Onwards To Victory

Justin Williams

Welcome to Onwards To Victory, the show where the world’s most fascinating performers lift the velvet curtain and reveal what really happens behind the spotlight. Hosted by Magnus Danger Magnus, a multi award winning international showman with more than 25 years performing at the biggest theatres and arts festivals across the globe, this is your backstage pass into the minds of the most creative, chaotic and passion driven humans on the planet. Every episode, Magnus sits down with the performers who have survived it, shaped it and kept it alive. The drag icons, circus legends, comedians, freak show artists, burlesque royalty and the new generation of wild creative geniuses who are reshaping live entertainment. This is the real conversation, not the PR version. The stories nobody tells.The failures nobody admits.The resilience, the heartbreak, the obsession and the victories that define a life in showbiz. If you want to understand how extraordinary people think, create, survive and succeed in one of the most unforgiving industries in the world, or if you simply love creativity, chaos and a proper laugh, you have found your new favourite show. Join Magnus and his guests on their journey to greatness.This is Onwards To Victory, the greatest podcast in human history.Subscribe to see who steps into the spotlight next.

  1. What He Learned Performing for the World’s Elite

    12/18/2025

    What He Learned Performing for the World’s Elite

    Chris Dugdale has lived a life most people wouldn’t believe. From being handed a wad of cash by the billionaire who invented Skype at James Bond’s birthday party to performing for Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Richard Branson, the Queen, and King Charles, while he drunkenly said “just get on with the bloody trick,” while spilling custard all over himself. He shares many amazing stories, some he probably shouldn’t, including the one he was never meant to talk about because no one ever handed him that NDA. We discuss the time he broke down at the Pentagon and was comforted by a four-star general in front of 600 of the most powerful people in America. How a private two-hour booking with Beyoncé and Jay-Z turned into six hours of magic, clay pigeon shooting, and Jay-Z DJing his finale magic act. And the many surreal moments in showbiz that money can’t buy. Along the way, Chris reveals the mindset behind staying at the top of his craft. The psychology of misdirection. The discipline and obsession that shaped his career. The grief that nearly broke him. The persistence that saved him. And the backstage chaos that every performer lives for. A world-class magician, a world-class storyteller, and one of the most charismatic guests ever to sit down on this show. SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST https://www.youtube.com/@OnwardsToVictory/videos CHECK THIS OUT - GARRY STARR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmbMT1h00tw&list=PLCz-Wi1q0qQDwgWolfL2258tqqXZwhhUd&index=7 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON https://www.patreon.com/OnwardsToVictory STAY CONNECTED! https://www.youtube.com/@OnwardsToVictory https://www.instagram.com/onwardstovictory https://www.facebook.com/Onwardstovictorypod FOLLOW https://www.instagram.com/chrisjamesdugdale/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/chrisjamesdugdale https://x.com/chrisdugdale https://www.tiktok.com/@thechrisdugdale Theme tune: Magnus Danger D! Written by Christian Paul Rattray, Violet Empress Music. https://linktr.ee/violetempress Host: MAGNUS https://www.instagram.com/magnusdanger/?hl=en Producer: Justin Williams https://www.instagram.com/justinsgoodvibes Assistant to the Producer: Richard Sullivan https://www.instagram.com/richardsullivan WE WANNA HEAR FROM YOU! Do you have questions, ideas, or video suggestions? DM us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onwardstovictory Or shoot us an email at: 📧 onwardsvictory@outlook.com   PLEASE NOTE: Onwards To Victory takes a fresh, bold approach, stepping away from our usual content, and we couldn’t be more excited for this new adventure! We’ll delve into a wide range of topics, some of which may be more adult-oriented How can we satisfy your ear holes even more? What do you like? What do you not like? Support the show

    46 min
  2. How to Roast People and Make Them Feel Great. Plus the Power of Real Listening | Ep 23

    11/26/2025

    How to Roast People and Make Them Feel Great. Plus the Power of Real Listening | Ep 23

    Today we sit down with the legendary “Safety Magnus” himself, Magnus Thomas Rack, the quietly brilliant backstage mind who keeps shows lit, timed and safe, and knows exactly how to make sure nothing catches fire unless it is supposed to. Magnus talks about growing up between England, Paris and Belgium with academic parents, speaking French, and somehow finding his way into the chaotic world of live performance. He shares how he once wanted to be an actor before discovering tech and stage management, and why his real strengths are listening, empathy and reading a room. We get into moral compasses, mental health, journaling, the your head is a houseboat idea, and why he finds more meaning holding space for others than talking about himself. We also dive into his love of being a foodie, cooking from scratch, hosting end of fringe feasts in Adelaide, and using food as a love language for the people he cares about. Plus, Magnus breaks down his now legendary staff talent show roast of the tech team, the one that somehow makes everyone feel loved and seen at the same time. It is an episode about care, craft, mindset and the kind of person you want in your corner when everything is on fire. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE BONUS CONTENT https://www.patreon.com/OnwardsToVictory SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST https://www.youtube.com/@OnwardsToVictory/videos WE’RE ON ALL PLATFORMS, BABY   THE EPISODE THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE - GARRY STARR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmbMT1h00tw&list=PLCz-Wi1q0qQDwgWolfL2258tqqXZwhhUd&index=7 @onw STAY CONNECTED - Onwards to Victory https://www.youtube.com/@OnwardsToVictory https://www.instagram.com/onwardstovictory https://www.facebook.com/Onwardstovictorypod https://www.tiktok.com/@onwardstovictorypodcast FOLLOW (Guest) - Safety Magnus (Magnus Rack) https://www.instagram.com/superswagnus https://www.facebook.com/magnus.rack FOLLOW (Host) Magnus Danger Magnus https://www.instagram.com/magnusdanger https://www.facebook.com/realfriendsofmagnus Theme tune: Magnus Danger D! Written by Christian Paul Rattray, Violet Empress Music. https://linktr.ee/violetempress Producer: Justin Williams https://www.instagram.com/justinsgoodvibes Assistant to the Producer: Richard Sullivan https://www.instagram.com/richardsullivan WE WANNA HEAR FROM YOU! Got questions, ideas, or video suggestions? DM us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onwardstovictory Or shoot us an email at: 📧 onwardsvictory@outlook.com   Join us for a laugh... and let’s see if we get cancelled! How can we satisfy your ear holes even more? What do you like? What do you not like? Support the show

    37 min
  3. Saving an Outback Spiegeltent & Taking On a Religious Hate Campaign With Tom Oliver | EP 22

    11/13/2025

    Saving an Outback Spiegeltent & Taking On a Religious Hate Campaign With Tom Oliver | EP 22

    Actor, singer and festival Producer/ Founder Tom Oliver joins Magnus to share one of the wildest modern fringe stories you’ll ever hear, from accidentally becoming the guy who runs a suburban arts festival to rescuing a 400-seat Spiegeltent that was rotting in outback Queensland and turning it into the beating heart of Wynnum Fringe. Tom breaks down the tent’s unbelievable origin story, the half-a-million-dollar headache of bringing it back to life, and how a last-minute $100K crowdfund, a mountain of steel and mirrors, and a village of dedicated locals, team members and artists made the impossible happen. We dive into what fringe culture really does for a community, the reality of building a festival from scratch when you’ve got more passion than money, and the Bay Pride saga where religious bigots tried to shut the event down with illegal flyers and a coordinated smear campaign. Tom opens up about being trolled, protecting his team, and what it felt like to stand his ground, then watch 5,500 people flood the Wynnum foreshore in rainbow colours to say “we’ve got you.” We also talk about the strange currency of community and culture, the toll and responsibility of leadership, and Tom’s big-picture dream for the Augathella Spiegeltent to host world-class shows in Brisbane and beyond. It’s part origin story, part war story, part love letter to fringe, and a powerful reminder of what happens when one strong-willed, sparkly human refuses to back down. SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST https://www.youtube.com/@OnwardsToVictory/videos WE’RE ON ALL PLATFORMS, BABY! Onwards To Victory THE EPISODE THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE - GARRY STARR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmbMT1h00tw&list=PLCz-Wi1q0qQDwgWolfL2258tqqXZwhhUd&index=7 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE BONUS CONTENT https://www.patreon.com/OnwardsToVictory STAY CONNECTED - Onwards to Victory https://www.youtube.com/@OnwardsToVictory https://www.instagram.com/onwardstovictory https://www.facebook.com/Onwardstovictorypod https://www.tiktok.com/@onwardstovictorypodcast FOLLOW TOM OLIVER https://www.instagram.com/tomoliver_au https://www.facebook.com/TomOliverProductions FOLLOW Wynnum Fringe & Augathella Spiegeltent https://www.instagram.com/augathellaspiegeltent https://www.instagram.com/wynnumfringe https://www.facebook.com/WynnumFringe Theme tune: Magnus Danger D! Written by Christian Paul Rattray, Violet Empress Music. https://linktr.ee/violetempress HOST: Magnus Danger Magnus https://www.instagram.com/magnusdanger Producer: Justin Williams https://www.instagram.com/justinsgoodvibes Assistant to the Producer: Richard Sullivan https://www.instagram.com/richardsullivan WE WANNA H How can we satisfy your ear holes even more? What do you like? What do you not like? Support the show

    1h 2m
  4. LA Life to Hello Kitty Sheets: Naughty, Nice & Everything In Between with Ratty & Mkittyxoxo | Ep 21

    10/30/2025

    LA Life to Hello Kitty Sheets: Naughty, Nice & Everything In Between with Ratty & Mkittyxoxo | Ep 21

    Today we sit down with two dear friends MKitty (Miss Marie Walter), an Australian pink-haired gamer girl and content creator, and Ratty (Chris Rattray), the creative mind behind Violet Empress the creator of the Onwards To Victory Theme Tune! We talk about how they met, the cosplay photo that started it all, and the wild LA years where Chris ran web and community for a major comic-book house before becoming a beloved MC and photographer on the convention circuit. Marie shares her path from makeup artist and model to creator and social media lead, and how she built her own pink, kawaii world from scratch. There’s a live bubble-tea song, Hello Kitty sheets, tall-girl romance, legendary calves, and a real chat about boundaries, love, and building a partnership that works. SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST https://www.youtube.com/@OnwardsToVictory/videos WE’RE ON ALL PLATFORMS, BABY! Onwards To Victory THE EPISODE THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE - GARRY STARR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmbMT1h00tw&list=PLCz-Wi1q0qQDwgWolfL2258tqqXZwhhUd&index=7 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE BONUS CONTENT https://www.patreon.com/OnwardsToVictory STAY CONNECTED! Onwards to Victory https://www.youtube.com/@OnwardsToVictory https://www.instagram.com/onwardstovictory https://www.facebook.com/Onwardstovictorypod https://www.tiktok.com/@onwardstovictorypodcast FOLLOW MKITTY https://www.mkittyxoxo.com https://www.instagram.com/mkittyxoxo https://www.tiktok.com/ ⁨@mkittyxoxo⁩ https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@mkittyxoxo⁩ https://www.twitch.tv/mkitty https://www.facebook.com/Mkittyxoxo CHRIS RATTRAY https://www.instagram.com/christianpaulcreative https://www.facebook.com/christianpaulcreative https://www.threads.com/@christianpaulcreative THEME TUNE: Magnus Danger D! Written by Christian Paul Rattray, Violet Empress Music. https://linktr.ee/violetempress Producer: Justin Williams https://www.instagram.com/justinsgoodvibes Assistant to the Producer: Richard Sullivan https://www.instagram.com/richardsullivan WE WANNA HEAR FROM YOU! Got questions, ideas, or video suggestions? DM us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onwardstovictory  Or shoot us an email at: 📧 onwardsvictory@outlook.com   PLEASE NOTE: Onwards To Victory takes a fresh, bold approach, stepping away from our usual content, and we couldn’t be more excited for this new adventu How can we satisfy your ear holes even more? What do you like? What do you not like? Support the show

    1h 21m
  5. Tahir Accidentally Became a “Dealer” After Fat Pizza and How Politically Incorrect Housos Was | Ep 20

    10/16/2025

    Tahir Accidentally Became a “Dealer” After Fat Pizza and How Politically Incorrect Housos Was | Ep 20

    TAHIR is an award winning, internationally acclaimed stand up comedian with a career spanning over two decades. He has co created and starred in the hit sitcoms StreetSmart and Here Come The Habibs, and is a Logie winning actor best known for Fat Pizza, Housos and three feature films. Tahir is one of Australia’s most beloved live performers. In this episode, TAHIR brings that same energy to Onwards to Victory. We talk about why he only says yes to projects that look like fun, how being a “yes man to life” has shaped his career, and why he’s one of the only comedians who went on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! for reasons that weren’t tax related. He shares hilarious stories from Fat Pizza and Housos, how politically incorrect those shows were, and why no network today would ever touch them. We dive into his start as a drama teacher, how he messes with latecomers to his shows, and how he accidentally became a “dealer” in real life after playing one on TV. TAHIR also opens up about working hard, adapting to stay relevant in comedy, and why he’ll never have a “real job.” He even drops an exclusive that fans hate to find out. Packed with wisdom, wild stories and pure heart, including Magnus convincing him to swap clothes mid show despite his very clear no. SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST https://www.youtube.com/@OnwardsToVictory/videos WE’RE ON ALL PLATFORMS, BABY! Onwards To Victory THE EPISODE THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE - GARRY STARR https://youtu.be/zmbMT1h00tw SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE BONUS CONTENT https://www.patreon.com/OnwardsToVictory STAY CONNECTED! Onwards to Victory https://www.youtube.com/@OnwardsToVictory https://www.instagram.com/onwardstovictory https://www.facebook.com/Onwardstovictorypod https://www.tiktok.com/@onwardstovictorypodcast FOLLOW https://www.instagram.com/tahircomedian https://www.facebook.com/tahircomedian https://x.com/tahircomedian https://www.tiktok.com/ ⁨@TahirComedian⁩ https://www.tahir.com.au/ Theme tune: Magnus Danger D! Written by Christian Paul Rattray, Violet Empress Music. https://linktr.ee/violetempress Producer: Justin Williams https://www.instagram.com/justinsgoodvibes Assistant to the Producer: Richard Sullivan https://www.instagram.com/richardsullivan WE WANNA HEAR FROM YOU! Got questions, ideas, or video suggestions? DM us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onwardstovictory  Or shoot us an email at: 📧 onwardsvictory@outlook.com   Join us for a laugh... and let’s see if we get cancelled!   PLEASE NOTE: Onwards To Victory takes a fresh, bold approach, stepping away from our usual content, and we couldn’t be more excited for this new ad How can we satisfy your ear holes even more? What do you like? What do you not like? Support the show

    43 min
  6. Every Office Worker Will Relate to This: Wankernomics with Charles Firth & James Schloeffel | Ep 19

    10/01/2025

    Every Office Worker Will Relate to This: Wankernomics with Charles Firth & James Schloeffel | Ep 19

    Charles Firth (from The Chaser) and James Schloeffel (from The Shovel) are the duo behind Wankonomics, the sell-out satire that’s taken over the corporate world from the inside. In this episode we finally sit down with them as they reveal how their shows draw in office workers and leave managers terrified to ever say words like KPI or synergy again. We pull apart acronyms, offsites, values, and the miracle of turning a North Star into a verb. We talk about how they met, how they became wankers, the grind of touring, and why they tweak every performance by one percent, night after night. We unpack how an all-staff crisis meeting became the frame for their newest show, why Wankonomics feels like therapy for anyone trapped in meetings, and how two Australian comedians built a world-class act out of email jargon and management speak. SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST https://www.youtube.com/@OnwardsToVictory/videos WE’RE ON ALL PLATFORMS, BABY! Onwards To Victory SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE BONUS CONTENT https://www.patreon.com/OnwardsToVictory STAY CONNECTED! Onwards to Victory https://www.youtube.com/@OnwardsToVictory https://www.instagram.com/onwardstovictory https://www.facebook.com/Onwardstovictorypod https://www.tiktok.com/@onwardstovictorypodcast FOLLOW - Wankernomics https://www.instagram.com/wankernomics https://x.com/wankernomics https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090441233879 https://www.tiktok.com/@wankernomics https://wankernomics.com HOST: Magnus Danger Magnus https://www.instagram.com/magnusdanger Theme tune: Magnus Danger D! Written by Christian Paul Rattray, Violet Empress Music. https://linktr.ee/violetempress Producer: Justin Williams https://www.instagram.com/justinsgoodvibes Assistant to the Producer: Richard Sullivan https://www.instagram.com/richardsullivan WE WANNA HEAR FROM YOU! Got questions, ideas, or video suggestions? DM us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onwardstovictory Or shoot us an email at: 📧 onwardsvictory@outlook.com   Join us for a laugh... and let’s see if we get cancelled!   PLEASE NOTE: Onwards To Victory takes a fresh, bold approach, stepping away from our usual content, and we couldn’t be more excited for this new adventure! We’ll dive into a wide variety of topics some a bit more adult-oriented. Parents of younger listeners, please note that some discussions may be intended for mature audiences. Enjoy the wild ride! How can we satisfy your ear holes even more? What do you like? What do you not like? Support the show

    49 min
  7. Mario Kart with Hodor, Knife Fights & Building Manchester’s Comedy Scene Evan Desmarais | Ep 18

    09/17/2025

    Mario Kart with Hodor, Knife Fights & Building Manchester’s Comedy Scene Evan Desmarais | Ep 18

    Evan Desmarais is a hilarious UK based Canadian comic who dives headfirst into festivals all around the globe. He seems to attract outrageous experiences, from playing Mario Kart with Game of Thrones cast member Hodor, to wild late night gigs featuring surprise weddings, toe sucking (we do not go into detail), and even assisting a Norwegian tourist’s first time 🍒 it is all here. We get into the hustle of flyering strangers while someone is holding a knife outside the venue, the bold move of building a seven nights a week comedy scene in Manchester from scratch, and the challenges that come with it. On top of that, we get into touring life, relationships, performing across continents including Kenya, the spirit of comedy communities, and yes… even what happens when comics get distracted talking about sheep, robots, and S x. SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST https://www.youtube.com/@OnwardsToVictory/videos WE’RE ON ALL PLATFORMS, BABY! Onwards To Victory SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE BONUS CONTENT https://www.patreon.com/OnwardsToVictory STAY CONNECTED! Onwards to Victory https://www.youtube.com/@OnwardsToVictory https://www.instagram.com/onwardstovictory https://www.facebook.com/Onwardstovictorypod https://www.tiktok.com/@onwardstovictorypodcast FOLLOW Evan Desmarais https://www.instagram.com/evancomedy https://www.instagram.com/creaturescomedyclub https://www.tiktok.com/@evancomedy - Check out his comedy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9N_A99DZIfM Theme tune: Magnus Danger D! Written by Christian Paul Rattray, Violet Empress Music. https://linktr.ee/violetempress Producer: Justin Williams https://www.instagram.com/justinsgoodvibes Assistant to the Producer: Richard Sullivan https://www.instagram.com/richardsullivan WE WANNA HEAR FROM YOU! Got questions, ideas, or video suggestions? DM us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onwardstovictory Or shoot us an email at: 📧 onwardsvictory@outlook.com   Join us for a laugh... and let’s see if we get cancelled!   PLEASE NOTE: Onwards To Victory takes a fresh, bold approach, stepping away from our usual content, and we couldn’t be more excited for this new adventure! We’ll dive into a wide variety of topics some a bit more adult-oriented. Parents of younger listeners, please note that some discussions may be intended for mature audiences. Enjoy the wild ride! How can we satisfy your ear holes even more? What do you like? What do you not like? Support the show

    47 min
  8. From Busking Britney on Accordion to America’s Got Talent Finalist: Hans, Now a Cabaret Icon | Ep 17

    09/03/2025

    From Busking Britney on Accordion to America’s Got Talent Finalist: Hans, Now a Cabaret Icon | Ep 17

    Hans is nothing short of a phenomenon. Known offstage as the fabulous Matt Gilbertson, Hans is an America’s Got Talent: The Champions 2020 Grand Finalist, cabaret sensation, drag superstar, international sex symbol and accordion wielding Berlin boy wonder. We had to lie to Hans's managers and say we are a big name podcast just to land such a guest! Hans has conquered stages around the world with show stopping performances on Eurovision: Australia Decides Live, multiple Best Cabaret wins at Adelaide Fringe, the Best Cabaret award at the Edinburgh Festival, America’s Got Talent, and countless appearances on Australia’s biggest morning shows. In this episode Hans shows us exactly why they are a global success. From a past life in journalism to outrageous celebrity encounters, to candid memories of busking Britney and Kylie hits on the accordion, and even a hilarious take on politics from reality TV scandals to the theatre of global leaders, Hans proves why they remain one of the very best in the business. It is hilarious, scandalous, and packed with sequins. Exactly what the world needs more of. SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST https://www.youtube.com/@OnwardsToVictory/videos WE’RE ON ALL PLATFORMS, BABY! Onwards To Victory SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE BONUS CONTENT https://www.patreon.com/OnwardsToVictory STAY CONNECTED! Onwards to Victory https://www.youtube.com/@OnwardsToVictory https://www.instagram.com/onwardstovictory https://www.facebook.com/Onwardstovictorypod https://www.tiktok.com/@onwardstovictorypodcast FOLLOW HANS aka Matt Gilbertson https://www.hansofficial.com https://www.instagram.com/accordionhans https://www.facebook.com/accordionhans https://x.com/accordionhans https://www.tiktok.com/@accordionhans Theme tune: Magnus Danger D! Written by Christian Paul Rattray, Violet Empress Music. https://linktr.ee/violetempress Producer: Justin Williams https://www.instagram.com/justinsgoodvibes Assistant to the Producer: Richard Sullivan https://www.instagram.com/richardsullivan WE WANNA HEAR FROM YOU! Got questions, ideas, or video suggestions? DM us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onwardstovictory Or shoot us an email at: 📧 onwardsvictory@outlook.com   Join us for a laugh... and let’s see if we get cancelled!   PLEASE NOTE: Onwards To Victory takes a fresh, bold approach, stepping away from our usual content, and we couldn’t be more excited for this new adventure! We’ll dive into a wide variety of topics some a bit more adult-oriented. Parents of younger listeners, please note that some discussions may be intended for mature audiences. Enjoy the wild ride! How can we satisfy your ear holes even more? What do you like? What do you not like? Support the show

    55 min

About

Welcome to Onwards To Victory, the show where the world’s most fascinating performers lift the velvet curtain and reveal what really happens behind the spotlight. Hosted by Magnus Danger Magnus, a multi award winning international showman with more than 25 years performing at the biggest theatres and arts festivals across the globe, this is your backstage pass into the minds of the most creative, chaotic and passion driven humans on the planet. Every episode, Magnus sits down with the performers who have survived it, shaped it and kept it alive. The drag icons, circus legends, comedians, freak show artists, burlesque royalty and the new generation of wild creative geniuses who are reshaping live entertainment. This is the real conversation, not the PR version. The stories nobody tells.The failures nobody admits.The resilience, the heartbreak, the obsession and the victories that define a life in showbiz. If you want to understand how extraordinary people think, create, survive and succeed in one of the most unforgiving industries in the world, or if you simply love creativity, chaos and a proper laugh, you have found your new favourite show. Join Magnus and his guests on their journey to greatness.This is Onwards To Victory, the greatest podcast in human history.Subscribe to see who steps into the spotlight next.