iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Tom Spare @tomspare.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

New on Spare a Thought 🕷️ I review Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The world’s forgotten Peter Parker is Spider-Man, even the people he loves most. Isolated and burnt out, he has to find his way back. Spoiler-free take on friendship, isolation and growing up 🎧 Listen here: shorturl.at/L6n2M

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Tom Spare @tomspare.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

In episode 59 of my podcast Spare a Thought, I spoke to Taylor Edmonds, a poet, playwright and founder of Writing for Joy. We explored her journey from anonymous Tumblr poet to writing her debut play, her work with patients at Velindre Cancer Centre, and what human creativity means in an age of AI:

open.spotify.com

Writing for Joy

Spare a Thought · Episode

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Tom Spare @tomspare.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Fifty years on, All the President’s Men remains the gold standard for the political thriller. Its central conceit? Good journalism takes time, patience, talent and courageous editorial leadership. New ep. of The Political Dispatch out now: open.spotify.com/episode/0bO9...

A promotional image for The Political Dispatch podcast. The top third shows a still from the 1976 film All the President’s Men, featuring actors Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford in a busy newsroom, leaning over a desk together. Below the image, on a dark brown background, the text reads: All the President’s Men — The 50th Anniversary Special.

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Tom Spare @tomspare.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

New episode of Spare a Thought 🎓 Six Plan 2 graduates share how much they owe in student debt. Plus Ollie from Rethink Repayment on why the system needs to change. How much do you owe? 🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/75sWx9

Black square graphic with the text “Spare a Thought” in yellow handwritten script at the top. A white line drawing of a graduation cap sits in the centre. Below in bold white text reads “Student Loans:” and beneath that in large bold yellow text “How Much Do You Owe?”

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Tom Spare @tomspare.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

The Three Trees: an old parable about three trees on a hill, each dreaming of what they’ll become. Four years ago during lockdown, I adapted this story for my mum. A tale about purpose, intention, and unexpected roles. Happy Easter. open.substack.com/pub/tomspare...

Book cover for ‘The Three Trees: An Easter Story, Adapted by Tom Spare.’ Three dark evergreen tree silhouettes stand on a hill against a warm orange and amber sunset sky. Website: tomspare.substack.com.

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The News Agents @thenewsagents.co.uk · 13/03/2026

“If Keir Starmer abhors politics so much, why does he keep going?”, asks Lewis Goodall. “He wants to prove people wrong, as he feels he's done repeatedly throughout his life. He wants to be vindicated”, says Patrick Maguire. “The guy has a very high opinion of himself”.

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Tom Spare @tomspare.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

In this Christmas special, I explore what the nativity story teaches us about welcoming refugees and asylum seekers today with @welshrefcouncil.bsky.social & chaplains from Cardiff University. Listen here: spareathought.podbean.com/e/jesus-was-...

A promotional graphic for a podcast or audio series with a blue, starry night background. At the top, yellow text reads "SPARE A THOUGHT," followed by large, bold white text that says "JESUS WAS A REFUGEE." Below this is the phrase "Now streaming" above the icons for Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music. At the bottom, a black silhouette depicts a traditional nativity scene with Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus in a stable under a bright star, set against a dark, hilly landscape.

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Welsh Refugee Council @welshrefcouncil.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

Nation of Sanctuary Awards 2026 nominations are now OPEN 🌟 Every day, incredible individuals and groups work tirelessly to create welcoming spaces. And now is your chance to give them the recognition they deserve! ✅ Everything you need to nominate is right here: wrc.wales/nation-of-sa...

wrc.wales

Nation of Sanctuary Awards 2026: Nominations now OPEN! - Welsh Refugee Council

Last year, people across Wales shared a record number of nominations and stories that inspired, moved, and energised communities. Now we’re inviting you to celebrate even more extraordinary people.

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Welsh Refugee Council @welshrefcouncil.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

When someone is recognised as a refugee but only offered a short-term status, what follows isn’t safety: it’s limbo. Read our full statement to hear why the UK Government's proposals will lead to insecurity without solving any of the real issues ⬇️ wrc.wales/our-response...

wrc.wales

Our response to the proposed asylum reforms - Welsh Refugee Council

In Wales, our Nation of Sanctuary vision starts from a simple truth: people begin rebuilding their lives the moment they feel safe.

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The Fletcher School @fletcherschool.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

Professor Karen Jacobsen discusses her new book, "Host Cities: How Refugees Are Transforming the World's Urban Settings," and her career as a scholar of forced migration. @tomspare.bsky.social@yalebooks.bsky.social open.spotify.com/episode/6g3o...

open.spotify.com

How Refugees Transform Cities

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Kieran Lowe @kieranran.bsky.social · 22/11/2025

The gap between electricity and gas prices in Jan will now be 20% larger than a year before, pushing up bills for a typical household using electric storage heating by £100, compared to typical dual fuel billpayer seeing bills rise by just £2.50 www.nesta.org.uk/press-releas...

nesta.org.uk

Price gap between gas and electricity hits highest level since energy crisis of 2022

Sharp increases in electricity costs are set to push the electricity-to-gas price ratio to its highest level since the 2022 energy crisis, according to new analysis from the innovation foundation Nest...

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Tom Spare @tomspare.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

On 4th November it will be a year since the US went to the polls to re-elect Donald Trump. In the lead-up to voting day I crisscrossed the US before spending voting day in Washington DC. Over the next couple of days I’ll be reflecting on my trip via Substack.

open.substack.com

MAGA in Manhattan

When Trump headlined Madison Square Garden

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Tom Spare @tomspare.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

What lessons can we draw from future? Let's time-travel and find out. In the latest episode of Spare a Thought, author and activist Rob Hopkins takes us in his time machine to the year 2030 so we can fall in love with the future. 🌍🔮🎉 Listen here: spareathought.podbean.com/e/how-to-fal...

spareathought.podbean.com

How to Fall in Love with the Future | Spare a Thought

In this episode of Spare a Thought, 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 relationsh...

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Richard Martin @mimosacymru.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

I know that there are a lot of Welsh politics folks out there missing the @hiraethpod.bsky.social while it is on hiatus. While I would ofc point anyone needing a fix either to ‘For Wales, See Wales’ by the ever excellent Will Hayward and BBC Wales’s #WalesCast I’m happy to say that I have *news*

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Richard Martin @mimosacymru.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

Happy to confirm that our new Welsh politics pod is on the way filled with informative, astute, and what I would euphemistically refer to as “robust“ debate between Lee Waters MS, Prof Laura McAllister and former Conservative Special adviser Lauren McEvatt. We’ll be ready to share soon! #Senedd26

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Laura McAllister @lauramcallister30.bsky.social · 28/09/2025

New pod alert. Coming soon...

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Tom Spare @tomspare.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

Big thank you to @jaychard.bsky.social for coming on the show - we worth a listen

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Tom Spare @tomspare.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

What’s it like to find yourself at a Trump rally? Well you can find out today! I’m releasing a mini series focused on the my travels to the US during last year’s Presidential Election. Here’s a video taster of what’s in store, listen now: spareathought.podbean.com

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Tom Spare @tomspare.bsky.social · 13/07/2025

To all the people having Roast dinner today, god bless you, but aren’t you a tad hot? To all the people making Roast dinner in this heat, there should be a law prohibiting you from doing so.

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Dr Julia Grace Patterson @jujuliagrace.bsky.social · 21/06/2025

The NHS is in the news a lot right now! If you’d like to know what’s going on, from someone who worked as a doctor for 10 years+is now an NHS campaigner, sign up to my newsletter. I’ll give you important info (plus there’s no trolls, it’s lovely!🤣🥰💙) jujuliagrace.substack.com

jujuliagrace.substack.com

Call To Action | Dr Julia Grace Patterson💙 | Substack

I am very concerned about what UK politicians are doing to the NHS, and so I have decided to write about it! This is my personal newsletter, sharing my perspectives +important info about the NHS and m...

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Tom Spare @tomspare.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

I learned so much from my conversation Dr Julia Patterson, CEO of @everydoctor.org.uk we talk NHS privitsation, the state of healthcare in the UK and the welfare of NHS staff

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Iain Porter @iainkporter.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

Govt just published the Bill to cut disability benefits for > 3 million people, revealing that mitigations for those with the most severe conditions ministers have been telling MPs about will protect only up to 10% of new claimants from a halving of UC's health element 1/5

Image of cover of Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill.

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Tom Spare @tomspare.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

Can we save NHS? I spoke to @jujuliagrace.bsky.social of @everydoctor.org.uk to discuss government reforms, the role of private providers in NHS services, the wellbeing of staff and patients & her own journey from Doctor to campaigner. Listen here: spareathought.podbean.com

Text: Spare a Thought Saving the NHS with Dr Julia Grace Patterson on a blue background with a black and white image of Dr Patterson on the left side.

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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

Well, electricity levies and heat pumps are in the news this morning… … and we have a brand new Nesta report out on levy reform. We’ve looked closely at all the options, and this is what we think the best approach is… www.nesta.org.uk/report/how-t...

nesta.org.uk

How to make electricity cheaper

Reforming the levies on energy bills

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Nesta @nestauk.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

Today Nesta publishes recommendations on how to make energy bills fairer & greener ⬇️ Levies are driving up the price of electricity bills, making it harder for people to switch to low-carbon heating. We’re proposing to rebalance levies in a way that is easy & fair, using new Nesta modelling.

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Tom Spare @tomspare.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

I’ve interviewed Zoe Daniels from the International Rescue Committee to discuss Gaza. You can listen here: thepoliticaldispatch.podbean.com

Two images, one of a Birds Eye view of Gaza buildings destroyed and rubble, the second children clambering for food holding empty containers. Text over the top reading: The Political Dispatch Gaza Starves

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The New York Times @nytimes.com · 25/05/2025

In @nytopinion.nytimes.com Bruce Springsteen and Donald Trump are “two opposing faces of modern America as it was built and performed by their generation,” Eric Alterman writes in a guest essay. “They offer their fan bases a promise of entirely different futures.”

nytimes.com

Opinion | Bruce Springsteen Will Never Surrender to Donald Trump

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The New Yorker @newyorker.com · 25/05/2025

Today marks five years since George Floyd was killed by police. Our June 22, 2020 cover “Say Their Names,” by Kadir Nelson, illustrated how Floyd’s murder embodies the history of violence inflicted upon Black people in America. nyer.cm/UmfefJw

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Will Hayward - Wales Journo @willhaycardiff.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

Give yourself a real treat on this glorious Sunday and read my latest newsletter. willhaywardwales.substack.com/p/why-cuts-d...

willhaywardwales.substack.com

Why cuts don't work

Plus the Welsh Tories make another blunder

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Tom Spare @tomspare.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

Had the pleasure of speaking to @willhaycardiff.bsky.social about Wales and the media. You can listen to our conversation wherever to you get your podcasts from or follow the link: spareathought.podbean.com

Image of Will Hayward on the right with text reading: Spare a Thought Wales and the media with Will Hayward

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Dr Julia Grace Patterson @jujuliagrace.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

With all this talk about wasted money, and inefficiency in the NHS, can we please start asking the government how much money has been spent by politicians in the name of ‘NHS reforms’? These ICBs were only created in 2022! www.bbc.com/news/article...

bbc.com

NHS in East of England faces unprecedented cuts, says boss

Hundreds of NHS staff in the East of England may face redundancy because of a major reorganisation.

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Tom Spare @tomspare.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

Racism called out by @maitlis.bsky.social lots of other interviewers would have let it slide. Great journalism speaking truth to power.

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Dr Julia Grace Patterson @jujuliagrace.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

One of the things EveryDoctor is planning is a detailed database tracking MP responses to constituent concerns about the NHS. We’re fed up of politicians ignoring their constituents- they’ve been getting away with it for too long 🚨 Please help! 👇💙🚨🌟 www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/save-our-n...

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Tom Spare @tomspare.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

My reflections on VE Day: tomspare.substack.com

Image of a quote from the Substack post: I’m scared of the world we’ve inherited. A world where fascism isn’t dressed in uniform, it wears suits and casual wear. It runs tech platforms. It masquerades as populism. It promises easy answers to complex problems.”

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Nesta @nestauk.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

Are you looking for your next job role? Our current vacancies could be the right fit for you ⤵️ 📊 Group Data Journalist 🗞️ Group Media Officer 📈 Junior Data Engineer 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Head of Nesta Cymru Find out more and apply on our website: www.nesta.org.uk/jobs/

nesta.org.uk

Jobs

We are always looking to work with a diverse range of talent. Browse current job vacancies at Nesta and from our partners

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Tom Spare @tomspare.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

In January Cardiff University announced it was opening a consultation to cut 400 FTE academic staff and merge or close departments. I've made an episode focused on Modern Languages which is earmarked for closure: spareathought.podbean.com

Image of Cardiff University Main Building in the background with a fading purple tint, over which is text reading: Spare a Thought - Cuts at Cardiff University

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Will Hayward - Wales Journo @willhaycardiff.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

Wales is getting screwed over by the Treasury (again). A deliberate decision has robbed public sector bodies in Wales of money while protecting those in England. This is fiddly but really outrageous. You can either watch the video or read below... [Thread]

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Nesta @nestauk.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

The Welsh Senedd has voted to restrict the promotion of unhealthy food items in certain ways in Wales - a positive step towards improving health. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 In our calls for the 2026-2030 Senedd, we set out opportunities to go further to take action and reduce obesity ↪️ bit.ly/3EnXaS9

bbc.in

Junk food ban: The 'unhealthy' foods restricted in Welsh shops

Plans to restrict a list of foods classed as unhealthy in shops are approved by 25 votes to 24.

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Tom Spare @tomspare.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

The latest episode of Spare a Thought is out now. I have gathered the testimonials of 12 'long haulers', people who have and are living with long Covid. It's a really powerful compilation of stories. Listen by clicking on the link 👇 spareathought.podbean.com

"It angers me that no one is talking about Covid anymore. They do, it is in the past tense. This is my present!"

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Will Hayward - Wales Journo @willhaycardiff.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

The latest newsletter is out. I break down the holes in the arguments put forward by Labour MPs who votes against giving Wales more money open.substack.com/pub/willhayw...

open.substack.com

Wales shafted by its own MPs

Plus the damning report into the Welsh Government's record

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New Wales / Cymru Newydd @newwales.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

Where next for Wales? Ble nesaf i Gymru? 6pm Wednesday 2nd April in the Senedd Neuadd Be there or be square! 😉 😄 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/where-next...

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Tom Spare @tomspare.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

To celebrate international women’s day I spoke to @lauramcallister30.bsky.social and Lowri Roberts about the Wales Women’s team, the progress of the women’s game and the benefit the Euro’s will bring for sport in Wales ⚽️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏆 You can listen to the episode here spareathought.podbean.com

Image with text Spare a Thought, Welsh Women’s Football guests Laura McAllister and Lowri Roberts. Black and white photos of host Tom Spare, Laura McAllister and Lowri Roberts on a light purple background.

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Tom Spare @tomspare.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

The latest episode of Spare a Thought is out now. @gwerngwynfil.bsky.social from @newwales.bsky.social joined me for a conversation about Welsh identity, devolution, history and the future of Wales.

Image with text: Spare a Thought for Wales - guest Gwern Gwynfil. Image of host Tom Spare and guest Gwern Gwynfil.

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New Wales / Cymru Newydd @newwales.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

This will be very interesting Wednesday April 2nd 6pm in the Senedd Neuadd Come and join us, bring your questions! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 www.eventbrite.com/e/what-next-...

eventbrite.com

What Next For Wales? - New Wales / Cymru Newydd Launch Event

Join us for the launch of Cymru Newydd, where we'll discuss the future of Wales and what's next for our country!

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Nesta @nestauk.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

Nesta Cymru exists to significantly improve the lives of tens of thousands of people in Wales by tackling some of our most significant societal challenges. We partner with government, public sector organisations, industry and academia to design, test and scale new ideas in our mission areas.

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