Simon Says

Simon Says is back for Episode 15 with Simon Madden chatting with UFC fighter & surfer, Richie 'Vas' Vaculik and TV / Radio personality, Jim Wilson.

Richie ‘Vas’ isn’t scared of much.  He faces opponents as an elite Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter; charges 30ft walls of water as a big wave surfer and can handle TV makeup and studio lights in his role as a presenter on FOX Sports 3. Growing up on Maroubra Beach, Richie was born into a strong surfing culture which would later become the subject of the award-winning documentary Bra Boys: Blood is Thicker Than Water. In August 2016 Richie’s autobiography was published with Allen + Unwin titled, Bra Boy: Surfer, Fighter, Larrikin, written with Sean Doherty.

Jim Wilson is an Australian sports journalist, reporter and radio presenter. Wilson had a 28-year career at the Seven Network as a sport presenter, reporter and sports editor for Seven News, initially starting in the Melbourne newsroom before moving to Sydney. Prior to joining the Seven Network he was a sport reporter at the Nine Network in Brisbane. He was the lead anchor of Seven's coverage of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, hosted Seven's coverage of the Big Bash League and Women's Big Bash League and has covered the Olympics six times! Jim is now the Drive presenter for 2GB.

Simon Says is produced by Talking Talent.

In this episode of Simon Says (#14) Simon Madden catches up with 2 of the greats - Kevin Hillier and Brian Mannix!

Kevin Hillier is one of Australia's best-known voiceover men, heard on radio and television ads across Australia. Author, radio presenter, voiceover artist, columnist, businessman, guest speaker and Master of Ceremonies, Kevin began his media career in Longreach in 1973. His radio career saw him become a top rating personality in Brisbane and Melbourne on stations like 4IP, 3XY, Fox FM, Triple M, Gold FM and SEN. Kevin has written several books including Like Father Like Son and Rocket Science - the Biography of Rodney Eade.

From 1981 to 1987, Brian Mannix was the lead singer of 1980s rock-pop band Uncanny X-Men. The band released two top twenty albums. Uncanny X-Men are known for their hits such as "The Party", "How Do You Get Your Kicks?", "50 Years" and "Everybody Wants to Work". In 1989, Brian was cast as one of the Prophets of Doom in the stage show by Daniel Abineri titled Bad Boy Johnny and the Prophets of Doom. More recently, Uncanny X-Men performed in the 2006 Countdown Spectacular and at the 2006 AFL Grand Final. In 2016, Mannix was cast as "Buddy," a leading role in the successful stage musical We Will Rock You based on the music of Queen and written by Ben Elton.

Simon Says is produced by Talking Talent.

After a great Christmas & New Year break, Simon Says is BACK!

In episode 13, Simon Madden is joined by funny-man and Hey Hey it's Saturday alum, Trevor Marmalade, and 3AW 693 Sports Commentator & Producer, Bruce "Beva" Eva.

Trevor has been a stand-up comic, broadcaster, MC, after dinner speaker, coach and writer for over 30 years. He is probably best known for his appearances on the long-running television show, Hey Hey It's Saturday (from 1991 to 1999) and the Nine network's The AFL Footy Show (1994 to 2008). In December 2010, he returned to television as the host of a show titled Statesmen of Comedy. It was broadcast for one season of 15 shows, on Foxtel's The Comedy Channel.

A regular on Triple M radio, Trevor is still highly sought after in the corporate arena and is a popular choice for a comedy spot, Awards MC, Gala Dinner or even a sportsman’s night.

Bruce has had quite the career after a journalism cadetship with The Herald newspaper. Apart from spending 1992 at radio station 3UZ Good Sports (now RSN) as a producer and then broadcaster, he remained in the print media on a full-time basis until the end of 2003, including five years on The Herald and Herald-Sun, six years at Inside Football magazine as assistant editor and then editor, and two years as the senior writer at the AFL Record and for afl.com.au.

In 2004 he was a founding member of sports radio station SEN 1116, and in 2009 joined Melbourne’s No. 1 commercial station 3AW. Bruce initially produced the Sports Today program, but since the end of 2011 his role has been purely on-air. In winter he is one of 3AW’s senior AFL callers and was Head of Cricket while the network broadcast the national summer game between 2013 and 2020.

Simon Says is produced by Talking Talent.

Simon Madden catches up with Mark Eustice and Marcus Lovett for a chat about success, leadership and overcoming obstacles.

Marcus - Australia’s top Freestyle Skiing Aerialist for more than a decade - competed at the 1988 Calgary Olympic Winter Games. He then coached Kirstie Marshall to her first World Cup victory winning the Australian Ski Federation “Coach of the Year”.

Marcus used his acrobatic skills to compete in the 2003 World Cliff Diving Championships at Acapulco and worked as a stuntman, including such films as the Hollywood blockbuster, The Matrix. A regular speaker at the Schools for Student Leadership, an initiative by the Victorian Government, he motivates and gives the students practical guides for success.

Mark - a successful AFL footballer and businessman - suffered from undiagnosed bipolar disorder. After his football career and without the nurturing and supportive environment a sports club can provide Mark became clinically depressed. To cope with this depression began to heavily use alcohol and drugs of all types. 

Close to death, he was persuaded by friends to enter our rehabilitation facility which turned out to be a pivotal time in his life. His mental condition was properly diagnosed and treated and he has now been drug-free and sober for over 14 years. His raw & emotional story is more than worth a listen.

Simon Says is produced by Talking Talent.

In this episode - Simon Madden catches up with the uber-talented Kirstie Marshall OAM OLY and former AFL superstar player & coach, Paul Roos.

Paul Roos is best known for representing Fitzroy and Sydney during the 1980s and 1990s and then turning his hand as the senior coach of the Sydney Swans and Melbourne Football Club from 2002 to 2010 and 2014 to 2016 respectively, guiding the Swans to a premiership in 2005 - their first in 72 seasons! He was also inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2005.

A former gymnast, Kirstie Marshall paved the way for Australian women in aerial skiing, the nation’s most successful Winter Olympic sport. In her 10-year long career, she won an astounding 41 World Cup medals from 1989 to 1998, of which 17 were gold. She finished third on points in the 1990 World Cup season, second in 1991 and took the World Cup title in 1992. Kirstie was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2010.

Simon Says is produced by Talking Talent.

In this episode - Simon Madden catches up with Paul Wade - one of Australia’s greatest and longest-serving Socceroos, playing over 118 games during his 10-year international career!

‘Wadey’ as he is known around the world has had a remarkable career including the Seoul Olympic Games in 1988, two World Cup campaigns in 1990 & 1994 and one of the toughest tasks in world football, to mark Diego Maradona in the two-legged World Cup playoff with Argentina.

Did you know that in the lead-up to this task in 1993, Paul was dropped in the 2 games leading up to this historic mark? Here he talks about how he was the first-ever Captain to be dropped and how he overcame obstacles, embarrassment, humiliation, whilst remaining enthusiastic from the sidelines.

Listen to this awe-inspiring chat!

Simon Says is produced by Talking Talent.

Listen as Simon Madden catches up with Australian Rock Royalty, Wendy Stapleton, and former AFL player, now muso, Russell Robertson.

Wendy - pop/rock singer-songwriter, musical theatre performer, television actress and presenter - trained as a youngster in Classical Ballet, Tap, Acting and Singing, making her first professional appearance at the age of nine at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Noel Coward's "SAIL AWAY". At 16 she became a professional vocalist and has performed with the best of Australian Talent - among them John Farnham, Glen Shorrock, Jon English, Joe Camilleri... just to name a few!

Robertson is one of the Melbourne Football Club's great goalkickers, being one of just four players in the club's history to have led the goalkicking in four or more seasons. Robertson is well known for his ability to take regular spectacular marks. Late in his career, he was also known outside the football community, through reality television appearances, modelling and singing.

Here, Wendy and Russell talk about what COVID-19 has done to the entertainment and events industry and how they have re-invented themselves to get through this period.

Simon Says is produced by Talking Talent.

This episode of Simon Says features Brett "Moose" Stephens - a former Australian rules footballer who played for Fitzroy Football Club in the Victorian and Australian Football Leagues (VFL and AFL). After his retirement, Stephens became a sports coach in both the mental and physical training sectors, spending his time with world-class athletes, golfers, surfers and working with pro tennis players Wally Masur, Pete Sampras, Mark Philippoussis and his eventual wife, Zimbabwean tennis player Cara Black.

Simon also chats with Peter “Grubby” Stubbs - one of Melbourne’s best-loved radio presenters. For over three decades Grubby together with Dee Dee (Diane Dunleavy), have ruled the airwaves. First, at Fox FM where they were part of the ground-breaking Fox Morning Crew in the 1980’s; then at GOLD104.3 FM where they hosted the Breakfast Show for an impressive 13 years; and most recently at 3AW where the pair hosted the Weekend Break on 3AW. Grubby and Dee Dee now host their own separate shows on 3AW.

* Please excuse the Apollo Bay NBN connection - there is a little bit of dropping out within the chat!

Listen to Simon Madden catch up with Tom Siegert - aka The Suburban Footballer - and Simon Owens, best known as co-presenter alongside Phillip Brady on 3AW's longest-running show, Nightline.

In contrast, Simon Owens talks about COVID, and how radio shaped and influenced his childhood from an Uncle who worked in TV and Radio. And how he then got his start in radio which led to his 25-year radio career! Now, producing Podcasts - 'Remember When' and 'The Mervyn Purvis Kwik Kwiz' - both a trip down memory lane through the streets and across the suburbs of Melbourne with Philip Brady!

Simon Madden is joined by Nikki Langman - public speaker, author & ultra-marathon runner - and Grant Hansen - an Australian Indigenous musician and broadcaster who is the creator, producer and host of the Marngrook Footy Show.

Listen as Nikki discusses overcoming addiction and using that focus to become an endurance runner. She also talks about mentors - should it be someone you admire or someone who inspires? What is the actual difference? And why bravery, grit, integrity and humour are her core values.

Grant talks about being indigenous, overcoming obstacles growing up, as well as his first loves - music and sport. He also discusses the 90s and his uber-successful music band, Blackfire - where he played to a mere 26 million in China - and how the Marngrook Footy Show came to be!