Ooooooh, heellooooo!
I just spend 10 minutes looking through Simpsons GIFs to find that one. It’s so fun, it’s almost better than watching an episode. Little Homie dopamine hit life hack.
Today’s newsletter is another TOP HAT TIPS and this time it’s from dear friend and long-standing FROOMESWORLD colleague… Marty Smiley!
Just how long-standing, you ask? Long-standing enough to have posed alongside this CEO when she wore the fedora as a legitimate fashion accessory.
Demonic.
In all seriousness, Marty is one of the most interesting, interested and compassionate people I know – he’s the closest thing I have to a big brother and it was such a pleasure to ask him sincere questions, like what his favourite biscuit is.
Let’s get to it!
REDFERN
LP: I think of you as a sort of Redfernian ambassador. What’s the best snack to find at Redfern Convenience Store? Can you please buy one and give us a review?
MS: Heck, that place has everything. You can get scorpion lollipops and dried crickets with a prepaid top up card. I got your birthday present there. 2 packs of cream chargers and a bulb cracker. The store owner, Hazem, has it all.
I normally get an ice cream sandwich or a mixed lolly bag. This isn’t a snack, but if you’re after a review, consider testing out their extensive range of shisha tobaccos. Mint is my choice.
If you don’t have a shisha, or coals, don’t worry about it, he sells them too.
MEDIA
LP: You have been in the media for what, 10 years now? And you’ve seen this shift from a super fkn white, too-cool vibe thing to a more diverse and inclusive one. Or at least we’re more conscious of inclusivity. I feel like you have definitely embraced your roots the past few years – I think of you as Martin now, instead of Marty if that makes sense. Did you feel pressure to be more white-washed in the early days?
M: Lol. Good question. It’s embarrassing to think about, but definitely in my first few years at Channel [V] I did. I realised that being an ‘Aussie larrikin’ was more palatable, so I probably played to that a bit more, partly to fit in, partly because I didn’t want to be held back from opportunities.
There’s a lot of ignorance and xenophobia in the media industry.
DIVERSIFYING
F: You were a VJ, then you became a Walkley Award-winning journalist, you’re a producer still and now you have a comedy podcast. You’re the king of the rebrand… what tips do you have for people who want to try something new but are scared?
M: I like the title. But the truth is, don’t worry about ‘rebranding’. Just do what you want to do or you’ll get stuck doing what others think you’re capable of doing.
Every era affords generations different privileges. Our generation's privilege (and curse) is having multiple different careers in our lifetime.
Don’t get boxed in. Don’t limit yourself. Try stuff you’re scared of!
You can wave to the doubters from the stage.
RESTAURANT
F: Everything is closed. But when it’s open, where do you go?
M: Emma’s Snack Bar. Or if you’re on a budget - Abdul’s. Both authentic, both delicious.
Froomy interjection here: I went to Emma’s Snack Bar for my bday this year and it was simply the best. Order the banquet and they’ll serve you up an unfinishable amount of food. They provide doggy bags at the end to take home the leftovers, which taste even better when you’re hungover and your romantic interest is forcing you to watch Top Gun. Powerful.
WORK
F: Fave doco you’ve made for us to watch right now.
M: This was a fun one. I’d always wanted to go to Nimbin’s Mardigrass Festival. It didn’t disappoint.
VJ
F: Best story from being a VJ on Channel V. Mine is obvs when Danny Clayton doxxed a surfer for bootzing his ex-girlfriend… which didn’t actually age well at all.
M: There’s a lot. It was a pretty loose job. I’ll never forget the lead singer of Wolfmother throwing a massive pot plant at me at Splendour in the Grass. I can’t remember why, but he could barely pick it up, and the seccies tried to stop him but they couldn’t throw him out.
Joker and the Thief still slaps though.
HOME-STYLE
F: You are a man of Australian and Lebanese heritage, is that right? Your dad is true blue vibes and your Mum is Lebanese? Do they both cook? What is your favourite-of-all-time recipe?
M: Dad was the cook in our house because mum was the Lebanese bread winner. She went to work, Dad stayed home. Mum makes traditional food, Mjadara, Hummus, Tabouli, Loubieh etc. My dad makes a mean curry. His lamb curry is my favourite.
Food is a big thing in my family. Dinners, lunches, large gatherings of cousins and friends. No one is left hungry, it’s always over catered for and there’s always singing, dancing and arguing.
TALKING
F: I am always so impressed with how you can listen to people and have discussions with those who have a different opinion to you. Getting your point across. Feels like a great skill for right now, esp with how easy it is to get into arguments on the internet. What are your tips for getting your point across without losing composure? Keeping compassionate.
M: I was raised religious and conservative. I know what it’s like to think a certain way and believe in something wholeheartedly. I also know what it’s like to change your mind and see things from a different perspective!
So it’s possible. But this feels like the question of our time.
I think people could do with a little more patience, compassion and empathy, but I’m also aware of how utterly draining it is to argue with people who’ve been brainwashed by YouTube videos and misinformation online. It’s important to call out hypocrisy, misinformation and discrimination. When I find myself in online debates- it’s because I fear that whatever that person is sharing could influence others negatively.
But my cousin thinks COVID-19 is a scam and Bill Gates is the leader of a New World Order. Where do you even start with that?
It’s a pretty fucked up time.
I guess we’ve got to just keep listening and nodding like Louis Theroux would.
TOILET
F: Can you please take a photo of yours right now? What soap you rolling with?
M: You bang on about poo stools so much, I’m thinking about getting one. It’s a tight squeeze though. Dettol soap. I prefer the foamy one. Reminds me of foam parties.
FW: Grim af
HOUSEMATE HABITS
F: You live in a house with two other comedians, Elouise Eftos and Nat Damena. Are y’all always ‘on’?
M: Nah, thank gawd. I couldn’t live in a house like that! There’s lots of laughs in our house but we’re never trying to outdo each other. We’re like siblings.
PODCAST
F: Tell us about your podcast, Housewarming. What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learnt interviewing your guests?
M: The podcast is about sharehouse life. We basically find out what our guests like to live with. From pooing in backyards (you), to eating out of bins (Nina Oyama), rooting too loud (Abbie Chatfield) to wearing other people's underwear (Daniel Sloss).
People are peculiar beasts. We’re all a bit messed up. It’s a bit of naughty listen.
BISCUIT
F: Fave biscuit and why.
M: My favourite is the Lotus Biscoff. But I’d like to make a special shout out to cummiest biscuits in the game: Venetian.
How high res is that biscuit image? Never thought I’d reach the point in life where a venetian biscuit could be the highlight of my day. And yet here we are.
Pleasure to have you here folks, as always.
P.S. I just decided to listen to Joker And The Thief as treat for finishing this. And what do I see… it’s on the Shrek 3 soundtrack.
Life has meaning.
F x