Tell Craig Your Story

Dean Smith - Australia - Host of KTP Podcast / Founder of Smita Foundation

With the NRL 2026 season about to kick off in Las Vegas next month, I couldn’t think of a better person to welcome onto the podcast than Dean Smith.

Born in Maitland, Australia, Dean is the host of the KTP Podcast, recorded live every Tuesday night from their studio, where they break down all things Rugby League. I was lucky enough to jump on the show last year and had an absolute blast.

Beyond the mic, Dean is the founder of the Smita Foundation, a charity focused on mental health, anti-bullying, and domestic violence awareness. His work reaches far beyond the Rugby League community, making a real impact locally as he tackles some incredibly challenging issues head-on.
In recognition of this, Dean was recently named a 2026 City of Maitland Service Award Nominee — well deserved.

📲 Follow Dean & KTP Podcast
Instagram: @10smita14 | @ktp_podcast_
YouTube: @KTPPodcastAU

👉 Listen here:
🎧 Podbean: https://tellcraigyourstory.podbean.com
🌐 Linktree: https://www.linktr.ee/tellcraigyourstory
▶ YouTube: @tellcraigyourstory

#NRL2026 #RugbyLeague #NRLinVegas #PodcastLife #RugbyLeagueCommunity #MentalHealthAwareness #SmitaFoundation #AustralianSport #TellCraigYourStory #KTPPodcast #DeanSmith #NewcastleKnights 

Chloe Trujillo - France - Artist / Fashion Designer / Vocalist of BLVD Of EYES

🎉 Happy New Year and welcome to a new season of the Tell Craig Your Story podcast!
Let’s kick off 2026 with our first guest, Chloe Trujillo.

Chloe is a multidisciplinary artist, vocalist, and designer, best known as the frontwoman of the heavy alternative band BLVD OF EYES. She recently released her new single “Lies,”, showcasing her powerful vocals and emotionally driven song writing. Known for her striking stage presence and bold visual style, Chloe blends music, art, and fashion into a deeply personal creative vision.

Chloe is married to Robert Trujillo, bassist of Metallica. Their son, Tye Trujillo, is an accomplished bassist and a member of Suicidal Tendencies, while their daughter, Lullah, has performed on stage alongside Chloe. Creativity and music run strongly through the Trujillo family.

In this episode, we talk about: BLVD OF EYES’ tour of Australia last November and life on the road, Why Lullah didn’t play drums on the Australian tour, Chloe’s take on Australian slang, Her work designing custom surfboards, Her 3rd magic deck.

📱 Follow Chloe:
Instagram: @chloetrujillo | @blvdofeyes
Website: www.chloetrujillo.com photograph @mortyvision

👉 Listen here:
🎧 Podbean: https://tellcraigyourstory.podbean.com
🌐 Linktree: https://www.linktr.ee/tellcraigyourstory
▶ YouTube: @tellcraigyourstory

#ChloeTrujillo #BLVDOFEYES #TellCraigYourStory #NewMusic2026 #PodcastEpisode #AustraliaTour #SurfboardArt #RockMusic #MusicFamily #FemaleVocalist #Metallica #RobertTrujillo #TyeTrujillo #LullahTrujillo

Bernard (Barney) Haas - Germany - Blue Man Group Artist

It’s an absolute honour to welcome Bernard (Barney) Haas from the Blue Man Group to the podcast.
Barney was in Shanghai for a four-month residency, and I was lucky enough to attend one of the shows. I went in not knowing what to expect and came away completely blown away by the talent of the Blue Man Group performers — from drumming on bongos to create exploding paint, to catching marshmallows in their mouths, to creating art live on stage. The audience was a perfect mix of young kids through to grandparents, all equally captivated.

In this episode, Barney and I talk about working in Shanghai and learning not just Chinese, but other languages along the way. We dive into his life in Ireland, busking on the streets, forming bands, and eventually landing acting roles. He shares how he first discovered Blue Man Group in an Indian restaurant, the intense audition process, meeting the original members, and travelling the world as part of one of the biggest live music productions in the world.
We also talk about navigating the entertainment industry during COVID, his time with Le Wagon, his passion for tackling insomnia, and many unforgettable experiences from a truly unique career.
Please welcome Barney Haas from the Blue Man Group.

📸 Instagram: @brednad_flex
💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/barneyhaas
🌐 Website: www.bluemangroup.com

👉 Listen here:
🎧 Podbean: https://tellcraigyourstory.podbean.com

🌐 Linktree: https://www.linktr.ee/tellcraigyourstory
▶ YouTube: @tellcraigyourstory
#BlueManGroup #PodcastLife #LivePerformance #MusicPodcast #PerformingArts #BehindTheScenes #CreativeLife #ArtistJourney #ShanghaiLife #TellCraigYourStory

Thomas Cleary - England - Author of the short book "Kelsey Left Her Mark"

Today on Tell Craig Your Story, I’m joined by Thomas Cleary — a writer, poet, comic creator, and radio storyteller whose journey has taken him from hospital radio and community airwaves in the UK to a creative life here in Shanghai.
After losing his father during lockdown, Thomas began revaluating his life, which led him to write and self-publish a deeply personal short book titled Kelsey Left A Mark — a reflective piece about gratitude, memory, and the lasting impact of a childhood friendship.
Writing Kelsey Left A Mark became a turning point, lifting a weight he’d carried for years and giving him the push to close old chapters and open new ones. Now living abroad, performing poetry, writing comics purely for the love of it, and lending his voice to an upcoming game promo, Thomas’s story is about creativity, grief, closure, and moving forward.
This is Thomas Cleary… and this is his story.”

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👉 Listen here:
🎧 Podbean: https://tellcraigyourstory.podbean.com
🌐 Linktree: https://www.linktr.ee/tellcraigyourstory
▶️ YouTube: @tellcraigyourstory

📱 Connect with Thomas Cleary:
💬 WeChat: @THOMASCLEARY
📸 Instagram: @doubting_thomas88

#TellCraigYourStory #ThomasCleary #KelseyLeftAMark #Podcast #Storytelling #Poetry #CreativeJourney #LifeStories #ShanghaiCreatives

Part 2 - Clint Lovering - Australia - Lead Vocals / Guitarist of Damage Inc

🎙️ Tell Craig Your Story – Episode 181 (Part 2)

In Part 2 of my chat with Clint Lovering — front man of Damage Inc. (@damageincmetallica) — we get into the roots of Australia’s ultimate Metallica tribute band.

Clint talks about how Damage Inc. was formed, the ups and downs of booking shows in the early days, and what it really takes to step into the shoes of James Hetfield. We dive into how the band carved their place in the Sydney music scene, how they finally landed on their name, and the Metallica songs Clint loves most to play live.

He also shares his love and respect for his bandmates, and answers a big question: will Damage Inc. ever release an original song in the future?

👉 Listen here:
🎧 Podbean: https://tellcraigyourstory.podbean.com
🌐 Linktree: https://www.linktr.ee/tellcraigyourstory
▶️ YouTube: @tellcraigyourstory

Follow Clint on Instagram: @dadzbod
And follow the band: @damageincmetallica

#DamageInc #MetallicaTribute #TellCraigYourStory #Metallica #ClintLovering #AUSAETERNATour #HeavyMetal #MetallicaFans #ThrashMetal #MetalCommunity #LiveMusic #MetalHeads #PodcastInterview #RockPodcast #MetalPodcast #JamesHetfield #LarsUlrich #HowardStern #MasterOfPuppets

Part 1 - Clint Lovering - Australia - Lead Vocals / Guitarist of Damage Inc

🎙️ Episode 180 – Part 1

“Today on Tell Craig Your Story, I’m thrilled to welcome Clint Lovering — front man of Damage Inc, Australia’s ultimate Metallica tribute band.

For over 20 years, Clint and the band have brought Metallica’s music to life with passion and precision. Along the way, they’ve shared the stage with the Sydney Symphony, performed the Last Post on ANZAC Day, and even received a shout-out from Lars Ulrich on the Howard Stern Show.

Damage Inc. is headlining the Official Night Before Party as a part of Metallica’s Australia and New Zealand M72 Tour this November — with shows across Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, and Auckland.

This is Part 1 of my conversation with Clint — a story about dedication, tribute, and keeping the flame of Metallica and heavy metal alive.”

👉 Listen here:
🎧 Podbean: https://tellcraigyourstory.podbean.com
🌐 Linktree: https://www.linktr.ee/tellcraigyourstory
▶️ YouTube: @tellcraigyourstory

Follow Clint on Instagram: @dadzbod
And follow the band: @damageincmetallica

#DamageInc #MetallicaTribute #TellCraigYourStory #Metallica #ClintLovering #AUSAETERNATour #HeavyMetal #MetallicaFans #ThrashMetal #MetalCommunity #LiveMusic #MetalHeads #PodcastInterview #RockPodcast #MetalPodcast #LarsUlrich #JamesHetfield #MasterOfPuppets #Meatloaf #HowardStern

Billie Blue Blackstone - Malaysian/ American - Singer / Song Writer

Episode 179 – Tell Craig Your Story Podcast | Billie Blue Blackstone

In this episode, I sit down with the incredibly talented Billie Blue Blackstone, a Malaysian-American singer-songwriter who first rose to prominence as the frontwoman of Billie Blue & The Nowhere Men before stepping out on her own as a solo artist.

We talk about her brand-new single “Persimmon Tree,” the creative process of recording in the studio, her pre-show rituals, and her unforgettable tours across India and Japan. Her decision to go solo. Billie also talks about seeing Green Day

This is a conversation about reinvention, artistry, and the journey of a musician finding her own voice.

🔗 Follow Billie Blue Blackstone on Instagram: @billieazelea

👉 Listen here:
🎧 Podbean: https://tellcraigyourstory.podbean.com
🌐 Linktree: https://www.linktr.ee/tellcraigyourstory
▶️ YouTube: @tellcraigyourstory

#BillieBlueBlackstone #TellCraigYourStory #PersimmonTree #IndieMusic #SingerSongwriter #JapanMusicScene #WomenInMusic #MusicPodcast #IndieArtist #LiveMusic #AkitaJapan #TourLife #BehindTheMusic #NewMusic2025 #PodcastInterview #GreenDay #KualaLumpur #Singapore #Malaysia

Hayley Zhao - China - English Editor & Writer at The World of Chinese.

Episode 178 🎙️
Today on Tell Craig Your Story, I’m excited to welcome Hayley Zhao — editor, writer, and multimedia journalist with The World of Chinese.

Hayley has a passion for bridging cultures through storytelling, whether it’s in print, podcasts, or multimedia projects. A graduate of Columbia Journalism School, her focus includes education, environmental reporting, and investigative journalism.

We first met at the MKW Pro Wrestling Battle of the Decade show in Beijing — an unforgettable night of action, energy, and incredible people. Since then, I’ve followed her work closely, and I’m thrilled to finally have her here to share her journey, experiences in journalism, and insights into life and culture in China.

📸 Instagram: @HayleyYiming

👉 Listen here:
🎧 Podbean: https://tellcraigyourstory.podbean.com
🌐 Linktree: https://www.linktr.ee/tellcraigyourstory
▶️ YouTube: @tellcraigyourstory

#HayleyZhao #TellCraigYourStory #PodcastInterview #TheWorldOfChinese #CulturalStories #ChinaPodcast #JournalismJourney #StorytellingMatters #MKWProWrestling #BeijingLife #GlobalVoices #AdrianGomez