The Inspired Unemployed Tradies Turned Comedy Stars Relaunch Podcast
From a hip-thrusting dance-off in a paddock to a cringe-worthy car wash with mates, the antics of Matt "Falcon" Ford and Jack Steele might suggest they have an ironclad tolerance for awkwardness. However, the duo behind the wildly successful social media and TV brand The Inspired Unemployed confess they are just as mortified as anyone else—they simply push through the discomfort.
"Oh God no, we definitely don't have a high tolerance," Steele laughs. "Even just an awkward hug can keep me up at night, like 'F...! Why did I do that?!'" Ford adds, "We do really try and be vulnerable, because that's the good stuff; it's the things that people are too scared to say. We try to lean into that but it is tough sometimes."
From Small-Town Tradies to Global Sensations
In 2019, Ford and Steele were best mates from rural New South Wales who had left school early to work as a labourer and plasterer, respectively. Seeking an escape, they traveled to the French Alps, filming silly skits for friends and family along the way. Fast forward to today, and The Inspired Unemployed boasts 4.2 million followers across Instagram and TikTok, along with two TV series, a beer brand, and high-profile partnerships with fashion giants like Fendi and Louis Vuitton.
Their recent fragrance collaboration with Chemist Warehouse, Inspiré by No. Emploi, featured a shirtless, bonfire-lit parody TV ad, with profits donated to charity. Last week, marking a return to their roots, they relaunched their podcast on the LiSTNR platform after an almost two-year hiatus, aptly timed for April Fools' Day.
Podcast Relaunch Driven by Fan Demand and Safety Concerns
The decision to revive the podcast stemmed from a love for the medium and mounting pressure from fans. "When we stopped recording, we had a lot on our plate," Steele explains. "We couldn't do the best work we wanted to, and because we knew the podcast has such a loyal following, we didn't want to let them down."
After the break, the duo faced a barrage of messages and confrontations on the street. "We were getting so many messages and people stopping us, just so annoyed. We love doing it, but also, we were honestly getting borderline threats, so bringing it back was pretty much for our own safety," Steele admits.
New episodes, released every Wednesday, feature guests like Hamish Blake and revive popular segments such as "rattled," where Steele and Ford recount embarrassing moments—like Steele's tale of butt-dialing an ex. For the first time, video episodes are available on YouTube, allowing fans to watch them squirm in real-time.
Expanding Horizons: TV Shows and Travel Ventures
Since their last interview in 2023, Ford and Steele have ticked off more dreams, including their own TV show and a travel platform. The Inspired Unemployed (Impractical) Jokers, now in its third season, involves the duo and friends publicly humiliating each other. Meanwhile, The List, which aired last year, sees them tackle unconventional travel experiences, from naked badminton in Germany to stick fighting with Zulu warriors in South Africa.
In July, they launched Arrival, a travel platform born from their passion for adventure. "Knowing how much research goes into adventure travel, we wanted to pass our knowledge on, to simplify it for others," Ford says. They partnered with tour companies and experts, testing trips firsthand. A journey to Kyrgyzstan became a top-selling package, while a Sahara desert excursion was shelved due to safety concerns. "One day we will get back to it," Steele notes.
"Arrival is so rewarding," Steele reflects. "I've loved seeing people come home from these trips with the biggest smiles and leaving us amazing reviews. Most of all, sharing community; they get to hang out with other like-minded people. That's probably the coolest part."
Navigating Social Media and Staying Grounded
As social media evolves with the rise of TikTok and reels, Ford and Steele adapt to a landscape where "everyone's a creator now." Steele observes, "The competition's a lot higher so you have got to keep levelling up." To avoid burnout, they take breaks when content feels stale. "We pretty much just go until we get so tired and burn out, and then we stop and breathe for a second, then we come back again," Ford explains.
Their diverse projects help keep them fresh, and Steele emphasizes the importance of staying grounded. "We take a lot of time to talk about sitting in the moment and thinking about how crazy this is, that we were tradies in 2019 and now we're doing this full time. Our brains weren't big enough to even think about a life like this," he says.
Despite the anxiety of potential loss, they cherish their success. "We worked on job sites, so we know what hard work is, and we know how lucky we are. In a way, we're so scared about losing it that you feel that anxiety, because we love it so much," Steele adds.
Continuing the Journey with Humor and Community
As long as audiences embrace their brand of humour, Ford and Steele plan to keep entertaining. "It's just so fun, and you build a nice community," Steele says. "And God knows why, but people just seem to love hearing us talk absolute rubbish." The first episode of the relaunched podcast is available now, with new releases every Wednesday on LiSTNR.
