This episode I was lucky enough to have a old good knees up with a friend I’ve got to know working in the video biz; Director of Photography / DJ / music producer / editor / creator extraordinaire Arlen Figgis!
Growing up in an incredibly creative household and leaving school at 16 to pursue DJing and rave culture during the birth of the drum and bass scene, it was clear Arlen was never going to have a boring life.
Since his early days DJing at Kool FM, he’s filmed years of Gumball 3000 with the likes of Dirty Sanchez and Tony Hawk, toured Europe making cult skate film Zootopia, and even built a stage that now tours UK music festivals like Latitude, Boomtown and Bestival, so it’s no surprise that Arlen had more than a few stories to share when I joined him in his incredible self-built studio at his house in North London.
If you want to check out Arlen’s work or get in touch with him, be sure to check out his instagram @arlenrok and website www.arlenfiggis.com which also has photos of his amazing studio that I fail to do justice in describing at the top of the episode.
Finally, make sure you check out www.shack.events/ to find out which UK festival Arlen’s awesome Shack will be rocking next.
Thanks as always for listening and I’ll catch you in the next episode!
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This episode I was lucky enough to have a old good knees up with a friend I’ve got to know working in the video biz; Director of Photography / DJ / music producer / editor / creator extraordinaire Arlen Figgis!
Growing up in an incredibly creative household and leaving school at 16 to pursue DJing and rave culture during the birth of the drum and bass scene, it was clear Arlen was never going to have a boring life.
Since his early days DJing at Kool FM, he’s filmed years of Gumball 3000 with the likes of Dirty Sanchez and Tony Hawk, toured Europe making cult skate film Zootopia, and even built a stage that now tours UK music festivals like Latitude, Boomtown and Bestival, so it’s no surprise that Arlen had more than a few stories to share when I joined him in his incredible self-built studio at his house in North London.
If you want to check out Arlen’s work or get in touch with him, be sure to check out his instagram @arlenrok and website www.arlenfiggis.com which also has photos of his amazing studio that I fail to do justice in describing at the top of the episode.
Finally, make sure you check out www.shack.events/ to find out which UK festival Arlen’s awesome Shack will be rocking next.
Thanks as always for listening and I’ll catch you in the next episode!
Ep 8 - Paul Parks talks Beach Beer Bondi, drop-shipping sex toys and pursuing his passion
So How Did I Get Here? with Sam Lax
6 years ago
Ep 8 - Paul Parks talks Beach Beer Bondi, drop-shipping sex toys and pursuing his passion
This week I chatted to one of my neighbours. It just so happens that he’s the man behind Bondi Beach Beer - brewer Paul Parks.
After spying a home brew kit in a shop window one day, Paul challenged his mates to a home brew competition. Despite not winning this amateur bout, the fire was lit and Paul sold his wife’s car in pursuit of the perfect brew (a decision that’s still a little sore for her). ‘YouTubing the shit out of it’, he quickly refined his craft beer to a quality worthy of being crowned #31 in the 2018 GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers poll. Now having recently added a lager ‘Bondi Draught’ to the family, Paul has product on the shelves of nearly every establishment in Bondi.
In our chat, the former hospitality veteran and serial entrepreneur takes me through the impressively long list of business ventures that he’s started over the years- including stand-up paddle boards, importing eyelash extensions and yes you guessed it, a drop-shipping a sex toy shop. I hear what Sydney’s Kings Cross was like ‘back in the day’ and what working in DCM, Sydney’s answer to Studio 54 was like too. Paul also walks me through the brewing process itself; how to discover, develop and refine a cracking beer, and what it takes to keep the quality consistent when the business scales to quench more thirsty customers.
We also talk about all the other aspects of running a successful business; From mastering instagram marketing, to creating a culture around something you’re truly passionate about. His future plans for the beer are exciting too...
Keep up with the hoppy madness at Paul’s instagram @beachbeerbondi
This podcast got you thirsty? Make sure you check out the Bondi Beach Beer website to find out where you can get their brews (spoiler alert - pretty much all of Bondi!)
Thanks for listening
So How Did I Get Here? with Sam Lax
This episode I was lucky enough to have a old good knees up with a friend I’ve got to know working in the video biz; Director of Photography / DJ / music producer / editor / creator extraordinaire Arlen Figgis!
Growing up in an incredibly creative household and leaving school at 16 to pursue DJing and rave culture during the birth of the drum and bass scene, it was clear Arlen was never going to have a boring life.
Since his early days DJing at Kool FM, he’s filmed years of Gumball 3000 with the likes of Dirty Sanchez and Tony Hawk, toured Europe making cult skate film Zootopia, and even built a stage that now tours UK music festivals like Latitude, Boomtown and Bestival, so it’s no surprise that Arlen had more than a few stories to share when I joined him in his incredible self-built studio at his house in North London.
If you want to check out Arlen’s work or get in touch with him, be sure to check out his instagram @arlenrok and website www.arlenfiggis.com which also has photos of his amazing studio that I fail to do justice in describing at the top of the episode.
Finally, make sure you check out www.shack.events/ to find out which UK festival Arlen’s awesome Shack will be rocking next.
Thanks as always for listening and I’ll catch you in the next episode!
