
Man of Many's Staff Favourites – 28 June, 2025
Published: 28 Jun 2025
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Readtime: 8 min
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How about it, team? Another week of work down the drain, and we edge ever closer to the end of the financial year. Yes, that's right, we're already (almost) exactly halfway through 2025. Let that sink in. If you are feeling a little disappointed that you haven't made good on all those New Year's resolutions or managed to completely overhaul your life, don't stress. Think of this as a strong reset to get you back on track and running at 100 per cent. Take it from us; there's still a lot of progress to be made in 2025, and on a more topical note, there are many more Staff Favourites to come. Here's another.
Dyson OnTrac over-ear headphones | Image: Supplied
Dyson OnTrac Headphones
Nick Hall – Editor-in-Chief
For years, I've been a earbud fan, sticking loyally to my Sennheiser True Wireless 4s, but this week I finally made the change. Well, I was kind of forced to. After dropping an earbud and standing on it, the teeny, tiny headphones finally gave up and died, prompting me to look elsewhere for some auditory help. Thankfully, I have a set of Dyson OnTrac over-ear headphones that I generally use for studio purposes, mainly because they are fantastically for sound isolation, but also because I feel like a little too big and bulky to wear while running or out on the town. At least, that's what I thought.
I have been using the OnTracs all week and honestly, I'm not sure what my apprehension was. The design is super ergonomic and they aren't anywhere near as large as I remember them being. In fact, the earcups feel more streaminlined than my wife's Panasonics and the sound quality has been an absolute game-changer. If you are looking to up your headphone game, Dyson has knocked these ones out of the park.
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North Shore
Sctt Purcell – Co-Founder
It's pretty rare that I come across an Aussie production that I like, but Netflix's gripping new series North Shore is definitely one of them. A cross between a U.K. crime drama and Home and Away, the six-episode mini-series is a traditional murder mystery detective show with the familiarity of a city in which I grew up.
Watching it, I wondered whether it had to be funded by Destination NSW or the City of Sydney, as the visuals, landscapes and filming of the city are just stunning. It's also a great story, and while the acting and weird attempts at Aussie accents sometimes throw you off, it's a gripping watch. Let's hope that there's more to come from Australian productions like this. As I was writing this, I had no idea that this came out in 2023 on Channel 10! Perhaps I'm late to the game on this one, but it's been my pick of the week.
I've also got my annual boys' golfing trip coming up, and with a pretty trashy handicap, I thought it was time to up my game. At least in the gear I had. While I've got a decent set of clubs, I was lacking the added extras and accessories, so I forked out and bought the following. Feel free to use it if you want to splurge on your next trip!
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Me on the 'Two Men In Your Head Podcast' | Image: Frank Arthur/Man of Many
Two Men In Your Head Podcast
Frank Arthur – Co-Founder
This week, I'm giving a shout-out to Damien House and Phil Hungerford, hosts of the show Two Men in Your Head on Koori Radio and podcast. The concept is straightforward: get blokes talking. Each episode, Damien invites footy legends, musos, community leaders and people with a personal story to share into the studio for an honest yarn about life's wins and wobbles.
The concept is warm, witty and refreshingly free of judgement, offering a safe space to tackle men's mental health topics that are too often swept under the carpet. I ducked in earlier this week to share my story, growing up in regional Australia as an immigrant kid, building Man of Many, and the lessons learned along the way. If you're keen to listen, queue up Two Men in Your Head on Spotify podcasts or catch the show live on Koori Radio.
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Joadja Gorge Retreat & Camping | Image: Harry Parsons/Man of Many
Joadja Gorge Retreat & Camping
Harry Parsons – Head of Branded Content
Joadja Gorge Retreat & Camping
This is easily one of the most scenic camping spots I've visited in quite some time. Perched on top of the gorge in Joadja, the site offers uninterrupted views of the Wingecarribee River that stretch as far as the eye can see. There are just four campsites on the property, each privately tucked away among the trees. The natural separation gives you a real sense of peace and seclusion, the perfect setup to truly switch off and unwind.
Sitting on 100 acres of land, the property has plenty of bushwalks for those who feel like exploring. Along the trails, you'll stumble across rustic tables and chairs strategically placed to soak up some truly incredible views, especially at sunrise and sunset. Other activities include spending time with the friendly farm animals: horses, a donkey, an alpaca, and a lively mix of free-ranging peacocks, chooks, ducks, and guinea fowl, making it a truly family-friendly campsite. Got a furry friend? No dramas, they're welcome too.
The campsite host, Leanne, takes things to the next level by providing a gourmet hamper service that can be delivered to your campsite. After spending the day hiking and exploring, coming back to a premade hamper to enjoy around a fire was a day maker. If you're into camping, Joadja Gorge Retreat & Camping should definitely be on your list. It was a magical time and a place I'm itching to get back to.
Favourite Article of the Week: 100 + Best EOFY Sales For 2025: Deals on TVs, Laptops and Headphones
Denis Villeneuve to Direct New James Bond Film | Image: Warner Bros.
Denis Villeneuve to Helm Bond 26
Rob Edwards – Branded Content Editor
While it's a less conventional choice than the endless parade of jackets, sunglasses, watches, and guitars I usually put forward for Staff Favourites, this week I feel compelled to include the announcement that Denis Villeneuve will be taking the reins for the next instalment in the Bond franchise. As much as I enjoy the Bond movies, I'm a much bigger fan of Villeneuve, and the thought of this singular talent applying his mastery to one of cinema's most enduring franchises makes me giddy, particularly as he'll be laying the foundation for an entirely new incarnation of the world's most famous spy.
Why am I so excited? Well, this is the man responsible for Sicario, Blade Runner 2049, the outstanding Dune movies, and Prisoners, to name a few. But above all, if you want to know what he's really capable of, be sure to investigate his incredible 2010 film Incendies. Just be warned that it will haunt you forever.
Favourite Article of the Week: Denis Villeneuve Bond Film Confirmed: 'Dune' Director to Helm Next 007 Movie
Chernobyl
Alex Martinez – Media Sales and Brand Partnerships
Definitely late to the party on this HBO miniseries (released in 2019), but Chernobyl is a really great watch. It's only five episodes so you can smash this out in a week if you try hard enough. The series captures the harrowing truth of the nuclear disaster with realism and emotional depth. The performances, writing, and cinematography are all exceptional, creating a gripping and unforgettable viewing experience. It scored 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and 9.3/10 on IMDB so don't just take my word for it.
Favourite Article of the Week: Tackling the Tough Stuff: Keegan Hipgrave on Mental Health
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19 hours ago
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With the government's 30 per cent rebate on the purchase and installation costs, a customer can expect to pay about $9000 to $15,000 for a model in the recommended size range. A typical household in Melbourne and Sydney now pays between $1500 and $2000 a year for electricity. Households with solar panels will typically pay less than this, given they can use their own supply to run their appliances during the day and earn money by exporting power to the grid. Experts, as well as the federal government, told this masthead that installing an appropriately sized battery to soak up rooftop solar power could reduce household bills by $1000 a year, on top of savings generated by the solar panels. Can I save money with a small system? Loading Finn Peacock, chief executive of leading quote-comparison service SolarQuotes, said it appeared that many battery customers were considering small, relatively cheap systems of 5 kWh – the minimum allowed under the rebate scheme – which could cost as little as $5000 to install. However, a battery of this size would end up proving 'tiny' for most households, he said. 'If you've got your air-conditioning on, in a decent sized Aussie home, that might pull three kilowatts easily. If you've got three kilowatt-hours of storage left, that's going to last an hour,' Peacock said. 'Most households' sweet spot would probably be 15 to 20 kilowatt-hours.' Customers who focus too heavily on the length of the payback time and opt for a 5 kWh battery instead of a bigger one that could nearly eliminate the need for grid power, may end up 'miserable', Peacock said. 'Very quickly they are going to see that they are still pulling from the grid after that battery is drained at 6 or 7 o'clock, and that just makes battery owners miserable,' he said. 'If you size a battery for zero bills, you're going to need a much bigger battery than if you are optimising a faster payback, but [lower bills] is where the long-term satisfaction comes from.' How to use a battery Australian National University emeritus professor and solar energy pioneer Andrew Blakers said greater savings were available for households with batteries that replaced their gas heaters and cookers with electric appliances. 'If you've got $10,000 or $15,000, which is what it's going to cost for a good-sized battery, then getting off gas would be my No.1 recommendation by far,' Blakers said. That's because they will avoid both the cost of gas and the fixed network charges for delivery of the fuel. Blakers agreed that the average household should shop for a battery in the 10 kWh to 15 kWh size range. 'That gives you enough flexibility to stoke up a large fraction of the energy from your solar panel on the roof … and then spread it three ways – into your home battery, into your hot water tank, and into your EV – remembering to preheat your house or pre-cooling your house before you get home, for example,' he said. Peacock, who sold SolarQuotes to Origin Energy last year, said buyers should be aware they can still waste energy and cop power bills with a battery installed on their dwelling. 'I worry about people thinking batteries are the magic bullet – always bear in mind that batteries store energy, they don't generate it,' he said. 'The thermal envelope of most Aussie homes is really horrible. People are dropping $10 to $15,000 on a battery, but are often still not sealing the gaps in their homes. Don't forget about the thermal envelope of your home.' 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The Age
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Sick of power bills? What you need to know before buying a home battery
Loading A kilowatt is a unit of power – the amount of energy a battery can store. A kilowatt-hour (kWh) refers to the rate at which that energy can be discharged. For example, a one-kilowatt-hour battery can pump out a kilowatt of energy for 60 minutes. An average household of four residents, with two adults and two children, should consider installing a 10 kWh to 15 kWh battery, given they had at least an average-sized rooftop solar panel installation, said experts spoken to for this article. Many would-be buyers may have heard of better-known battery systems, such as the Tesla Powerwall, or China's BYD, but as you begin researching, you will probably encounter other popular brands, such as LG, Sonnen and Sungrow. This article provides general advice only, and home owners should get quotes from several installation companies to seek advice on their options. How much will a battery cost? With the government's 30 per cent rebate on the purchase and installation costs, a customer can expect to pay about $9000 to $15,000 for a model in the recommended size range. A typical household in Melbourne and Sydney now pays between $1500 and $2000 a year for electricity. Households with solar panels will typically pay less than this, given they can use their own supply to run their appliances during the day and earn money by exporting power to the grid. Experts, as well as the federal government, told this masthead that installing an appropriately sized battery to soak up rooftop solar power could reduce household bills by $1000 a year, on top of savings generated by the solar panels. Can I save money with a small system? Loading Finn Peacock, chief executive of leading quote-comparison service SolarQuotes, said it appeared that many battery customers were considering small, relatively cheap systems of 5 kWh – the minimum allowed under the rebate scheme – which could cost as little as $5000 to install. However, a battery of this size would end up proving 'tiny' for most households, he said. 'If you've got your air-conditioning on, in a decent sized Aussie home, that might pull three kilowatts easily. If you've got three kilowatt-hours of storage left, that's going to last an hour,' Peacock said. 'Most households' sweet spot would probably be 15 to 20 kilowatt-hours.' Customers who focus too heavily on the length of the payback time and opt for a 5 kWh battery instead of a bigger one that could nearly eliminate the need for grid power, may end up 'miserable', Peacock said. 'Very quickly they are going to see that they are still pulling from the grid after that battery is drained at 6 or 7 o'clock, and that just makes battery owners miserable,' he said. 'If you size a battery for zero bills, you're going to need a much bigger battery than if you are optimising a faster payback, but [lower bills] is where the long-term satisfaction comes from.' How to use a battery Australian National University emeritus professor and solar energy pioneer Andrew Blakers said greater savings were available for households with batteries that replaced their gas heaters and cookers with electric appliances. 'If you've got $10,000 or $15,000, which is what it's going to cost for a good-sized battery, then getting off gas would be my No.1 recommendation by far,' Blakers said. That's because they will avoid both the cost of gas and the fixed network charges for delivery of the fuel. Blakers agreed that the average household should shop for a battery in the 10 kWh to 15 kWh size range. 'That gives you enough flexibility to stoke up a large fraction of the energy from your solar panel on the roof … and then spread it three ways – into your home battery, into your hot water tank, and into your EV – remembering to preheat your house or pre-cooling your house before you get home, for example,' he said. Peacock, who sold SolarQuotes to Origin Energy last year, said buyers should be aware they can still waste energy and cop power bills with a battery installed on their dwelling. 'I worry about people thinking batteries are the magic bullet – always bear in mind that batteries store energy, they don't generate it,' he said. 'The thermal envelope of most Aussie homes is really horrible. People are dropping $10 to $15,000 on a battery, but are often still not sealing the gaps in their homes. Don't forget about the thermal envelope of your home.' 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Another source of advice is the independent SunSPOT website. Developed by UNSW experts and not-for-profit solar research organisation the Australian PV Institute, it provides an energy calculator that assesses a household's solar power, energy use and battery potential and forecasts bill savings. 'If you've got your address, we can look at your roof, we can see if you have, and then we work out how much they'll generate over the year,' Roberts said. 'You can also work out what would happen if you add more solar or replaced it with a new system, or added a battery.' Uptake of batteries has surged since July 1, when the rebate scheme opened, with installers and advisory services such as SolarQuotes reporting a 500 per cent rise in sales and inquiries. Peacock said the battery boom reminded him of the solar panel boom, which began in 2008 when the first states offered generous payments, or feed-in tariffs, to households that supplied solar power to the grid. For a list of batteries approved for use under the Cheaper Home Batteries Program, visit the Clean Energy Council approved products list. Lobby group Solar Citizens also has a list of state government support programs.


Man of Many
a day ago
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In a Curveball, Audio Brand ‘Teenage Engineering' Launches an Electric Scooter
By Dean Blake - News Published: 12 Jul 2025 |Last Updated: 10 Jul 2025 Share Copy Link Readtime: 2 min Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here. Teenage Engineering, the Swedish design-first audio brand that brought us the incredible OP-1 synthesiser and TP-7 personal recorder has decided to do something completely different for its latest outing: partnering with Swedish bike-brand Vässla to create the EPA-1, an electric moped. A curveball to the Teenage Engineering faithful, the EPA-1 delivers a roadworthy Class 1 or 2 vehicle, capable of hitting 45 km/h and 25km/h respectively. Each EPA-1 is calibrated before leaving Vässla's warehouse, so what you get is what you get. Vässla CEO Micke Andersson | Image: Vässla 'I have followed teenage engineering for years and am really impressed by how they constantly think innovatively, and develop and design completely unique products. Everything from small synths and speakers to, well, all sorts of things. So I called them up,' said Vässla CEO Micke Andersson. 'We started brainstorming a new moped that would be a bit more than an ordinary moped.' Vässla's EPA-1 | Image: Vässla Vässla's EPA-1 | Image: Vässla Vässla's EPA-1 | Image: Vässla Vässla's EPA-1 | Image: Vässla Vässla's EPA-1 | Image: Vässla The EPA-1 seems to be pretty customisable: with multiple battery options (30Ah will get you around 70kms range, while the 50Ah is more like 100kms), as well as attachable accessories available to build the bike out as you see fit. This is because the bike itself was designed with customisation in mind: 11 reinforced mount points across the body of the moped let Vässla-made modifications, as well as custom-designs, simply screw into place. The bike is launching with five different colourways: black, yellow, white, red and blue. For now, the EPA-1 is available only in Europe, and will set you back around 20,000 Swedish Krona (roughly AUD$4,000)—though were hoping it'll make its way down under before long.