Sport & Competition
87 episodes · 2018–2021 · 37 debates · 35 pieces of advice · 86 stories · 67 quotes
The Daily Talk Show — Australia’s daily podcast, hosted by Tommy Jackett and Josh Janssen — discussed sport & competition across 87 of its 1,022 daily episodes between 2018 and 2021. This page collects what was actually said: 67 verbatim quotes, 35 pieces of advice, 86 stories told on air, 37 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.
Disapproves of a teenager pocketing another player's ball, arguing people should recognize balls on a golf course likely belong to someone.
Admits he did the same thing as a kid because he was 'counting up how much money' he was saving.
Believes golf content appearing everywhere (Instagram Reels, random YouTube videos) reflects a genuine resurgence, comparing it to driving ranges being packed.
Acknowledges the algorithm bias (comparing it to buying a Tesla and then seeing Teslas everywhere) but agrees there does seem to be real momentum, similar to past resurgences of rollerblading.
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.
Admits he leans towards picking a baseball team (like the Astros) partly for merchandise/towel aesthetics rather than deep fandom, and acknowledges wearing a golf hat only works because he actually plays golf now.
Pokes fun at the idea of adopting fandom superficially, noting it's a misalignment to like a team just for gear, and prefers to only engage with sport if he genuinely likes it.
Views it as an expensive, somewhat wasteful hobby given Josh is paying $130/session plus gear costs before even playing a full round.
Frames the spending as self-development and lifestyle investment, comparing it to how people pay for Pilates or multiple personal coaches for different areas of life.
Finds boxing and UFC personally uninteresting and doesn't feel it's 'his scene,' though he'd attend to support a friend.
Finds the aspirational athlete lifestyle (singular focus, training, big money) appealing even if the actual fighting/trolling spectacle isn't the draw.
Believes professional golfers, especially on a par 3, are always essentially trying to get a hole-in-one or aiming directly at the pin.
Argues golfers aim for the pin generally to minimize strokes, and a hole-in-one is an incidental, rare outcome rather than a specific goal, citing a golfer he trained who got only one hole-in-one in 15 years.
Prefers low-crowd settings like wine bars, golf, or wineries because he fears being 'king hit' in loud pub crowds and dislikes large group dynamics and decision friction.
Wants a classic pub crawl with the group, arguing it's for 'the greater good' and pushing back on Josh's reluctance to drink in big groups.
Thinks Josh can do a one-off pub night without it defining his identity, and is generally more open to the chaotic, unplanned nature of a pub crawl.
Believes he cares more about and knows more about UFC than Josh does about baseball, attributing it to his martial arts background.
Admits his baseball knowledge and passion is comparatively shallow and sometimes confuses players and team colours.
Previously viewed people who bring sports equipment to parks as overly alpha/try-hard, but has now changed his mind and wants to become 'the sports equipment guy' himself.
Has long been enthusiastic about park sports equipment, particularly frisbees, and encourages the idea of a team equipment bag.
Enthusiastic — wants to follow the Phillies, get merchandise, watch games, and build a community around it.
Skeptical — finds it slow and is mainly interested in player salaries and occasional impressive catches, but is open to watching a few games.
If hosts are generating huge revenue for a network as an industry standard, they should be fairly remunerated for that success, even if the raw dollar figures sound excessive compared to other professions.
Views the saga mainly as compelling public drama/content in itself, without taking a strong position on the fairness of the pay structure.
Advice from the show
all 35pieces →What was actually said, attributed and linked to the moment.
Is it okay to pick up a stray golf ball on a golf course?
Tommy argues you shouldn't take a ball that's clearly someone else's just because you find it on a golf course, while Josh notes it's fine to keep balls found in areas with no one around, like rough near a short par 3.
When can you clean or swap your golf ball during a round?
Josh explains that while putting on the green, you're allowed to mark your ball's position, pick it up to clean it, and place it back down, and you can also swap to a fresh ball once a hole is finished.
How do you get better-tasting sparkling water at home?
Josh and Jules recommend a SodaStream with a glass bottle attachment rather than the standard plastic bottle, noting plastic can impart a gunky taste, while cautioning that a faulty lid can occasionally make water taste off.
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.
How should a beginner get into cryptocurrency investing?
Have a friend who already understands it help set up an account and start with a minimal, low investment amount to build curiosity and learn by doing rather than trying to understand everything upfront.
What part of the body should you train to improve your golf swing?
Focus on leg and hip strength along with torso rotation and flexibility rather than arm strength, since power for golf (similar to boxing) comes from the legs, glutes, and hip rotation.
How can you keep experiencing 'fun' or novel moments as you get older?
Josh suggests seeking out new experiences with different people (e.g., playing golf with new people) and trying to reframe everyday moments (like getting up early) as exciting rather than just routine, since the novelty of any new habit fades quickly.
How do you keep going on a long project when the initial excitement fades?
Tommy references a book's idea that every career has ups and downs, and that people often quit when they lose the initial feeling of excitement without realizing that's why they're quitting; the advice is essentially 'don't quit' and recognize there can be multiple 'acts' or phases ahead.
How do you keep improving at golf as a beginner?
Don't try to hit the ball too hard ('hit the skin off it') as this ruins your shot; instead focus on technique over power, and use tracking tools like Toptracer and SwingU to understand distances and improve consistency.
How should you negotiate price when buying something secondhand (e.g. on Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree)?
Offer a lower starting price than asking and expect the seller to counter slightly above it (e.g. if asking is $800, offer $650-700 and expect them to counter at $700-750); also always count the cash when a deal is made in person.
How should you approach a paid coaching session to get the most value?
Don't over-direct a good coach with too many specific requests — let them ask questions and guide the session, since a skilled coach will figure out what you actually need rather than just doing what you ask for.
What's a lower-stress alternative to a big pub crawl for group bonding?
Josh proposes smaller-scale, structured activities like golf (starting with a driving range), bowling at Strike, or a winery bus tour as alternatives to chaotic big pub crowds.
How do you actually get into a new sport or hobby like fantasy football or UFC?
Tommy suggests you have to genuinely be into something to follow it properly—comparing it to asking someone to just 'start watching a UFC fight' to get into it—implying passive interest rarely sticks.
How should a team manage shared sports equipment so items don't get lost?
Keep a limited, countable set of items (around 10) in a single clean bag, and count them back in at the end of each session to make sure nothing is missing.
What sports equipment is good to bring to a park for group fun?
A mix of frisbees (including a Vortex or Aerobie-style disc), a bocce set, a gridiron ball, cricket stumps/bat/ball, and baseball gloves covers a good range of casual park games.
What practical technique helps manage performance anxiety in high-pressure moments?
Use visualisation before key moments (e.g., before serving in tennis): take deep breaths and mentally replay the feeling of a good shot/point rather than dwelling on mistakes, since people tend to remember negative moments more than positive ones.
How important is sleep and routine for athletic performance?
Prioritising consistent, adequate sleep (rather than staying up late out of habit) made a noticeable difference to performance, even though old habits felt fine at the time.
How should you plan a group activity so it actually happens instead of falling through?
Lock in a specific date within a committed window (e.g. during an upcoming holiday) rather than leaving plans vague, and keep the activity low-stakes/social (hired gear, no pressure) so there's less friction to follow through.
Should you spar when learning to box?
Jess Lucas advises against sparring, saying it's better to use pads or bags since sparring really hurts and mainly teaches you to cover your face.
What's a thorough way to wash your hands during a pandemic?
Harry describes a 'two-tap' method: turn on the hot tap, wash and soap your hands, turn on the cold tap, wash again, then turn off the hot tap and wash, then turn off the cold tap and wash once more — so you never touch a dirty tap with clean hands.
How can someone with a quick temper become more even-tempered like a laid-back friend?
Cam explains it's not a conscious technique but a natural tendency to wait, lay back, and let things build rather than reacting immediately to emotions; when he does get annoyed, it takes a lot to get there and the result is going fully 'off' a person rather than frequent small outbursts.
How can you tell who your genuine friends are when you're in the public eye?
Pay attention to who reaches out to you after a bad performance or loss versus only after wins — that pattern reveals who actually cares about you versus who's just along for the good times.
How should someone find a hobby as they get older?
Let the hobby come to you rather than forcing an identity around it — try things without announcing them to the world, and don't impulsively buy equipment before you've even tried the activity.
How should you handle someone being passive-aggressive instead of direct?
Tommy suggests meeting the moment with calm, friendly directness rather than escalating—open with something like 'hey guys, we're sitting back here and wondering if you're here for the show because you're blocking our view' rather than a vague passive question.
Stories told on air
Josh recounts a golf lesson where his coach complimented his swing for resembling a baseball/table-tennis motion, illustrating how overthinking technique can hurt performance compared to intuitive movement.
told by Josh Janssen
Tommy and Josh describe deciding on a Monday morning to end the show, then going to play golf together afterward, feeling light and 'chipper' in the immediate aftermath before more complex emotions set in later.
told by Josh Janssen and Tommy Jackett
Tommy describes a round of golf where a young man picked up and pocketed a golf ball belonging to producer George, later returning it after being confronted.
told by Tommy
Josh describes watching a YouTube/Reels video of a man isolating in an abandoned mining 'ghost town' who unexpectedly launched into a 15-minute tangent about golf, illustrating how golf content keeps surfacing everywhere.
told by Josh Janssen
Shitting Himself on the Golf Course as a Kid
Ep 100041:54Josh tells a graphic story of soiling himself on the 9th hole as a young golfer, finishing the round anyway out of commitment to his mate's good score, and having his friend Kyle Hobson call his mum for towels under a cover story about 'falling in mud.'
told by Josh Janssen
Tommy recalls that James Brayshaw hired him for roving reporting on The Rush Hour alongside Billy Brownless, calling it his big break and wishing he'd pushed Brayshaw harder to mentor him.
told by Tommy Jackett
Josh recounts trying to organize a golf game with Scooter Derek, who gives confusing percentage-based commitment answers before eventually confirming once he finds his golf clubs in the back of his factory.
told by Josh Janssen
Josh and GB played the back nine at Yarra Bend and, relying on GPS, accidentally skipped from the 11th tee to the 14th tee, realizing their error and having to backtrack to play the missed holes amid a busy course.
told by Josh Janssen
Josh describes going from deciding to buy golf clubs to actually purchasing a secondhand set from a stranger in Glen Waverley within 12 hours, including an awkward cash handover and a weak negotiation that only knocked $20 off the asking price.
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
Jess recounts her amateur boxing fight, including knocking out an opponent's false eyelashes, fighting without headgear, and deciding to go through with the match because she believed she could win against her specific opponent.
told by Jess Lucas
Josh recounts throwing a golf ball as high as he could as a kid, trying to catch it, and instead getting hit square in the forehead, resulting in a large bubble-like bump and a trip to the doctor with his mum.
told by Josh Janssen
Josh recounts a story Miley Cyrus told on Joe Rogan's podcast about sustaining a head injury as a toddler when her father Billy Ray Cyrus, riding a motorbike with her in a backpack, ducked under a tree branch she couldn't avoid.
told by Josh Janssen
Heath describes being an overweight, inactive 14-year-old who started playing tennis at his local Mentone club, where he met Dylan Alcott and coach Marco Percy, eventually building a junior tennis career.
told by Heath Davidson
Ryan Jon recounts failing a random drug test after the Australian Volleyball League finals, having smoked marijuana during schoolies about a week prior. The positive result was passed to the Australian Olympic Committee, who ruled he could not be selected for the Olympics, despite Australia having no real chance of qualifying in volleyball at the time.
told by Ryan Jon
Josh recalls, at age 12, sitting next to a celebrity chef on a flight to Hamilton Island, filming a proud home-video presenting piece about it, and being too shy to properly speak to him until they were landing.
told by Josh Janssen
Jess recounts training for eight weeks for her gym's fight night, cutting weight before weigh-in, walking out to Beyoncé's 'Partition,' getting hit in the throat, and winning by unanimous decision to become an undefeated champ, despite having to pay a $600 entry fee (refunded through ticket sales).
told by Jess Lucas
Tommy and Josh recap the public drama around Call Her Daddy's hosts going from a modest deal to nearly $500,000 a year each at Barstool Sports before trying to exit their contract, sparking legal battles and public commentary.
told by Tommy Jackett and Josh Janssen
In their words
“It's so human nature to claim things, isn't it?”
“My favourite is seeing people in a NASA t-shirt... you say to them, oh my God, you're an astronaut.”
“There's something about someone's first time seeing that, even though it's not yours, you're living vicariously through them.”
“I just want a fucking hug.”
“So, because the thing is, it is, uh, so typically you have drivers, you have irons, right?”
“This is why I hate Facebook Marketplace though. Why does everyone need to negotiate?”
“It's a very low barrier to get into the Gronk Squad. That's crazy!”
“He's in jail for cutlet theft.”
“Ryan John, I'm the greatest fighter of all time. I'm undefeated. And I want to see you in the ring.”
“I think even Trump bends over to pick up his balls.”
“I've actually been thinking— this is very different to the pub stuff— but getting into golf in a big, like, in a big way again.”
“I always felt like the people who brought sports equipment to a park weren't my people... yeah, I went to Rebel Sport and I got this fucking footy and now I'm in charge, you know.”
“It's, it's a shame that, uh, those guys are the face of it all.”
“It's like saying I know the rules of basketball because I played netball.”
“No, it's to be plain and simple. That's very annoying.”
“Strategy is about future. So my strategy was to be short and fat, and it's paid off because I didn't want to go to the Olympics. Because that was my strategy all along.”
“I want to take up golf. Oh yeah, I want to do a— I want to get a group together and do golf.”
“No, yeah, it's just cover your face essentially because it really fucking hurts.”