Tom Rosenthal

Strangers on a Bench

Society EN ↓ 95 episodes

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.

Author

Tom Rosenthal

Episodes

EPISODE 70: When You Realise Who You Are 12.01.2026 56:51

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 : 'Out of My Depth' by Aqualung Stream it here : https://ff...

EPISODE 69: I've Never Felt This Way Before 05.01.2026 39:34

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'm Certain of It' by Rosie H Sullivan & Riley Pearce Str...

EPISODE 68: I Hate This House 29.12.2025 54:43

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 Hate This House' by Jas Ratchford Stream it here : htt...

EPISODE 67: What We Do To Survive 22.12.2025 50:26

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 : 'Better Slow Down' by Tré Burt Stream it here : https://f...

EPISODE 66: Truth Puddle 15.12.2025 50:42

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 : 'Looking At The Storm' by Elanor Moss Stream it here : ht...

EPISODE 65: The Thirty-Seven Club 08.12.2025 36:05

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: 'Benchwork' by The Pain Stream it here: https://ffm.to/ben...

EPISODE 64: A Letter To My Mum 01.12.2025 50:26

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 : 'Be Sure To Write' by Marie Dresselhuis Stream it here : ...

EPISODE 63: All You Need Is One Good Night 24.11.2025 43:01

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 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 Weight of Easy Things' by Joel Duntin Stream it here :&nb...

EPISODE 62: I Wish That Was My Last Kiss 17.11.2025 49:48

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 : 'Fifty Dollars' by Sunflower Thieves Stream it here : htt...

EPISODE 61: Seven Paramedics 10.11.2025 31:44

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 : 'Go Bollocks' by Paul Haworth Stream it here : https://ff...

EPISODE 60: That's What She Said 03.11.2025 38:40

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 : 'Life!' by Vilray Stream it here : https://ffm.to/life-so...

EPISODE 59: The Back of His Neck 27.10.2025 42:35

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 Back of His Neck' by Anna B Savage Stream it here : ...

EPISODE 58: Gratitude, Painted Nails, and The Irish Lottery 20.10.2025 50:36

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 : 'Reasons to Smile' by Rhys Lewis Stream it here : https:/...

EPISODE 57: Cubed Watermelon 13.10.2025 59:44

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 : 'Just One Day' by Lydia Luce Stream it here : https://ffm.to/j...

EPISODE 56: Rebellion and The River 06.10.2025 53:01

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 Rosenthal Edited by Rose De Larrabeiti Mixed by Mike Woolley Theme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy Railton  Incidental music by Maddie Ashman End song : 'Not The Place' by Laura Reznek Stream it here : https://ffm.t...

EPISODE 55: It's Like I've Met You Before 29.09.2025 59:38

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 Girl I Was' by Yasmin Hass Stream it here : https://ffm.t...

EPISODE 54: We'll Be Holding Each Other's Hands 22.09.2025 36:46

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 : 'Send In The Harpist' by Fairhazel Stream it here : https://ff...

EPISODE 53: A Very Different Place 15.09.2025 59:35

*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 Rosenthal Edited by Rose De Larrabeiti Mixed by Mike Woolley Theme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy Railton  Incidental music by Maddie Ashman End s...

EPISODE 52: People Were Scared of Us 08.09.2025 31:21

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 New Chapter' by Niamh Regan Stream it here: https://ffm.to/a...

EPISODE 51: A Song For My Daughter 01.09.2025 43:13

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 Rosenthal Edited by Rose De Larrabeiti Mixed by Mike Woolley Theme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy Railton  Incidental music by Maddie Ashman End song : '10/10' by 'Cinnabar Wood' Stream it here :  Listen to all the...

EPISODE 50: The Best Man There Ever Was 25.08.2025 56:45

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: 'Thursday' by Daudi Matsiko Stream it here: https://ffm.to/thur...

EPISODE 49: I Go To Extremes 18.08.2025 48:20

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 Rosenthal Edited by Rose De Larrabeiti Mixed by Mike Woolley Theme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy Railton  Incidental music by Maddie Ashman End song : 'Unconditional' by Martin Luke-Brown Stream it here : https://...

EPISODE 48: Outliers, Hugs, and Biscuit Thrusters 11.08.2025 55:24

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 Rosenthal Edited by Rose De Larrabeiti Mixed by Mike Woolley Theme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy Railton  Incidental music by Maddie Ashman End song : 'Share The Weight' by Fran Lusty Stream it here: https://ffm.t...

EPISODE 47: The Time I've Got Left 04.08.2025 48:59

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 : 'There We Go' by Tom Rosenthal  Stream it here : https://...

EPISODE 46: Looking for the Dangling Carrot 28.07.2025 36:50

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 Still Love Him Dearly' by Alice Faye Stream it here : https...