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 Sammy
00:56 – She perved first – then “We’re gettin’ married”
01:50 – Doesn’t believe in marriage – but for her, yes
03:20 – Nail gun accident – worst moment
04:45 – Valentine’s Day magic & three-can bike ride
05:58 – Practice every night – young love energy
07:46 – 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 Coghill
Music Supervision by Dennis Feletto

 

#MeetingTheGirlOfYourDreams #YoungLoveStory #ValentinesMagic #NailGunAccident #PervingFirst #RomanticStrangerStory #FirstMeetingGirlfriend #CheekyLoveStory #WhataStrangerToldMe #StrangerStories #StorytellingPodcast #TimReid #JonCoghill #AustralianPodcast #ABCconversations

Support 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 walk
00:48 – 71, ex-South African, Harvey Bay local
01:27 – New bridge fascination – how Brisbane evolved
03:30 – Everest Base Camp at 69 – knees shot but made it
05:15 – Planning Annapurna with son in 10 months
07:42 – Normally rides 50km a day – walks bridges for joy
08:20 – 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 Coghill
Music Supervision by Dennis Feletto

 

#CantankerousBloke, #EverestAt69, #AnnapurnaPlans, #StayingActiveAfter70, #SeniorAdventure, #WhataStrangerToldMe, #StrangerStories, #StorytellingPodcast, #TimReid, #JonCoghill, #AustralianPodcast, #ABCconversations

Support 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 Mall
00:49 – From Latin band Calibú to solo busker life stories
02:30 – Money is nice, smiles are better
04:15 – Healing a Chilean man and Israeli war pilot
06:40 – JP and celebrant side hustle
08:14 – 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 Coghill
Music Supervision by Dennis Feletto

 

#BuskerMakingPeopleHappy #LatinBusker #StreetMusician #HealingEnergy #ElvisDuet #PittStreetMall #BuskingLife #HappinessDealer #LatinMusic #WhataStrangerToldMe #StrangerStories #StorytellingPodcast #TimReid #JonCoghill #AustralianPodcast #ABCconversations

Support 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 butcher
00:48 – Apprentice at 14 – making sausages all day
01:27 – Tom Jones in the shop for the ladies
03:30 – School kids chewing bones & knife-belt nudity
05:15 – Horrible accidents in the abattoir
07:42 – 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 Coghill
Music Supervision by Dennis Feletto

Support 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 beach
00:28 – Childhood dream of Australia finally comes true at 33
00:50 – Why Tasmania in winter stole her heart
01:24 – The struggle to find free camps and HelpX placements
02:09 – Explaining WWOOFing and HelpX to Tim
02:53 – Wanting to work with wild animals and the frustration of not finding spots
03:32 – The truth about travelling (and sleeping) alone
04:12 – Breakup → 10 days of sadness → quit job, flat, everything
05:38 – Why comfort loses every time against dreams
06:32 – The huge dream: renovating grandma’s house into a guest house
07:41 – Running through the forest when the lunch bell rang
08:45 – Gratin dauphinois and childhood magic
09:35 – Needing €300,000 and manifesting it anyway
10:01 – 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 Coghill
Music Supervision by Dennis Feletto

Support 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 street
00:53 – Why Mitch is in Byron Bay: the breakup backstory
01:40 – Details on the mutual incompatibility and hopes for the future
02:03 – Reflecting on his first breakup and still liking her
02:54 – Coping strategies: work, exercise, and getting out
03:41 – Tattoo talk: impulsive ink with no deep stories
04:48 – Lessons on love, stubbornness, and relationship effort
05:47 – When stubbornness helps (or hinders) in life
06:39 – Not ready to date yet; career as a support worker
07:20 – No career plans at 24 – scary but exciting
08:08 – Dream job: zookeeping and growing up with animals
09:28 – How animals shaped his level-headed vibe
09:44 – 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 Coghill
Music Supervision by Dennis Feletto
Photography by Will Reid & Andy McColl

=======

#HowToGetOverABreakup, #BreakupAdvice, #FirstBreakup, #ByronBay, #MutualBreakup, #SoloTravel, #PostBreakupReset, #RelationshipLessons, #WhataStrangerToldMe, #StrangerStories, #StorytellingPodcast, #TimReid, #JonCoghill, #AustralianPodcast, #StreetInterview

Support 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 Coghill
Music Supervision by Dennis Feletto
Photography by Will Reid & Andy McColl

Support 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

1. Hypothermia + stress can accelerate sudden vision loss
2. The #1 rule when blind and lost: stop moving and ask for help
3. Guide dogs don’t just guide — they create instant community
4. Depression after sight loss is normal — action (cane → dog) beats despair
5. 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 Coghill
Music Supervision by Dennis Feletto
Photography by Will Reid & Andy McColl

Support 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 Coghill
Music Supervision by Dennis Feletto
Photography by Will Reid & Andy McColl

Support 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

1. Hypothermia + stress can accelerate sudden vision loss
2. The #1 rule when blind and lost: stop moving and ask for help
3. Guide dogs don’t just guide — they create instant community
4. Depression after sight loss is normal — action (cane → dog) beats despair
5. 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 Coghill
Music Supervision by Dennis Feletto
Photography by Will Reid & Andy McColl

Support the show: https://whatastrangertoldme.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.