The Overly Excited Podcast

This episode is brought to you by Swash Clothing and Sugar Life.

Welcome to the overly excited podcast hosted by Jack Watts and Dale

Sidebottom. Two friends with a passion for life, learning and all

things that get them jumping out of their seats.

Alright. Ladies and gentlemen, episode 30 3. We are

blessed today. 33. Episode 30 not many get there, Tony.

35 for me. Oh. He's got he's just got a one arm.

It's the number of games played in AFL. Done my research. Oh. Who? No. That

that's what I said. 35. Oh. So other than your podcast? No. No. No. No.

No. Come on, guys. Okay. No. Sharpen up. But we're already off the plate.

So back to intro. Well, I mean, we've already introduced him, I guess. We've got

the great Tony Armstrong, but Hello? The rap sheet,

model, actor, writer,

musician, Logie winner,

2 days. 2 times. 2 times. I mean I mean, I hate to bring

it up. But, Tone, thank

you very much for joining us. This is Late notice. Late notice.

You've come you've come up big for me. This is the overly excited

podcast. So we we love to get excited. You know that. Yes. Yes. We

both certainly know that. We like to get overly excited together quite

often. Yes. But, what what gets you excited, mate? What

gets you out of bed jumping out of your skin? Really good

question. So there's a number of things that,

like like, really really get me going, but the

first one that comes to mind is watching anyone

in any discipline be incredible at their craft.

Like, like, appreciating just

brilliance. Yep. Yeah. Doesn't doesn't matter what it is. It could be, you know,

someone, like, someone, I don't know, butchering a

cow, someone, like, like, cutting sashimi, someone, you

know, making the top of their field. And just, like,

watching how effortless some of those people make it look. And then, I

guess, the other shit that gets me up is, like, those

moments where you are in such, like,

childlike glee and joy with your friends,

friends, family, whatever it might be, where, like, you don't even

know why you're all losing the plot and laughing. But

Hard to find those lows these days. Slow. Yeah. Yeah. This flow.

It's okay. And and you're not pushing it. No one's got agendas in those

moments. It's just this, like, really nice space sort of

where yeah. You'd yeah. Exactly. You're just in flow.

Yeah. I searched for them. Yeah. I love that. I love that. It's it's not

easy to find these days, I reckon. Like is less and less for both of

you. But that flow, do you mean, like, those times because I feel

we don't allow it to often happen. Yeah. Because of devices. We don't allow ourselves

to be bored. When you're not bored, you don't allow those opportunities to take place.

Well, boredom is like anyone who is creative's best

friend. Yeah. Because when you're bored, that's when you come up with the the

real whack shit. Yeah. Is this a swearing podcast? Yeah, mate. It is

now. It hasn't been before that. Jack Jack doesn't swim much. So I said, I

remember. Man, I get told off. I was doing some,

ABC, I guess what would you call it? Publicist was like,

Tony, yeah. That was great. Fearless f bombs. I was like,

oh, Oh, didn't even realize I was on the flip side. Hot today.

Yeah. Sorry, boys. Yeah. Not a problem on this potty.

Alright, Tom. We'll get to, you know, what you've got going on at the moment,

which is a shitload. But I I'd love to hear about

your upbringing. Yep. Give us, you know, just a quick What do you want?

Like like like Aubrey. Grew up in Aubrey? No. So was in

Aubrey for a time, so I've been all over the shop. I'll

just I'll just go dot points here. Born in the Royal Women's in

Paddington, was in Western Sydney in Fairfield,

then down the South Coast of New South Wales in Shurros Head, then back up

to Fairfield, Cabramatta down to a little town just

out of Albury called Brocklesby, which is where Justin

Kositzky is from. Oh, yeah. Literally, a

town so small, we did the thing that you pretend to do when a town

is small and blink and you miss it. Mom and I mom and I, we

drove through it. Does it have a pub? Does it have a pub? Only open

when the community it's a community pub and a community general store. So Yeah.

So if you don't, have milk or something, it was like a hour

trip to no. Sorry. Forty minute trip to Halong and back, to

get milk. Like, we literally drove through the town. Wow. And then we're like,

was that it? And then coming back the other way, there was like, because Justin

because it's just been drafted second behind Nick Rewelt to the sides

in, like, 2,001, 2,001, or 99, whatever it was. And

and, they had, like, a makeshift home of Justin Kozitsky, you

know, like, cardboard sort of Yeah. Up on the

thing. Went to school there. I was one of 3 year sixes.

And then I went to high school for a couple of years in Albury, and

then I went to Assumption College as a border, and then Adelaide, Sydney,

Collingwood. I mean, that's amazing. Like, they you know? And and I went to school

in Brooklyn as well for 6 months. In Brooklyn Yeah. In the States? Yeah.

Really? Yep. Wow. That was fucking sick. That's amazing. Bloody

sick. We're not gonna pull you out. We're not your publicist today. I thought it

was a must go. That's that's like, it's

incredible being, you know, I guess 1 of 3 year

sixes. Like, that's a pretty it's different, different upbringing

to what I'm used to. I'm sure what you're I was one of 1 of

5. Oh, in shit. I went to a school on a farm in Catandra West.

Oh, really? Yeah. It was a Steiner School. Can you tell a bit about me?

Very similar time. Yeah. Just learning through stories. Right? That's correct. The

narrative. Yeah. Yeah. Our school, it was split the

classroom was split in 2. It was like 6 to 3 and

then 2 to and mom was teaching the other the other one, and I'm

like like, even then I was like, this is

weird. You were aware enough of that age? Yeah. Yeah. Had

enough self awareness, didn't I? Yeah. Only just.

And then so Peninsula, when did you get No. Assumption. Assumption. Sorry.

Ever. Don't oh my god. Rivals. How dare I? Well, I mean, they

think They think they're rivals. They're rivals. We don't think. Okay. You're above

them. About them. I mean, did they did they

fold? Well, who knows? Can a school fold? No. I don't. But when

did you get there? Was that for I got the

Andy, start start of year 10. Yeah. Because that's like, how did we sort

of I mean, we just knew similar people. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So I

so I've got some cousins who live down in McKinnon. Yeah.

Sean. Yes. Sean. Yeah. Yep. Yep. Yep.

Yep. I was just not gonna say Maddie's name.

Yeah. Cut that. Cut that. Cut that. But

yeah. So that's how we, I guess Yeah. Sort of knew each other, but we've

been obviously playing fully at the same time. You were playing. I was watching

a lot. And, you know, we'd sort of be on the

edges of each other's Yeah. Groups. Yeah. Did

you get drafted the same year? I was a year before. Before? I think.

I was 0 8. Yeah. Yeah. I was 0 7. Yeah. Do you remember what

you're doing on draft? And I always find this fascinating because it wasn't it's not

like it is now. Or if you look in America, like, it's insane. It's

crazy. Right? What were you doing? I remember exactly. So I finished high school on

the Friday, caught the train back up to,

home And then because it wasn't like it is

now and we were in rural New South Wales,

the there was no, like, live

update. And so you'd have to listen to the local radio, and it

would give it would give getting the update. The local radio. It would give

an update. It was like, border FM, whatever it is, would,

would give, like, an update at the end of each round

on who from the, like, the Riverina and, like

like, what like, the Bushies Boys and that Yeah. Yeah. Who'd been drafted.

And I went pick I think it was it's 57 or 58. I can never

remember. 58. Google 58. Yeah. There you go.

Was it after Fraser Garrick, I think? Anyway, that's beside the point.

So I was, like, in the middle of the round, and

every phone in the house went off. So I was like, oh, shit. Something's

happened. And the first one I pick up is my mate, Boof, who's at

do you know Joel Child? He's from the Merkha. The

Merkha? No. Not close to where I grew up.

Anyway, Very niche. Very niche. And I

so so so my mate gets

onto me before anyone On your Shout out.

Anyone from the footy club. And so he goes, mate,

congrats. How are you feeling? I'm like, what's happening? 58.

Crows. Dude, I'm like, oh, awesome. And then we just had this, like, 10 minute

chat, and mom's like, anyway, hang up. And I've been

keeping Craigie waiting. Because boss just told me that I've been doing something. You

must be some Angela McLeod, Graham Jonker.

Guy. Alright. Craig, you would love being on hold. I'm sure. Yeah. What was

your relationship with him like? You know what? I was,

like, the most immature

kid that I reckon ever walked through those doors. Mhmm.

And that's okay. You're 18. You've just finished high school.

Right? But I definitely grew,

into the mature guy. I mean, but, like no. Like, you know, I Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. I definitely grew, but I never shook that,

like, first bozo perception with Craigie.

Yep. And I get it. He'd be so fucking

annoyed at some kid who's barely getting a

kick in the sand for rocking up 5 minutes before training for the

1st year. Just, you know, like Yeah. Yeah. Just shit that I'm not even considering

is a marker of professionalism because I'm that far off it.

Mhmm. But It's funny, like, when you Awareness now. As you get older

At the time, though Yeah. Yeah. You realize how much you would have fucking frustrated

these coaches or I I yeah. Yeah. But but also it's

like like, I reckon I would have had a very different career if I was

picked when I was 23. Yep. Because I was

someone who I reckon if coaches found a reason to play me, I

would have had a good career, but they always found a

reason to leave me out. Like like, they they would always focus on what

I do. Easy one to leave out. Well, like, I I could kick the ball

pretty well. I ran well, make good decisions. But yeah. And and that's just

that's just how it was. I don't have no bad blood about it, but it's

just I would have been better as a mature age, I think. Yep. Yep.

Yeah. With a bit more talent and high high. I think

that's, that's any industry, though. Like, I know, like, we spoke about this

in our last podcast. So you've been straight into sports straight away. Do you

mean, like, your whole career. I went to uni young. I wish I could go

back to uni now and actually learn it because I got no idea.

I actually would enjoy doing it. Whereas it's probably the same as you too. You

know, like, and that just comes with age. You look at you look back

and obviously, you don't wanna live in the past and blah blah. But you look

back on it now and you go, if you could go if you could go

in there Show back Lester. Oh, you just 5000 and

1. Not quite. But with with your

knowledge of, like, you know, dedication and and how short your career

is and blah blah blah. Easy to say. Hindsight's a beautiful thing. But

Yeah. It's like When you're that young Whoever wants to listen to the old

person saying, you're gonna be here before you know it, mate.

Fuck off old man. I'm invincible. Rock star. You know? I'm

invincible. I play for the well, I play for this I I

play for the Rooster's reserves, But I'm listed. Remember

that. No. Far

out. So the footy, you know, fuck, who cares about footy? But I

fucking love it, man. Oh, I do. Jack doesn't love footy. Oh, I really enjoy

it. You know what? I reckon the day will come where you'll be watching a

game and you'll forget

the fuck shit that footy did to you in The trauma. Yeah.

And you you will get lost in the

beautiful emotion of being so out of control, just

supporting a bunch of a a bunch of,

players and the communal Yeah. Aspect of

it. Like, I reckon that they'll come because I remember when when it came for

me. Yeah. It was swans, Western Bulldogs. But he kicked 2 goals

in, like, 3 minutes at at, Telstra Dome from, like,

55 out. And I was just like I was like, I'm back, baby.

I love it and I'm not like dirty on it anymore, you know?

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Was there a lot of years where you were? Like, you felt

like as you said, you know, when you're mentioning, like, coaches were looking the

reason not to play like that. You know, resentment, I suppose, could have been a

reason, but, like, did you fall out of love with the game because of those

experiences? For sure. But it's become, like, my biggest

superpower now. Like, I learnt that the lesson

over sort of 8 years that just because you do

just because you deserve it doesn't mean you get it.

Mhmm. And what you're told as a kid is

work hard and you get what you want. Yeah.

It's like there is a huge thing in the middle there, you know.

And if things go like, an element of, like, timing

Timing, like All all of those things, you know, ships

in the night stuff like yeah.

And but, like, those those years where I was, like, smacking

it in the v f l, like, all that all that

shit. I was, like, why am I, like, not given

more of a chance to settle into the side?

But now I'm like, well, if I fuck up this,

like, I I don't know, presentation somewhere,

who cares? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And that makes you better at doing it

because you because you you take away the stress. The work, but you you

don't worry about the outcome. Yeah. I think that's a huge thing is

like that anxiety of performance anxiety, like, in the

AFL, especially, like, the pressure that's put on you. It's like

golf is a similar thing. You know, it's so mental. Like, if you could just,

if you could just go out there with no thought of, fuck, what if this

goes wrong or I'm gonna get dropped or whatever, you'd you'd perform 10

times better. But it's a real thing and the ones that, you know, can get

past that and just go out and play. If you just get over that first

hump of, like, I reckon those 40 games,

like, straight playing, you know, maybe the

last 15 of them in, like, the top 10 players in the side

Mhmm. Then you're not even think Yeah. You don't have to worry. Never walk

into the club thinking about selection. So then you can actually start thinking

about how can I make this whole place better? Better

leader. And this is every work place. Yeah. Correct. The the bigger

picture sort of thing. Instead of fight or flight, you actually feel like you belong.

Yeah. That's that's that's different. Yeah. And, like,

if if if I was to compare, like, what I do now to my footy

it's like footy, I never knew if I was good enough.

Like, never knew. Like, I was like, oh, I think and so I was doing

it all on hope. So then even when, like, you play well, I'd be

straight after the game. How many touches did I have? Like, was that enough? Is

What's people saying? Is that is that is that 21 touches, 4 tackle? Is that

enough? Like, couldn't even enjoy win. A doubt. You know?

Whereas now I'm like like, I know, like, I

know that I've got good aptitude and and, like, the

work ethic hasn't changed. Mhmm. You You know, like, still bust my ass, still

do all that stuff. So now it's like, well, if it doesn't happen Yeah.

That's okay because I've done all the stuff. And I'll be fine because

I failed before. Yeah. Does that make sense? Yeah. A 100% does. And

so let's get on to that. The the new career, the transition

media, you know, you're doing so much.

It's not just sort of TV presenting. It's, everything else that

goes with it. Did you always have that growing up? That creative

side that Oh, yeah. Creativity for sure. Like,

by rights, I wasn't like a footballer. Yeah. Like, I wasn't

like a footballer's footballer. I can code switch really well because I, like, lived

in the bush, like, in a country town. So I know how to talk

to talk and stuff. You know? Like, voice goes down a bit of an

octave, and then, a couple of that, mate. You know? And that's fine. Like, I

enjoy it, but I was, like, wanting to, like, imagine,

like, lands on clouds and, like, ghouls

and monsters and magic and shit. And, like, you

know, back that was, like,

no. Don't do that. Like, you're a loser if you think like that. But I

always had it and I tried to stay true to it as best I could.

And now I'm like in an industry where it's like That's it, mate.

Yeah. Do more of that. Like Yeah. I've got a book coming

out called George the wizard. And it, like, ever when I got the

book deal, everyone was like, oh, this is gonna be about an indigenous kid plan

for you. It's about a mid like, a magic kid who lives on

the top of a mountain who's embarrassed by his magic because he's worried that

people will make fun of him for it. And then he makes some

friends and saves the village by being himself and using his magic.

Yep. Is that a little bit of you? Like, is it like what you're

saying? Yeah. For sure without realizing it, my girlfriend, Rona, was like, oh, you

just like that's kinda you.

Like, when I finally was, like, fully me, things

work have started to work. Yeah. But, yeah, I

didn't, like, that wasn't by design. I think

that just kinda Just happened? Yeah. Funny how that happened. Yeah. I like

it was literally flow as well. I wrote I wrote, like, the first draft on

a flight from Sydney to Melbourne. And, like, it's a voom. That's not a very

long flight. No. Well, there's 2 words.

I'm mid.

Yeah. Like, it was obviously dog shit, but, like, the

story was there. And, yeah, it was just a form

flow flow flow. Because normally I'm on the plane, like, just this

WAFI sucks. I'm trying to, you know, scroll, but yeah.

Anyway, like like all of that stuff is always there. It was always there. And

then so when you finished footy, like, how how did you, you

know, did you pursue it? Did you No, man. I was like Okay. I

was no. No. So I was like I came out of footy. I I think

I've told you this offline. I was, like, racked in debt.

I was, like, always on the shittest contract at at the club. I think they

give it to, like, the good bloke. Just the list

clogger is like, yeah. He here you go, man. We'll give you almost minimum

wage. And then like food stamps. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. And then and then like and then, you know, then there's me

like, you know, so, like, stupidly proud.

I'd be, like, shouting people and, you know, doing trying to keep up with the

Joneses. And then it's like, fuck. Came out of footy. You'd

know, like, in a bit of bit of bit of strife.

So I was just I just did anything I could to keep the lights on

and just pay the interest back on my loans.

And I just jumped from job to job because nothing was

like, what's the word? Like

my yeah. Yeah. Like and I can't do.

I I either care heaps about something or

fucking, like, I it's just not even in my Yeah.

Orbit. There's probably some work to do there. But

but, like, but then, like, I was just doing, like, a job that I

hated, and I randomly ran into Chris Johnson,

Brisbane line legend. And he was like, brother,

what are you up to? I was like, honestly, bro, fuck all.

And he goes, you wanna do some special comments for indigenous radio this weekend?

I was like, sure. So that weekend, I went into the box

and did specials for I think it was Saint Kilda Collingwood.

Jack Steven had a ripper, kick 5 out of the middle.

Long sleeve, sunny day. We loved Jack. I love Jack so much to her.

And anyway, they're like, oh, you've got like, a bit of

aptitude for that. And I was like, oh, I'd really enjoyed it. And so then

I would do, like, 3 games or then I, like was, like, 3 games a

week just doing specials, and then triple m heard me. And then I

did specials on triple m and Lee Simon, the guy who started

commentary on FM radio, which basically brought

the entertainment away from him. You know, long down the line,

big pack forms, spoil. Out of bounds. Punch.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Punch out of bounds. Out of bounds. Out of bounds. Half board.

Yep. Yeah. So it went from that to what we have now. And some

people said it's gone too far, but who cares about that? But that was Lee

Simon bringing the entertainment for the ad money and all that kind of stuff. And

he goes, now, Tony, you're

a smart boy. We've got guys like Sean

Bergwoyne and Jack Reuelts and the like

coming out of the competition next year. 35 game 3 club

legend Tony Armstrong probably not gonna cut it. In the

specials role, I was like, yeah. No shit.

No shit, mate. But, like, diversity? Oh, no.

You laughed a bit harder there. No. But,

he goes, you should try calling. So, you know, play by play

stuff. And, I was like, yeah. Sure. So

learned how to call with the help of the great Barry Denner, Peter Cardamone,

Andrew. Peter Cardamone. Yep. Yeah, man. Carter. Here's

Carter's.

I thoroughly enjoyed it, though. Welcome to Cardamoni.

Is it welcome to Cardamoni country? He's got the big sign on the ladies.

Does. Real estate mode. She does. She does. She does. She does. She does. She

does. She does. Yeah. She does. I love you, Carter's. And Good on you, Peter.

And, and Brian Taylor helped me out a lot as well. And

so I would literally be sitting in my living room

volume down, replays, yelling,

just calling, calling, calling, calling, and then started

calling on indigenous radio. I do, like, 3 games a week after working my

dead shit jobs. So I'm working, like, 7 days a week, all

that kind of stuff. And then got the tap from triple m.

Commentated Richmond, West Coast, which was 1 v

2, the MCG. There's 85,000

and I was the first indigenous person to commentate on commercial

radio. Bang. And then after doing a bit of that,

then, I did the color of your jumper, which was a online

show on the AFL. And then from that, Yokai

Footy started the next year, and I hosted that. And

then ABC slid into my DMs and go, have you seen

the job offer? I was like, what? They go, yeah. Well, you think you

should apply for this job? Do you have a resume? I was like, never written

one. So they basically wrote A resume for you. And

This is what we want to share. The job? Was it Well, I was feeling

pretty good at that point. Were they going were they going to hear me?

Maybe maybe to remind me of the invite. Yeah. Yeah. And to write your resume.

Yeah. I know. It's pretty funny. It's like insider trading. Oh, no. Hey. Hey.

No raw commissions, mate. We are squeaky clean.

Hey. They got this one right, I reckon. And then,

yeah, like, a year later, I backfilled

for Paul Kennedy on news breakfast and

that was, like, two and a half years ago. Yeah. So, like, there was,

like, a lot of shit in my there was there was probably,

like, 4 years of, like, like,

just probably, like, deep depression,

you know, like, who am I? What the fuck? I'm a failure. I've got

no purpose. I've got no, what's the

word? It's not purpose. It's,

identity. Like, I was like, who the fuck? Like, I spent all my life thinking

I was gonna be that and then you have that weekly,

like, negative reinforcement of not getting picked. And then the ultimate

like, you're actually so bad at what you're trying to do. Get

out. Like, you get delisted. And it's like,

woah. Fuck. This sucks.

So that really was hard to sort of get out of that hole. But then

once I found something that I loved and was sort of

okay at, which is a very important thing,

I, yeah, have started to, I guess,

blossom. Yep. And you enjoy it and I do you yeah.

Do you have a favorite sort of thing? Is it sport? Is it music? Is

it or is it just the whole arts? It's just like being, like,

truly, if I can, like, be silly

and somewhat earnest in the same like

like sort of, you know, you can be silly but then not Respective but still

that little. And then like boom like that

that's the space I love playing in because I think it it's

fun, but it it's meaningful. It's but then I

also love fun for fun's sake. I love just being a

absolute moron for no reason. You've had you've had

some pretty amazing moments, obviously, you know, over the

career. And I've, you know, been with you where some pretty

crazy stuff happens. We're sitting there and big Carlos Stefanovic's

FaceTiming you, and you've had some big things. Decline. Decline.

Again, gosh. Do do you have, like, are there are there

what's like the biggest like pinch myself moment? Like

Interviewing Oprah? Fuck. Wow. Fuck.

And like, that's where was that?

That was on your Wikipedia page. That got a 4:35

games. Wikipedia. That's why this is this set up here. We

need some better sources. I put that in there,

mate. No one else is going to my page. What about boof, baby? He can

get boof on there. Yeah. Well, he knows where I got drafted. That's for sure.

58, brother. So,

Oh, brother. That's pretty fucked up. But the funny thing was I was

like I was pissed off by the time I,

like, I got there because so they do these have you heard the

term junket? Like a press junket? Oh, no. So what that

is is it's like they just it used to be, like, the

celebrities would sit there in chairs. Roll them in. And so that so that's a

junket. Now they're all, like, on Zoom because

COVID made the big, production

houses realize we can save the global

tour and just do them from LA or

wherever they are. And I was speaking

at, Melbourne book, Melbourne book

or some shit like that here in Melbourne and I was up in

Gippsland with Rona and I had

Oprah, like, on Saturday morning or some

shit and it was at, like, 3 o'clock because she was in Canada.

And, anyway, she was, like, 3 hours late and I was so pissed off because

I had committed to this other thing and I was like letting them down by

being late. And so by the time, like, I was just not even nervous

which was dangerous. Well Is it good? Did it work

out? Oh, yeah. It was it was great. It was about Sydney Poitier, the

first black, actor to win an Oscar. She did a, documentary on

him. And, I'll just never forget. I was like, hello. I

approached. She goes, hello, Tony. And I was just like

and then and then, like, I asked Oprah, like, just, it was

just of like, the the whole, doc was, like,

quite racially charged is the wrong word. It

it dealt with, like, race and race politics and I asked a

question about that. And she goes, well, what do you think, Tony? And I was

like, oh, oh, god. I'm getting interviewed by Oprah. Add that

to the list as well, you know. But yeah. It was it was fun.

I'd actually watched it. Like, normally, I just fly

by the seat of my pants. Yeah. But that one, I was like Yeah. Better

button up, you know? Yeah. Yeah. But, yeah, that was pretty cool. That's pretty f

y. Oh, Another one probably flying in an f 18 raptor

with a, yeah, with a proper dude. We

did, like, all the loops and the barrel rolls and Yes. Did you No. I

love it. Hear you? I love that shit. Oh. We did this thing. So those

planes are so good, robotically

and from a computer standpoint, they can't

stall. So they do this thing. It's their big tactical

advantage. Like, say another planes come behind and they just go and then

they're like dog fighting them better and he did this thing called slow

flying. We were going, like, a kilometer an

hour forwards 15,000 feet in the

air just like that. And, like, so I'm in

the I'm in the, is it wingman? What's

the, this I'm goose. Goose. Not mad,

Bruce. Not not mad. He's mad. But, like, but, like, because you're

in the plane and the plane's like this, your legs are like that,

15,000 feet in the air, and you've got the canopy of

Zoey. It's not like you're looking at this. You're looking at like

this and then he goes, alright. What we're gonna do? What we're gonna do because

we're over Darwin, we couldn't break the speed of sound. He goes, we're gonna

get right up to the speed of sound, which is about 11:50,

an hour, and then we're gonna do a vertical. And he goes, and

so I'm like, alright. What's the what's the vertical, guys? What do you

think? 700? 800? 900?

A1000? 11, up we

go. I was like, woah.

And, like, I didn't realize it, but I'd been white knuckling

so hard. Like, I thought I was reasonably relaxed. And then when I

went to get out, like, my hand had, like like, death locked

or something like that. Oh, man. That was that was pretty sick. That's

incredible. What, I love your story of perseverance and not only,

like, finding a purpose is not easy, and it doesn't matter

what profession you're in. A lot of people still don't have it now. I love

that you just said yes to everything, and you made it work, and it's not

easy. What advice is that the advice you'd give, like, from your story?

Because people look at you now, we can talk about your TV show. You got

Logies, played 35 amazing games, drafted 58, made both

letters know. But Yeah. From that story, you and me, her car won a place.

And, Garnett, get around. I got

them out of country. Sorry. No. I'm

not sorry. What, people listening like, hurry.

I got no idea what they're saying. We did very it's very

small part of Victoria. No. What advice what advice, Tom, would you

give someone that may be feeling that lost? And like you said, the drive, the

passion, like, from your journey. Yeah. Oh, man. There's there's a

few things. I think one of the biggest things that gets

stops a lot of people from doing anything is shame

and embarrassment of, like, not being good immediately.

You gotta suck. You can't like, all

of us, we can have a crack at anything. I'm not saying you can

be anything because that would completely contradict what I said earlier.

But don't let, like,

embarrassment stop you trying. Like, can you imagine how fucking weird it

was sitting in my lounge room yelling at a TV?

How like, it wasn't I was never embarrassed calling on the in on

indigenous radio, but that's not the fear. That's not

Yeah. That's not Broadway. No.

Like, do you like, don't You don't just learn that. You you

have to do that. Yeah. Don't yeah. Don't let, like,

like, being cool and all of that get in the way

of, like, the humility it

takes to suck and the willingness it takes to learn

and, like, acknowledge that I don't know

as much as you and that's okay. One day I

might, and hopefully I'm sitting where you are telling the person who's sitting here

something. What else would I say? You

like, hard work. Like, hard

work. It's like everyone I've met who is killing it,

all of them are dog tired.

They are, like, so hardworking

that you you just can't believe what they get done and they treat everyone

so well. Black easiest

currency is, like, your,

like, politeness and Blindness. Yeah. Kindness. Like, the way you make someone feel like

And it all comes back to you in the end, how you treat people and,

you know The energy. Or you give others. Yeah. I love that. That's amazing, man.

Yeah. And what what you said, like your what gets you so excited is

seeing these people, you know, anyone at the absolute

pinnacle of their craft, those people had to start

somewhere. You know, they sucked. They sucked. They had to

because as soon as like, you can't just go straight to You can have aptitude.

Yeah. Sure. Like Bit of natural But but like, I mean, we've

all heard the story of, like, you know, the person who went straight past the

naturally gifted person Mhmm. Because they just worked harder. Like

like, you like, trust me if, like, if you go to all

the top performers in any industry, any any

vertical, they'll all say hard work. Yeah. Hard work

just did a bit more. And then if you like to bring it

back to a footy analogy, if you hit enough packs, if you do it enough

times, if you're there often enough, eventually, that

opportunity will come. And then if you've done the work Mhmm. Like I get it.

You'll have the ability to capitalize on it. Do you find people don't

wanna hear that though? Because deep down, I think we all know

what's required. But I think these days, people

don't see you sitting in your lounge room, calling games with mute on.

They just say Which in they they only see what they see.

They don't see the 3:30 wake up. No. The trudge what you're doing now.

The the the the trudge to the to the bathroom.

Like, all of that stuff is like

anyone who's making something look easy, like, you know, you

know when you watch someone like like a chef

and they're not even, like, really and they're, like, saute

sauteing something or whatever, and you're just like, holy hell. That

is just over repetition.

There's like a beauty in it. What's the Japanese word? Is it Ikagi?

It's I k a g a I, and it's like

taking joy and pleasure out of the thing you do and it being a

representation of who you are and, like, if you

put all of yourself into what you do and you respect it

the way you respect yourself, then you get that,

like Yep. Flow. Yeah. Yeah. And and that's how

you get flow. A lot of things we're talking about are coming back to that.

Yeah. Oh, for sure. And, like, if you can get

in flow far out, like, bottle it

and Oh, we'd make a lot of money. Like, people wanna drink that

cold. Well, that well, those people who don't wanna do the 10000 hours.

And you know what? I reckon that's how you know what the thing is.

Because if you're asking if you're listening to this and you're going,

I don't know what I wanna do. Line up some things and I'm making this

up on the spot. This is very much shooting from the hip

hypothesis here. If you think up something and then go,

would I be willing to do what it takes to to get there, or do

I just want what it's like at the end?

Mhmm. Then it's not It's the journey. Like, do you know what it's saying? Wants

everyone wants to away the journey. Even though it's hard, don't wish it away and

just wanna get to the end because you end up missing out on the most

the best present is the journey. 100 Yeah. Yeah. And that and that

is being in, like, life flow, isn't it? It's like, well, I'm here now.

Mhmm. Here now talking to a new friend and an old friend.

Yeah. It's nice. Is that a nice way to round up? Cheers, Garth. That's just

absolutely beautiful. And what how do we finish, Sunny? We use Oh, it's very well,

it's pretty similar, tone to talking about the advice. But

if you could summarize everything we've spoken about today, and there's been so

many amazing analogies from what you've been able to do in your

perseverance. Flipping the hat now, because I think it's really important for people

listening that it's always good to be able to tell other people what they're good

at or what they admire about and what they're proud And, but flipping that mirror

around now I'm already uncomfortable. It's a long question,

mate. Don't lose. Just getting flow with me here.

What are you most proud of from, you know, everything you've

created, everything you've done, the work you've put in when you look back at your

life so far and you think about the impact you've

had and from your personal view, when you look in the

mirror, what are you most proud of the person you see?

That's really beautiful question.

I reckon like kind of in

spite of it all I could very easily be

a quite a bitter person.

Yeah. I think

yeah. I've had oh, my bad. It's not a race

to the bottom, but I haven't necessarily had

the best of runs at it.

And I think just never

letting, like, life turn me into,

like, someone who's, like, so

damaged that they're hurting other

people and bitter and resentful, like, I think that is

what I'm that would be what I'm most proud of because I

am, yeah, I mean, far out.

I I don't know how I can't speak on behalf of other people but I

can speak on how I try to make people feel and that's

good about themselves, welcomed, loved, seen,

and yeah. And when you

haven't, like, I guess, correct me if I'm wrong here, but you

probably haven't always felt that Yeah. From a lot of other people

and to not let that influence you and how you

treat others is such a powerful thing. And I think from, you

know, knowing you and the generous, loving,

energetic, magnetic person you are, everyone just fucking

loves you and wants to be around you. Thank you. And, you know, I I

think that's an incredible answer to to be proud of the fact that

you still, despite all the shit that you've caught, you

you refuse to let that influence how you treat others is fucking special.

So yeah. That's it's not like I'm not a mother,

but that's not easy. And don't worry. There are times when

I'm like, I I let it get away from me

and I'm like, you're only human. That's fucked every bit, but then I'm like

Yeah. Be only human. You're you're allowed to. Exactly. I'm I'm

getting better at being kind to myself. Good. I I It's a hard

thing to do. Oh, yes. We're very easy to be kind to other people, but

it's very hard when you flip it. Yeah. And that that was,

that was a I haven't asked

myself I've I haven't thought about that.

No. I think because so often in life, we we too quick to talk

about other people, and we don't actually take the time to just

reflect on that. And that's why it was really beautiful, your answer and your response,

because you did take that time to think about it and what you said was

from the heart. And it was it was that was magic. Thank

you. Like, fuck. Everything could go, you know, all all of

this could go away. Mhmm. But, you know, like,

that that's the shit, you know? Like, anyway, I'm getting

emotional now. Thanks, guys. You you guys are legends. Thank you, Tom. Thanks, Tom.

Appreciate it, listeners. Cheers. See you. Come