Strangers on a Bench - EPISODE 63: All You Need Is One Good Night

Episode Date: November 24, 2025

Tom Rosenthal approaches a stranger on a park bench and asks if he can sit down next to them and record their conversation.This is what happened! Produced by Tom RosenthalEdited by Rose De LarrabeitiMixed by Mike WoolleyTheme tune by Tom Rosenthal & Lucy Railton Incidental music by Maddie AshmanEnd song : 'The Weight of Easy Things' by Joel DuntinStream it here : https://ffm.to/theweightofeasythingsListen to all the end songs featured on the podcast (so far) on one handy playlist :https://ffm.to/soabendsongs————————————————————————————Instagram : @strangersonabench Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello, sorry to bother you. Can I ask you a slightly odd question? I'm making a podcast called Strangers on a Bench where essentially I talk to people I don't know on benches for 10 or 15 minutes. Are you up for that? Do you want to give it a go? You're feeling good? Me and you on the bench is only going to happen once ever. I remember this for the rest of my life.

Let's hope so. Let's hope so, hey, let's do it. First question, easy. First question, easy. Is there a day of the week that you favour? Has to be the weekends, Saturday. Everyone's out, no one's working, when the sun is out, you know, having a cocktail, April spritz.

April sprits? Has it has been April sprits. This is the fastest anyone's mentioned in April's Sprits. I reckon that was probably 13 seconds before April Spritz came in. It has to be April Sprits. How early can you have an April Spritz on a Saturday? As early as you need. Once you see the sun, April Sprits.

On your hands. I love it. Take me through what is your kind of ideal Saturday lived on planet Earth? Okay, I have to be, wake up with my girlfriend. You sleep in a hold? I mean, she likes to hold, get into it. You don't? I do.

You said she likes to. Okay, we both like to do that. We both like to do that. Okay. You say you sleep in a hold? Yeah, we do, yeah. Well, eventually we separate and then we go back into it. You can't be holding the whole night.

That's a bit. Pretty much? Too much. Hang on, you go back into it. Like, she's without planning. It's like, v-wop. Yeah, I mean, you hold each other, and then let's say a couple hours. You let's go, obviously, you can have your space.

And then once you're kind of just moving around, you go, okay, let me go back into it. And then just, just, you know, so sometimes you open your eyes. She's right there. Yeah, she's like, oh, she's still there. All right, let me just give a little cuddle. And then we stay into a little cuddle until the morning. She wakes up smiling. And oh, no.

So you wakes up smiling? We both wake our smiles. See, what I'm trying to do here? What are you trying to do here? I don't know what you're trying to do right now. No, I'm just because she wakes her, sorry. I don't know if that means it when you say you wake up as smiling or not. Otherwise you would say we wake up. Okay, she wakes up smiling.

I wake up full of bliss and euphoria. Oh, wonderful. How do you achieve that? Making happy. Once she's happy, she makes you happy. It's your heart to make it happy. I mean, once you understand someone, it's easy to make them happy. Yeah.

If you don't, then, of course. I'm going to have problems. Of course. Okay, so we've woken up, girlfriend smiling, you're smiling. Of course. It's very blissful. Then what? Are we just staying in bed or we're hopping out?

If there's a hot day like this, I'll say, okay, let's have some breakfast. You put some Spotify in the background, she's getting changed, I'm getting changed. Getting changed? Yeah, we're like in the room. She's in the corner getting changed, I'm in the other corner, getting changed. You're coming out on each other's outfit? If she doesn't like my outfit, she'll say, yeah, I don't like this. And do you change it for her?

Within reason. If it's an outfit that I like, I feel comfortable in today, I'll keep it on. But I know what type of style she likes me wearing, so I'll wear that. Does she like this? Yeah. This is really cool, though, too. Yeah, old money. It's a really, really, really nice shirt.

Yeah. Silk shirt is green. And yeah, I got it tucked into the trousers. The trousers are kind of big. And some shoes. Also greenish. Yeah, khaki. Lighty.

Yeah. white socks I mean I would just say very stylish yeah solid solid and stylish yeah you know ready for most things yeah are you ready for most things I'm good at thinking on my feet yeah this is perfect for you what we're doing now yeah so I'm not yeah I get stopped a lot for some reason I don't know what it is a lot as in just people just stop people coming to me stop me for for this podcast or this is the third one you've done today yeah yeah I'll probably get another one in 10 minutes. Yeah, people like stop me in the street for some reason. I don't know what it is. Friendly face? I don't know, you know. I feel like I'm, I've got a serious face when I'm just

alone. Because I'm most thinking about something. What were you thinking about when I approach you? It's a bit weird, but I had almost a panic attack last night. And right now, I'm still kind of feeling it so I'm kind of trying to work my breathing a little bit more. So that's what I was kind of doing while you stop me. But this is making me feel better though. Oh, that's good. Did we talk about the pan-attack last night? What happened? Yeah, it was kind of stupid. After work, I went to see my friend that came back from holiday.

Went to his workplace, had a few drinks, and then smoked some, you know... The thing you smoked? Yeah, it was thinking he smoked. And then, yeah, I think I got a bad reaction from it. Okay. And I had a little panic attack. Yeah.

So I called the ambulance. The ambulance came, done some blood pressure, heart rate test, and said, yeah, you're all good. Everything's fine, but I think you're just panic. panic it so you need to work in your breathing interesting was that the first time second time the first time was a while ago but yeah this one was yeah they take by surprise yeah yeah I know I mean I felt this happening so I was

thinking about this again can you put it down to anything else rather than it was what you were smoking I'm guessing that's not the first time you had no not the first time no but I think sometimes when I'm sort of high I start thinking about like, oh, I feel like I'm dying, or I'm going to die or some shit like that, some weird thoughts. And then that's when I start panicking more. Because I felt half my face kind of numb.

So I was thinking, oh, shit, this is a stroke, or shit, I'm going to get paralyzed. So that made it worse. The brain could do some amazing things to the body, can it? Oh, yeah. It can just knock it out. Nothing more powerful than just thinking terrible thoughts. So, yeah, I think that's what it was great to me.

Me kind of just putting bad thoughts in my head. What else makes you know, you know, otherwise you're going to set you off? No, no, no. Otherwise, you're quite relaxed? Yeah, I'm very much like just really chilled. My girlfriend told me I'm too calm. She's full of emotions, I'm always just this monotone. Do you feel like that is true?

Yeah. I mean, I worked on it for a while. That implies that maybe you weren't calm before that? I was calm but not as calm as I'm now. Because before I was sort of insecure, I felt like there was so a lot of insecurities, where there was certain things were triggered me, but now I just kind of worked on myself. So now there's things that used to trigger me, I don't, it doesn't trigger me anymore. How did you kind of work through those? What was the method? Just read books and watch YouTube videos and just live life.

life. Once you live life, you got a lot of experience under your belt and then you just feel good by yourself. Yeah. You might be asking what you were insecure about? What were you, sorry? The first one was my weight. I thought I was too skinny. I used to get drunk a lot. For my friends, like, oh, you're skinny or this, you're starving. So that used to get to me sometimes and my looks as well. Because before, I never used to get no dates, no girlfriend, no one was interested in me, so I felt insecure. But my friends were going out on dates and, you know, having fun. I was always the kind of the wing man. Yeah. Because I'm good at interaction with people. So I used to be the ones to break the ice between everyone. Oh, that's sweet. Yeah, sweet. Yeah, but it's sweet. Always the

Bridesway, never the bride vibe. Yeah. And what was the turning point then? Honestly, I think I was when I lost my journey. After that, it was like, I'm the man. Okay. That is a classic turn. After that, Yeah, it was like, yeah. It was literally the next day. Literally after it happened, I was like, I feel different. You know what, actually? I'm glad you mentioned that because I think it is, I can only speak from the male experience, obviously. But I think before you do lose your virginity, at least for me, I just remember just thinking about it so much.

Yeah. Like such a constant of like they're doing it over there. I'm not. Like you want to be on the side of the river so desperately. And I suppose it's kind of for good reason in the sense that you've just shown, like you're going to have unlocked something. Yeah. I think it takes a large weight off the shoulders, but I lost it when I was 23. It's quite late-ish.

Yeah, maybe. So that's a bit mean to me to say. Does that it mean? It's fine, but yeah. No, no, it's not. Maybe it's not late. Maybe that's me. Actually, sorry, maybe I should take that back.

I feel bad now. When did you lose it? 17. Oh, yeah, that's kind of. kind of early, yeah. But like, I feel like, yeah, it's funny, no, it's, but I mean, did you, at that time, did you feel that it was late? Of course. All my friends have done it. Yeah. I was the person, but like, sure. Like, how did you eventually just do it? Oh, it was by, it was by, it was by accident. And that sounds weird, but it was not planned

out. Oh, I see. Because there was a point where I had a friend from France. One week, I was feeling depressed. So I was like, you know what? I'll skip. work for the week and let's go there next day we went to paris here we went out having a good time showing me around paris and then we got back to her house and then it was just long t-shirt on give me the look i was like okay what's going on here and then yeah we just it just happened it just it just happened i don't know maybe because we had we spent like a sort of romantic day and then we had a little intense moment before we got to the house so she lives kind of away from Paris, so you have to take the train.

Yeah. The last train was, I think, on 9.38. We had to get to the train, and it took like 10 minutes. And we were, like, 50 minutes away. So we took an Uber, there was a massive traffic. It was pouring down the rain. Like, it's like a blizzard of rain. And she was panicking.

She's like, oh, I don't feel we'll make it. Because if you couldn't make it home, then we would have been stranded the whole night. We said, you know what, let's run to the train. You go out of the cab, we start running, running, running, running, running. And we literally got to the train as the door was closing. So it was sort of kind of like a movie moment.

And they were covered in brain. So you had a bit of a buzz, you know, pre. Yeah, and we got to the house, and then I think she kind of just felt her whole day was kind of just kind of good. But it was a kind of surprise to you. Yeah, because I didn't know what's going to happen until she just like kissing. I'm like, okay, we're doing this today, all right. Alright, let's do it. I suppose it's funny, isn't it?

That's so what happens in life, isn't it? You know, you probably built up to this moment for so long and then suddenly it just happened and you weren't even expecting it. I think that's the best way to do it. I think that's the best way to do it. stop trying to force it yeah completely it'll happen so hard not to right but i mean of course i guess you feel very warmly towards this person yeah i i she doesn't know it was my first time she actually thought that i's done it multiple times oh but she doesn't know yeah it's my first time until this day i don't know she knows oh really yeah but i mean she she'd be you've

like sorry i mean her being with you in that occasion yeah has it made a massive difference so It did. And I remember her fondly for the rest of my life. Like, she's literally, I think she's the reason why I'm the way I am now. Wow. If it wasn't for her, I would be... Just that one occasion. That one occasion. It was a big occasion. But this goes to show. One occasion.

Maybe only need an afternoon. Yeah. I mean, that time was a night time, but yeah. All you need is a night, a good night, and then you'll change your night. All you need is one good night. It's a change of life. Amazing. And also, you're in Paris? The train?

The train. The Eiffel Tower, the rain, that's got to you. The train of the rain. It was like pouring down the rain. It's pouring. Unexpected. Long T-shirt. Long T-shirt came in the room.

I was like, oh, this is, this is, something's happening. I thought something happened. I felt something happening. I love that. I actually love it. The weight thing, is that also connected to the virginity thing? I think the weight thing is sort of just... Because I think back then I think being skinny was kind of not a good look.

Yeah. And I used to be insecure with my looks as well. I used to get teased a lot about my lips because I have bigger lips. lips and it's funny now because everyone now is getting lip surgeries and lip have bigger lips so it's like oh okay and crazy isn't it yeah and also you know I'm dark skin as well and at that time dark skin wasn't the flavor this is normally you know what time are we talking about early 2000s yeah until like 2010 so I think now dark skin guys was that for use I was like 10 to 18 yeah and you know dark skin guys

was in the flavor it was either white guys or mixed race like you guys But now it's our turn. That's a good moment. Yeah, it's our era now. When did you feel like the tide had turned? I don't know. I think it's recently, I'm getting more looks now. Yeah.

I think that also I grew my hair out, got dreads now. Yeah. So I kind of look distinguished. Distinguish is a good word. And I agree. That's where you stopped me. What do you? There you go.

What do you do with all these looks you get? Is it bank them? Yeah, it's like, yeah, okay. For the self-esteem. Yeah, a little self-esteem boost. What's your next virginity moment? I don't know. An event, a shift.

I think probably if I had my first child, I think that would also change me completely as well. I think that's the next one. I think that's the next thing that will... Can we do it with current girlfriend? Yeah, of course. I hope so. I mean, she wants children as well.

Tonight? That's too early, man. That's too early. That's about tonight playing some FIFA, not about having a child. I was thinking about FIFA. I was up to my old children. I wasn't thinking about that.

Can you do both at the same time? You know. Call the kid FIFA? Yeah. That could happen. You never know. Have you got kids? I do.

Would you say it's a turning point in your life? I would. In a good way, a bad way, because it can be both. It can be both. Oh, good way. Definitely a good way. You know, look, I mean, having kids is like a catastrophic thing to do to your life. Yeah.

But it's like a beautiful catastrophe. you know it's a catastrophe that means like so much love forever yeah but it also is you are just taking an absolute hammer blow to everything you've built so far but there's so much for it is beautiful that you know it makes it fine was you ready for it was I ready yeah I just think you're never ready but also you know here's a beautiful thing I think you're never ready but you are always ready but you are always ready You know, if you think about how much child rearing has had to happen for us to be on a bench here. Yeah.

Think of all those people. So really, if I hand you a little baby now, you know, you might be confused for, I don't know, 20 minutes. Then you're very quickly like, oh, this actually feels kind of normal. Okay. It's amazing how natural it feels. So, yeah. Have any tips? Maybe you are going to do it tonight.

Any tips? And what about babies in particular? Just raising a child. Oh, my God. Yeah. Any couple of things. You know what? The only thing I would say that make you feel more relaxed is you are not in charge

with how the child turns out. You're not building someone's personality. They come out pretty much done. They're going to be what they're going to be. You are in charge of. to whatever extent you possibly can be, their happiness, their well-being. You know what I mean? Yeah.

And if you think of it like that, it takes a bit of the pressure off because if you're like, oh God, I've got to show them this and do this and do this and do this a thousand things and, you know, make sure they're good at this, make sure, you know, that's a part of it. But really, it's just letting them be what they were always going to be. A lot of it is about, there was a phrase to quite like intelligent neglect, which is, you know, the idea of, not interfering too much. You know, you don't need,

it doesn't need it. Just being present, really. Yeah. People can make it really complicated. But it doesn't have to be like that. I don't know if that, is that at all useful for you to hear? Yeah, yeah, I hope so. Because a lot of people, they want to mold their kids to be.

Exactly. You know, like, oh, I think they should be a Premiership Footballer. All things that maybe they didn't do or think, you know, they think of, like, as another shot, you know? You know what I mean? And all that is just putting pressure on, something that it might not be, they might just be something entirely different. I have a very good too.

Yeah. What are your fears of it? Any other fears of it? Any other fears? not be able to provide them financially the things that you need to do because, you know, of course I work but I don't think I'm ready for a child financially. That's a problem. And if she stops working, then I'm in charge of kind of room the money.

Yeah. That's a big, big step. So I'm not trying to get a child when I'm not financially ready. Yeah, appreciate that. You know what? You know the good news? is that when you do have kids, I find you gain just a whole other levels of motivation. Yeah.

One motivation, two, other people take you more seriously. If you think about who the people are that give out the jobs and the money, then mostly people who are older and might be parents. And so you, as a father, are X amount more trustworthy because you have this huge responsibility, as you're looking after that. So the people that actually give out the dodge are more like to give you more. Do that make sense? Yeah.

Like I think it's like, you know, you just grow a weight to your presence and your work that I feel isn't there before. Mine plus is one person. So the first thing I should put on a CV is that I have a child. Yeah. I'm a father. So I'm a father. I've got presents now. More money now.

Give me the mula. And that's it. Are you good at your job, whatever it is? Yeah, I think I'm too good now where I just mess around. Whoa. I can go there half to sleep. I'll still do the word perfectly. You're a surgeon?

Yeah, pretty much, yeah. I've done it for so long now. It's like, I can just kind of second nature thing now. Wow. Does that mean you need to not do it? I think I need to change. What will be going to change? I'm not sure.

Because honestly, any job I won't be happy in there. job I won't be happy in because I want to be a professional photographer one day. So any job I do is merely just to gain money to pay the bills. So I'll never feel the happiness that I would if I was a photographer. Why can't we be a professional photographer? Maybe you need a baby? If the baby has connections, yeah, that'll help a lot, yeah. But photographer, you need a lot of connections, a strong social media following, putting yourself out there. Takes time. When did you first become excited about photography?

Two years ago, when I started the whole journey. What set you upon your journey? I've always liked cinematography, photography staff. So I was like, you know what, let me invest in the camera and start doing it properly. And then after that, I just friend and love with it. Every time I'm day off, I go outside and just practice my photography. And, yeah, ever since then, I haven't stopped. I've enjoyed every single second

and I think if I was had more of the following and more opportunities to do like brand work and stuff like this I think that will of course make me much more happy sort of like your podcast you started it and now

under 100 of 50 yeah 150 people I was the first shot of yours where you felt like wow like I I really feel this like this is something to be excited about. Do you remember that shot? Yeah, I'll say it was in Christmas,

Bon Street. The area is very, very popular in Christmas because the lights are all out. And I saw this girl walking, because I do street to talk about you. I do like Candid Falls. And I saw this girl with a friend walking and pose in front of the building

and I kind of took a snapshot over. I looked at, I was like, wow, this is really good, really good. So I went up to her and I showed it to her. She goes, oh, this is really nice. Send it to me. And I'll, you know, posted on my Instagram. I didn't know who she was, but she ended up to being like a famous

influencer. She had like millions of followers and then she posted it on a story. And then a lot of followers start following me. And then I got a lot of DMs saying, oh, can you do a photo shoot for this? Can you do a photo shoot for my brand? And honestly I got overwhelmed. I was like, eesh, this is just too much. So I was like, uh, I'm not really, I can't do it. Sorry, I was kind of rejecting everyone. I got a little bit scared. I kind of like, it was too much. Why were you scared of? You didn't... There's too much attention.

It's way too many. And I don't think I was ready for like a photo session of a brand. Because that means your photos have to be good. Because someone's paying for you to do your work. Yeah. And I just do it's a fun. But yeah, that's a kind of a sign that it's possible, right? Yeah, very possible.

So you know it's doable. Yeah, one shot. Yeah, I always remember that day. I mean, if the same thing happened today, and you've got offers or whatever, would you feel confident enough now? Oh yeah, now I'll be very comfortable. Yeah.

So this was a year ago. So now I've been doing it for a while and I've been doing more photoshoots as well with my friends and random people. Do you want to hear my take? Of course. One, I think you should go for it. And I think you should go for it

pre-kid because kid will mean you're too focused on just getting that solid money and you won't, you know. Two is time. You need time. So I don't believe you can ever like really give something a go if there's not the time to do it It's about growing confidence, isn't it? So I would find a way however you do this

I don't know if it's possible with your job or not, but like to see how long you can Ask for off a couple of months three months. Let's pretend say something's happening whatever Make up an excuse just lie really and then with those two months whatever you just absolutely go full pelt try everything, do everything, every day on it, every contact, like just absolutely... Because momentum is what gets you places. But if you have to keep stopping, like with jobs and other stuff and others there, then it's just not going to go anywhere. I mean, you've got a really good presence to you.

I know quite a few photographers. And I kind of think, on the whole, what makes you great photographers, as much as it is lining up a shot. presence is the key. You know, am I going to feel relaxed? Am I going to feel inspired? Am I going to feel excited to be in your company? Do you what I mean? And you've got a lovely presence to you. I feel like, I don't know. I think it's kind of all all in your hands, really. Hope so, hope so. If anyone's listening, they'll be like thinking about getting a photography, but they haven't dived in yet.

What would you say? Just get a camera and go out and shoot me. To work in a block holiday for two weeks and just go out, practice composition, knowing how to use the light to advantage. Those, I think those two are the most important parts. Lighting and competition. Once you get them too down, then the rest

are just all about picking a good subject. And that's it, just go for it. Any camera, any 500, 200 pound one. People can get a cheap camera and make it look better than any expensive camera out there. Can you try and describe what the key joy is for you in taking a photograph? Managing to see a scene that you see for your eyes, but transferring it down to the camera.

That is a very good pleasure that you get. Because everyone can see a good scene and look at it and I say, wow, this looks amazing. But if I give you the camera, you can't capture the same scene that you had in your head. Yeah. So I think that's what photography is. It's managing to capture the scene that you see in your eyes that you love so much. and transferring it to your camera and shooting it.

Yeah. I think once you get that, the satisfaction is like, wow. Yeah. That's lovely. And also capturing those special moments as well, because I love doing candid photos or people, just doing random stuff. And once you catch a great shot or someone just doing something

or having a certain threshold expression, it's like, oh, it's amazing. Like your little buzz. Beautiful described. Were your parents, like anyone? No one at all. No one. I love movies, I love watching movies in the cinema

and I love how they shoot the frames to kind of convey certain emotions and that's how I fell in love with it. What's been the most joyous moment of your life? It has to be that French trip. It has to be that French trip. The Virginia won. Okay, I'm going to ask you a different. It has to be that one.

Okay, let's flip it then. Let's flip it. What's been the most difficult day of your life? When my sister had cancer. What age are we talking? I think I was around 20, 23, 24. She was or you were? I was.

Right. 23, yeah. Congratulations. Yeah. Good age. Yeah. And my prime peak times. So yeah, I think that time when she had cancer was difficult

because it just, I mean, now, I don't think I've properly dealt with it. I haven't really had a day where I just thought about it properly because at the time I was still sort of living in my own delusion. Like, there was nothing wrong with her. But there were times where she were, like, coughing out blood or crying a lot. I don't think it's nice, but I was kind of avoiding her or avoiding me in the house and just when she's there

with my sisters and my family I'll be in a room just with my headphones and just you were trying to like block it out block out

yeah do you feel any remorse for that any kind of regret yeah because I didn't comfort at all at any stage

because I think my sister see me as this kind of this stoic shows no emotion type of guy so she never really asked me

to feel like a hug or can you help me nothing like that she normally went to my sister so my mum so when everyone I was confident enough for a hard time.

I was always just in my own denial. Is she, how is she now? She's fine, if she had a baby, a couple days. I don't want to have the baby. Okay. They shouldn't, yes. I mean, it's never too late to address it. I don't know.

How can you start, though? Sorry to say, I wish I did that differently, or I'm sorry if you feel like you want to, but I'm not saying you should have apologised you. But if you feel like that and that's on you, You know, there's a lot of life we've got to carry on our shoulders. Anything that we can lighten, we should lighten. Yeah.

I know, I think it would be difficult. I honestly don't know how to even start a conversation like that. Well, you just sit it down and go, look, I've been thinking about this. Here's some thoughts. She might have been quite happy that you were quite stoic. Maybe that was kind of useful. I mean Maybe you were so emotional

that you actually couldn't It meant too much to you to show it or something You know as well Yeah I'm not really good at Expressing sort of like comfort Or silence when something's bad Happened in my family I always just try to ignore it

Like even when I was younger My parents used to argue a lot, fight a lot I'd just literally go on my backguard and start kicking the football Yeah Well, that's a way of coping, isn't it? Yeah, that's how I cope with you. Just pretend that it doesn't exist.

Yeah. Did you still do that now? I don't know, because nothing may just happen. In a sense, I mean, look, so I don't do two pop psychology stuff here, but bad stuff will happen again. Yeah. It depends who you want to be when that happens. Do you know what I mean?

Yeah. I mean, since I got my girlfriend, I think I'm expressing more feelings. Yeah. So I think if something that's happened, I think I'll be more emotionally available. That's a bit of comfort. Yeah. Yeah, so I'll have to see, but yeah, I'll definitely have a conversation with her

because I feel like I need to. Because I feel like as a sibling, you should be there to comfort your sisters or brothers. And I didn't do my job. So I feel guilty. You did another 10 minutes or so? How long have you got? Wicked. If you were boring, I would have been gone by now.

I mean, in your opinion, what makes a person interesting? You know what? It's simply openness. You're open about your struggles. You open about stuff you wish you'd done better, stuff that you're insecure about. You know, all these things, which we all have. None of those are like kind of remarkable. But what's remarkable is someone who's open about it.

And if you're open about it, then you're extending an olive branch to other people listening because they're like, well, I could feel that too, is the bridge. Yeah. Would you say more people are open in your podcast? Yeah, I would say most people will be open, yeah. I mean, I thought this is easy for me because I don't usually talk about this stuff with anyone. Yeah, well, that's perfect. There is a beauty of talking to someone you don't know.

Yeah. It's rare that we speak to someone in a kind of a free way. You know what I mean? And that's quite liberating, I suppose. Yeah. But anyway, thank you very much for being open. Oh, man, thank you for asking me for this podcast. It's been a great pleasure.

Wow. This is great time. Can you think of a time in your life, do you wish you had more courage? Yeah, I'll say when I was about 18 to 20, because I play football as well. My dream was actually originally was to be a footballer. Really? Yeah. I basically got accepted to go to a club in Croatia, like a freshman.

But then I turned it down because I didn't have the courage. New country, new culture, I didn't know how I was going to turn out. And I was still in my comfort zone in London, so I was like, you know what? I just turn it down. So I wish I went to see what would happen. How do you think your life would have been different? I feel like I wouldn't have experienced the great moments that I've had. I think the front situation would happen.

I wouldn't have a problem with my girlfriend. I wouldn't be here to talk to you, probably. So I wish I went, but at the same time as like, yeah, I'm satisfied with how I've turned out. And I probably want to start for Tokyo as well. So maybe it was good you didn't have the courage. good you didn't have the courage you never know that's the beat of life you never know what happened yeah what's it like being really good at football i mean london's a big deal if you're good at football you get respected and yeah so it feels

good to train at something and you're good at yeah so you still kick a ball anyway yeah i play some pro now what is semi pro it's like you're playing a few leagues below professional Oh, the pilot? He's that a pilot? Well, it looks like a pilot. No, is that a pilot outfit? He's a long way from... Not a long way from the airport.

It's a long way from the plane, son. But what's that if it's not a pilot? Not probably cosplaying. For his wife, if his wife, who probably likes this. It's a sexy thing. Yeah. A little turn on. I'm meant to judge no one. They don't look like that.

Yeah, she's on the phone. I think she doesn't look that excited about the cosplay if they are cosplay. You ever cosplayed as a footballer? Not yet. Your girlfriend has asked to wear the kit No I mean I don't let her watch me play football You don't let her watch you

Yeah she'll watch you yeah one of that Why? It's game time Focus What are you gonna be to be too to track Yeah I don't want to have to be screaming Ask me stupid questions Because I'd have to like

Yo leave me alone I'm trying to focus on this I'm in a different mode Alright who are you when you're playing football then I'm a beast Very grumpy Very crumpy really Very grumpy

Wow does that mean you're enjoying it I'm enjoying it but that's just my game time. I'm not trying to have no jokes, no fucking around. Win this game, play will. I love it. Do that but just in photography. You become a professional photographer. I'm trying, you're trying to transfer that kind of hunger. Do this. Do it? That's it. Is there anything that people don't know about you that you wish they did? I say I'm very sentimental and emotional, but I don't show that a lot.

I hope one day people know that I'm more affectionate. It's funny thought that, isn't it? Actually, they look at you and go, oh, he's quite stoic, but actually you are maybe even more emotional. It's so emotional that you can't show it because you're worried about what it looks like. You're basically the opposite to what they think you are. I mean, I think men in general has to deal with this. So I think that's one of the downsides of having that a man tag on you. You can't be so emotional, emotional stuff.

One day, maybe, I'll just change and open up a little more. I don't worry about the judgment. But is that a way of, like, just saying it to whoever, like, that I'm not as, that as you think I am, rather than, like, being actually emotional. You start, at least the first point is just to talk about it, I don't know. But do you think they need to know? Like if they're happy you're where you are, do you think they need to know? It's really good question.

I think it's really important to be as understood as possible. And it's dangerous when we feel that distance. And we sometimes can feel isolated with it. So it's like, health-wise, it's probably better that people know you the best they can. The right people, not everyone, not everyone has to know you, but the people you care about. Yeah, that is true. Sometimes I feel like, oh, I'm misunderstood. and sometimes that can get annoying as well or I don't know how I'll just move on from it

I thought it is what it is this is the character that they think I am so I'll play it for well okay I'll ask you one more question then we get to the final question what should I ask you as the last good question that's up to you I know pressure No pressure, no pressure. What does it feel like being in love? Oh shit. It's definitely worth it. I always thought I'll be alone.

I'd be like a sort of bachelor just going around and fucking around. Because being in love, of course comes with a risk. Your heart will get broken. And of course no one wants that. But I was definitely saying it's definitely worth it. Just having someone by your side. there through the good times and bad times, creating memories. And it's better than going on these random dates with random girls

because there's no substance to them. There's no weight. I mean, being in love is, I see why people die for it. I see why people like making music about it. I mean, how would you say, would you say love is worth it? Oh, for sure. That was a bit of a answer. I've got nothing to add to that great answer with yours. Don't.

We're actually both got green and black on. got a green and black on. Yeah, the green and black combo right here. The destiny? Yeah, it's fate. Has been destiny? Yeah, I think it was. Because I was just about to walk away as well.

I was kind of sitting down here for like five minutes to charge my vape. I don't know. Scyphra just told me to stay. And I think the squad's sending me my Samaritan. Here he comes. Here he comes. With the podcast. Oh, wonderful.

Well, it's been absolutely really such a pleasure to talk to you. as well. Thank you for stopping by. Give me a chance to talk. Yeah, I'm really on your team. I think you're going to do great things. Hope so. Last question for you. Okay.

Are there answered this in a big way or a small way? Okay. What are you going to do next? What I'm going to do next is become the photographer that I plan on becoming. That's the next goal. It's going to happen. It's going to happen. I can feel it. My time.

My time. I believe. See, there you go. He believes too. So yeah, I have to make it now. For the listeners as well. I'll make it for you guys. Ha ha ha ha.

Met a stranger on a bench that day. He said, I like the sunshine, quiet Saturdays. Talked about a calm He had a building side From a storm That once left behind his eyes Used to hide his face From mirrors in the crowd

Thought his skin too dark His laughter too loud But he's learning How to let that go Like a photograph In morning glow And he said Love's worth it

Even when it hurts a bit You run through the rain And somehow you don't quit Every fear, every miss Leaves him closer to this Just breathing, believe in, and living a bit. Oh, oh, oh, oh. Paris lights and a train to catch.

The kiss in the rain, no strain. no strings attached didn't know then what he knows now the heart finds courage when you let it out he missed some chances held his tongue

watched his sister and stayed too young Now he's learning Not to look away To say The words he couldn't say Love's worth it Even when it hurts a bit

He smiles your up through the storm And somehow you lit With a lens in his hand and the light just right he's framing his future in the softest light he believes and this time he lacked on it Oh, oh, oh. Oh.