Proper True Yarn

In this unforgettable episode of the Proper True Yarn Podcast, Australian transport identity Craig Membrey takes us inside what may be one of the most outrageous 60th birthday celebrations ever thrown.Craig breaks down the full story behind the party - from exploding birthday cakes and last-minute chaos to tattoo artists giving permanent reminders, casino tables, Vegas-style showgirls, comedians, stretch Hummers, supercars, cranes on display, and over 400 hand-picked guests. Hosted at the legendary car museum owned by Lindsay Fox, this wasn’t just a party - it was a full-scale production.Beyond the madness, Craig explains why milestones matter more as you get older, how surviving multiple heart attacks reshaped his outlook on life, and why he believes money is best spent creating memories and rewarding loyalty. He opens up about celebrating life after loss, surrounding yourself with the right people, and refusing to do anything “small” - especially when it comes to gratitude.From mates mistakenly thinking real tattoos were fake, to friends flying in from all over Australia, to giving every guest something meaningful to take home, this episode perfectly captures Craig’s philosophy: go all in, or don’t bother.If you’re into wild Australian yarns, larger-than-life personalities, outrageous party stories, business success, or real conversations about living life properly, this episode is an absolute standout.Raw, ridiculous, and unforgettable - a proper true yarn from start to finish. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this second sit-down with Craig Membrey, we peel back the layers on how a young bloke with no tickets and a big dream built one of Australia’s most respected crane and transport businesses — and lived a hell of a life along the way.Craig breaks down his journey from leaving school at 14, taking over a small family operation, and growing it into a massive fleet spanning cranes, trucks, trailers, forklifts, and heavy gear across Australia. He shares raw lessons on leadership, hiring the right people, backing yourself, and why passion beats formal education every day of the week.The conversation then rolls into wild international yarns - from countless trips to Las Vegas, shooting machine guns from helicopters, and driving stretch Hummers across the desert, to meeting legends like Neil Armstrong, hanging backstage with ZZ Top, and crossing paths with Lionel Richie.Craig also shares his love for American road trips - from Nashville and Broadway, to the SEMA Show, the Mid-America Truck Show, and old-school towns like Lynchburg, home of Jack Daniel’s. Along the way, he talks travel, culture, risk-taking, business mistakes, and why young people should stop wasting weekends and start seeing the world.If you’re into business podcasts, Australian success stories, transport industry yarns, Vegas stories, American road trips, or no-BS life lessons, this episode delivers big time.Straight talk. Big laughs. A proper true yarn about building something real - and enjoying the ride while you’re at it.#propertrueyarn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Proper True Yarn – Silly Saturday, Knuckles and Zak rip into another round of outrageous listener yarns. From the great “fuck coriander” debate to a bloke secretly dosing his housemate’s strawberry jam with Viagra, the stories just keep getting wilder.There’s also a cracking tale about a Deep Heat disaster that went horribly wrong, plus shoutouts to the legends rocking Country Trucker Caps (CTC) around Australia. The boys chat beers, dodgy decisions, and why simple lagers still beat fancy fruit-salad craft beers any day of the week.If you love wild Australian stories, raw comedy podcasts, and proper true yarns from everyday legends, this Silly Saturday episode delivers plenty of laughs and questionable life choices.Get involvedA Send a voice message to the boysDrop us a yarn or question and you might feature on the show.Enquiries: propertrueyarn@gmail.comWebsite: linktr.ee/propertrueyarn睡Follow the PodcastInstagram: @propertrueyarnTikTok: @propertrueyarnFacebook: Proper True Yarn PodcastYouTube: Proper True Yarn PodcastMeet the HostsKnuckles - Country Trucker CapsInstagram: @countrytruckercapsTikTok: @knucklesctoZak PalmasInstagram: @zpdigitalsTikTok: @zakpal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is one of the most emotional and important conversations ever recorded on the Proper True Yarn Podcast.In this powerful episode, we sit down with trucking identity and industry legend Craig Membrey, known by many as The Bling King, as he opens up about loss, purpose, and turning pain into action.Craig shares the deeply personal story of losing his son Rowan to suicide, a moment that forever changed his life. From that heartbreak came a mission - to create awareness, spark conversations, and save lives. That mission led to the creation of a one-of-a-kind 2000th Franna crane, built in honour of Rowan and wrapped in the colours of Beyond Blue, standing as a moving symbol for mental health awareness across Australia.This episode goes far beyond trucks and cranes. Craig speaks openly about depression, dark moments, seeking help, survivor’s guilt, and the ripple effects suicide leaves behind on families, friends, and communities. He explains why awareness matters more than donations, why starting conversations can save lives, and why men especially need to learn how to speak up.You’ll also hear how a simple trucker cap became a conversation starter, a symbol of remembrance, and a tool for change - worn not for fashion, but for meaning.⚠️ This episode discusses suicide and mental health. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.This isn’t just a yarn - it’s a legacy piece. Raw. Honest. Necessary.#propertrueyarn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this laid-back but revealing episode of the Proper True Yarn Podcast, Australian boxing talent Clay Waterman drops the guard and answers the kind of questions fans rarely get to hear.Clay opens up about the man who inspired him most - Muhammad Ali - and why Ali’s impact went far beyond boxing. He shares stories from wild nights in Miami, brushes with global fame, and what it was really like sparring elite fighters including Terence Crawford and crossing paths with the Mayweather camp.From growing up as a late bloomer, explosive teenage growth, tattoos, and fighting tough opponents who just wouldn’t stay down, to honest reflections on mistakes, values, discipline, and staying grounded - this episode shows the human side of a man most people only see as a fighter.If you’re into boxing culture, fighter Q&As, behind-the-scenes fight stories, Miami party tales, sparring world champions, or real conversations with elite athletes, this episode delivers a proper true yarn from start to finish.No hype. No ego. Just stories, laughs, and a rare glimpse behind the gloves.#propertrueyarn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of the Proper True Yarn Podcast, world-title-winning boxer Clay Waterman steps away from fight talk and lays out his bold vision to change lives far beyond the ring.Clay opens up about building a long-term backup plan outside of boxing, leading to the creation of the Manna Foundation - a purpose-driven initiative focused on youth programs, cultural education, and community-first gyms across Australia. Drawing from his Māori, Aboriginal, and European heritage, Clay explains how boxing can be used as a tool to teach discipline, respect, identity, and leadership.He breaks down his flagship 10-week boxing and cultural program, designed to bring young people from all backgrounds together, reconnect them with culture, remove ego, and build real-world life skills - all culminating in a respectful, structured fight night. This episode tackles culture, unity, leadership, execution, and why helping others is the real definition of success.If you’re into purpose-driven business, boxing-based youth programs, leadership mindset, cultural education, Australian community stories, or real conversations about change, this episode hits hard in the best way.This isn’t just a plan - it’s a mission. A proper true yarn about legacy, leadership, and changing Australia for the better.#propertrueyarn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Silly Saturday on the Proper True Yarn Podcast, where Knuckles and Zak play the funniest, wildest and most ridiculous listener phone calls from around Australia and beyond.This episode kicks off with a mysterious Scottish tongue twister before diving into a serious yarn from a truck driver about dangerous overtaking on Aussie highways and the risks truckies face every day on the road. The boys share their own close-call stories and talk about why drivers need to show a bit more respect for the big rigs keeping the country moving.There’s also a classic pub joke involving an Englishman, a German and an Aussie, a chaotic hospital mishap that’ll have you cringing, and a bloke who accidentally jumps into the wrong car at a servo and nearly drives off with it.As always, the yarns come straight from listeners — truck drivers, farmers, tradies and everyday legends across Australia — bringing the chaos, comedy and unbelievable moments that make Proper True Yarn what it is.If you love Australian humour, wild outback stories, truckie yarns, tradie banter and ridiculous real-life moments, this episode is for you.🥩 SponsorTo wrap, the boys plug Our Cow: use code YARN for $50 off your first box over $200, and the Yarn of the Month scores a free meat box — plus a reminder to send your own yarns in.📞 Get involved🎤 Send a voice message to the boysDrop us a yarn or question and you might feature on the show.📧 Enquiries: propertrueyarn@gmail.com🌐 Website: linktr.ee/propertrueyarn📲 Follow the PodcastInstagram: @propertrueyarnTikTok: @propertrueyarnFacebook: Proper True Yarn PodcastYouTube: Proper True Yarn Podcast🤠 Meet the HostsKnuckles – Country Trucker CapsInstagram: @countrytruckercapsTikTok: @knucklesctcZak PalmasInstagram: @zpdigitalsTikTok: @zakpal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this wild episode of the Proper True Yarn Podcast, Australian boxing savage Clay Waterman breaks down his jump into the brutal world of bare knuckle fighting - and why it might be the purest form of combat there is.Clay opens up about saying yes to bare knuckle fights without hesitation, how it completely changed his fighting style, and why many traditional boxers wouldn’t survive a real street fight. He explains the mindset shift required to fight without gloves, the reality of broken hands, blood-soaked events, and why bare knuckle knockouts happen fast and brutally.From his knockout win at one of Australia’s first major bare knuckle events, to the rise of combat sports entertainment, boxing politics, ego checks, and why learning how to fight properly can change your life - this episode is raw, honest, and unapologetic.If you’re into bare knuckle boxing, combat sports podcasts, Australian boxing stories, street fight mentality, fight culture, or unfiltered fight talk, this one hits hard.No fluff. No filters. Just violence, respect, and a proper true yarn.#propertrueyarn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this powerful episode of the Proper True Yarn Podcast, we sit down with Australian boxer Clay Waterman for an unfiltered deep dive into resilience, sacrifice, and the brutal reality of elite boxing.Clay opens up about fighting for years with a broken hand, missing his shot at the Rio Olympics, and the politics that nearly ended his career. He shares what it was really like chasing Olympic qualification, why he believes turning professional earlier could have changed everything, and how stepping away from boxing to work on remote construction sites near Alice Springs nearly cost him his life - but ultimately saved his career.From driving road trains at 150km/h in the outback, to rebuilding his body and mind, winning national titles, and earning a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, this is a proper true yarn about backing yourself when everything is on the line.If you’re into boxing podcasts, Australian sports stories, Olympic boxing journeys, combat sports mindset, or real-life comeback stories, this episode is not to be missed.Crack a cold one and settle in - this one’s raw, honest, and hard-earned.#propertrueyarn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From buying alcohol at 13 in Ukraine to winning Australia’s first amateur world title in Kazakhstan, this is a proper true yarn from one of the toughest fighters the country has produced.In this episode of the Proper True Yarn Podcast, Knuckles sits down with Clay Waterman, Australia’s first junior amateur world champion, to unpack a lifetime spent in the ring. Clay opens up about starting combat sports as a kid, travelling the world before most people leave school, and racking up over 160 amateur fights before turning pro.They dive deep into:Winning world titles as a teenagerFighting bigger, older opponents as a kidThe brutal realities of international boxingBreaking a wrist mid-fight in Florida and finishing anywayWhy Clay chose the hard road as a free-agent fighterThe love-hate relationship every boxer has with the sportAdvice for parents putting kids into boxing for discipline and confidenceRaw, honest, and full of insight into the politics, pain, and pride behind elite boxing — this episode is a must-listen for fight fans, athletes, and anyone chasing something bigger than themselves.👉 Strap in, crack a cold one, and enjoy another Proper True Yarn.#propertrueyarn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Silly Saturday rolls in with the usual weekend sermon: rip, tear, bust… or do absolutely fuck-all,just don’t spend it mowing the lawn.Then the hotline delivers a stacked set of yarns:Harley Wong (Rodeo Root): a backseat session turns into next-day panic when the girl messages asking if he left a condom in her… and Harley’s response is as cooked as you’d expect.Carl Zilly (Average Willy, Bundaberg): at a diabetes seminar in Hervey Bay, he links with a “wee Bonnie lass” and ends up in the bedroom staring down a prosthetic leg… that quickly becomes part of the requested “mischief.”Nulsy’s Fishing Adventures (Rooftop Tent Intruders): comes back to his own rooftop tent to find two randoms mid-act-lets them finish, then bins the mattress the next day.Beefo Keef (Car Crash Horror Film): a head-on at highway speed, the other car’s occupants dead, a hospital lockdown with an angry mob, cops revealing the driver was known and the car was stolen… and the kicker: the passenger was already dead before the crash. Somehow it ends with $150k compo and buying a sailboat in Florida to sail back to Australia.To wrap, the boys plug Our Cow: use code YARN for $50 off your first box over $200, and the yarn of the month scores a free meat box-plus a reminder to send your own yarns in.📞 Get involved🎤 Send a voice message to the boysDrop us a yarn or question and you might feature on the show.📧 Enquiries: propertrueyarn@gmail.com🌐 Website: linktr.ee/propertrueyarn📲 Follow the PodcastInstagram: @propertrueyarnTikTok: @propertrueyarnFacebook: Proper True Yarn PodcastYouTube: Proper True Yarn Podcast🤠 Meet the HostsKnuckles – Country Trucker CapsInstagram: @countrytruckercapsTikTok: @knucklesctcZak PalmasInstagram: @zpdigitalsTikTok: @zakpal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Knuckles wraps up with AJ “the NZ hype train” and fires through a rapid set of guest questions - from grooming habits and what you’d buy with a billion, to biggest fuck-up, dream movie casting, and the ultimate fantasy pet.AJ’s “biggest fuck-up” turns into a full wedding-night disasterclass: arriving underfed, going way too hard, letting off fireworks, an accidental dancefloor knock-out, and a brutal one-liner that gets him kicked out… before making the worst decision of all and drink driving - owning that he deserved to be pulled over.They finish lighter: wild party picks (R&V and Oktoberfest in Munich), AJ casting himself as Jim Carrey (Ace Ventura devotion included), and choosing a trained big ape as the ultimate pet. Knuckles closes the ep with a final shout-out to AJ and a new life motto to send everyone off on the right note.#propertrueyarn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AJ wraps up his wild Auckland era with absolute carnage from Rhythm & Vines (R&V) - New Zealand’s massive New Year’s festival pulling 30,000+ punters.Him and Ant get handed the main stage hosting gig, which is normally just quick intros… but they turn it into full theatre: six or seven costume changes a night, morph suits, Kermit, Pink Panther, inflatable boat races, kiss cams - and at one point, going out completely nude before a major headline act (thankfully not during).They share the chaos of working around big artists like Savage, Sticky Fingers (who rocked up 40 minutes late while the crowd frothed), and the madness of trying to keep a festival crowd engaged when no one’s really listening anyway.Then it drifts into pure after-dark festival mischief: roaming campgrounds in costume at sunrise, hiding in hay bales to dodge security, impulsively stealing a tractor for absolutely no reason… and somehow ending up buying a plus-size inflatable doll named “Bernice” for $100 - who later appears on stage leaking in front of thousands.They also revisit the old Short & Wide TV show days, including a brutal hurdles challenge that leaves AJ with one of the most unfortunate bruising stories you’ll ever hear.It’s five years of festival madness, media chaos, and two idiots pushing stage hosting way further than it ever needed to go.#propertrueyarn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AJ reckons his 2015–2018 era in Auckland was a full-blown heater — TV show attempts, MC gigs, and running social campaigns (including a massive Snapchat growth run). But the wheels properly fall off with two all-time public blow-ups.First: he’s working content for a Blue Sky / Spring Break party trip heading to Rarotonga. He’s filming the hype on a delayed Jetstar charter, steps near the cockpit to grab a shot, and the captain reckons he’s filming inside - final call is the captain’s, so AJ gets escorted off by police and left watching the party flight take off without him. He books the next-day flight anyway… only to arrive and get quarantined in his room for two days so the crew can “lay low” in case it hits the news. That ends his Blue Sky run.Then: an international match at Seddon Park (Hamilton) where security mistakes AJ for another bloke in the same classic Black Caps top. He gets cut off, then cameras catch him taking a sip of a mate’s beer - and he’s escorted out. A snarky push turns into AJ saying “I’m walking” … and it escalates to handcuffs, right as the Northern Districts CEO clocks the whole thing. The result: AJ loses the upcoming MC gig for the grand final, and he takes it as the final straw.After that, he heads back to Dunedin, slows down, and the rest is history - meets his future wife on Tinder, kid, new job, calmer chapter.#propertrueyarn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Silly Saturday is back with Knuckles and Zak firing up the hotline—powered by the legends at Spit & Swallow (code YARN gets $50 off your first box over $200, plus a monthly free meat-box giveaway).The boys chat work-life balance, upcoming travel, and drop an early tease for the 2026 Podcast Royale: the seven-man blindfold is locked in, with teams being picked and the call-out going wide for anyone game enough to jump in (including the dream of a tough-as-nails yarnette entering the chaos).Then the yarns roll in:Poosie Yarn: a birthday shack session goes feral when a mate destroys the bathroom-shit everywhere-leaving someone else to deal with the crime scene.Quick One-Liner: a classic mechanic/tradie quote about what can “squeal.”Bali Collarbone Yarn: a post-night-out massage turns into a near-robbery, a moped stack, a broken clavicle, Bali hospital drama, and a solo flight home-right before starting a new job.Knuckles wraps it up with respect for the tough bastards who push through injury, and the usual reminder: send your yarns in through the Country Companies site or the link in bio.📞 Get involved🎤 Send a voice message to the boysDrop us a yarn or question and you might feature on the show.📧 Enquiries: propertrueyarn@gmail.com🌐 Website: linktr.ee/propertrueyarn📲 Follow the PodcastInstagram: @propertrueyarnTikTok: @propertrueyarnFacebook: Proper True Yarn PodcastYouTube: Proper True Yarn Podcast🤠 Meet the HostsKnuckles – Country Trucker CapsInstagram: @countrytruckercapsTikTok: @knucklesctcZak PalmasInstagram: @zpdigitalsTikTok: @zakpal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AJ’s back for Part 2 — and it starts with the obvious question: how bad was the Wilson car park damage? ($300… and they basically gave up issuing tickets.)Then AJ tells the story of his return to Forsyth Barr Stadium years later, this time asked to suit up as William Wallace again for a halftime dance comp (with an iPad on the line)… except he stops at a student flat, turns a “warm-up” into a full bottle of vodka, and the whole mission spirals.From falling over at a crossing and losing his gear, to roaming the stadium yelling Braveheart quotes, to pulling himself into the marketing room and spewing on the costume, it’s an absolute trainwreck. Then comes the infamous toilet incident - including the alleged wall-writing that AJ swears was a setup - and two cleaners reportedly running out screaming.Somehow he isn’t banned, eventually gets welcomed back as a megaphone hype-man, and AJ says he’s even been invited to MC the 2026 season - full circle.#propertrueyarn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AJ rolls in dusty after a big night and immediately delivers one of the loosest sports yarns you’ll ever hear.Back in 2013 in Dunedin, AJ gets recruited to fire up the Highlanders student section (“The Zoo”) at Forsyth Barr Stadium - but instead of a normal mascot gig, he ends up in a full chicken suit, half cut, and armed with a “bag of gags”… including a black dildo that (somehow) becomes part of the entertainment.It goes exactly as you’d expect: the sponsor finds out, emails start flying, and AJ cops a life ban… until they change their mind and invite him back with one condition: no dildos.Then it levels up. Mid-season, a streaker hits the field and AJ - still dressed as a chicken — absolutely crunches him in a tackle that blows up across radio, news, and even lands on ESPN Top 10 plays. But the fame comes with a cost: a news outlet tries to unmask the mascot, forcing AJ into a choice that changes everything.From there it turns into a three-week Highlanders championship bender: packed pubs, the “Landers Army,” printing champions tees, trophy tours, a cooked Bedford bus with shithouse brakes, cops pulling them over, and a 21-day tear that ends in pneumonia… and a relationship ultimatum he definitely ignores.This is pure chaos, pure NZ rugby culture, and a proper true yarn from start to finish.#propertrueyarn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

his episode is a proper yarn with Rob Comiskey from the Comiskey Group - one of Australia’s biggest hospitality and entertainment operators.Rob breaks down the biggest business lessons he’s learned over the years (including knowing when to cut bait), the high-stakes Brisbane court case that nearly broke them, and how that risk turned into a massive win.Then it gets loose: Rob tells the story of the wildest party he ever hosted - inside a converted Energex substation - with security on the gate, a DJ setup, roof dives into the pool, and absolute Superbad-level chaos.We also chat about meeting famous faces (Post Malone), scouting Nashville bars for ideas, building venues with their own personality, and the behind-the-scenes madness of running a distillery + brewery, including the reality of rum ageing rules and importing ethanol into Australia.If you’re into Australian pub culture, hospitality business, nightlife stories, and elite proper true yarns, this one’s for you.#propertrueyarn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The boys are back to regular programming… and it gets loose quick.This week on Silly Saturday #10, a listener tackles a brutal 15km Tough Mudder, crawling through mud, obstacles, and pure pain just to prove he’s still got it - while Zak yarns about a wild rodeo weekend, country chaos, and everything that comes with it.It’s classic carry-on:• tough mudder survival stories• rodeo madness• blokey banter• random tangents• proper dumb laughsIf you love Aussie humour, country culture, and unfiltered yarns between mates, this one’s right up your alley.Chuck it on for the drive, the shed, or the gym.🎙️ Proper True Yarn Podcast – real stories, proper laughs, no polish.📞 Get involved🎤 Send a voice message to the boysDrop us a yarn or question and you might feature on the show.📧 Enquiries: propertrueyarn@gmail.com🌐 Website: linktr.ee/propertrueyarn📲 Follow the PodcastInstagram: @propertrueyarnTikTok: @propertrueyarnFacebook: Proper True Yarn PodcastYouTube: Proper True Yarn Podcast🤠 Meet the HostsKnuckles – Country Trucker CapsInstagram: @countrytruckercapsTikTok: @knucklesctcZak PalmasInstagram: @zpdigitalsTikTok: @zakpal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Back with Rob Comiskey from the Comiskey Group for a behind-the-curtain look at what really goes on when world-famous artists hit Australian venues.Rob shares the Marilyn Manson story you won’t believe - insane green room demands, “don’t look at him” rules, and an elevator meltdown that turned into a 45-minute standoff… all because he refused to walk a short set of stairs.We also get into the wildest security briefing Rob’s ever heard, how venues handle extreme performers, and why respect for staff matters - especially when you’re dealing with security teams on the front line.Then it flips to legendary: Ice Cube’s rider might be the best of all time - two buckets of KFC and a bottle of bourbon - and yes, they had to keep KFC open late to make it happen. Rob also talks Cypress Hill nights where the crowd was a full-blown smoke cloud, plus what “artist riders” really cost and why most of it never even gets touched.To wrap it up, Rob breaks down what makes a concert truly successful: the punter experience, constant improvements, and building venues and events that people walk away from singing.If you love Australian hospitality stories, backstage chaos, music industry insights, and proper true yarns, this one’s for you.#propertrueyarn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.