Proper True Yarn

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.

This week on Proper True Yarn, Knuckles sits down with Rob Comiskey from Comiskey Group to pull back the curtain on what it really takes to bring massive live shows to life.Rob breaks down the promoter game: why sometimes you don’t “promote” a show - you buy it, how deals can be decided in minutes, and why it’s all risk vs reward (and honestly… sometimes it’s just a punt). From turning down Elton John early at Sandstone Point, to bringing out The Beach Boys, to the brutal moment COVID flipped a sold-out Violent Femmes show into a six-figure loss overnight - Rob shares the wins, the misses, and the stuff punters never see.They yarn about genre-by-genre bar spend, lightning evacuations, why insurance has become a nightmare, and the reality that one headline or a curveball can change everything. If you’ve ever wondered how the big dogs do it — this one’s a proper behind-the-scenes belter.#propertrueyarn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rob Comiskey from the Comiskey Group jumps on the Proper True Yarn Podcast to share how his family built some of Australia’s biggest pubs and live music venues -including Eaton’s Hill Hotel and Sandstone Point Hotel.From building Subways at 19, getting ripped off by dodgy managers, and taking massive risks, to running eight mega pubs, resorts and $850M+ in projects - this is a proper “have-a-crack” business yarn about backing yourself and building big.Hospitality, property, live music, and real Aussie hustle.#propertrueyarn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Knuckles and Zak are back behind the mic pressing play on some of the loosest listener yarns yet.Silly Saturday #9 is full call-in chaos - random voicemails, outback stories, and the kind of stuff you only hear when real legends send in their “proper true yarns.”This week the boys react to:• a firefighter protecting a property near Dalby that turns out to be the world’s weirdest “bird sanctuary” (aka the infamous bro-tel)• a remote nurse with a classic roadside outback mishap• a Thailand party trip that turns into a full kidnap/extortion scare• heaps of banter, roasting, and zero filter from Knuckles & ZakIt’s unpredictable, unedited, and exactly what Silly Saturday is meant to be - mates listening to wild stories and talking absolute rubbish.Perfect for the drive, the shed, or a laugh at the gym.🎙️ Proper True Yarn Podcast - Aussie humour, country culture, and real stories from real people.Send in yarn to propertrueyarn@gmail.com orhttps://www.speakpipe.com/ProperTrueYarn🤠 Hosts Propertrueyarn@propertrueyarn (IG)@propertrueyarn (TikTok)@propertrueyarn (FB)Knuckles@countrytruckercaps (IG)@knucklesctc (TikTok)@countrytruckercaps (FB)Zak Palmas@zpdigitals (IG)@zakpal (TikTok) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russ shares a wild 21st yarn: Long Islands, blackout dancing, waking up naked on a stranger’s lawn, and still rocking up to smash his family’s yardie record in 28.8 seconds. Pure Kiwi chaos, pub culture, and one hell of a Proper True Yarn.#propertrueyarn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kiwi mad dog Russ joins the Proper True Yarn Podcast to spin loose yarns about getting arrested after a Devilskin gig, smart-assing cops, getting pepper sprayed, and learning the hard way to stay on the right side of the law.#propertrueyarn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russ returns with another unhinged Kiwi yarn - earning his “Mad Dog Club” ring after towing a cut-open drum behind a Corolla at 100km/h, rolling it 13 times, blowing the straps off his crocs and skinning himself head-to-toe. Plus, the time he watched a mate take 22 pellets of birdshot “just to see what happens.” Pure chaos and classic Proper True Yarn energy.#propertrueyarn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Proper True Yarn, the phone lines deliver absolute carnage.We’re talking myths, legends, and right-off-tap yarns — from wild farm stories and jaw-dropping confessions, to spearfishing chaos with sharks, and a sparky who delivered the pettiest breakup revenge imaginable.🔥 In this episode:Wild rural yarns that shouldn’t existSpearfishing close calls and shark encountersThe most cooked farm stories you’ve ever heardA sparky’s perfectly wired revengeListener yarns that push the limitsPlus, Yarn of the Month returns thanks to Our Cow, with a chance to score a box of premium grass-fed Aussie meat.Raw. Unfiltered. Definitely not advice.🎙️ Listener call-ins🇦🇺 Real Aussie chaos#propertrueyarn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russ tells how he rolled his Triton twice, copped a $20k repair bill, then later drowned the ute in a flooded ford, only to have the rescue video hit Facebook and rack up hundreds of thousands of views courtesy of “Frank’s Trees.”#propertrueyarn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russ tells the story of a “quick trip” to Christchurch that turned into a 45-hour bender: pulling a sickie, smashing red wines on the plane, his mate getting thrown in detox at Macky G, ending up naked in fluffy slippers wandering the streets at 4am, getting scooped by the boys in an Uber, then backing it up for another full day on the piss. Pure chaos, peak Kiwi mischief, absolute Proper True Yarn territory.#propertrueyarn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Knuckles wraps up with Luke Modini for a loose rapid-fire yarn—autographs, biggest stuff-ups, craziest fights, and life outside the ring. Luke talks sparring Mairis Briedis, fighting through injuries, taking late-notice title fights on Foxtel, and why he loves a proper grudge match. Then it gets wild: Luke’s rare dog-breeding side hustle, the ultra-rare Laizhou Hong (Chinese Red Dog) in Australia, and what it takes to train serious protection dogs. Plus: respect for Jai Opetaia and the fight Luke would take in a heartbeat.#propertrueyarn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Proper True Yarn, things go from bad to absolutely cooked — fast.We’ve got listener yarns that include NT cattle station chaos, a cowgirl escaping a burning camp only to end up waist-deep in a septic tank, and house-party disasters that spiral into parents walking in, smashed fish tanks, and life-ending timing.🔥 In this episode:Bronc rider yarns and country hat chatA Territory cowgirl’s worst night imaginableFrom fire… straight into the shit pitsBedroom disasters and surprise homecomingsFish tanks, fist fights, and zero good decisionsPlus, Yarn of the Month is back thanks to Our Cow, with a chance to score up to $250 worth of premium grass-fed Aussie beef.As always — raw, real, unfiltered, and definitely not advice.🎙️ Listener call-ins 🇦🇺 Real Aussie yarns ⚠️ Bad decisions guaranteedGood choices are boring. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Knuckles sits down with Luke Modini for a powerful Proper True Yarn about family, grit, and purpose. Luke opens up about being raised by his grandparents, the work ethic of his 13-year-old brother, and building CSE Boxing Gym from the ground up. He reflects on coaching, teamwork, his devastating knockout power, and calls out Jake Paul - before breaking down the Tyson vs Paul fight controversy. Honest, heartfelt, and hard-hitting.#propertrueyarn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.