What a Stranger Told Me

• British Lad Plans Bali Tattoo Extravaganza | Another Head-Scratching Story

  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.

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• Retired Criminal Lawyer Creates an Unusually Slow Life | Another Stranger Story

  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.

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• Bali Bombings Burns Unit Nurse Reflects On The Chaos | Another Stranger Story

  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.

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• Vision-Impaired Guy Survives Horrific Boating Accident | Real Stories from Strangers

  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.

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• Romantic Designer Outsmarts His Stutter – Real Stories from Strangers

  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.

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