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 for curious minds, exploring creativity, culture and stories from the margins.
Join host Tom Spare for conversations that go to unexpected places, from the Welsh landscape and Japanese architecture, to media ownership and hidden British history.
Whether you’re on the morning commute, taking a Sunday stroll or looking for a lunchtime listen, take time out of your day to Spare a Thought.
This episode is based on a workshop Tom delivered in July 2026 for the Be the Change Media Network.
Drawing on over 100 episodes of Spare a Thought and The Political Dispatch, Tom explores what makes a story worth telling and how to tell it responsibly. He gives the example of three very different episodes he’s produced: Living with Long Covid, Spare a Thought for Paternity Leave, and Curly’s War, a miniseries based on his late grandfather’s WWII memoir.
Along the way, Tom reflects on earning trust, knowing when to step back and hand a story to someone better placed to tell it, and what it means to hold someone else’s legacy responsibly.
You can listen to the episodes referenced in this talk, and all previous episodes, wherever you get your podcasts or head to https://spareathought.podbean.com/.
Keep up to date with Tom’s work via his Substack: https://tomspare.substack.com/
Get the latest news on the podcast via the Spare a Thought Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spareathoughtmedia/
Spare a Thought is a Be the Change. Media Network production.
The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the Change. Media Network or its partners.
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.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.