August 30, 2024 • 29 mins
Hi Guys, welcome back to TV Reload. Thank you for clicking or downloading on today’s episode with Courtney and Grant. Two of the latest contestants on The Block which has been dazzling audiences this year on Channel Nine.
I am a big fan of their work so far and think they are the most likely to win this season and not without their faults. Audiences are often quite taken aback by their communication style and there are some interesting theories they are following a winning formula set by Steph and Gian.
- I will ask about their relationship and what they think of watching their interactions on national TV with the rest of Australia.
- You will get to hear us unpack their Modern-terranean theme and what influences led them to that styling.
- This season there is some real challenges with multiple teams in terms of their builders and I curious what went wrong there.
- We will even get an insight into the production and what they think of how this show gets put together.
There is so much to unpack with some fantastic secrets along the way. So sit back and relax as we unpack The Block’s biggest season to date.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's in the news today, but it was actually on TV.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Reload the podcast last week Their Life. Hey guys, welcome
back to TV Reload. I want to thank you for
clicking and downloading on today's episode with Courtney and Grant,
two of the latest contestants on the Block, which has
been dazzling the audience this year on Channel nine. I'm
actually a big fan of this couple's work, and so
far I think they are the most likely to win
(00:22):
this season. So this is not without their faults. By
the way, audiences are often quite taken aback by their
communications style and there are some very interesting theories that
they are following a winning formula by Stephan Gian who
we saw last year. I will talk about their relationship
and what they think of watching their interactions on National
(00:42):
TV back and that includes some of the reactions from
the Australian public. You will get to hear us unpack
their modern Terraneum theme and what influences they actually had
that led them to that styling. There is some real
challenges with multiple teams in terms of their builders this year,
and I'm curious to know why this season so much
(01:05):
seemed to go wrong in that space. We will even
get an insight into the production and what they think
of how this show gets put together. There is a
lot to talk about, and you know, this season of
the Block is wild. So sit back and relax as
we unpack the Block twenty, the biggest season today. Hi, Hi,
(01:25):
how are you? Both?
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Hi?
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Ben?
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Good mate? How are you?
Speaker 2 (01:28):
I'm doing really well. I don't know why I'm laughing
because I think I think this season's really shocked me
in some ways. I think I was like, oh, it's
the twentieth anniversary season. You know, there's going to be
balloons and party pis and it's all going to be really,
you know, sweet and lovely. But it actually is quite
a dramatic season. So much drama, so much drama. There's
so much for us to talk about today.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Let's do it. Let's do it.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
I think the most important question that I have for
you is what is watching this show back been like
for the both of you? Do you drink a lot
of wine? Do you have people come over?
Speaker 4 (02:00):
I mean to know, honestly, it's actually been really fun.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Yes we have been one, but like that's nothing new
recording okay in a fun way.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
Yeah, Look, I think we've been pretty low key the
first few weeks.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
So well, we've enjoyed watching it. We were nothing but ourselves.
Speaker 5 (02:15):
So nothing's really come across and shopped us, if we're
honest from what we saw of us, yes, and other
things that shopped us.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
But I think in some ways, because there's so much
happening in the other houses for you guys, we haven't
seen as much maybe as what we could have. I think,
you know, there's a lot of other things happening. What
do you do when you come on screen? Are you excited, like, Hey,
this is us? Or are you kind of cringe? Like
what I want to know?
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Now? We're excited?
Speaker 4 (02:41):
So like last night? Was it last night? Yet whenever
it was Wednesday, we're watching the episode and it was
half an hour in. Like, are we even on the
block in twenty what's happening here?
Speaker 3 (02:50):
I wasn't sure if they booted, couldn't see it anyway.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
They'll edit you in later. I remember doing Big Brother
in twenty twelve, and I remember thinking, they eliminate me. Now,
no one will remember me.
Speaker 4 (03:05):
You need the drama.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
You need the drama. So then I just threw drinks
in people's faces. How has the Block experience. Grant you
kind of did say it, don't it hasn't shocked you.
But like in comparison to what you signed up to
and what you expected to, what is the finished product now?
Like are there shocks in that?
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Look?
Speaker 3 (03:22):
The only thing that sort of got me by surprise,
and I still think.
Speaker 5 (03:25):
About it, you know, even here, how quick everything moves
on the block. That's the only thing that they really
shocked us in terms of watching ourselves back or anything
like that. I think Court and I we always said,
will come in here and be you know, be ourselves,
and you know it will be nothing. But yeah, it
defends people. Then it defends people, and if people liked it,
will then you.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
Know even better. So yeah, that's the only thing I
look back and.
Speaker 5 (03:47):
Go that I was only surprised by the speed of
the twelve weeks.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
No, I think that this show is so fast paced.
It's also one of the only reality shows that I
think is still on television that quite real, Like we're
actually capturing a lot of real content where a lot
of other shows these days are quite manufactured and set up,
where it's real, fly on the wall kind of television.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Yeah, we've been asked for so like what's scripted and
what's not.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
I'm like, no, no, no, this is this is all real,
this is all happening, Like these things are actually happening.
The tears are real, the tears are real, all the
drama is real. Like it's just you look back now
after doing it all, you just think, yeah, it doesn't
really seem like it could be real. But it all happens.
It all happens very quickly.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Does it change the way you guys talk to each other,
because there's a lot of conversation about how the couples
this year have like a love language that's quite volatile.
And I've been watching it and changing my own behavior
with my with my partner because I'm like I was
saying to him, I'm like, these people are quite outspoken,
you know, And he goes, you talk to me like that,
He goes Everyone in Australia talks to their partners like this.
(04:50):
But I wondered whether or not watching it back has
made you think about it differently.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
I was thinking about it during filming.
Speaker 5 (04:57):
I think I not held back, but think I became
a lot more patient because I didn't want to lose
my temper all the time.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
I feel like you definitely change for better.
Speaker 5 (05:06):
But one thing with Cordy and I was and we
always you know, it's always been so, even pre block
was it's always been a two way street. So if
we're arguing, we're both arguing, it's never been you know,
we both can give it back. It's just as good
as we as we get it. So yeah, some people
might find it weird or confronting, but for us it
was it's almost healthy.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
Yeah, And we still support each other and you know,
we laugh more than we're arguing, so it's all healthy.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
What was really interesting was when I met the two
of you. And this sounds bad because I'm making a comparison.
Everyone that day was talking about there being a like
some couples going to get a divorce or something, and
there was a rumor going around that day. So all
of the media, we're watching you guys so intently, and
you two in particular, I was watching and whilst you
guys did have a particular style of language between the
(05:55):
two of you, I actually thought that you had the
most genuine relationship out of everyone.
Speaker 4 (05:59):
We have been told that before, Okay, Grant and I
and I've said this before on the show, like we are,
We're best friends, like there's no one else we're closer to,
and we get each other through and through, and I
think that's kind of what got us through the block.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
And you know, without that support, Like Grant said.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
It's two way and we both support each other through
thick and thin.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
But yeah, it made us so much stronger.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
Definitely, it put you.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
Yeah, and I'm sure having kids also has a similar feeling.
Like you, it's those really intense moments that make you
grow as a person and become closer.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
So I feel like the block did that for us.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Well I may touch into this a little bit later,
but I really want to ask you about what sort
of preparation, Like I think about if I did the block,
what the hell would I be doing? Would I be
thinking themes? Would I be doing research? Would I know
a kind of guideline as to what I'm going to bring?
What did you guys try and do as like homework
preparation before turning up in Phillip Island.
Speaker 5 (06:53):
Yeah, I mean the hardest thing for us is I
think we got told as one of the last couple,
so we were told to be days I think days
before before we got there, so we had a few
things going on work wise and personal and whatnot, so
we really didn't even have a chance to breed, to
be honest, before we got there. We made you know,
a little bit of a plan, but we came in
(07:15):
almost very loose.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
Not all our trains were confirmed and everything like that.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
So in terms of design, we had a bit of
a plan.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
We knew, I mean, we were already planning on like
hopefully building again in the future, so I already had
a bit of a mood board, an idea of what
we'd want to do then. So we thought we could
just do a similar thing on Philip Island. So I
came in you know, modern Mediterranean, the Moditerranean term. It
was week one will kind of just like I fumbled
my words and we came up with that. But each
(07:44):
room we had an idea of what we want to do,
kind of color scheme. But you also don't know, you know,
you know, you're roughly like who your sponsors are, but
you don't know like how much sponsorship ships dollars go
towards different vendors. So I think that's that's one thing
that you have to really figure out when you get there.
But an overall style, Like if anyone can prep for out,
I think that's really important.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
The modern Tranean theme is genius though, So I love
that you've just revealed to us that you basically fumbled
across that well done.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
Yeah, no, it really the modern Mediterranean.
Speaker 4 (08:14):
We definitely had a vision, but Moditerranean, I mean, I
think that was just a fluke immunity, be honest.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
Especially, hey we've got Moditerranean.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
I think it was at Beaumont Tile the first time,
and I.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Was like, we grant.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
You were so hilarious because you kept getting corrected at
the start, you know, this is the theme they have properly,
and then later on we even call it out like
I don't know if you've seen that, but later on
you're like, oh wow, I just said it correctly. It
just rolls off the tongue.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
It's converted.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
But after watching Stephanjiwn, I'm so surprised that that's the
truth of that story because I just imagine, being as
as smart as I know you both are, that you
must have looked at Japande last year and realized that
having a theme like this, having a comprehensive theme that's
kind of fresh and exciting works on this series, like
the Block, I.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
One hundred percent agree, And I think what Stephan Jon
did was amazing, Like they built the most amazing house.
But I think when you're building anything new, any new house,
you always have well, like from experience, like it's always
really important to have a style or a theme. Otherwise
if you don't, Like I'm one where I'll see something
pretty and I'll be like, oh my gosh, I want that.
If I don't have that direction, then you can just
(09:23):
go in all different tangents. So I think for me
is just when I'm designing a space, I need that
I have that at home, like I'll have that one
any projects I'm working on. I think it's Yeah, it's
really important to have that directional theme.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
It's a great pull through. And I think, yeah, something
that's very easy to sell because you've simplified it and
it actually really does explain your house in a very
simple way, and that kind of pull through works for
your branding moving outside of the block later on. That
must have been a part of the conversation even if
you started having that in the first week. Oh, come on,
this is going to be the pool through it. This
(09:56):
is going to work.
Speaker 4 (09:57):
Yeah, And I think, I mean, we probably didn't and
realized how important it was until the judges started giving
us feedback and you know, talking about moderterranean and making it,
you know, more than what we thought it was. So
I think that was really encouraging from them.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
I think that there's going to be some rivalry and
I don't want to start this, but I just feel
like Stephan Gian with their like when I walked through
your house, and I may have it and said that
to you on the day, like it's so comprehensive. This
is the bathrooms, this is the bathrooms version of it,
it is the loud rooms version. It's very well done.
But there are some nodes that seem like have come
from a very Stephan Gyon world. Do you think there
(10:33):
could be some block rivalry between the two of you,
considering that there are some very similar things being worked on.
Speaker 4 (10:39):
I think what is similar is just the both our
houses have that consistent look so in each space, and
I think that is really important. Obviously, you've got that term.
They had Japane, so they followed that throughout the whole house.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
They had that stone.
Speaker 4 (10:54):
So with us doing modern Mediterranean right at the beginning,
we knew that we would have that same cohesion look
as well, although it's obviously a very different style. But
I think like other houses had their own direction as well,
but then maybe they just didn't permit like what we
did made a big thing about it.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
Yeah, I mean without saying, you know, this is not
a spoiler, because nothing. We don't know how the show ends.
I do feel like what you've decided to do in
that space of modern Mediterranean is going to win you
the show. And I want to know how you feel
about audiences already saying that as well, that you guys,
you know, are pulling comparisons to seven GWN they're going
(11:31):
to win like last year. This is a very you know,
how do you feel about the pressure that's on you
that you guys look like you're going to walk in
and win it.
Speaker 5 (11:39):
If only the judges thought we're going to win it too,
because right now we've lost by half a point two.
It's a compliment, like we we've obviously you know, we've
met Stephan Giann and whatnot, so and obviously we followed
their journey last year, so they've done incredible things. No
matter what, it's a compliment what happens on auction day.
I think we've learned over you know, nineteen seasons and
(12:00):
now the twentieth.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
That nothing's guaranteed.
Speaker 5 (12:02):
We genuinely came on the show to experience something that
not many people can say they've done, prove that we
could do it and do.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
It without maybe losing our shit every two minutes so
and just being creative.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
I think that's what the main thing was like, We just.
Speaker 5 (12:15):
We were ready to build again in our own in
our own life, so we thought, well, why not get
somebody else to pay for it?
Speaker 3 (12:20):
So whatever way, the show ends where you know, we're
happy and yeah.
Speaker 5 (12:23):
People think we're going to be successful and win it,
and obviously that's that's a compliment, but it's nicely.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
You don't always do nice things online.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
You don't stop reading the comments, Cordney, What is wrong
with you? Don't read I have.
Speaker 4 (12:36):
To stop stop comments.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
Don't read them. You're just as bad ground and both
of you need to stay away from that. There's no
can I just tell you. There's a very famous quote
from Sandra Bullock and she she says, never read the
comments section, and then she reads out what she read
on the comments section that day, and they were just horrific,
Like what, who? Where? Do people feel like? This is
what I don't understand if you wouldn't say it to
(13:01):
someone's face, don't get online with your cats and your
birds and write the ship to people. Come on.
Speaker 5 (13:08):
Well, I'm hoping maybe at the end of the show
you and I can sit down for another podcast and
we can read out some of the meanest tweets about me.
I've already got the theme it of it suggy because
I don't listen to it.
Speaker 4 (13:17):
Apparently grumpy reads grumpy comments.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Because you are really grumpy, because then that's one of
my favorite grant do you know what it's? So you're
so refreshing on this show because there are some moments
with you interacting with your builders and things like that
where I think some people are like, oh, wow, he's
very grumpy, but I just think that's very real. You're
just very passionate bloke who says what he's thinking. Isn't
it better to be upfront than to, you know, be
(13:42):
wishy washy and meek and mild.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
What you see is what you get with me. You're
only going to get the truth. You know.
Speaker 5 (13:47):
I'm not going to be the type of person that
goes in comments about something on Facebook or I actually don't.
Speaker 3 (13:52):
I hate social media, so I'm on it. Don't get
me wrong, but I do hate it.
Speaker 5 (13:55):
And you know, if somebody, if I've got a thought
about somebody, I'll make sure that they know it.
Speaker 3 (13:59):
By the end of the conversation. But you're also very
just honest. It's just I've got no time for bullshit.
Speaker 4 (14:05):
Yeah, but I feel like you're also very respectful. Until
someone obviously disrespects.
Speaker 5 (14:11):
Somebody breaks trust or breaks loyalty, they they don't have
respect anymore.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
Yeah, yeah, pretty pretty much.
Speaker 5 (14:17):
Look, I'll give everybody I grew up in, you know,
from it in a mind frame where you know, you
give everybody respect, you give everybody at the time of day,
no matter what. But until you you know, you break
loyalty or break trust, then yeah, then that's that all
gets thrown out the windows.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
To be honest, and you're pretty cut through.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
Yeah, pretty yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
I don't just love anyone that anyone who takes someone
to task. I don't know why. It's my favorite thing.
Just just just get the popcorn out because just.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
Do it like I love it to come.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
Look, grant, I'm not surprised I'm not surprised. I'm here
for it. You know, I'm wondering extra large boxes of popcorn.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
But you'll need it.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
Come on with this with the way you talk to
the builders, what do you think about this? Like did
you get bad builders? Like what what happened? Like what
really has on down to have you at this situation
of the show at odds with them?
Speaker 3 (15:05):
Yeah, Look, I.
Speaker 5 (15:06):
Think if I sat here and said that everything was
smooth sailing and it was a great build, they were
great builders, and that would be.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
An absolute life the TV show.
Speaker 5 (15:12):
As we mentioned before, they don't try and bend words
or twist words.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
It is what it is.
Speaker 5 (15:16):
What's shown is what's shown, and obviously it was there
was a there was a poor level of professionalism then.
And you know, I'm in an industry where, you know,
you hold professionalism in high regard. So yeah, I mean, look,
it's there was also a part of me, and it's
probably wasn't It was probably the only part of me
that that wasn't my true self.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
I thought I had to.
Speaker 5 (15:35):
Be loyal throughout that, you know, throughout the period with
the with these builders, so you know.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
And that's something I probably should have cut ties with earlier.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
And you wanted to see what would play out.
Speaker 5 (15:44):
Yeah, I wanted to see what play I wanted to
give them the benefit of the doubt, which I don't
often do. I should have should have probably followed my
brooper gut instinct that I had in you know, in
week one. But you know, it is what it is,
you know, Hunt, that's a wonderful thing.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
So do you have advice for people that will go
on the block out to you about their like, can
you do things? Would you do things differently about hiring
your builder? And how important is finding a builder that
is right for you to work straight away?
Speaker 5 (16:11):
It's so important, it really is. Like I think I
had doubts from day one with our builders, and I
mentioned that to court anyone when we met them, But
you know, it is what it is. I would yet
definitely suggest that, you know, any future contestants that they
meet a few different types of people.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
You know, it's really hard you're trying to pick these
trades in them all. For us it was in the
space of ten days. But I would say, if they.
Speaker 5 (16:32):
Do get on the show and they're not happy, make
the change quickly because the block happens so fast. You
know what feels like a minute is actually you know
three weeks, you've just experienced three three poor weeks, or
you know, three disappointing weeks where and especially your builders.
You other trades here, they come in and out, but
your builders are there every single day. So you and
when it got to the point where we realized we
(16:54):
weren't happy the data data to work with them, so
and it wasn't you. It's not what you want. So
we get to experience this once if we're lucky. So
we definitely wanted it to be a positive one.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
I think that builders to me, now, my take home
is builders are like psychologists, and it takes a while
to find the right one.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
Yeah, it's so true.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
And personalities need to be aligned. There's a few things
that need to click into place, you know, Courney, I
wanted to ask you about your decision to do this
show because it surprised me when I hadn't met you
and I read it on paper, because you've really already
got a very successful styling business. Forgive me for not
knowing the number off the top of my head, but
you already had a very large following. So yeah, I
(17:32):
was surprised by your desire to come on this show
because you kind of already were there. Does that make
you nervous as a business owner of what the block
can do to it?
Speaker 4 (17:39):
Look, I guess so my business, like I designed furniture,
So I feel like this is in a little bit
of a different ballgame. I mean, I've got a background
of interiors and styling, so I think it was more
for me.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
It was, you know, it was a challenge. Could we
do it?
Speaker 4 (17:53):
I knew, you know, it was a really hard slog.
Speaker 3 (17:55):
It also was to follow me.
Speaker 5 (17:56):
We never ever, so we're not the type of person like, yeah,
were actually what the following the business has, But we
never came on the block to boost our exposure, if
that makes sense.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
So we came on for the challenge.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
Yeah, and look, if it does wonders for my business,
then that would be amazing.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
But you don't want to be known as being influencers.
Speaker 4 (18:13):
Yeah, I'm Look, I'm just going to clarify here, Guys,
I'm definitely not an influence.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
Don't you have like followers or something?
Speaker 4 (18:20):
I know, But I feel like that's in a very
different ballgame. Like I would love to say I'm a
bit of an entrepreneur, you know, I've still got my
full time role where I work in the events industry, and.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
This is still my side business. So I live a very.
Speaker 4 (18:34):
Busy life, and you know, I'm trying to kick start
that business. But yeah, i'd say more like content creation
in terms of my furniture, that's what I would be,
not so much an influencer.
Speaker 5 (18:44):
I guess I think that your ideas and your your
furniture and your business has the following your personal life doesn't.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
That's two separate things.
Speaker 4 (18:52):
Yeah, we kept them more of my my life as
a business owner. I guess that could be.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
Yeah, But granted doesn't help the isn't She kind of
looks like Courtney Coxon a way with a power Like.
I'm like, that's not That's kind of a handy little
side thing to have if you're going to try and
have a following.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
Looking partner in the relationship. But I think we've realized
that that's Courtney while watching us on TV.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
No, you're great, you look great. Let's not be creepy
about this, grant. But you know, I know some people
that are watching the show that you know, they're in
the market to buy some Grand T shirts. That's all
I'm going to.
Speaker 3 (19:26):
Say, to.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
Really get the merch out, get it out. Yeah, okay,
I was going to talk to you about just go
circling back on that love language. I really just felt
like maybe I wanted to ask this question. It's very European.
The banter that you guys have is the way that
you guys communicate. Is that learned behavior from your families?
Is that sort of how you your families have always interacted.
Speaker 3 (19:51):
Definitely?
Speaker 5 (19:52):
Yeah, from my family, I can't say any different, Like
it's exactly the way we've always spoken to each other,
and very loud, very loud, you know, f bombs and
swear words. They get dropped like you know, like no tomorrow,
my mom does it. It's just really my dad and
my brothers. But it all happens around my mum, so
it doesn't. It's never bothered it.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
So you know, if you're not like, if you're not joking.
Speaker 5 (20:12):
And you're not swearing with somebody, then in my head,
you know you're not you don't really get along with them.
I somebody will know I don't like them if I
don't talk to them. It's as simple as that, And
I'm going to know I won't be mean to them.
I just got no time for them. Whereas you know,
if I like you, I'm joking with you, I'm taking
the piss out.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
Of you and we're having a laugh like that. But
you know, there's no in between. For me. It's definitely
the way I grew up. I don't know any different.
And some people, some people can be a bit taken
aback by that.
Speaker 5 (20:36):
And I'm sure there's going to be the Facebook Karen
down the track that that hate Grant and hate the
way he speaks and sell.
Speaker 3 (20:42):
You know, he's bought a line abusive.
Speaker 5 (20:44):
I can already see the comments coming in Stuggery and
I can't wait. I can't wait to read those timents
in twelve weeks with the event, So I can't.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
Wait to do that. Seriously, I'm so excited. It's an
interesting show as well, because there's so much like there's
so much media and you guys, you know this is
the show that you're doing. You know, not been on
a big show like this. But let me tell you,
there is more stories that come out about this show
than any other reality series in the country. Someone gave
me a stat yes, and I said, more people talk
about the blog than they do about marrit at first sight? Wow, Wow,
(21:14):
I want to know from you. With the platform we
have now, can we talk about if you've read anything
that is untrue? Have you read anything that you're like
for you guys, and I don't want to talk about
the others, but from your time on this show and
now the first three weeks being on television, have you
read anything that you're like that's not right?
Speaker 1 (21:32):
I mean to let little comments here in there.
Speaker 3 (21:34):
We've read comments and things like that that aren't true.
And I'm just trying to think if.
Speaker 4 (21:40):
The influencer tag, I guess I thought that was a
bit untrue, but like, I'm not offended by it. I
don't know.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
I really try not to read into it too much.
Speaker 4 (21:49):
Everything online has been something.
Speaker 5 (21:50):
I've been mistaken for Christian A couple of times. I've
actually called Christian, make sure you straighten this out. You're
the you I told Dan where to go.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
It's very different. I do think you apologize that idea.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
Your relationship with those two I thought was really funny
when I met you in person, like you could genuinely
see there's a real connection. Is it fair to say
that you connected to them more than the others.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
Yeah, I absolutely love Christian.
Speaker 5 (22:19):
You know, I'm someone that has less than a handful
of mates and two of them and my brothers. So
the fact that you know, I met Christian and yeah,
he's somebody that I really trust. So we have the
best time together. We went through some some shitty weeks
and some good weeks. But we've always said at the
end when we delivered our last room, we looked at
each other and we couldn't have done it without each other.
Speaker 4 (22:38):
Yeah, with all four of us, like we were just
you know, we supported each other and it's just such
a crazy time. I think having people around you like
we went on We literally went on the show to say,
you know, we're not going to.
Speaker 5 (22:49):
Make it when I need a friend, we here to
finish it. Yeah, which we got friends to life out
of it. Like some of the best memories we've got
is you know, to me, firstly, I don't know about Courtney,
but you know when obviously you know, mem and Courtney
couldn't really lift some of the heavy furniture in the
living a dining room, and like, yeah, because Courtney and
MEMI just by the best and the best and laced
with marble and whatever but Christian would help you.
Speaker 3 (23:12):
Yeah, and it was like Christian will come around, he
would help me, we'd have a beer.
Speaker 5 (23:15):
And this was like at three or four in the
morning that I'd go around helped him with his table,
you know, and just hope to God that we didn't
break anything in the process, because we don't want to
be blamed for it. But you know, they're some of
the best memories that we had. But no matter how
much stressful were under delivering a room on a Saturday night,
we'd always make sure that we'd help each.
Speaker 3 (23:30):
Other and we both got there so had we had
so many lasts. It was so good.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
I think that yet to be shown on TV. But
my favorite moment of this season that I've seen is
Courtney you having a few wines with Mimi, Like, oh
my god, like the two of you need your own show.
Speaker 6 (23:47):
Like and me, Me and I had the best time
when we were driving to like go shopping and see
all the different suppliers, and it's such a long drive
and we're both very talkative, social people, so it just
made life amazing.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
I wanted to ask whether or not you as a group,
like as a cast, are you in a group chat?
Is there a WhatsApp and can you all share what's
happening each episode? Is there some banter going on?
Speaker 4 (24:13):
We had a group chat through the season, and then
obviously we change our phones to our normal phones, and
now there's one on there's one on Instagram.
Speaker 1 (24:20):
But I feel like it's not as active, like I'll speak.
Speaker 4 (24:24):
To I mean the girls, obviously they speak to them
quite a bit, and obviously Christian, Ammi, Kylie and like Brad,
like we all kind of speak to each other separately.
Speaker 2 (24:33):
I'd say I was expecting it to be a little
bit more controversial, like we need to publish that as
a book at some point, but it's actually not. It's
not a group chat for everyone to sort of weigh
in on.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
No, not really.
Speaker 4 (24:44):
Maybe the group chat with me here Christian, me and
me that no one can see that one.
Speaker 2 (24:53):
I like that as a DVD commentary, you know, back
in the day you'd buy a DVD in you'd have
the actors like talking about the show. I think Steve,
the commentary with the four of you talking about the
show would be very.
Speaker 4 (25:04):
We've both we both said that we want to go
on the block again, but I'll go with me, me
and you can go with Christian and you.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
Won't have any rooms to style and we'll have rooms
that smote be style.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
Before you go, I think I should ask you, you know,
did you notice yourselves that there was less drama between
the houses this year and more drama and tension within
the couples, Like was that was that something that consciously
was made aware of?
Speaker 5 (25:26):
For yeah, I think if though what happened last year,
I think and you know, I think maybe next year
will be different because it won't be as fresh in
everybody's mind.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
But I think.
Speaker 5 (25:33):
Everybody, you know, we didn't even sit down and talk
about this by any means, but I think everyone realized
the amount of drama that happened between couples last year.
And I don't think any I know, we personally did
enjoy watching that part of it. We enjoyed more watching
like the bans between Eliza and Liberty and Stephan Gion
and things. I thought Leslie was the funniest people ever.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
But yeah, you know, I also think in day to
day life, like we're not bitches.
Speaker 4 (26:00):
Yeah, Grant and I am going to sit there and
I would say the same as like the majority of
the contestants, like we're very honest. If we have a problem,
we'll say it, but we're not going to dwell on
it and bitch about it behind anyone's back.
Speaker 5 (26:12):
Yeah, I think there is a little Yeah, there is
a little bit that comes out throughout the season and whatnot.
But yeah, I think everyone's honest and said it to
their face from what I understand.
Speaker 3 (26:20):
I know we did, you know, whenever, whenever it came up,
and I.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
Remember carrying that. Mimi was like she heard that someone
had written somewhere that she was the villain of the series,
and then she was like, I'm not.
Speaker 3 (26:30):
I'm not that she is. She is to me, if
you're listening, you villains.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
I just wonder whether or not when that stuff gets
written about in the press, whether it changes who you
are on the show. Like I think, you know, it's
sometimes disappointing when something like that gets called out while
the show is in production, because it may change the
way in which people behave.
Speaker 5 (26:49):
Yeah, yeah, and I look like these other thingings, like,
I mean, the only thing it's different, it's not about
what's in production, but I mean, now it's post production
and whatnot. But Christian and him being a suppose criminal
and he's cutting corners, and you know he's an asshole.
He's like one of the nicest pep you've ever come across.
He's so genuine with his heart on his sleeve. But really,
so you really can't take any of those comments seriously.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
Honestly, guys, I had so much fun talking to you
too today and I genuinely could talk to you for
at least the entire afternoon and Grant.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
We should do it again.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
I'm circling back. I'm circling back, especially for those mean tweets.
I think that's.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
Ben like you have no idea about.
Speaker 5 (27:29):
I am so ready to do that because I keep
screenshotting them, because I'm the top person that I'll read
these comments and go here an absolutely, dear, it does
not phase me whatsoever. Sit behind your laptop and do
what you want to do, so please end of the series.
Let's read them.
Speaker 4 (27:41):
Out than them in the meantime.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
Don't you think it's something great about the fact that
you two are watching this show and not taking it
too seriously. There's something in that.
Speaker 3 (27:49):
Yeah, it's exactly who we are. We're honest when we
needed to be honest. We're angry when we needed to
be angry, So why are we going to get the
ships with that? Right?
Speaker 5 (27:56):
And then anyone on Facebook that tries to challenge our
room designs, I challenge to come on the block and
build a better house because of you won't do it intelligent?
Speaker 2 (28:03):
Is someone to a breakdown before we go? Yeah, everyone
gets asked this question. What is something from behind the
scenes though, something that we as an audience maybe have
not had a chance to see, something ridiculous that has
happened on the show that we won't see what.
Speaker 5 (28:15):
You mentioned challenging, Like I'd still be a PTSD about
the master digit. No, the whole Way domain challenge that
week was study like that was you know, that was
the only time where I've looked around going this is
the hardest week.
Speaker 3 (28:29):
Gave up.
Speaker 4 (28:29):
But I think what people and I was saying, like,
you just don't realize how tough the experience is.
Speaker 1 (28:35):
It's not even about just the work.
Speaker 4 (28:37):
Yes, you're on two hours sleep, you're not eating right,
you're not exercising, you're not in a normal like routine.
But it's so much more than that. There's just like
it's so easy to get a little bit unhinged, and
I feel like you're not your best self on this show,
Like you're walking like you're a zombie. So I think
that's really important for people to see as well. They're like, oh,
(28:57):
you know on a Sunday, like why don't you do this?
And why do you that?
Speaker 1 (29:00):
Like I was really dead?
Speaker 3 (29:01):
Why didn't you put the door Why don't you put
the doorstop ten centimeters? Shut up?
Speaker 1 (29:06):
Parents, fell asleep, Candy.
Speaker 2 (29:08):
I've never seen two people look so good that a're
so tired. You both always look so great, So I
don't know what the secret is. Send me, send me
the rest of the how to the moisturizing a good shower,
amazing makeup, so over time. But thank you both for
being so generous and chatting with me today. It's been
a lot of fun and I can't wait to watch
this journey and see how it all unfolds. And good
(29:29):
luck on the wind. Thank you so Much's see you guys,
It's in the news today, but it was actually on TV.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Reload the podcast last week Their Life. Hey guys, welcome
back to TV Reload. I want to thank you for
clicking and downloading on today's episode with Courtney and Grant,
two of the latest contestants on the Block, which has
been dazzling the audience this year on Channel nine. I'm
actually a big fan of this couple's work, and so
far I think they are the most likely to win
(00:22):
this season. So this is not without their faults. By
the way, audiences are often quite taken aback by their
communications style and there are some very interesting theories that
they are following a winning formula by Stephan Gian who
we saw last year. I will talk about their relationship
and what they think of watching their interactions on National
(00:42):
TV back and that includes some of the reactions from
the Australian public. You will get to hear us unpack
their modern Terraneum theme and what influences they actually had
that led them to that styling. There is some real
challenges with multiple teams in terms of their builders this year,
and I'm curious to know why this season so much
(01:05):
seemed to go wrong in that space. We will even
get an insight into the production and what they think
of how this show gets put together. There is a
lot to talk about, and you know, this season of
the Block is wild. So sit back and relax as
we unpack the Block twenty, the biggest season today. Hi, Hi,
(01:25):
how are you? Both?
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Hi?
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Ben?
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Good mate? How are you?
Speaker 2 (01:28):
I'm doing really well. I don't know why I'm laughing
because I think I think this season's really shocked me
in some ways. I think I was like, oh, it's
the twentieth anniversary season. You know, there's going to be
balloons and party pis and it's all going to be really,
you know, sweet and lovely. But it actually is quite
a dramatic season. So much drama, so much drama. There's
so much for us to talk about today.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Let's do it. Let's do it.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
I think the most important question that I have for
you is what is watching this show back been like
for the both of you? Do you drink a lot
of wine? Do you have people come over?
Speaker 4 (02:00):
I mean to know, honestly, it's actually been really fun.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Yes we have been one, but like that's nothing new
recording okay in a fun way.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
Yeah, Look, I think we've been pretty low key the
first few weeks.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
So well, we've enjoyed watching it. We were nothing but ourselves.
Speaker 5 (02:15):
So nothing's really come across and shopped us, if we're
honest from what we saw of us, yes, and other
things that shopped us.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
But I think in some ways, because there's so much
happening in the other houses for you guys, we haven't
seen as much maybe as what we could have. I think,
you know, there's a lot of other things happening. What
do you do when you come on screen? Are you excited, like, Hey,
this is us? Or are you kind of cringe? Like
what I want to know?
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Now? We're excited?
Speaker 4 (02:41):
So like last night? Was it last night? Yet whenever
it was Wednesday, we're watching the episode and it was
half an hour in. Like, are we even on the
block in twenty what's happening here?
Speaker 3 (02:50):
I wasn't sure if they booted, couldn't see it anyway.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
They'll edit you in later. I remember doing Big Brother
in twenty twelve, and I remember thinking, they eliminate me. Now,
no one will remember me.
Speaker 4 (03:05):
You need the drama.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
You need the drama. So then I just threw drinks
in people's faces. How has the Block experience. Grant you
kind of did say it, don't it hasn't shocked you.
But like in comparison to what you signed up to
and what you expected to, what is the finished product now?
Like are there shocks in that?
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Look?
Speaker 3 (03:22):
The only thing that sort of got me by surprise,
and I still think.
Speaker 5 (03:25):
About it, you know, even here, how quick everything moves
on the block. That's the only thing that they really
shocked us in terms of watching ourselves back or anything
like that. I think Court and I we always said,
will come in here and be you know, be ourselves,
and you know it will be nothing. But yeah, it
defends people. Then it defends people, and if people liked it,
will then you.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
Know even better. So yeah, that's the only thing I
look back and.
Speaker 5 (03:47):
Go that I was only surprised by the speed of
the twelve weeks.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
No, I think that this show is so fast paced.
It's also one of the only reality shows that I
think is still on television that quite real, Like we're
actually capturing a lot of real content where a lot
of other shows these days are quite manufactured and set up,
where it's real, fly on the wall kind of television.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Yeah, we've been asked for so like what's scripted and
what's not.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
I'm like, no, no, no, this is this is all real,
this is all happening, Like these things are actually happening.
The tears are real, the tears are real, all the
drama is real. Like it's just you look back now
after doing it all, you just think, yeah, it doesn't
really seem like it could be real. But it all happens.
It all happens very quickly.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Does it change the way you guys talk to each other,
because there's a lot of conversation about how the couples
this year have like a love language that's quite volatile.
And I've been watching it and changing my own behavior
with my with my partner because I'm like I was
saying to him, I'm like, these people are quite outspoken,
you know, And he goes, you talk to me like that,
He goes Everyone in Australia talks to their partners like this.
(04:50):
But I wondered whether or not watching it back has
made you think about it differently.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
I was thinking about it during filming.
Speaker 5 (04:57):
I think I not held back, but think I became
a lot more patient because I didn't want to lose
my temper all the time.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
I feel like you definitely change for better.
Speaker 5 (05:06):
But one thing with Cordy and I was and we
always you know, it's always been so, even pre block
was it's always been a two way street. So if
we're arguing, we're both arguing, it's never been you know,
we both can give it back. It's just as good
as we as we get it. So yeah, some people
might find it weird or confronting, but for us it
was it's almost healthy.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
Yeah, And we still support each other and you know,
we laugh more than we're arguing, so it's all healthy.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
What was really interesting was when I met the two
of you. And this sounds bad because I'm making a comparison.
Everyone that day was talking about there being a like
some couples going to get a divorce or something, and
there was a rumor going around that day. So all
of the media, we're watching you guys so intently, and
you two in particular, I was watching and whilst you
guys did have a particular style of language between the
(05:55):
two of you, I actually thought that you had the
most genuine relationship out of everyone.
Speaker 4 (05:59):
We have been told that before, Okay, Grant and I
and I've said this before on the show, like we are,
We're best friends, like there's no one else we're closer to,
and we get each other through and through, and I
think that's kind of what got us through the block.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
And you know, without that support, Like Grant said.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
It's two way and we both support each other through
thick and thin.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
But yeah, it made us so much stronger.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
Definitely, it put you.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
Yeah, and I'm sure having kids also has a similar feeling.
Like you, it's those really intense moments that make you
grow as a person and become closer.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
So I feel like the block did that for us.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Well I may touch into this a little bit later,
but I really want to ask you about what sort
of preparation, Like I think about if I did the block,
what the hell would I be doing? Would I be
thinking themes? Would I be doing research? Would I know
a kind of guideline as to what I'm going to bring?
What did you guys try and do as like homework
preparation before turning up in Phillip Island.
Speaker 5 (06:53):
Yeah, I mean the hardest thing for us is I
think we got told as one of the last couple,
so we were told to be days I think days
before before we got there, so we had a few
things going on work wise and personal and whatnot, so
we really didn't even have a chance to breed, to
be honest, before we got there. We made you know,
a little bit of a plan, but we came in
(07:15):
almost very loose.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
Not all our trains were confirmed and everything like that.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
So in terms of design, we had a bit of
a plan.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
We knew, I mean, we were already planning on like
hopefully building again in the future, so I already had
a bit of a mood board, an idea of what
we'd want to do then. So we thought we could
just do a similar thing on Philip Island. So I
came in you know, modern Mediterranean, the Moditerranean term. It
was week one will kind of just like I fumbled
my words and we came up with that. But each
(07:44):
room we had an idea of what we want to do,
kind of color scheme. But you also don't know, you know,
you know, you're roughly like who your sponsors are, but
you don't know like how much sponsorship ships dollars go
towards different vendors. So I think that's that's one thing
that you have to really figure out when you get there.
But an overall style, Like if anyone can prep for out,
I think that's really important.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
The modern Tranean theme is genius though, So I love
that you've just revealed to us that you basically fumbled
across that well done.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
Yeah, no, it really the modern Mediterranean.
Speaker 4 (08:14):
We definitely had a vision, but Moditerranean, I mean, I
think that was just a fluke immunity, be honest.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
Especially, hey we've got Moditerranean.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
I think it was at Beaumont Tile the first time,
and I.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Was like, we grant.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
You were so hilarious because you kept getting corrected at
the start, you know, this is the theme they have properly,
and then later on we even call it out like
I don't know if you've seen that, but later on
you're like, oh wow, I just said it correctly. It
just rolls off the tongue.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
It's converted.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
But after watching Stephanjiwn, I'm so surprised that that's the
truth of that story because I just imagine, being as
as smart as I know you both are, that you
must have looked at Japande last year and realized that
having a theme like this, having a comprehensive theme that's
kind of fresh and exciting works on this series, like
the Block, I.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
One hundred percent agree, And I think what Stephan Jon
did was amazing, Like they built the most amazing house.
But I think when you're building anything new, any new house,
you always have well, like from experience, like it's always
really important to have a style or a theme. Otherwise
if you don't, Like I'm one where I'll see something
pretty and I'll be like, oh my gosh, I want that.
If I don't have that direction, then you can just
(09:23):
go in all different tangents. So I think for me
is just when I'm designing a space, I need that
I have that at home, like I'll have that one
any projects I'm working on. I think it's Yeah, it's
really important to have that directional theme.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
It's a great pull through. And I think, yeah, something
that's very easy to sell because you've simplified it and
it actually really does explain your house in a very
simple way, and that kind of pull through works for
your branding moving outside of the block later on. That
must have been a part of the conversation even if
you started having that in the first week. Oh, come on,
this is going to be the pool through it. This
(09:56):
is going to work.
Speaker 4 (09:57):
Yeah, And I think, I mean, we probably didn't and
realized how important it was until the judges started giving
us feedback and you know, talking about moderterranean and making it,
you know, more than what we thought it was. So
I think that was really encouraging from them.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
I think that there's going to be some rivalry and
I don't want to start this, but I just feel
like Stephan Gian with their like when I walked through
your house, and I may have it and said that
to you on the day, like it's so comprehensive. This
is the bathrooms, this is the bathrooms version of it,
it is the loud rooms version. It's very well done.
But there are some nodes that seem like have come
from a very Stephan Gyon world. Do you think there
(10:33):
could be some block rivalry between the two of you,
considering that there are some very similar things being worked on.
Speaker 4 (10:39):
I think what is similar is just the both our
houses have that consistent look so in each space, and
I think that is really important. Obviously, you've got that term.
They had Japane, so they followed that throughout the whole house.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
They had that stone.
Speaker 4 (10:54):
So with us doing modern Mediterranean right at the beginning,
we knew that we would have that same cohesion look
as well, although it's obviously a very different style. But
I think like other houses had their own direction as well,
but then maybe they just didn't permit like what we
did made a big thing about it.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
Yeah, I mean without saying, you know, this is not
a spoiler, because nothing. We don't know how the show ends.
I do feel like what you've decided to do in
that space of modern Mediterranean is going to win you
the show. And I want to know how you feel
about audiences already saying that as well, that you guys,
you know, are pulling comparisons to seven GWN they're going
(11:31):
to win like last year. This is a very you know,
how do you feel about the pressure that's on you
that you guys look like you're going to walk in
and win it.
Speaker 5 (11:39):
If only the judges thought we're going to win it too,
because right now we've lost by half a point two.
It's a compliment, like we we've obviously you know, we've
met Stephan Giann and whatnot, so and obviously we followed
their journey last year, so they've done incredible things. No
matter what, it's a compliment what happens on auction day.
I think we've learned over you know, nineteen seasons and
(12:00):
now the twentieth.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
That nothing's guaranteed.
Speaker 5 (12:02):
We genuinely came on the show to experience something that
not many people can say they've done, prove that we
could do it and do.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
It without maybe losing our shit every two minutes so
and just being creative.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
I think that's what the main thing was like, We just.
Speaker 5 (12:15):
We were ready to build again in our own in
our own life, so we thought, well, why not get
somebody else to pay for it?
Speaker 3 (12:20):
So whatever way, the show ends where you know, we're
happy and yeah.
Speaker 5 (12:23):
People think we're going to be successful and win it,
and obviously that's that's a compliment, but it's nicely.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
You don't always do nice things online.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
You don't stop reading the comments, Cordney, What is wrong
with you? Don't read I have.
Speaker 4 (12:36):
To stop stop comments.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
Don't read them. You're just as bad ground and both
of you need to stay away from that. There's no
can I just tell you. There's a very famous quote
from Sandra Bullock and she she says, never read the
comments section, and then she reads out what she read
on the comments section that day, and they were just horrific,
Like what, who? Where? Do people feel like? This is
what I don't understand if you wouldn't say it to
(13:01):
someone's face, don't get online with your cats and your
birds and write the ship to people. Come on.
Speaker 5 (13:08):
Well, I'm hoping maybe at the end of the show
you and I can sit down for another podcast and
we can read out some of the meanest tweets about me.
I've already got the theme it of it suggy because
I don't listen to it.
Speaker 4 (13:17):
Apparently grumpy reads grumpy comments.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Because you are really grumpy, because then that's one of
my favorite grant do you know what it's? So you're
so refreshing on this show because there are some moments
with you interacting with your builders and things like that
where I think some people are like, oh, wow, he's
very grumpy, but I just think that's very real. You're
just very passionate bloke who says what he's thinking. Isn't
it better to be upfront than to, you know, be
(13:42):
wishy washy and meek and mild.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
What you see is what you get with me. You're
only going to get the truth. You know.
Speaker 5 (13:47):
I'm not going to be the type of person that
goes in comments about something on Facebook or I actually don't.
Speaker 3 (13:52):
I hate social media, so I'm on it. Don't get
me wrong, but I do hate it.
Speaker 5 (13:55):
And you know, if somebody, if I've got a thought
about somebody, I'll make sure that they know it.
Speaker 3 (13:59):
By the end of the conversation. But you're also very
just honest. It's just I've got no time for bullshit.
Speaker 4 (14:05):
Yeah, but I feel like you're also very respectful. Until
someone obviously disrespects.
Speaker 5 (14:11):
Somebody breaks trust or breaks loyalty, they they don't have
respect anymore.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
Yeah, yeah, pretty pretty much.
Speaker 5 (14:17):
Look, I'll give everybody I grew up in, you know,
from it in a mind frame where you know, you
give everybody respect, you give everybody at the time of day,
no matter what. But until you you know, you break
loyalty or break trust, then yeah, then that's that all
gets thrown out the windows.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
To be honest, and you're pretty cut through.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
Yeah, pretty yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
I don't just love anyone that anyone who takes someone
to task. I don't know why. It's my favorite thing.
Just just just get the popcorn out because just.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
Do it like I love it to come.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
Look, grant, I'm not surprised I'm not surprised. I'm here
for it. You know, I'm wondering extra large boxes of popcorn.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
But you'll need it.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
Come on with this with the way you talk to
the builders, what do you think about this? Like did
you get bad builders? Like what what happened? Like what
really has on down to have you at this situation
of the show at odds with them?
Speaker 3 (15:05):
Yeah, Look, I.
Speaker 5 (15:06):
Think if I sat here and said that everything was
smooth sailing and it was a great build, they were
great builders, and that would be.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
An absolute life the TV show.
Speaker 5 (15:12):
As we mentioned before, they don't try and bend words
or twist words.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
It is what it is.
Speaker 5 (15:16):
What's shown is what's shown, and obviously it was there
was a there was a poor level of professionalism then.
And you know, I'm in an industry where, you know,
you hold professionalism in high regard. So yeah, I mean, look,
it's there was also a part of me, and it's
probably wasn't It was probably the only part of me
that that wasn't my true self.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
I thought I had to.
Speaker 5 (15:35):
Be loyal throughout that, you know, throughout the period with
the with these builders, so you know.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
And that's something I probably should have cut ties with earlier.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
And you wanted to see what would play out.
Speaker 5 (15:44):
Yeah, I wanted to see what play I wanted to
give them the benefit of the doubt, which I don't
often do. I should have should have probably followed my
brooper gut instinct that I had in you know, in
week one. But you know, it is what it is,
you know, Hunt, that's a wonderful thing.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
So do you have advice for people that will go
on the block out to you about their like, can
you do things? Would you do things differently about hiring
your builder? And how important is finding a builder that
is right for you to work straight away?
Speaker 5 (16:11):
It's so important, it really is. Like I think I
had doubts from day one with our builders, and I
mentioned that to court anyone when we met them, But
you know, it is what it is. I would yet
definitely suggest that, you know, any future contestants that they
meet a few different types of people.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
You know, it's really hard you're trying to pick these
trades in them all. For us it was in the
space of ten days. But I would say, if they.
Speaker 5 (16:32):
Do get on the show and they're not happy, make
the change quickly because the block happens so fast. You
know what feels like a minute is actually you know
three weeks, you've just experienced three three poor weeks, or
you know, three disappointing weeks where and especially your builders.
You other trades here, they come in and out, but
your builders are there every single day. So you and
when it got to the point where we realized we
(16:54):
weren't happy the data data to work with them, so
and it wasn't you. It's not what you want. So
we get to experience this once if we're lucky. So
we definitely wanted it to be a positive one.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
I think that builders to me, now, my take home
is builders are like psychologists, and it takes a while
to find the right one.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
Yeah, it's so true.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
And personalities need to be aligned. There's a few things
that need to click into place, you know, Courney, I
wanted to ask you about your decision to do this
show because it surprised me when I hadn't met you
and I read it on paper, because you've really already
got a very successful styling business. Forgive me for not
knowing the number off the top of my head, but
you already had a very large following. So yeah, I
(17:32):
was surprised by your desire to come on this show
because you kind of already were there. Does that make
you nervous as a business owner of what the block
can do to it?
Speaker 4 (17:39):
Look, I guess so my business, like I designed furniture,
So I feel like this is in a little bit
of a different ballgame. I mean, I've got a background
of interiors and styling, so I think it was more
for me.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
It was, you know, it was a challenge. Could we
do it?
Speaker 4 (17:53):
I knew, you know, it was a really hard slog.
Speaker 3 (17:55):
It also was to follow me.
Speaker 5 (17:56):
We never ever, so we're not the type of person like, yeah,
were actually what the following the business has, But we
never came on the block to boost our exposure, if
that makes sense.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
So we came on for the challenge.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
Yeah, and look, if it does wonders for my business,
then that would be amazing.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
But you don't want to be known as being influencers.
Speaker 4 (18:13):
Yeah, I'm Look, I'm just going to clarify here, Guys,
I'm definitely not an influence.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
Don't you have like followers or something?
Speaker 4 (18:20):
I know, But I feel like that's in a very
different ballgame. Like I would love to say I'm a
bit of an entrepreneur, you know, I've still got my
full time role where I work in the events industry, and.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
This is still my side business. So I live a very.
Speaker 4 (18:34):
Busy life, and you know, I'm trying to kick start
that business. But yeah, i'd say more like content creation
in terms of my furniture, that's what I would be,
not so much an influencer.
Speaker 5 (18:44):
I guess I think that your ideas and your your
furniture and your business has the following your personal life doesn't.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
That's two separate things.
Speaker 4 (18:52):
Yeah, we kept them more of my my life as
a business owner. I guess that could be.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
Yeah, But granted doesn't help the isn't She kind of
looks like Courtney Coxon a way with a power Like.
I'm like, that's not That's kind of a handy little
side thing to have if you're going to try and
have a following.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
Looking partner in the relationship. But I think we've realized
that that's Courtney while watching us on TV.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
No, you're great, you look great. Let's not be creepy
about this, grant. But you know, I know some people
that are watching the show that you know, they're in
the market to buy some Grand T shirts. That's all
I'm going to.
Speaker 3 (19:26):
Say, to.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
Really get the merch out, get it out. Yeah, okay,
I was going to talk to you about just go
circling back on that love language. I really just felt
like maybe I wanted to ask this question. It's very European.
The banter that you guys have is the way that
you guys communicate. Is that learned behavior from your families?
Is that sort of how you your families have always interacted.
Speaker 3 (19:51):
Definitely?
Speaker 5 (19:52):
Yeah, from my family, I can't say any different, Like
it's exactly the way we've always spoken to each other,
and very loud, very loud, you know, f bombs and
swear words. They get dropped like you know, like no tomorrow,
my mom does it. It's just really my dad and
my brothers. But it all happens around my mum, so
it doesn't. It's never bothered it.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
So you know, if you're not like, if you're not joking.
Speaker 5 (20:12):
And you're not swearing with somebody, then in my head,
you know you're not you don't really get along with them.
I somebody will know I don't like them if I
don't talk to them. It's as simple as that, And
I'm going to know I won't be mean to them.
I just got no time for them. Whereas you know,
if I like you, I'm joking with you, I'm taking
the piss out.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
Of you and we're having a laugh like that. But
you know, there's no in between. For me. It's definitely
the way I grew up. I don't know any different.
And some people, some people can be a bit taken
aback by that.
Speaker 5 (20:36):
And I'm sure there's going to be the Facebook Karen
down the track that that hate Grant and hate the
way he speaks and sell.
Speaker 3 (20:42):
You know, he's bought a line abusive.
Speaker 5 (20:44):
I can already see the comments coming in Stuggery and
I can't wait. I can't wait to read those timents
in twelve weeks with the event, So I can't.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
Wait to do that. Seriously, I'm so excited. It's an
interesting show as well, because there's so much like there's
so much media and you guys, you know this is
the show that you're doing. You know, not been on
a big show like this. But let me tell you,
there is more stories that come out about this show
than any other reality series in the country. Someone gave
me a stat yes, and I said, more people talk
about the blog than they do about marrit at first sight? Wow, Wow,
(21:14):
I want to know from you. With the platform we
have now, can we talk about if you've read anything
that is untrue? Have you read anything that you're like
for you guys, and I don't want to talk about
the others, but from your time on this show and
now the first three weeks being on television, have you
read anything that you're like that's not right?
Speaker 1 (21:32):
I mean to let little comments here in there.
Speaker 3 (21:34):
We've read comments and things like that that aren't true.
And I'm just trying to think if.
Speaker 4 (21:40):
The influencer tag, I guess I thought that was a
bit untrue, but like, I'm not offended by it. I
don't know.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
I really try not to read into it too much.
Speaker 4 (21:49):
Everything online has been something.
Speaker 5 (21:50):
I've been mistaken for Christian A couple of times. I've
actually called Christian, make sure you straighten this out. You're
the you I told Dan where to go.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
It's very different. I do think you apologize that idea.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
Your relationship with those two I thought was really funny
when I met you in person, like you could genuinely
see there's a real connection. Is it fair to say
that you connected to them more than the others.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
Yeah, I absolutely love Christian.
Speaker 5 (22:19):
You know, I'm someone that has less than a handful
of mates and two of them and my brothers. So
the fact that you know, I met Christian and yeah,
he's somebody that I really trust. So we have the
best time together. We went through some some shitty weeks
and some good weeks. But we've always said at the
end when we delivered our last room, we looked at
each other and we couldn't have done it without each other.
Speaker 4 (22:38):
Yeah, with all four of us, like we were just
you know, we supported each other and it's just such
a crazy time. I think having people around you like
we went on We literally went on the show to say,
you know, we're not going to.
Speaker 5 (22:49):
Make it when I need a friend, we here to
finish it. Yeah, which we got friends to life out
of it. Like some of the best memories we've got
is you know, to me, firstly, I don't know about Courtney,
but you know when obviously you know, mem and Courtney
couldn't really lift some of the heavy furniture in the
living a dining room, and like, yeah, because Courtney and
MEMI just by the best and the best and laced
with marble and whatever but Christian would help you.
Speaker 3 (23:12):
Yeah, and it was like Christian will come around, he
would help me, we'd have a beer.
Speaker 5 (23:15):
And this was like at three or four in the
morning that I'd go around helped him with his table,
you know, and just hope to God that we didn't
break anything in the process, because we don't want to
be blamed for it. But you know, they're some of
the best memories that we had. But no matter how
much stressful were under delivering a room on a Saturday night,
we'd always make sure that we'd help each.
Speaker 3 (23:30):
Other and we both got there so had we had
so many lasts. It was so good.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
I think that yet to be shown on TV. But
my favorite moment of this season that I've seen is
Courtney you having a few wines with Mimi, Like, oh
my god, like the two of you need your own show.
Speaker 6 (23:47):
Like and me, Me and I had the best time
when we were driving to like go shopping and see
all the different suppliers, and it's such a long drive
and we're both very talkative, social people, so it just
made life amazing.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
I wanted to ask whether or not you as a group,
like as a cast, are you in a group chat?
Is there a WhatsApp and can you all share what's
happening each episode? Is there some banter going on?
Speaker 4 (24:13):
We had a group chat through the season, and then
obviously we change our phones to our normal phones, and
now there's one on there's one on Instagram.
Speaker 1 (24:20):
But I feel like it's not as active, like I'll speak.
Speaker 4 (24:24):
To I mean the girls, obviously they speak to them
quite a bit, and obviously Christian, Ammi, Kylie and like Brad,
like we all kind of speak to each other separately.
Speaker 2 (24:33):
I'd say I was expecting it to be a little
bit more controversial, like we need to publish that as
a book at some point, but it's actually not. It's
not a group chat for everyone to sort of weigh
in on.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
No, not really.
Speaker 4 (24:44):
Maybe the group chat with me here Christian, me and
me that no one can see that one.
Speaker 2 (24:53):
I like that as a DVD commentary, you know, back
in the day you'd buy a DVD in you'd have
the actors like talking about the show. I think Steve,
the commentary with the four of you talking about the
show would be very.
Speaker 4 (25:04):
We've both we both said that we want to go
on the block again, but I'll go with me, me
and you can go with Christian and you.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
Won't have any rooms to style and we'll have rooms
that smote be style.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
Before you go, I think I should ask you, you know,
did you notice yourselves that there was less drama between
the houses this year and more drama and tension within
the couples, Like was that was that something that consciously
was made aware of?
Speaker 5 (25:26):
For yeah, I think if though what happened last year,
I think and you know, I think maybe next year
will be different because it won't be as fresh in
everybody's mind.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
But I think.
Speaker 5 (25:33):
Everybody, you know, we didn't even sit down and talk
about this by any means, but I think everyone realized
the amount of drama that happened between couples last year.
And I don't think any I know, we personally did
enjoy watching that part of it. We enjoyed more watching
like the bans between Eliza and Liberty and Stephan Gion
and things. I thought Leslie was the funniest people ever.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
But yeah, you know, I also think in day to
day life, like we're not bitches.
Speaker 4 (26:00):
Yeah, Grant and I am going to sit there and
I would say the same as like the majority of
the contestants, like we're very honest. If we have a problem,
we'll say it, but we're not going to dwell on
it and bitch about it behind anyone's back.
Speaker 5 (26:12):
Yeah, I think there is a little Yeah, there is
a little bit that comes out throughout the season and whatnot.
But yeah, I think everyone's honest and said it to
their face from what I understand.
Speaker 3 (26:20):
I know we did, you know, whenever, whenever it came up,
and I.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
Remember carrying that. Mimi was like she heard that someone
had written somewhere that she was the villain of the series,
and then she was like, I'm not.
Speaker 3 (26:30):
I'm not that she is. She is to me, if
you're listening, you villains.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
I just wonder whether or not when that stuff gets
written about in the press, whether it changes who you
are on the show. Like I think, you know, it's
sometimes disappointing when something like that gets called out while
the show is in production, because it may change the
way in which people behave.
Speaker 5 (26:49):
Yeah, yeah, and I look like these other thingings, like,
I mean, the only thing it's different, it's not about
what's in production, but I mean, now it's post production
and whatnot. But Christian and him being a suppose criminal
and he's cutting corners, and you know he's an asshole.
He's like one of the nicest pep you've ever come across.
He's so genuine with his heart on his sleeve. But really,
so you really can't take any of those comments seriously.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
Honestly, guys, I had so much fun talking to you
too today and I genuinely could talk to you for
at least the entire afternoon and Grant.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
We should do it again.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
I'm circling back. I'm circling back, especially for those mean tweets.
I think that's.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
Ben like you have no idea about.
Speaker 5 (27:29):
I am so ready to do that because I keep
screenshotting them, because I'm the top person that I'll read
these comments and go here an absolutely, dear, it does
not phase me whatsoever. Sit behind your laptop and do
what you want to do, so please end of the series.
Let's read them.
Speaker 4 (27:41):
Out than them in the meantime.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
Don't you think it's something great about the fact that
you two are watching this show and not taking it
too seriously. There's something in that.
Speaker 3 (27:49):
Yeah, it's exactly who we are. We're honest when we
needed to be honest. We're angry when we needed to
be angry, So why are we going to get the
ships with that? Right?
Speaker 5 (27:56):
And then anyone on Facebook that tries to challenge our
room designs, I challenge to come on the block and
build a better house because of you won't do it intelligent?
Speaker 2 (28:03):
Is someone to a breakdown before we go? Yeah, everyone
gets asked this question. What is something from behind the
scenes though, something that we as an audience maybe have
not had a chance to see, something ridiculous that has
happened on the show that we won't see what.
Speaker 5 (28:15):
You mentioned challenging, Like I'd still be a PTSD about
the master digit. No, the whole Way domain challenge that
week was study like that was you know, that was
the only time where I've looked around going this is
the hardest week.
Speaker 3 (28:29):
Gave up.
Speaker 4 (28:29):
But I think what people and I was saying, like,
you just don't realize how tough the experience is.
Speaker 1 (28:35):
It's not even about just the work.
Speaker 4 (28:37):
Yes, you're on two hours sleep, you're not eating right,
you're not exercising, you're not in a normal like routine.
But it's so much more than that. There's just like
it's so easy to get a little bit unhinged, and
I feel like you're not your best self on this show,
Like you're walking like you're a zombie. So I think
that's really important for people to see as well. They're like, oh,
(28:57):
you know on a Sunday, like why don't you do this?
And why do you that?
Speaker 1 (29:00):
Like I was really dead?
Speaker 3 (29:01):
Why didn't you put the door Why don't you put
the doorstop ten centimeters? Shut up?
Speaker 1 (29:06):
Parents, fell asleep, Candy.
Speaker 2 (29:08):
I've never seen two people look so good that a're
so tired. You both always look so great, So I
don't know what the secret is. Send me, send me
the rest of the how to the moisturizing a good shower,
amazing makeup, so over time. But thank you both for
being so generous and chatting with me today. It's been
a lot of fun and I can't wait to watch
this journey and see how it all unfolds. And good
(29:29):
luck on the wind. Thank you so Much's see you guys,
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