Drinking & Nights Out
132 episodes · 2018–2021 · 64 debates · 62 pieces of advice · 126 stories · 119 quotes
The Daily Talk Show — Australia’s daily podcast, hosted by Tommy Jackett and Josh Janssen — discussed drinking & nights out across 132 of its 1,022 daily episodes between 2018 and 2021. This page collects what was actually said: 119 verbatim quotes, 62 pieces of advice, 126 stories told on air, 64 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.
Feels a selfish reluctance to do a wrap party, comparing the show's end to attending one's own funeral.
Jokes that they should save for a 'comeback party' instead, suggesting it would be a better party.
References a graph suggesting non-drinkers have higher anxiety than moderate drinkers, and wonders if drinking a little could make him less anxious.
Argues it depends on mindset — some people can use addictive things like alcohol or social media in moderation without issue, while others cross a line into harmful use.
Is skeptical of the weed business boom, comparing the hype to crypto and startup culture and criticizing how it's become over-commercialized ('Los Angeles-fied').
Draws a parallel to flavored alcohol products (spritzers, Saintly) as a similar commercial trend, without strongly endorsing or condemning it.
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.
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.
Argues it's entirely on the individual to control their habits regardless of who they're with—'that's all on me, that control... if I don't have the ownership.'
Agrees he isn't really influenced by others' drinking but admits in the moment he was the one pushing to keep drinking, affirming self-responsibility.
Argues alcohol is arguably more harmful than some illegal drugs and questions why it remains legal while others, like marijuana, are not.
Agrees alcohol causes more direct harm than marijuana (citing zero deaths from marijuana), but notes that making alcohol illegal again would likely cause worse problems via black markets, as happened during Prohibition.
Raises that a US state has legalised all illicit drugs and seems curious/uncertain about the broader policy implications.
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.
Prefers lower-energy, less macho options like archery, and later also considers golf and bowling, while wanting to stay out of the spotlight at a group dinner.
Wants an outdoor, energetic activity like a round of golf, driving range, or team games in a park rather than something low-energy.
Advocates for a bonding cooking class with a refugee host at Free to Feed, followed by optional drinks, over destructive or purely physical activities.
Currently abstaining from coffee, finding it makes him irritable and over-stimulated, especially combined with parenting stress; plans to limit to one cup a day post-show and have a few drinks by year's end.
Feels good and energised with coffee, attributing Tommy's negative reaction more to the stress of parenting duties than the coffee itself.
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.
Refuses to buy any chafing gel or product, preferring to just deal with the issue.
Suggests practical gear solutions like bike shorts or compression skins to prevent chafing.
Advice from the show
all 62pieces →What was actually said, attributed and linked to the moment.
How can you guess which wine is more expensive without knowing the brand?
Swirl the wine and see how it falls off the glass — wine that sticks more to the glass (more 'legs') tends to indicate higher alcohol content, which can correlate with being the cheaper bottle.
How can you simplify decision-making around habits like drinking?
Removing an option entirely (e.g., not drinking at all) eliminates the need to weigh choices in the moment, reducing the number of things you have to think about.
How should you tell a kid that a big planned event is cancelled?
Tommy suggests not giving advance warning—take them out and keep things normal beforehand, then deliver the news all at once rather than dragging it out, similar to how you'd end a relationship.
How can I tell if I'm addicted to something like coffee or alcohol?
Try taking a full month off it; observing how your body and habits react during that break reveals your true level of dependency, since addiction 'doesn't speak, it just acts.'
How do I stop overindulging when I'm with friends who enable a habit?
Take full personal responsibility rather than blaming friends or surroundings—recognise you are the only one truly influencing your own choices, even if it means changing who you spend time with if their habits conflict with the life you want.
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.
How can a team fairly decide on a group activity like a Christmas party when there are disagreements?
Tommy suggests everyone submit a few ideas and then vote on them, or pull a chosen idea out of a hat, to reduce the need for extended debate and reach a decision more efficiently.
Should you drink coffee or alcohol before high-pressure situations?
Tommy suggests avoiding substances that could exacerbate stress during high-pressure situations (like public speaking or big workdays), aiming instead for a clear mind, and saving drinks/coffee for lower-stakes, relaxed occasions.
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.
Is it safer to do a virtual party game than something like a party bus?
Statistically you're more likely to be harmed driving to work than playing a virtual game, so opting for a Zoom-based game avoids risks like motion sickness and unsafe retired buses used for party buses.
What should you do when values clash with a partner over generosity (like giving away someone else's belongings)?
Tommy frames the conflict as two different but valid values clashing (generosity toward others vs. attachment to specific special possessions) rather than one person being simply wrong.
How do you drink shots or champagne without hating the taste?
You need to already be sufficiently drunk from more pleasant-tasting drinks before moving on to shots or champagne, which otherwise taste bad.
How do you deal with cravings or urges when quitting something like alcohol or your phone?
Josh frames it as a cost-benefit analysis: removing a habit forces you to sit with uncomfortable feelings rather than escape them, and while both paths are hard, confronting the feelings directly is ultimately more rewarding long-term, even if it doesn't feel that way in the moment.
How should I handle a partner having different habits (e.g. drinking) than me?
Don't be evangelical about your own choices—recognise that what works for you at a given time doesn't have to be the standard for someone else, and manage your own behaviour rather than trying to manage theirs.
Should you try to moderate a habit or cut it out completely?
If something is a personal 'kryptonite,' it can be easier to cut it out completely rather than try to moderate it, because the grey area of 'just a little' creates ongoing internal negotiation and decision fatigue.
How should you manage alcohol consumption during a very long livestream?
Have drinks prepped and available from the start, but hold off on actually drinking in the morning; decide how much to drink as the day progresses rather than starting early.
How do you make espresso martinis without fancy bar equipment?
Use a simple formula of vodka, Kahlúa and a single espresso shot per drink; if you don't have an espresso machine, grab an extra takeaway espresso shot in the morning and keep it in the fridge until you're ready to make the cocktail at night.
How can we make Friday night drinking shows go smoother?
Start drinking later (e.g. 3:30 instead of 3pm) so there's a buffer of sober show time, and switch from shots/red wine to something lighter like gin and tonic to avoid getting too sloppy on air.
How should you pace drinking before a big event or show?
Don't drink a whole bottle of wine before going on; have a glass or at most half a bottle around 15 minutes beforehand to get into a tipsy mode without overdoing it.
How do you choose between cocktail, black tie, and black tie optional for a formal dress code?
Jess Lucas explains that black tie requires a specific black suit, black tie optional still requires a dinner suit but allows navy, grey or burgundy, while cocktail is less dressy, allows a knee-length dress for women, and gives everyone the most freedom—so she recommends cocktail for inclusive formal events.
What should I eat or drink to cure a hangover?
Cold milk and peanut butter toast is the go-to; if feeling a bit better, poached eggs on toast also works. The key is getting something fatty/carb-heavy into your stomach.
Should I drink one big night a week or spread drinks across the week?
One bottle of wine on a single night (around 8 standard drinks) isn't being promoted as 'okay', but moderate, intentional drinking confined to one night (e.g. Friday) is being tried as better than binge drinking or spreading drinks every night.
What makes a good pub crawl route?
Josh suggests starting at one end of a train line (e.g., Sandringham), walking through scenic areas like gardens between venues, having a plan for when to move on (e.g., after 2 drinks per venue), and wearing comfortable walking shoes.
Stories told on air
Josh and Tommy recall buying the domain 'When I Drink' around 2017 to make a documentary exploring alcohol and culture, including filming vox pops on Smith Street, but they never finished it, reportedly because they 'got too drunk to finish it.'
told by Josh Janssen and Tommy Jackett
Tommy recounts a friend, Tracy, whom he used to live with in Shepparton, who moved to Israel, underwent military training, and posted a story showing her friend's bomb-shelter bedroom amid the conflict.
told by Tommy Jackett
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
Tommy describes drinking for the first time in six months at a Friday night Christmas party at Cork and Canvas, ending up badly hungover with a cold sore, texting his brother who was similarly wrecked, and facing silent head-shaking from his parents.
told by Tommy Jackett
Josh describes going to a wine bar with Bree, Mason, and Grace, then inviting them back to test his new bike and watch the Shawn Mendes Netflix concert, nearly opening a bottle of Pinot before Mason indicated he'd rather go home, leading Bree to put the wine away.
told by Josh Janssen
Tommy describes waking up convinced he'd said something out-of-character and offensive while tipsy with friends, fretting over it for a day before confirming with a mate that it never actually happened, and connecting it to a similar earlier incident involving an Instagram story he thought he'd seen.
told by Tommy Jackett
Josh recounts a New Year's trip to Lorne where he and a friend, unable to queue for a packed pub, climbed onto a motel roof attached to the pub, found an open window into a family's room, asked to pass through, and later repaid the family with a bottle of wine from the pub's bottle shop.
told by Josh Janssen
Tommy recalls being the sober one in Los Angeles while Tully, Mason, and Josh got very drunk, comparing their reactions to being a teenager drinking for the first time.
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
Josh recounts that during a morning walk, Jess Lucas, fired up on pre-workout and boxing, accidentally kicked a dog's head while walking past a group of dogs at a café.
told by Josh Janssen
Josh describes going to the park with Bree in the rain, drinking canned Gordon's gin, ordering Uber Eats chicken and McFlurries to the park, and playing baseball while tipsy.
told by Josh Janssen
Josh recounts giving away one of Bree's three limited-edition rose-gold candles to a complimenting dinner guest without asking Bree first, leading to an awkward moment and Bree telling him never to do that again.
told by Josh
Tommy recalls a nostalgic afternoon in Central Park during their New York trip where he bought a Corona from a stranger and joined two men playing frisbee, throwing it impressively far while Josh watched from a distance.
told by Tommy Jackett
Tommy describes his evening routine to pull himself out of a negative mental spiral: playing competitive Uno with his wife Amy, getting a solo Bailey's and brownie ice cream from a local shop, and finishing with a Metta meditation before falling asleep to deep house music.
told by Tommy Jackett
Josh recounts going for his first walk in weeks with Bree and unexpectedly running into their friend Edo, noting how odd mask-covered recognitions have become.
told by Josh Janssen
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
Phoebe describes snapping her apartment key off in the lock after a few wines, then successfully extracting it herself with needlepoint pliers from Bunnings rather than paying for a locksmith.
told by Phoebe Parsons
Tommy recounts drinking tequila and white wine (plus a lot of pork) at a team Zoom call, getting into bed, then vomiting once around midnight and going straight back to bed, which he says embarrassed him even though his partner Amy didn't notice.
told by Tommy Jackett
In their words
“So, the left one sticks more to the glass. Which tells me that there's a higher alcohol content in the left one, which tells me that's the cheaper one.”
“I could easily just go full right wing right now.”
“You can see why people don't drink.”
“If you're trying to get off drugs, you don't hang out with your junkie mates.”
“I was like, oh my God, like I got a little bit tipsy. I was like, oh my God, I like said this thing out like a— that was so like out of character for me.”
“Just a bit like a bit of a smartass. Just a bit, I reckon, a bit sharper.”
“The, the gel balls look like caviar.”
“There's something about there's just less need to discuss anything if it's pulled out of a hat.”
“GB would look sick in a mullet.”
“The thing about the drug of alcohol is that if you're feeling, uh, you know, it can actually relax you. And so that's the trap of it.”
“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.”
“The disrespect for kangaroos in this country is appalling.”
“I thought we're going to Portsea, now we're going to Frankston.”
“That's, that's how alcohol works.”
“But maybe it's impossible to be aware and not do something.”
“Oh, chocolate's on special? Yeah, you're still the same calories, babe.”
“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.”
“it's just, it's like what I see it is, it's my kryptonite.”