Strangers on a Bench 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 last 6 months walking the many parks of London, 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 <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

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 last 6 months walking the many parks of London, 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 <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

 

#65

EPISODE 65: The Thirty-Seven Club

Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to th... more

08 Dec 2025

36 MINS

36:05

08 Dec 2025


#64

EPISODE 64: A Letter To My Mum

Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to th... more

01 Dec 2025

50 MINS

50:26

01 Dec 2025


#63

EPISODE 63: All You Need Is One Good Night

Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to th... more

24 Nov 2025

43 MINS

43:01

24 Nov 2025


#62

EPISODE 62: I Wish That Was My Last Kiss

Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to th... more

17 Nov 2025

49 MINS

49:48

17 Nov 2025


#61

EPISODE 61: Seven Paramedics

Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to th... more

10 Nov 2025

31 MINS

31:44

10 Nov 2025


#60

EPISODE 60: That's What She Said

Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to th... more

03 Nov 2025

38 MINS

38:40

03 Nov 2025


#59

EPISODE 59: The Back of His Neck

Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to th... more

27 Oct 2025

42 MINS

42:35

27 Oct 2025


#58

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

Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to th... more

20 Oct 2025

50 MINS

50:36

20 Oct 2025


#57

EPISODE 57: Cubed Watermelon

Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to th... more

13 Oct 2025

59 MINS

59:44

13 Oct 2025


#56

EPISODE 56: Rebellion and The River

Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to th... more

06 Oct 2025

53 MINS

53:01

06 Oct 2025


#55

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

Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to th... more

29 Sep 2025

59 MINS

59:38

29 Sep 2025


#54

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

Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to th... more

22 Sep 2025

36 MINS

36:46

22 Sep 2025


#53

EPISODE 53: A Very Different Place

*Content warning : this episode contains references to suicide and self-harm. Tom Rosentha... more

15 Sep 2025

59 MINS

59:35

15 Sep 2025


#52

EPISODE 52: People Were Scared of Us

Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to th... more

08 Sep 2025

31 MINS

31:21

08 Sep 2025


#51

EPISODE 51: A Song For My Daughter

Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to th... more

01 Sep 2025

43 MINS

43:13

01 Sep 2025


#50

EPISODE 50: The Best Man There Ever Was

Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to th... more

25 Aug 2025

56 MINS

56:45

25 Aug 2025


#49

EPISODE 49: I Go To Extremes

Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to th... more

18 Aug 2025

48 MINS

48:20

18 Aug 2025


#48

EPISODE 48: Outliers, Hugs, and Biscuit Thrusters

Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to th... more

11 Aug 2025

55 MINS

55:24

11 Aug 2025


#47

EPISODE 47: The Time I've Got Left

Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to th... more

04 Aug 2025

48 MINS

48:59

04 Aug 2025


#46

EPISODE 46: Looking for the Dangling Carrot

Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to th... more

28 Jul 2025

36 MINS

36:50

28 Jul 2025


#45

EPISODE 45: The Air Is My Ocean

Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to th... more

21 Jul 2025

42 MINS

42:19

21 Jul 2025


#44

EPISODE 44: A Second Life

Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to th... more

14 Jul 2025

32 MINS

32:36

14 Jul 2025


#43

EPISODE 43: The Definition of a Mystery

Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to th... more

07 Jul 2025

48 MINS

48:15

07 Jul 2025


#42

EPISODE 42: If Only You Knew

Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to th... more

30 Jun 2025

35 MINS

35:59

30 Jun 2025


#41

EPISODE 41: A Common Humanity

Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to th... more

23 Jun 2025

54 MINS

54:34

23 Jun 2025