In this episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson sits down with art historian, educator, and filmmaker Tom Parsons. With a career spanning decades, Tom shares his fascinating journey from studying art history to working with youth, fostering creativity, and inspiring a love for aesthetics and self-expression. He discusses the importance of art, personal growth, and the value of risk-taking and play in a fulfilled life.

📌 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• A Lifelong Love for Art History (Starts at [00:03:00]) – Tom recounts his unexpected journey into the world of art, sparked by a single revelatory moment in an art history lecture.
• The Transformative Power of Art (Starts at [00:10:00]) – How experiencing great art can shape our understanding of ourselves, history, and society.
• The Role of Risk and Play in Life and Learning (Starts at [00:22:00]) – Why risk-taking, adventure, and breaking a few rules can be essential to personal and intellectual growth.
• The Importance of Teaching and Mentorship (Starts at [00:40:00]) – Tom’s experiences teaching art history in schools, museums, and abroad, and how education extends beyond the classroom.
• Spoke: The Fusion of Art, Film, and Education (Starts at [00:55:00]) – How Tom founded Spoke, a competition that empowers students to create films based on art and poetry.
• Living a Self-Determined Life (Starts at [01:10:00]) – Reflections on how following one's passion and staying open to change leads to a meaningful and fulfilling life.

✨ Memorable Moments from the Episode:

• Tom’s unexpected discovery of art history after attending a lecture while recovering from a hangover (Starts at [00:05:30]).
• The exhilarating and dangerous experience of climbing the York Minster scaffolding as a student (Starts at [00:20:45]).
• A gripping story of navigating a tense moment while working at a heroin rehab center in Hong Kong (Starts at [00:30:00]).
• How teaching art history became a way of giving back and fostering a love of creativity in young people (Starts at [00:50:00]).

🚀 Action Steps from Tom:

• Engage with Art – Visit a museum, explore a gallery, or even just observe a painting with fresh eyes to understand its deeper meaning.
• Encourage Play and Risk – Find ways to integrate adventure, play, and a bit of healthy rule-breaking into your life for deeper learning and fulfillment.
• Support Young Artists and Filmmakers – Check out the Spoke competition and other programs that nurture creativity and storytelling.
• Explore History with an Open Mind – Look at the past not just as history, but as a way to understand and connect with the present.

🎬 Programs:

• Spoke Competition: https://spokecompetition.com
• Art History Lectures with Tom Parsons: https://tomparsons.org

📲 Follow Tom Parsons:

• Facebook: https://facebook.com/tomparsonsart
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/tomparsonsart
• Website: https://tomparsons.org

📡 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows:

🌎 https://rupertisaacson.com

📢 Follow Us:

🐴 Long Ride Home

• Website: https://longridehome.com
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehome

🐎 New Trails Learning Systems

• Website: https://ntls.co
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworld
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworld
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystems

💡 Affiliate Disclosure: Links to books and products may include affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through these links. This does not affect the price you pay and helps support the podcast.