The third Man of Many Digital Edition has arrived, shedding light on the people, products and personalities that have shaped this modern life. Centred around the concept of TRAILBLAZERS, this curated collection of features details what it truly means to be at the vanguard of a revolution. From chart-topping musicians pushing for recognition to athletes breaking new ground, this edition celebrates the remarkable success and sacrifice of those willing to lay down the foundations.
From the Editor-in-Chief
When I was a kid, I so desperately wanted to be Joe Strummer. Despite being a middle-class kid from Brisbane, I had fallen in love with The Clash’s tales of revolutionary British anarchism. In fact, I can still recall my first mohawk.
It looked bad. But I did not care. In my mind, I was doing something important, blazing a trail for all the other middle-class Brisbanites who still needed their parents to drop them at the riot. I can see now how innocently juvenile that was, but I maintain; there is a certain magic in doing something for the first time.
For our third Digital Edition, we explored this notion, setting our sights on those who aren’t afraid to go against the grain. Part handbook for success, part cautionary tale, our TRAILBLAZERS edition speaks to the slightly insane and downright ludicrous notion of being the first to ever do something. To me, there is no greater example than G Flip.
One of three digital cover stars in this edition, G is a shining example of what happens when talent meets tenacity. In my chat with the ARIA Award winner, I rediscovered the power of music, learning how G’s unique journey is helping inspire the next generation.
From pioneering entrepreneurs to transcendent sports stars, our TRAILBLAZERS edition is a reminder that taking the road less travelled can make all the difference. You know what? Maybe I will grow that mohawk back.
TRAILBLAZERS
If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always got. It’s a quote you’ve undoubtedly heard before, but despite its misattributions and clichéd nature, the sentiment still rings true. Growth only occurs in periods of discomfort, and when times get tough, we turn to those brave few who are willing to challenge the status quo. In this quarter’s Digital Edition, we’ve examined what it really takes to be a spearhead, starting with our digital cover star G Flip.
A multi-instrumentalist who built their career playing in dive bars on borrowed drum kits, G Flip has emerged as one of our most important musical exports, but it’s what they have done for their community that should garner acclaim. The proud non-binary artist is breaking down barriers and ushering in a new era for the Aussie music scene, and they’re doing it all with a cheeky smile on their face. As Editor-in-Chief Nick Hall wrote, G Flip is a maverick who marches to the beat of their own drum. The same can be said of all of our feature stories.
This quarter, journalist Ben McKimm sat down with our two-time gold medal-winning skateboarding champion Keegan Palmer, speaking candidly about the 21-year-old star’s remarkable career. The only man to ever win gold in an Olympic skateboarding competition, Palmer is helping redefine what the modern Games can look like. Similarly, Dean Blake sat down with Ed Carr, founder of the Tasmanian sparkling wine icon House of Arras. Just 30 years ago, Carr was an unknown microbiologist working in the dairy industry. Now, he’s the international Winemaker of the Year. Funny how things change.
We explored the history of the Fender Stratocaster, rock music’s most influential axe, detailed the story behind the unbreakable Nokia 3210, unpacked the beautiful failures of tech giant Dyson, and peeked inside Firedoor chef Lennox Hastie’s world of smoke and brimstone. Check out all of our TRAILBLAZERS features for this quarter and sign up for our newsletter for more.
G Flip is Living the Dream
“It doesn’t really matter what people think. Maybe they’ll like it, maybe they won’t, but I really enjoy it so it feels right. It’s a gamble when you put it out; is there going to be a positive reception or not? But in the end, even if people didn’t like my music, I’d still be a musician.”
For Australian musician G Flip, the last few years have felt like a blur. After spending nearly a decade toiling away behind the kit, the multi-instrumentalist took a gamble and went out on their own. The reception has been nothing short of incredible. A chart-topping album, sold-out shows across the country, and a string of international television appearances have transformed the little drummer from Melbourne into one of the world’s most captivating contemporary artists, but G Flip’s biggest accolade comes from the fans.
In this brutally honest and heartfelt discussion, The Worst Person Alive singer sat down with Man of Many Editor-in-Chief Nick Hall to talk about their hit album DRUMMER, becoming a queer idol, and the night that “changed their life forever”.
Keegan Palmer Has Nothing Left to Prove
At just 21, Keegan Palmer is a living legend. The only man in history to win gold at an Olympic skateboarding event, Palmer has achieved the impossible not once, but twice, and he’s already eyeing a three-peat. In this chat with journalist Ben McKimm, the dual gold medallist reveals what it’s like to be the sport’s biggest star.
The 5,126 Failures Behind Dyson’s Success
Forty years ago, British entrepreneur Sir James Dyson redefined the home-cleaning industry. Now, his son is hoping to do the same for audio. Editor-in-Chief Nick Hall travelled to Dyson’s UK headquarters in Malmesbury to find out why the legendary brand is going all-in on audio and why failure isn’t final.
70 Years of Strat: The Story of Rock’s Most Influential Axe
It was the favoured axe of Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton, but what makes the Fender Stratocaster so special? Venturing to the home of Fender in Los Angeles, journalist Rob Edwards spoke directly with the people responsible for the iconic guitar before diving deep into the future of Fender.
‘Nothing Better’: AFL Legend Buddy Franklin’s Next Big Challenge
At the height of his 354-game AFL career, Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin was an unstoppable force. Now a full year out of the game, the footy legend is embracing his most challenging role to date. In this rare chat, he talks highlights, new beginnings and the rocky road to greatness.
The Remarkable Resilience of Ryan Papenhuyzen
“Through achieving success early in your career, you’re a bit naive to how difficult it is, but I think in the last four or five years, I’ve realised that.”
After tasting football’s sweetest success at just 22 years old, NRL star Ryan Papenhuyzen has been through hell. A string of season-ending injuries have robbed the Storm fullback of a maiden State of Origin jersey and test cap, but after two years spent predominantly on the sidelines, the rocky road to recovery is nearing an end. A second serving of premiership glory could well be waiting for him when he gets there.
In this exclusive interview, the 2020 Clive Churchill Medal winner explains how resilience has defined his remarkable journey, recounting the horror injuries that may have hampered his playing time but not his spirit. With a minor premiership already under his belt for this year, Papenhuyzen plans to go all the way again.
James McEvoy and Scoot McNairy’s Nightmare Fuel
How do you capture a living nightmare on film? With Speak No Evil, the latest horror blockbuster to hit the big screen, we find out. In a rare chat ahead of the film’s release, stars James McAvoy and Scoot McNairy reveal the tension behind societal niceties, and the very real threat posed when someone throws them out the window.
The Aussie Winemaker Who Just Won World’s Best
Thirty years ago, Ed Carr founded House of Arras with the dream of making high-quality Tasmanian sparkling wine. Now, he’s regarded as the world’s best winemaker. In this captivating chat with journalist Dean Blake, Carr shares the secrets of his craft and reveals why his little Aussie business keeps getting better with age.
The Legend of Chuck Taylor: Converse’s Enigmatic All-Star
A century ago, the Converse All-Star was born, but it would take another decade for the sneaker to hit its stride. With the help of a travelling salesman by the name of Chuck Taylor, the shoe was transformed into a beacon of style, but who was the man behind the moniker? Join one writer’s quest to unearth the legend of Chuck Taylor and discover if Converse’s most famous figurehead was fashion fact or folklore.
Inside Lennox Hastie’s World of Fire and Brimstone
Lennox Hastie is stoking the fire of progression. The internationally recognised chef behind Sydney institution Firedoor stands at the forefront of an emerging culinary trend, using flame and smoke to bring his unique, contemporary flavours to life. Speaking candidly with Ben McKimm, Hastie reveals the primal euphoria that only comes when you return to nature and how embracing the unpredictable can lead to remarkable results.
Dyson Daniels is Building Something Bigger Than Ball
Dyson Daniels could well be Australia’s most electrifying new basketball prospect. Two years into a burgeoning NBA career, the quiet kid from Melbourne has already established himself as a defensive specialist with incredible court vision, so his game-winning shot ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics was nothing if not entirely fitting. The Boomers may have fallen agonisingly short of a maiden podium finish, but the 21-year-old star isn’t letting failure define him. As he puts it, he has ‘unfinished business’ on the court.
“The path has been forged by so many greats, but now it’s our job to push things further and reach new heights. I think we can.”
In a rare chat just after the Paris 2024 Olympics, where Daniels went toe-to-toe with the world’s best, the new Atlanta Hawks combo guard discussed the strength of Aussie basketball, the challenges of adjusting to the NBA and why VOUSETI, his new streetwear label, is about more than just style.
Why an Aussie Beer Icon is Getting into the Whisky Game
Two years after it was first announced, legendary South Australian beer brand Coopers Brewery has opened the doors to its $70 million brewhouse. With state-of-the-art technology and a world-class restaurant, the future of ale has never looked healthier, but as writer John Guanzon found out when he visited, Coopers Brewery is about more than just beer.
Joe Farage Built a Suiting Empire; Now He’s Branching Out
After 25 years in the tailoring game, Australian menswear icon Joe Farage is stepping out. Inspired by the cross-continent showcase that is Pitti Immagine Uomo, Farage is elevating Japanese tech wear with a touch of Italian and Australian luxury. Meet Two.One, the new label that has reinvigorated an Australian fashion legend’s love for the game.
How On Running Took Its ‘Spray-on Shoes’ to the Olympics
With LightSpray, On Running revolutionised not only how a product looks, feels, and functions but also its engineering, design, and development process. Believe it or not, spray-on shoes are no longer something out of science fiction; they’re real, and they even made their way to the Olympics. Here, journalist Dean Blake investigates the latest footwear technology.
How Laphroaig Became Scotland’s Most Distinctive Whisky
On a tiny island an hour from Glasgow, you’ll find a land untouched by time. The birthplace of Scottish icon Laphroaig, Islay is like something out of a fairy tale, complete with folklore, fire, legends and giants. Here, Editor-in-Chief Nick Hall recounts his remarkable adventure through Scotland’s most enigmatic and undisturbed whisky region.
You Can’t Kill the Nokia 3210
The Nokia 3210 essentially redefined what a mobile phone could be, focusing on everyday customers instead of businessmen. Now, the classic phone is relaunching with a brand new mission: to get you to stop using it. Journalist Dean Blake takes us inside the launch (and relaunch) of the iconic phone, charting the bizarre rise of the pre-smartphone titan.
The Man Behind Every Olympic Gold
Eight years after the last in-person event, the 2024 Paris Olympics dazzled us in a way that no one thought possible. Behind every gold, silver, and bronze, Swiss Timing CEO Alain Zobrist was watching intently. We caught up with the man tasked with keeping time across ‘sport’s greatest spectacle’ to figure out just what goes on behind the scenes.
The Man of Many Digital Edition is a quarterly online publication highlighting key stories of success and determination. For more information on how to get involved or to share a story, contact [email protected] and be sure to sign up to our daily newsletter.
Authors – Nick Hall, Ben McKimm, Rob Edwards, Dean Blake, John Guanzon.
Design & Production – Nick Hall, John Guanzon, Dianne Caliwan, Beatrix Boon.
Special Thanks – Liquid Ideas, Tissot, VOUSETI
Sales & Partnerships – Elliott Barsby, Marcus Hurley, Alex Martinez.
