Spare a Thought
Spare a Thought
Podcast Description
Welcome to Spare a Thought, the podcast that shines a light on the people and organisations tackling some of society’s biggest challenges. Join host Tom Spare for thought-provoking conversations with engaging guests whose work and lives are often overlooked or misrepresented in the media.
Whether you’re navigating the morning commute, taking a Sunday stroll or looking for a lunchtime listen - take time out of your day to Spare a Thought.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast covers a spectrum of themes including creativity, volunteerism, international education challenges, and humanitarian issues. For example, episodes highlight the significance of creative writing in community settings, delve into the work of the RNLI, and explore the experiences of international students in UK universities. Specific focus areas include societal contributions and personal narratives that challenge mainstream narratives.
Welcome to Spare a Thought, the podcast amplifying voices, stories, and ideas that are often overlooked or misrepresented in the media.
Join host Tom Spare for thought-provoking conversations with engaging guests.
Whether you’re navigating the morning commute, taking a Sunday stroll or looking for a lunchtime listen – take time out of your day to Spare a Thought.
In today’s episode, Tom explores how to navigate a creative life in a world that often feels structured against it. From algorithmic gatekeepers and AI interviews to the pressures of instant gratification, the path for young creatives is increasingly complex.
Tom is joined by Lily Mott, director of the Be the change. Media Network production, to discuss the transition from broadcasting to participating. They share personal stories of creative leaps: from Lily’s first voice memo during a protest to Tom’s four-part series documenting a historic trip through the USA.
Together they give examples of the persistence required for this journey, such as Amelia Dimoldenberg’s years of work on YouTube, Tom’s brother’s decade-long path to becoming an artist in a big city, and Olivia Dean’s elevation from playing to empty fields to breaking chart records. These were not overnight success stories, they were built over time.
Drawing on the wisdom of figures like George Orwell and Albert Camus, this conversation moves through the three pillars of a creative journey: finding your field, sustaining the work through winter and doubt, and making a meaningful contribution to the world.
This episode asks: if we have more agency than we realise, how do we stop waiting for a platform and start building the community we want to see?
Watch Lily Mott’s TED Talk on Political Content Moderation on Social Media: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqDO0B82ENY
Watch Lily’s speech at The Children’s Media Conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EF3azSIuN5A
Follow the Be the Change Media podcast: https://www.instagram.com/bethechangepodcast/
Follow Lily Mott on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilymott3/
Keep up to date with Tom’s work via his Substack: https://tomspare.substack.com/
Read Tom’s LinkedIn newsletter: https://shorturl.at/ZRNAU
Get the latest news on the podcast via the Spare a Thought Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spareathoughtmedia/
You can listen to all previous episodes wherever you get your podcasts from or head to: https://spareathought.podbean.com/
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
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