Local Heroes Podcast

John Witzig is an editor and photojournalist. Best known for his work with the likes of Surfing World magazine and being a founder of Tracks magazine. His influential work spans the golden era of surfing's short board revolution throughout the 60s and 70s. John’s photos capture moments in time when places like Noosa National Park, Byron Bay and Angourie were only known to a handful of close knit surfers whom are now the legends of Australian surf culture. Please see links below for John’s social media and website. As always please rate review and share this podcast and shop local, support local and think local. Thanks for listening. Thank you to Julian Boutellier for the audio edit. https://johnwitzig.com.au https://www.instagram.com/johnwitzig/

Ben J is a musician, adventurer, environmentalist and an all around unique legend. All music in the podcast is by the bands that Ben J plays in check out the links below. As always please share, rate and review. Thanks for listening! Song 1 Band: In the Element Song: She make my heart go Song 2 Band: The Diallers Song: Far-Q Song 3 Band: In The Element Song: I’m Alive

The OG of Cairns Culture Jeremy Judd aka Jeremy J has had a huge impact on the Cairns scene over the past 2 decades, as a dj, business owner, graff artist and music promoter, it’s impossible to not have been influenced or affected by his work if you hail from FNQ. In this episode Benny and Jeremy talk about how it all began all the way through to the current state of the Cairns scene. As always thanks for listening in and please share rate and review. Cheers, Benny Mckay

Toby Brookes is a rapper and producer from Cairns far North Queensland. A mate of your host Benny Mckay, in this episode they get baked AF and shoot the shit. See link to Tobys bandcamp and soundcloud below. https://soundcloud.com/uncle-toby https://uncletoby.bandcamp.com/album/foresight

In This episode of local Heroes Benny made his way up to the Atherton Tablelands in Far North Queensland to chat with Will and Bess from Topaz sustainable timbers about their awesome small business. From planting out over 70,000 native trees on an ex-dairy farm, to sustainably milling timbers and manufacturing incredible solid timber and resin furniture they’ve turned the traditionally unsustainable industry of timber milling on it’s head and are a shining example of what a sustainable and environmentally conscious small business can do in a short period of time. Please see links below. Youth employment: https://backtowork.initiatives.qld.gov.au/for-employers/youth-boost-payment/ Topaz Sustainable Timbers Website:https://www.topazsustainabletimbers.com.au/

Benny sits down with Adam Baldwin of Skatement Surfboards a Sunshine Coast local that manufactures surfboards out of rubbish from the contsruction industry and used boards that are headed to landfill. In this episode of local heroes Benny and Adam discuss what it takes to build a surfboard from what most people would consider to be rubbish. Please see links below relating to our discussion. Adams instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skatement_surfboards/ Vintage Surfboard Collectors: https://www.facebook.com/groups/VintageSurf/ Tracks article on Adam: https://www.tracksmag.com.au/news/this-guy-made-a-board-out-of-trash8230-513606 Is EPS recyclable? https://www.cleanaway.com.au/about-us/sustainable-future/is-polystyrene-recyclable/ What glue is best for glueing EPS? Pitted glues to see which one is the best glue for styrofoam (pink or blue). Contenders were Loctite PL300 Foamboard Glue, Super 77 Spray Adhesive, Glidden Gripper, Foam Fusion, Gorilla Glue, Great Stuff and StyroGoo. They were tested with the

Dr. Abraham Flores is an anaesthesiologist in Mexico City he's also one of the rare doctors of medicine to look outside the constraints of the modern medecine complex to look at the scientific knowledge around plant medecines in the Americas and throughout the world. Ive attached some links below that are related to our discussions throughout the podcast, as always thanks for listening and be sure to subscribe, share the podcast with mates and rate the show 5 stars! Alexander Shulgin the creator of MDMA Ecstasy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwlxnjptV9I&has_verified=1 Pre-hispanic Music of the Mexicas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hhf7dCoO9XI&t=610s DMT Documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtT6Xkk-kzk

INDECLINE is an Activist Art Collective that have been around sine the early 2000's. In this episode of Local Heroes Benny sits down with INDECLINE representative Mr Squiggle to discuss what it takes to get an art collective up and running, and how best to avoid getting caught. INDECLINE have received media attention from the likes of VICE, LA Times, Rolling Stone and Times. Check out their prolific body of work at https://thisisindecline.com/flicks

Benny has a chat with his muse and partner in crime Lily Flores Mckay. They chat about how they met and they're current travels around the USA & Mexico. Lily is currently tattoing at Americana Tattoo co. in Las Vegas https://www.instagram.com/lilyfloresmckay/

In this episode Benny sits down with Mr. Tone Chingon Owner of The World Famous Americana Tattoo Co in Las Vegas. Americana Tattoo Company is one of the most unique tattoo shops in the world and Tone is an awesome character with a great crew. Check out Tone's work at: www.instagram.com/tonechingontattooer www.facebook.com/AmericanaTattooCo www.instagram.com/americana_tattoo_co

In this episode Benny sits down with Surfboard Artisan Tom Wegener to discuss his unique board manufacturing methods. TOM WEGENER IS ARGUABLY THE MOST CUTTING EDGE SHAPER IN THE WORLD. He started the alaia revolution in 2005 and was named Surfboard Shaper of the Year in 2009 for this. In 2016, Tom developed a way to incorporate flex through paulownia and cork woods into his finless boards to create the next level of finless surfing. Tom was a key inspiration for the wood board movement. In 2001 he discovered that paulownia is the best wood for surfboards because of its highly unusual property of not sucking up salt water. In 2003 Tom stopped making foam surfboards and turned only to paulownia wood and made over 300 hollow wood finned surfboards. (Also, the alaia revolution was possible because Tom’s work with paulownia). Tom is most proud of his green factory which has no toxic chemicals and almost no waste. In 2011, Tom was awarded the Sunshine Coast “Smart Business Award” for his environmentally fr

Benny sits down with Sunny Coast local Elliot Krause to chat about starting a business and how to develop a small brand from scratch. Elliot is the owner of Hashy and Herb a sunglass company based in the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. Hashy and Herb first came about on the sun bleached shores of the beautiful Sunshine Coast, Queensland. Founder and "Sunny Coast" local Eliot Krause set out to create a brand of unique frames, each design telling a story based on the influential fabric of daily life on the Sunshine Coast. hashyandherb.com.au www.instagram.com/hashyandherb www.instagram.com/resin_chiefs

In this podcast Benny sits down with Steve Hann a surfboard builder from the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. Steve specializes in manufacturing quality alternative surfboards that work in all conditions. Steve strives to work with sustainable and environmentally sound materials creating strong and lightweight boards that don't cost an arm and a leg. In this podcast we discuss his board building style and the benefits of his methods from both an ethical and manufacturing standpoint. www.instagram.com/green_stix www.etcsurfboards.com.au www.instagram.com/resin_chiefs/

Local Heroes Podcast is Hosted by Benny Mckay a Custom Surfboard Builder from Queensland Australia. This unique podcast dives into the world of local artisans, creatives and folks that are going against the grain of the daily grind and doing whatever it is they're passionate about. Guests include and are not limited to Surfboard builders, tattoers, brewers, musicians, skaters and anyone that has a good story to tell. Ben and his wife Lily are currently travelling throughout the USA and Mexico. www.instagram.com/resin_chiefs