78. Chris Franklin - Beyond Bloke: A Life of laughs, Love and Luck

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78. Chris Franklin - Beyond Bloke: A Life of laughs, Love and Luck

Lui Diaz

Jun 29, 2025

Chris Franklin is an Australian comedy legend behind the platinum-selling parody Bloke.

In Episode 78 of The Lui Diaz Podcast, Lui sits down with Australian comedy legend Chris Franklin. Known for his platinum-selling parody single Bloke, Franklin shares his serendipitous journey from Navy cook to comedy icon. The conversation traces his life’s ups and downs, from battling alcohol issues and living on his cousin’s floor to winning the Raw Comedy competition and almost haphazardly achieving fame.

To open, Franklin recounts the 25-year saga of his unreleased film Yesterday’s Hero and his role in fostering new talent at the festival’s after-party show. With humour and humility, he reflects on resilience, sobriety, and the importance of staying present.

The episode, infused with Franklin’s laid-back charm and tales of chance encounters, like meeting comedy mentors and EMI executives, underscores his philosophy of embracing life without rigid goals. A surprise cameo by former guest and comedian Lars Calieou adds warmth, highlighting Franklin’s enduring friendships and contributions to the comedy scene.

Key Themes: Serendipity, resilience, humility, comedy community, personal growth.

Highlights

Serendipity Shapes Success: Franklin’s career was sparked by chance encounters, like meeting Chris Bennett, emphasising the role of luck. “If he wasn’t at that bar, I probably wouldn’t be doing stand-up comedy” (01:27:44).
Resilience Through Failure: Despite setbacks like his unreleased film, Franklin persists with humour. “They’ve been at me for 25 years to try and get something out of this film” (00:01:29).
Humility from Hardship: His past struggles keep him grounded, as seen in his generosity to the homeless. “There for the love of God go me” (00:18:16).
Nurturing Community: Franklin gives back by platforming new comedians, finding fulfilment in their growth. “It’s fulfilling to see them progress” (01:38:31).
Living in the Moment: His goal-free approach fosters contentment. “If I go in an hour, I’m happy. I’ve done everything” (01:21:32).

For those watching, please excuse the first 14 minutes, having recorded this episode outside of my usual hours we were impacted by direct sunlight.

You can follow Chris and his incredible comedy journey spanning almost 30 years via Facebook or Instagram via @christheblokefranklin > https://www.instagram.com/christheblokefranklin/

🫶 Thanks again for listening and watching! Let us know what you think and catch you in the next episode.