What a Stranger Told Me

Meeting the girl of your dreams started with mutual perving and a bold “We’re gettin’ married”. Sammy’s cheeky love story – nail gun accident, Valentine's magic, young romance – is funny, sweet, and full of butterflies. Hit play and feel the spark. Ready for some stranger stories? Personal stories of love, resilience & daring unfold in this loveable podcast, as story-collectors Tim Reid & Jon Coghill wander the streets of Australia (and sometimes a little further), microphone in hand, chatting to strangers.  It's conversations... with everyday people.     EPISODE SUMMARY Meeting Sammy Before His Friend Arrives  Jon bumps into Sammy just before his mate shows up. Sammy’s a young bloke with a big grin. She perved first – then he perved back. First words? “We’re gettin’ married.” Romantic stranger story starts here. Meeting the Girl of Your Dreams – The Cheeky Start  She perved on him first. Then he perved back. Opening line: “We’re gettin’ married.” Sammy doesn’t believe in marriage – but for her, he’d do it. Romantic stranger story with no filter. The Nail Gun Accident  Worst moment? Shot himself with a nail gun. Romantic stranger story takes a wild turn – but Sammy laughs it off. Life’s too short for regrets.  Valentine's Day Magic  It’s Valentine’s Day – not just Friday. They practice every night. Three-can bike ride to dinner? Romantic as hell. Romantic stranger story full of young love energy.  Sammy’s Vibe & Wrapping Up  Sammy’s energy? Cheeky, loving, no filter. Romantic stranger story that turns perving into forever talk. This chat leaves you smiling at bold love.   Chapters 00:00 – Intro and meeting Sammy00:56 – She perved first – then “We’re gettin’ married”01:50 – Doesn’t believe in marriage – but for her, yes03:20 – Nail gun accident – worst moment04:45 – Valentine’s Day magic & three-can bike ride05:58 – Practice every night – young love energy07:46 – Farewell and episode close   Key Moments She perved first – then he perved back First line: “We’re gettin’ married” Doesn’t believe in marriage – but for her, he’d do it Shot himself with nail gun – laughs it off Valentine’s Day – “not just Friday” Three-can bike ride to dinner – romantic as hell Practice every night – pure young love   Listen to the Full Conversation She perved first – then “We’re gettin’ married”. Sammy’s romantic stranger story is gold. Listen now on your favourite platform.       🎙️ Want more, Stranger? Like the idea of story-collectors Tim Reid & Jon Coghill chatting to attendees at your next conference or event? Or maybe you'd like them to chat to strangers in your part of the world. Hit them up here. 📸  Join us behind-the-scenes Follow the What a StrangerTold Me podcast madness on Instagram. ☎️  Got a story you'd love to share? Call us +61 489 272 286. You've got a whopping 10-minutes, so sit back, take a big breath and go for gold. 👽  Don’t be a stranger Got some feedback? Bring it on. Just be gentle. One of us has thin skin ;) 🤩  Who’s behind all this strangeness? Made & Hosted by Tim Reid & Jon CoghillMusic Supervision by Dennis Feletto   #MeetingTheGirlOfYourDreams #YoungLoveStory #ValentinesMagic #NailGunAccident #PervingFirst #RomanticStrangerStory #FirstMeetingGirlfriend #CheekyLoveStory #WhataStrangerToldMe #StrangerStories #StorytellingPodcast #TimReid #JonCoghill #AustralianPodcast #ABCconversationsSupport the show: https://whatastrangertoldme.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Picture a cantankerous bloke who speaks his mind about everything from new bridges to staying active after 70 – he did Everest Base Camp at 69, plans Annapurna at 71, and doesn't let bad knees stop him. Meet an ex-South African Aussie granddad with a no-bullshit vibe and big goals. This bluntly strange chat is funny, inspiring, and full of fire – hit play and get motivated. Ready for some stranger stories? Personal stories of love, resilience & daring unfold in this loveable podcast, as story-collectors Tim Reid & Jon Coghill wander the streets of Australia (and sometimes a little further), microphone in hand, chatting to strangers.  It's conversations... with everyday people.     EPISODE SUMMARY Meeting the Cantankerous Bloke on a Walk Jon bumps into Brian enjoying the sun at South Bank. Brian’s from Harvey Bay, here for family. He’s 71, ex-South African, 46 years in Australia. Cantankerous bloke with a fascination for bridges and how things evolve. The New Bridge & Architecture Rant He loves the new bridge – but really any bridge. Cantankerous bloke speaks his mind on how Brisbane has changed. Ex-South African, he’s seen Australia grow. No holding back. Everest Base Camp at 69 He did Everest Base Camp at 69 – knees shot, but made it. Cantankerous bloke who doesn’t let age win. Now planning Annapurna in 10 months with his son. Goals keep him going. Bikes, Walks & Staying Active Normally rides 50km a day. Today? Walking bridges for fun. Wife looks after grandkids, he escapes for peace. Cantankerous bloke who stays active after 70 – mentally and physically. From South Africa to Aussie Life Left South Africa young. Loves Brisbane's evolution. Cantankerous bloke who speaks his mind on gratitude – beautiful views, family, freedom. He’s not slowing down. Brian’s Vibe & Wrapping Up Brian’s energy? Warm, determined, inspiring. Cantankerous bloke who speaks his mind (then some). This bluntly strange chat leaves you ready to set your own goals.   Chapters 00:00 – Intro and meeting Brian on his walk00:48 – 71, ex-South African, Harvey Bay local01:27 – New bridge fascination – how Brisbane evolved03:30 – Everest Base Camp at 69 – knees shot but made it05:15 – Planning Annapurna with son in 10 months07:42 – Normally rides 50km a day – walks bridges for joy08:20 – Wife with grandkids, he escapes for peace – farewell   Key Moments Cantankerous bloke speaks his mind Everest Base Camp at 69 – knees shot but no excuses Planning Annapurna at 71 – goals keep him young Normally rides 50km a day – loves new spots Wife looks after grandkids – he gets peace Ex-South African, 46 years in Australia – grateful Cantankerous bloke who speaks his mind (then some)   Listen to the Full Conversation Cantankerous bloke speaks his mind (then some) – Everest, Annapurna, no slowing down. Gold. Listen now on your favourite platform     🎙️ Want more, Stranger? Like the idea of story-collectors Tim Reid & Jon Coghill chatting to attendees at your next conference or event? Or maybe you'd like them to chat to strangers in your part of the world. Hit them up here. 📸  Join us behind-the-scenes Follow the What a StrangerTold Me podcast madness on Instagram. ☎️  Got a story you'd love to share? Call us +61 489 272 286. You've got a whopping 10-minutes, so sit back, take a big breath and go for gold. 👽  Don’t be a stranger Got some feedback? Bring it on. Just be gentle. One of us has thin skin ;) 🤩  Who’s behind all this strangeness? Made & Hosted by Tim Reid & Jon CoghillMusic Supervision by Dennis Feletto   #CantankerousBloke, #EverestAt69, #AnnapurnaPlans, #StayingActiveAfter70, #SeniorAdventure, #WhataStrangerToldMe, #StrangerStories, #StorytellingPodcast, #TimReid, #JonCoghill, #AustralianPodcast, #ABCconversationsSupport the show: https://whatastrangertoldme.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Willy the busker spreads happiness like it’s his full-time job – because for him, it basically is. One minute he’s blasting Latin beats in Pitt Street Mall, the next he’s healing sick strangers in Chile and Israel with energy work, then finishing with an Elvis duet that turns strangers into mates. This busker life story is pure sunshine – hit play and let the joy take over. Ready for some stranger stories? Personal stories of love, resilience & daring unfold in this loveable podcast, as story-collectors Tim Reid & Jon Coghill wander the streets of Australia (and sometimes a little further), microphone in hand, chatting to strangers.  It's conversations... with everyday people.     EPISODE SUMMARY Meeting Willy the Busker in Pitt Street Mall Tim spots Willy busking with a huge smile. He’s Guillermo from Chile, but everyone calls him Willy. He used to carry heavy keyboards for his Latin band Calibú in Canberra. Three years ago he went solo with backing tracks. Now he spreads happiness every day. From Band to Solo Busker Spreading Happiness Carrying gear got too hard as the band aged. So Willy wanted freedom. Now he travels light and plays Latin beats. Money is nice, but smiles matter more. For him, busker life stories are all about making people happy. Healing People Across the World Willy is also a JP and celebrant. One day a sick man in Chile asked for help. Willy used energy work. The man got better. Then an Israeli war pilot contacted him. Same story. Busker life stories sometimes include miracles. The Elvis Moment Willy ends every set with Elvis. Jon joins in for a verse of “Can’t Help Falling in Love”. Two strangers, one mic, pure magic. Busker life stories at their best. Willy’s Vibe & Wrapping Up Willy’s energy is warm and kind. He has zero ego. Busker life stories that heal and connect. This chat leaves you smiling from ear to ear.   Chapters 00:00 – Intro and meeting Willy busking in Pitt Street Mall00:49 – From Latin band Calibú to solo busker life stories02:30 – Money is nice, smiles are better04:15 – Healing a Chilean man and Israeli war pilot06:40 – JP and celebrant side hustle08:14 – Spontaneous Elvis duet – farewell   Key Moments Used to haul keyboards for Latin band – now solo and free Willy the busker spreads happiness like it’s his full-time job Healed a very sick Chilean man with energy work Israeli war pilot contacted him – same healing story JP and celebrant – adapts to help people everywhere Spontaneous Elvis duet with Jon – pure joy Happiest guy in Pitt Street Mall   Listen to the Full Conversation Willy the busker spreads happiness like it’s his full-time job – Latin beats, healing miracles, Elvis duet. Pure gold. Listen now on your favourite platform     🎙️ Want more, Stranger? Like the idea of story-collectors Tim Reid & Jon Coghill chatting to attendees at your next conference or event? Or maybe you'd like them to chat to strangers in your part of the world. Hit them up here. 📸  Join us behind-the-scenes Follow the What a StrangerTold Me podcast madness on Instagram. ☎️  Got a story you'd love to share? Call us +61 489 272 286. You've got a whopping 10-minutes, so sit back, take a big breath and go for gold. 👽  Don’t be a stranger Got some feedback? Bring it on. Just be gentle. One of us has thin skin ;) 🤩  Who’s behind all this strangeness? Made & Hosted by Tim Reid & Jon CoghillMusic Supervision by Dennis Feletto   #BuskerMakingPeopleHappy #LatinBusker #StreetMusician #HealingEnergy #ElvisDuet #PittStreetMall #BuskingLife #HappinessDealer #LatinMusic #WhataStrangerToldMe #StrangerStories #StorytellingPodcast #TimReid #JonCoghill #AustralianPodcast #ABCconversationsSupport the show: https://whatastrangertoldme.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Abattoir butcher stories can be wild – and this 50-year legend has them all. From playing Tom Jones for the ladies to watching school kids chew raw bones, surviving horrible accidents, and the guy who walked in wearing nothing but his knife belt. His abattoir butcher stories are funny, gruesome, and full of heart – hit play and step behind the counter. Ready for some stranger stories? Personal stories of love, resilience & daring unfold in this loveable podcast, as story-collectors Tim Reid & Jon Coghill wander the streets of Australia (and sometimes a little further), microphone in hand, chatting to strangers.  It's conversations... with everyday people.     EPISODE SUMMARY Meeting Bob the Retired Butcher Jon spots Bob enjoying the sun. Bob’s been a butcher for 50 years – apprentice at 14 making sausages all day. Abattoir butcher stories? He’s got thousands. The Tom Jones Years Bob played Tom Jones in the shop – the ladies loved it. Abattoir butcher stories always had a soundtrack. Customers danced while he sliced. Best marketing ever. School Kids Chewing Bones & Knife-Belt Nudity School kids came in, chewed raw bones like lollipops. One guy walked in wearing nothing but his knife belt. Classic abattoir butcher stories. Horrible Accidents & Near Misses Seen some shockers – fingers gone, arms sliced. One guy lost half his hand. Abattoir butcher stories get dark fast. Buying the Shop – Worst Thing He Ever Did Thought owning a shop would be the dream. Turned into a nightmare – stress, long hours, no life. Abattoir butcher stories taught him: sometimes the dream job isn’t. Favourite Cuts & Butcher Wisdom Best cuts? Near the front – tastiest meat. Abattoir butcher stories always end with flavour. Bob’s retired now, happy, still sharp as his knives.   Chapters 00:00 – Intro and meeting Bob the retired butcher00:48 – Apprentice at 14 – making sausages all day01:27 – Tom Jones in the shop for the ladies03:30 – School kids chewing bones & knife-belt nudity05:15 – Horrible accidents in the abattoir07:42 – Buying the shop – “worst thing I ever did”08:23 – Favourite cuts & butcher wisdom – farewell   Key Moments Played Tom Jones in the shop – ladies loved it School kids chewing raw bones like lollipops Guy walked in with nothing but knife belt Horrible accidents – fingers gone, arms sliced Buying the shop – “worst thing I ever did” Best cuts near the front – tastiest meat Listen to the Full Conversation Abattoir butcher stories – Tom Jones, knife belts, school kids chewing bones. Bob’s a legend.Listen now on your favourite platform     🎙️ Want more, Stranger? Like the idea of story-collectors Tim Reid & Jon Coghill chatting to attendees at your next conference or event? Or maybe you'd like them to chat to strangers in your part of the world. Hit them up here. 📸  Join us behind-the-scenes Follow the What a StrangerTold Me podcast madness on Instagram. ☎️  Got a story you'd love to share? Call us +61 489 272 286. You've got a whopping 10-minutes, so sit back, take a big breath and go for gold. 👽  Don’t be a stranger Got some feedback? Bring it on. Just be gentle. One of us has thin skin ;) 🤩  Who’s behind all this strangeness? Made & Hosted by Tim Reid & Jon CoghillMusic Supervision by Dennis FelettoSupport the show: https://whatastrangertoldme.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She always knew she’d quit her job and move to Australia before turning 35. At 33, a breakup became the catalyst: she quit her job, moved to Australia, sold everything, and bought a one-way ticket. Now living in her car and chasing a childhood dream, this French woman’s story of quitting her job and moving to Australia is the ultimate leap-of-faith tale.  Ready for some stranger stories? Personal stories of love, resilience & daring unfold in this loveable podcast, as story-collectors Tim Reid & Jon Coghill wander the streets of Australia (and sometimes a little further), microphone in hand, chatting to strangers.  It's conversations... with everyday people.     EPISODE SUMMARY The Childhood Dream That Refused to Die Tim meets a French traveller on Noosa beach. From age five she was obsessed with Australia – the island, the kangaroos, the sheer distance. At 33, with the Working Holiday Visa clock ticking (cut-off at 35), she finally made it happen. Why She Quit Her Job and Moved to Australia At 33 the Working Holiday Visa clock was ticking (cut-off at 35). A relationship was holding her back from the childhood dream of Australia. When the breakup happened she felt sad for exactly ten days – then quit her high-stress event-manager job, quit her flat, sold almost everything, and booked a one-way ticket. No return date. Just freedom and the open road. Breakup → Freedom → One-Way Ticket A relationship was holding her back. When it ended, she felt sad for exactly ten days. Then she quit her high-stress event-manager job in France, sold or gave away almost everything, and bought a flight to Australia. No return date. Living in Her Car & Chasing HelpX Dreams She’s travelling on a shoestring, sleeping in her car, and hunting for HelpX and WWOOFing gigs (25 hours work for food + bed). Tasmania in winter was wild, empty, and perfect. Finding placements in summer Queensland? Much harder than expected. Solo Travel Real Talk Sometimes solo travel is pure freedom. Sometimes it’s three weeks in Tasmania without seeing another soul. She knows both sides intimately – and still chooses the open road. The Big Dream Waiting Back Home Her 95-year-old grandmother’s huge Provençal house sits empty. Her dream: renovate it, keep the forest her grandfather planted, ring the old lunch bell, and turn it into a guest house full of travellers. One day. Memories That Still Feed Her Running through the forest with her grandfather, learning every tree he planted, racing home when grandma rang the bell for gratin dauphinois. Those memories are the fuel keeping her going.  Chapters 00:00 – Intro and the French accent surprise on Noosa beach00:28 – Childhood dream of Australia finally comes true at 3300:50 – Why Tasmania in winter stole her heart01:24 – The struggle to find free camps and HelpX placements02:09 – Explaining WWOOFing and HelpX to Tim02:53 – Wanting to work with wild animals and the frustration of not finding spots03:32 – The truth about travelling (and sleeping) alone04:12 – Breakup → 10 days of sadness → quit job, flat, everything05:38 – Why comfort loses every time against dreams06:32 – The huge dream: renovating grandma’s house into a guest house07:41 – Running through the forest when the lunch bell rang08:45 – Gratin dauphinois and childhood magic09:35 – Needing €300,000 and manifesting it anyway10:01 – Uluru and Rottnest still on the bucket list   Key Moments “I was sad for 10 days… and then I was free” – the breakup that launched her to Australia Quitting her job and flat the moment the Working Holiday Visa clock started ticking Sleeping in her car and hunting HelpX gigs across the country Three weeks in winter Tasmania without seeing another human The dream of turning her 95-year-old grandma’s Provençal house into a traveller’s guest house Memories of running through the forest when grandma rang the lunch bell Choosing a plane ticket over an expensive handbag – every single time Listen to the Full Conversation One of the most inspiring strangers we’ve ever met. Hit play – you’ll finish smiling and maybe booking a ticket. Listen now on your favourite platform.     🎙️ Want more, Stranger? Like the idea of story-collectors Tim Reid & Jon Coghill chatting to attendees at your next conference or event? Or maybe you'd like them to chat to strangers in your part of the world. Hit them up here. 📸  Join us behind-the-scenes Follow the What a StrangerTold Me podcast madness on Instagram. ☎️  Got a story you'd love to share? Call us +61 489 272 286. You've got a whopping 10-minutes, so sit back, take a big breath and go for gold. 👽  Don’t be a stranger Got some feedback? Bring it on. Just be gentle. One of us has thin skin ;) 🤩  Who’s behind all this strangeness? Made & Hosted by Tim Reid & Jon CoghillMusic Supervision by Dennis FelettoSupport the show: https://whatastrangertoldme.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever wondered how to get over a breakup when it's mutual but still stings? Meet Mitch, a 24-year-old support worker who swaps a planned couples' trip for a solo escape to Byron Bay after his first relationship ends. This raw street chat dives into incompatibility, self-reflection, and finding silver linings – listen for the honest takeaways that might just help your own heart heal.  Ready for some stranger stories? Personal stories of love, resilience & daring unfold in this loveable podcast, as story-collectors Tim Reid & Jon Coghill wander the streets of Australia (and sometimes a little further), microphone in hand, chatting to strangers.  It's conversations... with everyday people.     EPISODE SUMMARY Meeting Mitch in Byron Bay Tim spots Mitch on the streets of Byron Bay and kicks off a casual chat. Mitch explains he's there for a quick reset. Originally, he planned a trip to Wilson's Prom in Victoria with his girlfriend. However, they broke up recently. As a result, he flies solo to Byron instead. The Mutual Breakup StoryMitch shares that the breakup ends on good terms. They stay in contact. It stems from incompatibility after a year together. For example, she needs more than he can give right now. Still, he hopes for a future reunion. Meanwhile, it's his first breakup, so he feels weird about it. Additionally, he admits to kicking himself a bit. Coping Strategies That WorkMitch reflects on how to get over a breakup. Work keeps him busy as a support worker. It forces social interaction and focuses on others. Beyond that, he exercises and gets out. For instance, this Byron trip provides sun and reflection time. He avoids his shell and plans drinks with guys later. However, dating feels far off – it's only been weeks. Lessons on Love & Stubbornness Mitch learns love requires effort. You balance your happiness with another's. He calls himself stubborn, set in his ways. Yet, he insists it's not selfish. Instead, it benefits him. During tough times, he prioritises self-care first. For example, this trip helps him escape and recharge. Tattoos, Career Dreams & Animal Love The talk shifts to Mitch's tattoos. He got them impulsively – no deep meanings. For instance, a pig tattoo makes him laugh now. No regrets, though. He always wanted ink, and it snowballed.At 24, Mitch has no career clue. Support work pays bills and feels rewarding. Yet, friends have paths sorted, which scares him sometimes. If no limits, he'd pursue zookeeping. He loves animals – grew up with dogs, cats, birds, fish, ferrets, lizards, snakes. His brother brought home rescues, creating chaos but shaping him. Animals help him stay level-headed through drama. Wrapping Up with Hope  The chat ends positively. Mitch seems grounded, ready for fun tonight. Tim wishes him well. Overall, it's a reminder: breakups teach growth, even when mutual. Chapters 00:00 – Intro and approaching Mitch on the street00:53 – Why Mitch is in Byron Bay: the breakup backstory01:40 – Details on the mutual incompatibility and hopes for the future02:03 – Reflecting on his first breakup and still liking her02:54 – Coping strategies: work, exercise, and getting out03:41 – Tattoo talk: impulsive ink with no deep stories04:48 – Lessons on love, stubbornness, and relationship effort05:47 – When stubbornness helps (or hinders) in life06:39 – Not ready to date yet; career as a support worker07:20 – No career plans at 24 – scary but exciting08:08 – Dream job: zookeeping and growing up with animals09:28 – How animals shaped his level-headed vibe09:44 – Farewell and episode close  Key Moments Mitch reveals the breakup was mutual due to incompatibility – no bad blood, but still hard Sharing his coping hacks: busy work as a support worker, exercise, and a solo Byron reset Admitting it's his first breakup and relationship – love takes real effort to balance two lives Laughing about impulsive tattoos, like the random pig: "young and dumb" with zero regrets Calling himself stubborn but not selfish – it helps in self-care during tough times No career clue at 24: scary when friends have it sorted, but housemates keep it real Dream gig as a zookeeper – grew up in a chaotic animal rescue home that kept him grounded Listen to the Full Conversation Struggling with how to get over a breakup? Mitch's honest street insights are refreshingly real – short, wise, and full of hope. Listen now on your favourite platform.     🎙️ Want more, Stranger? Like the idea of story-collectors Tim Reid & Jon Coghill chatting to attendees at your next conference or event? Or maybe you'd like them to chat to strangers in your part of the world. Hit them up here. 📸  Join us behind-the-scenes Follow the What a StrangerTold Me podcast madness on Instagram. ☎️  Got a story you'd love to share? Call us +61 489 272 286. You've got a whopping 10-minutes, so sit back, take a big breath and go for gold. 👽  Don’t be a stranger Got some feedback? Bring it on. Just be gentle. One of us has thin skin ;) 🤩  Who’s behind all this strangeness? Made & Hosted by Tim Reid & Jon CoghillMusic Supervision by Dennis FelettoPhotography by Will Reid & Andy McColl ======= #HowToGetOverABreakup, #BreakupAdvice, #FirstBreakup, #ByronBay, #MutualBreakup, #SoloTravel, #PostBreakupReset, #RelationshipLessons, #WhataStrangerToldMe, #StrangerStories, #StorytellingPodcast, #TimReid, #JonCoghill, #AustralianPodcast, #StreetInterviewSupport the show: https://whatastrangertoldme.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever wondered what it's like getting tattoos in Bali from a total stranger's perspective? Meet Aaron, a scaffolder from Plymouth who's turned his three-week Bali escape into an epic ink mission – think full-leg Egyptian designs, astronaut vibes, and heartfelt memorials. This short, hilarious street chat is packed with unfiltered energy that'll have you booking your own adventure (or not) – listen in for the full story. Ready for some stranger stories? Personal stories of love, resilience & daring unfold in this loveable podcast, as story-collectors Tim Reid & Jon Coghill wander the streets of Australia (and sometimes a little further), microphone in hand, chatting to strangers. It's conversations... with everyday people.     Episode Summary Jon hits the rainy streets of Canggu, Bali, and strikes gold with Aaron – a laid-back scaffolder from Plymouth, England, who's out here for three weeks of sun, floods, and serious tattoo action. Celebrating his mate's birthday, Aaron's got big plans: he's booked in at a local shop for the "whole package," including a massive Egyptian piece on his leg front, an astronaut on the back, a memorial arm sleeve for a friend who passed last year, and even some rib work. It's all happening on the 18th – the day before he flies home, which means he'll be bandaged up like a mummy for the long flight back.  Aaron's passion for getting tattoos in Bali shines through as he chats about the thrill of the look, the confidence boost, and yeah – how the ladies apparently love them. He's no newbie to ink, with his chest and arm already done, but this trip is next-level. Refreshingly honest, he shares that his wife back home (the "love of his life") fully approves, and he's smart about Bali's vibe – steering clear of anything risky that could land him in trouble. Beyond the tattoos, Aaron paints a picture of his ideal Bali day: wake up, soak in the vibes, and hit a big party in Canggu later. Scaffolding back in Plymouth is tough graft, but the good money funds escapes like this – his first time in Bali after loving Thailand. The conversation flows easy, wrapping up with a quick surf chat (Jon's been hitting G-Land) and a friendly shout-out.  Clocking in under five minutes, this episode captures the raw joy of spontaneous stranger talks – funny, real, and a teaser for why getting tattoos in Bali might just be the ultimate holiday flex. It's the kind of story that reminds you everyone has a hidden chapter worth hearing.   Chapters  00:00 – Intro vibes and approaching the stranger 00:22 – Aaron from Plymouth shares his Bali plans 00:50 – Detailing the massive tattoo lineup: Egyptian, astronaut, and memorial 01:40 – Why he loves tattoos (the look, the feel, and the ladies) 02:07 – Married life and wife-approved ink 02:48 – Daily Bali goal: sun, floods, and party mode 03:27 – Staying safe in Bali (no jail risks) 03:55 – Scaffolder life back home and funding the fun 04:20 – Surf talk and sign-off   Key Moments Calls Bali “baby Thailand” on his very first trip Booking “the whole package”: full leg sleeve with Egyptian gods on the front + astronaut on the back – peak chaos energy Not scared of the needle… but terrified of the flight home: “Gonna be wrapped like a mummy on a 14-hour flight” Daily life goal in Bali: “Just get up and get f*cked up every day, bro” (said at 4:30 p.m. like a pro) Married & loyal… but still flexes: “The ladies love tattoos, I’ve been told” (then quickly adds the wife approves the new ink)   #GettingTattoosInBali, #BaliTattoos, #CangguTattoo, #FullLegTattoo, #ThompsonInc, #MemorialTattoo, #LadiesLoveTattoos, #BaliInk, #WhataStrangerToldMe, #StrangerStories, #StorytellingPodcast, #TimReid, #JonCoghill, #AustralianPodcast, #StreetInterview     🎙️ Want more, Stranger? Like the idea of story-collectors Tim Reid & Jon Coghill chatting to attendees at your next conference or event? Or maybe you'd like them to chat to strangers in your part of the world. Hit them up here. 📸  Join us behind-the-scenes Follow the What a StrangerTold Me podcast madness on Instagram. ☎️  Got a story you'd love to share? Call us +61 489 272 286. You've got a whopping 10-minutes, so sit back, take a big breath and go for gold. 👽  Don’t be a stranger Got some feedback? Bring it on. Just be gentle. One of us has thin skin ;) 🤩  Who’s behind all this strangeness? Made & Hosted by Tim Reid & Jon CoghillMusic Supervision by Dennis FelettoPhotography by Will Reid & Andy McCollSupport the show: https://whatastrangertoldme.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Episode 20 of the What a Stranger Told Me podcast, Tim meets Simon – a retired lawyer who's traded courtroom chaos for Byron Bay's slow rhythms. This storytelling podcast uncovers honest moments from everyday lives. After 17 years as a cop and decades as a barrister, Simon moved to the coast in 2014 and never left. “Every day's my favourite,” he says with a grin. Retirement means mornings with nothing on the agenda and afternoons for rest – a far cry from his fast-paced past.  Ready for some stranger stories? Personal stories of love, resilience & daring unfold in this loveable podcast, as story-collectors Tim Reid & Jon Coghill wander the streets of Australia, microphone in hand, chatting to strangers.  It's conversations... with everyday people.      Simon’s career was “accidental”. He left school at 15 for a labouring job, thinking it meant money, car, girl. Instead, he joined police cadets, excelled, and got pushed into prosecuting. Law school followed, leading to barrister life. “I enjoyed it, but I wish I'd done medicine,” he reflects, admiring expert witnesses in court. No regrets, though – it was his path.  Now 70-something (he looks younger), Simon fills days with slow breakfasts, town walks, organic salads at Fundies, coffee, and ocean swims. “I do nothing in the morning, rest in the afternoon,” he quips. From Cronulla's “same but not as nice” to Byron's laid-back vibe, it's the environment that hooked him. He swims most days, rolling arms over in the ocean group. He’s philosophical about change: the world rushes, but he chooses slow. “Guilty sometimes – everyone's busy.” His voicemail? “Smile on my dial. Probably living the dream.” Abusive messages? He laughs them off. This episode is about embracing slow after speed, no regrets, and finding joy in simple rhythms. Press play for a retired lawyer's wisdom – proof a chance chat can slow your own world down, too.  Chapters 00:00 – Laughing Blind Man at Gympie Muster 01:10 – The Day the Tinny Capsized 02:30 – Seven Freezing Hours Clinging to an Outboard Motor 04:20 – Waking Up Blind in Hospital 06:00 – From Depression to “You’re Getting a Guide Dog” 08:10 – First Embarrassing Cane Walks in Strange Suburbs 10:30 – How the Guide Dog Changed Everything 12:00 – Getting Happily Lost (and Found) at the Muster 13:20 – “I’m Having a Ball” – Final Beers and Wisdom Key Learnings Hypothermia + stress can accelerate sudden vision loss The #1 rule when blind and lost: stop moving and ask for help Guide dogs don’t just guide — they create instant community Depression after sight loss is normal — action (cane → dog) beats despair Living life blind can be louder and happier than living it sighted     🎙️ Want more, Stranger? Like the idea of story-collectors Tim Reid & Jon Coghill chatting to attendees at your next conference or event? Or maybe you'd like them to chat to strangers in your part of the world. Hit them up here. 📸  Join us behind-the-scenes Follow the What a StrangerTold Me podcast madness on Instagram. ☎️  Got a story you'd love to share? Call us +61 489 272 286. You've got a whopping 10-minutes, so sit back, take a big breath and go for gold. 👽  Don’t be a stranger Got some feedback? Bring it on. Just be gentle. One of us has thin skin ;) 🤩  Who’s behind all this strangeness? Made & Hosted by Tim Reid & Jon CoghillMusic Supervision by Dennis FelettoPhotography by Will Reid & Andy McCollSupport the show: https://whatastrangertoldme.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Episode 19 of What a Stranger Told Me, Tim pulls up a chair at the Gympie Muster beside Jane Turner (not Kath!) – a veteran burns, ICU and emergency nurse who has spent decades on the absolute frontline of human suffering, and is now finally kicking back with a cold beer and a good book. Ready for some stranger stories? Personal stories of love, resilience & daring unfold in this loveable podcast, as story-collectors Tim Reid & Jon Coghill wander the streets of Australia, microphone in hand, chatting to strangers. It's conversations... with everyday people.     Jane started in New Zealand when the Christchurch burns unit took overflow patients Australia couldn’t handle after the 2002 Bali bombings. She was part of the small volunteer “Bratz team” that met planes at 3 a.m., triaged horrific injuries, and fought to keep young lives together. To this day, whenever she visits Bali she visits the memorial – the emotional pull is still raw. She’s seen burns care change dramatically (“We treat them completely differently now”), worked the old-school graft of daily dressing marathons, and held more hands through unimaginable pain than most of us could imagine. Yet she insists the job always came back to basics: care hard, do your best, be the patient’s advocate, then go home and sleep. After a lifetime of 12-hour shifts in burns, plastics, emergency and intensive care, Jane has zero regrets and zero burnout. “As long as you care, you’re good enough,” she says. Policies come and go, but the fundamentals never change – and that goes for every job, not just nursing. Now she’s exactly where she wants to be: same campsite, same mates, same morning ritual of cracking a breakfast beer while someone else cooks (and someone else cleans up). The woman who once raced to save blast victims is finally, joyfully, off the clock – and loving every second of it.   Chapters 00:00 – Beer, Book and a Burns Nurse at Gympie 00:40 – “Yes, I get the Kath & Kim joke daily” 01:20 – Bali Bombings: The Night NZ Took Australia’s Overflow 02:30 – Being on the Volunteer “Bratz Team” at 3 a.m. 04:10 – How Burns Care Has Completely Changed 05:40 – 12-Hour Shifts, ICU, Emergency – Why She Stayed 07:20 – The One Rule: Care Hard, Then Go Home 08:30 – Breakfast Beers and Zero Regrets at the Muster   Key Insights Bali bombings created lifelong emotional ties – many nurses still visit the memorial Burns nursing has transformed – modern treatment is worlds away from 2002 methods Best nursing advice ever: “As long as you care, you’re good enough” Be the patient and family advocate – everything else is secondary After decades on the frontline, the perfect retirement is cold beer and old friends at sunrise   🎙️ Want more, Stranger? Like the idea of story-collectors Tim Reid & Jon Coghill chatting to attendees at your next conference or event? Or maybe you'd like them to chat to strangers in your part of the world. Hit them up here. 📸  Join us behind-the-scenes Follow the What a StrangerTold Me podcast madness on Instagram. ☎️  Got a story you'd love to share? Call us +61 489 272 286. You've got a whopping 10-minutes, so sit back, take a big breath and go for gold. 👽  Don’t be a stranger Got some feedback? Bring it on. Just be gentle. One of us has thin skin ;) 🤩  Who’s behind all this strangeness? Made & Hosted by Tim Reid & Jon CoghillMusic Supervision by Dennis FelettoPhotography by Will Reid & Andy McCollSupport the show: https://whatastrangertoldme.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Episode 18 of What a Stranger Told Me, Jon meets Richard at the Gympie Music Muster — a man who is laughing, drinking, dancing, and living louder than most sighted people, all while being almost completely blind. Listen in to hear what it's like to be living life blind. Fifteen years ago Richard was in a tiny tinny off Western Port Bay, Victoria. The boat capsized in freezing winter water. His mate swam to shore; Richard couldn’t swim. For seven hours he clung to the outboard motor in hypothermia, letting go only when rescuers arrived. He woke up in hospital alive… but the extreme stress triggered advanced retinitis pigmentosa and he lost almost all vision within days. Ready for some stranger stories? Personal stories of love, resilience & daring unfold in this loveable podcast, as story-collectors Tim Reid & Jon Coghill wander the streets of Australia, microphone in hand, chatting to strangers.  It's conversations... with everyday people.     What could have broken most people became Richard’s turning point. After a short season of depression he got pus shed into cane training (which he hated), then a guide dog (which changed everything). Now he and his dog are inseparable legends at the Muster. The dog walks him from swag to bar to stage and back at 2 a.m., finds empty chairs, and attracts instant friends who happily buy the next round. Richard’s rule for getting lost: “Stop walking, stand still, and someone always comes.” It works every time.  He’s brutally honest about the scary moments — being lost twice this weekend, the terror of not knowing which way is “out” — but refuses to let fear win. “I’m having a ball,” he repeats, and you believe him. The guide dog gives him freedom most sighted festival-goers envy: no queues, instant conversations, and a four-legged mate who never judges. This is living life blind at full volume: zero self-pity, maximum adventure, and proof that the human spirit plus one very good dog can turn the worst day of your life into the best years.   Chapters 00:00 – Laughing Blind Man at Gympie Muster 01:10 – The Day the Tinny Capsized 02:30 – Seven Freezing Hours Clinging to an Outboard Motor 04:20 – Waking Up Blind in Hospital 06:00 – From Depression to “You’re Getting a Guide Dog” 08:10 – First Embarrassing Cane Walks in Strange Suburbs 10:30 – How the Guide Dog Changed Everything 12:00 – Getting Happily Lost (and Found) at the Muster 13:20 – “I’m Having a Ball” – Final Beers and Wisdom   Key Learnings Hypothermia + stress can accelerate sudden vision loss The #1 rule when blind and lost: stop moving and ask for help Guide dogs don’t just guide — they create instant community Depression after sight loss is normal — action (cane → dog) beats despair Living life blind can be louder and happier than living it sighted     🎙️ Want more, Stranger? Like the idea of story-collectors Tim Reid & Jon Coghill chatting to attendees at your next conference or event? Or maybe you'd like them to chat to strangers in your part of the world. Hit them up here. 📸  Join us behind-the-scenes Follow the What a StrangerTold Me podcast madness on Instagram. ☎️  Got a story you'd love to share? Call us +61 489 272 286. You've got a whopping 10-minutes, so sit back, take a big breath and go for gold. 👽  Don’t be a stranger Got some feedback? Bring it on. Just be gentle. One of us has thin skin ;) 🤩  Who’s behind all this strangeness? Made & Hosted by Tim Reid & Jon CoghillMusic Supervision by Dennis FelettoPhotography by Will Reid & Andy McCollSupport the show: https://whatastrangertoldme.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Episode 17 of What a Stranger Told Me, Jon meets Hugh, an 18-year-old industrial design student who’s found clever, practical ways of living with a stutter while chasing his creative dreams. Waiting three hours early for a uni tutorial (after dropping off his girlfriend), Hugh opens up about turning what many see as a limitation into a toolkit he controls.  Ready for some stranger stories? Personal stories of love, resilience & daring unfold in this loveable podcast, as story-collectors Tim Reid & Jon Coghill wander the streets of Australia, microphone in hand, chatting to strangers.  It's conversations... with everyday people. Industrial design is perfect for him: he’s always loved drawing, taking things apart, and asking “why is it made like that?” Now in his third semester of a four-year course, he’s studying future technologies and human-centred design — making products that actually help people instead of planned obsolescence. He’s already hyper-aware of “evil design” tricks companies use to force repeat purchases, and he’s determined to be on the good side of that line.But the real heart of the chat is how he handles his stutter day-to-day. Hugh has built an impressive playbook: He deliberately prolongs certain sounds (“sssssnake” instead of rushing “snake”) so the block never arrives. He pre-records every uni presentation (thank you, post-COVID rules) and does dozens of takes until it flows perfectly. When a word feels dangerous, he instantly swaps in a synonym he knows he can say smoothly. He slows his speech, breathes, and reminds himself the listener doesn’t mind — most of the fear is in his own head. Far from being embarrassed, Hugh sees his stutter as part of what makes him empathetic. “I know what it’s like to be stuck on a word, so when someone else trips up I just get it.” He’s matter-of-fact, funny, and completely unbothered by the occasional odd look when he uses his soft-S trick in conversation.At 18 he’s already romantic, thoughtful, and fiercely proactive — whether it’s driving across town for his girlfriend or designing a future where products respect people. This short chat is packed with quiet confidence: a young man who refuses to let a stutter slow him down, and instead uses it as motivation to communicate better, design smarter, and live kinder.Press play for ten minutes of pure inspiration from a teenager who’s outsmarting his own brain every single day — and winning.   Chapters 00:00 – Three Hours Early & Already Winning at Life 01:20 – Why Industrial Design Chose Him 02:30 – Spotting “Evil Design” in Everyday Products 04:10 – The Stutter Tricks That Actually Work 06:40 – Turning Blocks Into Soft Snakes & Synonyms 08:00 – Recording Speeches 47 Times (And Why That’s Okay) 09:00 – Empathy, Romance, and Not Giving a Damn   Key Takeaways  Prolong the sound on purpose — the block can’t hit if you never finish the risky letter Pre-record everything — multiple takes beat live panic every time Always have three synonym routes ready for danger words Slow speech + breathing = instant control Living with a stutter can make you a better, more empathetic designer and human     🎙️ Want more, Stranger? Like the idea of story-collectors Tim Reid & Jon Coghill chatting to attendees at your next conference or event? Or maybe you'd like them to chat to strangers in your part of the world. Hit them up here. 📸  Join us behind-the-scenes Follow the What a StrangerTold Me podcast madness on Instagram. ☎️  Got a story you'd love to share? Call us +61 489 272 286. You've got a whopping 10-minutes, so sit back, take a big breath and go for gold. 👽  Don’t be a stranger Got some feedback? Bring it on. Just be gentle. One of us has thin skin ;) 🤩  Who’s behind all this strangeness? Made & Hosted by Tim Reid & Jon CoghillMusic Supervision by Dennis FelettoPhotography by Will Reid & Andy McCollSupport the show: https://whatastrangertoldme.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Episode 16 of the What a Stranger Told Me podcast, Jon sits down with a Perth-born train driver who now calls Sydney home, though his heart never really left the west. Dragged across the country years ago by an ex-wife who hated WA, he stayed for the job he genuinely loves. “If I could drive trains back in Western Australia tomorrow, I’d be gone in a heartbeat,” he says with a laugh that doesn’t quite hide the ache. He’s qualified on both electric and diesel locomotives, working city and regional runs, and when he talks about being in the cab you can hear the grin. “It’s just me, the tracks, and the world flying past. No desk, no walls, no boss breathing down my neck. Best office anyone could ask for.” Rain, heat, sunrise, sunset — none of it matters when the scenery keeps changing and he’s the one making thousands of people reach their destination safely every shift. Yet the homesickness is real. He misses the wide-open spaces, the slower pace, the red dust of home. Sydney keeps him here because the rail opportunities are bigger, but every time he looks west he feels the pull. “I’m a West Australian through and through,” he admits. “This side of the country just doesn’t feel like home.” He’s seen the job change over the years. People used to wave at trains — kids especially — and drivers always waved back. Now most passengers are glued to phones, heads down, missing the world outside the window. “It’s a dying thing,” he says, “but when someone does wave or mouths ‘thank you’, it still makes the whole shift.” The cab is his sanctuary. No small talk, no office politics, just him and the rails. He controls what he can — safe driving, on-time running — and lets the rest go. That mindset keeps him steady through long rosters and the occasional tough day on the network. This episode is pure, no-filter insight into the reality of being a train driver in Australia today: the freedom, the solitude, the pride, and the quiet longing for a place 4,000 kilometres away. Whether you’ve ever dreamed of driving a train or just love hearing someone speak honestly about work they love in a city they don’t, this chat is gold. Press play and ride along with a genuinely happy — but undeniably homesick — train driver who wouldn’t swap his moving office for anything… except maybe one back in Perth. Chapters 00:00 – Sunshine Chat with a Homesick Train Driver 01:20 – Dragged from Perth to Sydney by Love 02:10 – Why the Cab Is the Best Office Ever 04:00 – Electric vs Diesel: City Runs and Regional Dreams 06:30 – The Dying Art of Waving at Trains 08:20 – People-Watching from the Front of the Train 09:40 – “If WA Called Tomorrow, I’d Be Gone” Key Takeaways Train driver’s cab is a moving office with million-dollar views Homesickness doesn’t fade even when you love the job Waving at trains used to be normal — now it’s rare and special Drivers control what they can and let the rest go Perth-born drivers still bleed sand and sunsets   🎙️ Want more, Stranger? Like the idea of story-collectors Tim Reid & Jon Coghill chatting to attendees at your next conference or event? Or maybe you'd like them to chat to strangers in your part of the world. Hit them up here. 📸  Join us behind-the-scenes Follow the What a StrangerTold Me podcast madness on Instagram. ☎️  Got a story you'd love to share? Call us +61 489 272 286. You've got a whopping 10-minutes, so sit back, take a big breath and go for gold. 👽  Don’t be a stranger Got some feedback? Bring it on. Just be gentle. One of us has thin skin ;) 🤩  Who’s behind all this strangeness? Made & Hosted by Tim Reid & Jon CoghillMusic Supervision by Dennis FelettoPhotography by Will Reid & Andy McCollSupport the show: https://whatastrangertoldme.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Episode 15 of What a Stranger Told Me, Jon meets Chris, a passionate sound engineer and tour manager for the ARIA-winning Indigenous duo Electric Fields, grabbing a quick chat in Glenelg before his dad's birthday dinner. This storytelling podcast uncovers honest moments from everyday lives. Fresh from headlining NAIDOC Week at Fed Square in Melbourne—sharing the stage with Isaiah Firebrace and The Violet Summers—Chris lights up talking about being a passionate sound engineer. He fell into the craft at 18, starting on church drums, and now lives for the moment the mix clicks. “You feel it when the crowd responds,” he says. “That’s the win.” Chris loves every part of the job—blending technical skill with gut instinct to make Electric Fields’ electronic-Indigenous sound soar live. Feedback, even brutal, fuels him. “Growth means listening—punters, managers, anyone.” He’s driven to be the best, choosing gigs that sharpen skills, not just pay. With a US green card nearly complete, he’s strategic: “Not every call moves me forward.” At home in Adelaide, his nurse wife works night shifts to sync with his two-night tours. No kids yet, but faith, love, and finances keep them aligned. “We grow in everything—together.” Protecting hearing is non-negotiable for this passionate sound engineer. His left ear shows wear from years of volume, so ear pods go everywhere—planes, bars, breakfasts. “Quality in-ears and regular checks let me keep doing what I love.” He’s inspired by legends who mixed deaf and still crushed it. “If they can, I will—with support.” This episode celebrates the fire of a passionate sound engineer—relentless, grounded, always improving. Chris shows excellence isn’t luck; it’s passion plus discipline. Press play to hear a life tuned to perfection.   Timestamped Chapters 00:00 – Glenelg Pause: A Passionate Sound Engineer’s Rare Break 01:30 – Church Drums to Electric Fields: How the Passion Began02:45 – Perfect Mix Magic: Audience Energy and Tough Feedback04:20 – Tour and Home Sync: Nurse Wife, Night Shifts, No Kids06:10 – US Green Card Dreams: Selective Gigs for Growth08:00 – Faith, Love, Finance: Fuel for a Passionate Life09:30 – Hearing Protection: Ear Pods, Checks, and Deaf Legends   Key Takeaways  1. A passionate sound engineer feels the win when the audience connects 2. Growth comes from all feedback — embrace it, even when it stings 3. Be selective with gigs — choose the ones that build skills and future 4. Sync tour life with home — night-shift partners make short absences work 5. Protect hearing daily — ear pods and checks keep a passionate sound engineer in the game   🎙️ Want more, Stranger? Like the idea of story-collectors Tim Reid & Jon Coghill chatting to attendees at your next conference or event? Or maybe you'd like them to chat to strangers in your part of the world. Hit them up here. 📸  Join us behind-the-scenes Follow the What a StrangerTold Me podcast madness on Instagram. ☎️  Got a story you'd love to share? Call us +61 489 272 286. You've got a whopping 10-minutes, so sit back, take a big breath and go for gold. 👽  Don’t be a stranger Got some feedback? Bring it on. Just be gentle. One of us has thin skin ;) 🤩  Who’s behind all this strangeness? Made & Hosted by Tim Reid & Jon CoghillMusic Supervision by Dennis FelettoPhotography by Will Reid & Andy McCollSupport the show: https://whatastrangertoldme.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Episode 14 of What a Stranger Told Me, Jon meets an anonymous health worker on her lunch break — a rare pocket of calm in a high-stress job. She’s been smoking for 40 years, quit once using hypnosis and medication, and now finds herself back at three to four cigarettes a day. This isn’t a public health lecture — it’s a raw, human conversation about why quitting smoking the second time feels harder, even when you’ve done it before and know the stakes. She first quit after one powerful hypnosis session. “It was like a switch flipped,” she says. Paired with short-term medication, the cravings disappeared. For years, she was free — family celebrated, colleagues noticed, her body recovered. But then came the relapse: long hours, a cyclone cleanup, one cigarette “to cope.” That turned into two, then four. Now she’s stuck in a loop of guilt and habit. “I did it once. I know I can. But this time… it’s different.” The real trap, she reveals, isn’t nicotine — it’s the ritual. The hand-to-mouth motion. The three-minute escape. The social connection. “You make more friends smoking than anything else,” she laughs. At airports, outside offices, in hidden corners — smokers bond instantly. “You can say anything. Then walk back in and pretend you don’t know each other.” It’s honest, fleeting, and oddly comforting. She’s tried patches, gum, willpower — nothing works like that first hypnosis + meds combo. But medically, she has to quit. Her lungs, her heart, her future depend on it. And she’s living proof: hypnosis can work, even after decades of smoking. The key? Finding the right practitioner and pairing it with support. This episode goes beyond cigarettes. It’s about habits, shame, relapse, and starting over — especially when you’re supposed to “know better.” Whether you’re trying to quit smoking, cut sugar, or stop doomscrolling, her story resonates: relapse isn’t failure — it’s information. She’s not giving up. She’s planning her second quit. And this time, she’s wiser. The smoking circle, she says, might just be the most honest place in the world. No judgment. No pretence. Just strangers sharing truth in a cloud of smoke. And in a 10-minute chat on a park bench, she gave Jon — and now you — a masterclass in quitting smoking the second time. Listen now to hear how one lunch break became a lesson in resilience, ritual, and the quiet power of trying again.   Chapters 00:00 – Lunch Break Confessions: Why This Health Worker Smokes 01:30 – 40 Years of Smoking: “I Quit Once… Then Started Again” 02:15 – How Hypnosis + Meds Helped Her Quit the First Time 03:40 – The Relapse Trigger: Stress, Cyclones, and One “Harmless” Cigarette 04:50 – Why Quitting Smoking the Second Time Is Harder 05:20 – The Secret Social Power of the Smoking Circle 06:30 – “I Have to Quit — Medically, I Have No Choice"   Key Takeaways Hypnosis can help quit smoking — one session worked for 40-year habit Relapse is about ritual, not just nicotine — hand-to-mouth action is the real trap Quitting smoking the second time is harder — shame and familiarity make it brutal Smoking creates instant community — strangers bond fast outside the “smoke zone” Best quit method? Hypnosis + short-term medication (worked first time) Average daily smokes after relapse: 3–4 (not “pack a day,” but still risky)   🎙️ Want more, Stranger? Like the idea of story-collectors Tim Reid & Jon Coghill chatting to attendees at your next conference or event? Or maybe you'd like them to chat to strangers in your part of the world. Hit them up here. 📸  Join us behind-the-scenes Follow the What a StrangerTold Me podcast madness on Instagram. ☎️  Got a story you'd love to share? Call us +61 489 272 286. You've got a whopping 10-minutes, so sit back, take a big breath and go for gold. 👽  Don’t be a stranger Got some feedback? Bring it on. Just be gentle. One of us has thin skin ;) 🤩  Who’s behind all this strangeness? Made & Hosted by Tim Reid & Jon CoghillMusic Supervision by Dennis FelettoPhotography by Will Reid & Andy McColl  Support the show: https://whatastrangertoldme.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Episode 13 of the What a Stranger Told Me podcast, Jon meets Anna—a sleep coach on a working holiday, helping CEOs, trauma-affected kids, and exhausted parents learn to sleep well again. This storytelling podcast uncovers honest moments from everyday lives. Escaping Sydney’s “head down, butt up” grind, she’s house-sitting in a client’s off-grid palace, surrounded by silence and stars. “Here, I I can breathe.” Anna’s mission is simple but urgent: sleep well to fix health, mood, and focus. She coaches high-performers for months—some on 10 meds, two hours a night, fearing heart attacks. One woman got off most meds, reclaimed her life. Others run her Sleep to Thrive course at work. Her charity, Sleep and Dream Foundation, trains women’s shelter staff and gives kids sleep packs. A scientific study is underway. She drops gold: in 1942, we averaged 7.9 hours. Now? Six, and it’s junk. Phones, artificial light since the 1930s, stress—they’ve hijacked our rhythm. Her fix? Five minutes outside at dawn and dusk. “Say hello to the sun. That’s it.” No screens, no over-exercise, no forcing exhaustion. “We’re like kids—the more wound up, the worse we sleep.” Favourite time of day? Waking naturally, no alarm, feeling the day begin soft. Anna gets 7–8 hours—her “hero sleep” hits nine. “Most of us need seven and a half. Only 2% truly need six.” This episode of What a Stranger Told Me is about rest, rhythm, and reclaiming your nights. It’s warm, real, and full of heart—proof a quick chat can reset your life. Want to sleep well? Press play. Join Jon to hear Anna’s story, a gentle reminder every stranger carries wisdom worth waking up for.   🎙️ Want more, Stranger? Like the idea of story-collectors Tim Reid & Jon Coghill chatting to attendees at your next conference or event? Or maybe you'd like them to chat to strangers in your part of the world. Hit them up here. 📸  Join us behind-the-scenes Follow the What a StrangerTold Me podcast madness on Instagram. ☎️  Got a story you'd love to share? Call us +61 489 272 286. You've got a whopping 10-minutes, so sit back, take a big breath and go for gold. 👽  Don’t be a stranger Got some feedback? Bring it on. Just be gentle. One of us has thin skin ;) 🤩  Who’s behind all this strangeness? Made & Hosted by Tim Reid & Jon CoghillMusic Supervision by Dennis FelettoPhotography by Will Reid & Andy McCollSupport the show: https://whatastrangertoldme.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we catch up with a Sydney magician on day two of a two-week holiday—and he's feeling a little punchy. As always, the What Stranger Told Me podcast uncovers honest moments from everyday lives. Twenty years making kids gasp with colouring books and vanishing silks, he’s traded the stage for Cable Beach sun. “Just chilling,” he says. No tricks, no reveals - just a break from the grind. He’s self-taught, family-focused, and quick to bristle at secret-spillers. “People want wonder, not how-to.” A recent flop sent him back to the drawing board, but he covered it smooth. “We’re human.” Silly Billy is his hero; big illusions aren’t his game. Favourite moment? A child’s eyes when blank pages bloom colour. That’s the real magic.Annoyed? Maybe. But the gruff edges soften when he talks kids’ joy. “It’s about moments.” Holiday or not, the craft follows. This episode of What a Stranger Told Me is about rest, craft, and the magic that won’t switch off. It’s warm, real, and full of heart—proof even an annoyed magician carries wonder. Join Tim to hear the story, a gentle reminder every stranger, grumpy or not, has a spark worth catching.   🎙️ Want more, Stranger? Like the idea of story-collectors Tim Reid & Jon Coghill chatting to attendees at your next conference or event? Or maybe you'd like them to chat to strangers in your part of the world. Hit them up here. 📸  Join us behind-the-scenes Follow the What a StrangerTold Me podcast madness on Instagram. ☎️  Got a story you'd love to share? Call us +61 489 272 286. You've got a whopping 10-minutes, so sit back, take a big breath and go for gold. 👽  Don’t be a stranger Got some feedback? Bring it on. Just be gentle. One of us has thin skin ;) 🤩  Who’s behind all this strangeness? Made & Hosted by Tim Reid & Jon CoghillMusic Supervision by Dennis FelettoPhotography by Will Reid & Andy McCollSupport the show: https://whatastrangertoldme.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today you'll meet Rhys in Episode 10 of What a Stranger Told Me - a 20-year-old qualified butcher who’s already lived a lifetime in boots and blades. This storytelling podcast uncovers honest moments from everyday lives.  Apprenticed at 16, he’s sharpened knives that shave hair, run bandsaws through hands, and tomorrow he’ll dress a cow from paddock to plate. “I love the whole side of it,” he says. Old-school butchers in their 40s and 50s took him under their wing—cruisy, no bullshit, just craft.Raised on AC/DC, Metallica, and Green Day, he traded city clubs for rodeo dust. “No drugs, no drama—just beers and bulls.” He’s jumped on a mate’s cow drunk, got bucked into a tree, laughed it off. “Stupid, but fun.” One day he’ll open his own shop—small town, sharp knives, honest meat.Favourite time? Cruising the bush after dark, windows down, radio loud. No drink-driving, no fuss. “I’ve never understood the point.” This episode of What a Stranger Told Me is about craft, courage, and staying real at 20. It’s warm, real, and full of heart—proof a quick chat can cut deep. Join Jon to hear Rhys’s story, a gentle reminder every stranger carries a trade worth hearing about.   🎙️ Want more, Stranger? Like the idea of story-collectors Tim Reid & Jon Coghill chatting to attendees at your next conference or event? Or maybe you'd like them to chat to strangers in your part of the world. Hit them up here. 📸  Join us behind-the-scenes Follow the What a StrangerTold Me podcast madness on Instagram. ☎️  Got a story you'd love to share? Call us +61 489 272 286. You've got a whopping 10-minutes, so sit back, take a big breath and go for gold. 👽  Don’t be a stranger Got some feedback? Bring it on. Just be gentle. One of us has thin skin ;) 🤩  Who’s behind all this strangeness? Made & Hosted by Tim Reid & Jon CoghillMusic Supervision by Dennis FelettoPhotography by Will Reid & Andy McCollSupport the show: https://whatastrangertoldme.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let's meet Emma—one of six siblings from a sprawling beef cattle clan, now bridging country roots with coastal life. The What a Stranger Told Me podcast uncovers honest moments from everyday lives.  Growing up, family stretched beyond blood: a tight-knit rural community where everyone leaned in. “We relied on each other.” With 18 cousins and a matriarch nan at the centre, gatherings were loud, constant, essential.When nan passed, an auntie took the reins—now yearly reunions rotate from Tassie to Condobolin, keeping the bond alive. “We’re so lucky.” Emma spends hours each week on the phone, nurturing ties across generations. Her 14-year-old niece gets gentle nudges away from screens: “Comparison steals joy—live your own life.”Coast living for nine years hasn’t faded the country pull. She helps friend Kristen grow Cowgirl Surf Club (sparked by a viral horse-surfing clip), blending rodeo grit with beach vibes. Fashion work beckons internationally—big travel ahead—but asked to choose? “Country, every time. The space, the realness, the air." Favourite time? Red wine, country vinyl, family stories flowing. City crowds post more than they talk; out west, conversations run deep, even when service drops. This episode of What a Stranger Told Me is about legacy, closeness, and the family you choose. It’s warm, real, and full of heart—proof a quick chat can open a whole world of love. Join Tim to hear Emma’s story, a gentle reminder of the importance of family - no matter the size.   🎙️ Want more, Stranger? Like the idea of story-collectors Tim Reid & Jon Coghill chatting to attendees at your next conference or event? Or maybe you'd like them to chat to strangers in your part of the world. Hit them up here. 📸  Join us behind-the-scenes Follow the What a StrangerTold Me podcast madness on Instagram. ☎️  Got a story you'd love to share? Call us +61 489 272 286. You've got a whopping 10-minutes, so sit back, take a big breath and go for gold. 👽  Don’t be a stranger Got some feedback? Bring it on. Just be gentle. One of us has thin skin ;) 🤩  Who’s behind all this strangeness? Made & Hosted by Tim Reid & Jon CoghillMusic Supervision by Dennis FelettoPhotography by Will Reid & Andy McCollSupport the show: https://whatastrangertoldme.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Episode 9 of What a Stranger Told Me, Jon pulls up a chair with Lucy and Eliza—two young women whose cowgirl roots run deep, even in the suburbs. This storytelling podcast uncovers honest moments from everyday lives. Raised on cattle properties across Queensland and New South Wales, they grew up mustering, riding, and breathing wide-open spaces. “It’s not the hat,” they say. “It’s in your blood.” Now one’s heading to boarding school in Toowoomba, surrounded by country girls just like her. The other’s studying animal care, dreaming of a future in equine vet nursing. But the farm never left them. They ride Western and English—barrel racing, show jumping, gently retraining a mare who once threw everyone off. “Trust takes years,” Lucy shares. “You feel it, the horse feels it.” She’s aiming for nationals after a tough season with hoof issues. Eliza’s stepping into competitive barrel racing this year—three barrels, tight turns, full gallop home. Motorbikes are part of the mix too, with the twins (one boyfriend, one brother) keeping the country spirit alive on acreage. Tonight? A rare city night out—boots, laughs, maybe a little boot-scooting. Longreach was the plan, but this works just fine. This episode of What a Stranger Told Me is about belonging, quiet confidence, and the pull of where you’re from. It’s warm, real, and full of heart—proof a quick chat can feel like coming home. Join Jon to hear their story, a gentle reminder every stranger has roots worth knowing.   🎙️ Want more, Stranger? Like the idea of story-collectors Tim Reid & Jon Coghill chatting to attendees at your next conference or event? Or maybe you'd like them to chat to strangers in your part of the world. Hit them up here. 📸  Join us behind-the-scenes Follow the What a StrangerTold Me podcast madness on Instagram. ☎️  Got a story you'd love to share? Call us +61 489 272 286. You've got a whopping 10-minutes, so sit back, take a big breath and go for gold. 👽  Don’t be a stranger Got some feedback? Bring it on. Just be gentle. One of us has thin skin ;) 🤩  Who’s behind all this strangeness? Made & Hosted by Tim Reid & Jon CoghillMusic Supervision by Dennis FelettoPhotography by Will Reid & Andy McCollSupport the show: https://whatastrangertoldme.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's time to meet a tattooed tough guy who retired wealthy at 36 after turning a tiny disability care business into a burgoning empire. This storytelling podcast captures raw stories from everyday people. From housing trust violence—drug-addict parents, 11 schools, out of high school by year nine—he dodged jail and chose hustle. With ADHD as fuel, he bought the landlord’s building over coffee, stacked debt, and hit NDIS gold. Now 50 clients live like kings: Thai chefs, 20+ staff, full-time care.Neighbours see ink and no 9-to-5, whisper “drug dealer.” He shrugs: “I retired at 36—judge that.” Eight near-deaths—800hp Skyline crash, stabbed at 19, electrocuted—sharpened instinct: trust your gut. From fire engineer to Fortune 500 manager, he showed rough kids another path. “If I can do it, anyone can.”Favourite time? Wrenching on his 1968 HK Premier—6.3L, 2600 supercharger, 800hp target. Roll racing with mates, gunning for Summernats. “Do your best—good things come.” This episode of What a Stranger Told Me weaves themes of grit, wealth, instinct, and human triumph, delivering a raw, roaring ride. It’s real, relentless, and inspiring, proving a chance chat can rev an empire. Join Jon to hear the story, a reminder every stranger carries horsepower worth unleashing.   🎙️ Want more, Stranger? Like the idea of story-collectors Tim Reid & Jon Coghill chatting to attendees at your next conference or event? Or maybe you'd like them to chat to strangers in your part of the world. Hit them up here. 📸  Join us behind-the-scenes Follow the What a StrangerTold Me podcast madness on Instagram. ☎️  Got a story you'd love to share? Call us +61 489 272 286. You've got a whopping 10-minutes, so sit back, take a big breath and go for gold. 👽  Don’t be a stranger Got some feedback? Bring it on. Just be gentle. One of us has thin skin ;) 🤩  Who’s behind all this strangeness? Made & Hosted by Tim Reid & Jon CoghillMusic Supervision by Dennis FelettoPhotography by Will Reid & Andy McCollSupport the show: https://whatastrangertoldme.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.