Thursday 29 October

23:42 Friday 30 October

30:27 Saturday 31 October (Halloween)

39:19 Sunday 1 November

40:00 Monday 2 November

41:44 Tuesday 3 November

42:53 Wednesday 4 November

44:34 Should we carry on? Email us

Events, voice notes and "please don't stop" emails: heathtalkpodcast@gmail.com

Heath Talk is a weekly community podcast about what's on in Kings Heath and Moseley, Birmingham, UK – local news, events, gigs and family activities.

Chris Crouch is off this week, so Chris Smith is joined by Scarlett from Enjoy Kings Heath – someone who spends more hours on the high street than anyone, whether she likes it or not. And it’s a packed one, with half term and Halloween arriving in Kings Heath, Birmingham, UK.

Looking back, the Station has turned its function room into a games room with interactive darts and a pool table, the H Mall is getting closer to opening, and Scarlett reports from a spooky pottery painting night at a local craft club. There’s a new bar in Kings Court, open Friday to Monday so hospitality workers finally have somewhere to go on their day off. Nook Gallery also has a new bookable workshop space.

Our All Saints Youth Project spot covers part one of their family support offer, from drop-ins and parenting groups to SEND support and a home education group.

Book now: a kids’ Halloween pizza class at Loco Lounge, and the Kings Heath Cricket & Sports Club fireworks on Sunday 8 November – early bird prices end Sunday 25 October.

Then the week day by day: lino printmaking, a beginner-friendly 5K run club that ends at the pub, a beaded message hoop workshop and the Red Lion Folk Club on Wednesday; a sewing circle on Thursday; a glow-in-the-dark silent disco at Dawberry Corner (Friday, and again on Wednesday of half term) and a People’s Emergency Briefing screening on Friday; baby and child first aid, velvet pumpkins, pumpkin carving in Kings Heath Park and some touring theatre at the community centre on Saturday; Halloween candle painting and Hair of the Dog Comedy’s fourth birthday on Sunday; surplus food bags, half-term activities and drink and draw on Monday; terrarium making at Kitchen Garden Cafe on Tuesday; and more folk at the Red Lion next Wednesday.

Got an event, a story or a voice note? Email heathtalkpodcast@gmail.com.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:49 Last week in Kings Heath
08:30 All Saints Youth Project
10:35 Book now
13:46 Wednesday 21st
19:04 Thursday 22nd
20:51 Friday 23rd
24:41 Saturday 24th
30:22 Sunday 25th
33:02 Monday 26th & half term
36:44 Tuesday 27th
38:03 Wednesday 28th
38:46 Outro

Your weekly guide to what’s on in Kings Heath, Birmingham, UK – with Chris Smith and Chris Crouch.

This week starts with a recap of last week’s single grain whisky night and the Arts Market, plus some good news: listener numbers are up 18%. We’d like that to keep going, so we’ve got one small job for you (it involves texting three friends).

We’re also trying something new this week: a look further ahead at events likely to sell out before we’d normally mention them. First up is Hare of the Dog Comedy’s 4th Birthday Bonanza at the Hare & Hounds with Barbara Nice (yes, there’s cake). We also give our now-regular shout-out to the All Saints Youth Project, which runs weekly sessions for young people aged 10 to 19 – and is badly in need of a jingle.

Then it’s day by day through the week. Lino printing at the Kitchen Garden Cafe and folk music at Top Banana. Kung Fu Kickboxing at Kings Heath Community Centre. Drag at Loco Lounge and a charity céilí at the Irish Centre. The Birmingham Fungi Festival at Highbury Hall and an outdoor Super Mario screening at Dawberry Corner. A free World Menopause Day talk at All Saints, a Sunday jam session at Cartlands, collage at Nook Gallery and a watercolour workshop. Spooky ceramic painting, velvet pumpkins and, to round it off, A Nightmare on Elm Street at the Hare & Hounds Movie Club.

Plus Chris Crouch is getting replaced (only for a week, while he’s on holiday) by Scarlett from Enjoy Kings Heath.

Use the chapters to jump straight to the day you’re listening on.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
01:48 Last week
04:50 Book ahead: Hare of the Dog Comedy 4th Birthday
07:35 Every week: All Saints Youth Project
10:22 Wednesday 14th
13:25 Thursday 15th
15:22 Friday 16th
18:38 Saturday 17th
22:33 Sunday 18th
28:27 Monday 19th
29:17 Tuesday 20th
30:41 Wednesday 21st
33:40 Wrap-up

Got an event, a story or a voice note for us? Email heathtalkpodcast@gmail.com – and please share the show with anyone in Kings Heath, Moseley or wider Birmingham who’d enjoy it.

Episode correction: Skate Buddies' Wednesday adult beginner sessions at Circus Mash run 8pm to 9.30pm and cost £7.50 per session (£9.50 on alternate Tuesdays, 8.30pm to 10pm). Term time only. Details at skatebuddiesuk.co.uk

Another packed week in Kings Heath, Birmingham, UK, so Chris Smith (Technology Made Simple) and Chris Crouch (Infinity Pizza & Infinity Brewing) keep the chatter short and get straight to what's on.

After a quick look back at last week (the band Tired at the Hare & Hounds, the farmers' market, and a cheese night one Chris missed for lack of cheese prep), we start with some all-week news.

All Saints Youth Project offers counselling for young people aged 11 to 19 (up to 25 with additional needs) and their families.

Digital NNS needs volunteers in Kings Heath to help older people get to grips with their phones and devices.

The MAC is looking for artists, designers and makers for its festive night market on 4 December. And a warning: a convincing phishing email claiming to be about that market is going around, so go direct to the MAC.

Then it's day by day. Pottery Painting & Pints at Houblon, adult roller skating with Skate Buddies at Circus Mash, and an autumn burlap wreath workshop at Cartlands Tea Rooms.

An experimental music night with Open Union, James McElrath and Zara Hutton at Blowwater, with dumplings included.

Food, Money and Wellbeing for Women and Girls at the Community Centre, and a new exhibition at The Wrong Gallery on Prospect Road.

Saturday is a big one: the Kings Heath Art Market, a board game social at Loco Lounge, a seminar on tackling homelessness at New Life Baptist Church, a candlelit World Homeless Day concert with Kings Heath Choir at All Saints, and Vinyl Revival at Fletcher's.

On Sunday there's the Kings Heath Artisan Market on York Road, an open mic afternoon at Fletcher's and Oktoberfest at Cartlands.

Monday and Tuesday bring the grand opening of Found Yoga on Silver Street, a Halloween sewing class, a free arts workshop at Kings Heath Library, poppy crocheting at The Hub Hazelwell and the return of the Kings Heath Whisky Club at Houblon, with the Red Lion Folk Club and the Roots Open Mic at the Horseshoe Inn to round off Wednesday.

Got an event, news or a voice note for us? Email heathtalkpodcast@gmail.com.

Have a great week, look after each other, and support your local businesses.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

01:33 Last week

02:48 Next week (all week)

09:06 Wednesday 7 October

12:59 Thursday 8 October

14:45 Friday 9 October

17:23 Saturday 10 October

23:08 Sunday 11 October

26:03 Monday 12 October

28:07 Tuesday 13 October

31:19 Wednesday 14 October

Good morning, Kings Heath! Chris and Chris are back with your weekly round-up of what's happened and what's on in Kings Heath, Birmingham, UK.

We start with sad news: another fire, this time on Drayton Road near the Nationwide, with 10 fire engines and 50 firefighters called out. Thankfully, there were no reported injuries. On a brighter note, our reporter Heidi visited Thrive's open garden in Kings Heath Park, where there were bargain herbs and houseplants. Kings Heath Comic Con has confirmed next year's date, Saturday 18 September 2027, after welcoming 800 people this year. There's also a photo gallery on their website if you want to find yourself (or some very committed stormtroopers).

We begin a new series on the All Saints Youth Project, starting with their free, confidential sexual health drop-ins for young people up to 25. Kings Heath Library is gathering interest in French conversation sessions, in person and online.

What's on this week: Cosy Cinema at Nook Gallery screens the documentary Handmade Future, and the Red Lion Folk Club kicks off its autumn season with The Moon Poppies. Friday brings a kids' art and digital art class and an autumn ceilidh at Kings Heath Community Centre, plus author Derek Owusu in conversation with Casey Bailey at the Heath Bookshop. Saturday has the Farmers Market (buy cheese, you'll see why), a musicals daytime disco at the Hare & Hounds, an embroidered lavender bag workshop at the Loco Lounge, an under-18s open mic at Shades Music, and a silent film night with live organ at All Saints. On Sunday there's a terrarium workshop with Root 13, the B14 Litter Pickers, and the Tired album launch at the Hare & Hounds. Midweek, there's crafting at Pineapple House, the Welcome Hub at The Hub Hazelwell, a new toddler dance class at Harlequin School of Dance, a first-Tuesday cheese night, chair-based exercise for over-50s, and Seb Stone at the Red Lion Folk Club.

Are you a Kings Heath musician? Send us a track and we might play out an episode with it. Event tips and voice notes are always welcome too: heathtalkpodcast@gmail.com

Stay healthy, stay happy, look after each other.

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

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

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.