Alex Main is a comedian, comedy room runner and all-round good bloke, and in this belated episode 68 I’m glad to have Alex back in the chair to recap his recent adventures at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Alex is all about good vibes and a great storyteller. Join me and this man of travel, loyalty, and laughs, for a chat is packed with perspective, profound realisations, and some jaw-dropping anecdotes. This is a must-listen episode to get you motivated and grounded at the same time!

Highlights:

* The Legend of Elsie Rider: We kick off by revisiting the epic story of the Spanish woman who was in a coma for 10 years, woke up, and decided to ride a motorbike around the world, proving life’s reset button can be the most inspirational thing ever!

* Solo Travel and Naive Girls in Edinburgh: Alex recounts his recent adventures doing the NC500 in Scotland and shares a story of finding two 19-year-old girls sleeping in a park at 4 am after being locked out of their Airbnb. Hear how he had to call a locksmith for them and why he believes there’s “no reason for girls to be that naive these days”.

* The Reality-Shattering Breakup Overseas: I recount my major life change: moving to a new country (Europe) with my ex-partner and dog only to break up in the first week. This immediately led to a sobering reality—sleeping in a car outside a church during a snowstorm.

* The Podcast’s Great Discovery: People “Actually Like Each Other” I reflect on the biggest takeaway from hosting 100 episodes: despite the “polarisation” and “treachery everywhere” seen online , I’ve learned that in the real world, most people seek to get along and find common ground.

* The Riches are in the Niches (Or Not!): I discuss the challenges of running a broad show about “self-discovery and sort of conversation between two strangers”. I question the popular business mantra “riches are in the niches” and celebrate the work of simply telling great stories.

Thanks again for cathcing The Lui Diaz Podcast. If you like this episode, please share it and leave us a comment 😙

You can catch more of Alex on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alexemain/

Listen Now YouTube and Spotify

CONNECT with The Lui Diaz Podcast on:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/luidiazpodcast/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@theluidiazpodcast9195/featured

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@luifdiaz?_t=8WYIX8jD5kY&_r=1

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/luidiazpodcast

Dan Brader is a local comedian, room runner and all around good-bloke. In this episode, I welcome Dan back so I can personally thank him for all the introductions he made during the 2025 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, shoot the sh*t and catch some more of Dan’s Loose Stories.

Highlights from Episode 99

We dive deep into the fascinating, the funny, and the frankly outrageous. Here are 5 key takeaways from Dan’s latest chat:

* The Exhausting Art of the “Always-On” Persona: Dan and I discuss the strange world of method actors (like Christian Bale ) and comedians who stay “in character” 24/7. They muse on whether this constant performance is a necessary ingredient for greatness or just... utterly draining and “needy” to be around.

* A Deep Dive into the Dark Comedy Scene: Dan spills the details on the dark comedy shows he’s been running. He perfectly breaks down the contrasting approaches of comics like Joel Temperly (the grumpy “science teacher” vibe ) and Matt O’Neill (the “cuddly teddy bear energy” delivering dark jokes ).

* The Death of Organic Dating: Say goodbye to meeting someone at a bar! The guys lament the state of modern romance, calling app-based dating “a lot of admin” and just “swiping,” not actual dating. It’s so much harder to meet people randomly when everything is on your phone!

* Dan Brader: Teenage Bridge Burner: Dan admits to a history of “rage quitting” jobs as a teenager and has to deal with a slight “tinge of guilt” when he drives past those old workplaces.

* The Social Fabric is Built on White Lies: Lui and Dan get philosophical, debating whether society would absolutely collapse if everyone told the complete truth all the time. They conclude that the functional “social fabric” relies on little, tiny, inoffensive lies to keep things from being a complete “mess!”

For the listeners who love Dan Brader’s famously chaotic yarns, this episode delivers two pure gold stories that had me gob-smacked and solidified the discussion on whether alcohol is a “net negative” in society.

The Backpackers’ Tampon Attack: Dan recounts a truly wild night in a Sydney backpackers’ hostel where he was hit with the “mad alcohol urgency to piss”. Unable to get into his room with his key card, he started to drunkenly urinate on the door of his own room! This quickly escalated as a German guy came out screaming at him , and the chaos climaxed when a girl emerged and threw a tampon at Dan as he tried to “drunkenly explain it”! An absolute must-hear lesson in why being too drunk in a hostel is always a bad idea!

The Mid-Air Squat: In a conversation about the darker, Dan shares a story about a woman he once dated who was found squatting in mid-air in the bedroom of his room, convinced she was using a toilet, but making contact with “no surface”! Thankfully, the bright lights hit her, she clicked back into reality before the “quarter-poo” fully emerged, and made a dash for the actual bathroom. A classic, cautionary tale that only a man like Dan could live through to tell.

Thanks again for cathcing The Lui Diaz Podcast. If you like this episode, please share it and leave us a comment 😙

You can catch more of Dan Brader on Instagram - @danbradercomedy - https://www.instagram.com/danbradercomedy/

Listen Now YouTube and Spotify

CONNECT with The Lui Diaz Podcast on:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/luidiazpodcast/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@theluidiazpodcast9195/featured

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@luifdiaz?_t=8WYIX8jD5kY&_r=1

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/luidiazpodcast

Get ready to feel smart and hungry, folks! For our massive 97th episode of The Lui Diaz Podcast, where I sit down with the multi-talented comedian, fellow truth-seeker and Accountant? Haroon Hilmy! This chat is an absolute blast of history, hard-hitting facts, and laugh-out-loud commentary.

Haroon is not just a hilarious stand-up comic; he’s an A-grade Mockumentarian, having co-created the seriously cool new series ‘Deng, the Gym Junkie’ (which I loved). But what makes him the perfect guest is his treasure trove of bizarre and mind-blowing knowledge, seriously, the man drops enough “useless information” to fill a quiz-show. From the shocking secret life of fast-food fries to a deep dive into the very roots of civilisation, Haroon brings the noise and the knowledge!

Episode Highlights

* The World’s Debt to Accountants - Forget cave paintings, you won’t believe who actually invented writing. Haroon reveals how his accounting research shows that writing started as ancient IOU’s and debt-tracking. Who knew a spreadsheet could be so ‘Antique’?

* The Pyramid of TikToks - Say goodbye to calligraphy! Haroon and I dive into the decline of handwriting in the digital age, joking that future historians will uncover pyramids filled with nothing but archived TikToks.

* The Golden IOU’s and the Birth of Paper Money - Before cash, there was gold. Haroon breaks down the super-efficient moment in history when people started paying with IOU notes instead of actual gold, birthing the concept of paper currency.

* Extreme Capitalism: The Face Lawsuit - Prepare to be shocked! Did you know the iconic Colonel Sanders was sued by KFC for using his own face on a separate chicken business after he sold the company? It’s a surreal, mind-bending case study in losing the rights to your own likeness.

* City vs. Country: The Trust Test - Why do people behave differently in the city? The guys discuss the crucial difference between close-knit country towns and the anonymous big city, where people can “get away with behaviours” because they’re less-likely to face consequences.

Plus, you’ll hear all about the insider secrets behind why KFC’s fries are always soggy and the awesome origin story of Haroon’s series ‘Deng, the Gym Junkie’! Tune in, subscribe, and get ready for a hilarious chat.

You can catch Haroon on Instagram at - https://www.instagram.com/haroon1996/

And do yourself a favour and check out his new Mochumentary series ‘Deng, The Gym Junkie’ on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@KCProduction00

🫶 Thanks again for listening and watching! Let us know your thoughts on the episode and catch you in the next one.

Listen Now YouTube and Spotify

Be Part of the Journey

Buy Lui a coffee - https://ko-fi.com/luifdiaz

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Instagram - Youtube - Facebook

Welcome to a special episode number 98 with my friendly neighbourhood coffee guy and host of ‘The Coffee Show’ podcast, Kirk Pearson.

Join us from Melbourne’s Hosier Lane as Kirk and I dive deeper into the world of coffee, covering Melbourne coffee culture and the future of the coffee industry as it integrates deeper and deeper into life itself.

Key Talking Points

* Science in Specialty Coffee: Kirk reveals the intense level of science and mathematics that goes into high-quality coffee—like weighing everything and assessing water chemistry.

* From Pong to GTA 5: The Steep Modern Learning Curve: Lui uses a brilliant analogy, tracing the evolution of gaming from the simple days of Pong to the complex 3D world of Grand Theft Auto 5. The point: the starting point for Gen Z in any field (like coffee) is so technologically advanced that their learning curve is exponentially steeper, but if the infrastructure is in place, they can go from “zero to master straight away“.

* AI, Problem-Solving, and the Rise of Philosophers: We unpack the idea that humanity is innately composed of problem solvers. If AI takes on our current problems, Lui suggests we will simply “find new problems to go and solve” and affirms that AI will usher in a new era where we face complex ethical decision points (like the trolley problem for self-driving cars), leading to a “rise in like philosophers” as suggest by Yuval Noah Harari.

* The Irreplaceable Human Element in Coffee: Kirk emphasises that customers establish a deep, personal relationship with the people who make their coffee. He shares that in Melbourne, people will actually walk out of a café if they aren’t familiar with the barista or if the coffee (or “chat”) is “sh*t,” proving that the human connection is just as vital as the product.

Catch Kirk at Project Zero Coffee - https://www.instagram.com/projectzero.coffee/?hl=en

And The Coffee Show with Kirk - https://www.instagram.com/coffeeshow.kirk/?hl=en

🫶 Thanks again for listening and watching! Let us know your thoughts on the episode and catch you in the next one.

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Be Part of the Journey

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Sharam Namdarian is a comedian and former life and relationship coach based in Melbourne, Australia. In this episode, Sharam takes us on a wild journey through the contextualised inner workings of his mind. Awakened by meditation, Sharam offers beautifully complex perspectives that does no just him and I, but humanity in general justice. Join us fora a session of what might be considered performative introspection, weaved into layers of social commentary aka two blokes having a yarn.

Cheers for subscribing

Episode Highlights

* The Conversation Paradox: Performative vs. Private We kick off with a fascinating debate: Does recording a podcast (an “industrialized heart-to-heart” ) create a “performative heart-to-heart“? The discussion explores how putting a conversation online fundamentally changes its dynamic and challenges the level of intimacy you can achieve compared to a private one-on-one chat.

* Leading by Authentic Example Lui argues passionately that society is losing its ability “to just talk” openly and genuinely. He makes the case that having these recorded, honest conversations provides crucial public examples of authenticity and integrity that people can learn from.

* Breaking the Cycle of Hazing and Hurt In one of the episode’s most vulnerable moments, Lui shares his experience of being racially vilified as a child. This leads to a profound discussion about how the relentless desire to fit in can tragically cause victims to eventually become the bullies themselves in a cycle of hurt and “hazing”. The segment beautifully highlights the importance of trying harder to understand one another.

* The Art of Emotional Jujitsu (and When to Quit the Game) Sharam introduces the concept of “Emotional jujitsu“—a strategic method for transmuting and handling negative energy or criticism, especially in a rough environment like the comedy scene. Lui offers a powerful counterpoint: the ultimate move is deciding not to play the game at all and choosing your own path, regardless of what critics say.

* Micro-Hustles for Mental Resilience From Sharam’s twisted, narrative-driven level design for a video game that made players “feel evil“ to Lui’s simple, powerful ritual of taking a three-minute cold shower twice a day, the episode touches on personal practices and creative outlets that foster mental toughness and self-awareness.

Catch Sharam and his comedy exploits on instagram via https://www.instagram.com/sharamnamdarian/

🫶 Thanks again for listening and watching! Let us know your thoughts on the episode and catch you in the next one.

Listen Now YouTube and Spotify

Be Part of the Journey

Buy Lui a coffee - https://ko-fi.com/luifdiaz

Connect

Instagram - Youtube - Facebook

TJ is a Melbourne-based YouTuber and content creator whose YouTube channel TJ is all about capturing “Melbourne like you’ve never seen it — raw, loud, and straight from the streets.”

Subscribe for free to receive new posts.

With roots that run deep and diverse, TJ was born in Vietnam. He arrived in Australia as a tiny two-week-old boat person, spending time as a refugee in Indonesia before calling Flemington and St. Albans home. A proud dad and self-proclaimed “normal bloke” who’s lived through tough times (think heroin-era streets and personal hardships), TJ was ditched by his 25-year corporate grind and now he’s a full-time YouTuber grinding solo on @TJ_OFFICIAL_MELB, where he’s finding his groove as a part journalistic, part documentary-style storyteller.

With nearly 20K subs and a mission to inspire hope amid Australia’s social challenges, TJ’s all about community, raw truths, and proving anyone can pivot to their passion.

Episode Highlights Include:

* From Boat Baby to YouTube Boss: TJ’s Epic Origin Story – We kicked off with TJ’s wild ride from fleeing Vietnam as a newborn refugee to growing up in Melbourne’s gritty suburbs like Flemington and St. Albans. He spills on his “hard but blessed” life, ditching the corporate soul-suck after a surprise firing, and going all-in on YouTube just 11 months ago.

* Evolving the Channel: From Vlogs to Heart-Hitting Docs – TJ dishes on his YouTube glow-up, starting with gaming and car content before pivoting to raw suburb walks and storytelling. We geek out on his documentary style (think Current Affair meets street grit), dodging hate as a “Spanian wannabe,” and building a community through real talk on Melbourne’s hidden gems and struggles. TJ brings value, hooks, emotion and a polished-without-being-too-polished vibe, often trying out his cuts on his partner for feedback.

* Shining Light on Melbourne’s Real Issues: Homelessness, Drugs, and Hope – Things get real as TJ opens up about documenting Australia’s homelessness crisis, drug woes in spots like St. Kilda and Footscray, and why mainstream media’s dropping the ball. With his community-first lens, he shares stories of pain, progress, and inspiration – from collabing with locals to calling for better government action.

* COVID’s Lasting Echoes: A Stain on Trust and a Spark for Change – TJ gets candid about how COVID flipped his world, torching his trust in mainstream media and exposing society’s fractures. He calls it a “stain” that polarised opinions and trapped people without a voice, leading to repercussions like rising unrest and describes is as one of his darkest periods that nearly took his life.

You can learn more about TJ and his exploits via his YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@TJ_OFFICIAL_MELB

🫶 Thanks again for listening and watching! Let us know your thoughts on the episode and catch you in the next one.

Listen Now YouTube and Spotify

Be Part of the Journey

Buy Lui a coffee - https://ko-fi.com/luifdiaz

Connect

Instagram - Youtube - Facebook

Jess Miller is a DJ, Coach, Mentor and founder of the Sacred Raving App where Jess encourages party lovers to maximise their self-expression while relying less on substances.

Please subscribe to The Lui Diaz Podcast!

In this episode Jess and I chat about her journey into raving and cover:

* The importance of self-expression

* Why we can’t express ourselves in our day-to-day the way we really need to

* Jess’ fateful trip to Brazil and the power of finding your tribe or those who make you feel okay to be you

* The power of investing in yourself

* The importance of enjoying the time we have in this fleeting life experience and more

You can learn move about Jess, her ventures and the Sacred Raving App on Instagram: via https://www.instagram.com/galacticrainbow_/ & https://www.instagram.com/sacredraving/

🫶 Thanks again for listening and watching! Let us know your thoughts on the episode and catch you in the next one.

Listen Now YouTube and Spotify

Be Part of the Journey

Buy Lui a coffee - https://ko-fi.com/luifdiaz

Connect

Instagram - Youtube - Facebook