Podcast
Strangers on a Bench
Have you ever walked past a mysterious stranger on a park bench and wondered about their lives? Tom Rosenthal (singer-songwriter by trade) has spent the past year walking through various parks across the UK and Ireland, approaching random bench-dwellers and asking if he can sit next to them and record their conversation. Every stranger remains anonymous, neither name or place of work is ever revealed (even to Tom himself), leading to greater openness, intimacy, and surprising revelations from the participants.
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Documentary chart
- #95
- Episodes
- 100
- Releases
- Weekly
- Typical length
- 56 min
- On air since
- 2024
- Latest episode
- 2 months ago
Episodes
100 episodes, newest first
-
1 hr 10 min
EPISODE 100: Don't Ever Stop Dreaming
Show notes
***ANNOUNCEMENT***
After 100 episodes of 'Strangers on a Break' it feels the right time to take a break.
I can't say when it will return but I very much hope it will do one day.
I've written more about this on an instagram post that you can find here.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Db-JDbFDESZ/?img_index=1
Thank you so much for listening and see you on a bench one day!
Tom x
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Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to them and record their conversation.
This is what happened!
Produced by Tom Rosenthal
Edited by Rose De Larrabeiti
Mixed by Mike Woolley
Theme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy Railton
Incidental music by Maddie Ashman
End song : 'Don't Ever Stop Dreaming' by Tom Rosenthal, featuring Rachel Kitchlew on the harp.
Stream it here : https://ffm.to/donteverstopdreaming
Listen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist :
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Instagram :@strangersonabench
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1 hr 12 min
EPISODE 99: Everyone Deserves To Have Secrets
Show notes
Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to them and record their conversation.
This is what happened!
Produced by Tom Rosenthal
Edited by Rose De Larrabeiti
Mixed by Mike Woolley
Theme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy Railton
Incidental music by Maddie Ashman
End song : 'Textbook Kisses' by AK Patterson
Stream it here :
Listen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist :
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Instagram :@strangersonabench
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1 hr 17 min
EPISODE 98: Realistically I Should Be Dead
Show notes
*Content warning : this episode contains references to suicide and drug use.,
Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to them and record their conversation.
This is what happened!
Produced by Tom Rosenthal
Edited by Rose De Larrabeiti
Mixed by Mike Woolley
Theme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy Railton
Incidental music by Maddie Ashman
End song : 'Never Say Die' by Ye Vagabonds
Stream it here : https://ffm.to/neversaydie-soab
Listen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist :
————————————————————————————
Instagram :@strangersonabench
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
50 min
EPISODE 97: Seeing Stars in Sea Glass
Show notes
Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to them and record their conversation.
This is what happened!
Produced by Tom Rosenthal
Edited by Rose De Larrabeiti
Mixed by Mike Woolley
Theme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy Railton
Incidental music by Maddie Ashman
End song : 'Rainbow of The Night' by Bethany Reeves & The Solis Choir
Stream it here : https://ffm.to/rainbowofthenight
Listen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist :
————————————————————————————
Instagram :@strangersonabench
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1 hr 2 min
EPISODE 96: You and I Are So Different
Show notes
Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to them and record their conversation.
This is what happened!
Produced by Tom Rosenthal
Edited by Rose De Larrabeiti
Mixed by Mike Woolley
Theme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy Railton
Incidental music by Maddie Ashman
End song : 'Where I'm Supposed To Be' by Lail Arad & JF Robitaille
Stream it here : https://ffm.to/whereimsupposedtobe
Listen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist :
————————————————————————————
Instagram :@strangersonabench
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
1 hr 7 min
EPISODE 95: Periscopes and Bagels
Show notes
Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to them and record their conversation.
This is what happened!
Produced by Tom Rosenthal
Edited by Rose De Larrabeiti
Mixed by Mike Woolley
Theme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy Railton
Incidental music by Maddie Ashman
End song : 'Leave a Trace' by Yeemz
Stream it here : https://ffm.to/leaveatracesoab
Listen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist :
————————————————————————————
Instagram :@strangersonabench
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
48 min
EPISODE 94: The Most Surreal Meeting
Show notes
Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to them and record their conversation.
This is what happened!
Produced by Tom Rosenthal
Edited by Rose De Larrabeiti
Mixed by Mike Woolley
Theme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy Railton
Incidental music by Maddie Ashman
End song : 'Something Sweet' by Yoshika Colwell
Stream it here : https://ffm.to/somethingsweetsoab
Listen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist :
————————————————————————————
Instagram :@strangersonabench
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
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55 min
EPISODE 93: Branches Don't Grow Straight
Show notes
Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to them and record their conversation.
This is what happened!
Produced by Tom Rosenthal
Edited by Rose De Larrabeiti
Mixed by Mike Woolley
Theme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy Railton
Incidental music by Maddie Ashman
End song : 'Rings of a Tree' by Tagore Chayne
Stream it here : https://ffm.to/ringsofatree
Listen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist :
————————————————————————————
Instagram :@strangersonabench
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
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53 min
EPISODE 92: Stand By Me
Show notes
Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to them and record their conversation.
This is what happened!
Produced by Tom Rosenthal
Edited by Rose De Larrabeiti
Mixed by Mike Woolley
Theme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy Railton
Incidental music by Maddie Ashman
End song : 'You Come Around' by Calÿpso
Stream it here : https://ffm.to/youcomearoundsoab
Listen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist :
————————————————————————————
Instagram :@strangersonabench
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
1 hr 7 min
EPISODE 91: Lads, Crying, and David Attenborough
Show notes
Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to them and record their conversation.
This is what happened!
Produced by Tom Rosenthal
Edited by Rose De Larrabeiti
Mixed by Mike Woolley
Theme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy Railton
Incidental music by Maddie Ashman
End song : 'Tynemouthing' by Jes Lowe
Stream it here : https://ffm.to/tynemouthing
Listen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist :
————————————————————————————
Instagram :@strangersonabench
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1 hr 3 min
EPISODE 90: So Glad I Didn't Hide Away
Show notes
Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to them and record their conversation.
This is what happened!
Produced by Tom Rosenthal
Edited by Rose De Larrabeiti
Mixed by Mike Woolley
Theme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy Railton
Incidental music by Maddie Ashman
End song : 'Pyrrhula pyrrhula' by Him Gone Ape
Stream it here : https://ffm.to/pyrrhulapyrrhula
Listen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist :
————————————————————————————
Instagram :@strangersonabench
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
45 min
EPISODE 89: I Am What I Am
Show notes
Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to them and record their conversation.
This is what happened!
Produced by Tom Rosenthal
Edited by Rose De Larrabeiti
Mixed by Mike Woolley
Theme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy Railton
Incidental music by Maddie Ashman
End song : ''I Am What I Am' by Hetta Falzon
Stream it here : https://ffm.to/iamwhatiam-soab
Listen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist :
————————————————————————————
Instagram :@strangersonabench
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
55 min
EPISODE 88: Feels Like We're Untouchable
Show notes
Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to them and record their conversation.
This is what happened!
Produced by Tom Rosenthal
Edited by Rose De Larrabeiti
Mixed by Mike Woolley
Theme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy Railton
Incidental music by Maddie Ashman
End song : 'To Cairns and Back' by Juni Habel
Stream it here : https://ffm.to/tocairnsandback
Listen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist :
————————————————————————————
Instagram :@strangersonabench
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1 hr 4 min
EPISODE 87: Charge It To The Game
Show notes
Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to them and record their conversation.
This is what happened!
Produced by Tom Rosenthal
Edited by Rose De Larrabeiti
Mixed by Mike Woolley
Theme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy Railton
Incidental music by Maddie Ashman
End song : 'Mother Knows Best' by Peter Deaves
Stream it here : https://ffm.to/motherknowsbest
Listen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist :
————————————————————————————
Instagram :@strangersonabench
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
47 min
EPISODE 86: Talking To Gina
Show notes
Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to them and record their conversation.
This is what happened!
Produced by Tom Rosenthal
Edited by Rose De Larrabeiti
Mixed by Mike Woolley
Theme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy Railton
Incidental music by Maddie Ashman
End song : 'Never Stop Talking' by Genevieve Dawson
Stream it here : https://ffm.to/neverstoptalking
Listen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist :
————————————————————————————
Instagram :@strangersonabench
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1 hr 6 min
EPISODE 85: Where All The Trouble Lies
Show notes
*Content warning : contains one graphic description of violence*. Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to them and record their conversation.
This is what happened!
Produced by Tom Rosenthal
Edited by Rose De Larrabeiti
Mixed by Mike Woolley
Theme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy Railton
Incidental music by Maddie Ashman
End song : 'The Night Before Your Wedding Night' by Matt Maltese
Stream it here: https://ffm.to/thenightbeforeyourweddingnight
Listen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist :
————————————————————————————
Instagram :@strangersonabench
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
55 min
EPISODE 84: Called To The Fanny
Show notes
*Content warning - suicide*. Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to them and record their conversation.
This is what happened!
Produced by Tom Rosenthal
Edited by Rose De Larrabeiti
Mixed by Mike Woolley
Theme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy Railton
Incidental music by Maddie Ashman
End song : 'Ella's Still Alive!' by Lizzy and The Palm
Stream it here :
Listen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist :
————————————————————————————
Instagram :@strangersonabench
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
48 min
EPISODE 83: Maybe You Already Have It All
Show notes
Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to them and record their conversation.
This is what happened!
Produced by Tom Rosenthal
Edited by Rose De Larrabeiti
Mixed by Mike Woolley
Theme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy Railton
Incidental music by Maddie Ashman
End song : 'Thoughts While Swimming' by Theresa Lola feat John Roseboro
Stream it here : https://ffm.to/thoughtswhileswimming
Theresa Lola Website : https://www.theresalola.com/
Listen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist :
————————————————————————————
Instagram :@strangersonabench
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1 hr 4 min
EPISODE 82: The Only Mussel Road in Cornwall
Show notes
Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to them and record their conversation.
This is what happened!
Produced by Tom Rosenthal
Edited by Rose De Larrabeiti
Mixed by Mike Woolley
Theme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy Railton
Incidental music by Maddie Ashman
End song: 'Mussel Shell Road' by Toby & Jen Kessell
Stream it here: https://ffm.to/musselshellroad
Listen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist:
————————————————————————————
Instagram: @strangersonabench
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
56 min
EPISODE 81: Down For Life
Show notes
Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to them and record their conversation.
This is what happened!
Produced by Tom Rosenthal
Edited by Rose De Larrabeiti
Mixed by Mike Woolley
Theme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy Railton
Incidental music by Maddie Ashman
End song : 'River Talk' by Adam Melchor
Stream it here : https://ffm.to/rivertalk
Listen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist :
————————————————————————————
Instagram :@strangersonabench
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
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