Hello You 100: On a bench in Ludlow (again!)

The 100th episode of Hello You the Shropshire podcast!Can you believe that? I can’t deny that I’m pretty damn proud to have made this milestone, especially considering I started Hello You eighteen months ago … by accident. Hey, these things happen. If you want to know how and why this all started, listen to the first episode? It’s quite short. And clearly I have no idea what I’m doing, I just feel I have to do it. I like stuff that’s made that way.If you’re new here, by the way: Welcome! I’m so glad you’ve become a member of the Hello You family. Should you need a little more info: It's about stuff. And things. Shropshire, and further afield. Mental health, music, journalism, media, faith and belief, radio, photography and everything else that resides in my head or heart, or yours. ‘The complexities of life’, as listener The Captain puts it. Intelligent, progressive, sometimes quirky conversation for and about Shropshire and her people is the elevator pitch. But always trying to make the world a better place, in whatever way I can. Given that most newly-launched podcasts fizzle out before they’ve reached episode 12 (source: my mate who knows more about the podcast industry than most people) you might expect that my one hundredth episode would be a look back at the previous ninety-nine, or a celebratory round-table recorded in a bar with some of my favourite past guests … y’know, the usual media hoop-la.But in episode 100, I don’t at any point mention that it’s episode 100. Mostly because as I was recording it, I didn’t realise it was going to be episode 100. I’m good at a lot of things, but synergistic cross-promotion is not one of them. Back to Ludlow, to the right bench this timeHaving asked people for suggestions of benches where I can sit and record random conversations with whomsoever shares the bench with me, a number of wise and well-informed individuals nominated a specific bench in Ludlow.So, of course, I went to Ludlow and sat on the wrong bench. Quel toolbelt.To make amends, I returned to Ludlow and spent a sunny lunchtime on the correct bench. Hear what happened in this episode of Hello You the Shropshire podcast. ‘When you get old, people ignore you in the street’ Under discussion in this episode:* ankles* Felix the cat* double denim* life-threatening cow action* The Lone Groover* lucky earrings* ‘five and twenty past …’* dressing like a very minor Seventies rock star* my mum’s hundred-and-first birthdayBe a good friend?If you enjoy this episode of Hello You, you probably know someone else who’ll enjoy it too. Send them a present! Click here: ‘Wear what you want, don’t save things for best’Do you have clothes you only wear occasionally, even though you really like them? What’s stopping you wearing them more often? Let me know, and this could become the theme of a future episode of Hello You the Shropshire podcast. Click here: Do you have something you’d like to talk about on Hello You? Maybe a story that needs to be told …You can contact me discreetly, securely and confidential on Signal. My username is jimallthetime.69Whatever you feel strongly about, whatever you want more people to know or understand, I’m here to listen to you. It’s what I do. I’m empathetic and compassionate; you’re safe to be your authentic self with me.Signal: jimallthetime.69You might this article helpful, too. I was about to post this info, saying I’d heard about departures from a high-profile local Shropshire organisation with mutterings about bullying … and then I heard from other people who’d left a different high-profile local organisation with stories of bullying! So I might be quite busy …You can always send me a message just by clicking this button: Help me get to episode 200 … or 2000?There’s still a place, I believe, for public-service local journalism that cares about people. For audio that brings you the voices of people you might not hear from otherwise. For interviews conducted with compassion and empathy. For thoughtful, positive, good-humoured conversations, informed local storytelling, and commentary that’s not afraid to get righteously angry on occasion.Hello You the Shropshire podcast will be free for everyone, for ever. But if you’re able to, and if you appreciate what I do and would like to support it? why not take out a paid subscription? You’ll help to ensure it stays free, for everyone. And you’ll be helping me towards my ultimate goal, which you can hear about … towards the end of this episode! Thank you for being thereHave the best weekend you possibly can, in whatever your circumstances happen to be.Take care of yourself, take care of the people around you, and I hope they’re taking care of you, as well. 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