Coffee Chats with Matt Collins

Every sport has a player who stands head and shoulders above their peers. In the sport of rugby league, for nearly 20 years that player was Darren Lockyer. One of the greatest ever Australian sportspeople, Lockyer has been immortalised with a bronze statue outside the home of State of Origin, Lang Park. In their chat, Darren shares with Matt his life both within and outside of sport. Including what he values as a father, how he almost never picked up a rugby league ball and his best Wayne Bennett story.

It is argued that the reality TV show, Married at First Sight brings out the worst in the contestants. But one 'husband' stood out as a breath of fresh air. Gympie farmer, MIck Gould was the lovable larrikin on the most recent series of the popular television experiment. In his chat with Matt, Mick opens up about his tv wife, Jessika and her affair on the show. He talks about his time on the show and life back in the real world. But most importantly, Mick shares his real passion, being on the land.

Jon Stevens was still in high school when he first had a top ten single which caused a lot of unwanted attention from NZ bullies. He left school early which was a probably a good thing because his brother, Frankie said Jon was 'a cheeky little shit' growing up. The Noiseworks front man filled the signiifcant hole for INXS when their lead singer and his good mate, Michael Hutchence took his life. He had some great years with the band before he quit, claiming their manager was 'the worst in the world.'

When Marcia Hines is your mother some would say it is no surprise you would go on to have a successful singing career. But Marcia had no idea Deni Hines could sing. She was literally singing in the kitchen when she was discovered and catapulted into the entertainment industry. An industry that Deni Hines has mixed feelings about. In their chat, Deni shares with Matt her remarkable musical journey. Including her challenges with race, her thoughts on celebrity and her hit song that makes her cringe.

'Whoa ohh, the chats are getting bigger'. It's time to 'Live it up' with a great Coffee Chat with Mental as Anything front man, Greedy Smith. He takes us on a trip down Australian music royalty lane. From humble beginnings to the whirlwind of international success, Greedy shares some great stories from his remarkable career, including what is discussed over catch ups with INXS and Colin Hay and the crazy things he used to do on stage. He even confirms the true story of why he is called 'Greedy'.

With a pool room full of awards, half a million music sales and one of the most recognisable country music voices, Adam Harvey has done pretty much all there is to do in the world of country music. In their chat, Adam Harvey shares with Matt the big risk he took when he started in the music industry, his less than ideal relationship with the late Slim Dusty and a couple of secrets about his good mate, Kevin 'Bloody' Wilson.

Professor Patrick McGorry was the 2010 Australian of the Year. Not bad for a bloke born in Ireland. After four years of studying general medicine in the early 80s, Pat could see the mentally ill were getting 'an extremely raw deal,' so he turned his focus to psychiatry. In those days patients were locked up and it was 'a century behind the rest of health care'. He believes the mentally ill still get a raw deal, but thanks to Pat's involvement in Headspace and Orygen, things are slowly improving.

At 17, most girls are thinking about boys, music, their friends and their Instagram accounts. When Connie Boglis was 17, she was assisting peolple with shizophrenia to function in day-to-day life. By her early 20s, she was working in prisons and youth detention centres gaining the respect of troubled kids. She is one of those rare people who puts other's needs before her own. In 2017, her partner of two years took his life after the former veteran had a long battle with his mental health.

The criminal world is one unlike the majority of us live in. An eye for an eye is common practice. After 30 years involved in organised crime, Graham 'Abo' Henry knows more about this dangerous world than most. From armed robberies, break and enters and attempting to murder his own father as a teenager, Graham was always headed for a destructive life. It wasn't long before he was partners with the underworld's elite and had a 'green light' from NSW police. That was of course, until he stabbed one of them.

Jeff Amatto believes our prison system is not helping people to rehabilitate. And he would know, he experienced it first hand. He was an alcoholic at 13 and performing break and enters at the same age. As a former drug addict and criminal, Jeff learnt more about crime in jail than out. He saw many desperate things in prison, like 20 men lining up to share the one syringe. It was thanks to an indigenous rehab centre and a moment of clarity with an indigenous song that changed his entire aspect on life.