The Big Smoke Variety Show

The Most Romantic Job in the World

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show!
This week, we’re packing our bags and setting off on a whirlwind journey — from London to Malawi to Canada… and then… a mystery location?!
First up, we’re joined by travel writer, photographer and community chronicler Helena Smith, whose work with Lonely Planet, Rough Guides and Bradt Guides has taken her from London’s lesser-known footpaths to the sun-drenched hills of rural Malawi. With Helena, we explore how walking with purpose and travelling with care can open new ways of seeing — even in places we thought we knew.
Then, in this week’s Parish Notices, Ahmad Wonly catches up with Martin Cosarinsky Campos, Director of Breadwinners — a social enterprise that’s baking change with every sourdough loaf. Martin brings a wealth of experience from both the charity and private sectors, and his ethos is simple but powerful: “Get to know the people you fear”. Together, they explore how community is built not just through what we do, but who we do it with — one loaf at a time.
Next, we dust off another entry from our Audio Archives — this time, a peculiar Museum Audio Guide. But where (or what) is it? A riddle for your ears awaits…
And finally, Archie’s Neuro Nuggets returns with a quick, science-backed tip to bring more art into your life — and more calm to your mind. This week: how doodling could help you process emotions and reduce stress in just a few minutes a day.
Want more behind-the-scenes content, guest links, and a full breakdown of Archie’s latest nugget? Sign up at thebigsmokevariety.com for our fortnightly Periodical.
Thanks for joining us in The Big Smoke. We’ll see you in a fortnight! 
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Links 
Helena Smith
Parish Notices: Breadwinners
Archie’s Neuro Nuggets
Maple Leaf or Make Believe answer
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Chapters
(00:00) Intro
(1:24) Maple Leaf or Make Believe
(2:25) Helena Smith Interview
(44:08) Parish Notices: Breadwinners
(56:06) Audio Archives: Museum Audio Guide 
(1:09:01) Archie’s Neuro Nuggets
(1:11:10) Maple Leaf or Make Believe Answer
(1:12:44) Outro 
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Credits
Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett
Produced & Edited by Alex Graham
Assistant Produced by Adam Wright
Original music by Giles Terera
Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins
Audio Archives: Museum Audio Guide written by Aidan Parker
Museum Guide played by Terry Bamberger
Dr. V Chisling played by Scott Brooksbank

Religion, Rituals, and Rubbish

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! This week, we’re digging through the layers of history, ritual, and relics to uncover the surprising ways we make meaning and find home.
First up, we’re joined by Dr. Andrew Irving, Director of the Groningen Centre for Religion and Heritage, who takes us on a journey through the sacred and the forgotten. From medieval manuscripts to the relics we toss aside, he shares how ancient rituals shape our sense of connection and community. Andrew also spent time studying ancient codices in the Vatican Library, where he witnessed firsthand how sacred texts have shaped centuries of ritual.
Then, it’s the return of Sean Clark the Mudlark, who takes us to the banks of the River Thames, where a curious find links modern-day London to medieval Spain. This week’s artefact? A Pilgrim Badge Mount dating back to the 1400s, its scallop shell design bearing the mark of Saint James. But the real twist? Sean sent it back to Santiago for a blessing —over 600 years after it last made the pilgrimage!
Next, Assistant Producer Adam Wright hits the streets to catch up with our Roving Correspondent Ahmad Wonly, whose journey from Burundi to London is a story of resilience and reinvention. Whether he’s on the football pitch or in the lecture hall, Ahmad shows how to stay deeply connected to community, no matter where life takes you.
And finally, Rishi Rian brings us a Poetic Parish Notice titled ‘My Kitchen Mirror’—a haunting meditation on self-image, memory, and the strange ways we see ourselves in the everyday.
Want more behind-the-scenes content, guest links, and a chance to read Rishi’s poem in full? Sign up at thebigsmokevariety.com for our fortnightly Periodical.
Thanks for joining us in The Big Smoke. We’ll see you in a fortnight! 
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Chapters
(00:00) Religion?
(04:54) Intro
(06:00) Andrew Irving Interview
(52:38) Sean Clark the Mudlark's Latest Find
(59:26) Parish Notices
(1:06:27) My Kitchen Mirror by Rishi Rian
(1:15:08) Outro
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Credits
Hosted & Exec Produced by Kevin Bennett
Produced & Edited by Alex Graham
Assistant Produced by Adam Wright
Roving Correspondent Ahmad Wonly
'Religion?' featuring Jolyon Coy
Original music by Giles Terera
Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins

Hook, Hamilton, Hamlet: Olivier Award winner Giles Terera's unpredictable journey

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! This episode tips its hat to the dramatic and the delightfully ridiculous—from lost boys and duels at dawn to Shakespearean skulls and Victorian umbrella stands.
We kick things off with Stump the Room, where we dare you to unravel a set of stage-worthy questions spanning Hook, Hamilton, and Hamlet. From blink-and-you-miss-it cameos to the real-life rulebook behind duels, this quiz blends pop culture with classical flair. Play along and see if you can outsmart your friends.
Then it’s curtain up on a very special guest: Giles Terera—Olivier Award-winning star of ‘Hamilton’ and soon-to-be ‘Hamlet’ at Chichester Festival Theatre. From Neverland to revolutionary New York to the haunted halls of Elsinore, Giles shares the unexpected turns, profound challenges, and artistic awakenings that have shaped his extraordinary journey on stage.
Next, our Parish Notices take a literary turn as assistant producer Adam hits the streets to ask: “what’s your favourite book?” The responses lead us into a sneak peek of our brand-new Big Smoke Book Club. First pick? ‘Queer as Folklore’ by the endlessly insightful Sacha Coward. Fancy reading along with us? You can find out more info and join the club here!
Feeling a little under the weather? Good news—it’s time to meet our new resident doctor. Dr. Quack is in the house (or perhaps a 16th-century plague ward), offering historically accurate medical advice for your minor ailments.
And finally, it’s game time, Victorian Parlour Games returns! The Elephant’s Foot Umbrella Stand. It’s part memory game, part logic puzzle, and part descent into chaos. Bring your wits—and maybe an umbrella?
It’s thoughtful. It’s theatrical. It’s just a little bit unhinged.
Want more delightful oddities? Sign up at thebigsmokevariety.com for our fortnightly Periodical.
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Links
Read Giles’s book, ‘Hamilton and Me: An Actor's Journal’ Here!
See Giles as Hamlet at Chichester Festival Theatre
“You’re Blowing Smoke!”: Dr. Quack’s historical insights
More delightfully disturbing historical Quack-y medical facts
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Chapters
(00:00) Intro
(01:21) Stump The Room
(02:17) Giles Terera Interview
(53:12) Parish Notices
(59:14) Dr. Quack
(1:06:11) Victorian Parlour Games
(1:08:39) Stump The Room Answers
(1:11:02) Outro
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Hosted & Exec Produced by Kevin Bennett
Produced & Edited by Alex Graham
Assistant Produced by Adam Wright
Dr. Quack written and performed by Jolyon Coy
Original music by Giles Terera
Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins
 
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The Anti-Anxiety Toolkit

Today’s episode really leans into the “variety” part of our podcast's name. From Canadian headlines to ancient Roman bone dice, it’s a buffet of the bizarre, the beautiful, and the quietly profound.
First up, it’s back to the Great White North for another round of Maple Leaf, or Make Believe?—the quiz that challenges you to separate true Canadian news stories from sweet, syrupy fakes. One of these headlines is legit. The rest? Pure, unfiltered nonsense. Can you spot the truth?
Then, we slow things down with our first guest: yoga and meditation teacher Sue Cheung, who shares accessible, practical tools for managing anxiety in a noisy world. With strategies drawn from her Anti-Anxiety Toolkit, Sue shows us that finding calm in chaos isn’t just possible—it might be the most powerful thing we can do.
After that, we crack open the Audio Archives, a brand new segment uncovering strange audio relics of the past. This week, a preserved recording from the final shift of a switchboard operator named Katherine Ellington. What call sealed her fate? Who was on the other end of the line—and what exactly did they say?
And finally, it’s time to put on your wellies and head down to the River Thames with returning guest Sean Clark the Mudlark. In his first regular report, Sean introduces us to the ancient artefacts “finding him” on the foreshore—including a tiny, lopsided Roman bone die that opens a portal to 2,000 years of gambling, games, and forgotten Londoners.
Our Parish Notices this week come from the endlessly inspiring Ahmad—sharing a glimpse into the world of The Running Charity and the coach who’s changing lives.
You’ll laugh, you’ll breathe, you’ll say “Wait—what did I just listen to?”
Step inside The Big Smoke. It’s weird. It’s wonderful. It’s waiting.
Don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter at thebigsmokevariety.com for a peek behind the curtain of our guests and more!
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Links
Sue Cheung Website
Claude Umuhire and The Running Charity
Sean Clark Instagram
Maple Leaf or Make Believe Answer
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Chapters
(00:00) Intro
(01:25) Maple Leaf or Make Believe
(02:24) Sue Cheung Interview
(41:58) Parish Notices
(47:22) Audio Archives: Switchboard Operator
(58:21) Sean Clark the Mudlark’s Latest Find
(01:04:22) Maple Leaf or Make Believe Answer
(01:06:19) Outro
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Hosted & Exec Produced by Kevin Bennett
Produced & Edited by Alex Graham
Assistant Produced by Adam Wright
A big thanks to Ahmad Wonly, our on-street correspondent
Audio Archives was written by Aidan Parker and stars Olivia Mace
 

Opera is Like Boxing

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! In today’s episode, we step into the ring… or rather, the opera house. And trust us, by the end, you’ll see they might just be the same thing.
First up, we kick things off with a Looney Tunes twist in Stump the Room: Bugs Bunny Meets Opera Edition. Can you tell your Wagnerian heroines from your Saturday morning demons?
Then, our host Kevin Bennett is joined by Thomas Guthrie - opera director, writer, composer, and founder of the charity Music and Theatre for All. Kevin challenges Tom to convince him that opera isn’t just about powdered wigs and posh intervals but is something raw, real, and resonant.
Then, we visit the vibrant heart of Lewisham with our Parish Notices, where guest correspondent Vicky Annand brings us stories of connection and creativity from the local community. 
Later in the show, Kevin shares a personal piece titled ‘The Weird Sister’, a true story from his time running a Shakespeare collective in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. It’s about trust, transformation, and how one woman, through the words of the Porter in Macbeth, found her voice in an unexpected place.
And finally, it’s time to hang upside down - literally. Archie McAlpine returns with Neuro Nuggets, offering a curious brain hack about blood flow and perspective that’s part gym trick, part neuroscience. You can learn more about Archie’s work here.
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Links:
Find out more about Thomas Guthrie
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
(01:27) Stump the Room
(02:44) Tom Guthrie Interview
(45:13) Parish Notices
(51:11) The Weird Sister
(59:30) Archie’s Neuro Nugget
(1:00:51) Stump The Room Answers
(1:04:41) Outro
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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 Vicky Annand, our guest correspondent
 

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!