Ever wondered if truth is stranger than fiction?
Reel Stories is the show that blurs the line between fact and film, reality and illusion, real and REEL... See what we did there? Good that, innit?
Each week, filmmakers; Rowan and Tom will each tell a story, and the other must guess if it actually happened or is simply the plot of a film.
Prepare for bizarre historical facts, unbelievable true stories, and the occasional cinematic deep cut.
Send us your stories: https://forms.gle/xTrCykzNh9ijEi1y5
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts here: https://pod.co/reel-stories
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel_stories_podcast
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@reel_stories_podcast
Music by Lance Conrad
Illustrations by Charis
12. The Stone of Destiny Robbery (Christmas Special)
This episode recounts the historical Stone of Destiny robbery, offering listeners a narrative of a daring heist.
19 May 2025
11. The Trial of a Dead Pope
In this episode, Rowan digs up the story of the time a literal dead pope was put on trial. Meanwhile, Tom tells the wild tale of a boy who somehow committed his own murder. Yup, it’s a weird one.
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts here: https://pod.co/reel-stories
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel_stories_podcast
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@reel_stories_podcast
SPONSORED BY CUE PODCASTS: https://www.cuepodcasts.com/
Music by Lance Conrad
Illustrations by Charis
2 May 2025
10. The Deep Sea Toilet That Saved A Man's Life
In today's episode, Rowan tells the tale of a woman who thought she saw a familiar pair of eyes looking down through her bathroom vent... And Tom recalls the story of a tugboat cook whose life was miraculously saved by a toilet cubicle. You could say that they were saved by the bowel.
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts here: https://pod.co/reel-stories
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel_stories_podcast
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@reel_stories_podcast
SPONSORED BY CUE PODCASTS: https://www.cuepodcasts.com/
Music by Lance Conrad
Illustrations by Charis
25 Apr 2025
9. The Marriage Worth $118 MILLION Dollars!
Would you marry a stranger for millions of dollars? In today's episode we ask that very question + Rowan struggles to tell a basic story without laughing.
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts here: https://pod.co/reel-stories
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel_stories_podcast
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@reel_stories_podcast
SPONSORED BY CUE PODCASTS: https://www.cuepodcasts.com/
Music by Lance Conrad
Illustrations by Charis
18 Apr 2025
8. The Incompetent Sailors That Changed The World
Did you know that one Russian battleship was so incompetent that it changed the whole world... and not for the better? Rowan tell us this winding tale - and Tom recalls the life of the unluckiest, or maybe luckiest, human to ever have lived.
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts here: https://pod.co/reel-stories
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel_stories_podcast
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@reel_stories_podcast
SPONSORED BY CUE PODCASTS: https://www.cuepodcasts.com/
Music by Lance Conrad
Illustrations by Charis
11 Apr 2025
7. The Janitor Who Took a Theatre Production Captive
We've all been there. You're having a slight off day, and the next thing you know, you've taken an entire theatre production hostage. Nightmare. In today's episode, Tom tells the story of exactly that! Plus Rowan recounts the strange life of Solicitor: Gary!
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts here: https://pod.co/reel-stories
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel_stories_podcast
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@reel_stories_podcast
SPONSORED BY CUE PODCASTS: https://www.cuepodcasts.com/
Music by Lance Conrad
Illustrations by Charis
4 Apr 2025
BONUS. The Great Paddington Showdown (QUIZ)
In today's special bonus episode, Rowan and Tom are joined by Connor, who has brought his very own film-based quiz. It's time to find out who the REAL Paddington fan is.
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts here: https://pod.co/reel-stories
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel_stories_podcast
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@reel_stories_podcast
SPONSORED BY CUE PODCASTS: https://www.cuepodcasts.com/
Music by Lance Conrad
Illustrations by Charis
26 Mar 2025
6. The (not suspicious) Life of Belle Gunness
In the early 1900's one woman experienced some extremely unlucky life events such as homes burning down and loved ones dying. The only constant? A huge amount of insurance claims. Nothing suspicious about that at all!
Also on the pod: Tom recounts the story of one man's determination to prove he once landed a place in an ordinary New York street.
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts here: https://pod.co/reel-stories
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel_stories_podcast
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@reel_stories_podcast
SPONSORED BY CUE PODCASTS: https://www.cuepodcasts.com/
Music by Lance Conrad
Illustrations by Charis
21 Mar 2025
5. The 2 Million Dollar Rat Race
How far would you go to win a million dollars? And do you believe in reincarnation? In today's episode, Tom tells the story of a casino that set an irresistible challenge for a group of wayward gamblers. And Connor, our first ever guest storyteller, tells us a mystical tale about memory, reincarnation... and worms.
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts here: https://pod.co/reel-stories
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel_stories_podcast
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@reel_stories_podcast
SPONSORED BY CUE PODCASTS: https://www.cuepodcasts.com/
Music by Lance Conrad
Illustrations by Charis
14 Mar 2025
4. The Dancing Plague of 1518
Have you ever found yourself unable to stop dancing? So much so that you eventually end up collapsing and DYING? Well, so did the French in 1518!
Also in today's episode: Tom tells the story of a family struggling to survive in WW2. But, like most stories on the podcast, there is one key twist!
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts here: https://pod.co/reel-stories
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel_stories_podcast
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@reel_stories_podcast
SPONSORED BY CUE PODCASTS: https://www.cuepodcasts.com/
Music by Lance Conrad
Illustrations by Charis
7 Mar 2025
3. The Muppet That Took A Radio Station Hostage
In today's episode, Rowan tells the story of a man in New Zealand who took a local radio station with a strange, Muppet-related demand. Tom tells the story of a man who is stranded in the Arctic, and has to battle the elements, wildlife, chance and his own conscience to survive.
Send us YOUR stories: https://forms.gle/xTrCykzNh9ijEi1y5
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts here: https://pod.co/reel-stories
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel_stories_podcast
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@reel_stories_podcast
SPONSORED BY CUE PODCASTS: https://www.cuepodcasts.com/
Music by Lance Conrad
Illustrations by Charis
6 Mar 2025
BONUS. These 2025 Films Should Have Been Nominated for Oscars/Baftas!
In the first ever bonus episode of the Reel Stories Podcast, Tom and Rowan take a look at this years awards nominees/winners, and decide who they think should have won!
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts here: https://pod.co/reel-stories
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel_stories_podcast
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@reel_stories_podcast
SPONSORED BY CUE PODCASTS: https://www.cuepodcasts.com/
Music by Lance Conrad
Illustrations by Charis
28 Feb 2025
2. The Prisoner Who Escaped 4 Times
In today's podcast, Rowan talks about 3 spooky incidents that made a paranormal sceptic change his mind, and Tom recounts the life of a 4-time prison escapee!
Send us YOUR stories: https://forms.gle/xTrCykzNh9ijEi1y5
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts here: https://pod.co/reel-stories
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel_stories_podcast
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@reel_stories_podcast
SPONSORED BY CUE PODCASTS: https://www.cuepodcasts.com/
Music by Lance Conrad
Illustrations by Charis
21 Feb 2025
1. The Man Who Survived 2 Atomic Bombs
In today's episode, Tom recounts the events of one mans quest against all Beaver-kind, and Rowan tells the story of the man who survived 2 atomic blasts! But are they true, or film plots?
Send us YOUR stories: https://forms.gle/xTrCykzNh9ijEi1y5
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts here: https://pod.co/reel-stories
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel_stories_podcast
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@reel_stories_podcast
SPONSORED BY CUE PODCASTS: https://www.cuepodcasts.com/
Music by Lance Conrad
Illustrations by Charis
20 Feb 2025
PILOT. The Bear That Fought in WW2
In today's episode, Tom recounts a tragic death caused by sheer chance, and Rowan details the life of Wojtek the WW2 bear. But are they fact, or film plots?
Send us YOUR stories: https://forms.gle/xTrCykzNh9ijEi1y5
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts here: https://pod.co/reel-stories
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel_stories_podcast
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@reel_stories_podcast
Music by Lance Conrad
Illustrations by Charis
20 Feb 2025
Reel Stories - Trailer
Ever wondered if truth is stranger than fiction?
Reel Stories is the show that blurs the line between fact and film, reality and illusion, real and REEL... See what we did there? Good that, innit?
Each week, filmmakers; Rowan and Tom will each tell a story, and the other must guess if it actually happened or is simply the plot of a film.
Prepare for bizarre historical facts, unbelievable true stories, and the occasional cinematic deep cut.
Did a bear really fight in WWII? Was someone actually terrorized by beavers? Has someone survived not 1, but 2 atomic bombs?
Find out about all of this and more, each week, on the Reel Stories podcast!
Subscribe to never miss an episode!
Music by Lance Conrad
Illustrations by Charis
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
14,190
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Spotify
5.0 / 5
9 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 54 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
49
Social presence
90
YouTube
72
Engagement
32
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