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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

society & culture documentary

All Episodes

50:26

EPISODE 67: What We Do To Survive

Strangers on a Bench ·

2025/12/22

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 RosenthalEdited by Rose De LarrabeitiMixed by Mike WoolleyTheme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy RailtonIncidental music by Maddie AshmanEnd song :'Better Slow Down' byTré BurtStream it here :https://ffm.to/betterslowdownListen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist

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50:42

EPISODE 66: Truth Puddle

Strangers on a Bench ·

2025/12/15

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 RosenthalEdited by Rose De LarrabeitiMixed by Mike WoolleyTheme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy RailtonIncidental music by Maddie AshmanEnd song :'Looking At The Storm' byElanor MossStream it here :https://ffm.to/lookingatthestormListen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist

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36:05

EPISODE 65: The Thirty-Seven Club

Strangers on a Bench ·

2025/12/08

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 RosenthalEdited by Rose De LarrabeitiMixed by Mike WoolleyTheme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy RailtonIncidental music by Maddie AshmanEnd song:'Benchwork' byThe PainStream it here:https://ffm.to/benchworksoabListen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist

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50:26

EPISODE 64: A Letter To My Mum

Strangers on a Bench ·

2025/12/01

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 RosenthalEdited by Rose De LarrabeitiMixed by Mike WoolleyTheme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy RailtonIncidental music by Maddie AshmanEnd song :'Be Sure To Write' byMarie DresselhuisStream it here :https://ffm.to/besuretowriteListen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist

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43:01

EPISODE 63: All You Need Is One Good Night

Strangers on a Bench ·

2025/11/24

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 RosenthalEdited by Rose De LarrabeitiMixed by Mike WoolleyTheme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy RailtonIncidental music by Maddie AshmanEnd song :'The Weight of Easy Things' byJoel DuntinStream it here :https://ffm.to/theweightofeasythingsListen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist

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49:48

EPISODE 62: I Wish That Was My Last Kiss

Strangers on a Bench ·

2025/11/17

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 RosenthalEdited by Rose De LarrabeitiMixed by Mike WoolleyTheme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy RailtonIncidental music by Maddie AshmanEnd song :'Fifty Dollars' bySunflower ThievesStream it here :https://ffm.to/fiftydollarsListen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist

en

31:44

EPISODE 61: Seven Paramedics

Strangers on a Bench ·

2025/11/10

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 RosenthalEdited by Rose De LarrabeitiMixed by Mike WoolleyTheme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy RailtonIncidental music by Maddie AshmanEnd song :'Go Bollocks' byPaul HaworthStream it here :https://ffm.to/gobollocksListen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist

en

38:40

EPISODE 60: That's What She Said

Strangers on a Bench ·

2025/11/03

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 RosenthalEdited by Rose De LarrabeitiMixed by Mike WoolleyTheme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy RailtonIncidental music by Maddie AshmanEnd song :'Life!' byVilrayStream it here :https://ffm.to/life-soabListen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist

en

42:35

EPISODE 59: The Back of His Neck

Strangers on a Bench ·

2025/10/27

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 RosenthalEdited by Rose De LarrabeitiMixed by Mike WoolleyTheme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy RailtonIncidental music by Maddie AshmanEnd song :'The Back of His Neck' byAnna B SavageStream it here :https://ffm.to/thebackofhisneckListen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist

en

50:36

EPISODE 58: Gratitude, Painted Nails, and The Irish...

Strangers on a Bench ·

2025/10/20

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 RosenthalEdited by Rose De LarrabeitiMixed by Mike WoolleyTheme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy RailtonIncidental music by Maddie AshmanEnd song :'Reasons to Smile' byRhys LewisStream it here :https://ffm.to/reasonstosmileListen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist

en

59:44

EPISODE 57: Cubed Watermelon

Strangers on a Bench ·

2025/10/13

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 RosenthalEdited by Rose De LarrabeitiMixed by Mike WoolleyTheme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy RailtonIncidental music by Maddie AshmanEnd song :'Just One Day' by Lydia LuceStream it here :https://ffm.to/justonedayListen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist

en

53:01

EPISODE 56: Rebellion and The River

Strangers on a Bench ·

2025/10/06

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 RosenthalEdited by Rose De LarrabeitiMixed by Mike WoolleyTheme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy RailtonIncidental music by Maddie AshmanEnd song :'Not The Place' by Laura ReznekStream it here :https://ffm.to/nottheplace-soabListen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist

en

59:38

EPISODE 55: It's Like I've Met You Before

Strangers on a Bench ·

2025/09/29

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 RosenthalEdited by Rose De LarrabeitiMixed by Mike WoolleyTheme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy RailtonIncidental music by Maddie AshmanEnd song :'The Girl I Was' by Yasmin HassStream it here :https://ffm.to/thegirliwasListen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist

en

36:46

EPISODE 54: We'll Be Holding Each Other's Hands

Strangers on a Bench ·

2025/09/22

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 RosenthalEdited by Rose De LarrabeitiMixed by Mike WoolleyTheme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy RailtonIncidental music by Maddie AshmanEnd song :'Send In The Harpist' by FairhazelStream it here :https://ffm.to/sendintheharpistListen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist

en

59:35

EPISODE 53: A Very Different Place

Strangers on a Bench ·

2025/09/15

*Content warning : this episode contains references to suicide and self-harm.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 RosenthalEdited by Rose De LarrabeitiMixed by Mike WoolleyTheme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy RailtonIncidental music by Maddie AshmanEnd song :'Thunder and Lightning' by Clara MannStream it here :https://ffm.to/thunderandlightningListen to all the end songs

en

31:21

EPISODE 52: People Were Scared of Us

Strangers on a Bench ·

2025/09/08

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 RosenthalEdited by Rose De LarrabeitiMixed by Mike WoolleyTheme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy RailtonIncidental music by Maddie AshmanEnd song:'A New Chapter' by Niamh ReganStream it here:https://ffm.to/anewchapter-soabListen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist

en

43:13

EPISODE 51: A Song For My Daughter

Strangers on a Bench ·

2025/09/01

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 RosenthalEdited by Rose De LarrabeitiMixed by Mike WoolleyTheme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy RailtonIncidental music by Maddie AshmanEnd song :'10/10' by 'Cinnabar Wood' Stream it here :Listen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist :https://ffm.to/soabendsongs————————————————————————————Instagram :

en

56:45

EPISODE 50: The Best Man There Ever Was

Strangers on a Bench ·

2025/08/25

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 RosenthalEdited by Rose De LarrabeitiMixed by Mike WoolleyTheme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy RailtonIncidental music by Maddie AshmanEnd song:'Thursday' by Daudi MatsikoStream it here:https://ffm.to/thursday-soabListen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy

en

48:20

EPISODE 49: I Go To Extremes

Strangers on a Bench ·

2025/08/18

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 RosenthalEdited by Rose De LarrabeitiMixed by Mike WoolleyTheme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy RailtonIncidental music by Maddie AshmanEnd song :'Unconditional' by Martin Luke-BrownStream it here :https://ffm.to/unconditional-soabListen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist

en

55:24

EPISODE 48: Outliers, Hugs, and Biscuit Thrusters

Strangers on a Bench ·

2025/08/11

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 RosenthalEdited by Rose De LarrabeitiMixed by Mike WoolleyTheme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy RailtonIncidental music by Maddie AshmanEnd song :'Share The Weight' by Fran LustyStream it here:https://ffm.to/sharetheweightListen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist

en

67 results

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