COVID & Lockdown Life
212 episodes · 2018–2021 · 101 debates · 109 pieces of advice · 208 stories · 220 quotes
The Daily Talk Show — Australia’s daily podcast, hosted by Tommy Jackett and Josh Janssen — discussed covid & lockdown life across 212 of its 1,022 daily episodes between 2018 and 2021. This page collects what was actually said: 220 verbatim quotes, 109 pieces of advice, 208 stories told on air, 101 on-air debates, each linked to the exact moment in the episode and on YouTube.
Where they stand
Moments where the table disagreed, straight from the transcripts.
Argues Australia's low case numbers owe more to geographic isolation than skill, and criticizes the country's slow vaccine rollout relative to the rest of the world.
Notes the pattern of strict lockdowns triggered by only a handful of cases, recalling a prior 4-day lockdown earlier in the year.
Finds value in it, saying it puts your own financial situation into perspective and that's why the content is compelling even if people watch partly to feel better about themselves.
Says the finance content itself isn't fun for him, but he enjoys the format and presentation style, like imagining himself hosting calls from a cockpit-like desk.
strictness about golf scorekeeping
Ep 100038:42Says he is very strict about not fudging his score, even in casual rounds.
Agrees he is also pretty strict with scorekeeping.
Choosing not to get the COVID vaccine immediately isn't necessarily anti-vax if the person is young, healthy, and willing to accept the risk of infection.
Delaying vaccination can put immunocompromised 'bystanders' at risk, similar to not wearing a helmet but also making others not wear one, and small percentage drops in vaccination rates can have outsized effects on herd immunity.
Grooming rituals like shaving or dressing up are primarily about how you feel about yourself, not for other people's optics.
Pushes back, suggesting reactions like 'you should get a haircut' are an unconscious, optics-driven response rather than purely about self-feeling.
Argues that the freedoms Australians currently enjoy (like dining out, gatherings) exist specifically because of the aggressive lockdown approach, and that this is a better outcome than places like the US and UK where COVID has killed far more people.
Acknowledges the lockdown's necessity but emphasizes the toll on businesses and personal finances, noting people's empathy runs out when restrictions repeatedly threaten their livelihoods, and that he feels tempted toward more anti-restriction ('right wing') views given contradictions like gyms closing while bottle shops stay open.
Finds R. Kelly's lyrics (e.g., in 'Ignition') creepy in retrospect given his later criminal convictions, saying 'we should have been on to that guy a very long time ago.'
Agrees and jokes along, quoting the lyrics himself to highlight how overtly suggestive they are.
Frames it positively as 'the little guys' successfully fighting back against powerful hedge funds and exposing how much control rich financial players have over trading apps.
Is more skeptical and fatigued by the hype, eventually calling the ongoing discourse around it 'a big wank' despite acknowledging more people are now thinking about finance.
Enjoys the energy and sensory experience of being back in person, noting a different vibe and energy from being physically near someone.
Finds it nice but slightly disorienting/out of control compared to his usual at-home setup where he has full oversight of the production.
Prefers open-air options like wineries over crowded venues like Galactic Circus because of COVID risk from shared touching.
Open to a multi-day itinerary mixing a healthy activity (hike) with a winery, acknowledging COVID complications.
Leans toward universally enjoyable options like tenpin bowling/arcade over niche ideas like artificial surfing.
Tommy
Finds the coverage deeply confusing, with different outlets reporting different numbers and unclear what it all means.
Josh
Questions whether outlets are even using the same underlying numbers, suggesting skepticism about the consistency of reporting.
Her parents refused to let her celebrate Halloween as a kid, viewing it as 'that American holiday.'
Observes that Halloween has become a massive, widely celebrated thing in Australia now.
Notes that even in a place like Bendigo trick-or-treating felt a 'bit dodgy.'
Advice from the show
all 109pieces →What was actually said, attributed and linked to the moment.
Why does it feel so natural to make a crisis about yourself?
Tommy observes that treating a wider crisis like COVID as something happening 'to us' personally is a common but somewhat selfish mindset, since the pandemic is affecting everybody, not just those with a personal brush with it.
How do you avoid needing the bathroom on long-haul flights?
Josh says he avoids drinking much of anything during long flights because he doesn't like having to climb over other passengers to use the bathroom, rather than following typical advice to stay hydrated.
Why do people do small grooming rituals like shaving or getting a haircut?
Josh argues it's less about how others perceive you and more about the feeling you give yourself — small acts like shaving your neck, brushing your teeth, or dressing 'work ready' create a 'visceral change' in how you feel about yourself.
Does going for a walk actually make you feel better?
Josh suggests that going for a walk will make most people feel better, likening it to grooming rituals as simple, reliable mood boosters.
How should you set goals when the future is highly uncertain (e.g., during a pandemic)?
Frame goals around a process, practice, or identity statement that isn't dependent on a specific environment or circumstance—for example, 'do meaningful work with interesting people'—rather than tying your identity to a specific activity like coaching or speaking, so the goal remains achievable even if external circumstances change drastically.
What should you do when you wake up feeling low or melancholy?
Try to get fresh air—go for a walk or swim—even if it doesn't always immediately fix the feeling; sometimes you just have to accept it as a 'melancholy day' rather than forcing yourself to feel better.
Should you buy cheap new furniture or old furniture?
Tommy says he'd rather buy a good quality old item for cheap than a cheap new mass-produced item, since cheap new furniture often looks good in photos but turns out to be low quality.
When is the best time to start planning New Year's resolutions?
Start embedding resolutions in your mind from December 1st rather than waiting until January, to avoid carrying negative momentum from an indulgent December into the new year.
Is paintball a good idea for a team bonding event?
Tommy warns that paintball venues are a financial trap: you end up paying far more than expected because you have to keep buying extra ammo and gear beyond the initial booking cost.
How should you plan a Christmas party during COVID restrictions?
Jess suggests favouring open-air venues like wineries over crowded indoor venues (e.g. arcades), since open spaces allow more distancing and less shared touching of equipment, and notes venues will likely run reduced-capacity time slots.
Should I use hair product after a haircut?
Josh avoids hair product after haircuts to prevent setting an expectation of needing it daily, preferring to let people see him with minimal effort so he isn't reliant on products (e.g., if stranded on an island).
What should I do about a persistent pimple?
Gemma Watts recommends treating it with something acidic, ideally salicylic acid, and suggests it may be caused by mask-wearing creating a new environment on the skin.
How can you start a conversation with someone you're interested in?
Jess Lucas suggests that if a guy asks a woman for a lighter, it's actually a good opening for conversation, essentially framing carrying a lighter as a dating/conversation-starting trick.
How should you handle coming out of a long lockdown?
Ease back in gradually rather than diving straight into full socializing, pacing decisions and interactions slowly to avoid a bad experience that could make you retreat again.
Do silk masks help prevent maskne?
Gemma Watts advises that because silk is non-absorbent (unlike cotton), it won't solve the humidity/condensation problem that causes maskne, so breathability matters more than fabric type for skin health.
How should you clean and maintain a reusable face mask?
Gemma Watts recommends a boiling hand-wash with antibacterial detergent, drying in sunlight (heat and light help sanitise), and spritzing with a mask sanitiser spray; avoid heavily fragranced detergents, which can cause respiratory irritation.
How do you cope with declining mental health during lockdown isolation?
Build a daily routine you know you can achieve, accept that some days won't be good and that's okay, and keep seeing a psychologist/doctor regularly rather than only reactively.
What should I watch if I'm bored of Netflix in lockdown?
Try Amazon Prime — specifically Jack Ryan for an action/CIA-thriller vibe, or Rihanna's Fenty fashion show for impressive, inclusive choreography.
What should you do if you're caught somewhere you shouldn't be?
Tommy says his instinct is to keep walking and get out of the situation without over-explaining, while Josh notes his own reaction depends on the environment and his sense of confidence or standing in that situation.
How can a group stay active and healthy during lockdown without obsessing over weight?
Track total minutes of movement across the week rather than weighing yourself; you can break it into smaller chunks, like ten 5-minute blocks, and do any activity you want, anywhere.
How do you build a simple at-home exercise habit without overcomplicating it?
Don't worry about finding a perfect route; just do a short loop ('a blocky') multiple times a day instead of searching for a long scenic path.
How do you cope with feeling out of control about an uncertain future?
Stop ruminating on the unknown and instead focus concretely on what you're doing today, tomorrow, this week and this month — similar to writing a to-do list to regain a sense of control.
How should you handle negative or triggered comments online?
Recognize that during a stressful period like COVID, people's negative reactions are often out of proportion to what's actually happening, so don't take it personally.
How can parents handle anger or frustration with young kids during stressful periods like lockdown?
Josh recounts his friend Sai's prenatal-class quote, 'go outside before you shake the baby' — meaning if you're feeling overwhelmed or angry as a parent, step outside and remove yourself from the situation rather than act out toward the child.
Stories told on air
Jess receives a text from one of her best friends in Melbourne saying she has COVID, prompting Tommy and Josh to discuss the 'reverse lottery' feeling of narrowly avoiding exposure, since Jess had been scheduled to see her friend over the weekend but didn't.
told by Tommy and Josh
Tommy relays that his friend Scooter Derek got his COVID vaccine, was warned by a healthcare worker that he might feel grumpy the next day, and subsequently had an argument with his partner Fiona that he attributed to the vaccine.
told by Tommy Jackett
Josh recounts negotiating hard on a TV price at JB Hi-Fi as a 14-year-old, asking for a printed quote to show his parents, then taking it to Harvey Norman to price match.
told by Josh
Tommy recounts seeing, within the last six years, a guy from his school days who had been sentenced to 8 years after killing a grandfather while under the influence of ice; Tommy briefly greeted him at a cafe.
told by Tommy Jackett
The decade debate clip with Wombat/Dodge
Ep 100038:42George Martin recalls an old disagreement with community member Wayne (Wombat) over whether 2020 marked the start of a new decade, pulling up an old clip where the two argued about calendar math, which is replayed and resolved live.
told by George Martin and Mason Lauder
Josh describes seeing a man at Bulling Plaza with a cardboard cutout and a QR code claiming the pandemic is smaller than reported; he scanned the code and joined the associated Telegram group, run by an economist who quit his government job over pandemic policy.
told by Josh Janssen
Josh describes orchestrating a surprise where Amy's best friend flew from Sydney to visit after over a year apart due to COVID border closures; Josh had to lie to Amy all day and the reunion was captured on camcorder.
told by Josh Janssen
Tommy describes an impromptu Sunday night bonfire with neighbours in his backyard, including pizza, his 4-year-old son Bodhi playing with a 7-year-old neighbour's kid, and a conversation about kids and vegetables that sparked the evolutionary vegetable theory discussion.
told by Tommy Jackett
Matt describes arriving in Sydney for hotel quarantine and being offered a choice between a room with a balcony or a larger suite, a decision that reportedly divided the police and military staff present; he chose the balcony and spent much of his two weeks playing video games.
told by Matt D'Avella
Tommy explains how the snap lockdown forced him to cancel his son Bodhi's planned 50-person park party, turning it into a smaller surprise gathering with neighbours and family at their home, including a staged 'porky pie' about getting a haircut to lead Bodhi into the surprise.
told by Tommy Jackett
Josh mentions a friend who owns a gym that is $300,000 behind financially after COVID lockdowns, used as an example of businesses struggling even once reopened.
told by Josh Janssen
Tommy recounts a friend from his youth who was obsessed with lamb cutlets and stole multiple packs from a supermarket by hiding them down his pants, joking that the friend is now 'in jail for cutlet theft'.
told by Tommy Jackett
Brad describes driving a minivan 6.5 hours from New York City, stopping overnight in Philadelphia where his hotel overlooked the site of the Declaration of Independence signing and the Liberty Bell.
told by Brad Blanks
Tommy relays a secondhand story that Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews was on holiday but spending 10 hours a day on the phone just 20 minutes from his usual office, prompting his wife to tell him to just go back to work.
told by Tommy Jackett
Tommy describes getting into the elevator at Josh's apartment building, forgetting to press his floor button after buzzing up, and being called out by a mustached stranger also riding the lift - his first encounter with a stranger in a lift since the pandemic began.
told by Tommy Jackett
Josh recalls asking Amy's doctor uncle about anti-vaxxers, leading to a discussion about a retracted scientific paper that underpinned many anti-vaccine arguments.
told by Josh Janssen
Tommy describes decluttering during Melbourne's lockdown, packing items for donation and accidentally including his favourite purple exercise shorts on top of a donation bag, which got dropped off and lost.
told by Tommy Jackett
Jess recounts a miserable experience on a donut-shaped barbecue boat in the Docklands: the short trip, difficulty docking in windy conditions, a barely functioning barbecue, wet feet, and relentless sun made it one of her worst outings despite enjoying the company.
told by Jess Lucas
In their words
“That's crazy! We've committed to do The Daily Talk Show for 10 years.”
“It's so human nature to claim things, isn't it?”
“If you look at the population of it, like there's probably a bunch of people who have choked on a banana. It doesn't mean we stop eating bananas.”
“I actually just played video games the entire time. I just like played 60 hours of, uh, Ghost of Tsushima, which was pretty great.”
“When the going gets tough, it can also be horrible and you don't like that.”
“It's a very low barrier to get into the Gronk Squad. That's crazy!”
“It's fucked. We should have been on to that guy a very long time ago. Freak show.”
“COVID chat is the new weather chat.”
“He's in jail for cutlet theft.”
“I come in peace.”
“We've committed to do The Daily Talk Show for 10 years.”
“We've managed to grow our business, but I don't feel like I've left my house.”
“It's, it's sliding into my diet.”
“fuck, we roll the dice with so many things in life.”
“I feel like the, um, it's the closest thing you're gonna get to hard drugs at a library, isn't it?”
“I want to meet the person who doesn't have a passport, has never applied.”
“The, the gel balls look like caviar.”
“It's amazing what a haircut can do for an individual.”