EPISODE 94: The Most Surreal Meeting
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What prompted Tom to approach a stranger for a podcast?
hello sorry to bother you um can i ask you a slightly odd question um i'm making a podcast um called strangers on a bench where essentially i talk to people i don't know on benches for 10 or 15 minutes um are you up for that do you want to give it a go
I'm not a good talker. That's perfect for a poker. No, it's actually what I like because the whole point of this is hearing from people who aren't good talkers. As in for me, I like to talk to people who aren't normally heard from. That's kind of the point. So the fact that you say you're not a good talker is ideal to me. Music to my ears. First question is, do you have a favourite day of the week? Not really. Maybe Wednesday. A bit. A bit Wednesday. A bit Wednesday. Can you say why?
What does the guest think about their favorite day of the week?
I've learned that you can buy cheaper flights. On a Wednesday? On a Wednesday. Really? That's what they say. Do you believe it? I did get a good deal on a Wednesday, so I'll try it again. Can you remember the greatest Wednesday of your life? No. No? Can you remember any major event in your life happening on any particular day? For my favorite things, no. But for your least favourite things, yes. A Sunday. Because?
How did childhood experiences shape their views on family?
Because I was brought up in Dublin and it was very Catholic and dark and everyone crossing themselves. I don't know, I just don't like Sundays. Have Sundays redeemed themselves at all to you throughout your life? They're better now. They're better. Much better now. Less crossing happens now. Yeah, yeah. Let's take a Wednesday then. For you, what represents a really good day lived on Earth for you currently for a Wednesday? Just long walks on the Heath and maybe seeing some friends. Hopefully to get into a bit of something creative. What does that look like for you? like maybe taking out my paints and pencils and do a drawing. And then in the summer, I like to go down into the garden and do a little bit of gardening on a Wednesday.
What are the challenges of being a grandparent today?
What are you painting and what are you drawing when you're painting and drawing? Probably something in the room, a particular flower arrangement or a photograph of my grandkids. But nothing from your imagination? Sometimes, yeah, I mess around. What happens when you are painting or drawing from your imagination? What do you find comes out? Usually I crumple it up and put it in the bin. Really? Because? I don't think it's any good. Because? It doesn't look great. Is that your perception or others? Oh, no, just mine. Yeah.
How has the guest's relationship with their parents influenced them?
Is that related to it coming from your imagination? Is that like a self-belief issue? Yes, I'd say it is. When have you had the most self-belief in your life, would you say? Gosh, that's a difficult question. Some of the best ones are. I can't answer it. You can. Not really. Think back to a chapter in your life when you believed in yourself the most. I can't. Is that because you can't quite remember how you felt at those times or you think you've never really had it? Both. Yeah. And you've never really had it because?
What experiences shaped the guest's perception of self-belief?
This is getting a bit too, like, a psychiatrist and a patient. You think so? I don't think so. I think they're just questions. I mean, I've never had therapy, so I don't know. You've never had? Therapy. Oh, right. So I don't know what it's like. I'm just interested in people's lives. It's just to understand more about who you are and who I'm talking to. OK, go on. Next question.
So is it too late to gain more self-belief, do you think? Now?
What does the guest believe about life changes and moving?
Oh, I don't think it's too late. There we go. That's positive. I hope not. Never too late. Never too late. So what is it not too late for in your life? What are you really keen on? You're going to make me cry, you see. That's okay. It's not. It's okay to cry.
I'm sitting up here because I'm missing my grandchildren. I'm trying to figure out to get a Wednesday flight to go to Brisbane. And that's where they are?
What are the guest's thoughts on love and relationships now?
Are they all there? No, they're not all there. Right, so some of them are there? Some of them are there. How many are in Brisbane? My daughter and her husband and two children. Okay. How many grandchildren do you have, all told? I have five. Are the two that are in Brisbane the oldest? No, they're the babies.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What prompted Tom to approach a stranger for a podcast?
0:04–1:20
2
What does the guest think about their favorite day of the week?
1:20–1:54
3
How did childhood experiences shape their views on family?
1:54–2:55
4
What are the challenges of being a grandparent today?
2:55–3:35
5
How has the guest's relationship with their parents influenced them?
3:35–4:18
6
What experiences shaped the guest's perception of self-belief?
4:18–4:53
7
What does the guest believe about life changes and moving?
4:53–5:41
8
What are the guest's thoughts on love and relationships now?
5:41–48:10