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.

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Last refreshed: June 29th, 2026 at 4:30 AM

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Episodes

EPISODE 4: Making Miniatures by the Sea

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 : 'By The Ocean Side' by November Ultra Listen here : https://ffm.to/bytheoceanside Listen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist : https://ffm.to/so...

Oct 07, 2024•17 min

EPISODE 3: I Threw My Phone in the Pond

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'll Never Be John Cleese by Alex Brenchley Listen to it here : https://ffm.to/soabsong3 Listen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist : https://...

Sep 30, 2024•19 min

EPISODE 2: Fruit Sculptures for Breakfast

Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger in a London park and asks if he can sit down next to them and record their conversation. This is what happened! Producer 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 : Fruit Sculptures by Sophie May Listen to it here : https://ffm.to/soabsong2 Listen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist : https://ffm.to/soabend...

Sep 30, 2024•32 min

EPISODE 1: A Fight

Tom Rosenthal approaches a random stranger in a park in London 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 'Tryna Change' by Yvonne MK Listen to it here : https://ffm.to/strangersonabench1 Listen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist : https://...

Sep 30, 2024•31 min

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