The Balham Alligators - Podcast Details

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Sinister SouthThe Balham Mystery: Who Poisoned Charles Bravo?This week, Rach takes us on a wild romp through Victorian south London with the mysterious death of Charles Bravo – a seemingly respectable barrister who died in agony from antimony poisoning in his plush home near Tooting Bec Common. Was it suicide? A medical accident? Or did someone in the house have very good reason to want him gone? We unpack the tangled mess of coercive control, scandalous affairs, and courtroom chaos that surrounded the case – all while having a good old chat about St Patrick’s Day hangovers, questionable leprechaun museums, and Rachel’s blacklisting from a certain food del...2025-03-261h 25

Früher war mehr Verbrechen#96 Der Tod des Charles Bravo – 1876 war mehr Balham Mystery **//Triggerwarnung// ** In dieser Folge werden Suizid, Fehlgeburt, Alkoholsucht und häusliche Gewalt angesprochen. Am 18. April 1876 reibt sich der junge Londoner Anwalt Charles Bravo vor dem Schlafengehen etwas Laudanum gegen seine Zahnschmerzen in den Gaumen, trinkt ein Glass Wasser und geht zu Bett. Nur wenige Minuten später beginnt ein Überlebenskampf, den er drei Tage später verlieren sollte. Ein unbekanntes Gift, eine verdächtige Ehefrau, eine skandalöse Affäre und eine Öffentlichkeit, die nicht genug von der Geschichte bekommen kann, sorgen dafür, dass sein tragischer Tod als „Balham Mystery“ in die britische Kriminalgeschichte eingeht. Und doch ist die...2024-12-141h 40

Christ Church Balham TalksThe Way is Shrewd (Luke 16:1-13)Join us as we look at the parable of the shrewd manager, and find out the radical and unexpected way in which Jesus directs us to use our money and resources.2023-11-2640 min

Christ Church Balham TalksThe Way is Reckless (Luke 15:11-32)In this parable of Jesus, we discover how there is hope for all of us in Jesus - no matter how far we have wandered from God.2023-11-1939 min

Christ Church Balham TalksThe Way is Joyful (Luke 15:1-10)As you hear about the parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin, you'll discover the joy of knowing just how much Jesus loves and values you.2023-11-1238 min

Christ Church Balham TalksHearing the SpiritIn the final part of this series on preaching, find out how the Spirit reveals the Son through preaching, and works in our hearts as we listen.2023-11-0539 min

Christ Church Balham TalksPreaching the SonThe goal of Scripture, and therefore preaching, is to come personally to Jesus for life. Discover how listening to preaching is not just for information, but for a relationship with Jesus.2023-10-2935 min

Christ Church Balham TalksThe Father is PreachingWhat actually is preaching? Why do we value it? This is the first of three sermons, exploring how each Person of the Trinity helps us grasp what to expect in preaching. Here we see that God the Father himself preaches, through humans, for life.2023-10-2237 min

Christ Church Balham TalksWhat’s Next? (Colossians 2:6-7)As we thank God for 21 years at Christ Church Balham, Richard Perkins, the founding minister of the church, challenges us from the book of Colossians to consider what we should do next as Christians and as a church.2023-10-1524 min

Christ Church Balham TalksThe Way is Costly (Luke 14:25-35)Jesus challenges those who are considering following Him to seriously consider what it truly involves. Following Jesus means counting the cost, but trusting in Him means that there's comfort and hope for all of us who are lost and fail.2023-10-0839 min

Christ Church Balham TalksThe Way is Open (Luke 14:15-24)As Jesus continues to spent time with those at the dinner party he is attending, he challenges the guests to consider the invitation to enter the kingdom of God. In this passage we too are challenged to think about what we will do with the invitation we have received.2023-10-0138 min

Christ Church Balham TalksThe Way is Humble (Luke 14:1-14)Jesus uses a dinner party to teach his guests the importance of humility and avoiding self-righteousness. We are challenged along the way to think about how we find our worth, and how we show our love to others.2023-09-2437 min

Christ Church Balham TalksThe Way is Opposed (Luke 13:31-35)Following Jesus can be hard, but there is plenty to encourage us as we walk along the way set out by Jesus. There is nothing that can stop His mission!2023-09-1743 min

Christ Church Balham TalksThe Way is Narrow (Luke 13:22-30)As we take a look in the gospel of Luke, and consider the maze of options the world presents, discover why only Jesus' narrow door leads to life.2023-09-1039 min

Christ Church Balham TalksPsalm 100What are you singing about right now? What songs would you put on the album of your life? We all sing to something, but in Psalm 100, we will discover good reason why everyone can and should sing and shout to the Lord!2023-09-0327 min

Christ Church Balham TalksPsalm 99We are called to sing praises to God. But what difference does it make when we know that God is a holy God? As we take a look at Psalm 99, we'll find out more about our holy God and how we can sing praises worthy of who He is.2023-08-2731 min

Christ Church Balham TalksPsalm 98We were made to sing to the Lord a new song, proclaiming His goodness in harmony with all of creation. So how does this play out in our lives? What if we don't feel like singing? Let's explore Psalm 98 together and discover just how deep the foundations of our praise to God should be.2023-08-2032 min

Christ Church Balham TalksPsalm 97 – Connor PerringIn this sermon from CCB mission partner Connor Perring, we hear about how good it is to worship the Lord and how shameful it is to worship anything else. Join us as we look at Psalm 97 and see how good it is for the nations to worship the Lord!2023-08-1330 min

Christ Church Balham TalksPsalm 96There is much reason to give God praise and Psalm 96 calls all nations to do just that. Christianity is not for one nation or people group but for all people across the earth to hear of the good news found in Jesus Christ. May the nations and all creation sing the praises of God, for He is worthy to be praised!2023-08-0634 min

Christ Church Balham TalksPsalm 95 – Tom Emslie-SmithPsalm 95 is a wonderful encouragement for all people to praise the Lord! While the opening verses of Psalm 95 give good reason to praise the Lord, the finishing verses end with a stern warning. Life is difficult and it is easy for us to turn to other "gods" to give us what we think we need, but may we not turn away from praising the Lord and trust Him in the unknowns of life.2023-07-3042 min

Christ Church Balham TalksEstablished for Generosity (1 Chronicles 29)The king is generous, the people are willing, and the LORD is abundant. In the final chapter of 1 Chronicles we see all of Israel being called to consecrate themselves to the Lord. Men and women, old and young, each individual is valued in the kingdom and invited to generously take part in the Lord's work!2023-07-2342 min

Christ Church Balham TalksEstablished for Building (1 Chronicles 28)God is building His kingdom and His people are involved in the work. Just as David passed on clear instructions to his son Solomon, so we too have received clear instructions to take part in the work God is doing.2023-07-1637 min

Christ Church Balham TalksEstablished for Unity (1 Chronicles 27)The king brings unity to a diverse people, and then appoints a diverse leadership to keep his people united. Unity amidst diversity is how God designed His church to grow and mature today.2023-07-0942 min

Christ Church Balham TalksEstablished for Service (1 Chronicles 23-26)Every person matters in the body of Christ. In the temple of the Lord people were involved in many different types of service, but they were all necessary and important. In the church today it is much the same and there is need for all of us to do our part in serving the Lord and serving one another.2023-07-0243 min

Christ Church Balham TalksPsalm 72On this missions Sunday at CCB we hear from guest speaker Rupert Shelley from Crosslinks. Looking at Psalm 72 we see a coronation speech for a king, but it isn't just a coronation speech for king Solomon, it also looks forward to the future reign of Jesus Christ. In this kingdom there is justice, righteousness, and hope for all those who are oppressed and in need. This kingdom is a kingdom to look forward to and share the good news about with others.2023-06-1839 min

INTENT42. Initially I Can Get Very DefensiveHow easy do you find to listen to criticism from others? How quickly do you dole it out? This week, Steve and Jim are exploring the way we process critical comments, how we handle them, and the impact they can have. Is there a way of engaging with them helpfully? Can they give us some insight about ourselves? As ever you can get involved in the conversation on Twitter through @IntentTalk, or just get in touch through jim@balhambaptist.co.uk 2022-10-2035 min

INTENT41. I'm Wearing Different Clothes NowHow much thought do you put into what you wear in the morning? Does it matter? Join Steve and Jim this week as they wrestle with fashion, what its place is, and whether it can give us an insight into the unseen self. Are our clothes a doorway to the soul, or just another mask? As ever you can get involved in the conversation on Twitter through @IntentTalk, or just get in touch through jim@balhambaptist.co.uk 2022-10-1237 min

Vineyard 61 Church PodcastsVision Week 3 - Balham - Mike & Julia Day - 25.9.22In this talk Mike & Julia share some of the vision of the Balham site.2022-10-0537 min

INTENT40. Now And Then You'll Have A Beautiful MomentWhat’s your go-to conversation-starter? What supercharged questions do you try and dredge up for slow-going chats? Join Jim and Steve in the thickets and thorns of everyday conversations this week as they wonder about how we talk to others – those we know well, and those we don’t. Could any of it affect how we speak to God? As ever you can get involved in the conversation on Twitter through @IntentTalk, or just get in touch through jim@balhambaptist.co.uk 2022-10-0533 min

INTENT39. It Felt Like Something You Could DoWell, there’s nothing like the moving of world events to highlight how podcast scheduling can make conversations irrelevant before they’ve even seen the light of day. Anyways, in the world we all inhabit following the Queen’s State Funeral, here are Jim and Steve talking about her passing from several days beforehand. How did her death impact you, or has it been hard to engage with? As ever you can get involved in the conversation on Twitter through @IntentTalk, or just get in touch through jim@balhambaptist.co.uk 2022-09-2136 min

INTENT38. You Can Go, Run and Explore ItWhat’s the pathway of life look like from your point of view? A yellow brick road? A tangled thicket? A tightrope? This week Steve and Jim get caught up wondering about choice, opportunity and exploring. Has God got a single path that we need to stick to, or is there more freedom to life than that? Which way do we go next? As ever you can get involved in the conversation on Twitter through @IntentTalk, or just get in touch through jim@balhambaptist.co.uk 2022-09-1434 min

INTENT37. Sometimes Bricks Need Taking OutWhat do you do when your beliefs jar with your experiences in life? Do you bin the lot? Or just take them apart in the hope that they’ll magically put themselves back together afterwards? In this week’s chat Steve and Jim ponder how perspectives are shaped by those we journey alongside. Does it matter if we ignore to those we disagree with? As ever you can get involved in the conversation on Twitter through @IntentTalk, or just get in touch through jim@balhambaptist.co.uk 2022-09-0736 min

INTENT36. It’s All Too Easy To Try and Deny ItHow do the storms of life (or lack of them) shape the way we grow? Is it possible to have a continually brilliant existence, and would we want to? This week Jim and Steve plunder weather and garden metaphors for far too long, but who knows, perhaps there’s something to be found amidst the dusty grasslands? As ever you can get involved in the conversation on Twitter through @IntentTalk, or just get in touch through jim@balhambaptist.co.uk 2022-08-2434 min

INTENT35. If I Can Get To Be In The OceanCan you work AND be on holiday? If you could, that must surely open up a whole new world of wonderful experience, right? Steve and Jim this week wonder if it’s possible, as well as exploring how likely it is of actually being stuck in 1953… Get involved in the conversation on Twitter through @IntentTalk Or get in touch as ever through jim@balhambaptist.co.uk 2022-08-1035 min

INTENT34. It’s Still You Who Holds ItWhat’s your take on justice? Is it just about punishment? Or would we rather a more restorative approach when we’re the offending party? Jim and Steve wonder about becoming local vigilantes this week – Balham may not thank them for it! Get involved in the conversation on Twitter through @IntentTalk Or get in touch as ever through jim@balhambaptist.co.uk 2022-08-0331 min

INTENT33. Where Are There Cracks In The House?In the hottest week of the year will Steve and Jim wilt in the heat? Will their plans for coolness succeed? Join the conversation this week – can we actually plan for life in the in-between times or will we be forever chained to responding to the urgent? Get involved in the conversation on Twitter through @IntentTalk Or get in touch as ever through jim@balhambaptist.co.uk 2022-07-2738 min

INTENT32. Are You Ok For Money?How do you organise your time during the week? With rigid routines and heavy planning or a free-spirited spontaneity? This week Jim and Steve are wondering about what they focus on, the things that distract, and quite how you’re supposed to care about others in a self-centering world. Does it matter if we start thinking about ourselves less? Get involved in the conversation on Twitter through @IntentTalk Or get in touch as ever through jim@balhambaptist.co.uk 2022-07-2031 min

INTENT31. I've Never Understood That About DentistsWELCOME TO SEASON 3! As we head into the warmer months join Steve and Jim as they agin wrestle with real life (trying at times not to touch it). How do we deal with the difficulties we face? How do they shape us, and how do they make us aware of how others swim in similar waters? Get involved in the conversation on Twitter through @IntentTalk Or get in touch as ever through jim@balhambaptist.co.uk 2022-07-1339 min

Listen, Relax and Enjoy the Wonders of Full AudiobookArthur Smith's Balham Bash: The Complete Series 1-3: A BBC Radio 4 comedy Audiobook by Arthur SmithListen to this audiobook in full for free onhttps://hotaudiobook.com/freeID: 583517 Title: Arthur Smith's Balham Bash: The Complete Series 1-3: A BBC Radio 4 comedy Author: Arthur Smith Narrator: Arthur Smith, Full Cast , Jenny Eclair, Josh Widdicombe, Micky Flanagan, Miles Jupp, Milton Jones, Paloma Faith, Paul Sinha, Sophie Ellis Bextor Format: Unabridged Length: 05:59:55 Language: English Release date: 07-07-22 Publisher: Penguin Books LTD Genres: Fiction & Literature, Humor Summary: Arthur Smith presents music, comedy and entertainment from his South London home - plus a special show from the Edinburgh Festival Welcome to Arthur Smith's 26-bedroom mock-Tudor manor house, in the heart...2022-07-075h 59

INTENT30. Was That Just For Then?What’s been straining under the weight of current demands this week? Join Jim and Steve as their backs, devices and even beliefs are feeling the pinch. Can you question everything you hear? What if it’s God? Get involved in the conversation on Twitter through @IntentTalk Or get in touch as ever through jim@balhambaptist.co.uk 2022-04-1441 min

INTENT29. Then I Started To ThinkWhat were the jokes that got the biggest laughs in the playground growing up? Would you tell them now? This week Steve and Jim chat about differences – the ones we see, the ones we don’t, and the ones we’re completely ignorant of. As well as asking, “Should you ever ask someone how they are?” And remember you can get in touch with us through jim@balhambaptist.co.uk - we’d love to hear from you!2022-04-0733 min

INTENT28. Going Back To The Security BlanketWhat brings you comfort in life? Are you still striving for the pre-Covid comfort you think you had? Join Jim and Steve as they wonder how the things they sought comfort in as children might shape how they seek comfort now in a chaotic world. Are they in any way helpful? Don’t forget you can get in touch with us through jim@balhambaptist.co.uk - we’d love to hear from you!2022-03-3137 min

INTENT27. Obsessive Is Too Strong A WordHave you had a run-in with an animal? How did it affect you? Did you shake it off quickly? This week Steve and Jim explore the small yet powerful impacts that can shape the way that we live life. Plus Steve give s little too much information about his current pastimes…2022-03-1729 min

INTENT26. Grit In Their DiscipleshipHow connected do we feel to the world beyond our borders? Does it affect us? Do some parts of it affect us more than others? This week Jim and Steve wrestle with the situation in Ukraine, getting tangled up in their own selfishness and self-centredness. Where do we go from here? If you want to find the Rebuilders podcast on Ukraine that is mentioned, you can listen to it here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/rebuilders/id1462274371?i=1000552655658 2022-03-1034 min

INTENT25. This Might End One DayAre you dust? Are we all dust? It doesn’t exactly sound like the best premise for a positive perspective. Join Steve as he tries to embrace his dust-ness (whatever that means), and Jim gets a bit distracted by cake and the slow (but increasingly speedy) marching of the years. Don’t forget you can get in touch with us through jim@balhambaptist.co.uk - we’d love to hear from you!2022-03-0332 min

INTENT24. It Feels The Same As When I Was SevenWhen was the last time you mucked up? How did it feel? What stories did you start telling yourself? Did you try again? Jim’s wondering about his diary mishaps and fairground games while Steve asks the big questions of life…2022-02-0340 min

INTENT23. My Energy Comes From Being With PeopleHow much do you seek out other people? What’s included in the American Declaration of Independence? How do we go about bringing life to the world around us when we don’t feel like it? Join Jim and Steve this week if you’re happy for these questions to be overlooked almost entirely…2022-01-1333 min

INTENT22. A Transcendental ExperienceWELCOME TO SEASON 2! Have you made any New Year’s resolutions? How do you want to live life in 2022? What things do you find in everyday life that are thoroughly mundane? Jim and Steve ponder with all this and more as season 2 of INTENT kicks off for another series of conversations.2022-01-0630 min

INTENT21. You Could Click Your HeelsAre there any words you find hard to spell? Or any you don’t understand? Jim and Steve try to get to grips with a few this week, and wonder about their life choices, as well as comparing the encouragements they offer others on the roadways around South London.2021-07-2234 min

INTENT20. One Of Those Days?What’s going on this week? Why’s everyone so flat? Is there something in the air? Or in the water? Is there anything we can do about it?2021-07-1538 min

INTENT19. Invisible To OthersSteve’s been in the wars, and Jim is almost sympathetic, before talking all things health - what is seen and what is hidden (maybe for good reason) - plus there’s the odd dive down unhelpful rabbit holes. And if you’re interested in Michael Holding’s book “Why We Kneel How We Rise”, you can find it here: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Michael-Holding/Why-We-Kneel-How-We-Rise/25440108 2021-07-0830 min

INTENT18. The Sheer Outpouring of JoyWell it’s been quite a week - Jim and Steve wrestle with global and local stresses, strains and questions about the future and spiritual exploration. As well as just a tiny bit reflecting on 22 men chasing a ball around a field...2021-07-0132 min

INTENT17. Have I Ever Been On A Steam Train?What does pressure mean for you? Jim and Steve discuss their own journeys with pressure and nerves, as well as the potential for healing through those around us. What kind of energy do we bring to others and how does it affect them? Steve mentions Phyllis Tickle’s book “The Divine Hours” which you can find here: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Phyllis-Tickle/The-Divine-HoursTM-Pocket-Edition/11411564 2021-06-2434 min

INTENT16. There, There, Don’t WorrySteve and Jim wonder about resilience and about the different tones of voice we respond to. Could there be times when we need strong, straight talking friends, or do we just want others to mop our brow?2021-06-1736 min

The Last Music PodcastGeraint Watkins Talks Balham Alligators with Malcolm MillsSend us a textIn this fifty minute podcast, Watkins details how he, Robin McKidd and Gary Rickard formed the basis of the band that stormed the London pub scene of the 80s once they were joined by Arthur Kitchener and Kieran O’Connor.He tells of how Arthur funded the recording of the first album from a Thatcher hand-out and relates stories around the recording of the other four albums.Along with his recollections of “crackling” times on the road with the various incarnations of the band, the podcast contains music from each o...2021-06-1152 min

INTENT15. You Can't Do BothSteve’s hacked his way through technical issues to join us, and Jim is his usual sympathetic self. And just how much does sleep affect us and the world around us?2021-05-2730 min

INTENT14. Look At The FutureBoth Jim and Steve are wondering how you find grounding points in a busy and chaotic world. Is it as simple as noticing what’s going on around us? To connect with us get in touch with any comments, thoughts and questions to jim@balhambaptist.co.uk And to find out more about Balham Baptist Church, find us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BalhamBaptistChurch/ Or on Instagram @BalhamBaptist https://www.instagram.com/balhambaptist/2021-05-2032 min

INTENT13. On The Pavement OutsideJim’s moved house and is struggling to get his head around it, and Steve ponders the connection past places, experiences and relationships have on us as we bumble along through life. What does the world ahead and behind you look like?2021-05-1328 min

INTENT12. Are You Doing Anything Different?Steve and Jim reflect on the journey so far, thinking about relationships and friendships, how they develop, and how we might try and culture them.2021-04-2230 min

INTENT11. Is This Alright?Steve’s fresh from going beyond London for the first time in a while, and Jim’s had a haircut - but how did it all feel? How do you go through a doorway when you can’t see what’s beyond it? Steve mentions John Mark Comer’s book “My Name Is Hope”, which you can find here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/My-Name-Hope-depression-melancholy-ebook/dp/B0073M85XW/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=2021-04-1535 min

INTENT10. A Deliberate ChoiceJim and Steve get lost in a world of decisions and choices. How exactly are you supposed to find a way through the maze and confusions of life and not lose yourself in the middle of it?2021-04-0834 min

INTENT9. The Inner WorkingsJim asks Steve how he could learn to have better conversations with other people. What advice does he get, and could you apply it to anyone you might end up talking to?2021-03-3135 min

INTENT8. Doing All The StuffSteve and Jim think about their ever-shorter attention spans and weigh up their relationships with social media. Where can we find life amidst infinite scrolling?2021-03-2534 min

INTENT7. Everything's In Perfect BalanceJim and Steve wonder about where they find themselves in lockdown, and what the pathway on from here might look like. Is there anything to be gained from the here and now, or is all about the future?2021-03-1830 min

INTENT6. You Kind Of Absorb ItJim deals with a slippery customer in the kitchen, and Steve is yet another victim of painful gentrification. What do we do with the wounds we pick up along the way, and how are we mindful of the impa 2021-03-1135 min

INTENT5. Everybody Thinks They're RightSteve shares his experiences of being beaten at video games while Jim tries repeatedly to learn his lesson. What views do we have of ourselves, and are we willing to change our minds?2021-03-0432 min

INTENT4. I'm Just TiredJim and Steve talk about the ebb and flow of life and its impact on mental wellbeing, reflecting on the blues and trying to develop ways of discussing and working on our mental health.2021-02-2537 min

INTENT3. Not A Bad ThingSteve ponders fashion and wish lists while Jim pings around on a spectrum between depression and melancholy. Could there be freedom within and beyond the cycles of behaviour we find ourselves in?2021-02-1834 min

INTENT2. Snow Out The WindowSteve and Jim talk technology, weather patterns, and wonder about the next 500 years as they continue their conversations on real life.2021-02-1136 min

INTENT1. Why Don't I...?Jim and Steve kick off a series of conversations on real life, thinking about the weight of perceived expectations of others, motivations, and vulnerability.2021-02-0333 min

Dark HistoriesThe Balham Mystery: The Death of Charles BravoIn April, 1876, Charles Bravo took to his bedroom, rubbed a dose of laudanum into his gums and poured himself a glass of water from the jug on his nightstand. Within minutes of retiring to bed, Charles Bravo fell desperately ill. Within two days, he would be pronounced dead, the victim of Antimony poisoning. Suicide, manslaughter and murder have been cast forward by amateur historians and famous crime writers alike. 145 years on, some have claimed to have solved the mystery of the death of Charles Bravo, but in reality, the truth lies as buried as the characters themselves. Two inquests t...2019-04-281h 26