Pulling Threads

Alex Cleary

Mostly shit talking, occasionally to great people...

  1. 2d ago

    The Government Is Cutting Trades Short To Pump Out Tradies Faster

    South Australia reckons it can fix the housing crisis by cutting apprenticeships short. Excavator operators in 18 months, road tunnel work halved, painting officially a trade you can knock out in three years. Alex and Troy pull it apart from the inside, because both of them came out of their own trades still dog shit and scared, and no shorter block was going to change that. Plus the AI watermark trick that lets you steal photos off real estate agents and event photographers, Troy's exploded knee that turned out to be nothing, and the Tradie Olympics they'd actually pay to watch. In this episode:- Troy's knee blows up mid-run and the physio plugs him into a machine that feels like the electric chair- The AI move to strip watermarks off photos, and when it's smart versus a genuine dog act- Real estate agents AI-ing the dream backyard when it's really rock and rubbish- Fast-tracked trades pulled apart, trade by trade, with the real numbers- Why 43 percent of construction apprentices drop out and what a shorter block actually fixes- Supertrowel, Japanese master planers, and the trade Olympics the boys invented- The 1000 metre cable run in a single shift that nobody even noticed- Kids online, AI deepfakes, and why there'll be no emoji on Alex's kid's face Timestamps:(00:17) Back in the promised land, lager talk and Troy's first injury(02:03) Patellar insertion inflammation and the snake oil physio machines(05:51) Alex's migraines and the Spec Savers upsell(10:59) Stingy or Smart, AI watermark removal on stolen photos(15:37) The Gold Coast marathon photo heist, dog act or fair game(21:14) Real estate agents AI-ing the backyard to sell you the dream(23:46) Fast-tracked trades, every trade and the new timeframes(26:13) Still dog shit as a fourth year, why the time doesn't fix you(32:43) The horrible diesel fitting trade upgrade at TAFE(35:25) The real reasons apprentices drop out and whether this fixes any of it(41:41) Supertrowel and the trade Olympics the boys would run(50:46) Cable joins, the sparky pride nobody else understands(56:13) The 1000 metre cable run in one shift(01:02:04) Kids online, AI deepfakes and no emoji on the kid's face(01:17:30) The Pulling Threads book mob, and picking a name that isn't sissy Full episode out now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Follow the pod on Instagram: @pullingthreads

  2. Jul 26

    The Sport Too Big For The Bloke Running It

    Alex nearly got flogged with a crowbar outside a mine Christmas party, Troy front-kicked his bedroom door ready to fight an intruder that turned out to be a Korean-speaking robot vacuum, and both of them reckon backyard ultra is being held back by one bloke and a Facebook group. This one goes everywhere. In this episode: - Troy's 3am home intruder that turned out to be his robot vacuum Chun-Hee doing laps of the house - The real home defence conversation: guns, pepper spray, knives, baseball bats, and why none of them are great options in Australia - Alex's crowbar fight outside a mine Christmas party and the bloke who started it by pulling the finger at a car - The Biotropica backyard ultra controversy: four world records broken, entire event disqualified via Facebook post - Why backyard ultra needs a proper governing body and not one person making calls from a Facebook group - Alex's custom flat-pack kitchen install and the moment he became his father screaming at family to hold things steady - Reverse PTSD: when you realise you're doing the exact same thing your old man did to you as a kid - The greatest mine site names in Australia and beyond: C**k-Eyed Bob, Frog's Legs, Revenge, and Peculiar Knob - Phil Gore commented on their reel and it wasn't exactly a compliment - Troy shaved his armpits and Hannah stuck her nose fully inside one Timestamps: (00:13) Phil Gore commented on our reel (09:34) Year of the house update and custom flat-pack cabinets (12:57) Reverse PTSD and dad's ceiling sheet nightmare (19:32) Troy admits Alex was right about shaving armpits (24:36) Someone broke into Troy's house at 3am (32:51) Home defence strategy and the gun debate in Australia (36:34) Alex's crowbar fight at the mine Christmas party (53:45) Biotropica backyard ultra controversy and the full event DQ (65:06) Why backyard ultra needs to professionalise now (77:10) The rules holding the sport back (82:30) List of the week: best mine site names in Australia and the world Full episode out now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Follow the pod on Instagram: @pullingthreads

  3. Jul 19

    The Greatest Heist In Mining History

    Two brothers swap the wildest mine site theft stories they've ever heard, from copper cathodes snapping rear axles to the greatest amnesty backfire of all time. Plus, there's actual science behind why you mutter to yourself while looking for your keys. And Troy's Garmin watch saga reaches a new low. In this episode: - The legendary 44 gallon drum amnesty heist that nobody saw coming - A bloke who stripped a whole cable drum underground and got busted by the mess - Copper cathodes, broken axles, and a goat that ruined everything - The study that proves talking to yourself makes you better at finding shit - Troy's elevation tracking disaster during the Last One Climbing challenge - Leatherman multi-tools and why Troy thinks they're the worst tool for every job - Dog ownership as the ultimate conversation starter with hard blokes - Stingy or smart: washing and reusing Ziploc bags for 14 months - What makes you a bitch: texting "I'm out the front" instead of knocking on the door - The substation that got blown to pieces by a "small pop" Timestamps: (00:18) Troy fending for himself while his wife's away (04:39) Life's little pleasures: running with your dog (08:27) Stingy or smart: reusing Ziploc bags (11:39) Grinds your gears: Leatherman multi-tools and EDC culture (18:17) Swiss Army knives and the old man's knife obsession (22:17) Tell me you're working on a breakdown (23:58) Study: talking to yourself improves problem solving (26:56) What makes you a bitch: not knocking on the door for a date (29:58) Troy's Last One Climbing watch disaster (38:00) Crib time stories: mine site theft legends (42:42) The 44 gallon drum amnesty heist (48:01) The underground cable drum copper operation (53:43) The trail camera conspiracy (57:01) The substation that got blown up by a "small pop" Full episode out now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Follow the pod on Instagram: @pullingthreads

    The Greatest Heist In Mining History

  4. Jul 12

    The 10 Cent Scam That Australia Fell For

    Alex went deep on how Australia's container deposit scheme actually works and the numbers are wild. Cleanaway and Tomra are making hundreds of millions, Coca-Cola benefits when you don't recycle, and you're earning $8.50 an hour feeding cans into a machine. Plus Troy finally admits Alex was right about the knees over toes guy, we get into whether Australia should legalise drugs after Alex saw the zombie wasteland in Vancouver, and a tradie brings his own three-ply toilet paper to site in a sealed bag. In this episode: - The full breakdown of where your 13 cents per can actually goes - Why Germany's 40 cent deposit scheme makes Australia's look embarrassing - Troy admits defeat on Ben Patrick and the knees over toes method - Alex's weed experience in Canada that changed his mind on legalisation - The study that says having daughters makes men safer but having sons changes nothing - Sex worker references and what the f**k that actually means - Stinge or smart: the tradie with premium toilet paper in his tool bag - Book club update for Blaine and Amber Burke's book Timestamps: (00:00) Welcome back and the recording light disaster (01:00) What actually is a stitch and why do they just disappear (03:30) Troy admits Alex was right about knees over toes guy Ben Patrick (08:50) Mum's retirement fitness glow up and her new job medical (12:03) Container deposit scheme deep dive. How the money actually flows (15:25) Running the numbers. What you actually earn per hour returning cans (27:00) Germany's 98% recycling rate vs Australia's 68% (34:47) Sex worker references. Who the f**k is giving you a reference (42:01) The wild story from scrolling at work (49:50) Legalising drugs. Alex's experience in Vancouver changed everything (55:05) Portugal's model and why education beats prohibition (01:01:15) The study on fathers, risk aversion and why daughters change everything (01:10:46) Stinge or smart. The tradie with Quilton three-ply in his tool bag (01:16:36) Book club reminder. Go buy the book now Full episode out now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Follow the pod on Instagram: @pullingthreads

  5. Jul 5

    The Renovation That Broke Me

    Alex spent an entire week off work trying to build a deck. What he found underground nearly sent him over the edge. Buried rocks the size of a coffin, mystery pipes, failed inspections, and a $1,200 hole-digging bill with almost nothing to show for it. This is the most honest renovation meltdown you'll ever hear. In this episode:- The full deck disaster saga, from Kanga loaders to jackhammers to total surrender- Troy's post-race comedown and what it feels like when the cheering stops- Why running in the rain alone after a big race is where the real work begins- The official launch of the Pulling Threads Book Club and the first book pick- Top 3 best smells of all time, including one that will divide every listener- The evolutionary reason your armpits stink and whether clipping them actually helps- Why one night camping fixed more stress than a week of grinding ever could Timestamps:(00:14) Welcome back and Troy's post-race comedown(01:01) The emotional low after finishing your first ultra(03:18) Ultra runner status and run inflation(05:06) Alex's week of severe unhappiness begins(06:46) The deck project prep, pallets of concrete and $6K of composite decking(10:39) First hole hits a massive buried rock(17:09) Digging out a mystery rock the size of a 12-year-old's burial plot(21:06) Second row of holes hits a steel pipe underground(25:25) $1,200 in Kanga hire and almost no holes to show for it(28:49) Calling off the deck and reverse logistics nightmare(33:27) Launching the Pulling Threads Book Club(38:10) What makes a book worth reading on the pod(42:59) Top 3 best smells, KFC outside the building(47:37) The smell of rain and the science of petrichor(50:00) Petrol at the go-kart track(51:31) Troy's final pick and the evolutionary purpose of armpit hair Full episode out now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Follow the pod on Instagram: @pullingthreads Pick up Blaine & Amber's book

  6. Jun 28

    The Toxic Masculinity Test That Exposed Us Both

    Alex and Troy take an online toxic masculinity test live and compare their results. It goes exactly how you'd expect. One brother scores more toxic than average, the other less, and Troy's wife somehow outscores them both on deceitful arrogance. Before that, the boys rip through their signs of getting old, from war history podcasts to Crocs and socks to refusing to flush the toilet. Plus a tradie from Townsville who invoices builders for premium toilet paper and a deep dive into how tech companies have been lying to your face for years. In this episode:- Wild Ball race predictions and Troy's secret Strava rival named Jared- Signs you're getting old including being obsessed with war history and refusing to go to 9pm movies- Damo from Townsville's genius toilet paper invoicing scheme- How phone companies swap glass types every year to fake progress- The toxic masculinity test results and the questions that had them stumped- Troy's wife scoring 47% on deceitful arrogance and what that says about board game night- The leading question about homosexuals as role models and why the test methodology is cooked- Park run recap and why negative splits made Troy feel like a king Timestamps:(00:00) Intro and Wild Ball race predictions(04:17) Troy's first park run and battling kids on scooters(08:37) Alex's prediction for Troy and the secret competitor Jared(11:30) Signs you're getting old list(17:49) Becoming your dad about lights, water, and heating(23:34) Crocs and socks conversion story(28:52) Stingy or smart: Damo's toilet paper invoice hustle(35:47) How they get you: tech companies faking progress(42:05) The toxic masculinity test begins(48:18) Deceitful arrogance and trait anger results(55:04) Heteronormativity and homophobia scores(58:14) Final toxic masculinity scores and Troy's wife's results Full episode out now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Follow the pod on Instagram: @pullingthreads Do your Toxic Masculinity test here

  7. Jun 21

    The First Race That Changes Everything

    Troy just ran his first ever 50K ultra and beat Alex by 20 minutes. This episode is the full debrief. The emotions at the finish line, the fuelling disasters, the moments where it nearly fell apart, and a pair of spray-painted gold boots that might become a family heirloom. In this episode:- Troy's complete race day breakdown from start line nerves to finish line tears- The golden Cleary boots and the sibling rivalry that will never end- How Troy's crew got zero preparation and had to figure it out on the fly- Alex pulling out at the 39K mark and why he didn't care- Fuelling mistakes that nearly cost Troy the back half of the race- The mental shift Tim Kacprzak drilled into Troy that changed the last 15K- Why the flat sections destroyed Alex more than any hill- Red cordial as the next frontier in endurance fuelling- Looking at houses for sale mid-race in Boar Gully- The plan for King of the Hill and what changes from here Timestamps:(00:00) Troy's golden moment and the Cleary boots ceremony(02:58) Full race day rundown from carb loading to start line(04:26) Immanuela getting zero prep as support crew(07:18) Running with Jared and the first 20K(08:50) The mid-race podcast habit and Hardcore History addiction(16:40) Alex's race and where it all went wrong(25:39) The emotional finish line moment(28:49) Why tearing up mid-run makes you faster(31:29) The fuelling breakdown and the no-water mistake(37:54) Training with Tim Kacprzak and the four month build(42:06) The sibling rivalry and why Alex thought he'd win without training(43:04) What changes heading into King of the Hill(48:37) Houses in Boar Gully and living next to trails(55:02) Motorbikes in the creek and growing up in Mount Isa(01:08:12) The Riverland Backyard Ultra and future races Full episode out now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Follow the pod on Instagram: @pullingthreads

  8. Jun 14

    Tim Kacprzak: The Sport Nobody Knows How To Get Paid For

    Tim Kacprzak is back and he's still our most listened episode by a long shot. This time he walks us through 83 days of consecutive running, coaching Troy to his first 50K, and why backyard ultra might be the most exciting sport that nobody's figured out how to pay athletes for yet. In this episode:- Tim's 83 day running streak and the moment his body just stopped hurting- Why the mental game is the only real differentiator in backyard ultra- How Australia is dominating the backyard ultra scene and why other countries can't keep up- Tim coaching Troy and why he thinks Troy has no idea how good he's getting- The IPO idea where an athlete tried to sell shares in himself to fund a race- What it's like raising a son and a daughter as a public facing ultra runner- AI replacing white collar jobs and why Tim is terrified for his kids- Troy vs Alex at Wildbar and Tim's honest prediction on who wins Timestamps:(00:14) Tim Kacprzak returns as the most listened guest ever(02:08) The Inner Game of Tennis and not identifying with your achievements(04:52) Sydney Backyard Ultra silver ticket and the satellite team(09:31) What needs to happen for backyard ultra to become a professional sport(17:52) Live streaming as the key to commercialising ultra running(20:04) Why athletes keep doing it for free and what that means for the sport(24:31) Troy racing his first 50K and Tim's honest prediction(34:47) Should athletes stop running for free to create demand(40:31) Why backyard ultra will eclipse traditional ultra running(49:36) Tim's 83 day last one standing streak and the mental shift(55:16) Eight hours a day inside your own head and what it unlocked(01:02:46) Tim coaching Troy and the subconscious self belief trick(01:08:41) Troy's honest review of being coached(01:15:25) Troy vs Alex at Wildboar race preview(01:41:49) AI replacing jobs and why Tim is nervous for his kids Full episode out now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Follow the pod on Instagram: @pullingthreads

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About

Mostly shit talking, occasionally to great people...

Information

  • Creator
    Alex Cleary
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    87
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Alex Cleary
  • Show Website
    Pulling Threads

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