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.

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☎️ 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.

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 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.

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 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.