Our Lives, Our Stories with Carl Chinn

Carl Chinn sits down with Rebecca McKinney, an outstanding headteacher and Catholic schools inspector whose story begins in a big, fiercely close Irish family with roots in the centre of Dublin and the countryside of Kildare. From her mom's childhood in the Bordesley Green back-to-backs to early starts on her dad's market stall, Rebecca grew up among strong women, hard graft and parents who believ...

In this solo episode of Our Lives, Our Stories, Carl Chinn answered a question he has been asked all his life: what makes a historian? For years his answer was the books, the historical novels he read as a a child, from Robin Hood, William Tell and King Arthur to the writing of Rosemary Sutcliff and Henry Treece, which carried him from the Dark Ages to the Vikings, the Crusades and the mountains o...

This Father's Day special, Carl Chinn and some of our guests over the passed year share the stories of the fathers and grandfathers who made them. From a working class bookmaker who played football on the rec and ran the school team because no teacher would, to a Jamaican-Irish poet whose dad quoted Shakespeare and Kipling off the cuff, from a German Jewish refugee who arrived aged 13 on the Kinde...

Carl Chinn sits down with Stacey Barnfield, journalist, former editor of the Birmingham Post, photographer, and creator of the Colour Palette Company and Draw My City. Stacey grew up in Chelmsley Wood and Yardley, proud of both, and that sense of place runs through everything he has built. They talk about Stacey's path from print room runner at the Birmingham Post and Mail to deputy editor of the...

Carl Chinn sits down in conversation with Kate Knowles, editor of the Birmingham Dispatch, a reader-funded online paper covering the stories that matter most to the West Midlands. They talk about Kate's background, how she became a journalist and what it takes to run an independent local paper Content warning: This episode contains discussion of mental health struggles and some strong language. Pl...

Carl Chinn is joined by educator, speaker, community activist and inspirational founder of the Gorniak Method, Toby Gorniak MBE, who grew up in Poland one of the stigmatised Roma community before arriving in Britain as a teenager seeking safety and a new beginning. They talk about Toby’s childhood experiences of discrimination and violence, the strength of family and importance of Roma culture, ar...

Carl Chinn is joined by author, community builder and his former student Christina Longden, who grew up in the mill town of Dukinfield, near Stalybridge, and was among the first in her family to go to university. Since then, she has spent her life uncovering the stories that others left behind. They talk about her growing up working class in the north of England; the class and accent prejudice she...

Carl Chinn sits down in conversation with Roifield Brown, entrepreneur, podcaster, publican and proud Brummie. The son of Windrush generation parents, his Jamaican roots deeply affect him and he tells the remarkable story of his influential great-grandmother, known across her village simply as "Teacher." Roifield also shares his own journey from Birmingham to London, Canada, and California, and wh...

Carl Chinn sits down in conversation with Byline Times journalist and broadcaster, Adrian Goldberg, to talk identity, football and belonging. Adrian – the proud son of two migrants to Birmingham – tells the story of his father, a Jewish refugee from Germany who came to England via the Kindertransport during the Second World War, moved to Birmingham, where he met his Irish Catholic mother. The...

Carl Chinn is joined by fellow historian Dr Kiran Sahota, revealing her research into the vital roles of South Asian men and women in two world wars and how that heritage empowers today’s communities and young people. Growing up as a young Sikh Brummie in Handsworth, she was influenced by her grandparents and Kiran speaks about how her own family history - spanning the Partition of India, migratio...

In this episode, Carl Chinn sits down in conversation with businessman and former Bullring trader, John White. They talk about growing up around Birmingham’s historic markets, the world of the barrow boys, and a life shaped by hard work, resilience, and community. John shares stories of his early life, leaving school at 13 to work alongside his father, and the characters who defined the old Bullri...

In this episode, Carl Chinn sits down in conversation with musician and UB40 co-founder, Robin Campbell. They talk about growing up in Birmingham, discovering reggae, and the journey from local gigs to global success with UB40. Robin shares stories of his early life, the people who shaped him, and the moments that defined the band, alongside reflections on community and music. Hosted on Acast. See...

Carl Chinn is joined by author Sophie Martin-Canning to explore the personal history behind her novel, Kissed By The Angels, as well as the impact her father had on boxing.  Sophie talks about growing up in a Brummie-Irish family and how her own childhood found its way onto the page. They speak about her father Paddy Martin and his legacy, as a man who influenced young boxers across Birmingha...

In this episode, Carl Chinn sits down in conversation with comedian, artist and TV presenter, Joe Lycett. They talk family history, building a comedy career, creativity, and what it means to be a champion for Birmingham. Content warning: This episode contains some strong language. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Carl Chinn sits down in conversation with writer, performer, educator and former Poet Laureate of Birmingham, Casey Bailey.  They talk about Casey's childhood growing up in Nechells, the power of education, masculinity and class, as well as Casey's upcoming music, poetry and theatre projects.  Content warning: This episode contains discussion of violence and suicide. Ple...

Carl Chinn sits down in conversation with Claire Holliday to talk about her life story, motherhood and the power of community. Claire discusses her son Vinnie, who was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, and the campaign she led to fundraise for an accessible classroom at his school. Trigger warning: This episode contains discussion of childhood illness and the death of a child. Please do t...

In the first episode of 'Our Lives, Our Stories', Carl Chinn dives into his own life story. From his family history to his education, Chinn takes us through the influences behind his career as a social historian, his focus on the lives of the working classes and the importance of recording your own history and story. Follow @ourlivespod on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. Hosted on Acast. See acast...

Our Lives, Our Stories is a brand new podcast hosted by social historian, Carl Chinn. Carl will sit down in conversation with a range of guests, from grassroots campaigners to well known names and changemakers, focusing on their personal histories, achievements and the challenges that made them who they are. The series will also have standalone episodes with Carl providing deep-dives specific area...