Shy Kid Turns Town Crier, Breaks World Record at 122 Decibels

Joseph McGrail-Bateup never imagined his voice would one day register louder than a chainsaw, but this May he proved anything is possible with the right training and passion.

The official town crier for Canberra and Queanbeyan, Australia, just earned a Guinness World Record for the loudest shout by a male, clocking in at 122.4 decibels. That's louder than a rock concert and close to the threshold of physical pain for human ears.

McGrail-Bateup, who goes by Lord Joseph in his official role, wasn't always so vocal. As a kid, he was shy and kept his voice to himself, holding back until he discovered theater after finishing school.

"It was very clear then that I needed to pipe up, make myself loud," he told Guinness World Records. Theater training taught him to project without microphones, and year by year, his voice grew stronger and louder.

He became a town crier in 2017, embracing the centuries-old tradition of making public announcements in a booming voice. In 2022, he started competing in Ancient and Honorable Guild of Australian Town Criers competitions, steadily improving his craft.

By 2024, he won first place for loudest cry at 98 decibels. But McGrail-Bateup, who also holds a former archery world record, wanted to push further.

He spent six months preparing for the Guinness attempt with help from an unlikely coach: his daughter. Together they tested different words to find which would generate the most decibels.

The previous record holder had shouted "quiet," but that didn't work for McGrail-Bateup. After experimenting, they settled on "now," a word that let him unleash his full vocal power.

Why This Inspires

McGrail-Bateup's story reminds us that our biggest strengths often hide where we least expect them. The shy kid who once held back his voice found it in theater, honed it through years of practice, and turned it into something record-breaking.

His journey shows that transformation takes time and support. Whether it's a theater teacher encouraging projection or a daughter helping perfect a single word, progress happens when we combine personal determination with the right guidance.

Now McGrail-Bateup stands as proof that the things we struggle with as children don't have to define us forever.