https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/strangers-on-a-bench
Available to listen for free on Acast.
I found this podcast, when it had not long started, and I was hooked for a while. I lost interest slightly, following one particular interview near the beginning of the series, in which the interviewee was moaning quite a lot. However, I come back to it often – am rarely disappointed, and often feel humbled by the accounts of others. I always feel inspired on listening to the host, Tom Rosenthal’s genuine interest and kindness he presents to others – judgement free; no matter their story or opinions. I think the interviews are usually really well covered – the conversation seems to flow freely, and social boundaries are maintained.
The premise of the show itself is simple and I find it encouraging to know people are willing to communicate with each other generally. Something that strikes me in each episode, as conversation often becomes quite intense and often emotional, is that rarely is anyone ever sitting sharing their story from a place of anger. I don’t doubt that people feeling negatively about circumstances, would be less inclined to stop and chat. However, I think there is an important skill of resilience, and openness, that’s required when communicating effectively with anyone, particularly a ‘stranger’.
The candid nature of the people being interviewed, and yet their focus on telling recounting their point of views, I find most interesting. I’m unsure exactly how much editing goes into the making of this podcast, and how much guidance the host gives off-mic. It feels, though, as if when people confidently speak about their experiences they don’t need to stumble over their words as much as I would expect. They include less ‘um’s and pauses than I would typically expect, perhaps because in our own experiences we are the main characters/ narrators anyway. For example – perhaps I’m not alone in having previously imagined being interviewed on any particular topic; for myself, it’s often a cathartic experience of self-reflection and there are a lot of stories I’m sure I could recount without much need (or perhaps time) to pause or stumble over what I’m saying.
I will consider both Tom Rosenthal’s approach to questioning, and the interviewee responses as I begin to create my own self-interview for my essay film – This London.
Something else I have considered about this podcast is the interviewees’ anonymity. I have previously, and even now, wish to consider other people’s, and my own anonymity as I progress through my FMP. This may not manifest as anything I particularly act on, such as blurring faces or distorting voices in whatever my final outcome may be. However – as an experiment I am considering this as a technique to learn. I don’t want to compromise the safety, or to undervalue, patronise, or undermine any individual through my work. I do however, wish to express myself as a ‘Londoner’ – for the context of my intentional essay film; someone who can hopefully be relatable, likeable (I mean, who wouldn’t want to be likeable… right?!), interesting (again, same sentiment applies), as well as respectful and openminded. These are qualities I hope I possess in everyday life, and ones that I feel Tom Rosenthal seems to present with ease.