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Strangers on a Bench — Documentary
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 acast.com/privacy for more information.

Copyright: © Tom Rosenthal

Latest Episodes:

EPISODE 40: A Seal Called Noon Jun 16, 2025

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: 'A Seal Called Noon' by Alice Boyd

Stream it here: https://ffm.to/asealcallednoon

Listen to all end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist:

https://ffm.to/soabendsongs

————————————————————————————

Instagram: @strangersonabench

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EPISODE 39: The Runaway Jun 09, 2025

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 : 'Disappear' by Lisa Hannigan

Stream it here : https://ffm.to/disappear-soab

Listen to all end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist :

https://ffm.to/soabendsongs

------------------

Instagram : @strangersonabench

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EPISODE 38: Casinos, Cheating, and Chamomile Jun 02, 2025

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 and mixed by Eloise Whitmore

Theme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy Railton

Incidental music by Maddie Ashman

End song: 'Might Go Outside' by Seb Lowe

Stream it here: https://ffm.to/mightgooutside

Listen to all end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist :

https://ffm.to/soabendsongs

————————————————————————————

Instagram: @strangersonabench

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EPISODE 37: Pain Softens Your Heart May 26, 2025

Show notes

**Content warning : contains description of violent abuse**

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 music: 'My Friend Robin' by Edward Cross

Stream it here: https://ffm.to/myfriendrobin

Listen to all end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist :

https://ffm.to/soabendsongs

-------------------

Instagram: @strangersonabench

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EPISODE 36: Why Was She Calling Me? May 19, 2025

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: 'Probably Nothing' by Luke Sital-Singh

Stream it here: https://ffm.to/probablynothing

Listen to all end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist :

https://ffm.to/soabendsongs

---------------------------------

Instagram: @strangersonabench

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EPISODE 35: Vulnerability Is a Bridge May 12, 2025

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: 'Sculptor' by Tamzene

Stream it here: https://ffm.to/sculptor-soab

Listen to all end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist :

https://ffm.to/soabendsongs

-----------------------------

Instagram: @stangeronabench

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EPISODE 34: Living on Borrowed Time May 05, 2025

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: 'My Father Never Told Me He Loved Me' by Michael McGovern

Stream it here: https://ffm.to/myfathernevertoldmehelovedme

Listen to all end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist :

https://ffm.to/soabendsongs

--------------

Instagram: @strangersonabench

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EPISODE 33: Follow The Blood Apr 28, 2025

Show notes

**Content warning : Injury detail**

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: 'Follow The Blood' by Georgia Ruth

Stream it here: https://ffm.to/followtheblood

Listen to all end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist :

https://ffm.to/soabendsongs

————————————————————————————

Instagram: @strangersonabench

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EPISODE 32: Becoming a Superhero Apr 21, 2025

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 and mixed by Eloise Whitmore

Theme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy Railton

Incidental music by Maddie Ashman

End song: 'There Are Many Ways To Say I Love You' by Edgar Hurley

Stream it here: https://ffm.to/therearemanywaystosayiloveyou

Listen to all end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist :

https://ffm.to/soabendsongs

————————————————————————————

Instagram: @strangersonabench

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EPISODE 31: I Never Cherished Myself Apr 14, 2025

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 Goodbye Begins' by Flo Perlin

Stream it here: https://ffm.to/wheregoodbyebegins

Listen to all end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist :

https://ffm.to/soabendsongs

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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