In our third episode together, we're joined again by Chefs Junior and Norman for an update in their hospitality grind. We dive straight into what happened to Saigon Hustle, and how their culinary journeys have progressed since.

We also unpack how they navigate work-life balance, with Junior breaking down what it's like navigating the kitchen hours as a new dad, while Norman shares his perspective on setting up his work life balance to avoid burnout. We also talk about the global chef shortage, reading Google reviews for Hustlers, why you should listen to the rules of Omakase, and what Chefs really think when you order a well-done steak.

Go try out Junior's food at Hustlers!

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Items mentioned

The Omakase Rules

Gordon Ramsay well done steak

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Need a photobooth? Reach out to SonofaBooth - ⁠https://sonofabooth.com.au/⁠

Want to get in touch? Send us an email at ⁠⁠ricenmicspodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠

Follow us on our socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/ricenmicspodcast⁠

Music: aKu - Love Shine | aKu - The Final Blow

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Chapters

0:00 Intro

0:40 What happened to Saigon Hustle?

4:32 Why They Left & The Truth Behind Restaurant Split-Ups

6:05 Hospitality Work-Life Balance: New Fatherhood vs. Setting Boundaries

12:23 Chef Norman’s Career Shift After Saigon Hustle

21:11 Transitioning Culinary Styles: Asian Fusion to Portuguese Cuisine

24:36 The Hidden Challenges of High-Volume Bulk Cooking

29:07 Hustlers Menu Strategy: Seasonal Ingredients & Cost Management

35:26 Food Presentation vs. Taste: What Matters More?

41:57 Hidden tips in restaurant bills

43:38 Facing Competition & Staying Relevant in Sydney's Food Scene

49:27 The hidden tip bill restaurant

52:11 Reading Google reviews of Hustlers

1:14:20 The Global Chef Shortage & Hospitality Crisis

1:22:13 Is AI & Automation Taking Over Commercial Kitchens?

1:27:55 Why You MUST Show Up On Time (Omakase Horror Story)

1:31:51 Banned From The Star Casino & Cooking in Sydney CBD vs. Smithfield

LINK GORDON RAMSAY WELL DONE STEAK

1:39:54 What Chefs REALLY Think When You Order a Well-Done Steak

1:42:51 How Dietary Requirements Restrict Creative Cooking

1:46:27 Career Advice for Aspiring Chefs & Automated Cooking Tech

1:53:36 The Brutal Physical Toll of Working in Commercial Kitchens

1:55:30 Outro

I chat with Sydney comedian Harry Jun to learn about his journey from high school teacher to full-time comedy, content creation and media. Harry gives us the raw, behind the scenes look at the independent creative grind.

We dive deep in some Aussie millennial nostalgia (even though technically I'm gen Z), joining Good Game Spawn Point and Squad, navigating social media and exploring Harry's culture through his work.

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Harry's Links

https://www.instagram.com/_harryjun

_/https://harryjun.com/

https://linktr.ee/harryjun/

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Need a photobooth? Reach out to SonofaBooth - https://sonofabooth.com.au/

Want to get in touch? Send us an email at ⁠⁠ricenmicspodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠

Follow us on our socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/ricenmicspodcast

Music: aKu - Love Shine | aKu - The Final Blow

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Chapters

0:00 Intro

2:01 Getting into Stand-up Comedy & ABC's Good Game

4:01 What is Good Game Squad on SBS?

5:54 Harry Jun's Career Background & High School Teaching

10:29 Quitting Teaching & Modern School Bullying Techniques

13:04 Touring as a Comic & School Social Media Policies

15:51 Performing Comedy in Chinatown & Dealing With Hecklers

23:06 What Makes a Hard Comedy Gig?

26:51 Reading the Room & Audience Body Language

29:07 Solo Comedy Shows, Performing for 2 People & Selling Tickets

37:02 Independent Comedy: Do You Need an Agent or Management?

40:36 Handling Hecklers & Finding Friendly Faces in the Crowd

43:09 Do Comics Have a Breakdown Before or After Sets?

44:47 Why Creatives Need to Hang Out With Non-Work Friends

48:32 Incorporating Culture Into Stand-up & 'Low-Hanging Fruit' Jokes

56:02 Sharing Your Heritage vs Disapproving Korean Aunties

1:03:25 Connecting With Korean Audiences & Comedy Inspirations

1:08:19 Using Animated Teaching Methods in Stand-up Comedy

1:12:13 Performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe

1:19:28 SOAB AD

1:20:58 The Difference Between Gig MCing vs Performing a Set

1:25:31 Swapping Between SFW and NSFW Content Styles

1:29:36 Funny Interactions With Kid Hecklers & Future Projects

1:33:19 How to Keep Tour Costs Low & Knowing When You've "Made It"

1:38:24 What Career Would You Do Without Comedy?

1:42:40 Worst Comedy Gig Experiences & Nightmare Rooms

1:46:39 Performing Work-in-Progress (WIP) Comedy Shows

1:48:49 Meaningful Messages From Stand-up Fans

1:51:20 Dream Comedy Venues & Collaborators

1:55:36 Why Live Comedy is So Much Better Than Online Videos

1:57:13 Advice for New Creatives & Content Creators

2:03:13 Outro

I sit down with professional Executive MC and actor Terence Nguyen, aka 'The Main with the Mic'. Terence has built a brand as the area's MC, who has hosted weddings, corporate events, charity galas, but his path to getting here was far from typical.

We dive into his evolution from a kid in Western Sydney to a high-energy MC. He shares his foundational training at PYT Fairfield which helped him break the 'quiet Asian' stereotype which led him roles in major products like Anyone But You and Last King of the Cross. Terence also chats about his community work through the Asian Hustle Network and the Blue Dragon Children's Foundation.

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Terence's Links

https://www.instagram.com/terencenguyenmc/

https://www.tiktok.com/@terencenguyenmc

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Need a photobooth? Reach out to SonofaBooth - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/sonofabooth/⁠

Want to get in touch? Send us an email at ⁠⁠ricenmicspodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠

Follow us on our socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/ricenmicspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music: aKu - Love Shine | aKu - The Final Blow

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Chapters

0:00 Intro

1:38 Are MCs Naturally Confident? Public Speaking Secrets

3:48 Acting Career: IMDb, Maria Tran, and Takashi Hara

8:51 Starring in "Tuan’s Party" (Theatre & Performance)

17:25 Theatre vs. Corporate MCing & Trivia Events

21:07 Terence’s Origin Story: From Dinosaur Speeches to the Big Stage

26:16 Personal Development: Breaking the "Shy Kid" Stereotype

28:08 Wedding Inspiration: Immi & Nico’s Wedding and Toastmasters

32:04 University Life and Working at the Courthouse

34:50 Mentorship with Jeremiah Hartman: Violating Expectations

38:18 How to Find MC Gigs & Average MC Rates in Australia

42:37 Being a Chameleon: Adapting Your Energy for Events

44:48 What Makes a Good vs. Bad Wedding MC?

50:26 Studying Marriage Celebrancy

52:11 The Reality of Financial Uncertainty & Freelance Life

57:25 SOAB AD

58:55 Event Demand: Weekday vs. Weekend Work

1:01:23 Speaking Vietnamese: Assessing Language Proficiency

1:07:09 Is Basic Vietnamese Enough for Bilingual Weddings?

1:09:00 Native Vietnamese vs. Viet-Aus MCs & Word of Mouth Marketing

1:12:51 Pricing Strategies: How to Charge Without Undercutting the Market

1:15:56 Vendor Relations: Why Timing is Everything in Events

1:19:21 Client Chemistry: What Makes a Couple Great to Work With?

1:22:58 Essential Wedding Tips: Keep the Speeches Short!

1:28:00 The Worst Wedding Experience

1:39:14 Protecting Your Big Day: Why You Must Check Your Vendors

1:41:47 Community Impact and Working with Sydney Lane

1:44:52 Mastering Improv in Low-Stakes Environments

1:47:49 Favourite Wedding Trends: Chinese Wedding Traditions

1:56:37 Top Venue Recommendations, Dream Gigs, and Career Advice

2:03:35 Outro