Tommy Fury and John Fury get ready for ultimate showdown in new podcast debating modern life, What the Fury?!

Tommy and John Fury are father and son - but they see the world through completely different eyes.

Tommy’s Gen Z: an iced-coffee-drinking, Love Island star and famous boxer who's all about self-care, Instagram stories and the modern way of doing things. John’s old-school: a straight-talking, caravan-living, oat milk–hating 60 year old who thinks that modern day tech has ruined everything.

What The Fury?! is their ten-part video podcast series - where they sit down face to face to clash over the biggest themes and craziest phenomena of modern life. Every episode, they take on one subject that has faced major changes in the past few decades including: kids, masculinity, AI, money, homes, food, relationships, gadgets, holidays and entertainment.

And each episode builds to a final verdict. Has Tommy managed to bring John round to his modern way of thinking - or has John convinced Tommy that he was right all along?

Watch What the Fury?! on BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport YouTube or listen on BBC Sounds from Tuesday 14 July.

MJ

Q&A with Tommy Fury and John Fury

How would you best describe What the Fury?!

John: Well from what I’ve seen it’s very very funny, different and down to earth.

Tommy: I would describe What the Fury?! as a complete contrast between the old school and the new generation. You get some great points from both sides, and sometimes we even share the same opinion, so it’s a good mix. There are things we’ve discussed on the podcast that my dad has never spoken about before, and in fact, neither have I. So, it’s something new for the audience to listen to.

John, you’ve described yourself as having a more traditional outlook, how did you find stepping into this format?

John: It’s actually a shock to my system as I’ve never done anything like this in my entire life. It’s been a very enjoyable experience. I’m learning new stuff every day, meeting new people, getting to know what they are about and getting to know their ways. It’s very inspiring and I loved every minute of it.

Did the conversation between the two of you ever get heated?

Tommy: Yeah, I think on some points my dad had one opinion and I had another. But I think that’s the great thing about the podcast. We didn’t agree on everything and simply roll through the questions, we actually stopped and, while we didn’t have an argument, we did have some real back-and-forth discussions on certain topics. I think that’s what made it interesting.

John: I think that every minute of the day with Tommy (laughs) I seldom win an argument with him or any of my sons, but I try to put my point across, but when you’re 40 plus they think you don’t know anything and that’s where we clash.

Tommy, was there a subject you found particularly challenging to explain to your dad?

Tommy: Not really. I can talk to my dad about anything, so I found it all really easy and free-flowing. There wasn’t any awkwardness during the podcast where I felt I couldn’t say something to him. Everything was out in the open.

What was the most unexpected or random thing you both ended up discussing while making the podcast?

Tommy: All the topics were things I’d never thought I’d talk to my dad about, like nappies and all that sort of stuff, things my dad wouldn’t normally discuss. We talked about a lot of subjects that you’d never expect to hear John Fury talk about, put it that way.

What was your favourite topic to debate and why?

Tommy: They were all light-hearted and fun, but I’d say the discussion about children and being a parent was my favourite. Being a parent in my dad’s day meant going out and fighting for a living, as well as doing all sorts of jobs on the side just to make ends meet and feed the family. Today, things like social media can be a job, and boxing pays far more than it used to. So, while it’s not quite the same struggle as it was when he was raising a family, there are still a lot of similarities. I found it really interesting to talk to my dad about.

John: A good topic for me was combining the old and the new because it helps younger generations understand things from the older generation that they might not know or understand about. That combination can be really knowledgeable, and there’s so much they can learn from it. Like me opening a tin with a penknife. The younger generation probably won’t see that today.

John, were you surprised by Tommy’s views on certain subjects?

John: Absolutely because when you’re doing a show like What the Fury?! you learn so much you didn’t know about your own children and I’m actually learning from what Tommy is telling me and it makes perfect sense. Its old generation vs new generation, some things I’m right on, some things he’s right on.

I enjoy working with him, we’ve always had a good relationship, he learns off me and I learn off him. He has surprised me at how knowledgeable and how well spoken he is on different topics and I couldn’t be any more proud of him.

Tommy, you’re now a father of two. Did you get any parenting advice from your dad?

Tommy: No, I haven’t really asked for any advice because I feel that once you have children of your own, you find your own feet and learn as you go along.

With parenting, I think you learn what your children enjoy. You try lots of things with them and continue doing the things they like. I also feel you can’t really get advice on parenting, you just have to do it. The same goes for preparing to be a parent. It’s something you find yourself in, and then you just go with the flow.

Tommy, In the first episode, you talk about gadgets and mention that you wouldn’t want your children to have a phone until they fully understand how to use it, now you’re a father of two, do you still have that opinion?

Tommy: Absolutely, and that’s something I feel very strongly about. Speaking for myself and my own children, the only time Bambi sees a screen is during a long flight or a long car journey, when I might put something on for her. Other than that, she’s outside in the garden, playing in the sunshine, jumping in puddles and going to the park.

I try to keep things as normal as possible. I really want Bambi to have a childhood like I did, and my childhood didn’t consist of screens, apps and things like that. I really don’t want that for my children.

Having a phone is a massive responsibility. There’s a whole new world behind a phone screen, and I think children should fully understand what they’re doing before they get involved with things like that.

Is there a particular topic you’d like to debate in the future?

John: There's so many we’d probably need about a year to do it as there’s so many things you can cover.

Tommy: It depends on what people want to hear us talk about. Maybe in the future we can ask people on social media what they’d like us to discuss after they’ve listened to the podcast.

Could you see any other members of your family taking part, and who would be the most outspoken?

Tommy: I don’t think there’s anyone more outspoken than my dad! But anyone in the family would be welcome to join.

John: To be honest with you, I think you could be right there because all my sons are much more inward and more quieter than me. The only two similar to me are Tyson and Tommy.

What do you hope audiences will take away from What the Fury?!

Tommy: I hope they get an insight into how my dad and I think about situations and topics beyond boxing. More than anything, I hope they can sit back, have a few laughs and enjoy it.

John: A sense of genuineness and realness, what you see is what you get. And we're not afraid to have a go at anything even though we might not understand it.

I’ve genuinely enjoyed every bit of making this podcast, I really have. There have been so many highlights and, honestly, not a single low point. It’s been a laugh from start to finish, it’s been a blast, and it’s been a real eye-opener for both of us. 

Episode Guide

Episode 1 — Gadgets

Tommy loves modern gadgets. John thinks they’ve taken over the world. From smartphones to VR headsets, the Furys debate whether tech is improving life - or making us all dumber.

Episode 2 — Relationships

Dating apps vs old-school romance. Tommy and John debate how modern love really works.

Episode 3 — Food

Protein shakes, fast food and fad diets. Tommy and John debate whether modern food trends are improving our plates or ruining them.

Episode 4 — AI

Exciting or terrifying? The Furys debate whether AI will improve the world or completely destroy it.

Episode 5 — Holidays

Luxury resorts vs caravan holidays. Tommy and John debate whether modern travel has made holidays better or just more stressful.

Episode 6 — Men

Modern masculinity vs old-school values. Tommy and John debate what it really means to be a man today and whether modern men have lost it.

Episode 7 — Homes

Smart homes vs simple living. Tommy and John debate what really makes a home and whether modern life has overcomplicated it.

Episode 8 — Kids

Helicopter parenting, nannies and modern family life. Tommy and John debate whether today’s parenting styles are smarter - or just a bit too soft.

Episode 9 — Money

Saving vs spending. Tommy believes money is there to be enjoyed, while John thinks it should be carefully saved. The Furys debate what it really means to be good with money.

Episode 10 — Entertainment

Streaming, influencers and viral fame. Tommy and John debate whether modern entertainment has opened doors or lowered the bar.

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