Today, meet Jackie, a mum transformed by weight loss surgery (40KG lighter!) and her newfound joy in mixed lollies.

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.

 

 

In Episode 5 of What a Stranger Told Me, Jon meets Jackie, a vibrant mum on a lolly mission, for a sunny Southbank chat that bursts with joy and renewal. This storytelling podcast captures raw stories from everyday people.

After weight loss surgery (a sleeve that removed two-thirds of her stomach), Jackie dropped 40 kilos and discovered a surprising new love: pick-and-mix lollies. A 20-minute drive from Carindale just to hand-pick tiny treats? That’s her “me moment” now. Once a savoury fan, she now craves variety—caramel chocolate, butterscotch, little bites of happiness—because her smaller stomach can’t handle big bags.

Pre-surgery, she masked unhappiness behind a “happy big person” front. Now? She’s lighter, brighter, and more outgoing than ever. Friends never noticed her size until she revealed the numbers. “You hid it well,” they said. Jackie reflects: bigger people don’t get treated differently—they treat themselves differently. Confidence blooms when you look back and see the truth.As an operations manager for elderly care, she thrives in chaos.

With a 24-year-old and a 14-year-old, this lolly run is pure self-care—no kids, no orders, just her and the candy counter. Her favorite time? These quiet escapes where life feels sweet again.This episode of What a Stranger Told Me weaves themes of transformation, joy, self-care, and human connection, offering a warm glimpse into a stranger’s radiant heart.

It’s real, fun, and inspiring, proving a chance chat—and a handful of lollies—can sweeten everything. Join Jon to hear Jackie’s story, a reminder every stranger carries a tale worth tasting.

 

 

🎙️ 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

Today, meet Jackie, a mum transformed by weight loss surgery (40KG lighter!) and her newfound joy in mixed lollies.
Ready for some stranger stories? Personal stories of love, resilience &amp; daring unfold in this loveable podcast, as story-collectors <a href="https://whatastrangertoldme.com/about/">Tim Reid &amp; Jon Coghill</a> wander the streets of Australia, microphone in hand, chatting to strangers.
It's conversations... with everyday people.
&nbsp;
<hr>
&nbsp;
In Episode 5 of What a Stranger Told Me, Jon meets Jackie, a vibrant mum on a lolly mission, for a sunny Southbank chat that bursts with joy and renewal. This storytelling podcast captures raw stories from everyday people.
After weight loss surgery (a sleeve that removed two-thirds of her stomach), Jackie dropped 40 kilos and discovered a surprising new love: pick-and-mix lollies. A 20-minute drive from Carindale just to hand-pick tiny treats? That&rsquo;s her &ldquo;me moment&rdquo; now. Once a savoury fan, she now craves variety&mdash;caramel chocolate, butterscotch, little bites of happiness&mdash;because her smaller stomach can&rsquo;t handle big bags.
Pre-surgery, she masked unhappiness behind a &ldquo;happy big person&rdquo; front. Now? She&rsquo;s lighter, brighter, and more outgoing than ever. Friends never noticed her size until she revealed the numbers. &ldquo;You hid it well,&rdquo; they said. Jackie reflects: bigger people don&rsquo;t get treated differently&mdash;they treat themselves differently. Confidence blooms when you look back and see the truth.As an operations manager for elderly care, she thrives in chaos.
With a 24-year-old and a 14-year-old, this lolly run is pure self-care&mdash;no kids, no orders, just her and the candy counter. Her favorite time? These quiet escapes where life feels sweet again.This episode of What a Stranger Told Me weaves themes of transformation, joy, self-care, and human connection, offering a warm glimpse into a stranger&rsquo;s radiant heart.
It&rsquo;s real, fun, and inspiring, proving a chance chat&mdash;and a handful of lollies&mdash;can sweeten everything. Join Jon to hear Jackie&rsquo;s story, a reminder every stranger carries a tale worth tasting.
&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

Today's stranger recently lost 40KG thanks to weight loss surgery, and developed a whole new love of lollies at the same time!