‘If you can make a difference for one person, it’s worth it’
Candlemas greetings, Imbolc blessings, and for me: Happy New Year, again!
After a fairly s**t January, I’m starting 2026 again today. And it’s going quite well so far!
I took myself to Attingham Park today to see the snowdrops in the rain. It’s the kind of thing I’ve promised myself I’ll do more of this year.
And I’ve got this episode of Hello You the Shropshire podcast out, which is more than I managed to achieve for the last couple of months. Plus I’ve spent the weekend taming my email inbox (also neglected for weeks) so if you’re awaiting a reply from me then you should receive one in the coming week. See also: people I need to respond to on LinkedIn, Facebook, Bluesky, Instagram, Signal …
If you’re socially sociable on social media and you’d like to connect with me, there are links to my various socials at the bottom of this email. Or just send me a message?
‘He was amazing, flamboyant; he was loved wherever he went … he had the heart of God’
Many interviews on Hello You the Shropshire podcast are recorded at Palmer’s coffee shop in the centre of Shrewsbury. Jude James used to manage Central, the building on Claremont Street where Palmer’s is based.
Jude’s latest project is named after a much-loved and very recognisable former Palmer’s regular. In this episode of Hello You the Shropshire podcast, she tells me about Kyle’s Home. It’s being supported by Green Pastures, who believe a future without homelessness is possible.
Listening and connection
Would you like to listen better?
You might imagine my forty-plus years on the radio were spent talking for a living.
Close, but not quite.
I was mostly listening. Listening to guests, interviewees, people in the street … and I became rather good at it. I’m still listening; it’s what makes Hello You the Shropshire podcast work.
And I’m also sharing my knowledge with you. I can talk to your group, organisation or business about how to listen more effectively. I have a twenty-minute talk about listening and some of my other recent experiences, which is followed by an open Q&A. I gave my talk to the Rotary Club of Shrewsbury Severn last week, and it proved to be a fascinating evening all round, largely because of perceptive questioning by David, Johnathan, Katie, Aidan and otherwise.
They drew a link between listening and connection; what makes us connect with one another. I’ve been thinking about that ever since, and it’ll be a topic of a future episode of Hello You the Shropshire podcast.
If you have a story about a special connection, or making a connection, that you’d be willing to share with me, please get in touch?
Intelligent, informed, curious and progressive
That’s you, right? Thought so. And it’s your friends, family and colleagues as well, isn’t it?
Why not do them a favour and share this episode of Hello You the Shropshire podcast with them? If you enjoy it, then they will too, and they’ll be glad you tipped them off!
Become a member of the Hello You family
It’s good to have you with us. I’m glad you’re here. Why not pull up a chair to the virtual Hello You kitchen table, and join the family? Subscribe at jimallthetime.substack.com
Take care of yourself?
Take care of the people around you? It’s really important at times like these …
And I hope the people around you are taking care of you, too.
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