"The podcast introduced me to a world I never would have heard from otherwise and because the production happened in the prison you get an immersive experience that really transports you there in a way that no other medium can."

- Aleena Augustine, Tortoise Media

Strangers on a Bench is a quietly enchanting podcast that unfolds like an impromptu play in the parks of London. Singer‑songwriter Tom Rosenthal approaches strangers sitting alone on benches, asking simply if he can sit beside them—then listens. No names, no locations, no backstories: only the raw, unfiltered moments that emerge when anonymity meets curiosity. The resulting conversations are intimate and surprising—a deep dive into joy, loneliness, dreams, and small regrets, spoken in voices that carry the weight of real lives. Each 30‑ to 40‑minute episode concludes with an original song inspired by that day's encounter, a gentle musical epitaph that amplifies what was shared in words. It's the essence of empathy: neighborly, unguarded, and melancholic without ever feeling heavy. In the tradition of cultural criticism that celebrates the human detail—the whispered confession, the laughter in unexpected places—it’s a reminder that every stranger carries a story worth hearing. A balm for connection in an age of noise.