Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show!

This week, we strike a match and step into the strange, smoky, and surprisingly human world of alchemy — where fire is sacred, emperors chase immortality, and one man’s glowing urine helps shape the story of modern chemistry.

Kevin is joined by award-winning journalist, adventurer, and author Dr Kit Chapman to discuss his new book The Age of Alchemy: How Early Innovators Shaped Modern Chemistry. Together, they travel through thousands of years of human curiosity, from the first use of fire to the myths, mistakes, rituals, and discoveries that eventually became modern science.

Along the way, we visit Mayan ruins in Guatemala, explore the origins of alchemy in Roman Egypt, decode the strange language of alchemical recipes, and discover why chemistry is not just a laboratory science, but a story of culture, religion, politics, travel, empire, and survival. From golden idols, Egyptian blue pigments, and Chinese emperors drinking mercury in search of eternal life, to Hennig Brand’s unforgettable attempt to turn urine into gold, Kit reveals how these curious histories connect to his own travels — from the Sir John Soane’s Museum in London to the Aral Sea — and to the wider story of science, humanity, and the world around us.

Then, after all that elemental adventure, we pop into the local for a quick pub quiz. This week’s round: Elemental Excellence. Test your knowledge of chemistry, curious elements, and the strange facts hiding in the periodic table.

We’re also trying something new, with episodes now coming to you every week. Join us next Thursday for more adventurous audio, including mischievous folklore from the north of England and another remarkable mudlarking discovery from the banks of the Thames.

So whether you’re warming your hands by the fire, wondering what the world is made from, or simply hoping your own experiments don’t get out of hand — there’s always something bubbling away in The Big Smoke

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1) Which element was named after the Greek word meaning “green-yellow”?

Answer: D) Chlorine

The name chlorine comes from the Greek word chloros, meaning green-yellow — a reference to the gas’s distinctive colour. Chlorine was identified as an element by Humphry Davy in 1810.

2) Which element was once considered so valuable that Emperor Napoleon III reportedly reserved cutlery made from it for his most important dinner guests?

Answer: C) Aluminium

Before modern industrial methods made it cheap and common, aluminium was considered more precious than gold. In the mid-19th century, Napoleon III reportedly used aluminium utensils for honoured guests — while everyone else had to make do with gold or silver.

3) Which element was first discovered by scientists studying the Sun — before it was ever found on Earth?

Answer: A) Helium

In 1868, astronomers studying a solar eclipse spotted a mysterious yellow spectral line in sunlight that didn’t match any known element. They named it helium after Helios — making it the first element discovered in space before being identified on Earth.

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Links

📖 The Age of Alchemy by Kit Chapman

🧑‍🔬 Dr Kit Chapman

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Chapters

(00:00) Intro & Show Menu

(01:39) Kit Chapman Interview

(44:34) Pub Quiz: Elemental Excellence

(46:03) Outro

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Credits

Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett

Produced & Edited by Alex Graham

Original Music by Giles Terera

Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show!

This week we take a rather unexpected journey through the city — from flushing away the everyday to restoring what we might otherwise dump. This episode explores how even the most overlooked spaces and objects can tell powerful stories about how we live.

First, our new segment, Let’s Go to the Loo! Kevin is joined by Rachel Cole-Wilkin, creator of London Loo Tours, for a guided exploration of the capital’s most fascinating facilities. What begins as a practical search for convenience quickly reveals something much deeper — a story of design, history, and social change. From the beautifully conceived Jubiloo near the South Bank to the Victorian origins of public sanitation, we uncover how these everyday spaces reflect shifting attitudes towards hygiene, public life, and even profit. Along the way, we encounter the Great Stink of 1858, the engineering brilliance of Bazalgette’s sewer system, and the surprising truth that even a toilet can be a piece of storytelling architecture.

Then, when the bells ring out across the city, it’s time for Parish Notices — and a visit to the world of Repair Cafés. In a culture built on convenience and disposal, these community-led spaces offer something radically different: the chance to slow down, learn new skills, and bring broken objects back to life. Through the work of The Restart Project and local volunteers, we explore how repairing a kettle, mending a coat, or fixing a clock can become something far more meaningful — a way to preserve memories, reduce waste, and reconnect with both our possessions and each other.

So whether you’re navigating the city in search of relief, or taking a moment to repair what’s broken — there’s always a place to pause, restart, and begin again in The Big Smoke.

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Links

🚻 London Loo Tours

♻️ The Restart Project – Southfields Mend, Fix & Repair Café.

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Chapters

(00:00) Intro & Show Menu

(01:26) Let’s Go to the Loo!

(16:33) Parish Notices: Repair Café

(28:09) Outro

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Credits

Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett

Produced & Edited by Alex Graham

Original Music by Giles Terera

Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins

Parish Notices written by Blanche Coy

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show!

This week we press start on the world of video games. From ancient history to interactive storytelling, we explore not just what games are, but what they might become — and what they can reveal about how we understand the world around us.

Kevin is joined by Dr Richard Cole, Senior Lecturer in Digital Futures in the Department of Classics & Ancient History at the University of Bristol. Together they trace Richard’s journey from a game-loving childhood through to a career exploring how video games, virtual reality, and AI can open up new ways of engaging with history. From Age of Empires and GoldenEye to Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, the conversation unpacks how games don’t just represent the past — they remix it, reshape it, and invite us to step inside it.

But this isn’t just about entertainment. From immersive VR reconstructions of ancient sites to AI-powered museum experiences, Richard shares how games are becoming powerful tools for inquiry — “machines for asking questions” that allow us to test ideas, explore complex systems, and better understand both the past and ourselves. We also step inside the Bristol Digital Game Lab, where game design is being used to tackle real-world challenges — from algorithmic bias to postnatal mental health — revealing how play, creativity, and collaboration can unlock entirely new ways of thinking.

Then it’s time to pop into the local for a quick Pub Quiz, this round: The History of Video Games. Think you know your classics? Put your gaming knowledge to the test — then check your answers below.

And we’re trying something new… The Big Smoke every week! So tune in next Thursday for more adventurous audio!

So whether you’re levelling up, exploring new worlds, or simply pressing pause for a moment — there’s always a place for you in The Big Smoke.

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🎮 Pub Quiz: The History of Video Games — Answers

1) Which American pizza chain was founded by Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell?

Answer: C) Chuck E. Cheese Founded in 1977 by Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell, Chuck E. Cheese was originally called Pizza Time Theatre and combined arcade gaming with family dining—essentially one of the first places to bring video games into a social, real-world setting.

2) Which early Nintendo game is widely credited as one of the first to feature a structured storyline in video games?

Answer: C) Donkey Kong Released in 1981, Donkey Kong is widely credited as one of the first video games to feature a clear, character-driven storyline—introducing a hero (Jumpman, later Mario), a villain (Donkey Kong), and a rescue mission.

3) In Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, which real historical conflict forms the backdrop of the game’s story?

Answer: B) The Peloponnesian War Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is set during the Peloponnesian War (431–404 BCE), the major conflict between Athens and Sparta—though the game blends real history with mythology and dramatic storytelling.

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Links

🎓 Richard A Cole – University of Bristol

🎮 Bristol Digital Game Lab

▶️ Bristol Digital Game Lab – YouTube Playlist

📚MA Games Design (Narrative) | Study at Bristol | University of Bristol

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Chapters

(00:00) Intro & Show Menu

(01:38) Dr Richard Cole Interview

(53:31) Pub Quiz: The History of Video Games

(54:56) Outro

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Credits

Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett

Produced & Edited by Alex Graham

Original Music by Giles Terera

Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins