Although the podcast Mental As Anyone with J.Mo has been live online for several weeks now, host Jonathon Moran officially launched the series this week.
The packed launch event was held at one of Sydney’s most exclusive, and hard-to-find, locations – The Substation at Oxford Street’s Taylor Square precinct. The small room certainly qualifies as a substation. Guests have to navigate a narrow set of stairs that take them below street level. The entrance to the room sits between the Darlinghurst Courthouse, which is home to the Supreme Court of NSW, and the recently opened Qtopia – the home of queer history and culture.
The Mental As Anyone launch included an appearance from former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke, who hovered around the back of the room chatting to other visitors.
See also: Daily Telegraph’s Jonathon Moran launches new J.Mo podcast Mental As Anyone
J.Mo spoke about his motivation for making the series. He and Pro Podcast boss Darcy Milne revealed there will be a second series. J.Mo is currently negotiating the 10 female guests who will make up the second season.
Laura Dundovic hosted the event, noting J.Mo has long been a friend and supporter for the model, actor, presenter, and academic.
Guests who navigated the media wall outside and then the rickety narrow stairs included Qtopia founding partner Sarah Murdoch and her good friend, News Corp Australia editorial director at News Prestige; Vogue, Vogue Living, GQ, Edwina McCann.
Guests from Seven included new director of news and current affairs Anthony De Ceglie, director of morning television Sarah Stinson, and co-host of The Morning Show, Kylie Gillies plus EP Chloe Flynn.
Other guests included Michael Cassel Group’s Lucie McGeoch, The Daily Telegraph’s James Willis, celebrity PR Morgan Bata, cricketer and reality TV star Cam Merchant, diamond trader and Sea Eagles fan Sam Rahme, actor Sarah Monahan, AI technologist and Transhuman founder Amanda Johnstone, and Sunrise nutritionist Sarah Di Lorenzo.
Pro Podcast founder Darcy Milne worked on the project with J.Mo and was joined by his team that included Madi Hodder, Matt Fulton and Paddy Ross.
A number of podcast series supporters were unable to make the launch and sent their best wishes. That included the other guests from the first series of Mental As Anyone and J.Mo’s Daily Telegraph editor Ben English.
J.Mo has looked after his podcast sponsors, voicing ads for BYD, Wanderlust, and Chemist Warehouse at the start of each episode.
Mental As Anyone’s charity partner is the Gus Worland-founded not-for-profit foundation dedicated to building a mentally fit future, Gotcha4Life.