No Business Being A Castano

Merrick Watts has never been one to sit still. From radio and stand-up to SAS: Australia, wine judging, and now launching a hydration drink, he’s built a career out of reinvention — powered by what he calls “self-diagnosed obsession.”In this episode, Merrick joins Amy and Jono to unpack what drives him: his obsession with goal-setting, why he thrives on discomfort, and how he views failure as fuel. He opens up about the real reason Merrick & Rosso ended, why he treats weekdays like a Rolls-Royce and weekends like a rental car, and how he balances ambition with family (or doesn’t).You’ll also hear the wild story behind his new Roman-inspired hydration drink, why he talks to his Great Dane like she’s human, and how emotional control on stage separates great comedians from the rest.This one’s funny, honest and full of wisdom from a man who has no plans to slow down — and probably couldn’t if he tried.Follow Jono & Amy:http://www.instagram.com/jonocastanoacerohttp://www.instagram.com/amycastanoFollow Merrick:https://www.instagram.com/merrickwattsFollowCuriousMedia:https://www.instagram.com/curiousmediahqhttps://www.curious.media

In a bold role reversal, multi-award-winning journalist and Curious Media co-founder Poppy Reid takes the guest seat to explore life’s most confronting question: What if you choose not to have kids? In this raw and radically honest episode, Poppy opens up about growing up without maternal instincts, the societal pressures that come with opting out of parenthood, and how she navigated dating, marriage, and divorce while holding firm to her values.Poppy reflects on the staggering data showing a generational shift in reproductive choices — including the stat that nearly half of 18–34-year-olds without children don’t plan to have them — and unpacks how financial reality, creative ambition, and emotional integrity shaped her decision.Plus, we dive into the future of media, as the co-founder of The Brag Media (Rolling Stone AU/NZ, Variety Australia) Poppy’s chats about her pivot from print to podcasting, her deeply personal new show Untypical with Michael Theo, and why she believes legacy doesn’t require motherhood.This episode is for anyone questioning the traditional life script, or rewriting it on their own terms.Timestamps01:05 – Why Poppy never wanted kids—and how people reacted06:00 – Navigating dating, boundaries & aligned values09:45 – What if your partner changes their mind about kids?13:15 – Why her first marriage fell apart (and what she owns)17:30 – From Rolling Stone to Curious Media: a career built on passion22:00 – Why podcasting is the future (and how she’s doing it differently)26:40 – Poppy on working with Love on the Spectrum’s Michael Theo30:00 – The power of asking the real questions34:10 – Hens + bucks = one party? Poppy’s wedding plans37:20 – Tuesday blues, Netflix recs & surprise highs and lowsFollow Poppy:instagram.com/itspoppyreidinstagram.com/curiousmediahqFollow Jono & Amy:instagram.com/jonocastanoaceroinstagram.com/amycastano

In this episode of No Business Being A Castano, Amy and Jono are joined by Ben Lee and Ione Skye, partners in life, parents, and co-hosts of the podcast Weirder Together. What starts with a hilarious Adam Levine pep talk quickly unfolds into a raw, insightful look at long-term love, public vulnerability, and making space for individuality inside a relationship.Ben and Ione open up about their unconventional love story, getting married in small-town India during Ben’s guru era, and how they’ve grown creatively and emotionally over two decades. They talk about parenting in the digital age, navigating fame then vs now, and why building a relationship that respects both difference and change is the real secret to staying together.Timestamps:01:10 – Ben & Ione's unlikely meet-cute06:00 – Transitioning from friendship to romance08:15 – Getting married in India & spiritual detours11:45 – Navigating change in a long-term relationship15:30 – The podcast: Weirder Together's origin story19:00 – Parenting daughters in the age of Instagram23:45 – Ione on memoirs, vulnerability & being truly seen28:30 – Ben on individuality, ego & shared creative space33:00 – Highs, lows & Castano moments of the weekFollow Jono & Amy:instagram.com/jonocastanoacero instagram.com/amycastanoinstagram.com/benleemusic instagram.com/ioneskyelee instagram.com/weirdertogetherofficial curious.media instagram.com/curiousmediahq Follow Ben & Ione:Stay curious:

In this episode of No Business Being A Castano, Amy and Johnny are fully unfiltered—from kitchen fires and Uber confessions to emotional goodbyes and public rendezvous (yes, that kind of rendezvous).Amy gets real about her partner Aaron’s big overseas move—sharing what it feels like to love someone deeply while watching them chase their dream from afar. Johnny, meanwhile, tries to impress his partner with a home-cooked meal and ends up triggering a full-blown building evacuation. (Spoiler: don’t cook steak on high heat with no ventilation.)Then it’s time for Please Don’t Cancel Us—a rapid-fire segment where the duo gives hot takes on everything from first-date etiquette and thong bikinis to socks during sex and full glam at the gym. It’s honest, chaotic, and laugh-out-loud funny.Plus, Amy’s love for heat packs hits new heights, Johnny gets called out for his Uber rating, and there’s a truth or dare moment that… let’s just say, might make you rethink dinner dates forever.Timestamps:01:10 – Aaron’s big move & Amy’s emotional week03:30 – Johnny’s fire alarm fail: how dinner became a building-wide drama07:00 – Hi-Lo-Castano: love, tears & heat pack obsessions10:00 – Please Don’t Cancel Us: first kisses, dating etiquette & pineapple on pizza17:45 – Socks in bed (and during sex?): compression gear gets weird22:00 – Full glam at the gym: survival or showing off?25:00 – Sunday surcharges, trolley etiquette & Uber stories29:45 – Uber rating showdown & the truth-or-dare payoff32:00 – Wrap-up, raspy vocals & Adele love lettersFollow Amy & Johnny:instagram.com/amycastanoinstagram.com/jonnycastanoStay in the loop with Curious Media:instagram.com/curiousmediahq

In this episode of No Business Being A Castano, Jono and Amy sit down with Fuzz Ali—writer, podcaster, and multimedia personality—for a raw, funny, and deeply moving conversation about identity, visibility, and learning to live fully.Fuzz opens up about growing up between Fiji and Australia, confronting mortality from a young age, and why that awareness shaped his appetite for discomfort, storytelling, and saying yes to life. From television and fashion to food, advocacy, and online visibility, Fuzz shares how he's built a rich, multifaceted career rooted in culture, creativity, and compassion.They dive into his 37kg weight loss journey, his work as an ambassador for Down Syndrome NSW, and why inclusion is more than just a buzzword—it’s a daily practice. With warmth, humour, and hard-won wisdom, Fuzz reminds us what it means to take up space, challenge the status quo, and find joy in the mess of becoming.Timestamps02:00 – Growing up with death as a daily reminder07:40 – What makes the Instagram feed (and what doesn’t)14:30 – Fiji, Australia & navigating multiple cultural identities18:30 – Rejection, inner child wounds, and survival mode23:50 – Down syndrome advocacy & building real inclusion30:00 – Facing online hate with humour and clarity35:10 – Why food became his favourite storytelling tool42:00 – Health, weight loss, and rediscovering strength50:30 – Party pies, silk rolls & launching a food brand53:00 – Foot injuries, dog training, and favourite gossip of the week56:00 – Final reflections on self-worth, legacy, and acceptanceFollow Jono & Amy:instagram.com/jonocastanoaceroinstagram.com/amycastanoFollow Fuzz:https://www.instagram.com/fuzz.ali/Stay in the loop with Curious Media:curious.mediainstagram.com/curiousmediahq

In this episode of No Business Being A Castano, Amy and Jono sit down with Jay Lyon—the model, musician, and early-2000s reality TV heartthrob who left the fame game behind to build a quiet empire in the fine art world.From chaotic MTV love triangles to million-dollar Basquiats, Jay opens up about his evolution—how a deep love for culture (and early mornings) took him from LA party scenes to art advising for private collectors across the globe.This episode is equal parts nostalgic, grounded, and unexpectedly wise—proof that your second act can be more meaningful than your first. Timestamps:00:50 – Jay’s early days in music & modeling 04:30 – Behind the scenes of The Hills & reality TV burnout 08:10 – Discovering meditation, purpose & early wakeups 11:25 – Entering the fine art world through instinct, not ego 15:10 – The link between art, emotion & connection 19:40 – Jono asks: Can hustle and peace exist at the same time? 23:00 – Jay on slowing down, staying sharp & showing upFollow Jay: instagram.com/iamjaylyonFollow Jono & Amy: instagram.com/jonocastanoacero instagram.com/amycastanoStay curious: instagram.com/curiousmediahq (edited)

In this episode of No Business Being A Castano, Amy and Jono swap interviews for inboxes—diving into listener-submitted wellness questions that span fasting fads, emotional weight loss, and what to actually do in the gym when you’re 63 and starting fresh.Amy opens up about her own transformation: a multi-year journey that began with emotional healing and ended with feeling stronger, clearer, and more at home in her body than ever. Jono, meanwhile, brings the PT science—breaking down inflammation, strength training for diabetics, and why supplements and recovery matter more than smashing yourself five days a week.From raw egg days to berberine, this is a warm, honest, and sometimes hilarious chat about what it really takes to feel good in your body—especially when life feels chaotic, health trends are everywhere, and you’re just trying to figure out where to start.Timestamps:01:10 – Fasting: helpful tool or slippery slope?06:40 – Amy on emotional healing & holistic weight loss10:50 – Inflammation, fatigue & smart training14:40 – Cardio vs. weights: what finally worked for Amy18:00 – How to start again at 63 (and why it's never too late)20:45 – Type 2 diabetes, strength training & blood sugar balance22:30 – Ice baths, awkward breakups & wellness full circleFollow Jono & Amy:instagram.com/jonocastanoaceroinstagram.com/amycastanoStay in the loop with Curious Media:instagram.com/curiousmediahq

In this episode of No Business Being A Castano, Jono and Amy catch up with Aussie TV legend Larry Emdur for a hilarious, heartfelt, and totally unfiltered conversation about life in the spotlight—and what comes after.Larry reflects on his unconventional rise in television, from becoming the youngest national newsreader (at 3am in board shorts) to decades of hosting game shows, morning programs, and dodging cancellation after cancellation. But it’s his latest pivot that surprises everyone: building an award-winning whiskey brand, Ben Buckler, from a birthday passion project into a booming business.They dive into everything from imposter syndrome and media burnout to longevity, marriage, fitness at 60, and how a joke about a Logies tattoo turned into a public obsession. With signature self-deprecating charm, Larry opens up about reinvention, relationships, and finding freedom in not taking yourself too seriously—even after four decades on screen.Timestamps01:10 – Why he’s never been asked to show his butt more than now04:30 – The accidental birth of Ben Buckler Whiskey09:15 – How it went from 60 bottles to a global business overnight13:00 – Reinvention after rejection: getting axed and bouncing back17:40 – Surfing, morning routines, and chasing clarity at 4am22:00 – Fitness over 60: training hard, seeing no change, doing it anyway27:00 – Marriage, fatherhood, and the napkin that started it all32:20 – Imposter syndrome at the Logies and the power of perspective36:10 – Making whiskey unboring—and why Larry’s all in41:30 – Tattoos, Westfield encounters, and day one of a new chapterFollow Jono & Amy:instagram.com/jonocastanoaceroinstagram.com/amycastanoFollow Larry:instagram.com/larryemdurCheck out Ben Buckler Whiskey:benbucklerwhiskey.comShout out to this episode’s sponsor, Melrose FutureLab:melrosefuturelab.com Stay in the loop with Curious Media:curious.mediainstagram.com/curiousmediahq

In this episode of No Business Being A Castano, Jono and Amy sit down with Roman Banks — the powerhouse talent behind MJ: The Musical — for an inspiring and down-to-earth chat about what it really takes to play the King of Pop night after night.Roman opens up about the physical toll of the role, the mental prep behind the scenes, and how performing MJ helped him face years of body dysmorphia. From national tours to Men's Health shoots, he reflects on imposter syndrome, self-worth, and the hard-earned joy of owning your moment without losing yourself in it.They talk recovery routines, cast dynamics, internet criticism, and even what it feels like to completely blank out live on stage. With heart, humour and honesty, Roman shares what keeps him grounded—and what he's building far beyond the spotlight.Timestamps 01:45 – Stepping into MJ’s shoes and the pressure that comes with it 06:30 – Imposter syndrome and landing Men’s Health 11:20 – Body dysmorphia and how the role challenged his self-image 17:00 – The emotional weight of criticism and learning to let go 22:30 – Performance prep: playlists, cold plunges, and toe pads 26:40 – The white room: forgetting your lines in front of 1,000 people 30:00 – Cast chemistry and protecting backstage energy 35:00 – Personal routines, foodie confessions, and “Wednesday Waffles” 40:30 – Big wins, quiet getaways, and a custom necklace 45:00 – A vision for longevity, legacy, and meaningful workFollow Jono & Amy:instagram.com/jonocastanoaceroinstagram.com/amycastanoFollow Roman Banks:instagram.com/romanwbanks/Stay in the loop with Curious Media:curious.mediainstagram.com/curiousmediahq

In this episode of No Business Being A Castano, Amy and Jono are back in the studio—this time in a brand new space and in full chaotic energy. After a rough week that left Jono too sick to film, the duo returns with stories, laughter, and a spontaneous game show format that spills more tea than expected.Amy recaps her birthday, including a day of love, bagels, Final Destination, and a surprise dinner party planned by her partner Aaron and sneakily pulled off by Jono. From sentimental reflections to embarrassing detentions in Dubai, they go deep, then flip the vibe completely with games like Rapid Fire Questions, Role Swap, and Who’s More Likely To.Follow Jono & Amy:instagram.com/jonocastanoaceroinstagram.com/amycastanoStay in the loop with Curious Media:instagram.com/curiousmediahqTimestamps:01:30 – Jono was too sick to film last week’s episode03:00 – Amy’s birthday: how Aaron pulled off a perfect day07:00 – Why Amy usually escapes Sydney for her birthday10:00 – Rapid Fire kicks off (it gets spicy fast)15:00 – Favorite excuses, dating app fails, and late-night snack orders20:00 – Role Swap: impersonating each other’s careers and partners26:00 – Who’s more likely to get detained, commit a crime, or join a cult30:00 – Final reflections and a sneak peek at upcoming episodes