Wade McColl from Baldivis Times

[00:00:01] Speaker A: There we go. That was a little bit. I thought I'd put it in because I'm an old person and so it was good. Kid who I think are like an indie band. [00:00:08] Speaker B: Oh, really? [00:00:09] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:00:09] Speaker B: Premiere Inn. [00:00:10] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:00:11] Speaker B: Never heard of it. [00:00:12] Speaker A: Yeah, they do a lot of those sort of. That music. Anyway, I digress. I'm here with Double Jen. Jen, Absolutely. Megastar. And also we got. We've got A Geshel's Best. [00:00:23] Speaker B: A Geshel Spare. [00:00:24] Speaker A: Yes. [00:00:26] Speaker B: And Dyslexia. Yeah. [00:00:31] Speaker A: And it's Wade McColl. [00:00:33] Speaker C: Yes. [00:00:33] Speaker B: From Beldivis Times. [00:00:35] Speaker A: Oh, okay. So tell us a little bit Wade McColl. Because I'm ignorant, because I'm old and Jen's clever and she's not ignorant. Tell us about Wade McCollah. [00:00:45] Speaker B: You didn't mention that. I'm not old. [00:00:47] Speaker A: Well, all right. [00:00:48] Speaker B: Tell us about Beldivis Times. [00:00:50] Speaker C: Okay. Well, hello, everyone. So, yeah, my name's Wade and I run a community news platform called the Beldivis times. In about six months, we've grown our platform to over 34,000 followers and we bring in 1.6 million viewers on a weekly basis. We've already been featured on multiple different mainstream news networks like news.comau the Sydney Morning Herald, the Age WA Today, Brisbane Times and Yahoo News AUN NZ on both community issues and local movements. [00:01:24] Speaker B: That's amazing. [00:01:26] Speaker A: It's. [00:01:26] Speaker B: Your jaw dropped. [00:01:30] Speaker A: Mine hasn't got as far to drop. Anyway, so when did this start? [00:01:36] Speaker C: So we started this journey about six months ago. So it's. It's been. It's been short, but it has been absolutely jam. [00:01:44] Speaker B: That's crazy. Yeah. [00:01:46] Speaker A: So how much time does this take of yours? [00:01:52] Speaker C: It's every single day. So I don't like this is going to be my job and my business. Your life, basically my life. And it's every day. I mean, from the moment I get up, I'm out there, I'm going doing stories. After this even. I've got multiple other meetings I've got after this interview in itself. We're currently working on a story on homelessness here in the Rockingham area and also working with a couple local businesses as well to give out fuel vouchers for the ones that need it most. [00:02:23] Speaker B: Oh, wow. I'm one of those. So I actually met you at Catalpa Festival on the weekend. And so what were your thoughts on the Catalpa Festival? [00:02:34] Speaker C: The Catalpa Festival was amazing. Before we went out to that event with me and the Bell Divers Times team, we knew barely anything about the history of the Catalpa Festival. And we only when we were invited out and we started looking into it more and we were amazed with how much like rich history is in our local community. And I just feel like it is not pushed out enough in our local area. And people are so unaware. I was talking to multiple residents who were there at the festival as well, who had no idea, you know, in their 40s and above, and they've been living here for 20 plus years and had no idea it even existed. This history. [00:03:10] Speaker B: Yeah. And the fact that it was the 150th anniversary, it should have been more known. [00:03:15] Speaker C: Exactly. [00:03:16] Speaker B: And that's what we. By us being part of it, we're trying to make it known for the historical value of it as well. [00:03:22] Speaker C: Definitely. And 100 agree. I mean, you know, when you're coming up on 150 years, you would think that we would have double the numbers that were there. For sure. [00:03:31] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:03:31] Speaker B: And just the whole story behind it is amazing. [00:03:34] Speaker A: It's. It is. What I find amazing too, is, you know, it. There's a lot of relevance to say something like Fremantle Prison as a tourist destiny. Everybody knows Fremantle Prison and yet these. These blokes escaped from Fremantle Prison and came to Rockingham, and yet nobody knows it, which is funny. You think there'll be some correlation? [00:03:56] Speaker B: Yeah, absolutely. [00:03:57] Speaker C: You would think there'd be an extension on. On that tourism part. You know that story that. [00:04:01] Speaker A: Yes. [00:04:01] Speaker C: To the Fremantle Prism and the prison and then coming down here to Rockingham. [00:04:06] Speaker B: I actually stayed at the Fremantle prison last year and did the whole. Whole tours there. But there's no mention of this there. [00:04:12] Speaker A: That's not true. Wait, she. She got locked up there? [00:04:15] Speaker B: I did. I did actually get locked up there, but not. I was a guest. Nick, come on. All my bad jokes got me there. Nick. [00:04:25] Speaker A: That's why I got L. So the way we've got a little run sheet here. And one of the things is, where did you get your motivation from? How did it all sort of come together? [00:04:40] Speaker B: I actually really want to know this. [00:04:42] Speaker C: So with me, I mean, a lot of what I do and what I say was about, you know, giving a voice to the unheard in our community beforehand. Before I started the Beldivis Times, I just saw a lot of chatter, you know, places in local Facebook groups and local Insta pages, stuff like that. People complaining about local issues but not doing anything about it. And that's when I was like, well, I want to make a platform where someone does something and we go ahead and start documenting that journey. So we started the bell divers times. And a lot of it comes back down to my school life. I was bullied because of physical disabilities I have. So I have something called Brachydactyly, type A1 for the viewers who are looking on. [00:05:18] Speaker B: Can I spell that? [00:05:20] Speaker C: I cannot spell that for the viewers who are here looking on camera. So with my hands, I'm actually missing a joint in every single one of my fingers and it also is my toes. And with this genetic disability as well, I was also born with two severe clubbed feet where I had to have double Achilles surgery to stretch my feet back into place so I could walk normally. And throughout my high school life, I was bullied, called stubby, stumpy, all sorts of horrendous names. School life was absolutely horrific and I felt like I never had a voice or could go ahead and speak out. So by having a platform that I can go ahead and help others voice their concerns and feel trapped, it helps myself on a personal level. But a lot of the inspiration came from when I hiked Bluff knoll back in 2024. It's a 1.1 kilometer high mountain down in the Stirling Ranges. And as someone with my disabilities and severe club feet, I was told by doctors I'd never be able to do things like that. Well, guess what? I conquered the mountain, got to the top and that's when I knew I could do more. [00:06:18] Speaker B: I got goosebumps. [00:06:19] Speaker C: Yeah, I could do more than I ever expected. [00:06:22] Speaker B: That is amazing. [00:06:24] Speaker A: Isn't it great? [00:06:25] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:06:25] Speaker B: Wow. [00:06:26] Speaker A: Isn't it? I mean, how, how do you feel now, having gone from where you were at school, etc. Etc. To where you are now in such a. It would be a short time span. [00:06:40] Speaker C: Short, short time span. I mean, you know, it was. It was a real shock. Like, you know, I was looking for work beforehand. I just had finished a diploma in film and television. You know, I was trying to really get into the media industry and get my foot in and no one was picking me up. You know, people wanted two years experience, three years experience. You know, I had studied hard, I graduated high school and still wasn't enough. So since creating this journey, it's opened up so many avenues. I mean, we're now recognised by the US and UK consulates. We're invited to General Consulate, Colleen Altstock's private residence for a media sundown with the leaders and journalists from Nine News 7 News West Australian. That is cool. We're now gotten sponsorship from Woolworths Australia to help support the community in giveaways. I mean, you know, Just the opportunities and avenues that have opened up in just six months is phenomenal. And now we're working behind the scenes with different travel companies, shoe companies, all sorts of stuff to bring out more commute, more content to the community. [00:07:39] Speaker B: Yeah. Wow. [00:07:42] Speaker A: When you say. I think you've mentioned a couple times or we. So you have people. [00:07:48] Speaker C: Yeah, so. So our team consists of, of my, my partner, my missus. So we've been together now for. Up this month. Five years. [00:07:56] Speaker A: Oh, wow. [00:07:57] Speaker C: Yeah. And we've been. [00:07:57] Speaker B: How old are you? [00:07:58] Speaker C: I'm 22. Okay, 22. So I, I'm, I met her when I was 17 and she was 16. She went to a school up in Hall's head, up up near Murdoch and stuff. And yeah, and we, we just, yeah, met and started from there and now we live with each other and she helps me as my assistant director and cultural awareness officer because she, she is an Aboriginal woman and she has strong cultural ties to country. So she helps me on that avenue, on going ahead and when we do stories on cultural issues, we go ahead and I'm mindful, respectful. And it also helps with her family connections and going ahead and documenting those sides of things. And then I also have my mum. I mean, my mum supports me throughout everything, so she's a part of the team also. I mean, you know, I couldn't do it without the support of family and the people in my inner circle. But other than that, you know, I say we a lot because it's not just me. I wouldn't be here with this community, 30 plus thousand people following me if it wasn't for the community. There's a way. Yeah, they're the us. [00:08:59] Speaker A: Gotcha. [00:08:59] Speaker B: Yeah, I love that. Yeah, very cool. So what was it like in the, in the beginning? Like starting the beginning. [00:09:06] Speaker C: Yeah. So I remember our first, our first post. I was just up one night and I was just looking around my room and I was just sick of it, you know, just constantly saying at home I couldn't find work. And I was like, okay, well I'm going to start the Bell Divers Times. We went ahead, I created the name and then the next day they had TGK events coming up at the local Beldivis Steel Tree Park. Went there, took some photos on my phone and I just did a post and let the community know. And then from there I just started reporting on things that people suggested. Hey, there's flooding at this park. Started doing that and then it started. The story started getting bigger and then more impactful and more emotional and then it's just. Yeah, it skyrocketed in. A real turning point was the Warmbro fires. [00:09:49] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:09:49] Speaker C: So, yeah, there are Warmbro fires. A lot of people remember that in the community when those fires happened. And we were the one news source that was on the ground giving consistent updates. I mean, for me, over those three days, I probably got maybe eight hours sleep. There was a few days that I stayed up for 48 hours, reporting throughout the dark of the night, 4am doing updates on the fires and what's happening for the community. I was out there taking photos of the big AC130s flying over and doing water drops. I mean. Yeah, and that's where it really picked up. People saw our true. Yeah. Want to help the community. [00:10:25] Speaker B: And so what were your followers before the fires and then after? [00:10:29] Speaker C: Yeah, before the fires, we were probably sitting, I think around 8,000 followers. And then after the fires, we jumped to around 15, 15,000 followers. And then from there, you know, more people saw us, and then more people started suggesting us and telling their friends, and then. Yeah, just grew from there. [00:10:46] Speaker A: It's amazing, isn't it? [00:10:47] Speaker B: It is very cool. [00:10:48] Speaker A: You know, it's like there's so many questions. [00:10:51] Speaker B: I know. [00:10:52] Speaker A: And you just don't know where, like, where to start. Like, followers. Are they mainly people between. I'm just picking an age thing. [00:11:04] Speaker B: Say all ages. Hey. [00:11:06] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:11:07] Speaker C: So I'm majority our main target audience. And what our stats target tell us is 72% of our audience are female between the ages of, I believe, 25 to 55 years old. And then we weren't thinking that. Only. [00:11:22] Speaker A: No. [00:11:22] Speaker C: Yeah. And then. Only. I think it's. Yeah, 20, 28 are male. [00:11:28] Speaker B: Yeah. Right. [00:11:28] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:11:29] Speaker A: I'm surprised that they're that old. [00:11:30] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah, yeah. We. We do not. We. A majority of our audience are in their 30s and above. Like, majority, like. [00:11:37] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:11:38] Speaker A: So were you thinking young people were between. Seriously between 15 and maybe 21? [00:11:44] Speaker B: I was thinking older than 40 and 50. I was thinking older. [00:11:46] Speaker C: Yeah. And that's one of the reasons why we went ahead and picked Facebook as our main area to start off with. We saw that these bands on social media were coming into place, and we went ahead and we're like, I had only just finished a certificate in social media marketing, and people don't realize that there is over a billion active users on Facebook every single day. So I went ahead and saw that there was that gap. I saw there was a gap in the community, my target audience. And the people that aren't going to be banned from social media are Going to still be on Facebook. So I started there. [00:12:17] Speaker B: Very clever. [00:12:20] Speaker A: Why were you just going backwards a little bit? So at school, were you academically gifted? [00:12:30] Speaker C: Well, I wouldn't say that. A lot of the bullying obviously really affected my education. I mean I just scraped through in high school, just got my waist. I did get recognized though as top student digital design photography, because that was one of my passions. It allowed me to escape, you know, the inside hustle and go out in the nature, take photos away from the bullet, get way, get away from all of that sort of horrible aspect. [00:12:57] Speaker B: Very cool. [00:12:58] Speaker A: You're right, Jen. [00:12:59] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, yeah. So why do you think the page has grown so much so quickly though? [00:13:05] Speaker C: I think it's, I would like say completely with like have. My full belief is people are sick of corporatized media. They've lost the human connection. [00:13:15] Speaker B: Yes. [00:13:15] Speaker C: And with me going ahead, that was one thing that I said with my page is that like for example, I didn't realize the stat. 52% of the population says they don't trust corporate media anymore. So right over 52 and that's, that's a jump of like 5 to 6% in the last five years. You know, with recent conflicts, recent issues around the world, people have just lost that trust. And by going ahead and starting a page where I'm community first, I'm putting my face out there. I'm not hiding behind a big company or a brand. I'm the only face that shows up on my page and I tell people this is what it is. Talk to me personally. You know, I go and have personal meetings with local businesses, local families. We talk about issues and then I see how I can use my platform to assist them. [00:14:01] Speaker A: Have any. Not so much the, the corporate papers as you say, but have any, shall we say politicians thought oh, look at this. [00:14:14] Speaker C: Yes. [00:14:15] Speaker A: Are they? Oh, we'd like him on it. [00:14:17] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:14:17] Speaker B: Hone in on you. [00:14:18] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I've had politicians already coming at me and trying to take, bring me in and take them, take me to their offices and stuff like that to talk about things behind the scenes. And you know, I try to really keep myself central with my, my policies and political stance. Like I obviously have my own opinions. [00:14:37] Speaker A: Exactly. [00:14:38] Speaker C: But that's the thing. I've done stories with, you know, on labor issues, with labor people, people with the nationals, liberals and one nation. I mean I cover all topics, all avenues because I see if I go ahead and start pushing with one side that people will see me as the corporate media again. I'm now being bought out and then you'll lose. That's what I don't want. And that' that's the whole thing, you know, with community support I can keep independent. [00:15:04] Speaker B: Very cool. So what was, can I ask what was your most emotional story that you've covered? [00:15:10] Speaker C: Oh, most emotional. My goodness. [00:15:13] Speaker B: I know you do miss people. [00:15:15] Speaker C: Probably one of our most, one of them, probably one that hit me the hardest to my heart was going ahead and reporting on the best battery project that's being built here in Belgium. $500 million battery. I mean a lot of local news agencies and stuff, they just said, you know, one time articles. But we actually went out and met with the family who is right against the property. Right. So they're going to be building, you know, 8 meter tall almost two story walls right along the side of these people's property and it's going down the whole entire side. And they. Right in the, in the 40 years plus they've been there when they first bought the property, those three trees, they've revegetated it with over 100 plus native trees to bring back life into the area. So they have black cockatoos and all sorts of different endangered animals now back in the area. And now they're going to build a big establishment that's going to have light pollution going on all hours of the night, humming 30 plus decibels and it's just horrible. These people, they're all about nature. Nature. First they, they went ahead and followed the revegetation guidelines with the city of Rockingham to revegetate their gardens to bring back nature. And all of a sudden that big industrial facility is going to be built right next door. And just seeing their hearts drop, you know, 30 plus years of trying to do the right thing, bring nature back, do what's needed and then all of a sudden they get told with only being given, you know, around a month or less to actually round up all the locals to try to fight and put in their petitions and put in their thoughts. It just doesn't seem right. And that's what really hit me hard because you know, I was there, you know, they broke down in front of me crying oh no. You know, and, and I, and this is the thing for me, it's like I've always been about giving people a voice. And then it brought me back to those days where I felt, where I felt like I didn't have a voice when I was younger. So seeing that, that was a real personal connection to me. And also seeing their struggles, seeing what they're going through and, and that's one thing we want to do with our news sources. Try to fight past that just, you know, top level information. We want to go deeper, we want to see the emotion, we want to know who you are. [00:17:28] Speaker B: Yeah. That's why I actually started here because I went through some stuff and I felt like I had no voice. And I just answered a Facebook ad one day, do you want to co host? And I was like, yeah, maybe I'll do that. And it'll take away my fear of public speaking and I'll be able, you know, and it has been my fear. [00:17:47] Speaker C: Now, look, you got to fly a plane. [00:17:48] Speaker B: Just recently, I did get to fly a plane. Yes. I've got a voice to tell everyone that this is your captain speaking. [00:17:58] Speaker C: Exactly. [00:17:58] Speaker B: Very cool. [00:17:59] Speaker C: Yeah, it's great that it gave you that voice. I think it's just so important. So many people feel like they don't have a voice. And, you know, one thing that I've been living by with what I've been doing is you don't know till you try. You know, we always have that stigma that people already have their predetermined thoughts on you or what you do, but you don't know till you reach out. And how I've seen it is, you know, 80% of the people out there want to help you. They want to help you succeed. They're there to help support you. Yeah. You just don't know until you try it. [00:18:27] Speaker A: It's amazing, isn't it? Like it's a whole new movie, is a whole new world, you know, but, you know, like to hear people like Wade come in. [00:18:37] Speaker B: I know, right? Very. [00:18:39] Speaker A: It's inspiring. [00:18:40] Speaker B: Yeah. I said that at the same time. [00:18:43] Speaker A: Yeah, it really is. I mean, you know, you would say before, I mean, we're going off to quite a few questions here, but. Yeah, you did say before that. I forgot what I was going to say now. But, you know, it's. It's heartening to see that for, you know, more mature people like myself, that there's still that. [00:19:04] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:19:04] Speaker A: The belief and that heart and the passion. Yeah. And wanting. Because so many people these days, not your generation, just general. It's all about them. [00:19:13] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:19:14] Speaker A: And to come here to people say was refreshing. Isn't it great? [00:19:18] Speaker C: That's the thing. You know how I've seen, and I've talked to so many business owners, you know, from people who believe in karma to divine intervention, whatever, they all say the same thing. Whatever you give out, you're going to get it back some way. One way or another. And I used to not believe that. I mean, you know, I used to. I used to just, you know, think the world's always out to get me. Hated the world, you know, just real dark place. But then, you know, as I've started giving out to the community, helping people, perspective has changed. Just all these. All these opportunities have opened up. It's almost every. Every single day, I just get a whole new opportunity. And then I have that mindset. You don't know until you try. So I just go, okay, well, let's do it. Let's meet, let's have a chat. Let's do this. [00:19:58] Speaker B: That's a great message to leave for listeners and viewers as well. You don't know until you try. [00:20:02] Speaker A: That's it, isn't it? And because again, I'm just talking about the media in general because there seems to be so much more focus on bad stuff. [00:20:14] Speaker B: Yes. [00:20:15] Speaker A: You know, particularly whether it be young people, whether it be whatever, whatever. But there's so many good stories out there. [00:20:22] Speaker B: Yeah. That's why we like to cover the positive ones to keep people. [00:20:25] Speaker A: And yours is just a really great story. [00:20:28] Speaker C: Yeah, well, that's the thing, you know, I. I have people. Every single day I go outside, I have people approaching me and like, commending me for what I'm doing, and they're saying, you know, thank you so much. Yeah, Every. Every day. It's every day. Yeah. Yeah. At the shops, I get nods. And. And really, I mean, just recently when I went to Woolworths at North Stargate in Beldivis, went did my shopping, and then all of a sudden, some of the staff members came up and they. They said, I'll pay for all your groceries. No, paid for 100 plus dollars and in groceries for my family for a week, you know, so we're not that. But it's like. That's what I mean. Like, just simple things like that. And like, people just come up to me and they just open up their heart. And it's because I'm so open and I talk about my personal struggles and everything online. I humanize myself and humanize my brand so people know I'm not. Not bs. I'm not gonna go ahead and lie to you. It's just all real with me. [00:21:22] Speaker B: And that's probably why you're making such a great impact on the community and have so many followers, because you are inspirational and because you are an authentic. [00:21:31] Speaker C: And that's ties back into. What I was just saying is. Yeah, I don't like taking like, you Know, people say, oh, I love what you're doing, but it's like, I wouldn't be able to be here if it wasn't for you, you know, for your support, for you following me. I wouldn't be here without you because you're the drive. That's how I see it. [00:21:47] Speaker B: Can I ask you a question? Have you encountered bullying since doing this? Like, how bad are the bullies? They're not just young kids at high school adults. They are everywhere, every age. [00:21:59] Speaker C: Yeah, don't worry. Like, a lot of people are scared to start, like their social media journey or posting content because they're gonna get negative comments and stuff like that. Oh, my God. Starting starting this. The amount of racism, the amount of belittling, the amount of horrific language towards women, you know, all sexes, just everything. Vile. Vile language. [00:22:20] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:22:20] Speaker C: You know, I've even some of the stories I've reported on, you know, for example, we reported on incident that took place at the Rockingham Center. You probably saw a man standing up on stop on top of our boba stands. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We had people that apparently knew him contacting us, saying that we're gonna get you. You should look out when you're out and about because we'll find you. Stuff like that. For reporting on an incident of a man scaring shoppers and putting the whole shopping center. He had ice cream. [00:22:49] Speaker A: Ice cream, yeah. [00:22:52] Speaker C: People were told, staff members were told that it was knives over the intercom radio. [00:22:55] Speaker A: That's right. [00:22:56] Speaker C: And then they were put in lockdown. So obviously there's the assumption, okay, there's knives. You know, we already see all the incidents around the country with, you know, different machete attacks and things like that. Your mind is going to jump to the worst. That's just how a situation like that is. And I reported on that. Obviously, multiple news sources reported on that. It wasn't just me. It was, you know, made international attention. That did. But that's the thing. I've had, you know, different threats I've had on different stories. I've done threats on my life, you know, all sorts of horrific stuff. Just because they don't agree with me, voicing people's opinions. [00:23:27] Speaker B: So is it just words that they threaten you with? [00:23:30] Speaker C: Yeah, just words. Well, one story we did do. We did do a story on the bushland behind the North Stargate shopping center. And we're taking photos of carnivorous plants in the bushland, so plants that eat bugs. So a lot of people don't realize we have so much like protected and rare species just in our backyard that are facing destruction from development agencies. Right. We were been back there and we were taking photos and then all of a sudden it started raining and we're like, oh, okay, we should probably head back. And then we hear some person yell at oy. And there's five fully grown men in hoodies masked up, starting to walk up the bush trail. And they're probably like 50 meters away. And me and my partner, we were the only ones there by ourselves. You know, we have a thousand plus dollars in camera gear. We're like, oh shit. And we instantly, we started fast walking around the corner. As soon as they're out of sight, we just bolted through the bushland. We just like went off the trail. We were jumping over logs while it was pouring rain. We're slipping around. We just ran as fast as we could and we got out of there, got in the car, left. [00:24:35] Speaker B: Yeah. Did you do a story about that? [00:24:39] Speaker C: We didn't do a story on it, but yeah, there's so many things that have happened where I don't do stories. Cause it's like I don't want people to think it's about me. That's one thing that I've just strived to be. It's not about me. It's about the people around me. And like, for example, today, you know, we just did a story on how, you know, we've been getting so many reports of the bell diver sports complex of mothers getting threatened, getting called slurs, getting all sorts of heinous language chucked at them. And I was like, okay, well it's time for me to break my story. And back in May, we same thing happened to me. Me and my partner, we were just walking past, we heard a kid yell out. We looked up, as soon as we made eye contact, he started hurling death threats. What are you looking at? We're going to crush your skull in. We're going to do this and that, all sorts of threats. And you know, we opened up about that. And already today with the post, we've already had a counselor reach out saying we're doing something. [00:25:28] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:25:28] Speaker C: And I'm going to talk to you later tonight and we're going to help disclose what's been happening behind the scenes with this. And also, yeah, we've had multiple mothers and parents coming forwards as well. Similar experiences, but just things like that. You know, I've had so many situations behind the scenes and then when I open up, it also builds the trust. It builds everything. And then it creates more stories for us. [00:25:47] Speaker A: I mean, with this such a. It's probably, like, a lot of things. Wait, that there's a. A gap. Like, you think everything will be covered. You know, like, there's no gaps left, whether it be media or whatever. And you found a gap. Like, I would imagine there's a lot of people in Rockingham, Beldivis, Quinana would think, how on earth did Wade do that? And I can't do that. [00:26:15] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:26:15] Speaker C: Yeah. I think it was just more of what I didn't see in the community. Obviously, there's already filled spaces in the media landscape and doing content and stuff like that, but it was what resonated with me, wasn't there. And it's about finding what doesn't resonate with you that you can go ahead and. And accomplish in your local area. Like, you know, I first started with a little series called Love Thy Neighbor. It was going to be about showcasing the kindness of community and your neighbors and, you know, giving recognition to people who don't ask for it. You know, people who do things out of the kindness of their heart. We did a story on this local resident named Pat, and he goes ahead and gives out. He grows. He has a little garden in his backyard, and he gives out all his veg, all his fruit to all his local neighbors, some of them being terminally ill. He also donates his blood, you know, gives out eggs. There's all sorts of things. And that was really, like, one of the driving points in me wanting to give people a voice, too, was doing that documentary back when I was in high school, and then knowing this is something people need. [00:27:19] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:27:19] Speaker C: And then it just. Yeah, that passion's been there ever since. And then this year with last year, we were like, okay, well, let's bring this into fruition. Then we started the Bell Harvest Times. Yeah. [00:27:29] Speaker B: So what does the future look like for Beldivis Times? [00:27:32] Speaker C: The future. So right now, we're in the works with a website, so we can go ahead and start pushing out articles and start bringing in people that way. We want to also offer a bit of media service as well to businesses going ahead and helping humanize their brand, even sitting down for a documentary of them. What's their story, what's their challenges? So many people who own businesses have stories of just, you know, living in poverty to now growing a business where it pays for their whole family. You know, things like that, humanizing businesses. And, I mean, within this month and next month, we want to try to reach on Facebook, 50,000 followers. So right now, we're at 34,000 followers. Today. We only just reached that today. And yeah, we want to try to grow that audience. And then we're expanding on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram. We want to do more short formed real content on the ground. News interviews, stuff like that. [00:28:28] Speaker A: We've got however many 30 odd thousand and one now because I'm gonna. [00:28:32] Speaker B: Oh, okay. Yeah. Because Yesterday it was 33, 900 or [00:28:35] Speaker C: something when I was. Yeah, yeah, that's the thing. When I was sitting out there, it was. It's now like 3:33,998 or something. So it's like, oh, well, after I'm done here, I'll probably be at 34,000. [00:28:48] Speaker A: Do I get a prize if I'm the 34,000? [00:28:51] Speaker B: I'll just make another profile and then I'll. I'll be. We do have some listeners questions. [00:28:58] Speaker C: You want to. [00:28:59] Speaker B: Should we go through those? [00:29:00] Speaker A: Okay, we shall do. Actually, can I just. [00:29:02] Speaker B: From the Facebook post. [00:29:04] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah. [00:29:05] Speaker A: And this is. I'm cheating. I'm going to number three, which is really. Because I was going to ask a. Did you have anybody that you held up there that you are inspired by? Yeah, but also. And this includes that if you can invite three people from history, past, present or present, living or deceased, who would they be and why was this? [00:29:27] Speaker C: Invite them for an interview or. [00:29:29] Speaker A: No. Yeah, like a. A dinner. [00:29:31] Speaker B: Any three people. [00:29:33] Speaker C: Yeah, any three people. Oh my goodness. [00:29:36] Speaker B: With a hard one, Nick. [00:29:37] Speaker C: Oh, that. That is a. That is a hard one. That is a hard one. Oh my God. Oh, that is a hard one. I mean, living. So one of the people that I am inspired by is a journalist in America who does content on YouTube called Andrew Callahan from Channel 5 News. And he does similar content, but it's all video where he goes out and he talks to people on, you know, protests, all sorts of different content like that. And it's really like where I want to see the Beldivis Times vision go here for our local area. So I'd love to have a chat with him for the conspiracy things out there. I'd love to maybe invite maybe like John F. Kennedy and see like what was happening all around, all around that time because he shut down the CIA and all that sort of stuff. Because I'm interested in all that sort of like government stuff. [00:30:28] Speaker B: That's a whole nother show that we should do. Seriously? [00:30:30] Speaker C: Yeah. Conspiracy theories. Yeah, yeah. And then for a third. Oh, I don't even know. God, it's hard. Maybe the community can decide that one then. [00:30:43] Speaker B: Yeah. All right. So I did have someone interested in Knowing more about your creative process. So where and how do you get your inspiration and content ideas? [00:30:56] Speaker C: So at the start it was, it literally started with me and my partner biking around on mountain bikes in our local area and we would be like, that doesn't look safe. Maybe we should do a story on that. Or we see the aftermath of an accident, then we'll look into it when we get home and find information out and then we'll do a story. You know, things like that. Just riding around, looking around my local area and that's one thing that I, that still sticks with me is that if I was in local government, would you not be driving around your area constantly and then looking around and going, oh, that looks like absolute, you know, that looks horrific. Let's go ahead and do something to fix it. That things like that. Just general appeal of your local area. I mean I went down to Mandurah just the other day for, you know, a local business thing and just going down there, it's just. There's a lot more pride I feel in this street appeal. And not to say that the council's not doing anything. I mean they've done a recent nature scheme to bring in more trees and planting but God, just, I think there just needs to be so much more upkeep in the local area. But yeah, with stories, I mean a lot of it now is just people reaching out. It is just people reaching out. So people see us, they see our stories, they know we resonate and then, you know, we're getting like 25 to 50 plus messages every single day from new people that we don't even know. And then you know, people who are. People who are driving around, they'll see an accident just happen and we will get first hand information. I mean when there was a drowning that took place really sad at the Rockingham foreshore, we were told the second the man was struggling to. The second he was pulled out and then when he was getting resuscitated all live before any other news. And that's what I mean we have so much connection to our community. We just get, we get influx of information as it's happening as the second goes and we do a story as it's not. [00:32:44] Speaker B: So you don't necessarily have to be there. You've already got people from the. [00:32:48] Speaker C: And that's the thing, I get confirmation, hey, can you explain who's there? Maybe call me faces wondering how you're everywhere at take photos for me. Stuff like that. People are more than happy to do that and that's and that's how we do a lot of it as well with. With our news is. Yeah. [00:33:02] Speaker B: Because I wondered that because it seems like you're everywhere at once. [00:33:05] Speaker C: Yeah. Majority of the stories where, you know, I'm in the photo or it's like my personal account, I'm there. But, like, things, you know, where there's a car accident or things like that, I'm. I'm not personally on the scene. [00:33:15] Speaker B: Yeah, right. All right, hang on. So your turn to ask the next listener question. [00:33:20] Speaker A: Well, next is the question. [00:33:22] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're gonna pick another hard one or what next? [00:33:25] Speaker A: Would I do that? Yeah. No, I wouldn't. No. Did you study journalism at all? [00:33:30] Speaker C: No, didn't study journalism. So I did my Diploma in Film and Television degree. And I. I just. My whole background is in the media industry sphere, so high school. Cert 2, media industries, then cert 3, you know, film and television, then diploma, Film and television. You know, we. And I had already done. Did a documentary on Brock Bevin. You had him here as well, on the Penguins. [00:33:51] Speaker B: Have you done that yet? [00:33:52] Speaker C: Yeah, I did. I did an interview with Brock Bevin. I did a little documentary. [00:33:56] Speaker B: Have you done the jump Jump with them? [00:33:59] Speaker C: The jump? No. They've invited me multiple times. I haven't been game enough. I know. You did. Yeah. And, yeah, we did a doco on them, and then we won the People's Choice Award for the Rock the Boat Film Festival when we. When we did that story before we started the Beldivist Times. Yeah. [00:34:17] Speaker B: Very cool. All right, what else have I got here that you haven't already said? Let me have a look. Have you ever seen a comment that had to be deleted or thought or you thought that was bullying or offensive? [00:34:29] Speaker C: 100%. Yep. So a lot of our. Every day, a lot of our stories, you know, whatever we do, we're gonna have people like, for example, they're like, you know, you. Youth issues. Right. You know, I don't agree with youth crime, but you'll have people up in arms saying, we need to kill someone. Something horrific, like, out of, like, whoa, that is too far. Too far. So I do not condone any of that. So we delete all those comments. [00:34:55] Speaker A: People. [00:34:55] Speaker C: People that go ahead. Or me manually, really. Or me. Every time I post, I'm in the comments. Every. Every other hour, I go through the comments and I have a look. And then if there's things I miss, people send me messages and go, hey, is this okay? Should this be deleted? And then I'll delete it. You Know things like that from the community to doing stuff myself, I'm going to play. I plan on bringing in a bit of. I already do have a bit of auto moderation like so for keywords like real horrific slurs. It will automatically be deleted by Facebook systems. But yeah, a lot. It does not stop. [00:35:27] Speaker B: Okay. [00:35:28] Speaker C: It does not stop. [00:35:29] Speaker B: This isn't a viewer one, this is a me one. Do you actually have a life outside of Beldiva's times? [00:35:34] Speaker C: I see the bell divers times like as your life. As my life. [00:35:38] Speaker B: What about socializing and stuff? [00:35:39] Speaker C: This is the thing. It's just me and my partner. I mean we used to be mates with lots of people, lots of connections but there's a lot of jealousy in that regard to if one person starts to succeeding in the group, people start putting them down because they want to bring you down on that wavelength where it's like we don't like you getting above me. You're doing better than me. And that's why, you know, I've had that issue throughout all my friendships and I've just ended a lot of them because I'm like I don't need to be dragged down. You know, my parents have gone throughout their whole lives and I've gone through it and they've touched. I've seen how it's a played effects on their personal health and mental health. Mental health. And me, I'm just like, well I'm just going to cut that out. If people want to join me and, and help me and support me and I'll support them then that's what happened. For example, we did an article on Lakeside Deli and then we ended up going on a date with the owners. Bloody. Yeah, yeah. Peter and Jack. And they took us out to be bar and we had a few drinks. Is that the one on just under time zone? Oh, Lakeside Deli. Yeah. Along. Along the salt lakes on Mandrel. [00:36:44] Speaker A: Yeah, that's right. [00:36:46] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:36:47] Speaker A: Does a lady still own it who's always owned it? [00:36:49] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah, yeah. [00:36:49] Speaker A: She had a daughter working here once. I used to go there as a wreck. [00:36:52] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah. The girls are doing really good like doing international like, like all state level sports and all that. Like they're doing, they're doing phenomenal. Yeah. And we did this article on that. It was seen by over 300000 people, you know and they even told me after my article they had someone travel all the way from Bunbury just to get one of their, their, their burgers that I suggested. [00:37:14] Speaker A: Yeah, I do, yeah. [00:37:17] Speaker C: Like you know Things like that. I've just formed such connections. That's where my friends have come out of, you know, my connection to the community. [00:37:23] Speaker B: Positive people. [00:37:23] Speaker C: You know, I put positive stuff out there. I've met positive people that align with my morals and then they've become my friends. They've become the people in my community I care about. [00:37:33] Speaker A: An off the track question was not from a listener. It's my question here. [00:37:36] Speaker B: You're allowed one of those. [00:37:40] Speaker A: She's a hard taskmaster. You mentioned quite in our interview here about your partner. So she must be very much on the same wave length as you. [00:37:53] Speaker C: Definitely, definitely. We've been through so much together. I mean, just from all sorts of, you know, horrible things and, you know, so many ups and downs. But, you know, out of all of it, you know, a lot of it comes, comes down to, you know, do you still love me? Do we love each other? Well, we're gonna fight through, we're gonna get through the hurdle. We're gonna kept fighting. And you know, I'm at a young age. I'm young, but my parents have been together for over 20 something plus years now. You know, my grandparents were together till they pass, you know, never, never split, you know, and I still have those same morals. I care about my partner. The person with me to support me, she supports me. I'll always support her. And, and that's the thing, you know, she's my assistant director. I've brought her on. She's a bit worried to have her face out there, so I haven't plastered her everywhere. But you know, she, we both have media cards. I've got her name, her title, everything, blurb on the back, you know, behind the scenes, you know, she'll come out to everything we go to together. And a lot of people know her who have met me in person, have made her, shook hands, I've introduced her, you know, have been to events and stuff. I mean, she was just outside, dropped me off to get here. So, you know, she, she's a huge help and. Yeah. And God, yeah. I wouldn't be able to do it without the support of my family. [00:39:04] Speaker A: That's the thing. Because it's no matter what we do to, to have. It's a unique thing that you, you are doing. And a lot of partners would go, yeah, you can do that, but that ain't me. So to have somebody on board is amazing. [00:39:19] Speaker B: Get annoyed with your dedication. [00:39:20] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:39:21] Speaker B: And your time spent on it. But it sounds like you guys, that's the thing. [00:39:24] Speaker C: I try to win Cool Incorporator. [00:39:26] Speaker A: As much as possible. [00:39:27] Speaker C: Right. So like for example, Bistro 129 just north, north of Belivas. They're a little restaurant there and they bloody sponsored with me and my partner a seven course full dining session, you know, drinks and all free of charge. And that was their, you know, little thanks to the community and what we do. And that was, you know, ways I could bring her into it. You know, we got have a beautiful dinner and it's been like that with lots of things we do. We'll go out, have dinners and things like that and people will just sponsor or you know, we love what you do. Here, take this, do this. And you know, I mean local, local company off the beaten track that does tourism and stuff out, out in the bush doing nature trails. Later this month I told her, you know, I just met her because we want to do a story. And I was telling her, hey, we love nature trails. We did the bluff knoll track and she, and she's like, how about for your five year anniversary we sponsor you for a full getaway bush bush walk toward bush walk up in the biblum and track area. And we're gonna get nibbles, the night sky, viewing of the media, showers that are planned for the day. And that's free of charge. [00:40:33] Speaker B: Just for your relationship anniversary. [00:40:35] Speaker C: Yeah, for our relationship anniversary. Because I shared this is, you know, this are five years coming up. Yeah, business too and then things like that. That's how I've brought her into it. Just so many ways I've been able to incorporate her and she's a part of the team. [00:40:47] Speaker B: Very cool, very cool. I'm gonna ask this one. What advice would you give to aspiring young journalists hoping to build their own online brand or presence? [00:40:58] Speaker C: Yeah, I mean for anyone out there, I mean even, even if people want help, you come to me, talk with me, call me, you know, whatever you want to do. I mean, I am here to help support people who have a dream, who want to push to do something. I've already been doing it with local community issues. And like I said earlier in this interview, you don't know till you try. That was my whole mindset. You know, I've reached out to someone, hey, I'd love to do a story on, you know, I don't know, let's say a restaurant. I'd love to do a little photo shoot on your restaurant, free of charge. A lot of it started free, not paid work, nothing like that. Hey, I just want to get to know who you are and tell you story, God, 99% of people want that. It's free marketing. That's they get to tell their story, they get to share with the community. And yeah, it's just gone from there. I mean, you don't know till you try. Just start, put your first foot in the door, ask someone a question and it will go from there. That's how it went with me. And I mean, before we could, before you guys continue, like a good example of that was with the Rockingham Fringe Festival, right. I was invited out to do a little bit of photo of the launch party. Did it for free. Then I met Sue Hasee, the CEO of the Chamber of Commerce for Rockingham Kwinana. [00:42:06] Speaker B: Oh yeah. [00:42:06] Speaker C: Found out she was a fan since we started. Then I went and did an interview with her and then she invited me to document the key leaders in business meeting that had the U.S. consulate and the U.K. consular there. And then they saw my photos I took and said, we love what you did. You did a great article. How about you come and meet me up at my house and all this and that. And that's what I mean, it's just little steps. You do that first step and it will just spiral. And that's what I'd say to anyone who's wanting to get into media. [00:42:32] Speaker B: Very cool. [00:42:32] Speaker A: It's fascinating, isn't it? [00:42:35] Speaker B: You know, your face. [00:42:36] Speaker A: I'm just, you know, I think as, without getting too self reflective, you know, it's older, as you get older to be cynical, you know when, when somebody mentions, say not so much Facebook but followers and you know, I've got this. And your views, you, you think that you're gonna have a, a flash bloke with the, all the go fast hair and all that. No, no, that's a perception like we all humble but you know, and yet you're exactly 100 the opposite. [00:43:06] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:43:06] Speaker A: And I, I find it probably so uplifting. Absolutely genuine and humble. [00:43:12] Speaker C: Yeah, it's just, it was just spiraled. I mean, you know, I, I, I didn't start it because I wanted a following or I expected I was going to get tens of thousands of people. I thought I would be here far later than I am now. [00:43:24] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:43:24] Speaker C: You know, it's just people have resonated. They know they want this in the community, they want to support it. You know, I mean we've already crowdfunded over $7,000 towards camera equipment and stuff for Bell Divers Times for myself. Yeah. And we've done petitions that have gotten, you know, 6.8 thousand plus signatures on local issues, I mean, you know, things like that. It's just the community wants it, they'll support me and we'll get there. That's, you know, I, I don't, I don't like to take all the credit, you know, because I wouldn't be where I am. And that's one thing I don't like is, you know, different people who are influencers or journalists, you know, they get the ego sides going and they see everyone as a number. Yeah, that's why I started doing the giveaways, you know, getting sponsors from the businesses that I've been working with. I'm like, hey, I want to give back to my community. Community. They give me money and I can give back and that's how I can do it. Doesn't cost me anything cuz they're the ones sponsoring it, so why not? [00:44:17] Speaker B: Yeah, absolutely. Have you got another one? You got the last one? [00:44:21] Speaker A: No, no, you can go to the last one. [00:44:22] Speaker B: Oh no, because I've got quick, quick fire ones. You do the last one. I'm going to do these. Are you all right? Yeah, right. [00:44:27] Speaker A: Jesus. [00:44:30] Speaker B: I'm not, no. [00:44:32] Speaker A: Okay. Outside if there is any spare time. What brings you joy outside? I mean, obviously you're, you know, what you get back from the community is great. Do you have anything that. Else that gives you a little bit of enjoyment, Wade? [00:44:47] Speaker C: Yeah, probably nature walks. A lot of, A lot of what we do is like, me and my partner are off timers, you know, we all will cycle to local nature trails and we'll just go for a walk, you know, and with me as well away from Beldiva's times, I'm also an Inaturalist ambassador. Inaturalist is a citizen science app where you can take photos, different insects, animals, and you upload it to a digital database that can be used by scientists to document migratory patterns, different aspects like that. And that's my go to. I love macro photography, so I do a lot of macro photography of bugs, insects, different animals, things like that. That's like my getaway photos of all the nice. [00:45:29] Speaker A: That's great though, really, isn't it? I mean, again, you know, it's. I would assume it's very, very. You're not having to spend money. Like you don't say, oh yeah, I'll go out a lot, to restaurants or whatever. It's. [00:45:42] Speaker C: Yeah, just little things like that and then very simple. My partner is also very passionate. She's doing a bachelor in conservation science as well. So she's very much into conservation, wildlife, nature so we just, yeah, that shows in the story like that. You know, we, we, we love it. We just, yeah. Go off on each other. We're just like, yeah, let's go, let's go see some bugs. Let's go do this. We're all for it. [00:46:07] Speaker A: Okay, well, double J here, these are like. These good questions are good, aren't they? Okay, here we go. [00:46:14] Speaker C: Here we go. [00:46:14] Speaker B: One word to describe bell divers times. [00:46:17] Speaker C: Community. [00:46:18] Speaker B: Community biggest moment so far. [00:46:24] Speaker C: There's a lot of stuff coming up I haven't talked about publicly, but so far, publicly recognition from U. S. Consulate and local governments. That's the thing. We're already being, getting, being given media releases and that from city of Mandurah, city of Kwinana, Shire, Marais, Rockingham council. Yet to reply on us. Reply to us to give us official media releases. [00:46:47] Speaker B: Whoa. [00:46:48] Speaker C: Interesting. [00:46:49] Speaker B: Very cool. All right, Dream interview. [00:46:51] Speaker C: Dream interview. The start off, I would say I want to get Magenta Marshall Ma or the MLA from the local area. I know it's like that dream like, you know, I could go with anyone, but I want to start a little documentary. Not documentary, an interview series where I fast interview people at a public park and different people in local government and ask them just like hard hitting, like, what are you doing for the community? What community initiatives are out right now, Things like that. It helps publicize them and it helps the community get a better insight because people don't know. Like they'll say the government's not doing shit, but there's so much stuff happening behind the scenes. [00:47:30] Speaker A: Yeah, true. [00:47:31] Speaker C: I agree. [00:47:32] Speaker B: Absolutely. Okay, so what drives you daily? [00:47:35] Speaker C: Drives me daily. [00:47:36] Speaker B: Yep. Other than your girlfriend? To hear. [00:47:40] Speaker C: Getting, getting the interactions I do in public, seeing the smiles on people's faces and the happiness and thanks that they give me for going ahead and informing them, going, we've needed a voice in this community for so long. Like, you know, I was on the train just yesterday and I was sitting down the train ride talking to someone who was in my recent class that I did down there for a business pitch thing. And I get off, I sit up on the train and a lady right next to me says, are you away from the beldiva signs? And. And then just started sharing me and thanks for what I've done for the community and things like that. Just knowing that I'm actually making an impact. I'm not just sending something out into the dark void of the Internet. [00:48:17] Speaker B: And you're not just getting followers because you're there. [00:48:20] Speaker C: That's the thing. It's because I'M actually making an impact, so it reminds me every day. [00:48:25] Speaker B: Very cool. Very cool. All right, final question. What does this community mean to you? [00:48:31] Speaker C: Oh, everything. I mean, I see so many people on social media wanting to get the world's attention, wanting to become famous, world famous, things like that. It's like the, I think ego mentality. [00:48:42] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:48:42] Speaker C: I've always been about form a connection and grow your community around you and they will help uplift you into the world because they know that you're worth fighting for. You're worth the community and the world seeing. And yeah, just the community means everything. I mean, I wouldn't be able to be here interviewing you. I would have just been, you know, another, another little person driving a pass in the car past the studio. I wouldn't be here getting, being interviewed by you if it wasn't for the community uplifting me to where I am and being able to do what I can to the community. Yeah, it's everything. [00:49:14] Speaker A: Got one more. [00:49:15] Speaker B: You do? [00:49:15] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:49:16] Speaker B: One more too. [00:49:17] Speaker A: Okay. No, okay, okay. Like I've interviewed, I interviewed quite a few people and from a lot of Christian backgrounds who give, give back to the community. And the greater percentage of them say, oh, my father and mother always were part of the community, always part of the church. Right. Was there anything, and you seem so much community based. Was there anything in your upbringing that led you to being community based? [00:49:46] Speaker C: Oh, God, good question. I mean, probably not. I mean, my parents have never been the type to church or community or helping people. My dad is very much, you know, people are out to get you in the sense that, you know, got to be careful because he's had a lot of horrible experiences with people, you know, people who, that have just done him wrong every every which way. My dad, you know, he's, he's, he's very ill right now, so he's on disability. He's got a skin to skin autoimmune disease and stuff like that. And my mum's his full time carer. So like, you know, very much my, my parents, you know, they've, they've lost a lot of hope and stuff like that and you know, if I can give people hope that there are people out there to help, you know, they've just been surprised. I mean, the amount of community support for just what I'm doing, you know, and that's all they care about. They, all they care about is seeing me succeed and, and helping, helping the community and. [00:50:39] Speaker B: Yeah, so you'd be restoring some hope to your parents. [00:50:42] Speaker C: Restoring hope to, to them. In the world. Yeah. [00:50:44] Speaker B: And. [00:50:46] Speaker C: Oh, I don't know, it's just. It's been a journey. I'll just say that with what I've been doing for the community, I've never. My. None of my family are very community minded. [00:50:54] Speaker A: Isn't that strange? Yeah. [00:50:55] Speaker B: Double J, actually, my family weren't either. Yeah. [00:50:59] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:50:59] Speaker C: So it's just. [00:51:00] Speaker A: Yeah, it's really unusual, such a. A young person as you are to have that. [00:51:06] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:51:07] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:51:07] Speaker C: My. My mum, she just raised me to be compassionate and caring and val. And have value. [00:51:12] Speaker A: That's a big start. [00:51:14] Speaker C: Isn't that the thing? If I. If I didn't have my family to fall back on when I was going through all the bullying, all the horrible, you know, stuff, one of my younger years, I don't know where I would have been, you know, going ahead and cementing, you know, everything's gonna be okay. We're gonna get through this together. I'm very. Family first, mind. [00:51:29] Speaker B: Yeah, I love that. [00:51:30] Speaker A: It's great. [00:51:31] Speaker B: It is beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. My last question, and I promise I will, it will be the last. I just want. Do you have a message to give to people that are listening or watching? [00:51:42] Speaker A: Oh, good one. [00:51:45] Speaker C: I'll just say to the community out there, you know, you don't know till you try. You know, you might have a horrible upbringing. You might have, you know, gone through a divorce, breakups. You might have, you know, gone through bankruptcy, all of it. There is always going to be light at the end of the tunnel. I just see life as a wave. It's like an ocean. Things are going to be choppy, but then you're going to get to shallow waters where everything's still again, and you're going to find stillness, oneness, and you're going to get through it. I mean, so many people lose hope, think they're going to be. They're going to have to give up. They're not going to be able to get through this. But just wait till the next day. Don't make that decision until you've given it a day. And then you might go, I'll give it another day, and then you'll get through it. That's how I've done it. That's what I've done with all my ups and downs. [00:52:30] Speaker B: Yeah, very cool. [00:52:31] Speaker A: Well, I just cannot thank you enough, Wade, honestly, from the. You know, one of the hardest things I find in this thing is that, you know, I'm not trying to pretend to be genuine, but being genuine, and that's all I can be, too. And Double J. And it's been one of the most amazing interviews I've done in my time and I. I can't honestly thank you enough. [00:52:57] Speaker C: It's hard to be trans. [00:52:58] Speaker B: Thank you. [00:52:59] Speaker C: Oh, you are you to anything. I don't. I'm not closed off. I'm very open minded and I've always said that to people. I'm here to help. I'm here to. You could listen. [00:53:07] Speaker B: Very touching. Very inspiring. [00:53:09] Speaker A: It was. Thanks again very much. You know, I'm. I'm gonna join your Facebook for sure and be a follower. No, no, no. Not, not. [00:53:17] Speaker B: Cause you know, the prize, Nick, come on. You want the prize. [00:53:22] Speaker A: I just think it's just brilliant and you know, y' all can read you what you're doing on that and it's an uplifting thing. I don't have to go and read one of the rags out there, you know, about all the bad stuff. I can read genuine stuff which is happening in my community by somebody I've met and I'm impressed by. [00:53:40] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:53:40] Speaker C: Thank you. [00:53:41] Speaker B: Wonderful. Thank you so much for joining us, Wade. [00:53:43] Speaker C: Thank you.