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

In Episode 20 of the What a Stranger Told Me podcast, Tim meets Simon &ndash; 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. &ldquo;Every day's my favourite,&rdquo; he says with a grin. Retirement means mornings with nothing on the agenda and afternoons for rest &ndash; a far cry from his fast-paced past.&nbsp;
Ready for some stranger stories? Personal stories of love, resilience &amp; daring unfold in this loveable podcast, as story-collectors&nbsp;<a href="https://whatastrangertoldme.com/about/">Tim Reid &amp; Jon Coghill</a> wander the streets of Australia, microphone in hand, chatting to strangers.&nbsp;
It's conversations... with everyday people.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<hr>
&nbsp;
Simon&rsquo;s career was &ldquo;accidental&rdquo;. 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. &ldquo;I enjoyed it, but I wish I'd done medicine,&rdquo; he reflects, admiring expert witnesses in court. No regrets, though &ndash; it was his path.&nbsp;
Now 70-something (he looks younger), Simon fills days with slow breakfasts, town walks, organic salads at Fundies, coffee, and ocean swims. &ldquo;I do nothing in the morning, rest in the afternoon,&rdquo; he quips. From Cronulla's &ldquo;same but not as nice&rdquo; 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&rsquo;s philosophical about change: the world rushes, but he chooses slow. &ldquo;Guilty sometimes &ndash; everyone's busy.&rdquo; His voicemail? &ldquo;Smile on my dial. Probably living the dream.&rdquo; 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 &ndash; proof a chance chat can slow your own world down, too.&nbsp;
Chapters
<ul dir="ltr">
<li>00:00 &ndash; Laughing Blind Man at Gympie Muster</li>
<li>01:10 &ndash; The Day the Tinny Capsized</li>
<li>02:30 &ndash; Seven Freezing Hours Clinging to an Outboard Motor</li>
<li>04:20 &ndash; Waking Up Blind in Hospital</li>
<li>06:00 &ndash; From Depression to &ldquo;You&rsquo;re Getting a Guide Dog&rdquo;</li>
<li>08:10 &ndash; First Embarrassing Cane Walks in Strange Suburbs</li>
<li>10:30 &ndash; How the Guide Dog Changed Everything</li>
<li>12:00 &ndash; Getting Happily Lost (and Found) at the Muster</li>
<li>13:20 &ndash; &ldquo;I&rsquo;m Having a Ball&rdquo; &ndash; Final Beers and Wisdom</li>
</ul>
Key Learnings
<ol dir="ltr">
<li>Hypothermia + stress can accelerate sudden vision loss</li>
<li>The #1 rule when blind and lost: stop moving and ask for help</li>
<li>Guide dogs don&rsquo;t just guide &mdash; they create instant community</li>
<li>Depression after sight loss is normal &mdash; action (cane &rarr; dog) beats despair</li>
<li>Living life blind can be louder and happier than living it sighted</li>
</ol>
&nbsp;
<hr>
&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

Retired lawyer Simon shares his "accidental" cop-to-barrister path, Byron Bay slow life, and no-regrets wisdom. It's ep 20 of the What a Stranger Told Me podcast.