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.

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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.

Timestamps

01:05 – Why Poppy never wanted kids—and how people reacted

06:00 – Navigating dating, boundaries & aligned values

09:45 – 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 passion

22:00 – Why podcasting is the future (and how she’s doing it differently)

26:40 – Poppy on working with Love on the Spectrum’s Michael Theo

30:00 – The power of asking the real questions

34:10 – Hens + bucks = one party? Poppy’s wedding plans

37:20 – Tuesday blues, Netflix recs & surprise highs and lows

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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:

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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:
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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.Timestamps
02:00 – Growing up with death as a daily reminder
07:40 – What makes the Instagram feed (and what doesn’t)
14:30 – Fiji, Australia & navigating multiple cultural identities
18:30 – Rejection, inner child wounds, and survival mode
23:50 – Down syndrome advocacy & building real inclusion
30:00 – Facing online hate with humour and clarity
35:10 – Why food became his favourite storytelling tool
42:00 – Health, weight loss, and rediscovering strength
50:30 – Party pies, silk rolls & launching a food brand
53:00 – Foot injuries, dog training, and favourite gossip of the week
56:00 – Final reflections on self-worth, legacy, and acceptanceFollow Jono & Amy:
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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 up

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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