In this episode of Rog, I’m joined by my long-time high school best mate and Div 12 Ressies teammate, Michael Allen.

Michael is one of the funniest blokes I know, but he’s also one of the most honest, raw, and vulnerable people I’ve ever met. For as long as he can remember, he’s battled with anxiety and mental health challenges — and this year in particular has tested him more than ever. Some days, even getting out of bed has felt impossible, weighed down by thoughts of failure in relationships, friendships, and work.

But rather than letting those thoughts define him, Michael is taking on the journey of a lifetime. He’s walking from Sorrento all the way to Sydney — along the east coast of Australia, camping under the stars — to raise money for the Black Dog Institute. It’s an adventure fuelled by grit, purpose, and hope.

We talk about his struggles, what’s driving this mission, and how he plans to tackle the physical and mental challenges ahead.

DONATE: https://www.teamblackdog.org.au/fundraisers/michaelallen/sorrento-to-sydney

FOLLOW THE JOURNEY:
@Michael.angelo._

I’m joined by my great mate, former housemate, and Division 12 Ressies teammate — Will Taylor.

Will’s just your everyday bloke who loves his footy and cricket, but through flexing his creative muscle on TikTok, he’s managed to turn that passion into a career. These days, he’s a host on the Monday Magnets podcast with Ball Magnets, making people laugh and sharing his love for sport.

Will opens up with raw honesty about his own mental health journey — a battle that’s been shaped by personal tragedy, including the heartbreaking loss of his dad. In the face of that grief, he’s become a vocal advocate for mental health, raising a huge amount of money for Movember in his dad’s honour.

This week on Rog, I sit down with Terry Dehghani, the founder and host of Blue Abroad — the most passionate, raw, and beloved Carlton Football Club fan channel on YouTube.

But calling it a “fan channel” barely scratches the surface. Blue Abroad is a community — a space where Carlton supporters come together to ride the highs, mourn the lows, and make sense of the chaos that comes with loving a club that’s tested their faith for decades.

Terry’s journey is wild: he left a career in law to pursue talking about footy full-time. Seemingly A dream job ? But the only thing is, Carlton have been shithouse for most of his life. So we ask the big question:

💭 Is turning your passion into a job always a blessing… or can it become a curse you can’t escape from?

On this episode of Rog, I’m joined by a close friend and rising figure in the AFL media space — Bailey McCabe.

Bailey is the cohost of The Monday Magnets podcast, part of the Ball Magnets brand founded by Brownlow Medalist Tom Mitchell. Beyond the mic, he plays a key role producing content and helping drive partnerships for the platform.

But his journey into the industry started far from the spotlight. At 18, living in Ballarat, Bailey sent a cold Instagram message to Caden MacDonald offering to edit videos for free. That single message turned into years of hard work, steady growth, and strong friendships — eventually leading to opportunities with some of the biggest names in footy media.

Now firmly on the path, Bailey’s carving out a career built on initiative, resilience, and a genuine love for the game — all while still pulling on the boots in our beloved Div 12 Ressies side.

We talk about where the hustle has taken him so far, what he’s learned along the way, and where he hopes it leads in the years to come.

Tricky Mac built a cult following in Melbourne the old-school way — burning CDs of his wild raps and dropping them on cars at festivals, shopping centres, and uni car parks. Some hated it. Others got obsessed. Enough loved it to pack out shows and build a loyal fanbase.

But in this episode, Tricky Mac reveals something most fans don’t know: he’s playing a character.

Offstage, he’s not the sesh-head his music suggests — he’s a regular guy who loves his footy, cricket, and clever bars. We talk about the birth of the persona, keeping it a secret, and whether the real him ever feels pressure to live up to the chaos he created.

A funny, honest chat about identity, creativity, and what happens when the art starts to blur with real life.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3Mi8WUStOfWSA5Oric4I3K?si=v8V6ncZHQV25n2zX19S90A

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tricky.mac/?hl=en

In this episode of Rog, we flip the script on two of Australia’s most consistent voices in the podcasting game — Dos and D. What started as raw chats about everyday struggles has grown into one of the country’s most respected independent shows, featuring top-tier guests from sport, business, and entertainment.

Now full-time creators and the brains behind a growing content agency, Dos and D have built something special — not through overnight virality, but by simply showing up every single week. We talk about how they stayed the course, the pressure of building a brand in public, and the moment they realised this could be more than just a passion project.

They’re usually the ones asking the questions — but this time, we’re asking them.

This week on Rog, I’m joined by Checkers and Srey — the brains behind the viral footy content machine, Marmalade.

You might know them as the blokes who somehow turned drinking choccy milk and watching the footy into a full-time job… but there’s a lot more to the story. 

We chat about:
•Life in the Div 12 Ressies
•What it really takes to build a fanbase from scratch
•The behind the scenes grind
•And how they’ve managed to turn their passion for footy into a legit career.

This episode is a look behind the curtain of two self-made content creators who are doing what they love — and doing it their own way.

This week on Rog, I sit down with the legendary Toni Tenaglia—the #1 lunchtime radio host in Australia and a true pioneer in the industry. With over three decades behind the mic, Toni’s voice is a staple of Australian airwaves, currently dominating the ratings with her afternoon music show on GOLD FM 104.3.

From breaking ground as one of the first women to host a solo radio show in Australia to broadcasting internationally, Toni shares her journey with honesty, humour, and a ton of insight. We dive into the evolution of radio, what it takes to stay relevant in a constantly changing industry, and how she continues to connect with audiences on air and through her podcast, Life As We Know It.

The Top of YouTube or the Bottom of the Mainstream?

In this episode of Rog, I sit down with the godfather of AFL YouTube, Caden MacDonald. He’s the pioneer who turned bedroom webcam videos into a full-blown career, paving the way for a generation of creators and proving there was a real audience for footy content online. With nearly 100k YouTube subscribers and collaborations with the biggest names in the game, he’s built an empire that most would consider the pinnacle of success in the digital footy world.

But is that how he sees it?

We chat about the highs and lows of his journey—from the early grind in Geelong to landing (and then losing) the dream gig with Spotify’s Goes Alright. We explore whether he feels settled as the king of YouTube, or if he’s still chasing the next level—mainstream media, TV, radio, or something completely new.

In this episode of Rog, I’m joined by Victoria Samuels — cohost of the Tori and Mine podcast and co-creator of the Trine by Tori and Mine Catch Up Club.

Victoria opens up about the challenges of becoming a young mother, and the journey of balancing the demands of raising children while still nurturing her passions and hobbies.

We dive into how she’s created spaces, both online and offline, that empower young women to connect authentically and prioritize their wellbeing.
It’s an honest, inspiring conversation about resilience, growth, and the pursuit of a fulfilling life — even when life gets busy.

Follow Victoria and her work:

Victoria: @victoriaasamuels 

Podcast: Tori and Mine — IG @toriandmine | [email protected]

Community: Trine Catch Up Club — nurturing the body, mind and soul through real connection @Trinebytoriandmine