April 21, 2025 • 33 mins
In this episode, we’re joined by Australian entertainer Mark Tabone.
Mark was just 8 years old when his mother passed away, Mark shares his story about moving to Malta with his family, after her passing.
He talks about how his love for Elvis Presley was inspired by his older brother and meeting his soul mate Olympic swimmer, Lisa Curry.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Every day brings a new story. Life isn't perfect, but
it's perfectly ours with raw conversations, inspiring stories and laugh
until you cry moments we hit them. I unpack it
all and figure it out together, one episode at a time.
This is Life as we know It, Unfiltered with Tony
Tanalia and Lisa Cameron.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
I've got a special guest for this episode.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
We are joined by renowned Elvis tribute performer Mark Debone.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Mark also happens to be married to Olympics with Lisa Curry.
We hope you enjoy your story.
Speaker 4 (00:41):
Thank you, thanks for having me.
Speaker 5 (00:43):
Thank you for being here.
Speaker 4 (00:45):
So cool.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
I love the fact Lisa told me that you had
messaged her and said you had been manifesting.
Speaker 4 (00:51):
Come on, I was, I thought I want to be
on this podcast. You know, so here I am.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
What was it that made you want to be on
the podcast?
Speaker 4 (00:59):
I don't know. I just sort of I think I'm
ready to tell my story and I've got a story,
and yeah, I think it's great.
Speaker 5 (01:08):
I feel really hon it and appreciate it you want
to do that with us work.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Thank you, I mean your your background too is amazing
in that what you've done, I mean we we talked
you a little bit, which is what going to do.
But do you know this is going to make you
laugh or you're gonna go She's a freaking idiot. Secret
Life of Us.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
Yeah, I know.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
That was one of my favorite shows at least, sorry
talking about that before going Oh my god, I grew
up with that.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
I love that show. Yeah, I was sort of I
was only background though I was Yeah, I was only
sort of like big parts and yeah, so it wasn't
sort of too much of the guesty roles, but yeah,
it was good. It was part of that, you know,
when I was doing training to be out there doing
a bit more acting and then entertainment sort of really
(02:00):
over and I feel that where your focus is, that's
where you're going to be successful, you know. So you know,
if you determine to do something and be out there
and keep pushing yourself, you know you'll get there. And
that's what's sort of what happened to me with entertainment.
And because I think I wasn't very good at the
(02:23):
beginning to start somewhere, well this was you know, back
in the eighties, So yeah, I really worked at it,
and I think you're your best critic too, you know,
so it's very important to listen to yourself and watch yourself.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
And because you know what you're capable of doing, you
know how far you can push yourself. Or if something
doesn't feel right, you're the one that's going to know it,
nobody else exactly.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
And I think at the end of the day, you know,
you've got to set your goals and where you want
to be in five years time, and you go from there.
Do you do that?
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Do you set goals and do you achieve that.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
I used to? I mean, my goals now are more,
you know, because I've done sort of full circle. I've
been in the entertainment industry now thirty years. So now
I'm sort of doing events and tours. So I take
people overseas to America and we go and visit Memphis
during Elvis Week, and I make dreams come true for people.
(03:23):
And it's sort of with my experience in my knowledge.
They just get that little extra touch, you know, and
people become friends for life they come on these tours.
So it's great, it's really good. And I was saying
to Tony before Lisa, I was in this studio in
(03:43):
nineteen ninety seven in the building in the building. Yeah.
So when I first started out in ninety seven doing Elvis,
it was the twentieth anniversary of Elvis's death and they
had an expo at the showground and I was one
of the feature performers there. They asked me to come
(04:04):
in and do the interview for the breakfast show.
Speaker 5 (04:06):
Oh my god. So I'm really curious about this, so
being an Elvis performer. So you grew up in Malta.
Speaker 4 (04:15):
I did. There's that's a totally different story because I
was born in Melbourne. When I was eight years old,
my mother passed away and dad took us to Malta
because that was his heretician. So it was momsp and
so totally different culture everything. So went to school there.
(04:38):
My brother and I, you know, we always thought, oh
we would go back to Australia one day. So I was
seventeen and yeah, he said to me, I'm going back,
and I said, oh, what about me? Yeah, I'm coming
with you, you know. So, but he was the Elvis fan,
(04:58):
not me. After Ilves passed away and Kurt Russell didn't
the first bio pic, he got me to go with
him to go and see it is your brother older
than you. Yeah, fourteen months older. Yeah, his name is John,
and I got two brothers and the younger one Simon.
So John, we went to see this and I flipped.
You know, I was fourteen. I needed a hero at
(05:20):
the time. I went home, wet my hair and brushed
it back and thought, you know, this.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
Is funny you say that because my son, my youngest,
is a queen fanatic, and what turned him into a
queen fanatic was seeing the movie by him in that's
just interesting hearing you say that.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
Yeah, did that? I think for me it was I
wanted to know more about this person, you know, during
that whole life story, and so I went to record
shop the next day and bought records and you know,
and he was my hero.
Speaker 5 (05:55):
And what was it in particular about that movie or
about Elvis that made you feel like I need to
know more about this person.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
Yeah, going back, I think the whole life story. I
think from poverty is who to start them and also
generosity of things like that. Yeah, it just I think
it just got me really sentimental about and I use
this term that Elvis has some sort of magnet that like,
(06:26):
if he grabs you, there's no letting go, is that
chrisma about him, isn't it? Yeah? Because I was watching
Kurt Russell and then when I saw Elvis, I go, wow,
this guy is unreal, and so yeah, it was just
that whole thing, you know, and you go through a
phase that you want to be him, and I think, well,
(06:53):
you know, yeah, you know, I did go through that phase,
but I actually don't live it anymore. The character remains
on the stage. But yeah, but that's the thing. It's
But also, you know, you talk to a lot of
music stars and performers and they were all influenced by Elvis,
(07:13):
you know, you know, whether it's John Lennon or Elton
John or even led Zeppelin and the Doors. You know,
they all had that influence from Elvis, you know, because
he did everything.
Speaker 5 (07:24):
First, Yeah, I watched the Elvis movie with Austin Butler.
So I've always enjoyed Elvis's music, But then after watching
that film, I was just I've watched a fifteen times.
I got slightly obsessed.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Was it, maybe Foster?
Speaker 2 (07:40):
You were obsessed with so much Elvis?
Speaker 5 (07:43):
It's just a bit of bot But you know the
way that bas Liwlman directed the film everything, and there
were so many things that I learned about him, and
you know, afterwards, I did lots of research and you know,
like what you're saying, like he's just this magnetic person.
I found it really interesting too that he was a
very spiritual person, you know, and he was in it
(08:03):
was karate that he did, is that ye karate? And
he spent time with a lot of like spiritual leaders
and gurus and that, and he was trying to understand
why him, Yes, why him? And so that was really
interesting that you said that that you've found that he
had this magnetic sort of pull to him which he
was trying to understand about himself as well. Do you, like,
(08:26):
have you come to any conclusions about what that is?
Because I think he described it as this, you know,
he was like, what is this god given gift that
I have?
Speaker 4 (08:35):
Yeah? And he read a lot of books. He was
open to religions. So Elvis wore a Star of David.
He wore a Hebrew trye and a Christian cross. And
someone asked him, oh, was he confused? Yeah, not no, sir,
I just don't want to miss out on heaven on technicality.
Yeah cool, Well all right, honey.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
If you just close your eyes it's like he's really here.
Speaker 5 (09:05):
I soly Wow.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
Yeah. But over the years I've had opportunities to perform
alongside with people that worked with Elvis, and it wasn't
because I was looking for it or asking for it.
It sort of all just fell on my plate in
two thousand and five. See, I'm considered one of the
originals now, one.
Speaker 5 (09:28):
Of the old guys.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
So when you talk about nineteen ninety seven when I
was in the studio.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
I was having my daughter in nineteen bloody a.
Speaker 4 (09:37):
Long time ago. How old is now? So anyway, you know,
in two thousand and five, I was featured at Parks
Selvis Festival. I was there for two thousand and five,
two thousand and six. After two thousand and six, I thought, man,
I'm good. You know. You know, when you got to
(09:58):
give yourself a pat on the at yep, and you.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Got to believe in what you're doing and that you're
doing a great job.
Speaker 4 (10:04):
You know, there's there's ways of doing that and not
being up yourself and yep. But I just felt I
need to get out there a bit more, you know.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
So it's not in the confidence in yourself, that's what
it is. It's as much being up yourself. It's been
confident in what you can do in your ability.
Speaker 4 (10:20):
Yeah, And so I reached out to a fan club
president in Canada, and there was a festival in Canada
that was quite big at the time, and so she,
you know, I started emailing her and things like that,
and I said, oh, do you mind if I call you?
Because you know back and forth email. So I gave
(10:43):
her a call and we just got along really well.
You know, we were born on the same day. She
was ten years older than me, and so she organized
some gigs for me at this festival. And I went
to this festival and in return, I introduced her to Australia.
So I introduced her as a VIP agent for Elvis's
(11:05):
friends to bring them out to the festivals in Australia.
So there was Winter Sun before Cooley Rocks and so
for Winter Sun, Jerry Shilling, who was Elvis's best friend.
Jerry met Elvis when he was twelve years old. He
used to go and watch him play football in the
(11:27):
park with his brother. So Jerry's coming out this all
happened because of me. And so Kathleen said to me, Mark,
why don't you come a couple of days early and
hang out with Jerry a little bit. So I went.
I went a couple of days earlier to the festival
and I was featured in the festival as well. So
she wrung me my room and said, oh, Jerry's coming down.
(11:50):
He's going to the gym. You want to meet him?
And I said okay. So I went down the foyer
and there was a cafe there and all that sort
of stuff, and he was off to the gym. We
just got talking and I don't know what happened, but
an hour later we're still chatting, having coffee, and and
(12:10):
we hadn't spoken a word about Elvis.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Yeah, but you had the connection.
Speaker 4 (12:14):
But that's right, but.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
That's not the topic that brought you together in the end.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
But I think you know that's that's the key, is
like giving them the respect and the space away from
all that who hah, and then just accepting them as
a human being and what they do and who they are,
you know, as a person. Then I said to him,
and Jerry, you want to have dinner tonight? My shout,
(12:39):
so he says, you're on. So we went out to dinner,
got a bottle of red and when he was ready,
he started talking about all these stories about Elvis meeting
the Beatles, Elvis meeting Nixon, and it was amazing just
sitting there at the table, like just the four of us.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
Well, you were literally one step away from Elvis.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
Well that's right, and he said, you know what, I'm
going to come to your shll fantastic. And this was
the next night, and Kathleen's jaw drop because he never
goes to see tribute performers. Halfway through the show he
came and said, you do great justice to my good
friend's legacy.
Speaker 5 (13:21):
Oh my god.
Speaker 4 (13:23):
It was like it was a really an accolade for me,
you know, because I just felt, you know, that's all
I wanted to do is just do Elvis justice and
promote him in a positive way.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
Just so good at what you do as well.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
I mean, look, I've seen a couple of your shows now,
because obviously we've got that connection through Charline Springs, George
Cross and the Bistro George is on Vista, So I've
obviously seen you a few times. But you're that good
that you think it's Elvis on stage. I mean, there's
another character that you do that freaked me out. And
I'll bring that up a second, and you know which
one I'm talking about about you on stage as Elvis.
(14:01):
It's like, this is Elvis.
Speaker 4 (14:04):
I go into a trance as soon as I hear
the music. I just dropped Mark as. I just leave
him in the dressing room and just try and become
that character in Channel Elvis as much as possible. And
that that's all it is for me, is just you know,
an acting role, yes, and I just love it. You know.
(14:24):
I even put blue contexts in and things like that
just didn't make up and just to really get me
in character a little bit more, just just that extra step,
you know. So Yeah, I've been performing now for thirty years.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
Yeah, wow, something now right, But I still I still
love it.
Speaker 4 (14:47):
Yeah, can I can?
Speaker 3 (14:48):
I just very quickly bring up another character that you
do which flawed me and I had to keep reminding
myself that it was you and not the real Austin Powers.
Speaker 4 (14:59):
Oh my god.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
Yeah, I seriously when I saw you do that character,
I was I was convinced it was as it was
like he was in the room, it was, you know,
Mike Bides was there.
Speaker 4 (15:12):
It was freaky. I think, I know. I love that character.
Get Away with so much. But yeah, people try and
find me in that character because I'm totally not there.
And even my wife Lisa, you know, the first time,
you know, she saw me doing that, she goes, where
(15:34):
the hell is Mark and all that? You know, that's
the thing. You know, I'm a very quiet person, very
quietly spoken, but when the costume comes on, that's it.
It's a totally different person.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
But that's the sign of a good performer, the fact
that you fall into that role and you know you're
watching the person in that role and you believe that
it's the character you're portraying, that that's someone who's done
an amaze job at what they do.
Speaker 4 (16:01):
Oh thank you. I mean, you know, it's a I
just didn't want to be stereotyped doing Elvis, you know,
and I thought, you know, I can do you know,
voices and characters and things like that. And I was
always a mimic, even at school. I used to just
make fun of my teachers and impersonate them when they
were out of class. Yeah, I was something changed.
Speaker 5 (16:27):
Can you do an impersonation of us? But then I'm like, no, no, embarrassing.
My son does it too. I always put my hand
on my heart, you know, when I'm feeling something and
he goes, oh, here we go the Australian national anthem again,
and I'm like, I don't say that, but that's what
I must look like every time.
Speaker 4 (16:47):
Yeah. Well, I was so naughty in glass that I
had to have my own desk next to the teacher's desk,
so I wasn't allowed anybody sitting next to me.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
It was probably so this is back in the middle
came in.
Speaker 5 (17:02):
It was strict then because my mum, because Mum says
that when she was so she came out from Malta
when she was nine and because she was left handed,
the nuns used to belt her on her left hand
all the time. Was it like that for you?
Speaker 4 (17:19):
I remember primary school being a bit strict, Like my
Grade four teacher used to belt us with a stick.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
We had the strap at school strap and it's hard
to believe, little poor.
Speaker 4 (17:34):
Yeah, it was strict, but it was okay. We got
to We got away with a lot, but I used
to it kicked out a class a lot. And you're
in this little doorway hoping that the headmaster doesn't see you.
Down the hall right.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
And you're in trouble again. The head master season.
Speaker 4 (17:52):
Well, that's right, because because what happens is like on
the right hand or like further down the hall, that's
like form one, Form two. So yeah, by the time
he formed five, you're right next to the headmaster's office.
So we were like boom and we go out and
(18:13):
oh shit, he's going to come out for sure. And
then he would get us to kneel down on our hands,
ring the bell and everyone had walk past us.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
You know, Oh, my goodness, is where half of the
problems in the world I come from.
Speaker 5 (18:30):
Totally, Like I just wanted to change the topic a
little bit, but it was something that and I spoke
to Tony about this, and that I found really interesting
when I went to see your show and we talked
before you became Elvis, and that that was what you
were saying before, you know how you just wouldn't expect
(18:52):
this Elvis to come out of you because he was
at the front door greeting people and taking tickets and
getting people drinks and whatever. And I'm like, what the
hell is going on here? And then more when he came.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
Out, I'm like, oh my god, I was just here.
Speaker 5 (19:05):
But I remember you saying that we were just talking
about how lovely it was having Lisa on the show.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
And whichold clarify we're talking about Lisa Curry just in
case anybody, Just in case anybody's just tuned in, who's
this Lisa woman you're talking about? So Mark is married
to Lisa Curry, Just in case anyone's listening there going.
Speaker 5 (19:25):
Well, no, But I just found this really interesting what
you said. And I was just saying how beautiful it
was the things that Lisa was saying about you and
you know, your relationship together, and you'd said that you
felt like you two had been together in a past life.
That just gave me this, you know, and feeling this
just deep insight into you and your spirituality and you know,
(19:49):
this performer, but there's this real whole other side to you,
and I was just really interested to know more about this.
What made you feel like you've been together in a
in a part us life.
Speaker 4 (20:01):
Well, I'm very open to spirituality rather than religion. And
I was brought up, you know, a hard Catholic and
older boy and all that sort of stuff, But then
I feel that religions, you know, they tear people apart
and humans apart and segregate and for me. It was
(20:25):
more about what, you know, what is life all about?
You know, because we running here for a short time,
you know, so when you when you living your life,
what is it all for? So there's got to be
something else that we don't understand. And this is the thing,
because I had to guide Lisa through her loss of Jamie,
(20:50):
and that was that was terrible.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
That would have been horrendous.
Speaker 4 (20:53):
Yeah, I lost Lisa for two years, you know, so
you know, so she lost the daughter I lost her.
She's come through the other end. But at the same time,
I was trying to make her believe that there is
something We can't just be living here on Earth and
dying and that's it. It's all over. And my daughter
(21:16):
describes it really well. She feels like as humans where
we've got a shell and we're in a bubble and
when we die, the bubble pops, so we're still part
of the air, but you just can't see it. And
I think, you know, for me, my mom died at thirty,
my dad died at sixty, and I'm going to die probably,
(21:42):
I don't know when, but one day. But you know,
like it's just a feeling, you know, a feeling that
you have within, and you meet people and things happen,
it shows and you go, wow, that's a message or
that's something. Or a lady that lost her husband I
didn't even know, and I sang their wedding song.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
Yeah, you would have had on that woman.
Speaker 4 (22:07):
Yeah. But they're like sort of things that you cannot describe.
It's not just a coincidence, it's something. It's a message
or and I just really believe in that. And I,
you know, I was married for twenty five years and
my marriage ended, and I thought, I can you square
(22:29):
on this podcast? I said, what the fuck is in
it for me? Now? What's my future look like? You know?
And I was living by myself, and I was actually
in a factory, you know, at the time, I was
sort of, you know, just moved out in a factory,
(22:52):
sleeping on a mezzanine. And I put my hands out
and I said, well, fucking bring it on, and I
yelled to the universe with anger and everything. And then
and then Lisa came into my life.
Speaker 3 (23:07):
Is that is that what we need to do?
Speaker 4 (23:10):
I think? So, I mean, I think I think you
need to if you want something, you really need to
let go of what's holding you back and then invited in.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
It's so funny how you're saying that too, because Lisa
and I have sort of been feeling like this this year.
Like for us, it was almost like this this podcast
is like a whole new chapter in our lives. I mean,
losing Steph hasn't been easy, and I've said to Lisa
and to Steph, like for me, it's been hard to
move forward to the next stage of what we're doing
because there's that little bit of guilt of having left
(23:46):
Steph behind. And it was almost like Steph did an
episode with us, it was her final farewell, and that
was like it gave me the permission to then move
forward with it.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
And I just I don't know.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
I just look you saying that. I just feel like
this year it's all about change, and I mean, like
this is a number nine year anyway, but it's all
about endings and beginnings and moving forward. And like you said,
it's if you want something bad enough, you've got to
let go of the past and yelled to the universe
what it is you want to come into your life.
Speaker 4 (24:16):
Yeah. So, I mean I wasn't looking for love. I
wasn't even in a place for love. And then we
started sort of messaging each other and it was over
Comby's and I said, hey, are you going? And she
sent me a tear drop of ojes because her partner
(24:37):
had just left, and I said, can I call you?
I don't even have your number, you know, And then
so I called her and we had a really good
chat and yeah, just a friendship grew. And then after
about a month she said I want to come down
to Melbourne and see you. And I said, oh, shit, right,
(24:57):
And I said, oh, I'll be careful, Lisa. I'm not
only really good place, and yeah, I don't want to
hurt you. I respect you and all that sort of stuff.
But it's sort of after the second date, there was
all these signs saying that you know, this is it. Yeah,
it just became love. And that's when I felt, well,
(25:18):
I just felt it. We were in a past life,
so it's not something that you can like. Just I
just felt it.
Speaker 3 (25:29):
Did you feel because obviously this, this spiritual side of
you has been with you for a while and we
don't know much about whether Lisa is very spiritual. I
mean we get bits and pieces. We sort of have
an idea, but were you initially a bit worried about
talking to Lisa like this and saying to her, this
is how I feel, and I feel like we've been
together in a past life like or was she just
(25:50):
open to it straight away?
Speaker 4 (25:51):
No, No, I just said it. Yeah. And I think
for her it was because I think she was very
materialistic before she met me and wasn't really introduced to
that sort of thing within her family or you know,
or experienced death really apart from her father, you know,
(26:13):
and so yeah, but for me, it was just something
that I've It's always been part of me, and I
think it just all these things happened to me, you know,
whether it's through performing or through everyday life, and I
feel I feel something, and even like just looking for
(26:38):
messages from my mom, you know, just thinking, you know,
I would have loved to just have a chat with
her or something like that. And then the next Mother's Day,
I have this vivid dream of just sitting having coffee with.
Speaker 3 (26:54):
Her, and it was come to you in your dreams.
Speaker 4 (26:57):
Well, this was one time I was really asking her too,
and she did. I woke up crying. It was so real.
That was sort of Mother's Day. And then another Mother's
Day you know, I had a couple of kids and
I we went to Philip Blon and Mum in the sixties.
(27:19):
You know, I had this photo next to this the
bluestone wall at Philip Island, and I thought, I'll have
a photo like that on Mother's Day. I was going
through my photo and I go, there's distinctive stones in
the background of Mum'll next time I go to Philipine
and I'll try and find the exact spot. Then I
(27:40):
looked at my photo and I'm in the.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
Spot or in there as well. Because that's another way
that they let you know they're with you. There's just
this orb sits in the photo.
Speaker 4 (27:51):
Yeah, with orbs, you've got to be careful. It's it's
not just a lens flare. Yeah, but yes, there's there's
been certain things of orbs and you look into orbs
or zoom into orbs or but yeah, that's another part
of me that.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
Have you always been like that, Like, is that something
that's been with you as a kid or was that
like the turning point when your marriage broke up that none?
Speaker 4 (28:17):
I think no, it was probably a bit prior to that. Yeah,
I think after my dad died, I sort of thought
you know, what's life all about? Why are you going
to live for sixty years? And that's it?
Speaker 2 (28:32):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (28:32):
You know, we've got more relatives that have passed than alive,
you know what I mean. And that's to me, doesn't
make sense. So yeah, it's one of those things that
you just can't understand. But also it just makes Like
we say, Lisa's story, it just helps so many other people,
(28:56):
you know, understand that this is not just it. Yeah, yeah,
with her story, it's helped so many other families.
Speaker 5 (29:03):
You know, Given where you are now in life, I
don't know that we're always changing and evolving. What is
the meaning of life for you?
Speaker 4 (29:11):
Like?
Speaker 5 (29:11):
What what sort of ideas of you come to about it?
Speaker 4 (29:15):
I think it's bringing people together. Life is love. It's
all about if people have a problem with you, they
don't really have a problem with you, They have a
problem with themselves exactly. And be happy with yourself because
you're never going to be Elvis. You know what I'm
(29:40):
saying is be happy with yourself.
Speaker 3 (29:43):
You've got to live with yourself. I think, with this
person the rest of your life.
Speaker 4 (29:48):
And don't put too much pressure on yourself. You know.
I think these days we want the flash car, we
want the bee house, and then we're stressed out. Yes,
so we're putting ourselves on so much stress. If we
can just strip back a little bit and just do
the things that make you happy all the time rather
(30:08):
than yeah, and you know, I mean, this is one
thing that Lisa talks about, is like some people live
to work, some people work to live. So there's a
difference there. If you can find a happy medium where
you know you're happy, you're not too stressed out, that's
really important. Mark.
Speaker 3 (30:29):
We're coming sort of close to time here. But look,
the one thing that we talk to all our guests about,
and this basically happened by accident, but we ask all
our guests which celebrity death affected them the most.
Speaker 4 (30:44):
My lads to say, too, just go for it. Well,
when I was eleven, Elvis died. I just went out
of my grandma's house and my neighbor came up on
the bike on his bike saying Elvis died. And I
can remember for a moment and I just stopped and thought, Wow,
but the celebrity that really affected me because at the
(31:07):
time I was in the car in my minivan with
my family, four kids, my wife and we were driving
down the freeway and Lady die oh yeah the way. Yeah,
just previously we heard that Lady Di has been in
a car accident and then you know, within fifteen minutes
(31:28):
or so, they announced her dead. For me, it was
something that wow, you can just go just like that
and so tragic, and yeah, it just really affected me
because I was with my family at the time, you know,
and that's sort of something that I really think about.
I think about. You know, we were just driving down
the Monash Freeway right near the Mulvin sign.
Speaker 2 (31:51):
You can pictureself where you were when you heard the news.
Speaker 4 (31:54):
Yeah, so I think for me that would be a standout. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (31:59):
Yeah, Well we have to get you back, I know. No, seriously,
we will get you back the next when you can.
Because it's been an absolute pleasure and I notice just
so much more we can talk to you about it.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
Thank you, Thank you so much.
Speaker 4 (32:16):
Thanks really enjoyed it. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (32:19):
Mark did come back to have another chat with us.
Speaker 3 (32:21):
However, this time round, what he shared with us, we
know is going to shock you. I'm going to say
now what he talks about maybe triggering for some people.
Speaker 2 (32:28):
As he opens up about being sexually abused as a child.
It's a powerful story and one we hope that you
can listen to.
Speaker 1 (32:35):
You've been listening to Life as we Know It Unfiltered
with Tony Tanalia and Lisa Cameron. If you liked this episode,
please leave us a review or drop a comment on
our socials. We love hearing from you. You can also
come hang out with us on Instagram at Life as
we Know It dot podcast and on Facebook at Life
as we Know It. And please see that follow button
(32:55):
on your favorite podcast app if you're not following us yet,
catch up with you next episode.
Speaker 4 (33:02):
M m hmm.
Every day brings a new story. Life isn't perfect, but
it's perfectly ours with raw conversations, inspiring stories and laugh
until you cry moments we hit them. I unpack it
all and figure it out together, one episode at a time.
This is Life as we know It, Unfiltered with Tony
Tanalia and Lisa Cameron.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
I've got a special guest for this episode.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
We are joined by renowned Elvis tribute performer Mark Debone.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Mark also happens to be married to Olympics with Lisa Curry.
We hope you enjoy your story.
Speaker 4 (00:41):
Thank you, thanks for having me.
Speaker 5 (00:43):
Thank you for being here.
Speaker 4 (00:45):
So cool.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
I love the fact Lisa told me that you had
messaged her and said you had been manifesting.
Speaker 4 (00:51):
Come on, I was, I thought I want to be
on this podcast. You know, so here I am.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
What was it that made you want to be on
the podcast?
Speaker 4 (00:59):
I don't know. I just sort of I think I'm
ready to tell my story and I've got a story,
and yeah, I think it's great.
Speaker 5 (01:08):
I feel really hon it and appreciate it you want
to do that with us work.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Thank you, I mean your your background too is amazing
in that what you've done, I mean we we talked
you a little bit, which is what going to do.
But do you know this is going to make you
laugh or you're gonna go She's a freaking idiot. Secret
Life of Us.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
Yeah, I know.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
That was one of my favorite shows at least, sorry
talking about that before going Oh my god, I grew
up with that.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
I love that show. Yeah, I was sort of I
was only background though I was Yeah, I was only
sort of like big parts and yeah, so it wasn't
sort of too much of the guesty roles, but yeah,
it was good. It was part of that, you know,
when I was doing training to be out there doing
a bit more acting and then entertainment sort of really
(02:00):
over and I feel that where your focus is, that's
where you're going to be successful, you know. So you know,
if you determine to do something and be out there
and keep pushing yourself, you know you'll get there. And
that's what's sort of what happened to me with entertainment.
And because I think I wasn't very good at the
(02:23):
beginning to start somewhere, well this was you know, back
in the eighties, So yeah, I really worked at it,
and I think you're your best critic too, you know,
so it's very important to listen to yourself and watch yourself.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
And because you know what you're capable of doing, you
know how far you can push yourself. Or if something
doesn't feel right, you're the one that's going to know it,
nobody else exactly.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
And I think at the end of the day, you know,
you've got to set your goals and where you want
to be in five years time, and you go from there.
Do you do that?
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Do you set goals and do you achieve that.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
I used to? I mean, my goals now are more,
you know, because I've done sort of full circle. I've
been in the entertainment industry now thirty years. So now
I'm sort of doing events and tours. So I take
people overseas to America and we go and visit Memphis
during Elvis Week, and I make dreams come true for people.
(03:23):
And it's sort of with my experience in my knowledge.
They just get that little extra touch, you know, and
people become friends for life they come on these tours.
So it's great, it's really good. And I was saying
to Tony before Lisa, I was in this studio in
(03:43):
nineteen ninety seven in the building in the building. Yeah.
So when I first started out in ninety seven doing Elvis,
it was the twentieth anniversary of Elvis's death and they
had an expo at the showground and I was one
of the feature performers there. They asked me to come
(04:04):
in and do the interview for the breakfast show.
Speaker 5 (04:06):
Oh my god. So I'm really curious about this, so
being an Elvis performer. So you grew up in Malta.
Speaker 4 (04:15):
I did. There's that's a totally different story because I
was born in Melbourne. When I was eight years old,
my mother passed away and dad took us to Malta
because that was his heretician. So it was momsp and
so totally different culture everything. So went to school there.
(04:38):
My brother and I, you know, we always thought, oh
we would go back to Australia one day. So I was
seventeen and yeah, he said to me, I'm going back,
and I said, oh, what about me? Yeah, I'm coming
with you, you know. So, but he was the Elvis fan,
(04:58):
not me. After Ilves passed away and Kurt Russell didn't
the first bio pic, he got me to go with
him to go and see it is your brother older
than you. Yeah, fourteen months older. Yeah, his name is John,
and I got two brothers and the younger one Simon.
So John, we went to see this and I flipped.
You know, I was fourteen. I needed a hero at
(05:20):
the time. I went home, wet my hair and brushed
it back and thought, you know, this.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
Is funny you say that because my son, my youngest,
is a queen fanatic, and what turned him into a
queen fanatic was seeing the movie by him in that's
just interesting hearing you say that.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
Yeah, did that? I think for me it was I
wanted to know more about this person, you know, during
that whole life story, and so I went to record
shop the next day and bought records and you know,
and he was my hero.
Speaker 5 (05:55):
And what was it in particular about that movie or
about Elvis that made you feel like I need to
know more about this person.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
Yeah, going back, I think the whole life story. I
think from poverty is who to start them and also
generosity of things like that. Yeah, it just I think
it just got me really sentimental about and I use
this term that Elvis has some sort of magnet that like,
(06:26):
if he grabs you, there's no letting go, is that
chrisma about him, isn't it? Yeah? Because I was watching
Kurt Russell and then when I saw Elvis, I go, wow,
this guy is unreal, and so yeah, it was just
that whole thing, you know, and you go through a
phase that you want to be him, and I think, well,
(06:53):
you know, yeah, you know, I did go through that phase,
but I actually don't live it anymore. The character remains
on the stage. But yeah, but that's the thing. It's
But also, you know, you talk to a lot of
music stars and performers and they were all influenced by Elvis,
(07:13):
you know, you know, whether it's John Lennon or Elton
John or even led Zeppelin and the Doors. You know,
they all had that influence from Elvis, you know, because
he did everything.
Speaker 5 (07:24):
First, Yeah, I watched the Elvis movie with Austin Butler.
So I've always enjoyed Elvis's music, But then after watching
that film, I was just I've watched a fifteen times.
I got slightly obsessed.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Was it, maybe Foster?
Speaker 2 (07:40):
You were obsessed with so much Elvis?
Speaker 5 (07:43):
It's just a bit of bot But you know the
way that bas Liwlman directed the film everything, and there
were so many things that I learned about him, and
you know, afterwards, I did lots of research and you know,
like what you're saying, like he's just this magnetic person.
I found it really interesting too that he was a
very spiritual person, you know, and he was in it
(08:03):
was karate that he did, is that ye karate? And
he spent time with a lot of like spiritual leaders
and gurus and that, and he was trying to understand
why him, Yes, why him? And so that was really
interesting that you said that that you've found that he
had this magnetic sort of pull to him which he
was trying to understand about himself as well. Do you, like,
(08:26):
have you come to any conclusions about what that is?
Because I think he described it as this, you know,
he was like, what is this god given gift that
I have?
Speaker 4 (08:35):
Yeah? And he read a lot of books. He was
open to religions. So Elvis wore a Star of David.
He wore a Hebrew trye and a Christian cross. And
someone asked him, oh, was he confused? Yeah, not no, sir,
I just don't want to miss out on heaven on technicality.
Yeah cool, Well all right, honey.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
If you just close your eyes it's like he's really here.
Speaker 5 (09:05):
I soly Wow.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
Yeah. But over the years I've had opportunities to perform
alongside with people that worked with Elvis, and it wasn't
because I was looking for it or asking for it.
It sort of all just fell on my plate in
two thousand and five. See, I'm considered one of the
originals now, one.
Speaker 5 (09:28):
Of the old guys.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
So when you talk about nineteen ninety seven when I
was in the studio.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
I was having my daughter in nineteen bloody a.
Speaker 4 (09:37):
Long time ago. How old is now? So anyway, you know,
in two thousand and five, I was featured at Parks
Selvis Festival. I was there for two thousand and five,
two thousand and six. After two thousand and six, I thought, man,
I'm good. You know. You know, when you got to
(09:58):
give yourself a pat on the at yep, and you.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Got to believe in what you're doing and that you're
doing a great job.
Speaker 4 (10:04):
You know, there's there's ways of doing that and not
being up yourself and yep. But I just felt I
need to get out there a bit more, you know.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
So it's not in the confidence in yourself, that's what
it is. It's as much being up yourself. It's been
confident in what you can do in your ability.
Speaker 4 (10:20):
Yeah, And so I reached out to a fan club
president in Canada, and there was a festival in Canada
that was quite big at the time, and so she,
you know, I started emailing her and things like that,
and I said, oh, do you mind if I call you?
Because you know back and forth email. So I gave
(10:43):
her a call and we just got along really well.
You know, we were born on the same day. She
was ten years older than me, and so she organized
some gigs for me at this festival. And I went
to this festival and in return, I introduced her to Australia.
So I introduced her as a VIP agent for Elvis's
(11:05):
friends to bring them out to the festivals in Australia.
So there was Winter Sun before Cooley Rocks and so
for Winter Sun, Jerry Shilling, who was Elvis's best friend.
Jerry met Elvis when he was twelve years old. He
used to go and watch him play football in the
(11:27):
park with his brother. So Jerry's coming out this all
happened because of me. And so Kathleen said to me, Mark,
why don't you come a couple of days early and
hang out with Jerry a little bit. So I went.
I went a couple of days earlier to the festival
and I was featured in the festival as well. So
she wrung me my room and said, oh, Jerry's coming down.
(11:50):
He's going to the gym. You want to meet him?
And I said okay. So I went down the foyer
and there was a cafe there and all that sort
of stuff, and he was off to the gym. We
just got talking and I don't know what happened, but
an hour later we're still chatting, having coffee, and and
(12:10):
we hadn't spoken a word about Elvis.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Yeah, but you had the connection.
Speaker 4 (12:14):
But that's right, but.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
That's not the topic that brought you together in the end.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
But I think you know that's that's the key, is
like giving them the respect and the space away from
all that who hah, and then just accepting them as
a human being and what they do and who they are,
you know, as a person. Then I said to him,
and Jerry, you want to have dinner tonight? My shout,
(12:39):
so he says, you're on. So we went out to dinner,
got a bottle of red and when he was ready,
he started talking about all these stories about Elvis meeting
the Beatles, Elvis meeting Nixon, and it was amazing just
sitting there at the table, like just the four of us.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
Well, you were literally one step away from Elvis.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
Well that's right, and he said, you know what, I'm
going to come to your shll fantastic. And this was
the next night, and Kathleen's jaw drop because he never
goes to see tribute performers. Halfway through the show he
came and said, you do great justice to my good
friend's legacy.
Speaker 5 (13:21):
Oh my god.
Speaker 4 (13:23):
It was like it was a really an accolade for me,
you know, because I just felt, you know, that's all
I wanted to do is just do Elvis justice and
promote him in a positive way.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
Just so good at what you do as well.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
I mean, look, I've seen a couple of your shows now,
because obviously we've got that connection through Charline Springs, George
Cross and the Bistro George is on Vista, So I've
obviously seen you a few times. But you're that good
that you think it's Elvis on stage. I mean, there's
another character that you do that freaked me out. And
I'll bring that up a second, and you know which
one I'm talking about about you on stage as Elvis.
(14:01):
It's like, this is Elvis.
Speaker 4 (14:04):
I go into a trance as soon as I hear
the music. I just dropped Mark as. I just leave
him in the dressing room and just try and become
that character in Channel Elvis as much as possible. And
that that's all it is for me, is just you know,
an acting role, yes, and I just love it. You know.
(14:24):
I even put blue contexts in and things like that
just didn't make up and just to really get me
in character a little bit more, just just that extra step,
you know. So Yeah, I've been performing now for thirty years.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
Yeah, wow, something now right, But I still I still
love it.
Speaker 4 (14:47):
Yeah, can I can?
Speaker 3 (14:48):
I just very quickly bring up another character that you
do which flawed me and I had to keep reminding
myself that it was you and not the real Austin Powers.
Speaker 4 (14:59):
Oh my god.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
Yeah, I seriously when I saw you do that character,
I was I was convinced it was as it was
like he was in the room, it was, you know,
Mike Bides was there.
Speaker 4 (15:12):
It was freaky. I think, I know. I love that character.
Get Away with so much. But yeah, people try and
find me in that character because I'm totally not there.
And even my wife Lisa, you know, the first time,
you know, she saw me doing that, she goes, where
(15:34):
the hell is Mark and all that? You know, that's
the thing. You know, I'm a very quiet person, very
quietly spoken, but when the costume comes on, that's it.
It's a totally different person.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
But that's the sign of a good performer, the fact
that you fall into that role and you know you're
watching the person in that role and you believe that
it's the character you're portraying, that that's someone who's done
an amaze job at what they do.
Speaker 4 (16:01):
Oh thank you. I mean, you know, it's a I
just didn't want to be stereotyped doing Elvis, you know,
and I thought, you know, I can do you know,
voices and characters and things like that. And I was
always a mimic, even at school. I used to just
make fun of my teachers and impersonate them when they
were out of class. Yeah, I was something changed.
Speaker 5 (16:27):
Can you do an impersonation of us? But then I'm like, no, no, embarrassing.
My son does it too. I always put my hand
on my heart, you know, when I'm feeling something and
he goes, oh, here we go the Australian national anthem again,
and I'm like, I don't say that, but that's what
I must look like every time.
Speaker 4 (16:47):
Yeah. Well, I was so naughty in glass that I
had to have my own desk next to the teacher's desk,
so I wasn't allowed anybody sitting next to me.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
It was probably so this is back in the middle
came in.
Speaker 5 (17:02):
It was strict then because my mum, because Mum says
that when she was so she came out from Malta
when she was nine and because she was left handed,
the nuns used to belt her on her left hand
all the time. Was it like that for you?
Speaker 4 (17:19):
I remember primary school being a bit strict, Like my
Grade four teacher used to belt us with a stick.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
We had the strap at school strap and it's hard
to believe, little poor.
Speaker 4 (17:34):
Yeah, it was strict, but it was okay. We got
to We got away with a lot, but I used
to it kicked out a class a lot. And you're
in this little doorway hoping that the headmaster doesn't see you.
Down the hall right.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
And you're in trouble again. The head master season.
Speaker 4 (17:52):
Well, that's right, because because what happens is like on
the right hand or like further down the hall, that's
like form one, Form two. So yeah, by the time
he formed five, you're right next to the headmaster's office.
So we were like boom and we go out and
(18:13):
oh shit, he's going to come out for sure. And
then he would get us to kneel down on our hands,
ring the bell and everyone had walk past us.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
You know, Oh, my goodness, is where half of the
problems in the world I come from.
Speaker 5 (18:30):
Totally, Like I just wanted to change the topic a
little bit, but it was something that and I spoke
to Tony about this, and that I found really interesting
when I went to see your show and we talked
before you became Elvis, and that that was what you
were saying before, you know how you just wouldn't expect
(18:52):
this Elvis to come out of you because he was
at the front door greeting people and taking tickets and
getting people drinks and whatever. And I'm like, what the
hell is going on here? And then more when he came.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
Out, I'm like, oh my god, I was just here.
Speaker 5 (19:05):
But I remember you saying that we were just talking
about how lovely it was having Lisa on the show.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
And whichold clarify we're talking about Lisa Curry just in
case anybody, Just in case anybody's just tuned in, who's
this Lisa woman you're talking about? So Mark is married
to Lisa Curry, Just in case anyone's listening there going.
Speaker 5 (19:25):
Well, no, But I just found this really interesting what
you said. And I was just saying how beautiful it
was the things that Lisa was saying about you and
you know, your relationship together, and you'd said that you
felt like you two had been together in a past life.
That just gave me this, you know, and feeling this
just deep insight into you and your spirituality and you know,
(19:49):
this performer, but there's this real whole other side to you,
and I was just really interested to know more about this.
What made you feel like you've been together in a
in a part us life.
Speaker 4 (20:01):
Well, I'm very open to spirituality rather than religion. And
I was brought up, you know, a hard Catholic and
older boy and all that sort of stuff, But then
I feel that religions, you know, they tear people apart
and humans apart and segregate and for me. It was
(20:25):
more about what, you know, what is life all about?
You know, because we running here for a short time,
you know, so when you when you living your life,
what is it all for? So there's got to be
something else that we don't understand. And this is the thing,
because I had to guide Lisa through her loss of Jamie,
(20:50):
and that was that was terrible.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
That would have been horrendous.
Speaker 4 (20:53):
Yeah, I lost Lisa for two years, you know, so
you know, so she lost the daughter I lost her.
She's come through the other end. But at the same time,
I was trying to make her believe that there is
something We can't just be living here on Earth and
dying and that's it. It's all over. And my daughter
(21:16):
describes it really well. She feels like as humans where
we've got a shell and we're in a bubble and
when we die, the bubble pops, so we're still part
of the air, but you just can't see it. And
I think, you know, for me, my mom died at thirty,
my dad died at sixty, and I'm going to die probably,
(21:42):
I don't know when, but one day. But you know,
like it's just a feeling, you know, a feeling that
you have within, and you meet people and things happen,
it shows and you go, wow, that's a message or
that's something. Or a lady that lost her husband I
didn't even know, and I sang their wedding song.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
Yeah, you would have had on that woman.
Speaker 4 (22:07):
Yeah. But they're like sort of things that you cannot describe.
It's not just a coincidence, it's something. It's a message
or and I just really believe in that. And I,
you know, I was married for twenty five years and
my marriage ended, and I thought, I can you square
(22:29):
on this podcast? I said, what the fuck is in
it for me? Now? What's my future look like? You know?
And I was living by myself, and I was actually
in a factory, you know, at the time, I was
sort of, you know, just moved out in a factory,
(22:52):
sleeping on a mezzanine. And I put my hands out
and I said, well, fucking bring it on, and I
yelled to the universe with anger and everything. And then
and then Lisa came into my life.
Speaker 3 (23:07):
Is that is that what we need to do?
Speaker 4 (23:10):
I think? So, I mean, I think I think you
need to if you want something, you really need to
let go of what's holding you back and then invited in.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
It's so funny how you're saying that too, because Lisa
and I have sort of been feeling like this this year.
Like for us, it was almost like this this podcast
is like a whole new chapter in our lives. I mean,
losing Steph hasn't been easy, and I've said to Lisa
and to Steph, like for me, it's been hard to
move forward to the next stage of what we're doing
because there's that little bit of guilt of having left
(23:46):
Steph behind. And it was almost like Steph did an
episode with us, it was her final farewell, and that
was like it gave me the permission to then move
forward with it.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
And I just I don't know.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
I just look you saying that. I just feel like
this year it's all about change, and I mean, like
this is a number nine year anyway, but it's all
about endings and beginnings and moving forward. And like you said,
it's if you want something bad enough, you've got to
let go of the past and yelled to the universe
what it is you want to come into your life.
Speaker 4 (24:16):
Yeah. So, I mean I wasn't looking for love. I
wasn't even in a place for love. And then we
started sort of messaging each other and it was over
Comby's and I said, hey, are you going? And she
sent me a tear drop of ojes because her partner
(24:37):
had just left, and I said, can I call you?
I don't even have your number, you know, And then
so I called her and we had a really good
chat and yeah, just a friendship grew. And then after
about a month she said I want to come down
to Melbourne and see you. And I said, oh, shit, right,
(24:57):
And I said, oh, I'll be careful, Lisa. I'm not
only really good place, and yeah, I don't want to
hurt you. I respect you and all that sort of stuff.
But it's sort of after the second date, there was
all these signs saying that you know, this is it. Yeah,
it just became love. And that's when I felt, well,
(25:18):
I just felt it. We were in a past life,
so it's not something that you can like. Just I
just felt it.
Speaker 3 (25:29):
Did you feel because obviously this, this spiritual side of
you has been with you for a while and we
don't know much about whether Lisa is very spiritual. I
mean we get bits and pieces. We sort of have
an idea, but were you initially a bit worried about
talking to Lisa like this and saying to her, this
is how I feel, and I feel like we've been
together in a past life like or was she just
(25:50):
open to it straight away?
Speaker 4 (25:51):
No, No, I just said it. Yeah. And I think
for her it was because I think she was very
materialistic before she met me and wasn't really introduced to
that sort of thing within her family or you know,
or experienced death really apart from her father, you know,
(26:13):
and so yeah, but for me, it was just something
that I've It's always been part of me, and I
think it just all these things happened to me, you know,
whether it's through performing or through everyday life, and I
feel I feel something, and even like just looking for
(26:38):
messages from my mom, you know, just thinking, you know,
I would have loved to just have a chat with
her or something like that. And then the next Mother's Day,
I have this vivid dream of just sitting having coffee with.
Speaker 3 (26:54):
Her, and it was come to you in your dreams.
Speaker 4 (26:57):
Well, this was one time I was really asking her too,
and she did. I woke up crying. It was so real.
That was sort of Mother's Day. And then another Mother's
Day you know, I had a couple of kids and
I we went to Philip Blon and Mum in the sixties.
(27:19):
You know, I had this photo next to this the
bluestone wall at Philip Island, and I thought, I'll have
a photo like that on Mother's Day. I was going
through my photo and I go, there's distinctive stones in
the background of Mum'll next time I go to Philipine
and I'll try and find the exact spot. Then I
(27:40):
looked at my photo and I'm in the.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
Spot or in there as well. Because that's another way
that they let you know they're with you. There's just
this orb sits in the photo.
Speaker 4 (27:51):
Yeah, with orbs, you've got to be careful. It's it's
not just a lens flare. Yeah, but yes, there's there's
been certain things of orbs and you look into orbs
or zoom into orbs or but yeah, that's another part
of me that.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
Have you always been like that, Like, is that something
that's been with you as a kid or was that
like the turning point when your marriage broke up that none?
Speaker 4 (28:17):
I think no, it was probably a bit prior to that. Yeah,
I think after my dad died, I sort of thought
you know, what's life all about? Why are you going
to live for sixty years? And that's it?
Speaker 2 (28:32):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (28:32):
You know, we've got more relatives that have passed than alive,
you know what I mean. And that's to me, doesn't
make sense. So yeah, it's one of those things that
you just can't understand. But also it just makes Like
we say, Lisa's story, it just helps so many other people,
(28:56):
you know, understand that this is not just it. Yeah, yeah,
with her story, it's helped so many other families.
Speaker 5 (29:03):
You know, Given where you are now in life, I
don't know that we're always changing and evolving. What is
the meaning of life for you?
Speaker 4 (29:11):
Like?
Speaker 5 (29:11):
What what sort of ideas of you come to about it?
Speaker 4 (29:15):
I think it's bringing people together. Life is love. It's
all about if people have a problem with you, they
don't really have a problem with you, They have a
problem with themselves exactly. And be happy with yourself because
you're never going to be Elvis. You know what I'm
(29:40):
saying is be happy with yourself.
Speaker 3 (29:43):
You've got to live with yourself. I think, with this
person the rest of your life.
Speaker 4 (29:48):
And don't put too much pressure on yourself. You know.
I think these days we want the flash car, we
want the bee house, and then we're stressed out. Yes,
so we're putting ourselves on so much stress. If we
can just strip back a little bit and just do
the things that make you happy all the time rather
(30:08):
than yeah, and you know, I mean, this is one
thing that Lisa talks about, is like some people live
to work, some people work to live. So there's a
difference there. If you can find a happy medium where
you know you're happy, you're not too stressed out, that's
really important. Mark.
Speaker 3 (30:29):
We're coming sort of close to time here. But look,
the one thing that we talk to all our guests about,
and this basically happened by accident, but we ask all
our guests which celebrity death affected them the most.
Speaker 4 (30:44):
My lads to say, too, just go for it. Well,
when I was eleven, Elvis died. I just went out
of my grandma's house and my neighbor came up on
the bike on his bike saying Elvis died. And I
can remember for a moment and I just stopped and thought, Wow,
but the celebrity that really affected me because at the
(31:07):
time I was in the car in my minivan with
my family, four kids, my wife and we were driving
down the freeway and Lady die oh yeah the way. Yeah,
just previously we heard that Lady Di has been in
a car accident and then you know, within fifteen minutes
(31:28):
or so, they announced her dead. For me, it was
something that wow, you can just go just like that
and so tragic, and yeah, it just really affected me
because I was with my family at the time, you know,
and that's sort of something that I really think about.
I think about. You know, we were just driving down
the Monash Freeway right near the Mulvin sign.
Speaker 2 (31:51):
You can pictureself where you were when you heard the news.
Speaker 4 (31:54):
Yeah, so I think for me that would be a standout. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (31:59):
Yeah, Well we have to get you back, I know. No, seriously,
we will get you back the next when you can.
Because it's been an absolute pleasure and I notice just
so much more we can talk to you about it.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
Thank you, Thank you so much.
Speaker 4 (32:16):
Thanks really enjoyed it. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (32:19):
Mark did come back to have another chat with us.
Speaker 3 (32:21):
However, this time round, what he shared with us, we
know is going to shock you. I'm going to say
now what he talks about maybe triggering for some people.
Speaker 2 (32:28):
As he opens up about being sexually abused as a child.
It's a powerful story and one we hope that you
can listen to.
Speaker 1 (32:35):
You've been listening to Life as we Know It Unfiltered
with Tony Tanalia and Lisa Cameron. If you liked this episode,
please leave us a review or drop a comment on
our socials. We love hearing from you. You can also
come hang out with us on Instagram at Life as
we Know It dot podcast and on Facebook at Life
as we Know It. And please see that follow button
(32:55):
on your favorite podcast app if you're not following us yet,
catch up with you next episode.
Speaker 4 (33:02):
M m hmm.
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