Rephonic
Artwork for Bench Talk

Bench Talk

Tom Gerrard
Art
Street Art
Art Career Academy
Art Career
Graffiti
Creativity
D-Face
Art Market
Public Murals
Art Business
Exhibitions
Melbourne
Urban Art
Banksy
Shepard Fairey
Art Exhibition Preparation
Geometric Art
Dreams
Community
Sustainability In Art

Welcome to Bench Talk — the podcast where I dive into real, honest conversations with inspiring artists, to reveal what it really takes to build a thriving creative career.I’m your host, Tom Gerrard — an international artist from Australia and Co-Founder of The Art Career Academy, an online school dedicated to helping visual artists rise up and go pro. I kicked off this podcast back in 2016, when ... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes217Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsVisual Arts

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Artwork for Bench Talk

Latest Episodes

What happens when a city gets behind public art?

And what does it take to build a thriving mural community that impacts everyone from homeless people to politicians?

In this live panel discussion recorded at the Darwin Street Art Festival's 10-yea... more

How do you build an international mural career when Australia feels like the other side of the world?

In this episode of Bench Talk, Tom Gerrard reconnects with George Rose in Darwin, where they've both been painting murals for the Darwin Street Art... more

In this engaging interview, artist Jacob Morley shares his journey from tattooing to painting, his creative process, and how moving to the Mornington Peninsula has influenced his art and lifestyle. Discover insights on building a sustainable art care... more

Mural artist Hiroyasu Tsuri (TWOONE) was the very first guest on the BenchTalk art career podcast ~ ten years ago, on a rooftop in Melbourne with a dictaphone and no plan.

Today he's one of the most compelling working artists in the world — painting... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Ris Pikala
First-time participant in the Darwin Street Art Festival
Darwin Street Art Festival
Episode: #222 | Building an Art Community That Transforms a City (10 yrs of Darwin Street Art Festival)
Caleb Schatz
Emerging artist, long-time participant
Darwin Street Art Festival
Episode: #222 | Building an Art Community That Transforms a City (10 yrs of Darwin Street Art Festival)
George Rose
Muralist and painter known for botanical works and large-scale murals
Freelance artist
Episode: BENCH TALK Podcast #221 | George Rose: Painting Globally, Colour Mastery & The Business of Muralism
Jacob Morley
Melbourne-based artist transitioning from tattooing to painting
Artist
Episode: BENCH TALK Podcast #220 | Yakob Morley
Hiroyasu Sutsuri
Japanese artist known for large-scale murals and lightbox works
Independent artist
Episode: BENCH TALK Podcast #219 | TWOONE - The First Guest, 10 Years Later — What a decade as a working artist actually teaches you
Kristopher Reyes
Los Angeles-based artist, painter
Independent artist
Episode: BENCH TALK Podcast #217 | KRISTOPHER RAOS - Studio Practice & The Long Game
Elliott Routledge
Sydney based artist
Saint-Cloche Gallery and Madison Gallery
Episode: BENCHTALK Podcast #216 | ELLIOTT ROUTLEDGE
Claire Bradshaw
From the Art Career Academy, co-presenter in this episode
Art Career Academy
Episode: BENCH TALK Podcast #215 | ART CAREER ACADEMY - When Art Advice Derails You
Byron Bowman Kehoe
Director of Backwoods Gallery, Melbourne
Backwoods Gallery
Episode: BENCH TALK Podcast #214 | BYRON BOWMAN KEHOE

Host

Tom Gerrard
Host of Bench Talk

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 134 ratings
  • 👍

    👍

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Highscore problem
    Sweden3 years ago
  • Good motivation

    Fuel for the mule

    I mean the muse

    Fuse for the muse

    Moti for the vation

    Food for the mood

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SW888SW888
    Australia5 years ago
  • Love it

    Really interesting interviews with people who are creative and also who have transitioned from graffiti writing to other forms of creative output. Give it a listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gav#1983
    Australia6 years ago
  • Great Podcast keep it rolling

    A really interesting insite into the world of the creative.

    Love hearing the voices behind the images and gaining at background behind the artists and the developing styles, techniques.

    Tom does a great job in sharing his own experiences and talking with other artists and getting them to share there own.

    It’s hard to sit on your bum and not start creating when having this kind of content

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KombiLad
    Australia7 years ago
  • Total game changer. SIX STARS

    I’ve learned so much from these brilliant podcasts with awesome guests. Through Tom I’ve learned a new daily drawing art ritual and it’s super cool what that’s reignited in me. I’m also loving the down-to-earth, authentic conversations and how each guest openly shares their unique creative experiences and processes. It’s also been a sweet skip through graffiti memory lane heaven! Listening to these is a definite game changer. I can’t get enough. SIX STARS 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ClareCastle
    Australia7 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the authentic, down-to-earth conversations and practical career guidance.
Fans describe the host as relatable and insightful, with a knack for drawing out meaningful stories from guests.
Episodes frequently highlight mentorship, community, and actionable steps for artists to professionalize their practice.
Many appreciate the deep dives into studio workflows, pricing, and gallery dynamics.
Some note sound quality or editing could be improved, but the insights and guest variety are highly valued.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#245
Australia/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#53
Mexico/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#54
Indonesia/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#65
New Zealand/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#149
South Africa/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#217
Denmark/Arts/Visual Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

BENCH TALK Podcast #221 | George Rose: Painting Globally, Colour Mastery & The Business of Muralism
Q: What are the biggest differences you notice between mural work in Australia and Europe?
Australia treats muralism more as a vocation and accepts it as a serious practice, whereas in parts of Europe it's still seen as more of a hobby or less formal, with differences in wall types and regulation influencing the scale and opportunities.
BENCH TALK Podcast #221 | George Rose: Painting Globally, Colour Mastery & The Business of Muralism
Q: How did you approach getting invited back to paint again after the first mural in Darwin?
I treated the first wall as a learning opportunity, then deliberately evolved the second piece to fit with the new direction I was taking in my practice, leveraging the relationship with the festival organizers and the local community.
BENCH TALK Podcast #217 | KRISTOPHER RAOS - Studio Practice & The Long Game
Q: How do you decide on when to use shaped canvases versus traditional rectangles?
Shaped canvases came out of necessity and curiosity, allowing architecture and space to become part of the painting; I also learned to stretch and fabricate surfaces, sometimes with collaborators, to push the edges and keep the painting alive beyond a square or rectangle.
BENCH TALK Podcast #217 | KRISTOPHER RAOS - Studio Practice & The Long Game
Q: What drew you to move from graffiti to studio painting, and how has your approach changed?
I shifted from graffiti to painting by applying the same attuned observation of surroundings and a practical, material-driven mindset to the studio, stopping the text elements to reduce the perception of a split between graffiti and painting, and focusing on process and surface instead.
BENCH TALK Podcast #205 | CTO - From Psychedelic Highs to Mural Heights
Q: How did you get kicked out of art school?
I was taking a lot of mushrooms and was very out there in my artistic expression.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Bench Talk

What is Bench Talk about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A visually oriented, career-focused interview series that centers on artists navigating the practical and emotional realities of turning creativity into a sustainable career. Across conversations, listeners hear deep dives into studio setups, pricing, commissions, and independent-practice strategies, with many episodes highlighting transitions—from graffiti to studio painting, and from hobbyist to pro. The show often blends artist psychology with hands-on tactics, including branding, online presence, gallery relationships, public murals, and community building, while peppering in actionable tips like bootcamps and education programs for artists. A standout thread is the candid, down-to-earth tone: hosts share personal experiences, invite pe... more

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To see how many followers or subscribers Bench Talk has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Bench Talk?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Bench Talk:

1. The Imperfects
2. Unleashed
3. Background Briefing
4. The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
5. Conversations

How many episodes of Bench Talk are there?

Bench Talk launched 10 years ago and published 217 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Bench Talk?

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What guests have appeared on Bench Talk?

Recent guests on Bench Talk include:

1. Ris Pikala
2. Caleb Schatz
3. George Rose
4. Jacob Morley
5. Hiroyasu Sutsuri
6. Kristopher Reyes
7. Elliott Routledge
8. Claire Bradshaw

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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