Politix and Chill

Latest Episodes:

Ep14: Budgets. Riots. Scouse. Feb 28, 2020

Show notes

Ben is joined by BBC Norfolk's Robby West and BBC WM's Kath Stanczyszyn to chat parish council meeting protests, floods and bullying.

Claire Hamilton from BBC Radio Merseyside shares some 'scouse' with Ian Byrne MP ahead of Global Scouse Day.

Pete Simson from Radio Bristol meets an artist who has drawn inspiration from the city's history of riots.

There's a whistlestop tour round the country for updates on council budgets and a cameo from Frank Turner.

Got a story for us? politix@bbc.co.uk

Ep13: Floods. Beef. Lego. Feb 21, 2020

Show notes

Ben is joined by BBC WM's Rob Mayor and BBC Radio Gloucestershire's Freya Lee to chat flooding, mayoral elections and Uber.

We hear about a Lego training session for councillors in Walsall.

And after a row about roundabouts in Kent - we set the local politicians' beef to grime.

Ep12: HS2. Dumping. Cookies. Feb 14, 2020

Show notes

Ben is joined by BBC Radio Somerset's James Craig and BBC Radio Leeds' Kevin Larkin to chat HS2 and Coronavirus.

Sam Ferguson talks about cookies on council websites.

And as a cabinet reshuffle coincides with Valentines Day, a stellar cast of reality stars and relationship experts offer advice to Boris Johnson on how to dump someone.

Ep11: Brexit Night. Brussels. Ryecrocosm. Feb 07, 2020

Show notes

A sideways glance at politics across England with Ben Weisz.

Ep10: Brexit. Farming. Gnomes. Jan 31, 2020

Show notes

As Brexit approaches, Ben is joined by BBC Radio Kent's Yetunde Yusuf and BBC Radio Merseyside's Claire Hamilton to chat about how the different areas are preparing for entering the transition phase, whilst also championing their local ports.

BBC Radio Oxford's Bethan Nimmo visits Oxford's first twin town in 23 years,Wroclaw in Poland.

BBC Radio Shropshire's Joanne Gallacher asked the agriculture students how they're feeling about the prospect of leaving the EU and BBC Radio Lincolnshire's Alex Rhode locks a leaver and a remainer in an escape room to see if they could cooperate and leave in one piece?

If there's something happening that you think we should be looking at email politix@bbc.co.uk

Ep09: Climate. County Lines. Ice Cream. Jan 24, 2020

Show notes

Ben Weisz is joined by Aisha Iqbal, Bradford political reporter for BBC Radio Leeds and Tamsin Melville BBC Radio Cornwall's political reporter as they talk thorugh they

Climate change might be a global problem - but local government is under growing pressure to step up and help tackle it. We travel around the country with BBC Radio Nottingham's Hugh Casswell, BBC WM's Kath Stanczyszyn and BBC Radio York's Gemma Dillon to find out what councils are doing, a year after

And after a certain online media streaming service which inspired our podcast's name launched their own flavour of ice cream, we thought it was only fitting that we had one too. Bibi Lynch joins Ben at Sussex's famous ice cream parlour Marrocco's to concoct a new flavour.

If there's something happening that you think we should be looking at email politix@bbc.co.uk

Ep08: Budgets. Landlords. DMCs. Jan 17, 2020

Show notes

Ben Weisz is joined by BBC Radio Solent's Emily Hudson and BBC Radio Leicester's Tim Parker to chat council budget meetings, Rutland's first McDonalds and they'll all try to #SeduceSomeoneInFourWords.

Sam Gruet educates newly elected MP Dehenna Davison on Love Island and *that* walk.

BBC Radio Merseyside's Claire Hamilton looks into housing and there's the latest Dominic Cummings Book Club.

If there's something happening that you think we should be looking at email politix@bbc.co.uk

Ep07: Energy. Trains. Cummings. Jan 10, 2020

Show notes

Ben Weisz sees in the new year with BBC Radio Nottingham's Hugh Casswell and BBC Radio York's Gemma Dillon to chat about council run energy companies and train problems. There's also a masked singer inspired politcal quiz.

Its the first Politix & Chill Dominic Cummings Book Club where construction students from East Sussex College in Eastbourne consider one of the articles suggested by Dominic Cummings in his blog post.

There's also Playground politics from Ruishton in Somerset.

Christmas. Freshers. Bens. Dec 20, 2019

Show notes

Ben gets in the festive mood with BBC London’s political reporter Susana Mendonça and BBC Radio Manchester’s Kevin Fitzpatrick to discuss fallout to the election and present the inaugural Ben awards.

Sam Gruet explores how to avoid awkward inter-generational political conversations at Christmas.

BBC Radio Lancashire’s Mike Stevens meets Sir Lindsay Hoyle’s pet collection.

And to mark the Queen’s speech, we’re bringing you our very own drag queen speeches.

Election Politix and Chill 05: Yorkshire. Speed Dating. Barnett. Dec 10, 2019

Show notes

In this bonus podcast, Ben Weisz is joined by BBC Radio York's Gemma Dillon and BBC Radio Sheffield's Aisha Iqbal as they get ready for a Question Time special. Rachel Shraer from BBC Reality Check gets posed questions from Love Island's Hayley Hughes whilst we go speed dating withHereford & Worcester's James Pearson.

All that and some I'm A Celeb themed political poetry.