The Big Smoke

The CNN of the Ghetto

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! In today’s episode, ‘The CNN of the Ghetto’, we explore the rhythms that shape our lives, both natural and self-made.
First up, we welcome MoYah - Afro-fusion rapper, activist, and educator, who blends music with advocacy, using hip-hop as a tool for storytelling, community, and change. From his roots in Mozambique to his career-defining role as Portugal’s first refugee semi-finalist in Festival da Canção, MoYah shares how rap became his language of resistance, identity, and empowerment. 
Then, it’s the return of Rishi Rian with his poetic Parish Notice: ‘Make That Five’ - a meditation on breaking free from the astronomical hamster wheel and redefining the seasons of our lives.
We’ve also got more Maple Leaf or Make Believe! Three strange Canadian headlines, only one is real. Can you guess which?
And finally, a fan favourite returns! Victorian Parlour Games is back, with a rap-inspired twist - Word Ladders. Will you outwit your opponents one letter at a time, or will you be stuck with a forfeit worthy of the 19th century?
And before we wrap up, we’ve got a treat for your ears - ‘Too Much Sauce’ by MoYah closes out the show.
Tune in and step inside The Big Smoke!
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Links:
Refugee Week Info
Answer to Maple Leaf or Make Believe
Find out more about MoYah 
Sign up to our fortnightly newsletter
Follow us on Instagram @thebigsmokevariety and leave us a 5-star review on your podcast app of choice! 
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Chapters
(00:00) Intro
(1:08) Maple Leaf or Make Believe
(2:06) MoYah Interview
(49:04) Parish Notices
(51:42) Make That Five by Rishi Rian
(1:00:18) Victorian Parlour Games
(1:02:13) Maple Leaf or Make Believe Answer
(1:03:53) Outro
(1:04:25) Too Much Sauce by MoYah
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Hosted & Exec Produced by Kevin Bennett
Produced & Edited by Alex Graham
Assistant Produced by Adam Wright
And a big thanks to Ahmad Wonly, our on-street correspondent

The Shoe in the Wall: Patrick Grant on why 'Less' is more

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! In today's episode, ‘The Shoe in the Wall: Patrick Grant on why 'Less' is more’, we’re unpicking the threads of fashion, identity, and the objects we bring into our lives, starting with the clothes on our backs.
Joining us is none other than Patrick Grant - clothier, sustainability advocate, and judge on The Great British Sewing Bee. Patrick takes us on a journey through the history of clothing, the fight for quality over fast fashion, and why what we wear matters more than we think. He also reignited the legacy of Kevin’s great-great-great-great grandfather, Edward Tautz, by relaunching his clothing brand!
Then, it’s storytime with Granny’s Costume Trunk, where Kevin rediscovers the magic of childhood dress-up - becoming anyone with just a wig, a dress, or a pair of glasses.
We also debut an exciting new segment: Archie’s Neuro Nuggets! This week’s bite-sized insight? Fractals in Nature - what they are, why they’re everywhere, and how they might just make your life better. 
A fan favourite, it’s the return of Stump the Room! Test your trivia skills with some fashion-themed facts.
And before we wrap up, our correspondent Ahmad hits the streets to find out how YOU are fostering connection and community when the bells ring out across The Big Smoke. 
Links
Join Patrick Grant’s Newsletter: Community Clothing
Read ‘Less’ by Patrick Grant: William Collins Books
Learn more about Archie McAlpine’s work: Archie McAlpine Associates
Follow us on Instagram @thebigsmokevariety and leave us a 5-star review on your podcast app of choice! 
Chapters
(0:00) Intro
(1:23) Stump The Room
(2:20) Patrick Grant Interview
(1:01:35) Parish Notices
(1:05:07) Granny’s Costume Trunk
(1:09:56) Archie’s Neuro Nuggets
(1:11:44) Stump The Room Answers
(1:13:05) Outro
Hosted & Exec Produced by Kevin Bennett
Produced & Edited by Alex Graham
And a big thanks to Ahmad Wonly, our on-street correspondent

Ode to the Auraculous

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! This episode is an ode to the auraculous, as we delve into the extraordinary world of sound with writer and journalist Caspar Henderson, author of ‘A Book of Noises: Notes on the Auraculous’.
Caspar invites us to tune the dial of our minds and truly listen to the hidden harmonies of nature, the mysteries of music, and the profound ways sound shapes our world. We explore the bizarre and beautiful: from whistling to bears and singing birds, to the first musical instruments and the resonance of ancient spaces. What is sound? Why does rhythm matter? And can a frog’s croak be as poetic as Shakespeare? 
Joining the show is Canadian-American poet Nehassaiu deGannes, who shares selections from ‘Music for Exile’, weaving sound and silence into powerful verse exploring life on the border.
We’re debuting a new game this week! Maple Leaf or Make Believe, where we test your ability to spot the true Canadian headlines from the truly ridiculous. Play along and see if you can guess the real Maple Leaf!
Plug in your headphones, open your ears, and join us for a journey through the science, poetry, and sheer wonder of sound. And remember - if you sneeze, you might just deafen thousands…
Follow us on Instagram @thebigsmokevariety and leave us a 5-star review to help make some noise! 
Time Stamps
Intro - (00:00)
Maple Leaf or Make Believe - (01:07)
Caspar Henderson Interview - (02:10)
Parish Notices - (51:53)
Nehassaiu deGannes Poetry - (55:05)
Maple Leaf or Make Believe Answer - (1:09:40)
Outro - (1:11:01)
Links
Caspar’s Book 
Nehassaiu’s Book 
Answer to Maple Leaf or Make Believe 
Hosted & Exec Produced by Kevin Bennett
Produced & Edited by Alex Graham
And a big thanks to Ahmad Wonly, our on-street correspondent

Christmas Cheese and Reindeer Games

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! In this festive episode, ‘Christmas Cheese and Reindeer Games’, we bring you a brilliant mix of holiday cheer, mouth-watering cheese, and heartwarming stories in support of the Babylon Migrants Project, a community interest company that empowers young refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants through creative activities.
Cheese consultant and author Emma Young leads a fascinating cheese tasting, featuring Maasdam, Taleggio, Brillat Savarin, Stilton, and Grana Padano. Emma shares delightful trivia, pro tips, and stories from her life as an international cheese consultant.
Actors Adam Cunis and Hollie Hales perform an enchanting Rudolph storytelling session that will light up your imagination like Rudolph’s red nose in the night sky.
Composer Joe Atkins and singer Cait Roddam Jones set the mood with festive tunes to fill your home with holiday joy.
We also dig into your quirky holiday traditions, test out your Christmas knowledge with the Philosophy of Christmas Quiz, and crown the cheesiest Christmas cracker joke!
Pour a glass of mulled wine, grab your favourite cheese, and join us for a holiday gathering to remember.
All proceeds from the live event were donated to Babylon Migrants Project, if you’d like to find out more about the amazing work they do, please visit - Babylon Migrants Project.
Follow us on Instagram @thebigsmokevariety, and please rate us 5 stars on your podcast app of choice! Merry Christmas from all of us at The Big Smoke Variety Show! 🎄

The Three Pillars: Comedy, Conversation & Community

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! Today’s episode, ‘The Three Pillars: Comedy, Conversation & Community’, is a special global journey celebrating the heart of what makes our show unique. Join us as we take a closer look at our show’s core themes with incredible guests from around the world.
Our first stop is Vancouver, Canada, where we meet Aidan Parker, a writer, filmmaker, and award-winning member of the Canadian improv community. Aidan shares his passion for comedy and leads Kevin through some engaging improvisation exercises that you can play along with at home. Aidan shows us how comedy and improv can bridge cultures and create community.
Next, we travel to Amstelveen in the Netherlands to chat with Amber Teterissa, a communication coach, trainer, and actor. Amber delves into the art of difficult conversations and the importance of bold communication. 
Finally, we turn to the UK to hear from poet Rishi Rian, whose moving work captures one man’s search for connection through community. Rishi’s poetic insights remind us of the strength we find in coming together.
This episode also features our classic segments, ‘Stump the Room’, which has been given a Trivial Pursuit twist and our Victorian Parlour Game this week has been taken straight from the Netherlands: Spijkerpoepen, or ‘Nail Pooping’. Yes, you read that right—prepare for some laughs and surprises as we embrace this quirky Dutch tradition!
Don’t miss our festive finale, ‘Christmas Cheese and Reindeer Games!’ on December 13th, a show filled with cheese tasting, music, holiday stories, and lively Christmas parlour games. Book your tickets now and join us for the ultimate holiday gathering in support of Babylon Migrants Project.
Follow us on Instagram @thebigsmokevariety and don’t forget to rate us 5 stars on your podcast app of choice!

The Better Part of Valour

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! Today’s episode, “The Better Part of Valour”, takes us into the unexpected world of Ukrainian cricket—a story of courage, community, and resilience in the face of war. Our guest, Jonathan Campion, journalist and author of 'Getting Out: The Ukrainian Cricket Team’s Last Stand on the Front Lines of War', shares his first-hand account of Ukraine’s quirky cricket history and how its players became unlikely heroes during Russia’s 2022 invasion. It’s a story that proves bravery can emerge in the most surprising places.
In addition to Jonathan’s inspiring story, this episode offers an eclectic mix of entertainment to bring the community together. We have Latin jazz from Bob Morgan and Diego Laverde Rojas, whose music is guaranteed to captivate. True to Big Smoke tradition, we also have engaging games, including “Stump the Room”, where audience members challenge each other with impossible crosswords, and “Hat Tricks”, an interactive segment filled with cricket trivia as we get to know our audience, sponsored by Hatopia. Our Victorian Parlour Game of the week is 'Smells', simple to prepare with just a blindfold and a variety of scents, this game always promises plenty of laughs and surprises.
Our next show, “Christmas Cheese and Reindeer Games!” on December 13th, is a festive celebration filled with cheese tasting, music, holiday stories, and lively Christmas parlour games—all in support of Babylon Migrants Project. Don’t miss this mouth-watering evening with cheese specialist Emma Young. Get your tickets here and join us for the ultimate holiday gathering!
Some of the proceeds from our live recording went to Ukraine Charity, you can find out more about their work here.
Follow us on Instagram @thebigsmokevariety, and don’t forget to rate us 5 stars on your podcast app! Thanks to Sacred Grounds Cafe and Hatopia for supporting this event. 

A Fatal Exit

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! Today’s episode, “A Fatal Exit”, delves into the spooky lore of the Tower of London and its iconic ravens, just in time for Halloween!
Our guest is none other than former Ravenmaster and current Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London Christopher Skaife, author of The Ravenmaster — named ‘London book of the year’ by the Evening Standard. Join us as Chris recounts his years caring for these extraordinary birds, weaving humour and history with eerie legends of life in the Tower. Discover why legend insists that, should the ravens ever leave, the kingdom will fall into ruin…
Adding an unforgettable musical element, we’re thrilled to welcome Amyas, the historical music duo Emily Baines and Arngeir Hauksson, known for their mastery of period instruments. From eerie to enthralling, their music brings the historical spirit alive.
We’ve also got a lineup of exciting autumnal games to celebrate Halloween in style! First, it's, Stump the Room, a crossword-inspired challenge to test your brainpower. Then, Trick or Tune, where contestants must try to lie to our host or identify some live performed musical clues. Our parlour game of the week is Ring My Gourd—a glowing, pumpkin-themed ring toss to keep the autumn spirit going! Perfect for any spooky gathering, these games promise fun, friendly competition, and all the festive vibes.
Our next show, “The Better Part of Valour”, on November 8th, features Jonathan Campion, author of Getting Out: The Ukrainian Cricket Team’s Last Stand on the Front Lines of War, sharing the remarkable story of Ukraine’s heroic and quirky cricket history. Plus, enjoy award-winning stand-up from Daisy Roberts and Latin Jazz by Diego Laverde Rojas and Bob Morgan! Get your tickets here!
Follow us on Instagram @thebigsmokevariety, and don’t forget to rate us 5 stars on your podcast app of choice! Thanks to Sacred Grounds Cafe for hosting us.

The Freestyle Mind

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! In this episode, “The Freestyle Mind”, we dive into how we can harness our thoughts to find stillness, flow, creativity, and inspiration in the midst of modern chaos.
First up, we have Arti Lal, a seasoned meditation teacher and co-ordinator of the Inner Space Meditation Centre in Covent Garden. For over 35 years, Arti has been inspiring individuals to make space for quiet reflection and mindfulness. She leads us in a guided meditation, helping us explore how to find calm amidst the noise of daily life.
Next, joining us is Kate Sharp, an incredibly witty comedian and writer based in London. With a clever conversational style and a knack for observational humour. Kate is a rising star in the UK comedy scene and she brings her unique blend of humour and charm to the show. 
Finally, we’re joined by LeeN, a master of ceremonies and freestyle rap artist known for his electrifying performances and socially conscious freestyles. Touring with beatboxing champion Beardyman, LeeN is an artist whose improvisational skills shine in live settings. 
But the fun doesn’t stop there! We’ve got a new Victorian Parlour Game for you to enjoy and 3 new contestants for a fresh round of Hat Tricks, where contestants battle it out to win fabulous prizes from our sponsor, Hatopia.
Our next show, “A Fatal Exit”, features former Ravenmaster Christopher Skaife and historical musicians Emily Baines and Arngeir Hauksson. You can find tickets here!
Follow us on Instagram @thebigsmokevariety, and don’t forget to rate us 5 stars on your podcast app of choice! Thanks to Sacred Grounds Cafe for hosting us.

Stone Aged Wisdom

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! In this episode, “Stone Aged Wisdom”, we’re stepping back in time to explore how ancient skills and wisdom can still connect us to our modern world. How could learning to start a fire or forage for food be relevant in the digital age? 
We’re thrilled to welcome Memma the Cavewoman, aka Sarah Day. Memma is a Bushcraft instructor, experimental archaeologist, and ancient technologist with over 13 years of experience. She’s worked with TV survivalist Ray Mears’ company Woodlore Ltd, teaching outdoor skills and sharing her passion for prehistory. From finding her first fossil at age 5 to becoming the Head Cavewoman for Prehistoric Experiences, Memma brings history to life through her engaging workshops. In this episode, she’ll guide us through Stone Age tools, stories, and survival skills that resonate even in our fast-paced, modern lives. If you’d like to see the objects Memma discusses in the episode, visit our Instagram page.
And that’s not all! Get ready to meet Meg Hemmings, an Australian poet whose journey has taken her from small-town Spain to regional Tasmania. A former pastry chef turned copywriter and memoirist, Meg brings a unique perspective on travel, cooking, and the art of living fully.
But the fun doesn’t stop there! To round off the episode, we’re diving into some Victorian Parlour Games, because play is an instinct that connects us all, no matter the era. Today’s game is Basketball Head – a whimsical test of skill and coordination. Tune in for the laughter and chaos, and check out our Instagram @thebigsmokevariety to see how it went for us!
Join us for the next show, on October 11th!
You can read the BBC article about Memma rowing the River Thames here
A huge thanks to the sponsor for this episode, Hatopia

Heroes or Vandals?

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! In this episode, “Heroes or Vandals?”, we’re taking you deep into the world of graffiti, urban art, and creative expression. Right now it seems there's a new Banksy popping up on every corner, so our timing couldn't be better!
Featuring in this episode is Madeleine Pelling, cultural historian and co-host of History Hit’s After Dark. She’ll be discussing her new book 'Writing on the Wall: Graffiti, Rebellion and the Making of Eighteenth-Century Britain', offering a fresh look at how graffiti has shaped the course of history. Alongside her, we welcome Gary Means, founder of Alternative London and one of the UK’s leading experts on street art. He’ll share stories of modern graffiti and its role in representing the voices of the unheard, as well as its connection to the cultural diversity of East London.
But that’s not all! For an extra dose of humor, we’re bringing in Mark Silcox, the hilarious stand-up comedian, science teacher, and ping-pong player. 
Whether you’re a fan of Banksy or just curious about the political and social meanings behind street art, this episode is packed with insights, laughter, and surprises.
If you'd like to see some of the work mentioned in this episode, visit @perspicereartist
And if you'd like to listen to Gary's podcast episode with Jay Kaes you can find that here
Find us on Instagram: @thebigsmokevariety
Click here to come to one of our live shows!