In today’s episode, Tom speaks to five members of the Friday Writers Club run by Briony Goffin at Cardiff Writers Studio. Together they discuss the radical act of writing. Writing as an act of defiance, in dark times, in dark months.

In a world where AI can generate text instantly, what does it mean to sit down and put your own words on the page? What drives us to create? And how do we keep going when that voice in our head tells us we're not good enough?

Tom has interviewed Briony Goffin previously. Check out Episode 8, Spare a Thought for Creativity: https://spareathought.podbean.com/e/the-rewind-creativity/

He also interviewed the Director of the Be the Change. Media network, Lily Mott on the subject of Living a Creative Life: https://spareathought.podbean.com/e/living-a-creative-life/

This is the last episode of Season 4. Spare a Thought will be back for a special 50th episode in the spring. Until then 'Rewind' episodes will be released on a regular rhymth, allowing listeners to dive into the Spare a Thought archive.

You can find out more about the Cardiff Writers Studio here: https://www.cardiffwritersstudio.co.uk/

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/

You can listen to all previous episodes wherever you get your podcasts from or head to: https://spareathought.podbean.com/

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.

In this rewind episode, Tom revisits a conversation about creativity with Briony Goffin, originally released on New Year's Day 2025. As we continue to navigate creative expression in 2026, this episode offers timeless wisdom on where ideas come from and how to sustain a creative practice.

Briony Goffin is a writer, tutor, and mentor who teaches creative writing at Cardiff University and specialises in facilitating creative writing experiences in community and healthcare settings. Tom has been attending Briony's classes for close to 10 years, and their conversation explores the foundations of creative work.

Together they discuss where ideas originate, the process of getting back into writing after a break, and what it means to facilitate creative workshops in diverse settings. Briony shares insights from her years of experience helping people find their creative voice, whether they're university students, community groups, or individuals in healthcare environments.

This episode perfectly tees up next week's conversation, The Radical Act of Writing, exploring how creative expression can be both personally transformative and politically meaningful.

If you're considering taking up writing or another creative pursuit in 2026, this conversation offers inspiration and practical wisdom to help you begin.

Learn more about Briony Goffin and the Cardiff Writers Studio here: https://www.cardiffwritersstudio.co.uk/

You can follow the Cardiff Writers Studio on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cardiff_writers_studio/

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/

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.

This is the final episode of Curly's War, a mini series of the Spare a Thought podcast based on the self-published book by Tom's grandfather, Walter George Blaza.

In this concluding episode, Tom is joined by his brother Matt and cousin Alex to share their personal memories of Walter - the grandfather they knew. They discuss the war memorabilia cabinet that fascinated them as children, Grandad's resourcefulness and self-sufficiency, and the contrast between his adventurous wartime years and the quiet, sheltered life he led in the Leicestershire countryside. The conversation explores how reading Walter's own words gave them new insight into his bravery, his moral compass, and why a farm boy from Shackstone was the perfect candidate to become a commando.

In the second half, Tom and co-host Emily Merry reflect on the process of making this series - what they've learned about war, storytelling, and the importance of preserving family histories. They discuss the value of first-hand accounts versus academic histories, and why it matters to seek out and share these stories before they're lost.

Links to previous episodes of Curly’s War:

Introduction: https://spareathought.podbean.com/e/curlys-war-introduction/

Episode 1: The Interwar Years: https://spareathought.podbean.com/e/curlys-war-episode-1/

Episode 2: Joining the Royal Marines: https://spareathought.podbean.com/e/curlys-war-episode-2/

Episode 3: From D-Day to the Winter War: https://spareathought.podbean.com/e/curlys-war-episode-3/

Episode 4: War’s End: https://spareathought.podbean.com/e/curlys-war-episode-4/

You can follow Tom's work via his Substack: https://tomspare.substack.com/ Keep up to date with Spare a Thought via Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spareathoughtmedia/

Spare a Thought is a Be the change. Media Network production. Opinions shared by the guests and hosts of this show are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network.