Business & Entrepreneurship
236 episodes · 2018–2021 · 104 debates · 231 pieces of advice · 190 stories · 231 quotes
The Daily Talk Show — Australia’s daily podcast, hosted by Tommy Jackett and Josh Janssen — discussed business & entrepreneurship across 236 of its 1,022 daily episodes between 2018 and 2021. This page collects what was actually said: 231 verbatim quotes, 231 pieces of advice, 190 stories told on air, 104 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.
usefulness of formal business plans
Ep 10007:25States The Daily Talk Show never had a business plan and believes it wouldn't have suited their way of testing and learning as they went.
Made a short business plan early on but found that actually following through was the harder and more valuable part, suggesting plans are a starting point rather than a fixed roadmap.
Cautions that big investments (like a studio or 500sqm office) can fail to 'hit the bullseye' if timing/circumstances change, citing COVID as an example.
Believes doing ambitious things always carries risk of failure ('the guillotine comes down') but that shouldn't stop you from attempting epic things, and he still envisions a bigger future for the show.
Prefers the can because restaurant soft drink from a gun/tap is often too watered down and syrupy.
More neutral, focused on wanting lots of ice and a big cup experience rather than can vs glass specifically.
Has never had a formal written plan; his life has unfolded through following obsessions and instincts rather than strategic documents, though he acknowledges writing things down has helped him in reflective periods.
Argues that if you don't have an explicit strategy, 'that is your strategy,' and pushes Tommy to consider whether he'd benefit from actually writing his plan down.
whether podcast hosts should share personal/business struggles with their audience even when clients listen too
Ep 967▶ 23:52Feels conflicted because the podcast persona requires sharing vulnerable, unfiltered struggles (like financial issues) that wouldn't be shared in a client-facing 'director' context, and clients who listen to the show create confusing overlap.
Argues this is consistent rather than contradictory: different relationships (podcast friendship vs. client agreement) have different expectations, and sharing humanity on the podcast fits the format's implicit promise to the audience, whereas client work calls for a different kind of consistency.
Using expensive cinema equipment creates pressure and a 'full hog' posture that can be stifling, whereas cheap camcorders lower the barrier and let creativity flow without worrying about getting everything perfect.
Agrees cheap camcorders are accessible to non-filmmakers like Jess and produce a distinct, team-wide creative outlet separate from high-pressure client work.
Worries about rising costs as the team and business grow, citing that he bought Coke Zero and lamb cutlets partly for team culture but is mindful of expenditure.
Warns that as perks increase, people get complacent and eventually complain when something like Coke Zero runs out, citing experience from big agencies.
Feels taking a complete break 'seems irresponsible to a certain degree' given their role as a consistent presence for listeners.
Agrees it could seem irresponsible but feels this year genuinely offers the opportunity to switch off without guilt.
Gyms should offer a cheaper 'no plan on coming back' membership tier for people who know they won't use it much, similar to an out-clause but ongoing.
Gyms can't logically offer that because everyone joins with the intention of using their membership, so rewarding non-attendance would undermine the business model.
Found the show too pantomime and cringey, particularly the FaceTime scene and emu-cutting segment, and only watched about 10 minutes.
Considers himself a huge fan of Bert and got through several episodes despite acknowledging some scenes (like the FaceTime bit) felt staged.
Finds it cheeky that a well-funded outlet like The Verge (owned by Vox, worth over a billion with $300M+ in funding) asks readers to donate, though acknowledges it may reflect a broader shift toward reader-funded media models.
Suggests the donation ask might reflect that journalists are underpaid, and notes it's unusual to see a large business use a model typically associated with small independent creators.
whether Jim (Tommy's dad) was right to defy lockdown closures of his mowing/landscaping business
Ep 870▶ 1:55Supportive — argues mowing is an outdoor, low-risk activity and Jim was right to push back and stay open.
More cautious — notes the difficulty of drawing a line once some outdoor activities are allowed, since everyone could claim they can do their activity 'responsibly'.
Advice from the show
all 231pieces →What was actually said, attributed and linked to the moment.
Should you avoid a business partnership because you've heard partnerships end badly?
Don't let other people's bad partnership experiences stop you — go through the partnership anyway, because whatever happens (even losing money or ending in debt) is the version of the experience you need to go through to learn from it.
How should you think about the cost of shutting down a business or ending a long-running project?
Put short-term costs (like lease payouts) in perspective against the scale of the long-term investment you'd otherwise be making; don't let sunk-cost thinking or short-term pain prevent a decision that makes sense long-term.
How do you know when it's the 'right time' to end something?
You can always construct an argument for why now isn't the ideal time, so once a decision makes sense on balance, it's better to act on it rather than waiting for some theoretically more perfect moment.
Is a formal business plan necessary when starting a business?
Crystal and the hosts agree that while a business plan can provide some initial direction, it's the ongoing process of testing and learning in practice that matters most, and a rigid plan may not reflect the unpredictable early stages of a new venture.
How should you think about ambitious plans that don't work out (e.g., due to unforeseen events like COVID)?
Josh advises that just because an ambitious plan (like a studio with bleachers) didn't pan out due to circumstances doesn't mean you shouldn't have attempted it; the risk of 'the guillotine coming down' is part of doing meaningful things.
Should I write down my life or business plan?
Writing down goals/plans can be valuable, even if you don't look at them again for years — looking back later can reveal how much progress was actually made; the plan doesn't need to be a strict business document, it can be reflective questions about the kind of partner, parent or business partner you want to be.
What's the risk of not having focus in a business?
Spreading attention across too many pillars (podcasts, client video work, multiple shows) without clear focus leads to failure; identify your core strengths and commit resources there before expanding again.
How can I avoid overpaying for app subscriptions on iPhone?
Check your Apple ID account's 'Subscriptions' section (tap your profile icon, then Subscriptions) to see all pricing tiers available for an app you're subscribed to or considering — sometimes a much cheaper plan exists than the one advertised in-app.
How can you get a free trial on an app without it charging you immediately?
Josh describes double-tapping the side of the phone to use Face ID when starting a free trial, which lets the trial begin before payment, but notes you must remember to cancel/turn it off before the trial period ends.
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 much effort should you put into a new venture early on?
There's roughly a 2-year period where you should go all-in on a new venture to establish its footing in your own mind before others define it for you, even if that means working extremely hard.
When is the best time to go to the gym to avoid crowds?
Off-peak hours (when everyone else is at work, like mid-morning) tend to be much quieter than early morning or after-work peak sessions, based on observed booking numbers.
How do you keep a relationship strong after having kids?
Matty and Laura enforce a 'no mobile phones after 7pm' rule once their daughter is in bed so they can focus on each other, acknowledging they break it sometimes but try to make a conscious effort.
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 can independent podcasters/creators protect themselves from over-reliance on big platforms like Spotify?
Diversify distribution rather than relying on one proprietary platform; consider building a direct-to-audience/listener support model so the show isn't entirely dependent on platform algorithms or ad-based monetization.
How can consumers avoid being overly controlled by algorithmic content recommendations?
Consciously avoid clicking on suggested/discovery content and be aware that even search results are algorithmically curated (e.g., searching an artist on Spotify surfaces Spotify Originals), so deliberately seek diversified sources rather than defaulting to the easiest algorithmic option.
How can a personal trainer or coach stand out in a saturated market?
Stop focusing on marketing gimmicks and instead be genuinely excellent and build a real relationship with clients — if you're great at what you do and people like being around you, they'll keep coming back.
How can trainers keep client progress from going stale over time?
Work in structured review cycles (Craig uses 28-day blocks) where you reassess diet, goals and performance together with the client, turning an emotional, stop-start process into one driven by strategy and logic.
How should independent podcasters approach big platforms like Spotify and YouTube?
Josh advises being present on big platforms (treating them like a 'billboard' for exposure) while simultaneously building owned distribution, advertising technology, and brand equity so you're not solely dependent on platform algorithms or ad rates set by others.
Should podcasters just 'focus on content' and ignore the platform/medium?
Josh argues this advice is incomplete — the platform and medium shape how content is consumed and should not be ignored; creators should be wary of algorithmic changes and build sustainable models with more control rather than relying blindly on 'content is king' thinking.
How should a creator figure out what content to focus on?
Start by asking what you enjoy doing most and what will bring you the most joy, then work out who you're creating for — once you have a clear sense of audience, everything else about the content strategy becomes easier.
Should I tell a client or colleague I'm not feeling great?
It can be valuable to acknowledge you're not feeling great at the start of an interaction rather than defaulting to 'good,' as it can create authenticity and connection, though it should be done as 'radical ownership' without expecting anything from the other person.
How do you get a candle to burn evenly without wasting wax?
Make sure to cut the wick, and let the first burn go all the way to the edges of the candle so the full top layer melts; if that didn't happen on the first burn, a blowtorch can be used to melt the outer wax down to a flat, even surface.
Stories told on air
Josh and Tommy explain the practical and emotional process of closing their business BMC and the podcast studio alongside ending the show, covering staff payouts, lease costs, and the reasoning behind a staged rather than abrupt shutdown.
told by Tommy Jackett and Josh Janssen
The abandoned house with a hidden key
Ep 100010:50Tommy recalls finding an abandoned house in a nice suburb as a kid, discovering a key under a rock, and claiming it as a private hangout spot with friends.
told by Tommy Jackett
Tommy recounts a video in which reformed addict Steve-O, after years of heavy nitrous oxide ('nangs') use, visits a celebrity voice specialist to fix his damaged, unusual-sounding speech.
told by Tommy Jackett
Tommy and Josh recount a story about Jason Calacanis, a long-time friend of Elon Musk, who learned Tesla had only days of payroll runway left during the 2008 financial crisis while developing the Model S. Calacanis wrote two $50,000 personal checks to help fund the car's development and ended up as the first official Model S order.
told by Tommy Jackett and Josh Janssen
During a client video shoot, Tommy's iMessages were accidentally displayed on the client's monitor, including a flirtatious text from his wife Amy about how good his new aftershave smelled, which the client also saw.
told by Tommy Jackett
Josh explains how he discovered that checking the Subscriptions section of an Apple ID account reveals cheaper pricing tiers for apps than what's shown during in-app sign-up, using Speechify (advertised at $215/year but available for $49/year) as the example.
told by Josh
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 recalls his mum used to fold towels into swan shapes and that he would rearrange his bedroom every few months as a kid to make it feel like a new place, comparing it to living in a hotel.
told by Tommy Jackett
Josh and Tommy reflect on how at the start of 2020 their team was barely formed, and it's taken nearly three years of all-in effort to get the business (and show) to a stable footing with new full-time hires.
told by Josh Janssen and Tommy Jackett
Matty recounts a paparazzo approaching him and Laura about announcing a pregnancy that they had told almost no one about, raising questions about how tabloids get information.
told by Matty
Tommy explains the iPhone 4 'Antennagate' scandal where holding the phone's sides caused signal loss, and how Apple's solution was distributing free silicone 'bumper' cases.
told by Tommy Jackett
Mason recounts running a Minecraft server as a kid that generated about $10,000, relying on unpaid teenage/young adult moderators, and strategically waiting out a 60-day PayPal chargeback window before giving the server away.
told by Mason Lauder
Tommy and Josh try to recall what they were doing exactly two years earlier using Siri and Google Photos, eventually remembering they were filming an episode walking the High Line in New York, having cocktails at the Standard hotel rooftop, and rowboating in Central Park with Josh's partner Bree.
told by Tommy Jackett and Josh Janssen
Josh describes experimenting with honesty by telling a client at the start of a meeting that he wasn't feeling great, rather than the usual 'good,' and reflects on the vulnerability and discomfort of doing so.
told by Josh Janssen
Josh explains that his wife Amy, while working the front counter at a big advertising agency, ran a side-hustle candle business and became a supplier of candles for the office, which burned through many candles at once; as a seller she carried liability insurance covering potential damages.
told by Josh
Josh describes recording a placeholder voiceover for a client as he usually does, only for the client's wife (a speech pathologist) to ask afterward if they were getting a 'professional' voiceover artist, leaving Josh paranoid about what gave him away.
told by Josh Janssen
Josh coached Mason to use 'we all stayed up watching David Blaine' as meeting small talk; the client had never heard of David Blaine, leading to an awkward silence, though the meeting ultimately succeeded.
told by Mason Lauder and Josh Janssen
Tommy describes a Melbourne gimmick business where customers would order a toasted sandwich (jaffle) which would be dropped from a window attached to a small parachute for them to catch on the street.
told by Tommy Jackett
In their words
“Get in before they do. That's what I've always said. My dad taught me that.”
“You can always find a reason why it's not better now.”
“It's The Daily Talk Show episode 1000 with Crystal.”
“When you do hard things, when you do things that are like putting your neck out, sometimes the guillotine comes down. Like, it just, it just happens.”
“I'm not the guy to ever do that. I'm the guy to go full on and do a marathon before I've done a single step.”
“If you're not flying, you're going straight through the barricade wall.”
“Keep grateful, guys.”
“It's like a little bit like you've got to put on your mask before you help the other people.”
“It was tough the 7 months. It was like I've come back from war.”
“My dad gets paid by the hour and my dad's probably paying for him having a smoke, an extra long smoke.”
“You're kind of in this weird, like, no man's land.”
“It's not hard to string out a 40-minute episode about a birthday on this show. We do, that's our magic trick.”
“Uber Eats and McDonald's. Absolute fucking hypocrites.”
“I go, be fucking awesome, the end.”
“Like as if there's this single truth. Like the thing is, there's no single truth.”
“Yeah, it's amazing they've brought back the iPhone 4.”
“I know I fucking hate your guts right this minute but I don't want you to go anywhere, really. You know, like, I love you, so don't leave.”
“You don't have to be Spotify. You don't— like, the thing is that it's not be on Spotify, like, be on Spotify or create your own Spotify.”