About BC Network

This Is What Media
Looks Like Now

Australia’s independent podcast network. Sport, lifestyle, business. Built for longevity, not spikes.

Our Story

Born in a garage
Built into a network

BC Network didn’t start as a media business. It started in a garage with webcams, no roadmap and no real production process. The goal was simple: talk sport honestly, and do it independently from mainstream media.

There was no grand plan. Just trial and error. Recording quality was patchy, sponsor deals were messy, roles were unclear. Every mistake forced a fix, and over time those fixes became systems.

The turning point came with the second show, Shelter FootyCast. That’s when it was clear the model wasn’t just working, it was repeatable. If the first show took months of mistakes to stabilise, the next one didn’t have to. And if independent creators were figuring this out alone, there should be a way to back them.

So we built the network we wished existed. We didn’t hoard what we had learned. We built a way of doing it that others could step into. What started as one podcast became a system independent voices could plug into.

A BC Network recording session in the studio
30+ Shows
4 Verticals
1 Network
2 States
Our Journey

From Mic Check to Network

The BackChat crew in their AFL club days, 2017
2017

BackChat Is Born

An AFL club podcast about how good backmen are. Hosted weekly by Will Schofield and Sam Butler, produced by Steven Bandy.

The spare-room relaunch recordings, 2020
2020

BackChat: The New Era

Two mates, a spare room and a secondhand mic. The BackChat Podcast relaunched as a weekly AFL conversation: raw, unfiltered and unapologetically independent. Hosted by Dan Const and Will Schofield.

Inside the garage HQ, 2021
2021

More Than Just a Podcast

While the world stopped, content didn't. BackChat doubled its audience, and the second show, Shelter FootyCast, proved the model was repeatable. We hired our first staff. Still in the garage.

The garage studio, club memorabilia and all, 2022
2022

Network Growth

The 4WD Podcast and more shows joined, across sport and lifestyle. And still in the garage.

An episode in the first purpose-built studio, 2023
2023

Our First Studio

We took the leap into our own space: multiple recording studios and a serious jump in production capability.

On location with a network sponsor, 2024
2024

One Million Downloads

The network crossed a million combined downloads. New shows joined and sponsors signed multi-season deals.

A multi-camera studio set ready to record, 2025
2025

Scaling Nationally

Expanded from Perth into Victoria with BackChat Melbourne. Live events, video-first content and deeper community.

A live show in front of a full room, 2026
2026

BackChat Group Forms

Network, Studios, Creator and Co come together as four connected divisions. One operating system.

Independent Voices
Built To Last

What We Stand For

Our Values

Longevity, Not Spikes

We play the long game. Sustainable growth, genuine partnerships and content that ages well, not clickbait that burns out.

Talent Alone Doesn’t Scale

Great hosts need a system behind them. We build the production, audience and commercial structure so creators can focus on what they do best: the mic.

Independence Needs Discipline

No corporate owners, no gatekeepers. Being independent is easy; staying sustainable isn’t. Discipline is what keeps it standing.

Trust Over Clout

We don’t chase viral moments. We build loyal audiences who come back every week because they trust the voice behind the mic.

The Bigger Picture

Part of BackChat Group

BC Network builds shows. From idea to audience. It’s one of four connected divisions inside BackChat Group. Different functions. Same principle.

BC Network

Builds shows.From idea to audience.

BC Studios

Makes content.Recorded, finished and ready to use.

BC Creator

Develops talent.The person, the platform and what comes next.

BC Co

Makes space.A home base for people doing the work.

Studio microphone detail
The Founders

Founders

Dan Const

Dan Const

Studied journalism, worked inside traditional media, and got tired of gatekeepers and slow systems. Built BackChat as the alternative. Dan oversees the systems behind the Group, including production, commercial operations, creator development and the workflows that keep it moving. The focus never changes: build modern media properly, without unnecessary layers.

Will Schofield

Will Schofield

A 194-game AFL career and a 2018 premiership with the West Coast Eagles, then into media with one belief: audiences wanted honesty and personality more than the traditional system was built to deliver. That thinking became BackChat. Today, Will works across Fox Footy, radio and digital media while continuing to co-host BackChat’s flagship shows and help shape the Group’s audience and commercial direction.

The People

Team

AH

Adrian Houghton

CB

Callum Buys

CE

Common Entertainment

Jaiden Ellis

Jaiden Ellis

A regular voice on Australia’s biggest 4WD podcast, Jaiden brings hands-on touring, build and modification know-how, from 76 Series Land Cruisers to weekend tracks the rest of the country doesn’t know about.

RC

Rob Crawford

RF

Ronan Fitzgerald

SC

Seb Clarke

SH

Sebastian Ho

TL

Toby Lloyd

On Air

The Talent

Adam Papalia

Adam Papalia

A Perth-based sports broadcaster best known for his play-by-play work with Fox Footy and 6PR. Adam covers around 60 games a season across AFL, WAFL, basketball and soccer, and was named Best Radio Commentator at the 2016 WA Football Media Awards.

Chris Kohler

Chris Kohler

One of Australia’s most recognisable finance journalists, Chris reports on cost of living, property and personal finance for the Today Show and Nine newspapers.

Damien Fleming

Damien Fleming

“Flem” took the first hat-trick by an Australian in a Test innings and was part of the 1999 World Cup-winning side. He’s now one of cricket’s most loved analysts, bringing equal parts technical insight and big personality.

Daniel Harford

Daniel Harford

A former Hawthorn and Carlton midfielder, Daniel built a 200+ game AFL career before moving into football media. He has since coached AFLW and local footy and continues to coach school footy today. He now works at the ABC as an AFL analyst.

Glenn McGrath

Glenn McGrath

One of the greatest fast bowlers in cricket history, Glenn took 563 Test wickets across a career that delivered three World Cup wins and an Australian Cricket Hall of Fame induction. Off the field he founded the McGrath Foundation.

Hamish Brayshaw

Hamish Brayshaw

A former West Coast Eagles midfielder from one of Australian football’s most prominent families. Hamish retired young to pursue media and business, and brings sharp footy IQ and a quick wit to whatever he turns his hand to.

Jason Gillespie

Jason Gillespie

Australia’s first Indigenous Test cricketer, “Dizzy” played 71 Tests and famously made 201 not out as a nightwatchman, still a record. He’s since become a successful international coach with stints at Yorkshire, Sussex and Pakistan.

Joel Innes

Joel Innes

The face behind Golf With Joel, one of Australia’s most-watched golf YouTube channels. Joel mixes weekend-warrior pain with proper coaching insight, and brings a content creator’s eye for what golf fans actually want to watch.

JR
Jonathan Weinstock

Jonathan Weinstock

Founder of FarmCap and host of Talking Aussie Farming, Jonathan sits down with the farmers, innovators and policymakers shaping the future of Australian food and agriculture. The show covers everything from regenerative practice to agri-tech to global trade.

LR

Lee Rayner

One of Australia’s most recognisable fishing personalities, Lee was an original face of iFish before launching his own long-running series, Fishing Edge. His deep knowledge of species, techniques and gear has built a devoted following across TV, video and podcast.

Anthony Lehmann

Lehmo

Anthony “Lehmo” Lehmann is one of Australia’s most prolific stand-up comedians and broadcasters, with a long history on the country’s biggest radio breakfast shifts. A devoted golfer with the handicap to match.

Liam Duggan

Liam Duggan

A West Coast Eagles co-captain and 2018 Premiership defender, Liam has built a reputation for toughness, consistency and uncompromising attack on the ball. Off the field he’s a passionate 4WD tragic and a three-time Chris Mainwaring Medal winner as the Eagles’ Best Clubman.

Mark Readings

Mark Readings

A long-time anchor of WA football coverage, Mark has been a fixture on Channel 7 Perth’s AFL and WAFL broadcasts for years. Few broadcasters know the Western Australian football scene better.

Oleg Markov

Oleg Markov

A Russian-born AFL utility who has played senior football for Richmond, Gold Coast, Brisbane and Collingwood, including the Magpies’ 2023 Premiership. Off the field he’s known as one of the game’s most genuine and curious characters.

OG

Ollie Geale

Co-host of the wildly popular Dan Does Footy alongside Dan Gorringe, “Big Ollie” has become a fan favourite for his sense of humour and his knack for making AFL feel like a mate’s pub chat. He also hosts live watch parties during Gather Round.

Paul Hasleby

Paul Hasleby

The 2000 AFL Rising Star and a former Fremantle Dockers midfielder. Paul is now one of WA’s most respected football voices, blending player insight with no-nonsense analysis.

Pete Helliar

Pete Helliar

Stand-up comedian, former The Project panellist and self-confessed golf tragic. Pete has been a fixture of Australia’s biggest comedy stages and screens for over two decades.

Ron Chopper

Ron Chopper

The persona of Matt Heath, Ron Chopper is one of Australia’s biggest golf content creators. What started as a COVID-era joke at Perth’s Pinjarra Golf Club has grown into a household name, with fans wearing the official uniform at events from the Australian Open to LIV Golf Adelaide.

TA

Tony Armstrong

A former AFL player turned ABC News Breakfast sports presenter, Tony is one of the country’s most popular broadcasters. His warmth, wit and storytelling have earned him a slate of acclaimed documentaries and a national following.

Want to Work With Us?

Whether you’re a creator looking for a home, a brand chasing authentic reach, or you just want to say g’day, we’d love to hear from you.