Home & Living
221 episodes · 2018–2021 · 79 debates · 91 pieces of advice · 227 stories · 173 quotes
The Daily Talk Show — Australia’s daily podcast, hosted by Tommy Jackett and Josh Janssen — discussed home & living across 221 of its 1,022 daily episodes between 2018 and 2021. This page collects what was actually said: 173 verbatim quotes, 91 pieces of advice, 227 stories told on air, 79 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 justice system is inconsistent, noting an ice importer who could cause many deaths might get 8 years while an intentional murderer or stabber sometimes gets less time than expected.
Notes the difficulty of conviction in he-said/she-said sexual assault cases and the risk of trivializing survivors when technicalities lead to acquittals despite strong public belief in guilt.
Is moving toward buying, actively house hunting, going through pre-approval, and starting to think about long-term details like courtyards and clotheslines.
Values flexibility and dislikes the competitive, drawn-out process of house hunting; has historically taken the first rental he finds and fantasizes more about a remote off-grid lifestyle than settling down in one house.
Would not allow Amazon delivery drivers or most service people (apart from a real estate agent with legal right) into the home without being present.
More neutral/curious about the Amazon in-home delivery service, noting people like Jess have allowed similar access (smoke detector check) without being home.
Questions generalising men vs women in parenting capability, especially in primary-school-age caregiving, saying it becomes a more even playing field over time.
Agrees broadly but maintains there is a slight general difference, especially in early stages like breastfeeding, while acknowledging more men are becoming stay-at-home parents today.
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.
Leans toward safer long-term bets like index funds (NDQ) over speculative single companies, citing Warren Buffett's philosophy, though he admits to getting drawn into speculative thinking about companies like Oliver's.
Questions whether high-growth companies like Airbnb are even profitable relative to funding raised, and is skeptical of chasing stock bets like Kogan given how founders profit from IPOs while share prices later drop.
Says he's usually quick to film things but chose not to film the fake raid because he was too rattled, and is glad he didn't because it would be etched in his mind either way.
Says his default instinct is to grab the camera immediately since he feels he'd otherwise be useless, but acknowledges there's a difference between filming from safety versus being in the middle of a dangerous scene, and that filming injury feels more distasteful than filming property damage.
Suggests women may be better at advocating for others (like Jess negotiating fees for the team), while men are more focused on advocating for their own interests (like himself taking the trolley to help himself).
Agrees that negotiating fees for the business is something she's comfortable with, framing it as helping the team rather than personal gain.
Believes Josh lacks spatial awareness and organisational skills needed for moving/removalist work.
Pushes back, arguing organisation isn't necessarily required to be a good mover.
Argues fixed-price servicing isn't really fixed because additional repairs get tacked on, making it not fixed at all.
Argues it is fixed price for the standard service; extra costs only apply if something is actually wrong with the car, which is a separate issue.
Jokes that he might be 'infamously awkward,' treating the label with self-deprecating humor.
Argues infamous technically means having a bad reputation, and pushes back that Tommy's reputation isn't actually bad, just notable.
Prefers hanging clothes like t-shirts, jumpers, and jackets.
Prefers folding clothes due to limited apartment storage and because hanging causes garments to lose shape.
Advice from the show
all 91pieces →What was actually said, attributed and linked to the moment.
Is it worth switching from NBN/fixed broadband to 5G home internet?
Switching from a $330/month fixed broadband plan (Lightning Broadband) to a $90/month unlimited 5G plan with Optus can massively cut costs while still delivering solid speeds (around 229 Mbps down, 45 Mbps up), plus it can bundle in a Fetch TV box.
What should you ask about when inspecting a potential house to buy?
Ask specifically about body corporate fees, since the costs and inclusions can vary wildly and agents may not volunteer the full picture.
What should you check before buying a house if you work from home or care about connectivity?
Check internet connectivity in the area before putting in an offer, and consider solutions like a mesh network or point-to-point broadband for better coverage.
Should you let delivery or service people into your home when you're not there?
Be cautious about who you let into your home unsupervised; real estate agents have a legal right to inspect with 24 hours notice, but other service people (like smoke detector technicians) are a personal judgment call and some people would avoid it entirely.
How should couples decide who stays home with kids and who keeps working?
Josh and Tommy suggest it comes down to communication and clearly identifying what each partner wants and needs, accepting that it's rarely a one-off decision but an ongoing negotiation, and that trade-offs (money, time, identity) should ideally be discussed before friction points arise rather than left to 'life happening'.
How should you approach booking travel/accommodation when life circumstances might change?
Focus on controlling the controllables — book affordable accommodation in advance when prices are low, even if upcoming life changes (like a new baby) make timing feel uncertain.
How do you keep a toilet clean without a big dreaded scrub-down?
Make cleaning the default every time you use the toilet rather than waiting for one big annual clean: lid up, check, brush (and use a bowl cleaner like the scented squirt-in gel) each time to keep things manageable.
How can you fix slow home Wi-Fi speeds?
Log into your router via its IP address (often found on the back of the router, commonly 192.168.1.1) using the default admin credentials if unchanged, identify older/legacy devices dragging down the whole network, and move them to a separate guest or slower-band network so newer devices can use the faster 5GHz band unimpeded.
Should you buy cheap new furniture or old furniture?
Tommy says he'd rather buy a good quality old item for cheap than a cheap new mass-produced item, since cheap new furniture often looks good in photos but turns out to be low quality.
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.
How should you handle movers or contractors helping you with a big job like moving house?
Don't hesitate to let removalists take everything you've set aside (even bulky items) rather than trying to handle extra items yourself to save them trouble — it ends up being more hassle than it's worth; also, getting them coffee is a good gesture.
How do you build relationships with new neighbours?
Ease into conversations with new neighbours gradually — make eye contact a couple of times first, then approach directly to start chatting once you've built some familiarity.
How should you prepare for a smooth house move?
Have everything packed into boxes before the removalists arrive so they can simply load and go, rather than leaving loose items and small bits and pieces to sort out on the day.
How can I stop forgetting tasks my partner asks me to do repeatedly?
Write tasks down immediately when they're mentioned in conversation, using a note-taking app or 'second brain' system, rather than relying on memory; consider putting recurring tasks like car servicing into a calendar as a recurring event.
How should you handle a neighbour making too much noise?
Tommy suggests writing a considerate letter rather than immediately escalating to aggressive confrontation or body corporate, noting you don't know what the other person might be going through.
What should you do if you find someone's lost wallet with cash in it?
Track down the owner using identifying information (like a licence) rather than keeping the cash, and if they try to reward you, you can initially decline before accepting — don't let others who didn't help claim a cut.
How can you make the most of networking at a conference?
Lean into the mindset of being in 'your world' at a conference — actively seek out people you know or want to meet rather than hanging back, since everyone there is open to the same kind of connecting.
What should you do if a tradie or company delivers the wrong materials/colour for your build?
Push back and at least try to negotiate a discount if the end result still looks acceptable, since companies may prefer to avoid a costly fix if the mistake isn't too noticeable.
When should you send Christmas gifts to make sure they arrive on time?
Tully Smyth notes that physical presents should be posted by 14 December to ensure on-time delivery, and suggests starting Christmas shopping earlier this year due to expected shipping delays.
How do you cope with reduced work time after becoming a parent?
Recognise it's okay to need dedicated uninterrupted work time (even just a few hours) and not feel guilty asking for it, since constant interruptions can be more draining than having less total time.
How can I avoid giving away personal information when posting travel photos on social media?
Avoid posting photos of boarding passes, tickets, or documents with personal details, as hackers can use embedded information (name, date of birth, booking references) to access accounts like frequent flyer portals.
How can I pull myself out of a negative mental spiral during lockdown?
Try a combination of light activities: play a competitive game like Uno with your partner, treat yourself to something small like an ice cream, and finish with a Metta (loving-kindness) meditation where you direct feelings of love toward yourself via a loved one.
How can you reduce decision fatigue around shared chores like who showers first?
Set simple default rules (e.g., whoever gets up first showers first) to remove the need to think through logistics each day, rather than negotiating from scratch every morning.
How can I reduce digital clutter and reclaim time on my phone?
Regularly audit and delete unused podcast subscriptions, apps, and YouTube channels—Josh suggests doing this at least once a week, and trying deleting your top three most-used apps for a week to see how much time you get back.
Stories told on air
Tommy describes visiting a house during his search that he believed an elderly person had died in, based on the damp smell and an old-person shower seat.
told by Tommy Jackett
After a Saturday night concert, Josh and his wife were woken at 12:30am by their son Bodhi making seal-like coughing noises and struggling to breathe. They called an ambulance, which arrived within five minutes; paramedics diagnosed croup and administered steroids that resolved the symptoms quickly, and Bodhi was given a teddy bear by the ambulance crew.
told by Josh Janssen
Tommy's stripping career and New Zealand tour
Ep 10001:22:14Tommy recounts his past life as a stripper, including a stage tour of New Zealand with three other performers in a Manpower-style show, playing to crowds of hundreds of women, funding a BMW with $600 monthly repayments.
told by Tommy Jackett
Tommy describes a relaxing weekend walking through Fitzroy Gardens with his son Bodhi and having a backyard fire with oven-cooked pizza.
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 describes waking at 3:30am to sounds of men pounding on a neighbour's door shouting 'Frankston Police, open up, search warrant,' threatening to shoot the resident's dog, then smashing a window to get in. After the men left and real police/paramedics arrived, it emerged the intruders were impersonating police. Tommy has since struggled with anxiety and disrupted sleep, and says he was never told what actually happened or who the perpetrators were.
told by Tommy Jackett
Tommy and Amy went to buy a feeding chair for their upcoming baby, found a stylish chair with a rip in the fabric, were offered a small discount that didn't reflect the damage, and ultimately walked away.
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
While moving apartments, Josh needed a trolley for heavy boxes and ended up taking one that belonged to a neighbour he barely knows, justifying it as a practical necessity; his wife Bree was shocked he did it.
told by Josh Janssen
Josh avoided meeting a Gumtree buyer collecting bookshelves by hiding in a spare room with his torch on strobe mode in case the buyer turned out to be a creep, while his girlfriend Bri managed the whole interaction alone, including the buyer disassembling furniture with tools.
told by Josh Janssen
Brad takes Josh and Tommy on a live phone video tour from his hotel through multiple military checkpoints toward the White House, passing soldiers, a BLM street mural, and meeting a camper named Smokey Sims near the final barricade.
told by Brad Blanks
Josh describes spending three hours cleaning a rental Weber barbecue using oven cleaner, wearing gloves, a mask and Crocs, convinced he might end up injured, while his partner Bree stood by on standby.
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
Tommy describes decluttering during Melbourne's lockdown, packing items for donation and accidentally including his favourite purple exercise shorts on top of a donation bag, which got dropped off and lost.
told by Tommy Jackett
Josh recounts being asked repeatedly by his partner Bree to book the car in for a service. When she said she would just call herself, he made an angry 'rage call' to the mechanic instead, and was later told by Bree he'd been rude to her afterward about it.
told by Josh Janssen
Tommy nearly dislocated his shoulder/injured his tricep slipping in a hotel bathroom shower in Geelong, with Bree present and shaken by the fall.
told by Tommy Jackett
While editing in Premiere Pro, Tommy's computer suddenly shut off mid-task. He discovered his aircon, fridge, and lights were flickering, eventually diagnosing it—with help from his electrician brother—as his first-ever power brownout rather than a full blackout.
told by Tommy Jackett
Josh describes deciding to cook breakfast at home instead of ordering an acai bowl, prepping bacon, onion, and black beans, only to discover both cartons of eggs had expired in October, forcing him to pivot to using an old taco kit and eating too many tortillas.
told by Josh Janssen
In their words
“People have committed murder intentionally and got less years.”
“That's crazy. We've committed to do The Daily Talk Show for 10 years.”
“Frankston Police, open up. Search warrant.”
“We've committed to do The Daily Talk Show for 10 years.”
“I was so blown away by myself... I thought that was a classic Tommy Jackett move.”
“I literally had my torch in my hand on strobe mode in case he ended up being a creep.”
“I come in peace.”
“You knew that you'd had a good day at the pools because your tits are on fire, you know, little man boobs on fire.”
“I'm gonna lock in loofah.”
“I feel like the, um, it's the closest thing you're gonna get to hard drugs at a library, isn't it?”
“Can we just flag that none of these are personality qualities at all?”
“I love chores. And no, but I actually do! He does say that? No, this isn't me doing shtick.”
“It's like being awkward. I could be like infamously awkward.”
“A brownout is an intentional or unintentional drop in voltage in an electrical power supply system.”
“It's such a basic bitch thing, crying over a soldier returning home from war video.”
“Sister fights are outrageous. Like, they're scary.”
“Imagine being in that as a 17 or 18 year old kid. Like, for me, in there would have been horrible.”
“There will be a whole chapter on the death of the open web.”