The Real Jon Bernard Story | MAYDAY™ | Ep. 29

00:00:00
Speaker 1: The NRL have made some stupid decisions. I remember in Vegas, they had Anna Paul, like some OnlyFans chick, on the field. And it's like, okay, you would treat me and my brother like we're criminals. Oh, we don't know if you align with the fans. Mate, I am a fan. I am the fan. I am the Lebanese Bulldog supporter. What are you talking about? Who are you? I feel like it's the most unserious World Cup competition. Discount Jason Tarp. I like Jason Tarp. He's like my cousin, right? but he's a black guy playing for Lebanon. It's pretty funny. It's funny. They're insulting a lot of people's intelligence. It's just raise tax here. You didn't vote for this and we can just do it and you're not going to do anything about it. And honestly, Aussies, bro, we don't do anything about it. We complain about it online, but we just cop it in the ass. And I'm not saying I don't vote to think. I actually just think it's useless. I don't think it ever achieves anything.
00:00:49
Speaker 2: Special guest, man. I guess I wanted to come on and, you know, I like to bring different guests on and I A very controversial guy like myself. So yeah, we're going to spit some facts.
00:00:59
Speaker 1: Well, the goal of this podcast, I want to get you in trouble.
00:01:01
Speaker 3: Yes.
00:01:02
Speaker 1: More than get me in trouble.
00:01:03
Speaker 2: I'm going to get you in trouble.
00:01:06
Speaker 1: No, no, we'll have a good chat. So it's good to catch up. Yeah.
00:01:09
Speaker 2: What's been going on? You said you just got back from traveling?
00:01:12
Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah. Did a little stint in Europe. Went to Lebanon. Hung out in Lebanon for about a month. Just hung out with the family. Shot some content. Collab with some content creators in Lebanon. Yeah. And we were just making a bit of travel content. Had a bit of a breather from doing the UFC cards. I think we did like the first seven cards of the year. Like going back and forth between the US and wherever they were. So it was good to knock them out. But we go to Abu Dhabi next week for Volk's fight. So getting straight back into it. And then Madison Square Garden's on the cards for November. So, yeah, keen to get back into the swing of the sports stuff.
00:01:50
Speaker 2: That's crazy, bro. You know what's even more crazy, yo? I just watched Dana White's podcast yesterday, the full podcast with Dario, the CEO.
00:01:56
Speaker 3: Oh, yeah?
00:01:57
Speaker 1: You watched the whole thing?
00:01:58
Speaker 2: Yeah, he's tap day. He's not normal, that guy.
00:02:01
Speaker 1: Yeah, I feel like it got a bit awkward when they brought up his mum in the book.
00:02:04
Speaker 3: Yeah, did they?
00:02:05
Speaker 1: I was like, bro, you gave him the book that his mum just rinsing Dana? But yeah, he's good. Dana's been complimenting a lot on socials because of this Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua stuff and how in tune he is with actual looking after the UFC because you don't know... If he's like a general manager, like in WWE, if he's just like the fake, he's just the figurehead. And if he's actually running the show. But when he goes on Diary of a CEO, it's kind of interesting to see what deals he ends up making and how he operates. I thought it was interesting. I saw a lot of clips. I didn't watch the whole thing.
00:02:39
Speaker 2: It was a great interview, bro. And like you said, bro, his mom proper rinsed him. Exposed his.
00:02:44
Speaker 1: Could you imagine a family member like your mom just like extorting you for money? And like.
00:02:51
Speaker 1: Lebanese do do that but like if you're a good Maronite Catholic Lebanese family that doesn't happen so.
00:02:58
Speaker 2: Yeah that's crazy bro I always see your nana in your videos too yeah yeah cause my brother-in-law's Lebanese really yeah and I love my Lebanese people oh.
00:03:07
Speaker 1: You can play you can play in the World Cup then for.
00:03:08
Speaker 2: Lebanon yeah I'll just do what Jason's up nah but hey he's glad he's having he's needed him.
00:03:15
Speaker 1: But what are your thoughts on the World Cup just quickly cause you opted out you're not playing in the World Cup but I feel like it's the most unserious world cup competition because okay. Discount Jason's up. I like Jason's up. He's like my cousin.
00:03:30
Speaker 3: Yeah. Right.
00:03:31
Speaker 1: But he's a black guy playing for Lebanon. It's pretty funny. It's funny.
00:03:34
Speaker 3: Right.
00:03:35
Speaker 1: Then you got Dane Gagai.
00:03:37
Speaker 3: Right.
00:03:38
Speaker 1: Just gone.
00:03:38
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:03:38
Speaker 1: I'm not going to play for Charlotte. I'll just play for New Zealand. What? Okay. Then you're Kalen Ponga. I could play for either one. Then you got everyone going, I could play for Charlotte, but I could also play for Samoa if I want.
00:03:50
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:03:50
Speaker 1: I understand, okay, it's like different tiered nations, but jumping from Australia and New Zealand, it's like we're the most unserious World Cup ever. And then you got like Mitchell Moses, who's like, everyone's giving him shit for, you didn't want to represent Lebanon. I'm representing Australia. You give him 150 grand, I've got a house to pay for. It's all over Instagram. I need to pay for it.
00:04:09
Speaker 2: I want a mortgage.
00:04:10
Speaker 1: You know, like I don't blame him. But I feel like it's just a very unserious, we're just throwing it together. And it's honestly just probably for keeping people interested in... During the off season. I don't think it's like, when you look at like rugby union, how seriously they take the letters, low cops and world rugby and how, how crazy the soccer world cup is. We just seem like an unserious world cup.
00:04:31
Speaker 2: Nah, you're on the right track, bro. I feel like the way other sports do the world cup, that's like more important than actually playing for your club. And that, you know what I mean? Like their countries fricking come out from, the World Cup that just happened with soccer like people coming out from freaking what's that.
00:04:52
Speaker 1: Norway to go to the US and Argentina all these all these countries are coming out to watch their their country play whereas if you like our World Cup bro it's like imagine your Australian supporter like I know like you really can't compare the two like football is a massive global sport and rugby league is very Australian in the UK I understand that but it's like you got Victor Radley playing for England. Like, really? What are we doing? We're just filling the numbers.
00:05:19
Speaker 2: Yeah, nah.
00:05:20
Speaker 1: You know what I mean?
00:05:20
Speaker 2: Yeah, I know what you mean, bro.
00:05:22
Speaker 1: So, it's like, I just feel like it's, it's just the past the time. It's not a really serious World Cup.
00:05:28
Speaker 2: Nah, 100%. I reckon those, like, back in the day when they used to have those, like, test matches, Anzac test matches, like, they were serious.
00:05:35
Speaker 1: The kangaroos was just as important as representing New South Wales.
00:05:38
Speaker 2: Exactly, bro.
00:05:39
Speaker 1: It just doesn't feel like that anymore.
00:05:41
Speaker 2: Yeah, probably on a, like, Playing for the Aussies back then was more important than playing for your state because like everyone would play.
00:05:49
Speaker 1: It was a pinnacle.
00:05:49
Speaker 2: Yeah, it was a pinnacle for, because New Zealand couldn't play origin. So their pinnacle was to play in that test match and then they would have like, what, three test match a year or something. But now it's just like all at the end of the year, you know, everyone's pretty set up.
00:06:02
Speaker 1: I think it's the players too. It's like the all-star game in the NBA.
00:06:05
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:06:05
Speaker 1: The players can't be bothered. Exactly. You just have a full 28 game season and even some went to the finals.
00:06:11
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:06:11
Speaker 1: Why the fuck would you want to go?
00:06:13
Speaker 2: Oh, okay.
00:06:14
Speaker 1: Unless you're getting paid like Mitch Moses and the Aussie boys and New Zealand and the T1 guys. Why would you want to go and continue? Okay. Maybe the perk is you don't get to go to preseason that long. That's probably the perk for you guys. Other than that, bro, I'm tapped out of footy. I want to have a break. So I could see why they don't care as much.
00:06:34
Speaker 2: Yeah. I can see why people do care as well. Like to put on a jersey, represent your family, represent your culture. I can see why a lot of people like, Yeah, that's their pinnacle. I can also see your statement of why it's like, you know, some boys played 30 games this year. The bodies are wrecked, you know. So they're going back to pre-season after Christmas anyways. And then they've got to play World Cup, which is another five games if you make the final. And then some of them are just playing for $ 850. And then some boys are playing for $ 40, 000 a game.
00:07:06
Speaker 1: Yeah, it's crazy.
00:07:08
Speaker 2: Yeah, I can see your point and Also, yeah, I reckon they need to fix the World Cup in some sense and just make it, like, bigger than what it is.
00:07:18
Speaker 1: Well, Valente is talking about doing conferences and bringing in 22 teams and shortening the season. If they do something like that, then you could probably put more emphasis on state of origin and, you know, the World Cup and representing your nations. But right now, I just feel like it's fake.
00:07:35
Speaker 2: It's not a serious comp. You're probably right, bro. Like, I don't know. I've never played a World Cup, but I don't want to say, like, it's not a serious comp and all that, because I know a lot of boys would go out there wanting to win and that. Oh, for sure. Yeah, but the way it's done, it's probably not at its peak or even near its peak.
00:07:56
Speaker 3: True.
00:07:56
Speaker 2: Yeah, like, I reckon they can do so much in that space, because look at State of Origin. No matter what, like, every year, everyone gets up for State of Origin, like, Everyone in New South goes hard. Everyone in Queensland goes hard.
00:08:09
Speaker 1: Everyone in the country watches it and gets around it.
00:08:10
Speaker 2: And it's had a good period, I reckon. During the season, a few teams have the bye and that kind of stuff. So everyone's up for that. For me, that would be the pinnacle for.
00:08:22
Speaker 2: My career is playing, oh, my individual, like, obviously, winning the ring is more important, but, yeah, state of mind.
00:08:27
Speaker 1: Oh, hey, with Laurie Daly gone, maybe you get the fucking call up this year, who knows?
00:08:31
Speaker 2: I just got to play better footy, bro, and, yeah, I got a good relationship with Matt King, he was my trainer, at Roosters, and, yeah, hopefully, next year, I just put in all this stuff I've been doing off the field and put it into action and get the call, but, that's, that's very far away, and, Anyways, this podcast ain't about me, bro. It's about you. I'm trying to get you in trouble.
00:08:53
Speaker 1: I'm trying to get you in trouble.
00:08:55
Speaker 2: Nah, nah, bro.
00:08:57
Speaker 1: So what's your thoughts on the Sydney Swans drama right now? I'm joking, I'm joking.
00:09:02
Speaker 2: Nah, bro.
00:09:03
Speaker 1: I'm joking, I'm joking, I'm joking.
00:09:05
Speaker 2: I feel sorry for him, mate, a little bit. Because I don't know the full extent, but yeah, man. They're just, I've heard AFL boys are, Pretty loose, loose cannons.
00:09:14
Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:09:15
Speaker 2: I don't know too much about how you fail, but they go hard, bro.
00:09:19
Speaker 1: No charges have been laid. Oh, yeah? For me, it's like innocent until proven guilty. I think one of them's leaving the club. He got a transfer. Nick Blake, he got a transfer to like North Melbourne.
00:09:29
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:09:30
Speaker 1: But yeah, I mean, like you said, I haven't read into it too much either.
00:09:33
Speaker 2: Because when you go to the UFC, you go to the actual UFC events too?
00:09:38
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:09:39
Speaker 1: And where do you see it? Yeah, full fight weeks. There's media seats. Oh, yeah? Yeah, they have designated seats for media. Sometimes it's on like a press ledge. Sometimes it'll be nice and you're fucking really close. You know, you can get the guy's sweat bouncing off him onto you after a punch. But, yeah, we're kind of lucky. We do the whole fight week. We usually get there. on a Monday or Tuesday. We have interviews either that Tuesday or during the week Wednesday. Turn around the interview content that night.
00:10:07
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:10:07
Speaker 1: So me and Nick are on the tools, editing, getting the good stuff out, good clips out, then pushing to the full length interviews. Then Thursday is a press conference.
00:10:19
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:10:19
Speaker 1: Where we get to ask a press conference question where it's usually seen by more and the fighters are going at each other and you want to get a good reaction. Friday weigh-ins, you know, you get your story, you might get a last final comment from the fighters at the weigh-ins.
00:10:33
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:10:34
Speaker 1: And then you enjoy the fight on the Saturday, which is probably the best part.
00:10:37
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:10:38
Speaker 1: And, you know, this year there's been a lot of upsets. I was a bit upset fucking Ilya lost. Yeah. We're kind of good with his team. Sean Strickland beat Khamzat Chamayev, another upset.
00:10:47
Speaker 2: No.
00:10:48
Speaker 1: So, yeah, it's been a crazy year. Not too good for the fan favourites. Conor McGregor lasted 30 seconds. It's just kind of been an up and down year for the UFC.
00:10:58
Speaker 3: Watch out.
00:10:59
Speaker 2: If you had five fights to make on one card, where would it be and who would the fighters be?
00:11:06
Speaker 1: The fighters don't like coming to Australia. It's too far.
00:11:08
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:11:08
Speaker 1: So, you're not going to get a good card in Australia.
00:11:10
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:11:11
Speaker 1: I would put it in, I like a European card because the Europe fans go off.
00:11:18
Speaker 2: Yeah?
00:11:18
Speaker 1: Like, they go crazy. The fans are crazier than the US fans. Have you ever seen a Paddy Pimblitt walkout?
00:11:24
Speaker 2: Oh, he palms it.
00:11:25
Speaker 1: It's the craziest thing ever. Like, everyone gets it. He's the most over guy when it comes to walkouts. Everyone loves him. So I would put it in Europe, whether it's Ilya Teporia fighting in Spain or London at the O2 Arena, and I would have Ilya Teporia versus Paddy Pimblitt. These are the next fights to make. Islam Makachev versus Carlos Prates. Yeah. If you could stack it on the card. Yeah. Yeah. The smoker, Carlos. Up against the most disciplined Russian ever. And then I would fill it with other fun fights like Josh Hockett, heavyweight. He's like you. He says whatever the fuck he wants. He likes rage baiting people. Have him up against Alex Pereira. Hopefully he wins the title in November.
00:12:02
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:12:03
Speaker 1: And that's a stacked card in itself. And then put other like good up and coming fighters that are going to put on a show like Marin Rahiki. or Tommy McMillan, and these guys that have a bit of a name. Put Volk on there as well. Volk always likes to have fun. Put him up against a featherweight on there. That would be, if you're talking about a stacked card ever, every single division has a fight somewhere in Europe, it would be unreal. Like a White House. They might be doing another kind of White House event pretty soon, but not at the White House in another location in the U.S.
00:12:34
Speaker 2: Hey, Volk, if you're listening to this potty, bro, please come on, bro.
00:12:38
Speaker 1: You should reach out to him. He's down to collab.
00:12:40
Speaker 2: I love watching his cooking stuff, bro. I already reached out to him. I said, bro, team me with Ramsey and cook him with Volk. Let's tee something up.
00:12:47
Speaker 1: Do it.
00:12:48
Speaker 2: He didn't reply. He's a busy dude, bro. I can understand.
00:12:51
Speaker 1: Put you in touch with his team.
00:12:52
Speaker 2: Put me in touch, bro. He's one of the dream collabs I want to have, bro, because he looks like a cool dude. And he's a footy player.
00:13:01
Speaker 1: He's fighting in, like, Two weeks.
00:13:03
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:13:04
Speaker 1: So he's deep in camp right now.
00:13:05
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:13:06
Speaker 1: Catch him outside of camp, he'll be down.
00:13:08
Speaker 2: He's the man, bro. And then what? This is maybe his last fight. He said, hey, if he doesn't spike all day.
00:13:13
Speaker 1: He's fighting a Russian that just hugs everyone's legs.
00:13:17
Speaker 2: Oh.
00:13:17
Speaker 1: Doesn't do much. He just control times. And he's got 20 wins, this Russian. His name's Mozvar Evloev. No finishes. 20 wins, no finishes.
00:13:27
Speaker 2: So he's just boring.
00:13:28
Speaker 1: Exactly. So Volk is the more exciting fighter. He's the better fighter. He should win.
00:13:34
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:13:34
Speaker 1: But Volk said, look, if I lose to this guy, it could be my last one.
00:13:37
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:13:38
Speaker 1: And I can't see Volk losing. I don't want him to lose.
00:13:41
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:13:41
Speaker 1: It'd be disgusting. But I hope it's not his last fight. I don't think it will be.
00:13:46
Speaker 2: Have you interviewed those Dagestani boys?
00:13:48
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:13:49
Speaker 1: Like, we have.
00:13:50
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:13:51
Speaker 1: It started off pretty rocky.
00:13:52
Speaker 2: Oh, really?
00:13:53
Speaker 1: With us. Because I was fresh to the game.
00:13:55
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:13:56
Speaker 1: It was when Volk was fighting Islam.
00:13:58
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:13:58
Speaker 1: And I didn't know what the etiquette was and what my role as an interviewer was. And I did a thing. I interviewed him well. I was asking him some funny questions. And I gave him a pair of budgie smugglers. Islam. And he didn't like that. Since then, I haven't been on the best terms with his team. But I have interviewed them since. Interviewed them in Abu Dhabi. Interviewed them in LA. Interviewed Islam. And then when he fought Jack Della in New York. Um, Islam came up to me and we took a photo backstage and his team were like, Hey, peace in the middle East. It's all good. Like, you know, I like, I love Australia. I let Australia know I'm a big Australian guy. I'm like, yeah, you know, it was early on. I didn't mean any harm by it. And, you know, ever since then I've been interviewed them very professionally. They, they do have some of the best sense of humor in the game. These Russian guys, Islam's a funny guy.
00:14:51
Speaker 2: Um, yeah, no, they're good.
00:14:53
Speaker 1: They're good guys. Um, but yeah, I think, uh, Islam's manager, he's not the biggest fan of ours. But when we do get the chance to interview them, we do. And, you know, we're pretty respectful. Yeah.
00:15:04
Speaker 2: Is his manager that Ali guy? Yeah.
00:15:06
Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:15:07
Speaker 2: Bold dude.
00:15:08
Speaker 1: Yeah.
00:15:09
Speaker 2: He looks a bit serious. Yeah, yeah.
00:15:11
Speaker 1: You got to be on his good side. He tends to like ban a few media guys from interviewing his fighters. A lot of guys, you know, he puts them on like bans. You can't interview his fighters for a while. Until he okays it. And, you know, he might okay it in a year. He might okay it in two years. But, you know, you've got to get on his good side.
00:15:29
Speaker 2: Who runs deep, like, in that UFC? Like, is there any boys, like, running with 20 deep every team?
00:15:35
Speaker 1: Bro, all the Dagestani guys.
00:15:36
Speaker 2: Really?
00:15:36
Speaker 1: Comes out Chamayev. If you interview him, he's got 30 guys.
00:15:39
Speaker 3: Really?
00:15:40
Speaker 1: With him. And you can't piss him off. Don't want to piss any of those guys off.
00:15:43
Speaker 2: They're ready to bang, eh? Bro, they just.
00:15:44
Speaker 1: They look scary. They're intimidating. You know what I mean? I'd rather have to take, you know... Moses Leota off the back fence, then having to interview Kamsa in front of his 30 guys. Cause they're, they're intimidating. They look like they want to kill you. Um, but yeah, it's just, they do have a good sense of humor to their credit. Like Kamsa, he's very short spoken, but, um, he can have a laugh. Islam can have a laugh. It's just their, their crews are scary. They're just very, you know, they, their, their cultures are very different. They prioritize different things. They don't drink alcohol. You know, they're, all they know is discipline and training and religion.
00:16:24
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:16:24
Speaker 1: So, you know, you've got to be respectful and, you know, don't piss them off.
00:16:28
Speaker 2: How is that, bro? Like, I've always wondered how the UFC fighters are. I've met a few when we went to the HQ in Vegas. We met a few, bro. They're scary people, eh, lad?
00:16:38
Speaker 1: They've got a bit of a screw loose, some of them. But I get them during fight week when they're just fucking zoned in.
00:16:43
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:16:43
Speaker 1: You know, weight cutting and they're worried about killing their opponent. So, you've got to be a bit on edge around them. You don't want to cut the wrong joke or, you know, but if you build good rapport with them and you give them a different interview than the one that they're already doing during fight week, then, you know, they remember you and you can kind of build some good relationships with them. Like I remember last time we were in, uh, the States, uh, McGregor's fight. Um, Gable Stevenson was on the card. John Jones is in his corner and we're backstage interviewing Gable and, uh, John Jones comes up to me and my brother, and we've interviewed John before, and he's like, oh, the twins, the boys. We got a photo with him, and he was like, he just remembered us because he remembered our interview or he's seen some stuff that we've done online. I think he laughed at a joke we made about Cyril Garn. And, you know, he just says, hey, keep doing what you're doing. You know, just like, so if you mix it up, you can get on the good side of some fighters. So some of them are really chill. Some of them you don't want to piss off. You know what I mean?
00:17:44
Speaker 2: No, I think he's doing a gun job with like, bringing that funny aspect and that different type of interview because most of those people that go for the media, they're saying questions or they're just trying to rage bait the UFC fighters, but you actually make funny clips. Yeah.
00:17:57
Speaker 1: Yeah. I mean, like we react to a lot of things that are viral on the internet with the fighters surrounding the fighters and it's not just completely analytical, same question or, you know, what have you been preparing for and how hard's the weight cut been and who's next? It's more just like, what are the Twitter fans and what are the social media fans kind of want to ask? And we try and ask it in a funny way. But no, we're lucky and we get to have a bit of fun with it.
00:18:22
Speaker 2: Did you ever think you and your brother would go into this space of UFC and all that kind of stuff?
00:18:27
Speaker 1: We were big wrestling fans growing up. Massive Brock Lesnar, Attitude Era, John Cena, Batista, Randy Orton, that whole thing. So when Brock Lesnar went over to the UFC, we followed a little bit. And we watched his fight with Cain Velasquez and Frank Mirra. And that was kind of our introduction at a young age to the UFC. And then we saw the big storylines, Daniel Cormier, John Jones, all the McGregor fights that blew up, you know, the Jose Aldo fights. So we were casual UFC fans. And then as we got into the sports space more and working in sports, rugby league, working with different sports companies, you know, it was smart for us to be in tune with what's happening in the UFC. So then when the UFC came to Sydney, it was Strickland Adesanya.
00:19:12
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:19:13
Speaker 1: KO asked us, hey, do you want to ask him a couple of questions? Maybe you get some interview time with them. We'd be interviewing some NRL guys and doing our own thing. And we said, yeah, jumped at it. We asked Strickland like two questions and we asked Adesanya like three questions. All of them blew up because not many content creators were doing athlete interviews. And then they just asked us to do it again. But this time it was in Abu Dhabi for Volksfight. And it just kind of built, we built some momentum and kind of carved out a space of, being an Aussie content creator, asking UFC fighters and combat sports announcers, it's boxing as well. So I didn't think we would end up in the combat sports space with NRL being so saturated and every content creator being in there and the media, you know, you got Triple M, Fox Sports, everyone jumping on, you know, the content space around NRL. So it was good to carve out our own path. And I enjoy it. I actually think, you know, it's a different space where everyone, can be themselves. Fighters can say whatever the fuck they want. Strickland can say whatever he wants and not get in trouble. Bryce Mitchell. So it kind of suits us a little bit. We can ask absurd questions and push the envelope a little bit without getting in trouble. You know what I mean? So it does kind of fit us a little bit.
00:20:25
Speaker 2: And how did this journey all start? Like you getting into the content space, you and your brother, like, was it just like out of the blue or you's always planned this since young?
00:20:33
Speaker 1: No, we always wanted to get into media. There's like a joke, in Seinfeld where George is unemployed. And he goes, I like sports. Maybe I can be like a sports commentator. And then Jerry goes to him, he's like, no, you need to be a fucking... They usually reserve that for the former players. You can't just jump into it. But we always looked at like Pat McAfee and all these ex-NRL guys getting into the space, the Bo Ryans. I was like, man, that would be an unreal job. We love sports. We grew up playing footy. We always wanted to get into it.
00:21:05
Speaker 2: So.
00:21:06
Speaker 1: I always wanted to get into the media, whether it was acting or something. So I was actually doing some like commercials, non-speaking role commercial stuff. I was in like a VB ad with Brian Fletcher. I was doing like an RSPCA ad. And then, yeah, I always wanted to get into the comedy space. So I was doing skits with some friends from like school. And when TikTok kind of blew up just before COVID, I was putting out comedy skits. And then we kind of just fell into blowing up during COVID, doing the COVID numbers stuff. And then just kind of built from there. So yeah, we fell into it in a sense, but we always wanted to get into the space.
00:21:46
Speaker 3: We built three tiers inside the club. The higher you climb, the more access you'll get.
00:21:50
Speaker 2: Modules.
00:21:51
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00:22:26
Speaker 2: Yeah, no, I remember that's when I started seeing your stuff was the COVID stuff started blowing up. How was that with the government and that? Was that like, were they threatening you or doing anything?
00:22:36
Speaker 1: I think, you know, it's like, no, any publicity is good publicity. Looking back on it at the time, you know, going to a lockdown protest and predicting the COVID numbers. You know, at the time, a lot of people hated us, you know, because, you know, they thought we were dangerous or harming people and got offside with a lot of people. But looking back on it, it was probably one of the best things we did. Made a name for ourselves, gained the following, and now we're able to do what we do. We've pivoted into a lot of comedy stuff, political comedy, sports comedy, skits. And without us doing that, you know, could we be as big as we are right now, like a million followers on TikTok? 600 count Instagram? Probably not. So I'm happy I did it. It was fun. I would do it again. Um, and yeah, it's, it's funny. It's, uh, it was just, it was a funny time. Everyone in lockdown and people waiting for the numbers all the time and putting out political kind of content, like ruffling the feathers of politicians. I remember I met, um, Dom Perrottet, who he was the, he was the premier after Gladys Berejiklian. And I met him at a, at a radio station. and we were kind of like crossing paths at the elevator and he pulled me aside and he's like, man, I love your stuff. He goes, you don't understand. Gladys and the government at the time, they were pulling their hair out going, who is this fucking guy? How is he getting this shit? Who's his rat? Like, you know, where the fuck did he come from? So, you know, knowing that we were kind of ruffling the feathers of these politicians was funny to me. And yeah, I would 100% do it again. Even going on the Today Show and, And Sky News and Channel 10 and just taking the piss out of the journalists, taking it so seriously. That was funny. And it was just, I remember we were just locked in our house, me and my brothers. And we were just saying, how can we just take the piss out of these guys? And that was a fun time. As bad as COVID was and how stupid it was, that was pretty funny.
00:24:31
Speaker 2: Now, you know, you and your brother, he's the ultimate rage baiters. That's all your title should be, bro, is rage baiters.
00:24:39
Speaker 1: How we can take the piss in a comedic way, I enjoy doing it. If it's Rage Babe, if it's trolling, I'm a troll.
00:24:46
Speaker 2: Even with that thing you just made with Albanese. That was so funny, bro.
00:24:50
Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, yeah. The whisper in the ear.
00:24:52
Speaker 2: Oh, my God.
00:24:53
Speaker 1: I mean, there was a video that was made, like, that was a parody of that. And I respect the guys that put the video out. They make some good stuff. Swag on the beat. But it was like, how can I put my own spin on this and make it funny?
00:25:06
Speaker 2: That.
00:25:07
Speaker 1: Other people are feeling. They think, you know, the guy's just taxing everyone. He's bending everyone over. So how can we make that a bit funny? Then I put it out and it got received well. Sometimes you put out stuff, it doesn't get received that well. But that one, that was a fun one.
00:25:19
Speaker 2: Now you know what one got me, bro, was a coffee one. The one you just posted. Was that last week?
00:25:24
Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah. Because of the surcharge.
00:25:26
Speaker 2: That was cracker, bro.
00:25:28
Speaker 1: You're a coffee guy. You enjoy a bit of a coffee.
00:25:30
Speaker 2: Not if it's going to go up to 10 bucks.
00:25:31
Speaker 1: Yeah, you're going to pay a bit more now. Because apparently they delayed it though. Because it got... Such big backlash.
00:25:38
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:25:39
Speaker 1: You know, that video did like 6 million views. I've seen, bro. And everyone was like, okay, so the customer's just going to have to pay more now. Every way you turn, the taxpayer's just getting rinsed.
00:25:48
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:25:49
Speaker 1: You know? So they said they're going to delay it and the government's going to be taking on the cost of the delay of this surcharge. But I don't know. It just sounds like the customer or the taxpayer just continually having to pay for all these changes that no one... No one voted for. You know what I mean? And if we can poke fun of it and make a laugh out of it and show it in a good light, I don't know. It's funny.
00:26:11
Speaker 2: What do you think of the government at the moment?
00:26:14
Speaker 1: I'll be honest with you. I don't vote. I don't vote. Everyone online was like, oh, you only have a go at Albanese or you only go at certain types. And I actually don't. I've gone at Pauline Hanson before I've gone at Scott Morrison in the past as well. I've gone at every single, there was a time during the election where we were doing like the fake handouts of the flyers and pretending to be a person from the, from the political party, just saying fake policies that we're doing. That was comedic. And we did one nation. We did liberal party. We did everyone. And I'm not saying I don't vote to think I actually just think it's useless. I don't think it ever achieves anything. The same thing happens. That was, if you voted for Scott Morrison, nothing's changed under what this guy has done. I think this current government is like, it's kind of a joke. It's a laughing stock and it's good content for me. I see it in terms of content. I can make fun of this guy a lot because they don't make a lot of sense with what they do. But yeah, I wouldn't say like, oh, I target certain people. At the end of the day, bro, I just do whatever I find funny in a funny way. from a, from a comedy perspective, but yeah, I don't, I'm not the biggest fan of them to be honest. I think that, I think they don't know what they're doing. They're, they're, um, they're insulting a lot of people's intelligence. It's just raise tax here. You didn't vote for this and, and we can just do it and you're not going to do anything about it. And, and honestly, Aussies, bro, we don't do anything about it. We complain about it online, but we just cop it in the ass. And that, that's a, that's not like it's, it's a thing. It's a phenomenon, but I wouldn't say I'm like conservative or I'm progressive. I'm probably just Catholic.
00:27:55
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:27:56
Speaker 1: And I'll try and make things in a comedic light.
00:27:59
Speaker 2: Yeah, 100%, brother. I don't want to get too much into the government stuff because I don't know too much about it, but I just know that I'm getting rich.
00:28:09
Speaker 1: Bro, you're more than anyone. You're on a good pay packet. 50% of that's going.
00:28:14
Speaker 2: Going, bro.
00:28:15
Speaker 1: Do you guys talk about that at training?
00:28:16
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:28:17
Speaker 1: It's like, bro, especially the guys that are on big money.
00:28:19
Speaker 2: Can't do nothing about it. What can we do?
00:28:21
Speaker 1: I mean, you can go to PNG.
00:28:22
Speaker 2: Yeah, you can.
00:28:23
Speaker 1: You can go. Did that ever cross your mind? You're like, bro, charmers call me. I don't want to be paying tax. Elbow's rinsing me. I wouldn't mind going to PNG for a bit.
00:28:32
Speaker 2: Nah, not for me personally.
00:28:34
Speaker 1: You don't like travel.
00:28:35
Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't like travel and I'm a home boy. So I really just, it didn't really cross my mind. Obviously, the no tax sounds so good, especially getting rinsed this much. But at the end of the day, going to PNG, living in a compound, doesn't really suit the lifestyle I wanted to live, especially trying to get into this space and that. But yeah, I feel like even just watching stuff about the government, like watch that Adrian Portelli, he left the country.
00:29:03
Speaker 1: They froze his accounts. What the fuck was that?
00:29:05
Speaker 2: That's stuffed up.
00:29:05
Speaker 1: Crazy. If they're doing that to Adrian Portelli, what could they do to... The average, you know, tradie.
00:29:12
Speaker 2: Yeah, bro. It doesn't make sense, bro. I know a lot of people are leaving Oz as well. It's true. Yeah. Personally, if I wasn't a footy player, I reckon I would have been gone by now.
00:29:22
Speaker 3: Really?
00:29:22
Speaker 2: Yeah, I just... I don't know, man. I see us declining a lot and.
00:29:27
Speaker 1: Yeah, I just.
00:29:27
Speaker 2: Australia is not the same, bro.
00:29:29
Speaker 1: It feels that way. I know a lot of people that have left, a lot of people thinking about leaving, but I could... If I was in your position, man, I would have fucking jumped that PNG. I'm telling you, bro, I would have called my cousin, Michael Shamus. He's not my cousin, but you know, I've got his number.
00:29:44
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:29:44
Speaker 1: And said, just give me a contract, tax-free, then go get a Pepsi deal with Jerome Luai. That's another tax-free component. Bro, I'm telling you, it's generational money that, you know, can change your life. But I mean, good on you. I mean, you've got your family here. You're doing a lot with the content. But bro, if it was me, I'm jumping at that because I've got to deal obviously with the PNG government, tax-free implications. Like, if you're a marquee NRL player, say you're earning a million dollars, you're in the top tax bracket. 50% is gone. Then you've got to pay your manager. Then you've got, you know, mortgage, whatever, bro. It's like, As much as you want to say you're lucky, what you guys do is awesome, it's not really work, it is a job, but you're blessed to have that. You've still got a lot of expenses in Australia.
00:30:36
Speaker 2: Yeah, 100%. But I think that's why the average Aussie was really off that P & G deal. I heard a lot of people talking like, why did they get all these benefits? But then again, it was who signed it over to them. It's true.
00:30:50
Speaker 1: No, bro, it's the Australian government working with the PNG government.
00:30:53
Speaker 2: Exactly, bro.
00:30:54
Speaker 1: So you can vote out of it. I don't think we can vote out of it, but no, it is, it's a fair concern.
00:30:59
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:30:59
Speaker 1: But I mean, they're expanding the game. Peter Voland is able to, is able to do whatever he wants.
00:31:05
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:31:05
Speaker 1: And like I said, if I was, If I was your Ryan Pappenhausen's and cause he, he initially went to go to R360 cause everyone went to do the same thing because of the tax free component and the crazy amounts of money. And this is PNG is kind of the R360 of rugby league.
00:31:22
Speaker 2: It's like a team of R360. It is.
00:31:24
Speaker 1: And I don't know how successful they're going to be, but they've signed some guns and it's interesting. Still got a bit of time, but 2028, I don't know. I, I would have jumped at the chance.
00:31:36
Speaker 3: Yeah. Yeah.
00:31:37
Speaker 2: Take us back to your NRL career. Like, obviously, you didn't make it that far. No, no. The journey of it, bro.
00:31:43
Speaker 1: Yeah.
00:31:44
Speaker 2: I know you played under 20s for Manly, eh?
00:31:46
Speaker 1: Yeah. I only played about a handful of games.
00:31:48
Speaker 2: Doesn't matter, bro. It's more than a lot of people, man.
00:31:51
Speaker 1: I rode the bench.
00:31:54
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:31:54
Speaker 2: A lot.
00:31:55
Speaker 1: But I was a dummy half.
00:31:56
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:31:58
Speaker 1: I think I was a decent player going through, you know, the junior footy. You know, I didn't really play SG ball, but, you know, I was a good club player.
00:32:07
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:32:07
Speaker 1: And then went to Manly to play 20s. And I think my issue was I probably tried to bulk up a bit too much. Trying to, trying to, trying to get in, you know, try and be a hooker going up against Sif Atalakai and fucking these big, these big boppers in the middle. Yeah.
00:32:21
Speaker 2: Right.
00:32:22
Speaker 1: So I probably put a bit too much weight on my legs. And I, when I got to 20s, I couldn't play more than 40 minutes.
00:32:26
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:32:27
Speaker 1: As a hook guy, you gotta be, you're going up against Braley. You're going up against, you know, Reece Robson.
00:32:32
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:32:33
Speaker 1: And these guys could play 80 minutes. Um, So yeah, I couldn't cut it. Too small. Couldn't tackle. Wasn't fit enough. I needed the Aussie lungs. I needed the Aussie respiratory system to play 80 minutes and I didn't have it, but it was fun. But I got to play with a lot of guys, Nico Hines, Dallium medalist, you know, Tom Wright. He went over to go play in the Wallabies. So I did preseason with these guys and got to see like a lot of them go and play first grade. I feel like that was the last good crop of, like, 20s. It was, you know, like I said, there's Remus Smiths, Nico Hines, Cleary, like, Totters, and a lot of the Penrith guys were in that crop of 20s who were actually younger playing up. And I feel like the junior system, maybe because NRL's expanded, kind of fell off a bit since then.
00:33:29
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:33:30
Speaker 1: But it was fun, bro. I got to try and have a crack and make it. Didn't last. Ended up trying to play at the Tigers as well. Had a bit of a stint there. Played at West Magpies for a little bit. And yeah, it was fun. I always wanted to make footy. My dad was a first grader. Played like 12 games of first grade for the Roosters and Manly. But it just wasn't meant to be, mate. Like I said, didn't have the genetics on my side. And I'd like to think if I had my mindset now of being consistent and devoting all your time to something that maybe I could have gone a bit further. But I'm going to be honest with you. I'm thinking about coming out of retirement.
00:34:06
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:34:07
Speaker 1: If I can, Valendi's talking about 22 teams. You've got Perth. No one wants to go to Perth. And you know, all these, maybe another Brisbane team and a New Zealand team. Mate, with the current crop, I reckon I could play New South Wales Cup or maybe get a game in there somewhere.
00:34:21
Speaker 2: I don't know. Jump straight in.
00:34:25
Speaker 1: I want to talk to someone about doing a pre-season.
00:34:27
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:34:27
Speaker 1: Because it'd make for good content.
00:34:29
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:34:30
Speaker 1: Do the contact, get in the best shape of my life, do a pre-season with someone and see if I can get a trial game in or something. Surprise some people. I think it could be funny.
00:34:38
Speaker 2: Because I'll be crazy, but good luck trying to do content.
00:34:42
Speaker 1: I still got a good left to right.
00:34:43
Speaker 2: Yep.
00:34:44
Speaker 1: So.
00:34:44
Speaker 2: Hey, not many people got that in the game, bro. You need that.
00:34:48
Speaker 1: I guess we'll see.
00:34:49
Speaker 2: And what, after you finished your footy career, did that turn you into a genuine fan of the footy, football environment?
00:34:55
Speaker 1: No, it didn't turn me off a little bit.
00:34:57
Speaker 2: You really?
00:34:57
Speaker 1: Bro, I mean, like, because when you're at the 20s level or even just, even say not even 20, say Ron Massey and New South Wales Cup, it wasn't like what it was when you're in your junior footy team and you're playing with your mates and you want to win a grand final. It is kind of every man for themselves. You want to try and be better than your opposition hooker. You want to be better than the hooker that's in your team, the second string hooker. You want to get to first grade. So you kind of are playing for yourself and it's not really like a team environment. Credit to Penrith, you know, they played with each other, going up the ranks and then they all won, won four comps together. That's unheard of. That never happens.
00:35:41
Speaker 2: Never will again.
00:35:42
Speaker 1: You know, it never will again. No, it's, it's done, but it does kind of become a business and everyone, you know, you want to try and get a contract and get your dollars up and you know, there's probably less loyalty around. Not that I've ever experienced that. I was a bum. I didn't make it, but I'm saying it does turn you off of a, this is just a business really. And, um, you know, I was a Bulldogs fan. I grew up a Bulldogs fan. I live in Belmore, still live in Belmore, but you know, I'm playing for Manly and I want to make it at a, at another club. And I didn't care about the fucking bulldogs right now. Do you know what I mean? That's the mindset at the time. Why don't the bulldogs take me? You know, like, so it didn't make you more of a fan. It just kind of pulled back the curtain of what I was like, you know, actually being in the dressing sheds a little bit. But, um, I think you appreciate what the, what the players go through more for sure. What you go through a preseason, uh, media, um, you gotta be on your best behavior. You don't want to piss anyone off at the club. It can be a very political environment. who's picking the teams. There's a lot that goes into it. You know what I mean? The stories you hear about Phil Gould of like fucking, he pulls players into his office and says, hey, apparently you've been a cunt at training and you're a cancer to the locker room. It's like, no one hears about that.
00:37:02
Speaker 3: You know?
00:37:02
Speaker 1: And he has a whisper in the coach's ear. It's a big thing. So it makes you respect the players more than actually loving the game, I reckon.
00:37:12
Speaker 2: No, 100%, bro. And since we're on that topic, why do you reckon NRL teams are a bit like against content creators and all that? Because I'm an advocate for it, bro. I reckon the way that NRL is going, social media people like yourself, Shaq, all those people that got big numbers, why wouldn't you let them come in and take their viewers and bring more viewers into a game, bro? I don't understand it.
00:37:35
Speaker 1: Everyone, they do it in the US, they do it in the UK. It's just Australia is just very behind the times, very TV and radio focused still. But in saying that, it's, Okay, yeah, the NRL can do something, but it's also on the clubs as well. The clubs get their $ 7, $ 8 million salary cap, whatever. But they have employees and media teams that they can do it themselves. You just have to be on side with the media teams. And if the media teams and marketing teams want to do it. I know I've pissed off a few marketing teams, and that's why I don't do content with the Bulldogs. No, I've had like six sponsors of the Bulldogs, including Red Bull. meet with me and my brother. Hey, pitch us some ideas. We want you to do a video with the Bulldogs. We get a certain amount of deliverables and I've been on email chains with the Bulldogs and be like, nah, they're too controversial. We don't want to have them at the club. We don't want them to collab with the players. I couldn't give a fuck. It just turns me off the club a little bit because I support the club. I'm a Bulldogs fan. I was at the 2004 Grand Final. I was at the 2012, you know, and it is what it is. You just, you got to, it's on the media teams and the, I think there's some old lady in the marketing team at the Bulldogs that just doesn't like us. You know what I mean? And I don't really care. I don't need to do rugby league content, but it's just like the fans, I think the fans would like to see it. But then when they tell me like, oh, we don't know if you align with the fans. Mate, I am a fan. I am the fan. I am the Lebanese Bulldog supporter. What are you talking about? Who are you? But I could just see it, the times changing where, I mean, these marketing guys, women only last or two years in their jobs and it circles out. So maybe it just takes the next person in these roles to be like, we need more content creators in. The Tigers do it pretty well. They've had Lockie Mack and Shaq and come in and do some stuff. But I'm telling you, if you give some creative freedom to some of these content guys, that you can make some good content with the players. And I think the players would get around it. Comes across as a bit more authentic than going to have to do Fletcher and Hindy again, or go and do Fox League again, or get on the radio and answer the same questions. I think they would enjoy embracing some content creators, you know, St. George had a bit of a, you know, a bit of dramas with JCB. But I feel like a lot of the St. George guys did like JCB as well. So it kind of goes both ways. Para do it okay. They've done some stuff with Olin. And so I think it just depends on the club, but I think it should come down from the top. And I don't think Valendi has a say at all. I don't think he gives a shit about what the marketing teams are doing, but it does come down from NRL be pushing content creators. And I think they are starting to work more with, The bloke in the bars and the gurus and whatever. But I think you'll start to see more of it in the next five years.
00:40:21
Speaker 2: No, 100%. I reckon Valendi, he's a very business-orientated man and he's very smart. Like, he's making a lot of money for the NRL. But I reckon he wouldn't care about, like... Because at the end of the day, he's not paying you guys. It's just free viewers, free people coming in. Like... At the end of the day, I reckon if they want to build this game even more, bro, they need to bring in, like, the content creators like yourself. And like I said before, because, bro, it's free promotion. Like, legit. Like, look at, like you said, the US. Like, no one's touching their sports or UFC and all that kind of stuff. Because everyone wants to be a part of that. And they let, I've seen a lot of, like, NFL players are vlogging now and doing their Erland Harland's. full mic'd up at training. They're going beyond.
00:41:10
Speaker 1: The media space. Look at the Australian sports and it's just like you guys are in prison. No, no. AFL, there's no one doing vlogs. There's no outlandish personalities. If there was someone like you in the AFL, you would be banned. You would be banned in the AFL. You wouldn't be allowed to go online. You'd be PR trained. And that's the AFL. And at least the NRL is not as cooked as the AFL.
00:41:36
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:41:37
Speaker 1: At least, you know, you got your Brandon Smiths, you, Latrell does his social stuff. You know, some players are online and whatnot, but you guys are still limited. And I'll be honest, bro, the NRL have made some stupid decisions, like in terms of who they collaborate with and who they think might be good. I remember in Vegas, they had Anna Paul, like some OnlyFans chick on the field. And it's like, okay, you're a treat. Me and my brother, like we're criminals, like throughout the whole week. Hey, don't go on the field. Be careful. Don't the, the bulldogs don't want you to, don't want you to be when they're there, when they're running out and don't interview this person, but you bring this only fans chick on the field and plaster all over, um, in our raw socials. It's like, who's making these retarded decisions. Like it doesn't, doesn't really make sense. And I only say that to not to big note, ask like in Australia, Like my brother and I are probably like the leading sports content creators. We have 600,000 followers on Insta and not to toot our own horn, but it's like, and it's kind of just like, no, no, stay in your little social bubble here. You can't come into this TV space or radio space. And I think you just learned, I think it might be the same in, in the NRL. It's like, there are a lot of political environments. There's a lot of like, um, you know, there's only a limited amount of jobs in here and there and a little limited amount of space. So you have to please the right person or say the right thing or toe the line. So, and I just don't think Nick and I are ready to toe the line, but it is what it is.
00:43:12
Speaker 2: Nah, we always say this bro. Like I reckon the next five to 10 years with everyone should like, every team should be posting a weekly vlog or like a inside the sheds because bro, like if we want to try and compete with America and that we're already, miles, miles behind them. But if we're trying to compete with them, bro, why not steal what they're doing, bro?
00:43:33
Speaker 1: Chelsea just did a stream with Cole Palmer announcing his signing for like eight more years. And it was a pretty funny way they did it. He just went on stream, answered questions from the chat in a very like dry way that he does. And it's just like, I couldn't see anyone in the Bulldogs marketing team coming up with this. Do you know what I mean? I feel like they're just, they're too old fashioned. They lead into old media a bit too much. And they will eventually get with the times, but Australia is usually just five years behind everything.
00:44:00
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:44:00
Speaker 1: But it's guys like you pushing the envelope and doing stuff like this and doing your vlogs. You do change the landscape a bit.
00:44:07
Speaker 2: A hundred. Even the Australian government don't pay for like TikTok views and all that.
00:44:13
Speaker 1: No, no. It's more like TikTok Australia, Instagram. You can make money on Facebook and YouTube.
00:44:19
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:44:20
Speaker 1: But yeah, no, TikTok, you don't get paid here.
00:44:21
Speaker 2: That's crazy. If you were in America, bro, you'd be millionaires.
00:44:25
Speaker 1: Yeah, I wouldn't have to worry about, you know, who's stopping me from getting a sponsored ad or whatever, you know what I mean? But yeah, no, it is what it is. I mean, I've thought about moving to the States, but I think I'm like you, very family orientated. I don't want to move overseas and be away from my family, but I could see ourselves doing like a stint over there, you know, while we're there covering UFC and maybe stay a bit longer and collab with a few people in the states but yeah no tiktok australia probably the worst platform no no probably the worst platform in australia they they know this it's like everything gets community guidelines strike yeah for no reason it's usually like an ai bot doing it you get banned i got banned like earlier this year for like a week and it was a permanent ban i had to appeal it and speak to someone and be like what the fuck um it's just a very soft platform a very like Uh, you don't make any money from it. It's really just another platform. I personally, I think reels and Instagram has definitely, uh, surpassed it in terms of what people are using more, what people are sharing more. I think, yeah, Instagram's kind of taken over.
00:45:30
Speaker 2: That's crazy, bro. Where do you see your content game going in the next five years? Or are you all in the present just?
00:45:37
Speaker 1: No, no, I have goals, bro. Like I want to, um, I definitely want to venture into the mainstream.
00:45:43
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:45:43
Speaker 1: Whether that is a role on television, radio, look what Bloke does. Look what Pat McAfee does. He started online and now he works with ESPN. It's his show, but he's on ESPN. And I like being a comedic element, like how the professor was on Fox Sports. But I could see that. It doesn't have to be for the NRL. It could be for the UFC. having our own UFC show that's kind of in the mainstream or promoted by a network. Because at the end of the day, a lot of people are still watching it. It's just not as entertaining. And I feel like we can be a lot more entertaining than what the current product is. So I think working into the radio and television, but also just getting as big as we can. And like, I mean, keeping up with the comedy space and doing a live show, I want to do stand-up. Yeah. You know, yeah, I definitely want to do a live show and tour around Australia doing a live show and get into the acting space. Me and my brother just went for an audition for a Netflix series this week. And, like, I could see ourselves being kind of like a comedic actors in a show and doing our own, you know, we're working on a pilot doing our own comedic series with other content creators for a streaming service. Yeah, there's a lot of things I want to tick off. But I think, yeah, being a comedic presenter that gets into the mainstream and getting more into the acting space, I think, is a goal. But while doing what we're doing, I love what we're doing. You know, we put out a video every day. Some hit, some miss, but it's an enjoyable way to continue to go about doing content.
00:47:30
Speaker 2: Like we did earlier this year, the live streaming space. Do you ever see yourself going, you and your brother going into that space?
00:47:35
Speaker 1: For sure. Yeah, I do it. Not sparingly, but like, big UFC events we do a live stream with the fighters we did it at the White House for the UFC I've done it with you when we get special guests on because the live format I know this is pre-recorded but you can say whatever you want and if it's out there it's out there it's getting clipped up you know I think we were on we got a daily mail article about what we said on the live but it's like you know you can't take it back and I do like the live space but in Australia it's it's not as big as it is in the US that's just a fact In Australia, it's more gaming related. And to be consistent in the live stream game, you got to go nonstop, daily streams, clipping it up. And there's just not enough things in the Australian news cycle to be on top of it. And then to do IRL streams, could you get a guest every day in Australia or like every week in Australia to do an IRL stream? Probably not. And if you're going to do it with athletes, can you get the permission of the NRL to do it? Can you get the clubs to be on board with it? Probably not. So I don't think the live space is as big as it is overseas in Australia. But I think there's a space for it. I think there's special occasion live streams to do. And I enjoy doing it. I think I'm good live. And I like being live, interacting with the chat. But I just don't think it's as big here. Doing it overseas, for sure.
00:48:55
Speaker 2: Who's one guy you didn't like to work with at all? Or one dream collab you could have? Anyone on this earth? Who would it be? Go into the... Guy you didn't really like to work with or girl, it's up to you. Yeah, this is going to be a little, like I said, I'm trying to get you in trouble, bro.
00:49:12
Speaker 1: I feel like, I can't really say I've had any bad interactions in terms of content.
00:49:19
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:49:20
Speaker 1: But, yeah, I mean... I mean, I would have liked to work with Lebanon Rugby League a bit more.
00:49:28
Speaker 2: Oh, yeah, why aren't you doing that?
00:49:30
Speaker 1: I mean, like, I think we're the only content creators that go to Lebanon every single year and make content in Lebanon. But that's why I would say the guy that I don't work well with is probably Robbie Farah.
00:49:40
Speaker 2: Oh, no way.
00:49:40
Speaker 1: Robbie Farah. I don't think he... He blocked me a long time ago for some content we did with the Lebanon Rugby League. He's a bit of a petty guy. I think like... And I respect him. I think he's like... What he's done as like... In terms of accolades. New South Wales hooker. Australian hooker. One of the best to ever do it.
00:50:00
Speaker 2: Yeah, 100.
00:50:01
Speaker 1: But everyone knows he's a wanker. Everyone knows, anyone you speak to, nine people out of ten will say, Robbie Farrow's a wanker.
00:50:07
Speaker 3: Really?
00:50:08
Speaker 1: And, you know, we've crossed paths here and there, maybe at some cafes. We don't look at each other. We don't say a word to each other. I'm ready to fight if he wants to fight.
00:50:16
Speaker 2: Yeah. No limits, man.
00:50:17
Speaker 3: No, no, no, no.
00:50:18
Speaker 1: He'd probably beat the fuck out of me, but I'm there with my brother. I'm there with a crew, so we'd probably have to jump him. But, yeah, he just doesn't like me. We don't get along. It was all because I did a Mic'd Up with Lebanon when I played. there, uh, in like a trial that I okayed with the media team. The video did really well. And he just sprayed me in a message said, you know, what a weird way to represent the Jersey or a clown or something like that. And then blocked me. Um, very petty, very petty guy. That's someone I don't enjoy working with. He was never, never, um, welcoming guy in camp. Um, but apart from that, I haven't really had any bad interactions with any other people. Um, but I'll say, yeah, Robbie Farah is just a wanker all around. Um, but to the person, the dream collab, who I will tick off is yay. Kanye West.
00:51:07
Speaker 2: Oh, I love yay bro.
00:51:08
Speaker 1: He's the best. He's a goat. I went and saw him live in Madrid and, um, I was supposed to go do his show in, uh, in Jakarta.
00:51:19
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:51:20
Speaker 1: Um, the promoters of their show reached out. They saw our video that we did in Madrid and I was like, Hey, come to Jakarta, promote the show, VIP access. You can potentially interview him. And I was like, bro, I was definitely down to do that. It clashed with what we're doing for Vogue's fight. And I would have to come back. I'm going to end up going to Lebanon. I'm not going to fly another 14 hours to come back. I've already seen him live. And I don't want to just go watch the show again. The next time I want to do something, I want to be interviewing him. He hasn't done any Australian media. His wife's Australian. I want to do a yay interview or a collab. a stream, whatever. And I think that will eventually happen. So the dream collab is, is yay.
00:52:05
Speaker 2: That's crazy, bro. Cause I love yay, but going back to Robbie Farah, I've only met him once to, to be honest, but, um, to, uh, he was really nice to me. Nice guy. So, yeah, I, uh, Hey, we've got no issues. It's you and John Bernard, by the way. I was that one person.
00:52:23
Speaker 1: Yeah, you're the nine. You're the one out of the ten.
00:52:26
Speaker 2: I was the one out of the ten that got a nine.
00:52:28
Speaker 1: It might just be with other lebs.
00:52:29
Speaker 2: It might just be Lebos, bro.
00:52:31
Speaker 1: No, speak to a few people. He's not well-liked. But you've got to respect him. You've got to respect him. He's one of the greatest to ever do it. Especially Lebanese hookers and just hookers in general. He's like top ten all time. 100%.
00:52:44
Speaker 2: I started with... You knew he was respectful when he started uppercutting that hooker in the scrum.
00:52:49
Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah.
00:52:50
Speaker 2: But, yeah, he's, yeah, we'll leave that to you, too. I got my own beef with a few journos at the moment. Yeah, yeah, dude, dude. So, yeah, I'll leave that. But, yeah, Dream collab, bro. Yay, bro. I love him, too, bro. I love just how he's so outspoken and just speaks the truth. But everyone reckons he's crazy. You know, I swear, when you're labeled like crazy, they're the ones that are telling the truth the most in America and that kind of stuff. I'm telling you, bro.
00:53:16
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:53:16
Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, like, he's a creative artist. Everyone that's creative or... I think he's kind of, like, goat-level artist. Like, top five all-time. Michael Jackson.
00:53:25
Speaker 2: He's up there, bro.
00:53:26
Speaker 1: And, you know, you're going to be an outlandish personality. And I find him extremely... I've listened to all his albums. You know, I love his interviews. Yeah, I think he's one of the greatest of all time. And I feel like he's very influential to a lot of other creatives. And that's why I enjoy him. And, like, in terms of live events... His concert was one of the best concerts I've ever been to. One of the best live events of all time. For me, it's like WrestleMania 40. I went with my dad and my brother. Kanye West concert. One college football game I went to. It was like Ohio State, Michigan State. And then one of these crazy Man United games that was nuts. He's up there with one of the best live events I've been to.
00:54:09
Speaker 2: Yeah, that's crazy, bro. I want to touch a bit on your family. You haven't really touched on them. You've spoken, you're very family orientated.
00:54:17
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:54:18
Speaker 2: So yeah, bro, like speak about obviously living on background and just how much your parents and just your family in general has made the person you are today. Yeah, bro.
00:54:28
Speaker 1: I mean, like, uh, very blessed that I've got four brothers. Um, you know, when you have four brothers, you don't need mates. You would know, you know, so, um, since making the content, like we all kind of bounce ideas off each other and you're very tight knit. And, um, yeah, I mean, I had never been to Lebanon, uh, until I went to Qatar for the world cup and the football world cup. And then I went to Lebanon for the first time four years ago. And I've been every year ever since I've got, I've got family there. I love being there and yeah, it kind of shapes. Our culture and our background, we're very Maronite Catholic, kind of shapes who we are, how we treat people, our sense of humor. So it is kind of everything. Family and our culture is everything. In saying that, we also have to be grateful that we live in the best country in the world, Australia. There's a lot of people that put their ethnicity or their culture before Australia. But we're a family that's grateful to be in this country. Um, and the opportunities that they gave our grandparents when they came here. So, um, as proud as we are to be Lebanese and whatever, we're grateful to be in this country.
00:55:53
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:55:53
Speaker 2: Were your parents always like, um, pushing you guys to do content or were they like, nah, get a real job. You know what I mean?
00:56:01
Speaker 1: Or no, my, my dad was an accountant and then got into the gym space. Um, And I was doing the same. I was playing footy and studying. Yeah. And I got an accounting degree and a marketing degree. And I tried accounting. I was a bookkeeper for like three months. I wanted to kill myself. Couldn't enjoy it.
00:56:18
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:56:19
Speaker 1: So I ventured into kind of marketing and always wanted to kind of get into this space. I remember initially when I was doing skits, I'm like, what the fuck is this guy doing? There's always a cringe start. There's always a cringe start. So, you know, you got to get through that rough cringe period to where you start gaining a bit of traction.
00:56:35
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:56:36
Speaker 1: And it starts to become a real job to where you're making money. But for the first year or two, you're not making any money. You're just building relationships and building the following and seeing where it can take you and doing it for fun to where you can do it as your job and then you're not really working. So, yeah, I mean, there's definitely a kind of awkward period to where it's like, bro, what are you doing? You know, is this really what you want to do? But if you're, you know, you're doing it as a side hustle for a little bit, They can kind of respect it. And I'm just lucky enough that it kind of did take off a bit.
00:57:09
Speaker 2: Yeah, no, 100. Oh, I was going to ask you this. Yeah, do you guys have like journos that hate on you heaps? Like, or just write heaps of like dirty stories, untrue stories and that kind of stuff?
00:57:21
Speaker 1: I don't talk to journos, eh? Like, I'll get asked for comment on some videos we've done and stuff. And I just have a blanker rule. I don't talk to journos. The rugby league ones, I actually have a decent relationship with because I've seen them on the road when I'm in Vegas or... um, you know, out and about. Um, and we have a bit of a laugh, um, cause I'm kind of doing their job a bit better in a comedic way. No, but, um, no, yeah, we're just, I don't really kind of converse with journos. They asked me for comment on a comedy video and, um, more recently it's been positive because, uh, they've liked the skits that I've done about the Australian government or, um, a video that we've done. You know, it's been picked up by like UFC journalists and stuff like that. But before, when it was COVID days, yeah, we got maybe harassed a little bit. Like it was just all negative articles and it was all to kind of like paint you in a box. If you Google my name, it's just negative articles. It's just charged with this. and convicted for this and Jon Bernard faces court for this and lockdown protester. And the way that they frame you, you know, the way that they frame you is they don't call you comedian. They don't call you by your name. They'll say, um, cult comedian, or they'll say Tik Toker or, and you know, all right, I didn't give a fuck. I am a Tik Toker, but it's like, you can tell by the framing of the article that it's negative.
00:58:49
Speaker 3: Yeah. Yeah.
00:58:49
Speaker 1: Do you know what I mean? So that's, that's my whole google if you google it but I don't get it as much now we've kind of pivoted to okay sports media and skits and what not but yeah I tend not to like even talk to journalists I see them as scum yeah Yeah.
00:59:07
Speaker 3: It is.
00:59:07
Speaker 1: It's a low job, bro. It is like you're working for the mainstream. You're always pushing agendas, especially when it's like just entertainment and, uh, you know, sports journalism where you're just trying to get clicks for a story. I'm a guy that does get, I know what getting clicks is. I know how to rage and, you know, hook people. I understand that. That's kind of what comes part of the job. But the journalistic side is more like you're painting someone in a bad light.
00:59:33
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:59:33
Speaker 1: Whereas I never really do want to paint anyone in a bad light. I just want to make, just make a funny video.
00:59:37
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:59:38
Speaker 1: That's the difference.
00:59:39
Speaker 2: Yeah. No, a hundred percent, bro. Was this, what do you reckon your dream job was to make NRL or to like get in the content space?
00:59:48
Speaker 1: It's changed. When I was growing up, I just wanted to win. I grew up with a footy, you know, I wanted to be like my old man. I wanted to win a premiership, you know? But this wasn't meant for me, bro. It's too small. What am I? If I get 5'7 on a good day, you know, I'm not, I was not going to cut it in the NRL. And, you know, you just pivot. I think I didn't want to work a 9 to 5 and be in marketing. I did do that for a while. And yeah, this is the dream for me now, bro. Like getting into the presenting space and the comedy space, the acting space, and just growing it from here is the dream for me.
01:00:26
Speaker 2: No, that's mad. Bro, lastly, I want to kind of give you this last question. Is there any advice you would give to anyone out there to get into the content space or just want to live their dream? Because you're doing it right now and obviously that's something I respect so deeply and someone with no filter and doesn't care what other people think, bro. It's mad to see. So yeah, if there's any advice you want to give to anyone, bro, or give them a little Little yarn about anything, man. Like, help them out.
01:00:56
Speaker 1: For me, it was just consistency. It was, when I first started, like I said, you're going to go through a cringe period. Remove yourself from the outcome. Just post. The goal is post every single day. Now, everyone's posted multiple times a day. The fucking calorie guy, Chris Williams, he's posting 40 pieces of content a day. I'm not even joking. Now, his format's very different, but it's like you should just be able to be posting every single day and you'll find what works. If you want to be in content, figure out what you want to do, where your niche is, what your space is, and post every single day. Figure out what personality you are, where you want to go, be goal-driven, and just post. You're going to fail. It's going to be cringe at the start, but you'll figure it out. And you know what? Surround yourself with people that want to do the same thing as you. Because like me, I catch up with Shaq. Once a week, once every two weeks.
01:01:49
Speaker 3: Yeah.
01:01:50
Speaker 1: We pitch ideas off each other. And when I'm overseas, I'm collabing with other content creators and picking up ideas from them and figuring out ways that they film things. And, you know, it's fun for me.
01:02:02
Speaker 3: Hmm.
01:02:02
Speaker 1: So, surround yourself with good people. I'm lucky I've got my family.
01:02:06
Speaker 2: Yeah.
01:02:06
Speaker 1: We're very faith driven. You know, we're very positive. Um, you know, guided by our faith a lot. So, you know, surround yourself with good people. Hopefully you have good faith.
01:02:16
Speaker 3: Hmm.
01:02:17
Speaker 1: And just be consistent. That's all you can really do.
01:02:19
Speaker 2: Nah, that's mad, bro. Appreciate you coming on. Obviously, you've got a busy schedule. So, yeah, it was mad to finally get this done, bro.
01:02:26
Speaker 1: Good to catch up. We've got to get a stream in soon.
01:02:27
Speaker 2: Nah, let's get one in, bro.
01:02:28
Speaker 1: A pre-season stream.
01:02:30
Speaker 2: Let's get one, bro.
01:02:31
Speaker 1: Yeah, maybe speak to Benji. Maybe I can come down for a session.
01:02:34
Speaker 2: Only if Robbie's not there, bro.
01:02:35
Speaker 1: True, true, true. I don't think he'll allow it. I don't think Robbie will allow it.
01:02:39
Speaker 2: Nah, but yeah. Nah, appreciate you, bro. Appreciate everyone tuning in. Shout out to all the Lebanon fans. People, brah. The Habibis, brah. Go to Cedars, eh? Are you going to see any games?
01:02:50
Speaker 1: I'll get down there, yeah. I'll be supporting my cousin Jason Sub.
01:02:53
Speaker 2: Yeah. Who's your favourite Lebanon player current right now?
01:02:56
Speaker 1: Mitch Moses.
01:02:56
Speaker 2: No, no. He's playing for Oz, brah.
01:03:00
Speaker 1: Right now? Alex Twelff.
01:03:02
Speaker 2: Yes!
01:03:03
Speaker 1: How can you not like Alex Twelff?
01:03:05
Speaker 2: Come on, brah.
01:03:06
Speaker 1: He's a good... Family man. He's jacked. He's got his head as bad as mine. You know what I mean? I've got to support Alex 12.
01:03:13
Speaker 2: Yeah, shout out to Ali, bro. That's a Habib, bro. Go kill it, my brother. Love you.
01:03:17
Speaker 1: Thank you, brother. Legend. That was fun.
01:03:19
Speaker 2: That was fun, bro.
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