In Episode 7 (Part 2) of What a Stranger Told Me, Jon's chat with the humanitarian filmmaker plunges deeper into fear, trauma, and triumph. This storytelling podcast captures raw stories from everyday people.

Six years after crawling through a 50-metre tunnel in Haiti’s earthquake rubble—sawing rebar beside a dead body, headlamp smashed, guided only by camera flashes—PTSD hit him mid-run in the Solomon Islands. Streams of tears, flash images of death. “I realised I needed to back off.”He’d chased fear on purpose: machete crowds in PNG, child soldiers in Uganda, cholera zones. Each crisis a shield against marriage grief.

But Haiti broke through—flies pouring from a hole, a husband hunting his wife’s blue-tiled bathroom, a lone worker sawing for weeks. “His mind split.” The filmmaker vanished into a tent, staring at walls. Now 60, he’s opted for beach suburbia with the love of his life and an 80KG Caucasian Shepherd—his new extreme. “I need big challenges.”

Suburbia shocks: loud music, rudeness, judgment. “Every man for himself.” Yet he’s happy—building on love, not adrenaline.This episode of What a Stranger Told Me weaves themes of fear, healing, love, and human extremes, delivering a raw, riveting finale. It’s real, haunting, and uplifting—proof a stranger’s tunnel can lead to light. Join Jon for Part 2 (this concludes the story).

 

🎙️ 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 7 (Part 2) of What a Stranger Told Me, Jon's chat with the humanitarian filmmaker plunges deeper into fear, trauma, and triumph. This storytelling podcast captures raw stories from everyday people.
Six years after crawling through a 50-metre tunnel in Haiti&rsquo;s earthquake rubble&mdash;sawing rebar beside a dead body, headlamp smashed, guided only by camera flashes&mdash;PTSD hit him mid-run in the Solomon Islands. Streams of tears, flash images of death. &ldquo;I realised I needed to back off.&rdquo;He&rsquo;d chased fear on purpose: machete crowds in PNG, child soldiers in Uganda, cholera zones.&nbsp;Each crisis a shield against marriage grief.
But Haiti broke through&mdash;flies pouring from a hole, a husband hunting his wife&rsquo;s blue-tiled bathroom, a lone worker sawing for weeks. &ldquo;His mind split.&rdquo; The filmmaker vanished into a tent, staring at walls. Now 60, he&rsquo;s opted for beach suburbia with the love of his life and an 80KG Caucasian Shepherd&mdash;his new extreme. &ldquo;I need big challenges.&rdquo;
Suburbia shocks: loud music, rudeness, judgment. &ldquo;Every man for himself.&rdquo; Yet he&rsquo;s happy&mdash;building on love, not adrenaline.This episode of What a Stranger Told Me weaves themes of fear, healing, love, and human extremes, delivering a raw, riveting finale. It&rsquo;s real, haunting, and uplifting&mdash;proof a stranger&rsquo;s tunnel can lead to light. Join Jon for Part 2 (this concludes the story).
&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

In Episode 7 (Part 2) of What a Stranger Told Me, Jon's chat with the humanitarian filmmaker plunges deeper into fear, trauma, and triumph. 