Young Butcher Survives Bandsaw Slip & Dreams of Simple Life | Stories from Strangers

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Jon Coghill & Tim Reid 

Ever wondered how to become a butcher starting at 15, with no school? Meet Rhys, a rock-loving 19-year-old who qualified at 16, slices hair with his knives, and survived a bandsaw to the hand. His chat on how to become a butcher is raw, funny, and full of country rodeo vibes – listen and feel the no-bullshit energy.
 
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.
 

Episode Summary

 

Meeting Rhys at Gimpy Muster

Jon bumps into Rhys, a 19-year-old looking like young Angus Young from ACDC. Rhys is chilling at Gimpy Muster on a beautiful day. He’s from Maroochydore, brought up on ACDC, Metallica, Green Day – old school rock all the way.
 

How to Become a Butcher at 15

Rhys is a qualified butcher. Started at 15, apprenticeship at 16, done by 19. How to become a butcher? He learned on the job – sharp knives that shave hair off his arm. Seen accidents, like knives to legs. He sliced his hand with a bandsaw once – slipped right through. No big deal; kept going.
 

Why Rodeos Beat City Clubs

Rhys loves rodeos – no bullshit, cruisy people, community vibe. City clubs? Full of “fuckheads on drugs”. Rodeos are clean fun: watch mad cowboys on bulls, have a few beers, chill. He’s even ridden one (got bucked into a tree). Country life over city every day.
 

How to Become a Butcher & Future Dreams

He works at a local shop now, but dreams of his own. How to become a butcher? Be cruisy, learn from old timers (40s-50s guys take you under their wing). Knives scare newbies – they’re nervous around the sharpness. Rhys has seen bad slips, but he’s steady.
 

Rock Roots & No Drink Driving

Raised on Red Hot Chili Peppers, Guns N’ Roses, Green Day. No drink driving for him – “if I get pulled over, I’m stuffed”. He’ll cruise the bush sober instead. Smart, no regrets.
 

Rhys’s Vibe & Wrapping Up

Rhys’s energy? No-nonsense, rock-loving country kid with big dreams. How to become a butcher? Jump in young, learn sharp, stay cruisy. This chat leaves you smiling at his simple life wisdom.
 

Time-Coded Chapters

00:00 – Intro and meeting Rhys at Gimpy Muster
00:42 – Looks like young ACDC – raised on rock
01:15 – Loves rodeos: no bullshit, cruisy community
02:03 – Rodeos beat city clubs – no drugs, just fun
03:56 – How to become a butcher: started at 15, qualified at 19
04:53 – Knives scare newbies – bandsaw slip to the hand
05:23 – Future dream: own shop, no drink driving
06:13 – Farewell and episode close
 

Key Moments

  1. Looks like young Angus Young – raised on ACDC, Metallica, Green Day
  2. Rodeos: “mad motherfucker on a bull” – cruisy, no bullshit
  3. How to become a butcher: apprenticeship at 16, knives shave arm hair
  4. Bandsaw slip: “went through my hand” – no big deal
  5. Rode one bull – bucked into a tree, still fun
  6. No drink driving – “if I get pulled over, I’m stuffed”
  7. Dream: own butcher shop one day

 

Listen to the Full Conversation

How to become a butcher at 15 – Rhys’s rock-loving, rodeo life is gold.Listen now on your favourite platform

 


 

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