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/

Tom and Emily narrate Walter’s journey from the final preparations for D-Day through to the liberation of the Netherlands and into a brutal winter campaign of 1944-1945.

In today’s Christmas special, Tom explores the often-overlooked refugee story at the heart of the nativity.

In Episode Two, Tom and Emily take listeners from the autumn of 1939 through Walter’s extraordinary transformation from civilian bricklayer to elite Commando.

In today’s episode, Tom focuses on Long Covid Kids, a charity supporting children and young people living with Long Covid.

This is the first episode of Curly’s War, a mini series based on Walter George Blaza’s self published book of the same name, which recounts his 6 eventful years a Royal Marine and Commando during World War Two. In this episode, Walter’s grandson Tom Spare, explores the interwar years with co-host Emily Merry.

Tom interviews Karen Jacobsen, the Henry J. Leir Professor of Global Migration at the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy at Tufts University to discuss how refugees transform the cities in which they are hosted in.

In today’s episode Tom marks International Men’s Day (19th November) by profiling the work of The Dad Shift and its co-founder George Gabriel.

In this special introductory episode, Tom launches a new four-part mini-series of Spare a Thought titled Curly’s War, joined by his producing partner, Emily Merry.

In today’s episode Tom speaks to Professor Les Back, a lecturer of Sociology at the University of Glasgow to discuss the 1979 programme It Ain’t Half Racist Mum, a critique of the representation of Black and Asian communities in Britain, and draw parallels to political debate and discourse today.

To honour Black History Month, Tom is joined by Be the Change Media’s host of the Forgotten Generation podcast Troy Njenje Mbanga to discuss the life and legacy of Dorothy Height.

Tom is taken in a time machine to 2030 by author, activist and environmentalist Rob Hopkins to show us how we averted the climate crisis and reshaped our relationship with nature and the planet.

In this episode Tom interviews Charlie Edmonds from Civic Square, an organisation demonstrating neighbourhood-scale civic infrastructure for social, ecological, economic, and climate transition.

In honour of Black History Month and as part of our ’Educating for the Future’ series, Tom is joined by Clarice Rodney, the Operations Manager of the Black British Book Festival.

Tom interviews friend and founder of Womb CIC, Sinnead Ali to discuss how we might be able to build a matricentric future, a society which focuses on the support of mothers and caregivers.

Tom interviews Jay Chard, a PhD student from the University of South Wales who is researching the role universities play in a just climate transition.

Tom interviews Sam Cullis, founder and Executive Director of the London Breeze Film Festival. Sam is also Tom’s former film teacher!

Tom and his guest Chris Thorpe discuss the importance of getting kids into STEM fields, non-linear career paths, and how technology might impact the next generation coming through.

Tom hears from five members of Generation Covid, a cohort of young people whose education and lives were completely changed by the pandemic.

Tom flies to Washington, D.C., on the eve of the US Presidential Election polling day.