Radio, TV & The Media Industry
163 episodes · 2018–2021 · 65 debates · 69 pieces of advice · 181 stories · 124 quotes
The Daily Talk Show — Australia’s daily podcast, hosted by Tommy Jackett and Josh Janssen — discussed radio, tv & the media industry across 163 of its 1,022 daily episodes between 2018 and 2021. This page collects what was actually said: 124 verbatim quotes, 69 pieces of advice, 181 stories told on air, 65 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 the industry is entitled, failed to adapt or serve listeners, and is now asking for money rather than demonstrating value, comparing it to a business that was already broken before COVID.
Agrees, mocking the appeal sarcastically and comparing it to historical cheap Foxtel trial deals from door-to-door salespeople.
Believes phone pranks will never work on him because he verifies unknown callers via text before engaging, and unknown numbers are automatically silenced by his phone settings.
Believes Josh can be pranked and says he'd love to successfully pull one off in the office.
Believes stigma against production staff wanting on-air time will always exist because radio people tend to have big egos, but says her own move to on-air work happened organically rather than by design.
Jokingly frames pursuing on-air opportunities as 'trying to be famous,' reflecting the stigma Toni describes.
The article is baseless and misleading, unfairly implying wrongdoing when Pape was simply transparent about using Host Plus himself.
Agrees the article is thin but suggests the journalist may have felt pressured to publish something after investing weeks investigating, even with minimal findings.
Initially pushed for a higher counter-offer (e.g. $330 plus GST, then jokingly $250,000) before ultimately accepting the $250 deal.
Wanted to quickly lock in the $250 deal as 'quick money' and framed it as smart early-stage business strategy even if future bids could be higher.
Says he wears the same undies all day and reuses them after a night shower, doing just one wash a week.
Josh Janssen and Tommy Jackett
Find this surprising/gross and suggest you'd need many more pairs to rotate through, implying a fresh pair makes more sense.
Content like objectifying football players or prank-call 'gotcha' segments was fine for its era and shouldn't be judged as wrong in hindsight, but wouldn't be done today given different standards.
Agrees the past shouldn't be condemned retroactively, framing the generational shift as informing the future rather than indicting the past.
Cam D'Antoni
Prefers text message invitations, though it depends on the size of the event (e.g., a wedding vs a casual weekend gathering).
Received a hard-copy invite that was also followed by a text, found the mixed approach confusing, and nearly missed his best friend's wedding as a result.
Sees a hierarchy of invitation methods where paper can be seen as more 'superior' but questions whether that holds up against digital confirmations.
The ranker is flawed and irresponsible because it only covers commercial radio podcasts (2% of listening) while presenting itself as representative of the whole industry; the entire concept of such a ranking is flawed.
The ranker is essentially lying/fraudulent, similar to inflated newspaper circulation and radio ratings practices he witnessed firsthand working in commercial radio.
The ranker is misleadingly named, excludes major independent podcasts, incentivises bad behaviour (feed-stuffing), and is bad for both independent creators and the radio industry itself.
Agrees with Tommy's critique, drawing parallels to Facebook's old inflated view-counting and questioning why CRA didn't secure the matching domain name.
Having worked in radio before (implied Shepparton reference), he's wary of the constraints and says it would have to be an enormous amount of money to make leaving The Daily Talk Show worth it.
Believes building their own independent show for the long term has more future upside than a radio gig, and that joining a network would limit their creative freedom.
Vox pops are the lowest form of journalism but remain a newsroom favourite because they're easy content.
Finds it odd when shows seek out 'different opinions' from random members of the public who have no real authority on the topic.
Advice from the show
all 69pieces →What was actually said, attributed and linked to the moment.
Should a show aim to be broad/inclusive or niche and edgy?
Andy Lee was advised by a Nine TV executive to remember they are 'broadcasters, not narrowcasters' and to lean into broad, inclusive, family-friendly appeal rather than chasing edginess, which matched where the show naturally wanted to play.
What should a radio network CEO do to stay relevant in 2020?
Focus on shows with strong community connection and skew programming toward older demographics who still value live talkback radio, rather than treating programming as set-and-forget in a podcast/streaming competitive environment.
Should a creator aim for a huge/global audience or focus on a local niche?
Think about who your real audience is and understand them deeply (community, local references) rather than chasing broad reach or vanity metrics that don't convert into meaningful value; world domination ambitions can prevent doing the valuable work right in front of you.
How should you approach interviewing celebrity guests on radio?
Tailor a fresh, specific idea to each guest rather than asking generic questions, and acknowledge if they've had a long day of interviews to build rapport and get a better result.
Should you trust sensational headlines about public figures?
Read beyond the headline and check what evidence the article actually provides before forming an opinion, since headlines can imply wrongdoing that the body of the article doesn't support.
How should someone prepare for an unscripted radio interview appearance?
Have a few short, punchy personal stories or talking points ready in advance, listen carefully to figure out the angle the hosts want, and give quick, real answers rather than long-winded or cliché responses.
What's a better sales approach than naming your own price first?
Josh suggests that instead of stating a price upfront, you should ask the buyer what their budget is, since putting a number out first is where he's 'gone wrong' in sales previously.
When should you start a countdown clock during a long broadcast or event?
Don't start announcing 'hours to go' until more than half of the total time has elapsed, otherwise it signals you don't want to be there, similar to how being ranked just outside the top on some lists looks worse than not mentioning rank at all.
What should you avoid or do during a long overnight livestream?
Don't play copyrighted music on the stream or it will get taken down; stay active (stretch, move around); save caffeine consumption for the hardest overnight stretch rather than the whole event.
How can individuals help the economy and local workers during a lockdown?
Look around your house, office, or life for jobs you've been meaning to get done and hire someone to do them now, since tradespeople and casual workers are desperate for work.
What's the right age to travel or take big risks with no responsibilities?
Tommy and Dave agree that if you have no responsibilities, that's the age (around 22) you should travel or make big changes, because once you're older you accumulate commitments that make it harder to leave.
How do you deal with social anxiety when meeting lots of new people?
Shift from feeling to curiosity: ask specific questions about the other person (e.g. about their children), smile and remember names, because emotion is contagious and curiosity pulls your focus out of your own head.
How do you actually break into a radio career?
Be willing to work for free, move to regional or far-flung markets, and put in unglamorous grunt work before any on-air opportunity comes — persistence over connections is what separates people who make it from those who don't.
How should you handle a toddler attempting risky physical stunts like trust falls?
Treat toddlers as not knowing the risks and explain consequences directly ('what would happen if no one was here to catch you'), while still supervising closely just in case.
Is it better to release more original content or pad out fewer episodes with extra clips?
Release original content as frequently as possible (even multiple times a day) rather than inflating numbers by splitting one episode into multiple clips or 'best bits,' which misleads on true audience size.
Do I need a journalism/media degree to break into the industry in 2020?
A degree may not be essential anymore; consider getting an internship at a publisher and working your way up instead, while building durable human skills (creativity, empathy, problem-solving) that technology won't replace.
How should I improve as a writer trying to break into media?
Read and consume content constantly — reading great and even bad work teaches you how to write better and keeps you current on what's happening.
What should a producer do to support a show rather than hurt it?
A good producer gives performers a practical framework (time limits, content rules for broadcast standards) but trusts the performer's own tested, audience-validated material rather than overriding it with personal taste; stifling creative control can actively harm a show.
How should radio hosts/producers handle mentioning brands or businesses in stories to avoid advertiser conflicts?
Avoid naming specific brands when telling potentially negative stories (e.g., finding something wrong in food) — instruct callers and hosts to say generic terms like "a burger place" instead of the actual brand name.
How can a sponsorship integration feel natural rather than forced on air?
Have the on-air talent genuinely experience the sponsor's product or location (e.g., staying overnight at a home-and-land display) so that references to it later arise naturally from real memories rather than scripted reads.
Should aspiring journalists study journalism at university?
Anjali Rao advises against studying journalism alone, recommending a complementary degree such as psychology or law so you bring a distinct perspective to reporting and have a fallback qualification as the industry changes rapidly.
How should former radio people position themselves when applying for jobs outside radio?
Reframe your resume around transferable skills like producing, content strategy and communications rather than 'radio announcer', because outside employers often don't recognise the breadth of skills radio people actually have.
How can you pitch a partnership or collaboration via cold outreach?
Harry models a pitch that opens with a confident hook ('I've got an awesome opportunity for you'), frames the exchange as mutually beneficial (free advertising/promotion in return for access), and anticipates the other party's concerns by offering a practical solution (like reserving a private session) rather than asking for an open-ended favor.
How can a host build a sustainable, successful media career and brand?
Zach Sang says success comes from staying authentic and genuinely being the same person on and off mic, from being diligent and researched in your craft, and from focusing on your own work rather than comparing yourself to competitors, since being comfortable is 'the kiss of death.'
Stories told on air
The pirate radio station argument
Ep 100019:55Josh recalls wanting to set up an FM pirate radio transmitter on Easy Street so Gronks could drive up and listen to the show live, and getting into a big argument with Tommy about whether anyone would actually be able to hear it.
told by Josh Janssen
As a young child (around age 4-5), Tommy took a bar mixer from a drawer, held it to his head, and turned it on; despite no blade attached, the motor's spinning part ripped out a patch of his hair.
told by Tommy Jackett
Tommy recounts going into a radio studio to be interviewed by Red Symonds about a viral video he made, describing the host as cold, unwilling to make eye contact, and subtly mocking him.
told by Tommy Jackett
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
Tommy recounts a radio stunt for Fifi and Jules in London during the Olympics, where a 'blackout challenge' had Fifi blindfolded then made to give an improvised tour of London from the front of a double-decker bus with a microphone, mixing real landmarks with made-up commentary.
told by Tommy Jackett
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
Josh recounts a coworker with whom he unknowingly synced bathroom break timing, leading to repeated awkward door-pushing incidents, which he initially thought was an eerie coincidence but was actually just shift timing.
told by Josh Janssen
Tommy recalls sending an admiring fan email to podcaster Lewis Howes (School of Greatness) after being inspired during a park journaling session, and receiving a brief 'thanks, keep it up' reply.
told by Tommy Jackett
Josh recounts a 2007 US radio station contest called 'Hold Your Wee for a Wii,' where a contestant died from drinking too much water trying to win a Nintendo Wii, leading to ten staff being fired.
told by Josh Janssen
Josh and his partner Bree watched an old MTV documentary, Britney: For the Record, filmed post-haircut, which Josh found sad in places, and they discuss how her voice changed over the years.
told by Tommy
Tommy recalls a time in regional radio when he forgot to put the faders down and accidentally went to air, but nothing inappropriate was said; he also notes he managed never to swear on air despite swearing constantly otherwise.
told by Tommy Jackett
While working at a radio show in 2013, Josh helped run a promotion where a listener's old car would be secretly towed away and replaced with a new Suzuki Swift, including a trip to Queensland involving an overly secretive, expensive security car.
told by Josh Janssen
George Martin and Mason Lauder plotted to prank Josh with a hidden GoPro and a fake call claiming Spotify had pulled Hump Day Replay for a copyright strike, enlisting visitor Toni Lodge to make calls. Josh spotted the GoPro and George's odd behaviour, and his phone's do-not-disturb setting blocked unknown callers, causing the prank to unravel; Tommy then admitted he'd tipped Josh off trying to salvage it.
told by Josh Janssen, George Martin, Mason Lauder, Tommy Jackett
Tomasel describes a game-show segment with singer Bebe Rexha that went sideways after management objected to the format; Rexha ultimately got into it and smashed a pie into Tomasel's face, ruining an expensive Balenciaga jacket in the process.
told by Bree Tomasel
While doing night shifts with Kyle Sandilands on Triple M in Brisbane, Jase devised a barter system: he gave city restaurants cartons of Coke to sell in exchange for free meals, then had the stationed Channel 7 camera operator deliver the food via the network van after filming news stories, repeating it nightly for two years.
told by Jase Hawkins
Josh recalls his episode-1 story about appearing on a regional radio show hosted by Heath and Normie, then describes going down an internet rabbit hole to discover Normie (Lucas Dorrell) now lives in Texas and has moved away from radio.
told by Josh Janssen
Harry is sent upstairs with studio equipment and struggles to find the right cables; later he lets out a loud scream that Josh and Tommy initially fear signals a serious injury, but it turns out to be over a damaged HDMI cable.
told by Josh Janssen and Tommy Jackett
Ben Fordham calls into the show live to clarify the megaphone backstory, then negotiates with Josh and Tommy over price, eventually agreeing to pay $250 via PayPal for naming rights to the megaphone for the first week (June 1-5) of his new 2GB breakfast radio show.
told by Ben Fordham, Josh Janssen, Tommy Jackett
In their words
“Whenever I hear someone say bad actor, can't help but think of Hollywood actors that are bad performers.”
“There's nothing more pathetic when a radio show has nothing on the other side of a—”
“It's a very low barrier to get into the Gronk Squad.”
“He said, gotta say, man, I've been thinking a lot lately. It was my time working with you that has set me on the new path.”
“I think that this is the classic case of your business was fucked before COVID Is it that you've broken your leg and you're trying to limp it, you're trying to just walk it off?”
“it's a complete Ponzi scheme if you're trying to say to the local town's, you know, bakery, we have 25,000 followers on Facebook, and then they're thinking that is the whole fucking town.”
“Imagine if you had in your mind where you wouldn't do the competition like that, where you're like, at some stage in probably 5 or 6 years, there will be a Wee left out for rubbish collection, and it probably still works.”
“If I can help one person that might be feeling like that and they see me, who they look at as someone who never has any worries or, you know, issues, and they can feel comfort in the sense that they're not alone... then I'm going to do that stuff.”
“I just, yeah, I just, I guess it's like, I feel like no one would want to listen to me because I'm not anyone.”
“We've all got mates in radio and so everyone just refuses to be the fake caller for someone.”
“It's a dark time for media. It's a dark time for business, small business.”
“Buster sounds too, uh, Buster. Buster sounds like, uh, a producer. It's sort of low status.”
“It just feels like a personal brand building exercise.”
“I just really like that, that, that loud noise.”
“No one's listening. No one's, no matter how great you are, even Jerry Seinfeld, probably by like hour 3, he's not gonna come up with anything profound.”
“We lost our voices and our minds.”
“it's adapt or die, and you've got to find ways.”
“Ricky Gervais' favourite saying of a camel is a horse built by committee is true.”