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<rss xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:spotify="http://www.spotify.com/ns/rss" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0" xmlns:pp="http://www.podplay.com/ns/rss/1.0" version="2.0"><channel><title>Free Radio News</title><description><![CDATA[Features, specials, and investigations from across the West Midlands from the Free Radio News Team.]]></description><copyright><![CDATA[Free Radio News]]></copyright><language>en-GB</language><lastBuildDate>Fri, 16 Feb 2024 00:01:19 +0000</lastBuildDate><itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type><itunes:author>Bauer Media</itunes:author><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><spotify:countryOfOrigin>gb</spotify:countryOfOrigin><link>https://planetradio.co.uk/podcasts/free-radio-news-podcast/</link><itunes:owner><itunes:email>mitch.rushton@bauermedia.co.uk</itunes:email></itunes:owner><image><title>Free Radio News</title><url>https://studio-podplay.imgix.net/img/d75870a9a62d7f70b946abbbe4899056.jpg?auto=compress&amp;h=1500&amp;w=1500&amp;s=ed9cb81ce21548aebf4f302b4033c4c4</url><link>https://planetradio.co.uk/podcasts/free-radio-news-podcast/</link></image><itunes:image href="https://studio-podplay.imgix.net/img/d75870a9a62d7f70b946abbbe4899056.jpg?auto=compress&amp;h=1500&amp;w=1500&amp;s=ed9cb81ce21548aebf4f302b4033c4c4"/><itunes:new-feed-url>https://rss.podplaystudio.com/1248.xml</itunes:new-feed-url><item><description><![CDATA[A mum from Coseley is on a mission to change the way infant feeding is portrayed.

Lou Oliver - an NHS community support worker - grew tired of only seeing a small sample of women in imagery and adverts of breastfeeding.

She's started an online image bank featuring photos of diverse families. 

Our reporter Helen Hoddinott's been to meet her.

Features, specials, and investigations from across the West Midlands from the Free Radio News Team.]]></description><enclosure url="https://bauernordic-pods.sharp-stream.com/gb/1248/diversity_in_breastfeeding_putti_af99c2fa-c55c-4fc3-8cce-1f8e80b518b0_normal.mp3?aw_0_1st.episodeid=59380&amp;aw_0_1st.collectionid=1248" length="863232" type="audio/mpeg"/><guid isPermaLink="false">https://aod.planetradio.co.uk/free-radio-news-podcast/20191001152819.mp3</guid><pubDate>Tue, 01 Oct 2019 15:28:00 +0000</pubDate><title>Diversity in Breastfeeding: Putting women at risk?</title><itunes:duration>00:00:53</itunes:duration><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://studio-podplay.imgix.net/img/6f7ae69d2522ded114b5530971e15a84.jpg?auto=compress&amp;h=1500&amp;w=1500&amp;s=b36dd505fae3407af81bc2ed4ddbd28e"/><itunes:season>1</itunes:season><itunes:episode>13</itunes:episode><pp:original-pubdate>1569943680</pp:original-pubdate><pp:exclusive>false</pp:exclusive></item><item><description><![CDATA[Teaching staff in the West Midlands are having to take thousands of sick days for mental health reasons - and our exclusive stats show the problem is getting worse.

In Birmingham last year, nearly 10,000 days were lost due to anxiety, stress and depression - a 24% increase compared to 2013.

Our reporter Helen Hoddinott's been looking into it...]]></description><enclosure url="https://bauernordic-pods.sharp-stream.com/gb/1248/teacher_mental_health_in_crisis__f50c75e7-6930-4e55-af06-f6d221b6e299_normal.mp3?aw_0_1st.episodeid=56153&amp;aw_0_1st.collectionid=1248" length="957440" type="audio/mpeg"/><guid isPermaLink="false">https://aod.planetradio.co.uk/free-radio-news-podcast/20190905153121.mp3</guid><pubDate>Thu, 05 Sep 2019 15:15:00 +0000</pubDate><title>Teacher mental health in "crisis" as number of sick days rises</title><itunes:duration>00:00:59</itunes:duration><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://studio-podplay.imgix.net/img/d6eb47afec5bde5b3c2708569db67002.jpg?auto=compress&amp;h=1500&amp;w=1500&amp;s=af71432566b3dd39f983cb88a650de56"/><itunes:season>1</itunes:season><itunes:episode>12</itunes:episode><pp:original-pubdate>1567696500</pp:original-pubdate><pp:exclusive>false</pp:exclusive></item><item><description><![CDATA[Youngsters from the poorest areas of the West Midlands are being taught how to ski and snowboard to try and tackle youth crime.

The course at Tamworth's SnowDome lasts for two days.

Our reporter Helen Hoddinott's been along to find out more...]]></description><enclosure url="https://bauernordic-pods.sharp-stream.com/gb/1248/skiing_and_snowboarding_to_reduc_b5b8ca77-b23c-4e03-b313-6fa0d370c152_normal.mp3?aw_0_1st.episodeid=56154&amp;aw_0_1st.collectionid=1248" length="851968" type="audio/mpeg"/><guid isPermaLink="false">https://aod.planetradio.co.uk/free-radio-news-podcast/20190829170853.mp3</guid><pubDate>Thu, 29 Aug 2019 17:07:00 +0000</pubDate><title>Skiing and snowboarding to reduce youth violence</title><itunes:duration>00:00:53</itunes:duration><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://studio-podplay.imgix.net/img/22138e76f3b799f5c48f9ffd75d558bd.jpg?auto=compress&amp;h=1500&amp;w=1500&amp;s=a2047d579eb7f5de479d784a8af13a70"/><itunes:season>1</itunes:season><itunes:episode>10</itunes:episode><pp:original-pubdate>1567098420</pp:original-pubdate><pp:exclusive>false</pp:exclusive></item><item><description><![CDATA[A Free Radio investigation's found there's been a massive 89% increase in the number of reports of drinks being spiked in the West Midlands in the last three years. 

We've spoken to 19-year-old Birmingham Uni student Abby - who became a spiking victim on a night out in December  - and RSVP's Yvonne Langham, about what needs to change.]]></description><enclosure url="https://bauernordic-pods.sharp-stream.com/gb/1248/exclusive_spiking_reports_in_wes_70c359eb-de2b-462f-89fa-5fafa02d467c_normal.mp3?aw_0_1st.episodeid=56155&amp;aw_0_1st.collectionid=1248" length="1475584" type="audio/mpeg"/><guid isPermaLink="false">https://aod.planetradio.co.uk/free-radio-news-podcast/20190827151500.mp3</guid><pubDate>Tue, 27 Aug 2019 13:28:00 +0000</pubDate><title>Exclusive: Spiking reports in West Midlands up 89%</title><itunes:duration>00:01:32</itunes:duration><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://studio-podplay.imgix.net/img/f2da71b8bb07d7accd69ae95acbc7a30.jpg?auto=compress&amp;h=1500&amp;w=1500&amp;s=b5fc7e4d659d4949575fdca32a903eeb"/><itunes:season>1</itunes:season><itunes:episode>10</itunes:episode><pp:original-pubdate>1566912480</pp:original-pubdate><pp:exclusive>false</pp:exclusive></item><item><description><![CDATA[A 20-year-old Birmingham woman who inspired our special investigation into the chronic condition lipoedema, has finally had her life-changing surgery after being forced to travel hundreds of miles and take out a loan. 
Features, specials, and investigations from across the West Midlands from the Free Radio News Team.]]></description><enclosure url="https://bauernordic-pods.sharp-stream.com/gb/1248/a_life_with_lipoedema_20_year_ol_461902e2-8e5d-4bab-8ec5-95d1307a1747_normal.mp3?aw_0_1st.episodeid=56156&amp;aw_0_1st.collectionid=1248" length="5526528" type="audio/mpeg"/><guid isPermaLink="false">https://aod.planetradio.co.uk/free-radio-news-podcast/20190812132427.mp3</guid><pubDate>Mon, 12 Aug 2019 13:24:00 +0000</pubDate><title>A Life with Lipoedema: 20-year-old Birmingham woman gets life-changing surgery</title><itunes:duration>00:05:45</itunes:duration><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://studio-podplay.imgix.net/img/ac86df1cc684d367ac41fb182150ce71.jpg?auto=compress&amp;h=1500&amp;w=1500&amp;s=297ab3bd78d40e83084ce78522eb6557"/><itunes:season>1</itunes:season><itunes:episode>9</itunes:episode><pp:original-pubdate>1565616240</pp:original-pubdate><pp:exclusive>false</pp:exclusive></item><item><description><![CDATA[New figures show there's a decline in the number of shops on high streets, and places like Walsall are being hit the hardest.

Here- our reporter Helen Hoddinott heads over there to find out more.

Features, specials, and investigations from across the West Midlands from the Free Radio News Team.]]></description><enclosure url="https://bauernordic-pods.sharp-stream.com/gb/1248/walsall_now_or_never_for_the_tow_cee6e2b9-3c91-437d-b5b4-bd7bcd2a586c_normal.mp3?aw_0_1st.episodeid=56157&amp;aw_0_1st.collectionid=1248" length="1217536" type="audio/mpeg"/><guid isPermaLink="false">https://aod.planetradio.co.uk/free-radio-news-podcast/20190731161812.mp3</guid><pubDate>Wed, 31 Jul 2019 16:17:00 +0000</pubDate><title>Walsall: 'Now or never' for the town centre?</title><itunes:duration>00:01:16</itunes:duration><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://studio-podplay.imgix.net/img/0b791d02ed8ec491b032223f2327b4eb.jpg?auto=compress&amp;h=1500&amp;w=1500&amp;s=eaab504823cbd58f7dfa6b76e11d385b"/><itunes:season>1</itunes:season><itunes:episode>8</itunes:episode><pp:original-pubdate>1564589820</pp:original-pubdate><pp:exclusive>false</pp:exclusive></item><item><description><![CDATA[Almost 1 thousand drivers have been caught breaking the speed limit on Birmingham's Belgrave Middleway where six people lost their lives. Our exclusive figures show twenty of those were doing DOUBLE 40 mph. 

We've been speaking to one of the families who lost a loved one there in December 2017.]]></description><enclosure url="https://bauernordic-pods.sharp-stream.com/gb/1248/belgrave_middleway_crash_familie_3c128e0b-334d-420c-a93c-2e3464f7ddfe_normal.mp3?aw_0_1st.episodeid=56158&amp;aw_0_1st.collectionid=1248" length="1025024" type="audio/mpeg"/><guid isPermaLink="false">https://aod.planetradio.co.uk/free-radio-news-podcast/20190728095955.mp3</guid><pubDate>Sun, 28 Jul 2019 09:58:00 +0000</pubDate><title>Belgrave Middleway Crash: Families speak out over speeding drivers</title><itunes:duration>00:01:04</itunes:duration><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://studio-podplay.imgix.net/img/3f375585b27b2c0684303f8ce3182339.jpg?auto=compress&amp;h=1500&amp;w=1500&amp;s=975aa85a78986dc4e0fde718375140df"/><itunes:season>1</itunes:season><itunes:episode>8</itunes:episode><pp:original-pubdate>1564307880</pp:original-pubdate><pp:exclusive>false</pp:exclusive></item><item><description><![CDATA[50 years since man stepped on the moon for the first time, we've been to one of Birmingham's most popular science attractions.

The planetarium at the Thinktank has had over 1 million visitors since it opened 15 years ago and are putting on a special show on the 20th July.

Our reporter Matt Maddren has been down there to meet Colin Hutcheson who helps run it.


Features, specials, and investigations from across the West Midlands from the Free Radio News Team.]]></description><enclosure url="https://bauernordic-pods.sharp-stream.com/gb/1248/moon_landings_50_years_on_c19bc271-8f46-4cde-a0ce-a22a203fbfb3_normal.mp3?aw_0_1st.episodeid=56159&amp;aw_0_1st.collectionid=1248" length="748544" type="audio/mpeg"/><guid isPermaLink="false">https://aod.planetradio.co.uk/free-radio-news-podcast/20190719173138.mp3</guid><pubDate>Fri, 19 Jul 2019 18:00:00 +0000</pubDate><title>Moon Landings: 50 years on</title><itunes:duration>00:00:46</itunes:duration><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://studio-podplay.imgix.net/img/32a330347340e07edc6de816859287c8.jpg?auto=compress&amp;h=1500&amp;w=1500&amp;s=d93815c3ba589182192945951f44fb63"/><itunes:season>1</itunes:season><itunes:episode>6</itunes:episode><pp:original-pubdate>1563559200</pp:original-pubdate><pp:exclusive>false</pp:exclusive></item><item><description><![CDATA[Every day millions of women across the world are mistaken as being overweight, when actually they're suffering with an incurable condition. Lipoedema causes fat cells to build up in their arms, legs, stomach and bum. But, treatment's classed as cosmetic so it isn't available on the NHS. Free Radio's been investigating the impact it can have, what's happening to help those affected and what more can be done. 

Features, specials, and investigations from across the West Midlands from the Free Radio News Team.]]></description><enclosure url="https://bauernordic-pods.sharp-stream.com/gb/1248/a_life_with_lipoedema_a82390f1-0014-41d3-bff5-7531c6eaa1c8_normal.mp3?aw_0_1st.episodeid=56163&amp;aw_0_1st.collectionid=1248" length="8638464" type="audio/mpeg"/><guid isPermaLink="false">https://aod.planetradio.co.uk/free-radio-news-podcast/20190621121206.mp3</guid><pubDate>Mon, 24 Jun 2019 05:00:00 +0000</pubDate><title>A Life with Lipoedema</title><itunes:duration>00:08:59</itunes:duration><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://studio-podplay.imgix.net/img/49ae9376f3f3d1312d414c076c917336.jpg?auto=compress&amp;h=1500&amp;w=1500&amp;s=39aa389edb435bd86f118d3da1e46580"/><itunes:season>1</itunes:season><itunes:episode>4</itunes:episode><pp:original-pubdate>1561352400</pp:original-pubdate><pp:exclusive>false</pp:exclusive></item><item><description><![CDATA[Free Radio can exclusively reveal violence in nightclubs and bars in the West Midlands is up by a fifth. 

There were 640 incidents in the first three months this year. 

We've talked to paramedics, bar owners and police all dealing with the violence on our streets.

Features, specials, and investigations from across the West Midlands from the Free Radio News Team.]]></description><enclosure url="https://bauernordic-pods.sharp-stream.com/gb/1248/our_streets_violence_in_west_mid_9addb1e1-b318-4dcd-848e-f03214b0decb_normal.mp3?aw_0_1st.episodeid=56160&amp;aw_0_1st.collectionid=1248" length="1180672" type="audio/mpeg"/><guid isPermaLink="false">https://aod.planetradio.co.uk/free-radio-news-podcast/20190621132106.mp3</guid><pubDate>Fri, 21 Jun 2019 13:40:00 +0000</pubDate><title>Our Streets: Violence in West Midlands nightclubs up by a fifth</title><itunes:duration>00:01:13</itunes:duration><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://studio-podplay.imgix.net/img/6427481d1399248c42da332999d060f0.jpg?auto=compress&amp;h=1500&amp;w=1500&amp;s=44864e65c0aa6665a409892400065787"/><itunes:season>1</itunes:season><itunes:episode>5</itunes:episode><pp:original-pubdate>1561124400</pp:original-pubdate><pp:exclusive>false</pp:exclusive></item><item><description><![CDATA[One year ago today, seven year old Alfie Dingley from Kenilworth was granted a permanent license for his severe epilepsy to be treated with medicinal cannabis. 

We've been exclusively speaking to Alfie's mum Hannah Deacon about how the past 12 months have been, and how she's still campaigning for other families who're struggling to get access to the treatment, despite it being made legal in November.

Features, specials, and investigations from across the West Midlands from the Free Radio News Team.]]></description><enclosure url="https://bauernordic-pods.sharp-stream.com/gb/1248/alfie_s_journey_one_year_on_6b55947b-ea6a-4649-bad4-c6a69dafb3c5_normal.mp3?aw_0_1st.episodeid=56161&amp;aw_0_1st.collectionid=1248" length="11872256" type="audio/mpeg"/><guid isPermaLink="false">https://aod.planetradio.co.uk/free-radio-news-podcast/20190618131249.mp3</guid><pubDate>Wed, 19 Jun 2019 05:00:00 +0000</pubDate><title>Alfie's Journey: One year on</title><itunes:duration>00:12:21</itunes:duration><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://studio-podplay.imgix.net/img/11565ea1eb5e856498456732c03abfaf.jpg?auto=compress&amp;h=1500&amp;w=1500&amp;s=36f65ef00239c4d3d2690c0f456f6b36"/><itunes:season>1</itunes:season><itunes:episode>3</itunes:episode><pp:original-pubdate>1560920400</pp:original-pubdate><pp:exclusive>false</pp:exclusive></item><item><description><![CDATA[A study by Birmingham City University has revealed that young people are less likely to take an A-level qualification in music if they come from deprived areas.

Findings reveal that last year, around just 10% of entries for music A-level came from disadvantaged areas of the West Midlands.

We hear from 19-year-old Grime artist Starzzy, who didn't take music at A-level because his college didn't offer it.

Despite this, with the help from The Pump, a project working with young artists, he's been able to launch his career.



Features, specials, and investigations from across the West Midlands from the Free Radio News Team.]]></description><enclosure url="https://bauernordic-pods.sharp-stream.com/gb/1248/music_education_s_postcode_lotte_7ffec137-f295-4ee3-9642-f70a3a22ab6a_normal.mp3?aw_0_1st.episodeid=56162&amp;aw_0_1st.collectionid=1248" length="889856" type="audio/mpeg"/><guid isPermaLink="false">https://aod.planetradio.co.uk/free-radio-news-podcast/20190618083403.mp3</guid><pubDate>Tue, 18 Jun 2019 08:33:00 +0000</pubDate><title>Music education's "postcode lottery": Are young people missing out?</title><itunes:duration>00:00:55</itunes:duration><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://studio-podplay.imgix.net/img/bb14b1f6a1c265ab8fff1ee2a624802f.jpg?auto=compress&amp;h=1500&amp;w=1500&amp;s=8eaed4cea16d1aab166f69f4f6243212"/><itunes:season>1</itunes:season><itunes:episode>2</itunes:episode><pp:original-pubdate>1560846780</pp:original-pubdate><pp:exclusive>false</pp:exclusive></item><item><description><![CDATA[As the Knife Angel leave Birmingham, Free Radio takes a closer look at how knife crime's changing the city - from the young people whose lives are being shaped by it, to what's being done by the police to stop it.]]></description><enclosure url="https://bauernordic-pods.sharp-stream.com/gb/1248/beyond_the_angel_birmingham_s_kn_6ceaad2b-8cf6-4740-bdc6-6886cffcdfa7_normal.mp3?aw_0_1st.episodeid=56164&amp;aw_0_1st.collectionid=1248" length="9093120" type="audio/mpeg"/><guid isPermaLink="false">https://aod.planetradio.co.uk/free-radio-news-podcast/20190612163341.mp3</guid><pubDate>Thu, 13 Jun 2019 04:55:00 +0000</pubDate><title>Beyond the Angel: Birmingham's knife crime 'epidemic'</title><itunes:duration>00:09:28</itunes:duration><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://studio-podplay.imgix.net/img/0f2719fed17e552ef39388d5885a9ee3.jpg?auto=compress&amp;h=1500&amp;w=1500&amp;s=4c0f034a1ea05360f993e9576fe3fe92"/><itunes:season>1</itunes:season><itunes:episode>1</itunes:episode><pp:original-pubdate>1560401700</pp:original-pubdate><pp:exclusive>false</pp:exclusive></item></channel></rss>