Make Your Own Noise

FRENCHY – A renowned Australian stand-up comedian, content creator, social media personality, and musician.

In this episode, Frenchy and Jack sit down to chat about the process and challenges of being a touring comedian, including some outrageous crowd stories! Frenchy also shares valuable insights into how he’s learned to overcome fear and nerves, work a crowd, embrace 'the bomb', and deal with the crushing reality of not winning a Grammy—arguably the biggest robbery since Shannon Noll didn’t win Australian Idol.

All jokes aside, this was an interesting and engaging conversation with someone who’s made a big impact on Australian comedy.

Anna Macpherson is a music journalist, digital media creator, and the founder of Salty Soundz Music.

In this episode, Anna sits down with Jack to talk about how she found her way into the Australian indie music scene and built her own amazing community. She also opens up on the topic of "Sprints and Pauses": putting yourself out there, even when you don't feel like it, while learning to balance this with nurturing yourself and moving slowly when needed.

Key Episode Topics:

• Moving to a new town and scene
• Putting yourself out there
• Overcoming self-doubt
• The importance of passion
• Showing up, even when you don't feel like it
• Sprints and pauses
• Moving slowly at times and nurturing yourself
• The current state of the Australian indie music scene
• Having faith in yourself

Today's guest is Ariane Sallis.

Ariane is a multi-talented creative in the music and entertainment industry. She has performed in musicals on London’s iconic West End, worked at Hong Kong Disneyland, worked at one of Australia’s largest recording studios, and is now the Creative Producer at Uncanny Valley—a leading music production company based in Sydney.

In this episode, Ariane sits down with Jack to share the highs, lows, challenges, and successes of her dynamic career so far.

Key Episode Topics:

• Putting yourself out there—even when you're afraid
• The importance of networking
• Handling rejection
• Overcoming imposter syndrome
• Surrounding yourself with encouraging people
• Doing it for the love of the art—not for anyone else
• Diversifying and expanding your skillset
• Trusting your gut
• Finding people who inspire you

In this highly requested episode, we’re diving into a topic that’s vital for anyone starting out in the creative industries — how to find work and build meaningful professional relationships.

Whether you're just beginning your journey or already have a few connections under your belt, this episode is packed with real-world advice on how to make the industry feel a little smaller and more accessible. I share practical tips on everything from cold outreach and applying for internships to creating a solid digital footprint and building repeat clientele.

I also get honest about the self-doubt and nerves many of us face when reaching out to others or putting ourselves out there — and how to push past it.

I will also explore ways to build quality professional relationships through treating people with kindness, clear communication, a willingness to learn and most improtantly, not being a d**k! This can make all the difference in your reputation and long-term success. 

This episode is full of actionable insights, whether you’re trying to land your first gig or maintain strong relationships with returning clients.

When your creative passion becomes your business, it can lead to a wide range of challenges including; loss of artistic integrity, burnout, stress, identity crisis and the most important to avoid, the loss of the passion for what normally brings you joy!

Join Jack as he reflects on his personal experiences of the ongoing tension between artistic passion and business responsibility. 

In this episode Jack also breaks down the 3 Pillars for Success and Longevity that must be understood and correctly balanced if you wish to run a successful creative business.

Further discussion points:

- Maintaining Artistic Integrity While Meeting Business Demands

- Quality Vs Time Vs Money

 - Each pillar affects the others; imbalance can lead to burnout or subpar work. 

-  Importance of making changes to protect long-term artistic goals and identity. 

- 7 Key Questions To Set Your Standards

- 4 Practical Techniques To Help Perfect Balance

- 4 Signs Your Balance May Be Off

Simone Rae is a fashion designer and business owner. Her company Salt and Ripple, has grown from strength to strength in recent years to be one of Australia's most popular new swim wear and active wear companies.

The growth of Simone's art and business has come almost entirely off her own insane work ethic and drive. She lives and breathes her business and her passion is well on display during this insightful and motivating conversation.

In this chat Jack and Simone discuss:

- Living and breathing your business

- Acquiring your own skills

- The importance of digital marketing

- Making your side hustle your main hustle

- Don't force creativity

- Biggest challenges working for yourself

- The importance of your social circle

- The love of your business

- Done is better than good

Loneliness is a modern 'epidemic'. Not only for people who work for themselves, but for a vast majority of people! How can we be feeling this way when we are more connected than ever?

In this podcast Jack breaks down 3 fundamentals we can all return to, to help overcome loneliness, along with 6 ways to build quality connections with others. 

Key Highlights:

- Nothing is permanent, including your feelings of loneliness 

- The vulnerability of working for yourself

- The right people will enter your life when you live in alignment to your values

- Building a better relationship with yourself

- Serving others

- Emotional bids, reverse charm and building quality relationships.

Andrew Scott is the lead singer AND drummer of Australian Indie/Surf band 'SURF TRASH'.

Not only is he the creative frontman of the band, he is also their manager, organising US and European tours as well as the release of their debut album 'The Only Place I Know'. This album debuted at No.1 for Australian albums in the ARIA charts at the end of 2024, being released completely independently! 

Join Jack and Andrew as they discuss the sacrifices one needs to have success in this industry, being completely in control of your art, having tunnel vision, touring overseas and much more!

A new year lies ahead! For many this marks a time of excitement and promises. A clean slate for a fresh start as we make sweeping statements and goals for the year ahead. But for many, we quickly return to our old routines and habits that left us feeling lost and stuck in the first place.

Join Jack as he implements a framework of 2 key things to help you make this year count! 

Key Points:
- Ignoring the small minds of others and our own negative self talk
- Creating the internal space and external environment to think clearly
- Setting our Main Goals
- Finding our north star and building our habits from it
- Motivation, reminders and checklists!

As creative professionals we often invest so heavily in what we do that we push ourselves to the point of burnout. This not only turns our love and passion into a chore, but it can heavily effect our personal lives as well. 
We also often work for ourselves and run our own business, making time off without feelings of guilt incredibly difficult. 

In this podcast Jack draws on his own personal struggles and experiences and shares his views on:
- Why do we feel guilty taking time off?
- Signs of burnout and how to avoid it.
- Burnout Vs Laziness
- The art of rest, how to do it well.
- Viewing rest as productive