Melbourne & Australian Life

Why does it feel so natural to make a crisis about yourself?

Tommy observes that treating a wider crisis like COVID as something happening 'to us' personally is a common but somewhat selfish mindset, since the pandemic is affecting everybody, not just those with a personal brush with it.

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.

What's a better response to disliking a company's practices than complaining online?

Rather than being an activist or whinging about a business you disagree with, take direct action by moving your money elsewhere — cancel the subscription or stop using the service.

What should I do about a persistent pimple?

Gemma Watts recommends treating it with something acidic, ideally salicylic acid, and suggests it may be caused by mask-wearing creating a new environment on the skin.

How should you handle coming out of a long lockdown?

Ease back in gradually rather than diving straight into full socializing, pacing decisions and interactions slowly to avoid a bad experience that could make you retreat again.

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.

Should podcasters consider renaming episodes to capture a specific search audience?

Tommy suggests making a small content pivot (like renaming episodes 'Australian English Podcast' and adding transcripts, word-of-the-day, and sayings segments) to serve a growing audience of English learners without changing the core show much.

How do you stop glasses fogging up under a mask?

Use masks that fit tightly against the cheeks so air doesn't escape upward and fog the glasses.

What should you do if, looking back, something you did feels cringeworthy?

Tommy suggests that if you look back on past behaviour and find it cringey, you should have gotten out of it when you first noticed that feeling, rather than continuing.

Should you integrate a new partner into your whole friend/work group right away?

Josh suggests it's better to let a couple have a private week together first before meeting the full team, rather than rushing a group introduction, to avoid 'ruining the vibe'.

How can you tell when irritability is caused by hunger rather than something else?

Josh describes recognising his own hunger-driven crankiness (dry mouth and low blood sugar after coffee without food) as a signal to eat, calling the self-awareness a 'progression'.

How can everyday people create change in their community without waiting for institutions?

Don't wait for councils or government to act — identify a need in your own community, rally friends, and start something small yourself, as these local actions are usually what create lasting change.

What's the best way to sell used items online (like on eBay)?

Create a new eBay account to get 10 free listings and avoid the standard ~9-10% selling fee, but be aware that a new account with no feedback history can make buyers wary of a scam; choose between Buy It Now, bidding, or a 'make an offer' option depending on the item.

Should a growing business self-manage its web hosting?

Don't let a non-specialist run system updates on self-managed hosting; find a provider (ideally local) that can be reached immediately when something breaks, rather than relying on overseas support.

Is it okay to pull kids out of school for a family trip?

According to a book Derek read, it doesn't matter if you take kids out of school before year 7 (primary school) for travel, as they'll likely learn more life skills travelling with parents than they would in class.

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.

How should you respond if critics ask 'what's your solution' after calling something out?

You don't need to have a full alternative solution to validly point out that something is flawed; simply identifying the problem is legitimate.

What should an organisation naming an industry-wide ranking system be careful of?

Don't use a generic, all-encompassing name (like 'Australian Podcast Ranker') unless the product actually represents the whole industry it claims to speak for—otherwise rename it to reflect its actual limited scope.

How much magnesium should you take for back pain without causing side effects?

Magnesium (e.g., as a powder or bath flakes) can help relax muscles and ease back pain, but stick to the recommended daily amount—overdoing it can cause headaches, itching/stinging sprays, or other unwanted side effects.

How should comedians handle Comedy Festival applications before writing their show?

You must submit your show name, blurb, photo and venue application months in advance, so write a blurb general enough that you don't trap yourself into specifics you haven't written yet, but still compelling enough to sell tickets.

How should people help during a bushfire crisis if they have limited funds?

Donate cash rather than goods where possible, since some relief centres already have too many physical donations; even small amounts like $50 help, and donating blood is another low-cost option.

How can a business or individual contribute to disaster relief beyond cash?

Consider what unique skills or resources you have to offer beyond money—for example, using audience reach, content creation, or professional services—especially for longer-term recovery once the immediate crisis passes from the news cycle.

What's a good date night idea if you don't know what to do?

Mason relays advice from his hairdresser Rach: go to the arcade zone near the ice skating rink/time zone area.

How should you book seats when flying with someone else?

Tommy recommends booking two aisle seats across the row rather than seats directly next to each other, so you get breathing room but can still talk and have better banter with cart staff.