Filmmaking & Creativity
177 episodes · 2018–2021 · 78 debates · 153 pieces of advice · 140 stories · 169 quotes
The Daily Talk Show — Australia’s daily podcast, hosted by Tommy Jackett and Josh Janssen — discussed filmmaking & creativity across 177 of its 1,022 daily episodes between 2018 and 2021. This page collects what was actually said: 169 verbatim quotes, 153 pieces of advice, 140 stories told on air, 78 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.
Believes he simply can't act and becomes overly stiff/pantomime-like the moment he's given a line or direction.
Thinks there's a natural, funny version of Josh achievable on camera, but it requires not knowing the camera is rolling rather than performing scripted lines.
whether creators/brands should play the 'finite game' of platform algorithms (reels, trends, thumbnails)
Ep 962▶ 16:16Argues playing the algorithm's game (dancing, templated reels, clickbait thumbnails) homogenises creativity and pulls people away from their actual values, even though it's tempting because it's the fastest path to visibility and revenue.
Acknowledges the same pressures but notes people often tell themselves a story to justify playing the game, and that it's hard to resist once you get 'a little taste' of attention and results.
Suggests Tommy clearly needs cameras given the mystery cat and nearby car break-ins.
Agrees cameras would help but is unsure how much to spend and hasn't committed to buying any yet.
Greatness comes out of pain, and sometimes doubling down means ignoring other responsibilities to focus purely on the thing you love, even if that's an illusion.
Doubling down has been reframed away from an all-consuming obsessive effort toward simply focusing and maintaining a consistent cadence, like showing up every day.
Felt it wasn't a good episode and considered whether to scrap it or change the format, because the room's energy and his own enjoyment were compromised.
Believes the episode wasn't bad at all and that the script and performances (including his own) were strong.
Came away thinking the opposite of Josh — he enjoyed the episode.
whether to centre a potential youtube channel on bodhi alone or on both tommy and bodhi together
Ep 847▶ 12:01Leans toward the channel being centred on Bodhi and his adventurous personality, with Tommy as a supporting 'brand consultant'/dad figure.
Suggests a format with both Tommy and Bodhi equally featured, such as an old-vs-new (1988 vs 2017) concept, though he flags the risk that neither of them may relate to the content shown.
Feels pressured to jump on Reels for the business account and finds it consuming, comparing himself to an overwhelmed air traffic controller.
Argues Reels is mainly a boon for consumers scrolling endless content, and that creators chasing it as 'the new thing' are missing that the underlying video-editing skill already existed.
Delusion is essential at the start to get on stage or make content at all, and it shrinks but doesn't disappear as ability and confidence grow through experience.
Agrees delusion is necessary, and extends the idea to suggest that even perceived 'reality' in career decisions may itself be a cherry-picked delusion dressed up as objectivity.
Believes creative pursuits like writing should be pursued without an attached master plan for career success, focusing on consistent practice instead.
Agrees, adding that trying to make a passion project 'the thing that makes you money to survive' changes and often ruins the appeal of the pursuit.
Notes that Casey Neistat melts glue sticks directly with a lighter rather than using a glue gun.
Dismisses the lighter method as unnecessary, insisting he's used an actual glue gun for years regardless of what Casey Neistat does.
Considered that the purest form of 'process over product' might be to never release a project at all, since releasing exposes it to response and judgement.
Argues that shipping/releasing is the essential final step that brings a creative work into its full form, referencing Seth Godin's philosophy of shipping.
Friction and genuine disagreement between co-hosts (as with his former co-host Luke) makes for better, more interesting content, even though it's uncomfortable in the moment.
Notes that even if friction is understood as content, it still feels genuinely annoying in the moment for the person on the receiving end.
Advice from the show
all 153pieces →What was actually said, attributed and linked to the moment.
How do you overcome the fear of putting your creative work out there?
Do it consistently and often—like the artist who made 500 days of art, the pressure lessens with each piece. Producing regularly builds an inner strength or 'muscle' that shuts out worry about what people think, and lets you move on like ending a chat with friends at a café rather than fretting about every word.
Should creative goals be big and spectacular?
Aim to do things regularly but actually smaller and more realistic rather than expecting everything to be spectacular. Chasing the spectacular becomes a trap, and letting things become too much of your identity is unhealthy—set realistic goals.
What skills matter most as technical/creative tools become easier to learn?
Don't just chase hard skills (like mastering editing software); develop soft skills such as communication, networking, and the ability to lead a team, since these are increasingly rare even among technically skilled young people.
What's the key lesson for a long remote road trip like driving to the Twelve Apostles?
Plan out exactly where you'll refuel in advance rather than assuming a petrol station will appear — remote stretches can go much longer than expected without services.
Should I take business advice from friends or acquaintances who aren't experts?
If someone offers strong opinions about how to run your business but isn't your accountant and doesn't know your actual profit and loss or balance sheet, take their advice with a grain of salt.
Will quitting social media solve my feelings of addiction or inadequacy?
Quitting the platform alone won't fix underlying issues — you need to reconcile the internal need (ego, validation, fear of missing out) that the platform is being used to fill, otherwise the same patterns will show up elsewhere.
Should I make personal videos even if I only own expensive filmmaking gear?
Tommy advises filmmakers who've spent $10,000–$15,000 on a camera but haven't made a personal video in over a year to 'take a look at yourself' and buy a cheap camcorder instead to lower the pressure and just start filming.
How do I get involved with Camcorder Club or get merch?
Josh suggests emailing hi@thedailytalkshow.com if interested in contributing as a filmmaker, and says the same email address will get you a secret link to buy Camcorder Club merch (hoodie, mug, t-shirt, stickers).
How do you protect your home from car break-ins?
Install at least one security camera covering the driveway and front door area, starting simple rather than waiting for a perfect setup.
Should you follow other successful people's exact business advice/hustle culture?
Josh argues that a 'story' that worked for one person (like Gary Vee's hustle-hustle-hustle approach) is toxic advice for many others, and that if you told someone to copy exactly what you did, it likely wouldn't work for them because everyone's context differs.
How should you handle feeling burnt out while also supporting a team?
Tommy advises addressing your own burnout first ('put your mask on before you help other people') rather than only focusing on fixing others, since over-prioritising others can be a way of avoiding your own issues.
How should talent/influencers approach branded content deals?
Matty advises that branded content needs to give viewers something in return—either real informative value or genuine entertainment—since audiences have become savvy and turned off by purely promotional posts.
How do you build a team culture that doesn't punish mistakes and actually supports risk-taking?
Godin advises that if the only people who lose their jobs are those who make mistakes, you're teaching your team to avoid risk; to reverse that, leadership has to be willing to let go of someone who 'never makes a mistake' to prove that leaning into the creative process — not just avoiding errors — is what's rewarded.
How do you find your voice as a creative person?
Godin advises that finding your voice has nothing to do with authenticity; it means picking a genre, showing up with your craft, shipping work, learning, repeating, and building a consistent platform so people looking for 'someone who sounds like you' can find you.
What's a better way to think about 'doubling down' as a creator?
Josh reframes doubling down not as an all-or-nothing obsessive push at the cost of everything else, but as consistent focus and showing up with a regular cadence (daily or weekly) rather than chasing a dramatic launch.
How should you communicate dissatisfaction with a creative project without blaming the team?
Talk about it openly on the show/with the team rather than sitting on it, acknowledge your own role and triggers, and separate personal projection from legitimate feedback about the product.
Should you release creative work you're not fully happy with?
Yes — treat it as part of an iterative creative process; release it, be transparent about dissatisfaction, and use it to figure out what structure or changes are needed going forward.
How should I organise and reuse large amounts of old personal or show footage?
Use a media management tool like Kyno that connects to your drive, lets you tag and sub-clip footage, and exports selects directly into Premiere Pro or Final Cut projects; for casual needs, Google Photos is a simpler free alternative.
What should parents consider before starting a YouTube channel featuring their young child?
Think about longevity and brand identity from the start (avoid boxing the channel into one narrow niche), consider YouTube's strict demonetisation rules for kids' content, be mindful of child-star-style psychological risks, and plan for a point where the child is given the choice of whether to continue participating.
How should creators think about copyright risk and 'doing things properly' when building an audience?
Zach suggests being too cautious (e.g., avoiding copyrighted music or trending formats out of fear of takedowns or looking derivative) can cost more in lost audience growth than the risk is worth — sometimes it's better to post something that might get taken down but gains followers than to have something pristine but unseen for years.
How do I stop a creative hobby from feeling like it has to become a career?
Detach the activity from outcome-based thinking (money, fame, career validation); treat it as self-expression you keep doing regardless of whether it 'serves' your career.
Why bother setting up a dedicated creative/hobby space?
Having a creative space readily accessible increases the odds you'll actually use it; even 30 minutes doing something playful like glue gunning can counteract the jadedness that comes from being busy and tired.
How can I stay motivated to finish creative projects?
Set a recurring public deadline (like releasing something on the same date every month) to create accountability and self-discipline, since without it you'll likely find excuses not to make things.
How do I balance having a day job with pursuing creative passion projects?
Keep both — a job removes financial stress and anxiety (which otherwise undermines creativity), while carving out dedicated time, even late nights, for the passion project ensures it still gets made.
Stories told on air
Josh recounts a school art project making a ceramic mug with blue and yellow tape stripes that smudged together when he removed the tape; his teacher said he'd 'done a Monet,' and it became his go-to excuse for ruined artwork.
told by Josh Janssen
David the Gronk putts for a McDonald's cup
Ep 100043:57A passer-by named David, who discovered the show via a Craig Harper podcast appearance, comes in from a rugby game, successfully putts a golf ball, and is rewarded with McDonald's chips.
told by Tommy Jackett and Josh Janssen
Josh describes searching the Internet Archive for his old websites, leading Tommy to read aloud an embarrassing 2008 blog post by Josh about chocolate addiction and gym motivation, plus a 2009 post about why people need their own blog instead of relying on Facebook.
told by Josh Janssen and Tommy Jackett
Tommy describes his son Bodhi progressing from a balance bike to a pedal bike with no training wheels, practicing in a fenced-off car park, and succeeding immediately thanks to balance skills already learned.
told by Tommy Jackett
Tommy describes a visceral, shocking realisation during meditation practice that much of what he's created over the past decade has been driven by stimulating his ego rather than deeper purpose.
told by Tommy Jackett
Both hosts reminisce about early personal video technology: Tommy's family Handycam that used full VHS tapes, and his first small blue Kodak-style digital camera with a reverse-video trick mode; Josh recalls a similar Kodak camera and a Game Boy camera cartridge.
told by Tommy Jackett and Josh Janssen
Tommy explains that his old 'Tommy Jacket TV' Snapchat/YouTube videos were an exercise in telling linear stories without editing, like a stitched-together short film, and that none went viral but the practice built a storytelling skill he still uses.
told by Tommy Jackett
Tommy recounts seeing a smashed car window near his home, talking to a neighbour whose sons once caught a local thief, and later learning a chauffeur neighbour had two phones stolen from his BMW, with detectives tracking a suspect in a white ute.
told by Tommy Jackett
Tommy is woken at night by a cat meowing outside his bedroom door, later finds dog-like droppings in his backyard and spends the episode trying to work out whether a cat or an intruding dog is responsible, eventually deciding it was the cat.
told by Tommy Jackett
Matty describes filming an awkward, candid dance video with Laura at a crowded Bondi Beach during a heatwave, with onlookers including a wedding party reacting with confusion.
told by Matty
Tommy messaged his former radio boss in Shepparton after picking up the station's signal from his new house, triggering memories of his uncomfortable but formative two years doing daily breakfast radio. His old boss replied that working with Tommy set him on a new career path.
told by Tommy Jackett
GB describes staying up editing a special episode until 3am, then struggling not to put on a podcast to fall asleep, leading to a tangent about sleeping with wired headphones.
told by George Martin
Tommy describes using a drone to fly over Scott Pape's farm and spell out '500K' with copies of the Barefoot Investor book to celebrate a sales milestone, inspiring Pape to later buy his own drone.
told by Tommy
Tommy recounts how Bodhi found Tommy's phone, figured out how to call Josh, said hello, then switched the call to FaceTime himself, surprising both hosts.
told by Tommy Jackett
Tommy admits he called Josh to ask if he could move the team's belongings to their new upstairs desks before telling them, and Josh told him not to, comparing it to dumping an ex's things outside the house.
told by Tommy
Ryan Shelton recalls that during the week-long shoot for Loophole, the crew filmed until 5am one night because they were drinking and having fun with no one forcing them to wrap, making it one of the best weeks of his life.
told by Ryan Shelton
Tommy describes using an early digital camera with reverse-video software to create an effect where he appeared to fly up into a cupboard with a friend.
told by Tommy Jackett
Tim Reid describes getting an unexpected call from a speakers bureau representative while picking up his kids from school, leading to an 8-city keynote roadshow for an insurance company and a long-term speaking career he hadn't known existed.
told by Tim Reid
In their words
“And the teacher said, oh, you've done a Monet. And I said, fuck yeah, I have.”
“We've committed to do the daily talk show for 10 years.”
“stop treating your Instagram like a fucking art gallery.”
“I just can't. Yeah, I just can't act.”
“People, you know, people dying for their country 100 years ago. People are dying for a selfie today.”
“Heroin's not the problem, the person taking the heroin's a problem. No one would fucking say that. Heroin's a real problem.”
“I think I'm still— I'm not joking, I think I'm still dehydrated from the Grampians.”
“It's like a little bit like you've got to put on your mask before you help the other people.”
“you're an absolute whore if it's not H.264.”
“People love that awkwardness.”
“People who are able to fail with grace do better than people who are afraid to fail.”
“I think that a lot of greatness comes out of pain.”
“You know what I actually have discovered? I've discovered I've got work dysmorphia.”
“I'd fucking make a better video than this. I'd nail this. That dad, daggy. I'm cool dad.”
“You have to have so much delusion to get on stage. You have to think that you're really funny.”
“It's when you try and put the glitz and glamour around the thing as the only thing.”
“At that point, it's just a multimedia art piece, isn't it?”
“No, I've had them, mate. Fuck Casey Neistat. I've been glue gunning for years.”