Made In Lithgow

What does the next generation really think about Lithgow?

In this episode of Made in Lithgow, Brad Cluff and Ian “Legend” Iddles hand the microphones to three of Lithgow High School’s incoming school captains — Michael, Mantra and Alex, for an honest conversation about growing up in regional NSW and what the future looks like through their eyes.

We talk about life at Lithgow High School, leadership, sport, dance, engineering, technology, 3D printing, artificial intelligence, social media, mental health, education and the pressure young people face when deciding what comes after Year 12.

But the bigger question is about Lithgow itself.

Do young people believe there are enough opportunities here? Do they need to leave Lithgow to succeed? What would bring them back? And what could Lithgow become if emerging industries, technology and new career opportunities continue to grow across the region?

We also hear about some of the changes happening at Lithgow High — from new technology and creative facilities to longer class periods, the Elite Lithgow Athletes Program and opportunities that are giving regional students experiences well beyond the classroom.

And, in a Made in Lithgow first, the guests turn the tables and interview Brad and Legend about life after school, changing careers, failure and the advice they'd give their younger selves.

It's funny, thoughtful and refreshingly honest.

Instead of adults telling us what young people think about Lithgow, this time we asked them.

And if these three are anything to go by, Lithgow's future has plenty going for it.

If you've spent any time in Lithgow over the past 20 years—or anywhere on the internet—you've probably heard the name Top Dawg.

But who is the man behind the music?

In this episode of Made in Lithgow, Brad Cluff and Ian "Legend" Iddles sit down with lifelong mate Ean "Top Dawg" Griffiths for one of the most honest and heartfelt conversations we've had.

From growing up in Portland and attending Wallerawang Public School, to finding music as an escape from bullying, Ean shares the story behind the viral videos, the millions of online views, meeting Australian rap artists, building an enormous social media following, and becoming one of Lithgow's most recognisable personalities.

We also talk about Williams Syndrome, family, resilience, the power of music, internet fame, dealing with online trolls, and why Lithgow will always be home.

This isn't an interview about social media.

It's a conversation about friendship, community, perseverance and the real person behind one of Australia's most recognisable internet personalities.

In this episode:

• Growing up in Portland & Lithgow
• Wallerawang Public School memories
• Finding music through difficult times
• Going viral on Facebook & YouTube
• Meeting Australian rap artists
• Life with Williams syndrome
• Dealing with online bullying
• Why family means everything
• The future of Top Dawg

If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, leave us a review, and share it with someone who remembers the early days of Top Dawg.

For our milestone 50th episode, we sit down with former Deputy Premier of New South Wales and Member for Bathurst, Paul Toole MP, for a deep dive into one of the biggest issues facing Lithgow and the Central West.

As Mt Victoria Pass reaches 100 days of closure, frustration continues to grow across the region. Businesses are reporting significant losses, tourism operators are feeling the impact, freight costs have increased, and families are dealing with longer travel times and uncertainty about the future.

In this episode, Paul discusses:

• What caused the closure of Mt Victoria Pass
• Why repairs are taking so long
• The economic impact on Lithgow, Bathurst, Oberon and the wider Central West
• The proposed 11km tunnel through the Blue Mountains
• The funding commitments that were previously on the table
• Whether regional NSW is receiving the attention it deserves
• The future of Wolgan Gap Road, Browns Gap Road and Janolan Caves
• Opportunities for Lithgow beyond coal
• Data centres, infrastructure, tourism and investment
• What success for Lithgow could look like in 2035

We also explore Paul's journey from teacher, councillor and Mayor of Bathurst to Deputy Premier of New South Wales, and his vision for the future of regional communities.

Whether you're a business owner, resident, commuter or simply passionate about the future of regional NSW, this episode provides valuable insight into one of the most significant challenges currently facing our region.

Made in Lithgow is a long-form podcast focused on the people, businesses, history and future of Lithgow and the Central West.

Keywords: Mt Victoria Pass, Lithgow, Bathurst, Paul Toole, Central West NSW, Blue Mountains, Great Western Highway, Regional NSW, Infrastructure, Tourism, Small Business, Janolan Caves, Wolgan Valley, Data Centres, Economic Development, Made in Lithgow Podcast.

In this episode of Made in Lithgow, we sit down with Laura and Holly Vatalis — two of the driving forces behind The Blue Fox, The Fast Fox, Fast Fox Portland, and soon, Cubs.

Behind it all is their mum, Kat — the matriarch of the family and the steady force that helped bring it all to life.

What started as a short-term move turned into a decade of building businesses, backing each other, and becoming part of the fabric of Lithgow.

This is a story about family — and how three women, each with different strengths, have built something that works.

In this conversation, Laura and Holly open up about:

• What it’s really like working in a family business
• How they’ve grown from one venue to multiple locations
• The pressure of employing and supporting a large local team
• And the challenges they’ve had to push through — fire, flood, bushfires, Covid, gas outages, and now the ongoing road and traffic impacts through town

We also talk about why Lithgow has become home, the importance of community, and why more good venues in town should be seen as a win, not a competition.

This is an honest conversation about resilience, family, hospitality, and what it actually takes to build something that lasts.

In this episode of Made in Lithgow, Brad Cluff and Ian Iddles sit down with Dr Foty Loupos, Principal of Lithgow High School.

Dr Loupos has one of the most unique journeys into education leadership you’ll hear. His career has spanned hospitality management, security and investigations, counselling, teaching, and academia — culminating in a PhD exploring the metaphysics of leadership.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Foty shares his philosophy on education, why inspiring curiosity in students is more powerful than simply teaching curriculum, and how schools must prepare young people for a rapidly changing world shaped by artificial intelligence, automation, and new industries.

The discussion also explores the future of Lithgow itself — from the transition away from coal to emerging opportunities in technology, logistics, and innovation — and why communities like Lithgow may be uniquely positioned to thrive in the decades ahead.

Foty speaks passionately about the importance of aspiration, critical thinking, and empowering students to pursue their dreams, while reminding us that investing in education is ultimately investing in the future of society.

This is a fascinating conversation about leadership, philosophy, education, and the potential of regional communities.

In this episode of Made in Lithgow, we sit down with 2026 Wallerawang Citizen of the Year, Andrew “Wardy” Ward — a man who has spent more than four decades shaping community sport in Wallerawang and the wider Lithgow region.

From his apprenticeship at the iconic Lithgow Small Arms Factory to pulling on the jersey for the Wallerawang Warriors, coaching junior sides, refereeing, managing teams, and guiding the senior girls to a Grand Final in 2017 — Wardy has lived and breathed regional sport.

We talk about:

• The golden era of Midwest Rugby League
• What sport really gives young people in regional towns
• The importance of apprenticeships and community mentors
• The changing face of Lithgow nightlife
• Raising resilient kids in small-town Australia
• Why Wallerawang remains his “slice of heaven”

This is a powerful conversation about leadership, humility, and giving back — and why communities like Wallerawang continue to punch above their weight.

If you care about regional NSW, grassroots sport, or building stronger communities, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Made in Lithgow, Brad Cluff and Ian Iddles sit down with Chris Wade, Manager of PCYC Lithgow and the 2024 PCYC NSW Manager of the Year.

Chris shares his journey from retail and hardware into youth development, and how PCYC Lithgow has become a hub of opportunity, belonging and leadership for young people across the region. From gymnastics and futsal to archery, school holiday programs and the new Fit for Work initiative, Chris and his team are creating pathways for Lithgow’s next generation.

We also discuss:

• The growth of youth sport participation in Lithgow
• The importance of accessible activities for families
• Fundraising success stories (including the new gymnastics air-conditioning!)
• The community response during Lithgow’s recent water crisis
• Building employment pathways for 16–18 year olds
• How local businesses can support youth development

Chris was recently recognised in the Central West Australia Day Honours as Lithgow’s Citizen of the Year — a reflection of the impact he and the PCYC team are making behind the scenes.

If you care about Lithgow’s future, youth opportunity, regional resilience, and practical community leadership, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

🎧 Listen now and support the organisations building our town from the ground up.

This episode of Made in Lithgow is about one decision — and the ripple effect it creates.

We sit down again with Rich Evans, not to talk about projects or achievements, but to tell the full story of what it means to wait for an organ transplant — and to survive one.

Rich speaks openly about:

• Preparing for death more than survival
• Waiting months while his body failed and time ran out
• Getting the call — twice — and having the first liver deemed non-viable minutes before surgery
• The mental toll of transplant, recovery, and post-surgery trauma
• Waking up in the ICU, unsure if he’d made it
• Why recovery doesn’t end when you leave the hospital

But at the heart of this conversation is one unignorable truth:

Rich is alive because a family said yes to organ donation on the worst day of their lives.

He talks about writing to his donor’s family.

Setting a place at the Christmas table for the person who saved his life.

And why ticking a box on your licence is not enough — you must register, and you must tell your family.

This is a conversation about gratitude, humility, and community.

About the unseen chain of people — donors, families, nurses, doctors — who make survival possible.

And about why organ donation is not an abstract idea.

It’s life. Or death.

This final episode of Made in Lithgow for 2025 is a reflection on what happens when you slow down and actually listen.

Recorded just days before Christmas, Brad and Ian look back on a year of conversations that revealed consistent themes across Lithgow and the wider region — resilience without noise, belonging over ambition, service over ego, and a town quietly navigating change without rejecting its past.

From packed community events and grassroots volunteering to honest conversations about energy transition, cost of living, hospitality, health, and local leadership, this episode ties together what the podcast has uncovered: Lithgow isn’t stuck — it’s choosing its future.

This is a thank-you to the guests, listeners, and community members who showed up, shared their stories, and reminded us why long-form conversation still matters.

A grounded, honest end-of-year episode about people, place, and progress — and why this podcast exists in the first place.

In this episode of Made in Lithgow, Brad and Ledge sit down with Bree and Kayla — the unstoppable sister duo behind Pretty Party People, fresh from winning the 2025 LDCC Excellence in Micro Business Award for the second time. From humble beginnings in their mum and dad’s dining room to becoming the goto balloon stylists and event designers across Lithgow, Bathurst and the Blue Mountains, their story is the perfect blend of hustle, heart, and creativity.

We dive into:

 🎈 How a simple 21st birthday idea sparked a thriving regional business

 💪 The reality of juggling full-time jobs with a booming side hustle

 📦 Growing their inventory, expanding into custom props, and serving 500+ events

 🤝 Collaborations with local icons — from Workies to Zig Zag Railway to Black Gold

 💥 The pressure, burnout, tears, triumphs… and the moments that make it all worth it

Pretty Party People aren’t just decorating events — they’re reshaping what celebrations look like in regional NSW. If you love stories of gutsy young locals turning passion into something powerful, this one’s unmissable.