Author: Nick Booth

Podminions – podcasts by King’s Norton Boys’ School

Podminions is the podcast of King’s Norton Boys’ School in Birmingham, UK. Here we will tell stories of the local community, the things we do in and out of school, argue about the issues that matter to us and share with you the music we write.

We set this up with a little help from the Birmingham Community Empowerment Network and another podcast called the Grassroots Channel. But what we say here is entirely our doing – so listen and then please tell us what you think.

You can download the episodes below:

Together We Can – 31 March 2006

The first podcast from the boys at King’s Norton Boys’ School. In this episode four boys attend a conference at the NEC aimed at promoting active citizens around the UK.

Sport: Year 8 vs Shenley Court – 17 May 2006

In this episode, we send three boys to a year 8 football match against Shenley Court.

Half the World – 24 June 2006

In this episode, we send two boys out on a trip with the GCSE Citizenship group to Chamberlain Square in Birmingham as part of Refugee Week. Also includes music from student Jack Newett called “Half the World”.

Summer Concert 2006 – 18 July 2006

In this episode we send Ruairi out with the recorder to find out what’s happening behind the scenes at our school summer concert.

Healthy foods – 25 September 2006

In this episode we visit Simpsons Restaurant in Edgbaston to promote healthy meals in schools.

Say Cheese! 28 October 2006

We had a photographer (Ian Reynolds of i4images. com) come into our school and take photos of students under the title “A Learning Community” this podcast asks students and teachers what their opinions of the photos were.

From Here to There series

Part 1 – 11 October 2006. We introduce a project we will be taking part in over the next few months called “From Here to There”.

Part 2 – 17 November 2006. We go to Manchester Exhibition Centre and give a talk on the project. If you haven’t listened to part 1 we suggest you do so or this won’t make any sense to you!

Part 3 – 24 February 2007. The podminions go to Lyon, France for a week.

Winning the Shanty Town Shuffle in Barcelona – a new podcast from the Grassroots Channel

chrisbongardbarcelona

This is a picture of Chris Bongard who talks to the Grassroots Channel about his neighbours’ campaign to convert their wooden shacks in one of Barcelona’s old shanty towns into purpose built apartment blocks. You can see the homes they campaigned for on the right of the picture, just over Chris’s shoulder. He is standing in Parc Guell with the Carmelo neighbourhood behind him.

Chris tells a story that dates back to the 1970s as fledgling street level democracy was emerging in Spain from under the shadow of Franco’s fascist dictatorship.

Closer to home we also have residents of Kings Heath and Edgbaston in Birmingham tell us why they love their neighbourhoods.

Lower Eastside Dialogues – Digital Cities.

Pete Ashton has reminded me of something I thoroughly enjoyed last month and would encourage you to get along too. This years first Lower Eastside Dialogue was on architecture. I learnt a lot, met some good people and enjoyed myself.

The next two are absolutely up my street, with next week about digital endeavours and the modern city and the following month about heritage and regeneration, which squarely fits my hat as a trustee of the Birmingham Conservation Trust. You can find details at this post, from Pete who I met in the flesh for the first time at the last dialogue. Next week’s is in quite small venue so book if you want to go.
There – any old excuse to use a picture of one of Birmingham’s architectural treaures: Curzon Street Station.
technorati tags: