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

In Episode 13 of the What a Stranger Told Me podcast, Jon meets Anna&mdash;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&rsquo;s &ldquo;head down, butt up&rdquo; grind, she&rsquo;s house-sitting in a client&rsquo;s off-grid palace, surrounded by silence and stars. &ldquo;Here, I I can breathe.&rdquo;
Anna&rsquo;s mission is simple but urgent: sleep well to fix health, mood, and focus. She coaches high-performers for months&mdash;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;s junk. Phones, artificial light since the 1930s, stress&mdash;they&rsquo;ve hijacked our rhythm. Her fix? Five minutes outside at dawn and dusk. &ldquo;Say hello to the sun. That&rsquo;s it.&rdquo; No screens, no over-exercise, no forcing exhaustion. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re like kids&mdash;the more wound up, the worse we sleep.&rdquo;
Favourite time of day? Waking naturally, no alarm, feeling the day begin soft. Anna gets 7&ndash;8 hours&mdash;her &ldquo;hero sleep&rdquo; hits nine. &ldquo;Most of us need seven and a half. Only 2% truly need six.&rdquo;
This episode of <a href="https://whatastrangertoldme.com/category/season-1/">What a Stranger Told Me</a> is about rest, rhythm, and reclaiming your nights. It&rsquo;s warm, real, and full of heart&mdash;proof a quick chat can reset your life. Want to sleep well? Press play. Join Jon to hear Anna&rsquo;s story, a gentle reminder every stranger carries wisdom worth waking up for.
&nbsp;
🎙️&nbsp;Want more, Stranger?
Like the idea of story-collectors Tim Reid &amp; 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 <a href="https://whatastrangertoldme.com/contact/">here</a>.
📸&nbsp; Join us behind-the-scenes
Follow the What a StrangerTold Me podcast madness on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/whatastrangertoldme">Instagram</a>.
☎️&nbsp; 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.
👽&nbsp; Don&rsquo;t be a stranger
Got some feedback? <a href="https://whatastrangertoldme.com/contact/">Bring it on</a>. Just be gentle. One of us has thin skin ;)
🤩&nbsp; Who&rsquo;s behind all this strangeness?
Made &amp; Hosted by Tim Reid &amp; Jon Coghill Music Supervision by Dennis Feletto Photography by Will Reid &amp; Andy McColl

Storytelling meets human connection in this intriguing Australian podcast. Hosts Jon Coghill (Powderfinger) and Tim Reid (award-winning podcaster) travel around chatting with strangers of all ages & backgrounds - uncovering their raw, unique, and very personal stories. Take a break from the everyday, and dive into lives of people you’d never otherwise meet.

And if you’ve got a story you’d love the world to hear, then call us on +61 489 272 286.

Or maybe you'd like us to chat to strangers in your town, or maybe you’ve got a conference you’d like us to podcast from, then contact us at What a Stranger Told Me.

Credits ...

Made & Hosted by Tim Reid & Jon Coghill

Music Supervision by Dennis Feletto

Photography by Andy McColl & Will Reid

 

Storytelling meets human connection in this intriguing Australian podcast. Hosts Jon Coghill (Powderfinger) and Tim Reid (award-winning podcaster) travel around chatting with strangers of all ages &amp; backgrounds - uncovering their raw, unique, and very personal stories. Take a break from the everyday, and dive into lives of people you&rsquo;d never otherwise meet.
And if you&rsquo;ve got a story you&rsquo;d love the world to hear, then call us on +61 489 272 286.
Or maybe you'd like us to chat to strangers in your town, or maybe you&rsquo;ve got a conference you&rsquo;d like us to podcast from, then contact us at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.whatastrangertoldme.com">What a Stranger Told Me</a>.
Credits ...
Made &amp; Hosted by Tim Reid &amp; Jon Coghill
Music Supervision by Dennis Feletto
Photography by Andy McColl &amp; Will Reid
&nbsp;

Storytelling meets human connection in this intriguing Australian podcast. Hosts Jon Coghill (Powderfinger) and Tim Reid (award-winning podcaster) travel around chatting with strangers of all ages & backgrounds - uncovering their raw, unique, and very personal stories. Take a break from the everyday, and dive into lives of people you’d never otherwise meet.

What a Stranger Told Me

Storytelling meets human connection in this intriguing Australian podcast. Hosts Jon Coghill (Powderfinger) and Tim Reid (award-winning podcaster) travel around chatting with strangers of all ages & backgrounds - uncovering their raw, unique, and very personal stories. Take a break from the everyday, and dive into lives of people you’d never otherwise meet.

Take a break from the everyday, and dive into the lives of people you’d never otherwise meet.

And if you’ve got a story you’d love the world to hear, then call us on +61 489 272 286.

Or maybe you'd like us to chat to strangers in your town, or maybe you’ve got a conference you’d like us to podcast from, then contact us at What a Stranger Told Me.

Credits ...

Made & Hosted by Tim Reid & Jon Coghill

Music Supervision by Denis Feletto

Photography by Andy McColl & Will Reid

Storytelling meets human connection in this intriguing Australian podcast. Hosts Jon Coghill (Powderfinger) and Tim Reid (award-winning podcaster) travel around chatting with strangers of all ages &amp; backgrounds - uncovering their raw, unique, and very personal stories. Take a break from the everyday, and dive into lives of people you&rsquo;d never otherwise meet.
Take a break from the everyday, and dive into the lives of people you&rsquo;d never otherwise meet.
And if you&rsquo;ve got a story you&rsquo;d love the world to hear, then call us on +61 489 272 286.
Or maybe you'd like us to chat to strangers in your town, or maybe you&rsquo;ve got a conference you&rsquo;d like us to podcast from, then contact us at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.whatastrangertoldme.com">What a Stranger Told Me</a>.
Credits ...
Made &amp; Hosted by Tim Reid &amp; Jon Coghill
Music Supervision by Denis Feletto
Photography by Andy McColl &amp; Will Reid

Stranger stories warm as Jon meets sleep coach Anna—helping CEOs and trauma kids sleep well with science, sun, and silence.  