Podcasts about bunnings

Australian household hardware chain

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The High Flyers Podcast
#270 Luke Anear: Burnout to CEO Again, Reinventing SafetyCulture as Mitti, and Why He's Flying Helicopters

The High Flyers Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2026 81:59


This episode is supported by Xero, helping businesses use AI with more control through JAX, its in-platform AI finance partner. Get 90% off your plan for your first 6 months at xero.com/highflyers. Terms apply. ________  Luke Anear is the Founder and CEO of Mitti, the global technology company formerly known as SafetyCulture. Founded in 2004, Mitti has grown into a US$1.6 billion company with 850+ employees, helping tens of thousands of organisations improve how work gets done. Today, it is expanding across AI, computer vision and insurance, building on more than 3.5 billion workplace images and an insurance business that has already written US$115 million+ in premiums. After more than 20 years building the company, Luke stepped away from the CEO role completely exhausted. Eighteen months later, he's back in the chair, has made more changes in five months than he says he did in the previous decade, and is rebuilding the business for the AI era. In this candid conversation, Luke shares how dropping out of school and cycling through 18 jobs and businesses shaped him, including living in his car before making $42,000 in a single night, and why he regrets selling 28% of SafetyCulture for just $2 million. Vidit and Luke unpack the chaos of scaling from 25 to 300+ employees, why stepping away became “one of the best things that ever happened” to him, what he's doing differently in his second stint as CEO, and his ambition to build Mitti into a $10 billion revenue business. They also explore why AI is pushing software from horizontal to vertical, Mitti's expansion beyond traditional SaaS, the surprising lesson Luke learned on a job site in Nepal, and the more personal side of a founder who flies helicopters, makes films and once took his children out of school to travel the world making documentaries together. Please enjoy exploring your curiosity. ________ Get in touch with us via email at contact@curiositycentre.com Join our stable of commercial partners including the Australian Government, Google, KPMG,, Allens, Macquarie Capital, Xero, JP Morgan and more.  Show notes and more episodes here Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram Get in touch with our Founder and Host, Vidit Agarwal directly here Contact us via our website ________ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Why SafetyCulture became Mitti02:10 Introduction07:00 Xero10:15 Living in his car to making $42K overnight20:30 How SafetyCulture really started25:30 Selling 28% for $2 million31:30 Stepping away and returning as CEO36:00 The mistakes of scaling too fast44:15 Why AI is making software more vertical46:30 What Nepal taught Luke about global expansion54:00 From SaaS to insurance1:03:00 “I was cooked”: burnout and becoming a different CEO1:15:00 Documentaries, his kids and flying helicopters1:23:00 Rapid fire ________ The High Flyers Podcast features in-depth interviews with the world's most influential figures in business, tech, finance, government and sport. Launched in 2020, it has ranked in the global top ten for past three years, with listeners in 27 countries and over 200+ episodes released, and featured in Forbes, Daily Telegraph, and at SXSW. Our guests include -- Malcolm Turnbull (Prime Minister of Australia), Jason Collins (Head of BlackRock, Asia Pacific), Brad Banducci (CEO, Woolworths), Michael Schneider (CEO, Bunnings), David Eckstein (CFO, Legora), Jesse Zhang (CEO, Decagon), Vandita Pant (CFO, BHP), Elena Verna (Head of Growth, Lovable), David Haber (a16z Partner), Jodie Auster (Uber's Global Head of Travel), Rob Giglio (CCO, Canva), Jean-Michel Limieux (CTO, Shopify and Atlassian), Stevie Case (CRO, Vanta), Cristina Cordova (COO, Linear), Gautam Chari (Head of Capital Commitments, Bank of America), John Haddock (CBO, Harvey), Mark Suster (Partner, Upfront Ventures), Niki Scevak (Partner, Blackbird), Craig Tiley (CEO, USA Tennis), Jeanne DeWitt Grosser (COO, Vercel), Paul Bassat (Partner, Square Peg), Bowen Pan (Creator, Facebook Marketplace), Peter Varghese (Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Australian Government), Sam Sicilia (CIO, Hostplus), Jack Zhang (CEO, Airwallex), Tim Doyle (CEO, Eucalyptus), Sukhinder Singh Cassidy (CEO, Xero), Sanjeev Gandhi (CEO, Orica) and Philip Green (Australia's Ambassador/High Commissioner to India). 

The Christian O’Connell Show
FULL: A Nonna Bouncer

The Christian O’Connell Show

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2026 39:51 Transcription Available


We start the show with Knock Off Friday before diving into fresh Senseless Census results, debating the correct onion placement on a Bunnings sausage. Plus, we build a Rock N' Roll themed People's Playlist before closing out the week with Movie Bands in AWTW.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Christian O’Connell Show
MINI: Don't Hide Your Onion Away

The Christian O’Connell Show

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2026 8:55 Transcription Available


The people have spoken in the Senseless Census! We uncover where onions belong on a Bunnings sausage, the phone numbers you can never forget, and the surprising answers to your first celebrity crush and favourite age.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Kick it Forward Podcast
ROT | We Have BEEF With Sophadophaa, Schemes: Big Bunnings Discounts & Stream ANYTHING For Free, Gina Rinefart's Self-Indulgent Poem, Harry's Guinness Price Negotiation, & Josh Is Closing In On Snipes.

The Kick it Forward Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2026 61:31


NEW MERCH AVAILABLE NOW⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ROT: G debuts a new lid spinner of a segment. Can Harry's negotiating skills save the Split the G comp? Applicants for the fastest man in Richmond. Yappers: Gina Rinehart's touching words. Josh is one step closer to uncovering the truth about Australia's best rapper. Schemes: Bunnings hack, FREE STREAMING, & airport parking. Harry notices an ad that creates an experiment. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOIN OUR PATREON FOR HEAPS OF BONUS STUFF⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nathan, Nat & Shaun
Full Show | Sock Onions, Census Stumps & Freo Anthem Hype

Nathan, Nat & Shaun

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2026 40:49 Transcription Available


The team dove headfirst into bizarre old wives' tales after a colleague, completely fed up with being sick, decided to sleep with raw onions in her socks! Meanwhile, yesterday's Census Night left the crew thoroughly stumped. Joel admitted he completely skipped doing his.. Over in bizarre viral news, a Bunnings shopper in Adelaide raised eyebrows after loading a massive roll of fresh turf directly into the backseat of his car! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The High Flyers Podcast
#269 Flavia Tata Nardini: The Italian-Australian Leading an $800M Space Company Finding Critical Minerals Beneath Earth

The High Flyers Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2026 78:17


Flavia Tata Nardini is the co-founder and CEO of Fleet Space Technologies, the Adelaide company using satellites, seismic sensors and AI to help find the critical minerals needed for the energy transition. Since starting with just A$25,000, Fleet has grown into a global space and mining technology company valued at more than A$800 million. In this candid conversation, Flavia shares how losing everything as a child shaped her relationship with money, identity and risk, why moving to Australia left her with little choice but to build her own company, and how Fleet searched for product-market fit across everything from beehives and cattle to pipelines and vineyards. Vidit and Flavia explore the mining breakthrough that transformed Fleet, the A$100 Rocket Lab launch that helped save the company, raising children while building a startup, finding the right partner in life and business, and why Fleet now plans to take the same seismic technology it uses beneath the Earth to the Moon. Please enjoy exploring your curiosity. ________ Get in touch with us via email at contact@curiositycentre.com Join our stable of commercial partners including the Australian Government, Google, KPMG,, Allens, Macquarie Capital, Xero, JP Morgan and more.  Show notes and more episodes here Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram Get in touch with our Founder and Host, Vidit Agarwal directly here Contact us via our website ________ TIMESTAMPS 01:00 Who is Flavia 03:42 The Day Her Family Lost Everything 14:02 The Childhood Dream That Never Left Her 19:12 Leaving Rome and Becoming Someone New 24:22 What the Space Industry Got Wrong 27:08 Why Australia Forced Her to Become a Founder 35:35 How Fleet Space Really Began 38:38 Betting on an Industry She Barely Knew 41:15 The Moment Fleet Became More Than an Idea 45:05 Building a Company With the Person You Love 49:36 The Messy Search for Product-Market Fit 54:12 The Bet That Changed Fleet Forever 55:45 Using Satellites and AI to See Beneath Earth 01:01:02 Building a Global Deep-Tech Company From Adelaide 01:05:15 The $100 Satellite Launch That Saved Fleet 01:09:15 From Founder Mode to Leading an $800M Company 01:14:40 Taking Fleet's Technology From Earth to the Moon 01:16:00 Rapid Fire ________ The High Flyers Podcast features in-depth interviews with the world's most influential figures in business, tech, finance, government and sport. Launched in 2020, it has ranked in the global top ten for past three years, with listeners in 27 countries and over 200+ episodes released, and featured in Forbes, Daily Telegraph, and at SXSW. Our guests include -- Malcolm Turnbull (Prime Minister of Australia), Jason Collins (Head of BlackRock, Asia Pacific), Brad Banducci (CEO, Woolworths), Michael Schneider (CEO, Bunnings), David Eckstein (CFO, Legora), Jesse Zhang (CEO, Decagon), Vandita Pant (CFO, BHP), Elena Verna (Head of Growth, Lovable), David Haber (a16z Partner), Jodie Auster (Uber's Global Head of Travel), Rob Giglio (CCO, Canva), Jean-Michel Limieux (CTO, Shopify and Atlassian), Stevie Case (CRO, Vanta), Cristina Cordova (COO, Linear), Gautam Chari (Head of Capital Commitments, Bank of America), John Haddock (CBO, Harvey), Mark Suster (Partner, Upfront Ventures), Niki Scevak (Partner, Blackbird), Craig Tiley (CEO, USA Tennis), Jeanne DeWitt Grosser (COO, Vercel), Paul Bassat (Partner, Square Peg), Bowen Pan (Creator, Facebook Marketplace), Peter Varghese (Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Australian Government), Sam Sicilia (CIO, Hostplus), Jack Zhang (CEO, Airwallex), Tim Doyle (CEO, Eucalyptus), Sukhinder Singh Cassidy (CEO, Xero), Sanjeev Gandhi (CEO, Orica) and Philip Green (Australia's Ambassador/High Commissioner to India). 

Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills
Nick Mills: Less dogs and more staff at big box stores please!

Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2026 4:15 Transcription Available


EDITORIAL: You know I was listening Ryan Bridge this morning and he said something, and I said to myself Ryan, you are so right. No wonder I listen to Ryan first thing in the morning, and he is very good first thing in the morning by the way. He touched on something when he talked about his trip to Bunnings. Now, firstly he started talking about, it was rainy and cold, so he took his dog for a walk in Bunnings. So instead of being out in the rain he was taking his dog for a walk to get exercise. You already know where I stand on that. It's Ryan so it's okay. I don't think dogs belong wandering around inside retail stores, but that's a debate for another day. The part of Ryan's story that really struck a chord with me wasn't the dog. It was the service. Tell me honestly, when was the last time you walked into a big box store and there was great service within a couple of minutes? Big box stores are the big boys - I'm talking about Bunnings, Mitre 10, The Warehouse, Kmart, Briscoes, Chemist Warehouse – all those huge stores where you can buy just about anything... except, sometimes, a staff member. It drives me absolutely nuts. You walk in looking for one simple thing. A particular screwdriver. A specific light bulb. A certain paint sealer. Maybe a perfume or a kitchen gadget. You don't know where it is, so naturally you go looking for someone who works there. That's where the real challenge begins. You wander up and down aisles, scanning for a red shirt, a blue shirt or whatever uniform they're wearing. Eventually you find somebody, only to hear, "Sorry, that's not my department," or, "You'll have to ask someone else." Really? We were talking about this in the newsroom this morning, and one of my colleagues looked at me as if I was from another planet. They said, "Why don't you just use your phone? Go onto the store's website. It'll tell you what aisle it's in." But that's not shopping. If I've got to stand there on my phone searching your website, checking stock levels, finding the aisle, comparing products and reading reviews, what exactly is the store staff there for there anyway? I'm not against technology. Far from it. If I'm making a big purchase these days, I'll use AI to compare prices and work out the best deal. It's brilliant for that. But technology should support good service, not replace it. I remember the old days at Bunnings. There was an older bloke at the front door, John from Lyall Bay. He knew that store inside out. I'd walk in and say, "John, where's this?" Bang – aisle 64. "What about this?" Bang – aisle 53. He'd often tell you which product was actually worth buying as well. That knowledge wasn't in an app. It was in experience. Ryan's story was exactly the same. He spent nearly 20 minutes trying to find a product, was told to use AI, then discovered the staff didn't even know where the product was in their own store. Surely we've got this the wrong way around. I'd rather see fewer dogs wandering around hardware stores and a few more knowledgeable staff who actually know the products, know the store, and can point customers in the right direction. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The High Flyers Podcast
#268 Mel Silva: Google's MD on Losing Her Dream Job, Trusting Her Instinct and Making Yourself Replaceable

The High Flyers Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2026 91:21


Mel Silva is the Managing Director of Google for ANZ. She has held senior leadership roles across Asia-Pacific, including leading Google's APAC Go-to-Market Strategy & Operations from Singapore. Today, she oversees one of Google's most influential regional businesses,  and serves on the board of the Sydney Opera House. In one of her most candid interviews, Mel shares the story behind leading Google. From growing up in a family business to taking career risks that meant pay cuts and missed promotions, she reflects on the setback that changed everything, the mentor who saw potential she couldn't yet see, and why learning to separate instinct from her inner critic transformed both her career and her leadership. Vidit and Mel explore leading Google through Australia's landmark News Media Bargaining Code, returning from parental leave to a transformed company, building leaders who can one day replace you, balancing ambition with motherhood, and how AI is reshaping the way we work, learn and lead. Please enjoy exploring your curiosity. ________ Get in touch with us via email at contact@curiositycentre.com Join our stable of commercial partners including the Australian Government, Google, KPMG,, Allens, Macquarie Capital, City of Sydney and more.  Show notes and more episodes here Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram Get in touch with our Founder and Host, Vidit Agarwal directly here Contact us via our website ________ TIMESTAMPS 02:18 Growing up in a family business 08:41 The career move that changed everything 14:55 Joining Google after a pay cut 22:36 Losing the MD role 31:18 The move to Singapore 40:27 Australia's News Media Bargaining Code 52:11 Leading Google through crisis 1:04:52 AI: Google's biggest platform shift yet 1:18:30 Parenthood, ambition & identity 1:31:42 The future of Search 1:43:15 Leadership lessons 1:49:30 Quickfire ________ The High Flyers Podcast features in-depth interviews with the world's most influential figures in business, tech, finance, government and sport. Launched in 2020, it has ranked in the global top ten for past three years, with listeners in 27 countries and over 200+ episodes released, and featured in Forbes, Daily Telegraph, and at SXSW. Our guests include -- Malcolm Turnbull (Prime Minister of Australia), Jason Collins (Head of BlackRock, Asia Pacific), Brad Banducci (CEO, Woolworths), Michael Schneider (CEO, Bunnings), David Eckstein (CFO, Legora), Jesse Zhang (CEO, Decagon), Vandita Pant (CFO, BHP), Elena Verna (Head of Growth, Lovable), David Haber (a16z Partner), Jodie Auster (Uber's Global Head of Travel), Rob Giglio (CCO, Canva), Jean-Michel Limieux (CTO, Shopify and Atlassian), Stevie Case (CRO, Vanta), Cristina Cordova (COO, Linear), Gautam Chari (Head of Capital Commitments, Bank of America), John Haddock (CBO, Harvey), Mark Suster (Partner, Upfront Ventures), Niki Scevak (Partner, Blackbird), Craig Tiley (CEO, USA Tennis), Jeanne DeWitt Grosser (COO, Vercel), Paul Bassat (Partner, Square Peg), Bowen Pan (Creator, Facebook Marketplace), Peter Varghese (Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Australian Government), Sam Sicilia (CIO, Hostplus), Jack Zhang (CEO, Airwallex), Tim Doyle (CEO, Eucalyptus), Sukhinder Singh Cassidy (CEO, Xero), Sanjeev Gandhi (CEO, Orica) and Philip Green (Australia's Ambassador/High Commissioner to India). 

Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby
Ryan Bridge: Where are all the wise owls at hardware stores?

Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2026 2:27 Transcription Available


I've been spending a bit of time in hardware stores lately. Which is great because most let you bring your dog along, and when it's raining you can basically walk the dog for half an hour indoors. Anyway, last week I was in the shop looking for a sealer for a limestone tile. Now, I have no idea about sealers and don't know much about limestone tiles either. But this is why you go to Bunnings or to Mitre 10, right? There's be someone there who knows about this stuff. Well, fifteen minutes spent trying to track somebody down in a red t-shirt and overalls, and they had no idea. One young person suggested I use AI to find the product. Which is I did. And then they didn't know where the product lived in their store. Here we are, now 20 minutes in. So, I did what any reasonable person would do. I began discriminating against the staff – based on their age. Where have the wise older folks gone from hardware stores? Usually, you'll find some bloke, grey-haired, long-in-the tooth, gruff sort of disproportion, in the paint section or the part where they keep the power tools. They know their way around a screwdriver. Used to be a carpenter. Retired for an inside job. You know the sort. Same goes with the excellent plant ladies. I'm not saying young people don't know what they're doing, but if you've been round the block a few times, you're more likely to know a thing or two. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Property Apprentice Podcast
The $31k Granny Flat Boom, Crown Co-Ownership & Rental Grow House Risks

Property Apprentice Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2026 20:58 Transcription Available


Send Us A Message! Let us know what you think.Adult kids moving into $31,000 flatpack studios? Investors completely bypassing Auckland to chase high rental yields down south? The standard New Zealand property playbook is being rewritten right before our eyes! In this episode of The Week in Review, Debbie Roberts (owner and financial adviser at Property Apprentice) breaks down the 5 biggest stories you need to know to make smart, risk-reduced property decisions. Inside This Episode:

The High Flyers Podcast
#267 Vandita Pant: BHP's CFO on How Curiosity Took Her from a Family of Teachers in India to the C-Suite

The High Flyers Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2026 96:49


Vandita Pant is the Chief Financial Officer of BHP, one of the world's largest resources companies, with a market capitalisation of approximately US$150 billion and annual revenue of around US$55 billion. This is Vandita's first-ever podcast interview. Growing up in Delhi, India in a family of academics, Vandita reflects on her childhood dinner table debates, teachers and love of books for shaping the curiosity that has defined her career. After studying at Shri Ram College and IIM Lucknow, she built a global career across India, Singapore, Japan and the UK before joining BHP, where she now helps oversee the financial strategy of a company at the centre of AI, electrification and the energy transition. In this conversation, Vandita shares why she deliberately pursued unfamiliar challenges, the career setback that unexpectedly led her into risk management, what it was like helping steer RBS through the Global Financial Crisis, the leadership lessons from earning trust in Japan, why she believes the modern CFO is a value creator rather than a scorekeeper, how she thinks about AI and capital allocation, and why Australia and India have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deepen their economic partnership. Please enjoy exploring your curiosity. ________ Get in touch with us via email at contact@curiositycentre.com Join our stable of commercial partners including the Australian Government, Google, KPMG, Vanta, Allens, Macquarie Capital, City of Sydney and more.  Show notes and more episodes here Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube Get in touch with our Founder and Host, Vidit Agarwal directly here Contact us via our website ________ The High Flyers Podcast features in-depth interviews with the world's most influential figures in business, tech, finance, government and sport. Launched in 2020, it has ranked in the global top ten for past three years, with listeners in 27 countries and over 200+ episodes released, and featured in Forbes, Daily Telegraph, and at SXSW. Our guests include -- Malcolm Turnbull (Prime Minister of Australia), Jason Collins (Head of BlackRock, Asia Pacific), Brad Banducci (CEO, Woolworths), Michael Schneider (CEO, Bunnings), David Eckstein (CFO, Legora), Jesse Zhang (CEO, Decagon), Vandita Pant (CFO, BHP), Elena Verna (Head of Growth, Lovable), David Haber (a16z Partner), Jodie Auster (Uber's Global Head of Travel), Rob Giglio (CCO, Canva), Jean-Michel Limieux (CTO, Shopify and Atlassian), Stevie Case (CRO, Vanta), Cristina Cordova (COO, Linear), Gautam Chari (Head of Capital Commitments, Bank of America), John Haddock (CBO, Harvey), Mark Suster (Partner, Upfront Ventures), Niki Scevak (Partner, Blackbird), Craig Tiley (CEO, USA Tennis), Jeanne DeWitt Grosser (COO, Vercel), Paul Bassat (Partner, Square Peg), Bowen Pan (Creator, Facebook Marketplace), Peter Varghese (Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Australian Government), Sam Sicilia (CIO, Hostplus), Jack Zhang (CEO, Airwallex), Tim Doyle (CEO, Eucalyptus), Sukhinder Singh Cassidy (CEO, Xero), Sanjeev Gandhi (CEO, Orica) and Philip Green (Australia's Ambassador/High Commissioner to India).  Join our stable of commercial partners including the Australian Government, Google, KPMG, Vanta, Allens, Macquarie Capital, City of Sydney and more. ________ Welcome to the 12th episode in our special series with the Australian Government and their Centre for Australia–India Relations (CAIR), spotlighting the growing Australia–India relationship across technology, business, media, culture and sport. Other guests in this series include Bank of America's Head of Capital Commitments Gautam Chari, Renowned Music Composer Tushar Apte, Australia's High Commissioner to India Philip Green, MUFG's CEO Vivek Bhatia, Australia's Secretary of Foreign Affairs Peter Varghese, NAB's EGM Sweta Mehra, Deputy Secretary of Australia's Home Affairs Brendan Dowling, Orica's CEO Sanjeev Gandhi, Sports Journalist Bharat Sundaresan, Cricket Legend Lisa Sthalekar and CAIR's CEO, Ryan Neelam, reflecting the breadth of Indian-Australian leaders at the most senior levels.

THE MORNING SHIFT
Jordan And Brook Catch Marc In His Own Lie!

THE MORNING SHIFT

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2026 53:45


BIG TRUSS TUESDAY Just when Matua Marc though he had out smarted EVERYONE, Brook and Jordan catch him in his own lie... But is he wrong doing justified and fair OR should he have to go through with the Forfeit!?... TRU NEWS FOR YOUSSS with Papa Mike McRoberts is in the show today... And what if the boys had to swap genders for that day?... Would they pass the test without getting caught?... If you were one of the two lucky winners of the recent Lotto Big pay out GET INTOUCH (you will remain anonymous if wished) Do you have or know someone who is a Bunnings volunteer coaching legend? Nominate them here - ⁠https://www.bunnings.co.nz/campaign/coaching-legends⁠ Hit that link below to stay caught up with anything and everything TMS. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/groups/3394787437503676/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thank you to the team at Chemist Warehouse for helping us keep the lights on, here at The Morning Shift... ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.chemistwarehouse.co.nz/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 00:00 - INTRO 2:32 - CHECK IN 7:33 - DAILY BREAD 16:16 - GENDER SWAP 30:52 - TRU NEWS FOR YOUS WITH PAPA MIKE MCROBERTS 42:08 - MATUA MARC FOOLED US ALL! 49:26 - NOMINATE YOUR BUNNINGS VOLUTEER COACHING LEGEND! 52:01 - OUTRO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The High Flyers Podcast
#266 Caroline Rawlinson: Culture Amp's CEO on Lessons from China, Founder Succession & Evolving a Growth Stage Tech Company

The High Flyers Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2026 78:44


Caroline Rawlinson is the CEO of Culture Amp, the global employee experience platform trusted by more than 6,000 organisations and 25 million employees. Underpinned by people science and AI, Culture Amp helps organisations build high-performing teams at scale. Before joining Culture Amp, Caroline held executive leadership roles at MYOB, Trade Me and Fletcher Building across Australia, New Zealand and Asia. In her first ever in-depth interview, Caroline shares the journey behind becoming CEO of Culture Amp. She reflects on growing up in Auckland, captaining hockey teams, meeting her husband at McDonald's, landing a role at PwC despite knowing almost nothing about finance, and the forgotten career goal she wrote down at 28: "I want to be CEO." Vidit and Caroline explore the big learning in Shanghai when she was a first time CFO that changed how she leads forever, the partnership that made an international executive career possible, succeeding Culture Amp's founder as CEO, balancing today's business with an AI-native future, building high-performing cultures at global scale, and why the closer she came to becoming CEO, the harder it became to believe she could. Please enjoy exploring your curiosity. ________ 00:00 Who is Caro? 00:03 Growing up in Auckland 00:10 Talking her way into PwC 00:16 The best commercial leaders 00:21 Designing a career with intent 00:24 "I want to be CEO" 00:28 Building confidence in others 00:30 Why direct conversations matter 00:34 The China lesson that changed everything  00:43 Becoming CFO at 33 00:49 Ambition, marriage & family 00:56 From CFO to CEO 01:03 Taking over from Culture Amp's Founder at the start of 2026 01:10 AI and the next era of software  01:16 Advice for future CEOs 01:18 Rapid Fire Sprint ________ Get in touch with us via email at contact@curiositycentre.com Join our stable of commercial partners including the Australian Government, Google, KPMG, Vanta, Allens, Macquarie Capital, City of Sydney and more.  Show notes and more episodes here Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram Get in touch with our Founder and Host, Vidit Agarwal directly here Contact us via our website ________ The High Flyers Podcast features in-depth interviews with the world's most influential figures in business, tech, finance, government and sport. Launched in 2020, it has ranked in the global top ten for past three years, with listeners in 27 countries and over 200+ episodes released, and featured in Forbes, Daily Telegraph, and at SXSW. Our guests include -- Malcolm Turnbull (Prime Minister of Australia), Jason Collins (Head of BlackRock, Asia Pacific), Brad Banducci (CEO, Woolworths), Michael Schneider (CEO, Bunnings), David Eckstein (CFO, Legora), Jesse Zhang (CEO, Decagon), Elena Verna (Head of Growth, Lovable), David Haber (a16z Partner), Jodie Auster (Uber's Global Head of Travel), Rob Giglio (CCO, Canva), Jean-Michel Limieux (CTO, Shopify and Atlassian), Stevie Case (CRO, Vanta), Cristina Cordova (COO, Linear), Gautam Chari (Head of Capital Commitments, Bank of America), John Haddock (CBO, Harvey), Mark Suster (Partner, Upfront Ventures), Niki Scevak (Partner, Blackbird), Craig Tiley (CEO, USA Tennis), Jeanne DeWitt Grosser (COO, Vercel), Paul Bassat (Partner, Square Peg), Bowen Pan (Creator, Facebook Marketplace), Peter Varghese (Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Australian Government), Sam Sicilia (CIO, Hostplus), Jack Zhang (CEO, Airwallex), Tim Doyle (CEO, Eucalyptus), Sukhinder Singh Cassidy (CEO, Xero), Sanjeev Gandhi (CEO, Orica) and Philip Green (Australia's Ambassador/High Commissioner to India). 

THE MORNING SHIFT
Brook Is Now Open To ANY and ALL Suggestions!...

THE MORNING SHIFT

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2026 53:55


BIG TRUSS TUESDAY The road to wrestling didn't seem so daunting for Brook when he first announced it, but as time has past and his first day of training is this week, that isn't the case anymore... One big problem though, he STILL doesn't have a ring name... So at this point we are taking ANY suggestions for him!... VAMOSSS to all of our Spanish Whanau and a huge congratulations to Spain for becoming the Champions of the world by beating Argentina in yesterdays FIFA World Cup Final!... And it wouldn't be a BIG TRUSS TUESDAY without some TRU NEWS FOR YOUSSS and for todays headline Papa Mike McRoberts would like to discuss the climate change amendment bill that the government is putting in place to avoid anu further tragedy with mother nature, but is it a little too late?... Do you have or know someone who is a Bunnings volunteer coaching legend? Nominate them here - https://www.bunnings.co.nz/campaign/coaching-legends Hit that link below to stay caught up with anything and everything TMS. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/groups/3394787437503676/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thank you to the team at Chemist Warehouse for helping us keep the lights on, here at The Morning Shift... ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.chemistwarehouse.co.nz/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 00:00 - INTRO 3:23 - CHECK IN 7:53 - DAILY BREAD 22:57 - ROAD TO THE WRESTLING 33:17 - TRU NEWS FOR YOUS WITH PAPA MIKE MCROBERTS 49:07 - NOMINATE YOUR BUNNINGS VOLUTEER COACHING LEGEND! 52:14 - OUTRO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MathsTalk by AMSI Schools
Industry Day for Teachers. Free Teacher PD

MathsTalk by AMSI Schools

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2026 7:56


When students ask, “When am I ever going to use this maths?”, real examples can make all the difference. In this special MathsTalk episode, Leanne McMahon previews AMSI's FREE Industry Days for Teachers, taking place on Thursday 30 July 2026 at Swinburne University of Technology and CSL's global headquarters. Discover how mathematics supports careers in artificial intelligence, sustainability, business analytics, biotechnology, gem faceting and more, and learn how the day will help secondary mathematics, STEM and careers educators connect classroom learning with real-world pathways. The episode also covers the speaker program, industry tour, professional learning certificate and limited $500 CRT and travel bursaries available to Victorian teachers. There is also a day at Latrobe University, Albury/Wodonga Campus on 10th September. Links and resources Attend the Industry Day AMSI Industry Day for Teachers—event information and speaker program https://amsi.org.au/amsi-industry-day-for-teachers/ Register for the Melbourne Industry Day https://www.tfaforms.com/5225482 AMSI Industry Day invitation and event details https://australianmathematicalsciencesinstitutes.createsend.com/t/ViewEmail/r/C2A8887C1D5D3A052540EF23F30FEDED/C67FD2F38AC4859C/text/?context=BE1559E32AC7F640D744A813E2B67A32&previewAll=1&print=1&source=PrintPreview&tx=0 CRT and travel bursary enquiries enquiries@amsi.org.au Event partners and featured organisations Swinburne University of Technology—Applied Mathematics https://www.swinburne.edu.au/courses/find-a-course/science/applied-mathematics/ CSL https://www.csl.com/ Plante https://www.growplante.com/ Coco the Creator https://www.cocothecreator.com/ Bunnings careers https://www.bunnings.com.au/jobs Mathematical Association of Victoria https://www.mav.vic.edu.au/Home Australian Facetors' Guild https://www.facetorsguild.com.au/ Classroom and careers resources AMSI Mathematics Careers Resources for the Classroom Lesson plans, presentations, activity sheets and recordings from previous Industry Days for Years 7–10. https://calculate.org.au/industry-day/ AMSI Careers Career profiles, videos and information showing where mathematics and statistics can lead. https://careers.amsi.org.au/ MathsTalk podcast Access previous MathsTalk episodes and their accompanying resources. https://calculate.org.au/mathstalk-podcast/ Texas Instruments Teacher Resource Centre Australian curriculum-aligned classroom activities, webinars and professional learning resources. https://education.ti.com/en-au/teachers

Forgotten Australia
The Bunbury Bombing

Forgotten Australia

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2026 61:16


Fifty years ago this month – 19 July 1976 – Australia's first act of environmental terrorism was directed at the Bunnings-owned wood chip export facility in Bunbury. Who were the bombers? What had they hoped to achieve? What was the fallout for the growing green movement?Support Forgotten Australia for a few bucks per month for ad-free early and exclusive bonus episodes and the chance to win prizes.Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustraliaApple: apple.co/forgottenaustraliaEmail: forgottenaustraliapodcast@gmail.comCheck out my books!They'll Never Hold Me:https://www.booktopia.com.au/they-ll-never-hold-me-michael-adams/book/9781923046474.htmlThe Murder Squad:https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-murder-squad-michael-adams/book/9781923046504.htmlHanging Ned Kelly:https://www.booktopia.com.au/hanging-ned-kelly-michael-adams/book/9781922992185.htmlAustralia's Sweetheart:https://www.booktopia.com.au/australia-s-sweetheart-michael-adams/book/9780733640292.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The High Flyers Podcast
#265 Jesse Zhang: Decagon's CEO on Maths Olympiads, No Small Talk & Transforming Airlines, Banks, Large Corporates

The High Flyers Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2026 78:29


Jesse Zhang is the Co-founder & CEO of Decagon, one of the world's fastest-growing AI companies. In just two and a half years, Decagon has grown to around 500 employees, raised approximately US$500 million from investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Accel and Bain Capital Ventures, and today powers AI customer service for many of the world's largest airlines, banks, retailers and technology companies. In this rare in-depth conversation, Jesse reflects on growing up in Boulder, Colorado, an intensely disciplined childhood shaped by maths competitions and Chinese immigrant parents, graduating from Harvard in just three years, and why his first startup taught him far more than his second. Vidit and Jesse explore how Decagon found its billion-dollar opportunity by interviewing hundreds of customers, why they reached US$1 million in ARR with just two people, how to hire exceptional talent, why speed has become the ultimate competitive advantage in AI, building one of Silicon Valley's leading AI companies, and what it really takes to scale from founder mode to leading 500 people. Please enjoy exploring your curiosity. ________ 00:00:00 Who is Jesse Zhang? 02:10 The Huawei story that shaped Decagon 07:20 Why Maths Olympiads create successful founders 13:05 Leaving Harvard a year early 17:40 The startup that nearly broke him 23:30 Losing two co-founders 29:15 Why he started again 34:20 The question that found Decagon 40:10 Hitting $1M ARR with just 3 employees early on 45:25 Learning enterprise sales from scratch 50:35 Building AI agents before the hype 56:15 Why Decagon is beating bigger rivals 1:02:20 Hiring only "serious people" 1:08:15 Letting go as CEO 1:13:10 Marriage, sleep & startup obsession 1:17:05 What he's really building ________ Get in touch with us via email at contact@curiositycentre.com Join our stable of commercial partners including the Australian Government, Google, KPMG, Vanta, Allens, Macquarie Capital, City of Sydney and more.  Show notes and more episodes here Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram Get in touch with our Founder and Host, Vidit Agarwal directly here Contact us via our website ________ The High Flyers Podcast features in-depth interviews with the world's most influential figures in business, tech, finance, government and sport. Launched in 2020, it has ranked in the global top ten for past three years, with listeners in 27 countries and over 200+ episodes released, and featured in Forbes, Daily Telegraph, and at SXSW. Our guests include -- Malcolm Turnbull (Prime Minister of Australia), Jason Collins (Head of BlackRock, Asia Pacific), Brad Banducci (CEO, Woolworths), Michael Schneider (CEO, Bunnings), David Eckstein (CFO, Legora), Jesse Zhang (CEO, Decagon), Elena Verna (Head of Growth, Lovable), David Haber (a16z Partner), Jodie Auster (Uber's Global Head of Travel), Rob Giglio (CCO, Canva), Jean-Michel Limieux (CTO, Shopify and Atlassian), Stevie Case (CRO, Vanta), Cristina Cordova (COO, Linear), Gautam Chari (Head of Capital Commitments, Bank of America), John Haddock (CBO, Harvey), Mark Suster (Partner, Upfront Ventures), Niki Scevak (Partner, Blackbird), Craig Tiley (CEO, USA Tennis), Jeanne DeWitt Grosser (COO, Vercel), Paul Bassat (Partner, Square Peg), Bowen Pan (Creator, Facebook Marketplace), Peter Varghese (Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Australian Government), Sam Sicilia (CIO, Hostplus), Jack Zhang (CEO, Airwallex), Tim Doyle (CEO, Eucalyptus), Sukhinder Singh Cassidy (CEO, Xero), Sanjeev Gandhi (CEO, Orica) and Philip Green (Australia's Ambassador/High Commissioner to India), 

Rise Up In Business
Behind the Scenes: The pillars that hold my business together

Rise Up In Business

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2026 23:39 Transcription Available


Send us Fan MailIf business has been feeling heavier lately, this episode is your behind the scenes look at what actually keeps things steady. I'm sharing the four pillars that support how I run my business, the foundations that create calm, protect relationships, and give me the peace of mind I talk about so often.We unpack why processes and systems are not just “nice to have”, they are how you stop holding everything in your head. I talk through the role of client agreements, fixed fee transparency, and why onboarding and off boarding are part of the client experience, not the admin you rush through.You will also hear why protecting your intellectual property matters, why DIY is for Bunnings and not your business, and how engaging the right experts can change everything. We wrap with the pillar most people avoid, compliance and staying ahead, and why “I didn't know” is never the safety net you think it is.https://www.tmlegalatelier.com.au/behind-the-scenes-the-pillars-that-hold-my-business-togetherSign up for my fortnightly Atelier Briefings hereCheck Your Legals with the Essential Legal Checklist hereBook a Complimentary Introduction Call with me here

The Kick it Forward Podcast
ROT | MEGA SCHEMES: Endless Free Bunnings Vouchers, Free Parking, Free Gaming Headsets & More, We Got Sued For Guinness Defamation, & Harry's Brutal Review Of Ryanair.

The Kick it Forward Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2026 67:35


NEW MERCH AVAILABLE NOW⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ROT: We're facing a Guinness defamation case from one of Irelands BEST pubs. Deciphering Josh's messages. Melbourne fart bomb attacks. Larry Emdur beer offer. Plane News: Harry's brutal review of Ryanair. MEGA SCHEMES: Endless free Bunnings vouchers, cheaper flights, free gaming headset, free parking, free soft drinks at the pokies. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOIN OUR PATREON FOR HEAPS OF BONUS STUFF⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kerre McIvor Mornings Podcast
Kerre Woodham: Bring on the solar

Kerre McIvor Mornings Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2026 5:31 Transcription Available


Everybody's into the solar energy now. National announced its solar energy policy last week and most people thought it was a sound idea, good common-sense idea. The party, if elected, would launch the Home Energy Fund by tweaking the Local Government Act and committing a one-off $7 million equity investment to secure a 20% shareholding in the new entity with the balance funded by participating councils. The Home Energy Fund, inspired by Local Government New Zealand's ratepayer assistance scheme, would allow property owners to obtain low interest loans secured against their property to be paid off over time through their rates over ten years. And it was intended to help fund the installation of rooftop solar and batteries, heat pumps, insulation, efficient electric appliances, and other approved energy resilience upgrades. Good common sense. However, there were a few callers and texters to the show who said, “Well, what about the renters?" And I said, “Well, surely if you are a good landlord and you want to keep good tenants, you'd put that in because that would help the tenant save money and surely that would be seen as, if the landlords had to sell the house, then it would be seen as an asset having the solar energy on the roof." Well, you don't have to worry about that now because along comes Labour with its solar energy policy. Announced yesterday, the Solar Saver policy pledges a series of initiatives aimed at boosting the use of solar, one of those being the introduction of plug in battery units, sometimes known as balcony solar, widely used in the UK and Germany. The party's pledging loans of up to $3,000 for low- and middle-income households to purchase the portable units. Perfect for renters, they can move their solar energy plug in unit when they move houses, and it's estimated that they could save about $300 to $400 a year from their power bills. But, and it is a big but, WorkSafe has prohibited the use of a particular inverter found in plug in solar systems, which means right now the systems can't be used in New Zealand. Plugging a solar panel or inverter directly into a standard three pin plug is considered illegal and a serious safety risk. Labour says “yes, well we know that and we acknowledge there'll be a hold up." They want to have major parts of the package rolled out within 12 months of being elected, but they acknowledge that's going to be an issue, and National has recognised that too. Energy Minister Simeon Brown says he's asked officials to explore what standards need to be changed to legalise the plug-in solar units. He says the principle's simple: in a country with the sunshine hours we have, Kiwi households and businesses should be able to generate their own power straight off the shelf rather than being locked out by rules that haven't kept pace with the technology. And he's quite right. We're all on board. Everybody's keen to have the solar energy and the renewables and take the load off the heavy, heavy power bills that many households are experiencing right now in the depths of winter. But as Chlöe Swarbrick says, and I'm not sure how many times I've said that phrase on this show over the years, as Chlöe Swarbrick, the leader of the Greens says, “if we're all on board, why do we have to wait until after the election to make it all happen?" Parliament can lower New Zealanders' power bills and reduce emissions before the election kicks in. Chlöe says now both the red team and the blue team have announced their support, there's no reason we can't progress on a cross-partisan agreement to do this right now. And why wouldn't we? I suppose because we haven't got many sunshine hours at the moment as we're flooding and raining and cloudy and unable to hang the washing on the line, but why wouldn't we do it now? Why do we have to wait? I mean, there is going to be the faffing around as we try and make the balcony solar units safe. We don't want to plug them all in, all enthusiastically whip out to Mitre 10 and Bunnings to get our balcony solar units, plug them all in and blow the national grid. We don't want to do that. But she has a point – we don't have to wait until after the election. A good idea is not going to get any better if it gestates for six months. Let's start making it happen now. And I really like the idea of, like, I'm heading up to the Hokianga after work, and the balcony solar units or the plug in battery unit would be perfect up there. We don't have much to run: fridge, the oven's gas, we've got a wood burner. It would be absolutely perfect. Bring it on and I'm with Chlöe Swarbrick. Make it happen now. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The High Flyers Podcast
#264 David Eckstein: Legora's CFO on Living Someone Else's Life, AI Economics and Raising $500M in 45 Days

The High Flyers Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2026 75:46


David Eckstein is the CFO of Legora, one of the world's fastest-growing enterprise software companies, which grew from $1 million to $100 million in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) in just 18 months. David reflects on his parents' divorce, graduating from college in three years, and realising at 22 that he was “living someone else's life” before leaving investment banking for Silicon Valley. Vidit and David explore his journey through Box, OpenDNS, Menlo Security and Vanta to Legora; helping sell OpenDNS to Cisco; investing in more than 100 startups; and how 16 years of relationships helped Legora attract $1.5 billion in investor demand and raise a $600 million Series D. They also discuss the changing role of the CFO, AI economics and token spend, how to diligence a startup before joining, lessons from exceptional founders, Legora's extraordinary growth, and David's philosophy of loyalty and giving more than he takes. Please enjoy exploring your curiosity. ________ 00:00:00 Meet David Eckstein 00:05:00 Why Loyalty Drives Everything 00:13:00 The Obsession With Permanence 00:23:00 “I Was Living Someone Else's Life” 00:28:00 How Relationships Helped Raise $600M 00:38:00 The New Economics of AI 00:45:00 Lessons From Four Hypergrowth Companies 00:55:00 Why He Bet His Career on Legora 01:05:00 What Makes Legora Special 01:12:00 The Hardest 25 Days of His Life 01:15:00 Give More Than You Take 01:21:00 Rapid Fire ________ Get in touch with us via email at contact@curiositycentre.com Join our stable of commercial partners including the Australian Government, Google, KPMG, Vanta, Allens, Macquarie Capital, City of Sydney and more.  Show notes and more episodes here Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram Get in touch with our Founder and Host, Vidit Agarwal directly here Contact us via our website ________ The High Flyers Podcast features in-depth interviews with the world's most influential figures in business, tech, finance, government and sport. Launched in 2020, it has ranked in the global top ten for past three years, with listeners in 27 countries and over 200+ episodes released, and featured in Forbes, Daily Telegraph, and at SXSW. Our guests include -- Malcolm Turnbull (Prime Minister of Australia), Jason Collins (Head of BlackRock, Asia Pacific), Brad Banducci (CEO, Woolworths), Michael Schneider (CEO, Bunnings), Elena Verna (Head of Growth, Lovable), David Haber (a16z Partner), Jodie Auster (Uber's Global Head of Travel), Rob Giglio (CCO, Canva), Jean-Michel Limieux (CTO, Shopify and Atlassian), Stevie Case (CRO, Vanta), John Haddock (CBO, Harvey), Mark Suster (Partner, Upfront Ventures), Niki Scevak (Partner, Blackbird), Craig Tiley (CEO, USA Tennis), Jeanne DeWitt Grosser (COO, Vercel), Paul Bassat (Partner, Square Peg), Bowen Pan (Creator, Facebook Marketplace), Peter Varghese (Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Australian Government), Sam Sicilia (CIO, Hostplus), Jack Zhang (CEO, Airwallex), Tim Doyle (CEO, Eucalyptus), Sukhinder Singh Cassidy (CEO, Xero), Sanjeev Gandhi (CEO, Orica), Philip Green (Australia's Ambassador/High Commissioner to India), Vivek Bhatia (CEO, MUFG), Cristina Cordova (COO, Linear) and more.

Fitzy & Wippa
The Bunnings Bombshell That Will Affect Every Aussie!

Fitzy & Wippa

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2026 11:54 Transcription Available


A major shake up is coming to Bunnings Warehouse and it could impact weekend warriors across the country. From store changes to new policies and customer perks, we break down what this bombshell announcement means for tradies, DIY lovers and anyone who’s ever lined up for a sausage sizzle. Is it a game changer or a step too far? Also, at what age are you your happiest? We have the answer for you according to the experts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The High Flyers Podcast
#263 Gautam Chari: Mumbai Engineer to one of Asia's Most Senior Investment Bankers | Why Great Careers Aren't Linear

The High Flyers Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2026 75:12


Episode #263 features Gautam Chari, Managing Director and Head of Capital Commitments (Asia Pacific) at Bank of America. Growing up in Mumbai, Gautam thought his path was already written. Like many students of his generation, he became a civil engineer, started work on construction sites and expected to spend his career building physical infrastructure. Instead, a series of bold decisions took him to Australia, into investment banking, and eventually to one of the world's largest financial institutions. In this rare and deeply personal conversation, Gautam reflects on the teachers who changed the trajectory of his life, the culture shock of moving from Mumbai to Adelaide, breaking into investment banking without a finance background, living through 9/11 in New York, and the lessons from building a global career across Sydney, London, New York and Hong Kong.  Vidit and Gautam explore why the best careers are rarely linear, the difference between confidence and conviction, how great leaders develop judgment, why listening is an underrated superpower, the AI investment cycle, and why the Australia-India relationship will be one of the defining economic stories of the coming decades. This is Gautam's first-ever podcast interview. Please enjoy exploring your curiosity.  ________ Get in touch with us via email at contact@curiositycentre.com Join our stable of commercial partners including the Australian Government, Google, KPMG, Vanta, Allens, Macquarie Capital, City of Sydney and more.  Show notes and more episodes here Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube Get in touch with our Founder and Host, Vidit Agarwal directly here Contact us via our website ________ The High Flyers Podcast features in-depth interviews with the world's most influential figures in business, tech, finance, government and sport. Launched in 2020, it has ranked in the global top ten for past three years, with listeners in 27 countries and over 200+ episodes released, and featured in Forbes, Daily Telegraph, and at SXSW. Our guests include -- Malcolm Turnbull (Prime Minister of Australia), Jason Collins (Head of BlackRock, Asia Pacific), Brad Banducci (CEO, Woolworths), Michael Schneider (CEO, Bunnings), Elena Verna (Head of Growth, Lovable), David Haber (a16z Partner), Jodie Auster (Uber's Global Head of Travel), Rob Giglio (CCO, Canva), Jean-Michel Limieux (CTO, Shopify and Atlassian), Stevie Case (CRO, Vanta), John Haddock (CBO, Harvey), Mark Suster (Partner, Upfront Ventures), Niki Scevak (Partner, Blackbird), Craig Tiley (CEO, USA Tennis), Jeanne DeWitt Grosser (COO, Vercel), Paul Bassat (Partner, Square Peg), Bowen Pan (Creator, Facebook Marketplace), Peter Varghese (Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Australian Government), Sam Sicilia (CIO, Hostplus), Jack Zhang (CEO, Airwallex), Tim Doyle (CEO, Eucalyptus), Sukhinder Singh Cassidy (CEO, Xero), Sanjeev Gandhi (CEO, Orica), Philip Green (Australia's Ambassador/High Commissioner to India), Vivek Bhatia (CEO, MUFG), Cristina Cordova (COO, Linear) and more. Join our stable of commercial partners including the Australian Government, Google, KPMG, Vanta, Allens, Macquarie Capital, City of Sydney and more. ________ Welcome to the eleventh episode in our special series with the Australian Government and their Centre for Australia–India Relations (CAIR), spotlighting the growing Australia–India relationship across technology, business, media, culture and sport. Previous guests include Renowned Music Composer Tushar Apte, Australia's High Commissioner to India Philip Green, MUFG's CEO Vivek Bhatia, Ex Secretary of Foreign Affairs Peter Varghese, NAB's EGM Sweta Mehra, Deputy Secretary of Australia's Home Affairs Brendan Dowling, Orica's CEO Sanjeev Gandhi, Sports Journalist Bharat Sundaresan, Cricket Legend Lisa Sthalekar and CAIR's CEO, Ryan Neelam, reflecting the breadth of Indian-Australian leaders at the most senior levels.

Smart Property Investment Podcast Network
He bought 14 properties in 12 months. Here's why his strategy is more relevant now than ever

Smart Property Investment Podcast Network

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2026 41:12


The COVID-19 property boom rewarded almost everyone. But today's market is separating investors from speculators. So what does it actually take to build wealth in 2026? On this week's episode of The Smart Property Investment Show, Liam Garman sits down with Pinnacle Buyers Agents founder Michael Lezaja to unpack why the post-COVID-19 property market demands a very different investment strategy, and what successful investors are doing to stay ahead. With borrowing capacity under pressure and tax incentives becoming less generous, Lezaja argues the biggest opportunities lie in buying property below its intrinsic value – not simply "below market value". It's a strategy he believes many investors abandoned during the COVID-19 boom. He explains why blue-chip property isn't the answer for most Australians, why a 3 per cent rental yield can stall your portfolio, and why the off-the-plan sales pitch is no more convincing today than it was a decade ago. The conversation also explores practical strategies to accelerate portfolio growth, including adding granny flats, converting three-bedroom homes into four-bedroom properties, deliberately targeting "inferior" homes with upside, and why a $6,000 Bunnings kitchen renovation could deliver one of the highest returns on investment available. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts and by following Smart Property Investment on social media: Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn. If you would like to get in touch with our team, email editor@smartpropertyinvestment.com.au for more insights, or hear your voice on the show by recording a question below.

covid-19 strategy australian relevant bought properties bunnings smart property investment smart property investment show
The Briefing
John Pearce doesn't love being called the 'hot Wiggle' (but he gets it)

The Briefing

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2026 45:59


He went from busking in Pitt Street Mall to winning Australia's Got Talent with Justice Crew, signing a record deal despite none of them being trained singers, and touring the world with the likes of Pitbull, Janet Jackson and One Direction. Now John Pearce - Big Strong John, the internet's "hot Wiggle" - sits down with Chris Spyrou in this episode of The Weekend Briefing to look back on the wild ride from western Sydney dancer to ARIA chart-topper, including what he actually did with his AGT prize money, whether twin telepathy with his brother Lenny is real, and the moment Justice Crew quietly wound down. They also get into how he came to join the Wiggle-verse, how his life has changed since becoming a dad and his honest feelings about being labelled a heartthrob while dressed as a children's entertainer.WEEKEND LIST: To watch: Widow's Bay on Apple TV (Listener Nial) To eat: GYG Breakfast Burrito To gift: Gourmet Basket To explore: Bunnings on Uber Eats?! Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Omni Talk
Bunnings COO Ryan Baker on the Future of DIY Retail and Customer Trust | Global DIY Summit 2026

Omni Talk

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2026 20:06


In this Omni Talk Retail interview, recorded live from the Global DIY Summit 2026 in Amsterdam, Chris Walton talks with Ryan Baker, Chief Operating Officer of Bunnings Group, about customer trust, omnichannel retail, and how one of the world's most successful home improvement retailers continues to evolve in a rapidly changing market. Ryan shares his 25-year journey with Bunnings, from starting on the shop floor to leading merchandise, marketing, supply chain, retail media, and customer strategy across the business. He explains how Bunnings aligns these functions around a single goal: creating a better experience for customers. The conversation explores why Bunnings believes value extends beyond price, why home improvement retail is really about projects rather than products, and how content and inspiration help customers build confidence to take on DIY projects. Ryan also discusses Bunnings' services marketplace, faster fulfillment options, and how AI and long-term investment are helping the company adapt to changing customer expectations while maintaining the trust it has built over decades. Key Topics Covered: • Ryan Baker's 25-year journey from the shop floor to COO of Bunnings • Why Bunnings organizes merchandising, marketing, and supply chain around the customer • The role of trust in building Australia's most trusted retail brand • Why value means more than just low prices • Expanding into new categories including pet care, cleaning, and automotive • Why home improvement retail is really about projects, not products • The importance of content, inspiration, and DIY education • How Bunnings' services marketplace connects homeowners with trade professionals • Same-day delivery, Uber Eats, and the future of last-mile fulfillment • Reaching younger consumers, renters, and first-time DIY customers • How Bunnings is using AI to improve customer experiences and team productivity • Lessons from Bunnings' omnichannel transformation journey Thank you to Vusion for supporting Omni Talk Retail's live coverage from the Global DIY Summit 2026 in Amsterdam.

3AW Breakfast with Ross and John
Bunnings managing director voices concerns over new work-from-home legislation

3AW Breakfast with Ross and John

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2026 3:18


“It’s actually building in a structural inequity in our working environment.” he told Ross and Russel.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Born To Watch - A Movie Podcast
Project Hail Mary (2026)

Born To Watch - A Movie Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2026 120:01


This week on Born to Watch, the boys boldly go where they rarely venture, into the world of brand-new cinema, with their Project Hail Mary Movie Review. Based on Andy Weir's bestselling novel and directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, this 2026 sci-fi epic arrives with huge expectations, a massive budget, and one very important question: can modern Hollywood still make crowd-pleasing blockbuster entertainment that leaves audiences smiling?Whitey, Damo and special guest Will the Worky strap themselves into the Hail Mary spacecraft and dive headfirst into one of the biggest films of the year. With Ryan Gosling leading the charge as Ryland Grace, a reluctant hero tasked with saving humanity from extinction, the crew break down a film that combines hard science, emotional storytelling, spectacular visuals and a surprising amount of humour.The boys discuss their experiences seeing the film on the big screen and whether Project Hail Mary is exactly the kind of cinematic event modern audiences have been craving. In an era where many blockbuster films come and go without leaving a lasting impression, this one feels different. It has heart, humour, intelligence, and a genuine sense of wonder that recalls the classic Spielberg and Lucas adventures of decades past.One of the major talking points is Ryan Gosling's performance. Already one of Hollywood's biggest stars, Gosling continues to prove that he can effortlessly jump between drama, comedy and action. From The Nice Guys to Barbie, he has become one of the few modern actors who are completely willing to take the piss out of themselves, and the Born to Watch crew debate whether anyone in Hollywood currently does it better.Of course, no discussion of Project Hail Mary would be complete without talking about Rocky. The mysterious alien engineer quickly became a fan favourite after the book's release, and the boys examine why Grace and Rocky's relationship forms the emotional core of the entire film. What could have been a simple science-fiction adventure evolves into a story about friendship, sacrifice and finding the courage to do the right thing when everything is on the line.Will brings his unique perspective to the conversation after recently finishing the novel, comparing key elements of the book and film while highlighting what made Andy Weir's source material so compelling in the first place. The team also dives into the science behind the story, exploring the concept of astrophage, interstellar travel and whether the movie's scientific ideas hold up under scrutiny.As always, the discussion goes far beyond the movie itself. There are debates about modern cinema, movie-going habits, blockbuster filmmaking, favourite Ryan Gosling performances, German stoicism, Bunnings sausage sandwiches and plenty of classic Born to Watch chaos along the way.The boys also explore the emotional journey of Ryland Grace, from a brilliant scientist hiding from responsibility to a man willing to sacrifice everything for a friend. It is this character arc that elevates Project Hail Mary above standard blockbuster fare and transforms it into something genuinely memorable.So is Project Hail Mary the best movie of 2026 so far? Does it belong alongside modern sci-fi classics like Aliens? And can a giant alien rock really make grown adults emotional?There is only one way to find out.Join the MissionHave you read the book?Did the movie live up to your expectations?Is Ryan Gosling the most likable movie star in Hollywood?Where does Project Hail Mary rank among the best sci-fi films of the last decade?Let us know in the comments and join the conversation.If you love movie reviews, blockbuster debates, sci-fi adventures and plenty of laughs along the way, subscribe to Born to Watch wherever you get your podcasts.#ProjectHailMary #ProjectHailMaryMovieReview #RyanGosling #BornToWatch #MovieReview #SciFiMovies #AndyWeir #RockyTheAlien #FilmPodcast #MoviePodcast

The Conditional Release Program
The Two Jacks - Episode 159 - The Pandemic We Parked: Long COVID, Broken Trust & the Populist Wave

The Conditional Release Program

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2026 101:01


If you are worried about China taking over due to having better robots than the yanks, I got mixed messages for ya here. This was created using DeepSeek v4 Pro. Remember when DeepSeek could do the same thing as chatGPT but on shitty processors and not much RAM? All those stocks shit themselves? Oh what memories. Would have been a great time to buy NVIDIA stocks. I didn't, if you're asking....It's pretty good but it really didn't follow the instruction in the prompt that Joel Hill is Jack the Insider on the transcript. So that's a minus point. But also, this took fucking ages to generate. It's better than lots of the yankee slop but damn son this took MINUTES. So they might take over if we are patient or whatever. Enjoy the episode. ----------------------------------------------Joel Hill (Jack the Insider) and Hong Kong Jack return for a sprawling episode that tackles two of the biggest stories shaping politics in 2026. The pair open with the jaw-dropping Redbridge poll putting One Nation at 31% of the primary vote — a number that would all but wipe the National Party off the federal map and potentially deliver Anthony Albanese a strengthened majority government by splintering the right. Joel and Jack clash over whether culture-war grievances or material concerns are driving the surge, while drawing historical parallels to Joh for Canberra and the DLP split of the 1950s.The conversation then crosses hemispheres for a tour through UK chaos: Peter Mandelson's leaked dossier exposing a rudderless No. 10 under Keir Starmer, Nicola Sturgeon's estranged husband pleading guilty to embezzling SNP donations on a surreal shopping spree of Lalique salt shakers, seven Dysons, and a motorhome with four miles on the clock, and a deeply troubling police body-cam incident that has reignited the two-tier policing debate ahead of three critical by-elections.The centrepiece of the episode is a sober, hour-long deep dive into the COVID-19 pandemic and what Australia has refused to learn. The Two Jacks lay out the true death toll (perhaps 22 to 69 million globally), the devastating scale of long COVID, the vaccine rollout failures, the absurdities of hotel quarantine with rubbish bags over heads, and why governments and public health officials are desperate to avoid a Royal Commission. They close by asking whether the next pandemic will meet a population that has permanently lost trust in its leaders — and whether we'll simply repeat the mistakes of both COVID and the Spanish flu.Sport provides a lighter coda: the Carlton revival under an interim coach, James Hird's awkward candidacy at Essendon, the expanded 48-team World Cup that nobody seems excited about, and a formidable New Zealand Test side taking on England at Lord's.00:00:25 — Introduction Joel welcomes listeners to Episode 159, recorded 4 June. Today: Australian political news, a check-in on the UK, and a deep dive into the COVID-19 pandemic.00:01:21 — The Redbridge Poll: One Nation at 31% The AFR's Redbridge poll: One Nation 31%, Labor 28%, LNP 20%, Greens 12%. The two-party preferred is now being calculated as One Nation versus Labor — a seismic shift in how Australian politics is measured.00:03:12 — Not Just a Protest Vote Jack argues this is real, not a re-run of Hanson's 1990s flash-in-the-pan. The South Australian state election and the Farrah by-election suggest One Nation support is durable. Joel counters that protest votes can be expressed at the ballot box and that Australians are tiring of pluralism.00:04:09 — If One Nation Succeeds, Labor Wins The cruel irony: One Nation's rise probably delivers Labor government. The National Party could simply disappear. The DLP kept the Coalition in power for decades as an anti-Labor party; One Nation may do the reverse.00:05:46 — Scrutiny and Splintering Joel notes One Nation's policies are "two-sentence fragments" and motherhood statements. When proper scrutiny arrives, the contradictions will surface. Hanson's parliamentary attendance is as poor as imaginable.00:08:22 — The Third Rail Jack argues populists succeed because they discuss what polite society won't: immigration, culture wars, welcome to country rituals. The major parties must engage these topics or cede the ground entirely.00:11:34 — Feeling Unheard The core driver, Jack contends: voters feel sneered at and silenced by mainstream politics. It's not about flag counts, it's about being listened to.00:13:50 — What Actually Drives Votes Joel pushes back: voting determinants are the household economy, migration, climate change — not culture war trivia. Culture wars "don't amount to a hill of beans" at the ballot box.00:14:51 — The DLP Parallel Both agree the One Nation phenomenon most closely resembles the DLP split of the 1950s and 60s — a right-wing fracture that delivered Labor government after Labor government.00:17:18 — The Republic Referendum Lesson Jack recalls the 1999 republic referendum: pro-republicans split between models rather than uniting, scuppering the whole project. Voters will vote their preference even knowing it helps their enemy.00:19:32 — UK Parallels: Accommodate or Fight? Significant figures in the UK Tory party are debating whether to fight Reform or reach an accommodation. Tony Abbott recently said the Liberal Party won't criticise Pauline Hanson.00:21:48 — Joh for Canberra Redux Imre Salusinszky's comparison: this is "Joh for Canberra" all over again. But Joel notes Joh's moment lasted months; One Nation's has already lasted years.00:24:08 — State Election Previews Joel predicts the Victorian state election will be chaotic and peculiar — a government that's been in power too long, an opposition that may not be up to the task, and One Nation peeling votes from safe Labor seats. NSW will give a clearer reading.00:25:44 — Hanson "Ready to Govern" — from the Senate? Pauline Hanson announced she's ready to govern. Joel asks: shouldn't she contest a lower-house seat first? Jack recalls the only precedent: John Gorton became PM while still a senator, but had to be eased into Kooyong.00:28:20 — The Mandelson Dossier: Starmer's Empty Suit Jack's read of the leaked Mandelson documents: ministers don't know what the PM wants, there's zero respect or fear of his authority. Starmer comes across as an empty chair. One minister's text: "Every meeting with Labour MPs — it's all about who can we tax to pay benefits to other people."00:30:50 — Mandelson's Legal Peril Mandelson is under police investigation for misconduct in public office. Could face charges — the seriousness depends on whether it's mere misconduct or genuine bribery for foreign interests.00:31:49 — The Nicola Sturgeon Saga Her estranged husband has pleaded guilty to embezzling roughly £400,000 in SNP donations. The shopping list: six high-end coffee machines, seven Dyson vacuums, Lalique salt and pepper shakers, Montblanc pens, Swiss watches, an iJag, part of a Volkswagen, and a motorhome with four miles on the clock parked at his 92-year-old mother's house. Nicola claims she "didn't go in the kitchen much."00:34:20 — The BBC Interview Laura Kuenssberg's forensic interview with Sturgeon — "not quite Prince Andrew, but not much better." Sturgeon has been cleared by Police Scotland, but her reputation, already damaged by the Alex Salmond trial, is now in tatters.00:35:05 — Will He Go to Prison? £400,000 is a substantial sum. With another £600,000 unaccounted for, a custodial sentence seems likely. The money was ring-fenced for a second independence referendum push.00:36:50 — Money Laundering or Conspicuous Consumption? Joel wonders if the bizarre purchases — multiple watches on the same day — were an amateur money-laundering attempt: buy goods with SNP funds, sell them quietly for cash.00:38:23 — UK By-elections: Makerfield Looms Three by-elections on 18 June, including the critical Makerfield contest. Andy Burnham, Greater Manchester's high-profile mayor, is the tepid favourite. Low turnout could help him return to Westminster.00:39:30 — The Body-Cam Incident A white teenager accused of racially vilifying a Sikh man was stabbed — and police arrested the bleeding victim, not the attacker. Body-cam footage shows the victim saying "I can't breathe, I've been stabbed" while officers dismiss him. Joel calls the footage "just awful."00:41:22 — Two-Tier Policing Jack traces UK policing's overcorrection: after the Macpherson/Lawrence report, guidelines were rewritten so aggressively that they've produced a pattern of questionable enforcement that devastates community trust — and plays directly into Tommy Robinson's hands.00:42:08 — NSW Police on Four Corners Joel recommends the harrowing Four Corners investigation: bashings in custody, false arrests, an officer who threw body-cam footage into Sydney Harbour, and two undercover officers jailed for a savage assault. The problem today is general duties policing, not the specialist squads of the 1980s. Some command areas are far worse than others — a leadership failure.00:44:55 — Victoria Police: Under-Resourced, Not Corrupt Joel shares an anecdote: two divisional vans for 80,000 people in outer-east Melbourne. Tough work being a police officer; even tougher being a good one.The COVID-19 Reckoning00:45:09 — Why This Matters Joel sets the frame: we parked COVID in 2023 with a hangover but never understood what we'd been through. Today's episode aims to crack that problem.00:45:51 — The True Death Toll Officially: 7 million dead. But most countries stopped testing and stopped reporting cause-of-death data to the WHO. Using excess mortality, the real toll is between 22 and 69 million — at the high end, exceeding the Spanish flu.00:47:02 — Long COVID's Shadow Roughly 400 million people globally (6% of the population) have experienced long COVID. In Australia alone, between 200,000 and 500,000 people are living with or have lived with the condition. Second infections can be worse. Emerging links to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and accelerated dementia.00:49:43 — The Collective Amnesia Governments worldwide have "a collective embarrassment" about how they handled the pandemic, Jack says. They want it in the history books and forgotten. Joel says this is a grave mistake for public trust — and for public health, given COVID is now a permanent fixture alongside flu season.00:50:50 — Why Excess Deaths Are the Only Honest Metric All other figures are "kind of made up" because attribution methods vary wildly between countries. Excess deaths remain elevated in Australia and most nations.00:51:25 — Children and COVID Bobby Kennedy Jr. removed under-18s from government-supported vaccines in the US. Joel argues this is a disastrous move given mounting evidence that childhood COVID infection leads to higher rates of long-term chronic illness.00:52:47 — Why No Royal Commission? Not just politicians protecting themselves — public health officials and much of the media wanted to avoid scrutiny of their judgments and actions during the pandemic.00:53:32 — The Media's Abdication Jack watched "a lot" of Daniel Andrews's daily press conferences. Only two journalists ever asked pertinent questions: Rachel Baxendale and Leigh Sales. Nobody asked why curfews, why beach arrests, why the disparate impact on tradies and cafe owners while the "laptop class" actually made money working from home.00:56:14 — Andrews's Immense Popularity Joel adds context: Andrews was wildly popular at the time, which partly explains the media's deference — though Jack insists that shouldn't have mattered.00:57:34 — The Curfew Nonsense Curfews were about giving law enforcement the easiest possible environment, Joel says — and should have been acknowledged as such and wound back sooner. Meanwhile, Bondi's wealthy swam en masse while Western Sydney's working-class communities were treated harshly.00:57:59 — The Vaccine Rollout Failure The Morrison government bet everything on AstraZeneca — the non-mRNA, first-available vaccine. Then rare blood-clotting issues emerged (seven deaths, mainly men aged 40–49). Meanwhile, Australia was left waiting for Pfizer and other mRNA vaccines because no other supply deals had been secured.00:59:37 — Omicron Breaks the Pandemic's Back The Omicron variant emerged from South Africa: more infectious but far less lethal. Combined with 95%+ vaccination rates among Australians over 18, it effectively ended the acute phase — though at the cost of entrenched mistrust.01:00:38 — Government Overreach and Broken Trust Jack's core criticism: governments outsourced decision-making to public health officials rather than making political judgments that balanced competing interests. Joel counters that it would have been a "bold move" for politicians with no scientific background to contradict public health advice.01:02:19 — "Just Let It Rip" Was Never an Option The three countries with the highest COVID mortality — Brazil (highest), United States (second), India (third) — were all led by populist governments that largely refused mandates. Letting it rip was devastating.01:03:27 — The ADF Quarantine Scandal Scott Morrison refused to allow ADF quarantine facilities to be used for returning travellers. Instead, people were crammed into hotels with gaps under the doors. Joel recalls the "rubbish bags over heads" episode in Victoria — dark green plastic bags as infection control.01:05:00 — The Inquiry's Recommendations Create a proper Australian CDC. Release expert advice publicly. Better national planning with clear political accountability. And critically: politicians must own the big decisions on freedoms and spending instead of hiding behind experts.01:06:01 — The Next Pandemic There will be another one. If it's a respiratory, airborne pathogen like COVID, similar circumstances will return. Are we ready? Probably not. Will we close the country again? The economic damage — unemployment hitting 7.5% in 2020 — was enormous, even if it recovered to 3.5% by pandemic's end.01:08:06 — Who Was Left Behind? The arts community was inexplicably excluded from JobSeeker and JobKeeper. Meanwhile, the "laptop class" working from home effectively got a 15% pay rise by eliminating commuting costs. Bunnings did very well; so did companies that kept JobKeeper without passing it to employees.01:11:14 — The Human Cost of Lockdowns Public housing towers in Flemington were locked down. Joel recalls one family: an African-Australian single mother with nine children in a two-bedroom commission flat, trapped. Jack calls what happened with schools "disgraceful." But Joel notes the evidence now shows childhood COVID infection has serious long-term health consequences, complicating the retrospective judgment.01:13:59 — Will We Learn Anything? Jack's bleak prediction: the next pandemic is probably far enough away that we'll take no notice of COVID's lessons and make the same mistakes. Joel agrees — we didn't learn from the Spanish flu a century ago either.01:15:51 — Malcolm Roberts and Vaccine Misinformation The One Nation senator claims 70,000 Australians died from COVID vaccines — a figure with no evidentiary support, built by misattributing excess deaths. In reality, mRNA technology is now being deployed as a cancer treatment, showing promise against bowel and pancreatic cancers.01:17:36 — Trust Destroyed If the next pandemic arrives within this generation, governments will face a population that has lost faith. If it takes 50 years, the damage may have faded. Western Australia, meanwhile, locked itself down with negligible deaths and actually loved the isolation — provided the iron ore and LNG ships kept moving.01:20:37 — The Spanish Flu Echo Joel's closing historical note: Australia's response to the Spanish flu in 1919–1921 was nearly identical to COVID — lockdown disputes, police arresting people for not wearing masks, states fighting the newly created federal Department of Health. The whole thing collapsed into acrimony the moment state rivalries flared. A century later, nothing had changed.01:21:48 — Federation as Fatal Flaw Jack adds: the three high-mortality COVID countries (US, Brazil, India) share a feature beyond populist leaders — they're all federations where central government power is limited. When "the emperor is far away and the mountains are high," coordinated pandemic response is nearly impossible.01:23:40 — No Appetite for Truth Jack's final word: nobody wants a proper inquiry. Not politicians, not public health officials, not much of the media. Joel disagrees on the importance — the pandemic's legacy still shapes how Australians think, vote, and trust.Sport01:27:40 — AFL Coaching Carousel Essendon and Carlton both need permanent coaches. Joel asks: is James Hird the right man for Essendon? Jack: 17 other clubs wouldn't give him an interview, but the Bombers may have backed themselves into a corner where appointing him is the only way out.01:28:53 — Merit vs Member Sentiment Rowan Connolly's question: would you take James Hird or John Longmire (five grand finals, one premiership, 60%+ win rate)? The answer is obvious on merit — but members and fans want the fairy tale.01:29:47 — Carlton's Astonishing Revival Three straight wins. Ranked 16th in forward-50 entries a month ago; now second. The game style is unrecognisable — no more bombing the ball to non-existent power forwards. Mitch McGovern's low, flat kick to Patrick Cripps for the match-winner against Geelong was emblematic of the transformation. Seven players aged 21 or younger are now getting games and bringing energy.01:33:18 — FIFA World Cup 2026: Nobody's Excited Expanded to 48 teams, Scotland are going — and a Scot in his 30s told Jack that neither he nor any of his mates (all doing well financially, normally first on the plane) have any interest. Ticket prices are "extraordinary." The final is at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey — which Jack describes as "Waverley on steroids, but even more bleak."01:36:08 — Australia's Draw Socceroos face Turkey first up, then the United States. Jack suggests marketing it as "Gallipoli Round Two." Spain are favourites; England, Brazil, and Germany are in the chasing pack.01:37:06 — Cricket: England v New Zealand, First Test at Lord's Joel runs through New Zealand's likely top seven — Latham, Conway, Williamson, Ravindra, Mitchell, Blundell — noting the first four have all made Test double-centuries. "Just about the best first six in Test cricket." With O'Rourke's express pace and Henry's quality, this is a formidable Black Caps side.01:38:40 — Stump Speech & Next Week Listener mail (including an "exposé of who Jack is") held over for next episode. For the record: Hong Kong Jack's CV includes HSC at Assumption College Kilmore, a stint as a carpenter, a law degree from Melbourne University, stints at Holding Redlich and Slater & Gordon, work as a litigation and immigration lawyer, and an appointment to the Refugee Review Tribunal as a federal cabinet appointee.01:40:39 — Outro Joel thanks listeners for hanging in for an extra ten minutes. Back next week.The Two Jacks is recorded weekly. Send your questions and feedback to the show.

Fitzy & Wippa
Could This Be The Best Wedding Venue on a Budget

Fitzy & Wippa

Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2026 5:17 Transcription Available


IKEA is using its space for wedding ceremonies. And they are providing food and a gift too! What retail outlet would you get married in? Wippa thinks Bunnings needs to start doing this!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Business News - WA
At Close of Business podcast May 4 2026

Business News - WA

Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2026 12:25


Sam Jones and Nadia Budihardjo discuss WA diving-turned-robotics company Dredge Robotics. Plus: State moves toend no-grounds evictions; $40m Bunnings for Dalyellup; and Red Gully flag Gingin battery system.

Fletch, Vaughan & Megan on ZM
Fletch, Vaughan & Hayley's Big Pod - 1st May 2026

Fletch, Vaughan & Megan on ZM

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2026 106:30 Transcription Available


On Today's Big Pod, 00.00: Intro 03.45 :Bunnings get your onions up to code 09.10: How to calm yourself before a date 13.25 :Top 6 - Ways to make your school ball cheaper 19.35: Vaughan's a rugby VIP 24.25: SLP - Do you put toilet paper down first before using? 30.44: Everything is chips 34.50: Suzy Cato Interview 44.37: Have you been scammed overseas? 52.50: Friday Flashback 57.00: Hayley has a problem with her show 1.01.50: Devil Wears Prada Review 1.08.00:Fact of the day 1.13.00: Have you cheated death 1.26.00: AnonyBox - What is your number 1.35.00: What was the rouge parenting move? 1.41.50 Traits that make you the perfect travel partner See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The CMO Show
Snags, Red Shirts & Culture: Unpacking the Bunnings effect

The CMO Show

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2026 22:59


From the iconic sausage sizzle to its team of red shirts and partnerships with Vegemite and Bluey, Bunnings isn't just a brand...it's a staple of Australian culture. Recently named Australia's most trusted brand by Roy Morgan, the warehouse giant is supported by a seriously deliberate marketing machine focused on community engagement. Recorded live on the shop floor, this episode of The CMO Show sits down with Justine Mills, General Manager of Marketing at Bunnings, to unpack how a hardware store has become part of Australia's cultural fabric.  This isn't about glossy campaigns or influencer deals. It's about why the person in the red shirt knows more than any brand ambassador ever could and how Bunnings has built systems to let real frontline expertise lead the marketing. Justine dives into the Red Shirt Content Creator program, how everyday team members have become trusted creators, and why its inhouse content engine, Hammer Media, works not just as a retail media network, but as a credibility generator.  You'll hear how Bunnings captures real in‑store moments and resists polishing them into something unrecognisable. No hype. No hard sell. Just useful help, delivered in the same tone Australians have trusted for decades. For CMOs navigating growth and authenticity in an era of performance metrics and attribution, this episode breaks it down: how do you scale without losing soul? How do you drive a sector without feeling corporate? And how do you make marketing feel less like marketing and more like part of the community you serve?  It's rare look at how one of Australia's most iconic brands earns trust, keeps it, and proves that the most powerful marketing strategy still starts on the shop floor… preferably near the snag stand.    This episode is brought to you by impact advisory, communications and events agency, ImpactInstitute in partnership with Adobe.  www.impactinstitute.com.au | https://business.adobe.com/au

Business News - WA
At Close of Business podcast April 21 2026

Business News - WA

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2026 9:16


Elisha Newell speaks to Nadia Budihardjo about ATOM Group, a business described as the Bunnings of the mining industry. Plus: Government fees waived for lithium producers; Ritz Carlton half stake sold for $88 million; and Karratha camp in $45m deal.

The Kick it Forward Podcast
ROT | Harry's Elaborate BEER HEIST, Josh Embarrassed By Today Show Stitch Up, Schemes: FREE Bunnings Voucher, Spread Eagle Sprint, & Sketchtank: Adelaide Pubs In The Crosshairs.

The Kick it Forward Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2026 51:47


⁠PRE ORDER NEW MERCH HERE⁠ ⁠JOIN OUR PATREON FOR HEAPS OF BONUS STUFF⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ROT: Harry pulls of a heist to rob his local pub of every last drop of beer. The Today Show dug up some embarassing footage of Josh. Schemes: Free Bunnings voucher & dollars of your groceries. Did a listener just break the Spread Eagle Sprint record? Sketch Tank: Adelaide beer sizes are NOT safe. IF YOU SUBSCRIBE TO PATREON Apple adds $3 USD when buying through the Patreon app. So please if you do want to sign up buy on your browser OR on your desktop computer/laptop. That's $3 USD straight to Apple for nothing. It should be $5 USD//8.50 AUD at checkout. Apple and IOS are complete dogs. Feel free to cancel and restart if they got you already. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

RNZ: Checkpoint
Waikato Bunnings use new facial recognition technology

RNZ: Checkpoint

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2026 6:39


If you shopped at a Waikato Bunnings store today, you probably had your face scanned. The hardware giant switched on its new technology at its Hamilton South and Te Rapa stores this week. The AI technology is targeting repeat shoplifters and offenders and is is due to be implemented at all Bunnings stores around New Zealand in a phased rollout. Bunnings New Zealand general manager Melissa Haines spoke to Lisa Owen.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive
Melissa Haines: Bunnings NZ manager on the rollout of new facial recognition technology

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2026 3:11 Transcription Available


Repeat offenders are the target of the recent Bunnings facial recognition technology rollout. It's turning on scanners in Te Rapa and Hamilton South today, before later rolling them out countrywide. Threats have more than doubled in the hardware retailer's stores in the past four years, 34 percent from repeat offenders. Bunnings New Zealand general manager Melissa Haines says data on regular shoppers won't be kept. "If someone comes into our stores, there's a very quick scan of the face - if there's any match to a person that's previously committed serious harm in our stores, then that's where we're using it." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive
Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: Bunnings needed to prioritise staff safety here

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2026 2:10 Transcription Available


If you haven't watched the Bunnings video yet showing its staff being attacked, I recommend you go and watch it - especially if you feel uneasy about the company using CCTV for facial recognition. It's a compilation of incidents that have occurred in its stores. The first incident shows a man pulling a knife on a staff member and threatening them so he can walk out the door with two trolleys' worth of stolen goods. That happened at the Porirua store. The next incident shows a man holding a box who runs at and knocks over a staff member, while another man behind him tries to steal a second box. That happened at the Takanini store. The incident I found hardest to watch is a man approaching a staff member at their car in a mostly empty car park. He sidles up to them, then smacks them in the head when they're not expecting it. He then chases the staff member as they run away and trip because they are so frightened. Now, let's be clear about what's going on here - Bunnings is releasing this video as part of a PR campaign. It's trying to convince us that it needs to use facial recognition technology in two of its Hamilton stores. What blows my mind is that it has to go to these lengths. It's been trialling facial recognition since 2018. It's fought its way through a tribunal process in Australia. It's had the Privacy Commissioner here, and the equivalent over the ditch, watching them. It's engaged a Māori digital sovereignty expert. It's released at least two of these video compilations. And all of this, so far in New Zealand, is just for permission to operate in two stores. Not all stores - just two. Two Hamilton stores. That's because there are still enough people worried that Bunnings will take our biometric data and sell it, lose it or wrongly deny entry to some innocent person. I would have thought this was a slam dunk. I would have thought the answer would be: yes, absolutely - go ahead and use facial recognition if that's what you need to do to keep your staff safe. Because sure, something might go wrong one day with the CCTV. But go and watch those videos. Things are going wrong right now. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive
The Huddle: What went wrong for Moana Pasifika?

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2026 11:14 Transcription Available


Tonight on The Huddle, Auckland councillor Maurice Williamson and former Green MP Gareth Hughes joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Bunnings is set to begin rolling out facial recognition technology in some stores in order to combat retail crime. Do we think this is the way to go? Will other big stores follow suit? Has the Government made the right call with the four-stage national fuel plan? Are we worried they're not taking things seriously? Moana Pasifika is likely to shut down at the end of the 2026 Super Rugby season - what do we make of this? What do we think went wrong here? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Glorious Mess
The 3-Hour Mum & The Viral 'Jessica' Hack

This Glorious Mess

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2026 32:52 Transcription Available


This week, Monique Bowley, Stacey Hicks and Amelia Lester unpack the 'max 3-hour mum' theory. That’s how long Skims co-founder and Kardashian-adjacent CEO Emma Grede thinks women should spend with their kids each day on weekends. We discuss whetther the mother of four's ‘quality over quantity’ approach is genius - or missing the point. Also, is kids’ sport officially broken? From private strength sessions for 8-year-olds to parents getting red-carded on the sidelines, we ask when sport stopped being about 'having a go' and started being a ‘gateway to success’. Plus, what exactly is the 'Jessica' hack? We discuss the viral TikTok trick that could snap your child out of a spiral. And, in our modern screen age, is there any merit to the old-school rule that children should be ‘seen and not heard’? RECCOMMENDATIONS: Monz recommends: The Art Gallery (it’s free!), beach patrol (also free!) and the ultimate school holiday hack - a trip to Bunnings. Amelia recommends: The Brinkley Yearbooks Series by Sarah Sax Stacey recommends: Age of Attraction on Netflix and Harry Styles’ YouTube cover of ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World’. Support independent women's media What To Listen To Next: Don't miss an episode of Parenting Out Loud Golden Retriever Dads & The ‘You Come Last’ Rule The Celebrity Who Loves Bad Kids & The Sibling Effect The Bad Habit That's Back & The Politics Of ‘Bagsing’ New Twin Dad Luca Enters The Chat & Divorce Just Got A Rebrand Empty Weekend Parenting & The Viral Rocking Chair Test Wait, Did We Just Witness The Ultimate Co-Parenting Sin? The Problem With Being The 'Easy Kid' FFS, Just Invite People Over To Your Messy House Connect your subscription to Apple Podcasts What to read: 'I'm the breadwinner, and my husband stays home. Stop asking this one question.' 'I thought training for a marathon meant weeks of mum guilt. This one moment changed everything.' 'I thought I was raising my son right. Then he made one comment.' GET IN TOUCH: Share your feedback! Send us a voice message or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au Join our Facebook group Mamamia Family to talk about the show. Follow us on Instagram @mamamia_family CREDITS: Hosts: Stacey Hicks, Amelia Lester & Monique Bowley Group Executive Producer: Ruth Devine Content Manager: Talissa Bazaz Executive Producer: Sasha Tannock Audio Producer: Jacob Round Junior Content Producer: Tessa Kotowicz Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land on which we have recorded this podcast.Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fitzy & Wippa
The Bunnings Bombshell That Will Affect Every Aussie!

Fitzy & Wippa

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2026 11:54 Transcription Available


A major shake up is coming to Bunnings Warehouse and it could impact weekend warriors across the country. From store changes to new policies and customer perks, we break down what this bombshell announcement means for tradies, DIY lovers and anyone who’s ever lined up for a sausage sizzle. Is it a game changer or a step too far? Also, at what age are you your happiest? We have the answer for you according to the experts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Kick it Forward Podcast
ROT | Schemes: DEFEATING Bunnings Price Beat Guarantee! Plane News Goes Too Far, Blind Ranking Hog Reveals, & The Big Problem With Project Hail Mary.

The Kick it Forward Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2026 48:09


JOIN OUR PATREON FOR HEAPS OF BONUS STUFF⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ROT... Harry self reflects are doing the weirdest plane bit yet. What's the most famous hog reveal you've ever seen? Schemes: testing the Bunnings price beat guarantee. Harry actual saw a hot air balloon crash. Project Hail Mary's big problem (no spoilers) IF YOU SUBSCRIBE TO PATREON Apple adds $3 USD when buying through the Patreon app. So please if you do want to sign up buy on your browser OR on your desktop computer/laptop. That's $3 USD straight to Apple for nothing. It should be $5 USD//8.50 AUD at checkout. Apple and IOS are complete dogs. Feel free to cancel and restart if they got you already. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PLANE & BEER HATS HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unpacking the Digital Shelf
Owning the Experience Without Owning the Transaction, with Vera Skocic, Head of Customer and Strategy (Consumer & Commercial) at Techtronic Industries (Ryobi)

Unpacking the Digital Shelf

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2026 48:17


What happens when your brand doesn't own the transaction, but still needs to influence the path to purchase and build a direct customer relationship? Ryobi is sold exclusively through Bunnings, which means the retailer owns the checkout. Vera Skocic, Head of Customer and Strategy (Consumer & Commercial) at Techtronic Industries, shares how Ryobi has built the right to play across the full customer lifecycle, from pre-purchase consideration to post-purchase onboarding and maintenance. We unpack how extended warranty became a powerful value exchange to grow first-party data, how lifecycle journeys and maintenance nudges extend the experience beyond the PDP, and how intent signals like wishlists, product comparison tools and add-to-cart integration help qualify demand and drive higher-converting traffic into Bunnings. Vera also walks through the foundational stack underpinning this work and explains why she's taking a cautious approach to CDPs in an increasingly composable, AI-shaped landscape. If you're a brand operating in a retailer-led ecosystem and looking to use data to strengthen customer experience and drive commercial outcomes, this episode is packed with practical insights.

The Quicky
Trump Says "Big Wave Of Attacks" Still To Come In Iran & Yes, The Gender Pay Gap Is Closing... But Not Like You Think

The Quicky

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2026 25:28 Transcription Available


Today marks the third major Gender Pay Gap report and for the first time ever, the data includes both the private sector and the Commonwealth public sector. While the gap is slowly shrinking—men are still more likely to hold top-paying roles. We sit down with Minister for Finance and Women Katy Gallagher to discuss the silent killers of pay equity and how we get to gender pay parity. And in headlines today, The US-Israeli war against Iran has expanded with Israel also launching strikes against Lebanon; The federal government’s travel advice service Smart Traveler has told Australian's stuck overseas due to the US/Israel operation in Iran, to sign up to a registration portal to receive updates; One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has been censured by the Senate following her inflammatory remarks against Muslims; A young freshwater crocodile spotted hanging out in a creek behind a Bunnings in Newcastle has been rescued and relocated The DFAT Crisis registration page for Aussies stuck overseas crisis.dfat.gov.au For urgent consular assistance: If calling from overseas +61 2 6261 3305, In Australia 1300 555 135 THE END BITS Support independent women's media Check out The Quicky Instagram here GET IN TOUCHShare your story, feedback, or dilemma! Send us a voice note or email us at thequicky@mamamia.com.au CREDITS Hosts: Claire Murphy Guest: Katy Gallagher, Minister for Women, Finance & Public Service Group Executive Producer: Ilaria BrophyBecome a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fitzy & Wippa
Just Jab it in my BUM! A New Weightloss Solution Hits the Market!

Fitzy & Wippa

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2026 5:34 Transcription Available


Here is what you might have missed this week: A New Weightloss Solution Hit the Market this week and the guys were quick to talk about it along with Bunnings changes, an unexpected medical side effect, Kates parking challenge and much more - including everyones favourite segment "Out of Context Kate"See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fitzy & Wippa
Big Bunnings Bombshell That Will Affect Every Aussie

Fitzy & Wippa

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2026 5:13 Transcription Available


A major shake up is coming to Bunnings Warehouse and it could impact weekend warriors across the country. From store changes to new policies and customer perks, we break down what this bombshell announcement means for tradies, DIY lovers and anyone who’s ever lined up for a sausage sizzle. Is it a game changer or a step too far? Every Aussie will have an opinion on this one. Just one question… can you use this new service for a sausage sanger?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fitzy & Wippa
Are Classic Nursery Rhymes Too Offensive for 2026?

Fitzy & Wippa

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2026 43:14 Transcription Available


Are the lullabies we grew up on due for a rewrite? The team dives headfirst into the debate over whether classic nursery rhymes are too dark, outdated or downright offensive for 2026. From questionable lyrics to themes that wouldn’t fly today, we unpack the push to modernise childhood favourites and ask the big question, are we protecting kids or erasing tradition? We talk Punch, the monkey that has gone viral over the weekend, the HUGE change coming to your favourite Bunnings store and so much more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What The Flux
Bunnings to the rescue | Zip shares plunge 33% | Telstra rings in the revenue

What The Flux

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2026 6:58 Transcription Available


Wesfarmers posts a $1.6 billion profit jump as Bunnings and lithium carry the load… but Officeworks runs low on black ink. Zip Co, the buy now pay later, saw its shares crash more than 33% yesterday in one of the biggest selloffs this reporting season. Telstra has seen its profits jump 8% as it hikes prices on its mobile plans…and sees the financial benefits of its major staff cutting. _ Download the free app (App Store): http://bit.ly/FluxAppStore Download the free app (Google Play): http://bit.ly/FluxappGooglePlay Daily newsletter: https://bit.ly/fluxnewsletter Flux on Instagram: http://bit.ly/fluxinsta Flux on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@flux.finance —- The content in this podcast reflects the views and opinions of the hosts, and is intended for personal and not commercial use. We do not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any opinion, statement or other information provided or distributed in these episodes.__See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Remarkable Retail
Driving Good Retail Returns with JD Sports' Henry Spear and Narvar's David Morin, Plus Saks Consolidates and Target Resets

Remarkable Retail

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2026 47:51


The hosts take open a sweeping look at the week's most consequential retail developments before heading live to the Narvar Podcast Studio at the NRF Big Show for a deep dive into AI, agentic commerce, and the evolving post-purchase customer journey.The news segment explores Saks Global's decision to close nine full-line stores, underscoring ongoing consolidation in the luxury industry and challenges in multi-line retail. The hosts examine luxury's continued bifurcation, with Kering struggling while Hermès thrives, reinforcing that luxe positioning alone isn't enough — execution matters.In specialty retail, the “collapse of the unremarkable middle” continues as Toys “R” Us Canada, Francesca's, and Eddie Bauer face significant retrenchment if not extinction, while Tractor Supply and Aritzia aggressively expand. Kroger appoints its first external CEO, Greg Boren, signaling operational rigor ahead, while Costco once again posts remarkable sales growth  Meanwhile, Target begins meaningful leadership restructuring — a foundational step in what is likely a multi-year turnaround. On the radar: AI-powered retail crime prevention at Bunnings and the imminent opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a major infrastructure development for North American trade.The featured interview brings Henry Spear, SVP Digital North America, JD Sports, and David Morin, VP Customer Strategy for Narvar, to the mic for a timely discussion on agentic commerce and how leveraging product returns can create competitive differentiation. About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling author of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions hosted senior retail executive on-stage in 1:1 interviews worldwide. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including The Remarkable Retail Podcast, The Voice of Retail The Food Professor, The FEED powered by Loblaw and the Global eCommerce Leaders podcast. He has been recognized by the NRF as a global Top Retail Voice for 2025 and 2025 and continues to be a ReThink Retail Top Retail Expert for the fifth year in a row.