Strangers on a Bench

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.

Episodes

January 12, 2026 56 mins

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://ffm.to/outofmydepth


Listen to all ...

Mark as Played

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

Stream it here: https://ffm.to/im...

Mark as Played
December 29, 2025 54 mins

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 : https://ffm.to/ihatethishouse


Liste...

Mark as Played
December 22, 2025 50 mins

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://ffm.to/betterslowdown


Listen to a...

Mark as Played
December 15, 2025 50 mins

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 : https://ffm.to/lookingatthestorm


L...

Mark as Played
December 8, 2025 36 mins

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/benchworksoab


Listen to all the end...

Mark as Played
December 1, 2025 50 mins

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 : https://ffm.to/besuretowrite


Lis...

Mark as Played
November 24, 2025 43 mins

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 : https://ffm.to/theweightofeasyth...

Mark as Played
November 17, 2025 49 mins


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 : https://ffm.to/fiftydollars


Lis...

Mark as Played
November 10, 2025 31 mins

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://ffm.to/gobollocks


Listen to all th...

Mark as Played
November 3, 2025 38 mins

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-soab


Listen to all the end songs f...

Mark as Played
October 27, 2025 42 mins

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 : https://ffm.to/thebackofhisneck


...

Mark as Played

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://ffm.to/reasonstosmile


Listen to...

Mark as Played
October 13, 2025 59 mins

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/justoneday


Listen to all the end ...

Mark as Played
October 6, 2025 53 mins


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.to/nottheplace-soab


Listen to...

Mark as Played
September 29, 2025 59 mins

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.to/thegirliwas


Listen to all the ...

Mark as Played

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://ffm.to/sendintheharpist


Listen to ...

Mark as Played
September 15, 2025 59 mins

*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 song : 'Thunder and Lightning' ...

Mark as Played
September 8, 2025 31 mins


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/anewchapter-soab


Listen to al...

Mark as Played
September 1, 2025 43 mins

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 end songs featured on the podc...

Mark as Played

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