Rooster Radio - Business & Personal Growth Insights & Stories From Entrepreneurs And Leaders In Business, Health, Tech & More

Greg Mackie OAM is one of South Australia's most influential people in arts and culture, and current Chief Executive of History SA. For Greg, the journey started with his family bookstore which built a cult following in the Adelaide CBD. His in-store events took a life of their own, and were the genesis of what would become the Adelaide Festival of Ideas, founded by Greg. He then applied for the state's most senior Arts gig, CEO of Arts SA, and to his surprise got the job. It was a steep learning curve, but Greg quickly found success. Through this role, and other influential positions within the public sector, Greg increased investment in the arts and also oversaw a number of cultural and social innovations. Greg is particularly unique in that he has somehow found a way to make art, entrepreneurship and government work together. He reveals why, and shares really important insights about how to cut through red tape and get things done in and with the public sector. He also put the arts community on noti

The great thing about having an office nestled amongst Adelaide's small bars is we get lots of visitors, many who are looking for someone to have a drink with. And on this day, we decided to put the microphone in front of a couple of them. Early Rooster Radio listeners will remember Josh Baker from RRE2, our first interview which is still one of our most popular, despite our cringeworthy production (please don't go back and listen to it!). And he was overdue for a follow up interview. Josh is Adelaide's most well known hospitality entrepreneur, who has changed the city through his venues and small bars, including Clever Little Tailor, Pink Moon Saloon, Whistle and Flute among others, along with a couple of new and ambitious venues that are opening soon. Josh talks about his personal and professional evolution since our last interview, international plans and much more. Then, we kept the mics on as Josh's mentor, John Savva from Leedwell Property, strolled into the office. John has had amazing success w

Dr Troye Wallett and Dr Sebastian Rees are changing with way GPs do business through their company, GenWise. As GPs themselves, Troye and Sebastian built GenWise to solve their own problems around practice management in the aged care sector. Now the platform is being embraced by doctors and patients Australia wide. GenWise was recently crowned Australian Business of the Year at the prestigious Telstra Business Awards. GenWise is a virtual practice with no bricks and mortar clinic, boosting efficiencies and lowering costs with its innovative "practice in your pocket". Troye and Sebastian talk about the future of health and improving the disconnect between patients and the health system. We also had a fascinating and philosophical discussion about ageing and death, and how our fear of talking about these issues is holding us back. There's this and so much more, as Troye Wallett and Sebastien Rees share their stories and insights. More: http://www.genwisehealth.com.au Rooster Radio is hosted by Andrew

How much do you know about the Leader of the South Australian Liberal Party, Steven Marshall? Not much, a lot of South Australians would confess. Some others would say "he's negative". Steven says his image is influenced by a daily media cycle where the most he can often hope for is a few seconds to criticise the State Government. This, he says, is the frustrating "curse of the Opposition." During our interview at Parliament House, Steven is anything but negative. He's relaxed, engaging and jovial. Maybe because the 2018 election draws closer, where he'll get another chance to break a 16-year run of Labor governance. This was expected to happen in 2014, but Steven admits that he and his party blew it. He talks about the aftermath, keeping the team together, learning from mistakes and his personal evolution as a leader. Steven still draws on his much talked about background in business, structuring goals and KPIs like most company directors. He is mentored by former Prime Minister John Howard, and st

In this episode, Rooster Radio enjoyed a professional recording setting for the first time, taking over a studio at ABC Adelaide for an interview with presenter Ali Clarke. Unfortunately, Ali didn't hit the red button and put us live to air. But we did record an interesting and insightful chat with one of South Australia's top media personalities. Now occupying the premium breakfast slot on ABC Radio, Ali in fact first made a name for herself on commercial radio. It's a career that began at Mix 102.3 with a Jerry Maguire style 'mission statement', which paved the way for her to jag a spot on the breakfast team, despite having no on-air experience. And following a steep learning curve, that show became number one in South Australia.  Ali and her team then controversially quit Mix and crossed the road to join Triple M. The success continued. BUT the world of commercial radio is cut throat and Ali talks about the day she was eventually given her marching orders. Ali shares her story, along with how she dea

Michael Johnson is 'The Mojo Master', a man who has built a thriving, global business by helping people shift their mindsets to grow personally and financially. Michael had a tough childhood. He struggled at school - academically and socially. He was told he'd never make it and was ultimately expelled for fighting, a response to years of bullying. He battled depression to the point of considering suicide. But there were a couple of key transition points that helped Michael completely shift his mindset and his life. Now, as the Mojo Master, he's committed to helping others do the same. Through events, online programs, mentoring and coaching, Michael works with some of the world's top performers in their fields, along with every day people. And not only it is fulfilling, it is highly profitable. On the back of 700% growth, Michael has had to quickly build a team to support his ventures. Michael shares his story, along with a huge amount of insight around personal purpose and values, the truth about 'hap

Ben Baker is one of the world's most sought-after portrait photographers. He has photographed the last four US Presidents and their families, as well as countless celebrities including Oprah, Kanye West, Bono, Jay-Z, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Leonardo Dicaprio and so many more. Growing up in Adelaide, Ben couldn't have dreamed of being in such a position. However, having spent a lot of time following his Dad through the Outback, he knew that an office job wasn't for him. Eventually he lobbed into New York without much photography experience but plenty of Aussie attitude, which won over legendary photographer Annie Leibovitz. Ben talks about what he learned from Annie and other big name photographers, his mentors, who were among the most influential people in the celebrity scene. Ben says that ultimately it is all about people, and building rapport, much more than any technical prowess with a camera. He also shares what he's learned about the world's most powerful people, getting the job done under the

Rooster Radio had the rare opportunity to enter the Supreme Court of South Australia and spend an hour with the Honourable Chris Kourakis, Chief Justice of South Australia. The Chief Justice breaks down many misconceptions about Judges, the Justice System and the Law. He's personable, approachable, progressive and tech savvy. He communicates even the most complex legal issues in plain english. It all forms part of his mission to make justice inclusive and accessible to all. Such values were instilled on the family farm in Port Lincoln, where the Chief Justice was one of ten children to Greek migrants. His mother had been involved in the Communist Party in Greece, but her influence was around social values more than politics. The Chief Justice talks about his path into law, and what he learned in the early years of practice from some of the most influential people in the profession. The Chief Justice also shares his views and insights across a range of issues, including the relationship and tension th

At a recent family dinner, Rooster Radio's Andrew finally got to have a decent chat with the English lad who will soon marry his cousin, Emma .. Joshua Burchell. After hearing Josh's business story, he had to get him onto Rooster Radio. At 17, Josh started his first business from his bedroom with little more than 1000 pounds and the name of a Chinese manufacturer, which was given to him by a friend. This was in the early 2000s before the online shopping boom. After successfully importing and selling one product, Josh reinvested, moving more and more products online. In the blink of an eye he was generating tens of thousands of pounds of revenue each month. Business then went to ANOTHER level when he started buying up cheap stock from a major electrical retailer and selling it at scale via Amazon, which helped push annual revenue beyond a million pounds. As the online market changed, so did Josh's strategy. Taking what he'd learned about online retail and Amazon, he bought up businesses without an onlin

The one topic that resonates with Rooster Radio listeners the most is 'the jump'. The challenge of leaving the safety net of a comfortable full time job to pursue your dreams in business. Over a few beers, Rooster Radio co-host James recently got talking to Paul van der Linden, a man who is going through this exact process. He's an experienced systems architect, who has spent the last seven years in a senior role at IBM. It's a great gig. And yet, he's quit to start his own business. Paul has agreed to be a Rooster Radio case study. He's allowing us to share his journey on the podcast, the good, bad and ugly, over a series of episodes. To kick things off, Paul talks about his story .. the reasons why he's making the jump into his own business, the hopes, fears, and challenges. Enjoy part 1 of our new series on 'the jump' with Paul van der Linden. Rooster Radio is hosted by Andrew Montesi and James Begley. We talk to interesting people doing amazing things. If you like what we're doing, you can now s

Leaders from three of Australia's top online marketplaces have revealed key business, growth and technical insights about their startups live at SouthStart. On the panel is Dan Draper, CTO at Expert 360, the marketplace that connects businesses to top freelance professionals, along with David Trumbull, co-founder at Car Next Door, Australia's largest car sharing network and Edward Hartley, co-founder of Bluethumb, Australia's largest online art marketplace. Andrew from Rooster Radio, the panel moderator, also shares a little bit about PickStar, the platform to book sports stars. We talk about building the marketplace ecosystem, the drivers of growth, the importance of tech and automation, funding, quality control and maintaining credibility .. and more. This is our second episode recorded live at SouthStart, a conference that showcases entrepreneurship and innovation in South Australia with great speakers, expos and workshops. James from Rooster Radio was the event MC. More - http://southstart.co Expe

We kicked off SouthStart Conference with a live interview with Dr Alex Grant, who is influencing two of the world's hottest tech industries.   Alex is doing truly amazing things. He is CEO of Myriota, an Internet of Things company which is gaining recognition globally for low cost, low power satellite technology. Before Myriota, he entered the autonomous vehicle market with his company, Cohda Wireless. This was back in 2004, well before the buzz of driverless vehicles. Both companies are now leading the world in their fields. Alex shares amazing tech insights and also his fascinating personal journey. This is the first of two episodes recorded live at SouthStart, a conference that showcases entrepreneurship and innovation in South Australia with great speakers, expos and workshops. More - http://southstart.co Myriota - http://myriota.com/ Cohda Wireless - http://cohdawireless.com/ Rooster Radio is hosted by Andrew Montesi and James Begley. We talk to interesting people doing amazing things. If you l

People talk a lot about entrepreneurship and risk, but sh*t gets real when you have kids and a mortgage to pay. The heart says pursue your business dreams, the head says stick to your 9 to 5 and provide. But does it have to be one or the other? What if there was a way to transition into your own business life without having to fall off a cliff? If it's possible, how the hell do you make it work? James and Andrew talk about the issues, opening up about aspects of their own journeys and challenges while also sharing lessons learned along the way. A lot of ground is covered in this episode, recorded in a mediocre hotel room in Sydney (Also listen in for James' special announcement). Rooster Radio is hosted by Andrew Montesi and James Begley - visit http://roosterradio.biz Connect with Rooster Radio - sign up to our mailing list at http://roosterradio.biz and join our Facebook community at http://facebook.com/roosterradioHQ For podcasting strategy, production and commercial services, visit Apiro Media htt

Sydney Roosters legend Anthony Minichiello saw the end of his playing career coming, and planned accordingly. Many of his footy mates didn't, with tragic results. Anthony says the come down from the highs of a sports star life can be hard. Many athletes struggle to find a new purpose, and structure, for their new life. It was different for 'Mini' who was raised by hard working Italian parents who made him get a trade in the early years of his NRL career. He maintained a life of balance, which extended beyond his world of sport. Anthony went on to captain the Roosters and holds the record for most games and most tries at the club. He's decorated as they come - a NSW State of Origin representative, Australia and Italy representative, and winner of the Golden Boot Award for International Player of the Year in 2005. Anthony's career coincided with a big shift in the commercialisation of sport. He talks about the evolution from his first contract worth $10,000 and drinking plenty of beer after every match,

Having shared an office space with Crispian Fielke over the last couple of years, we've seen first hand how he and his team have built a city small bar scene. Crispian is co-owner of Clever Little Tailor, one of Adelaide's top bars which regularly gains recognition in the national press and is sought after by local punters like myself, along with slightly bigger names, such as Mick Jagger. He's also co-owner of the iconic Pink Moon Saloon, a bar that has cleaned up national and international awards, including Gourmet Traveller Bar of the Year .. AND .. he's set to open the ambitious Port Admiral Hotel, a pub that had been derelict for many years in Port Adelaide. For Crispian, this life is about much more than business, it is deeply personal. His passion for hospitality started in his home town of Loxton, is tied to his love for people and local footy culture, and evolved as he built a career in fine dining locally and internationally. It was one conversation with his mate, Josh Baker, that changed ever

David Cooke uses his urban design knowledge and global experience to address the urban renewal challenges that face Australian cities. David is an internationally qualified Urban Designer, registered Architect, accredited Planner. He is the Director of City Collective, a design studio that works across Australia and the world. He was the first South Australian to be awarded a prestigious scholarship at the University of California, Berkeley, in their intensive Masters of Urban Design program.  David shares his deep insights into the impact that major sporting events can have on cities - winning an Olympic and Commonwealth Games bid can make or break a city, depending on the organisers' approach to urban planning. We talk about 'Smart Cities', an aspirational phrase talked about by many governments and planners but not widely understood. David reveals what we can learn from the high tech cities that have been reborn out of the US "rust belt", and the steps that can be taken to address current critical iss

Finn Peacock's decision to quit the '9 to 5' life led him to build a home based business that now generates $3 million in annual revenue. Finn was an engineer earning good money in a job with the CSIRO that most people would aspire to. But he hated it. The bureaucracy was so frustrating that it was impacting all aspects of his life. On the back of some passive income from e-book sales, and some inspiration from Tim Ferriss' iconic book the Four Hour Work Week, he quit his full-time job. And that wasn't all. With two kids and another on the way, he sold the family home and began a journey from campsite to caravan park down the east coast of Australia, while running his e-book business from his laptop. But it wasn't e-books that would take Finn to the next level. With a passion for renewable energy and a booming market for solar, he started a website called Solar Quotes, a lead generation business that enables people to get three quotes from reputable, local Solar installers. Around 300,000 people have us

Building a multi-sided marketplace requires hard work and cash, James Begley has learned. Not only is James the co-host of Rooster Radio, he is the founder of PickStar, the revolutionary marketplace to book sports stars for any kind of paid opportunity. Online marketplaces are tricky at the best of times, but the layers involved in PickStar are particularly challenging. Not only is there the elite athletes and the clients who want to book them, there's also a system of athlete managers, clubs and leagues to negotiate. Over the last few years, James has managed to grow his list of athletes to more than 800, facilitate over 1000 commercial opportunities through the platform for and keep everyone involved in the process happy! He shares key lessons learned about starting and growing an online marketplace. PickStar: http://pickstar.com.au Rooster Radio is hosted by Andrew Montesi and James Begley. We talk to interesting people doing amazing things. If you like what we're doing, you can now support the s

In a change up for Rooster Radio listeners, James Begley interviews his co-host Andrew Montesi about podcasting. We are in the midst of a podcasting revolution - around 60 million people listen to podcasts every month in the US, and in Australia soon 1 in 2 people will be tuning in to the medium. Early Rooster Radio listeners who have been on the journey with us will recall the show's early, crudely produced episodes (which are still available on our episode list *cringe*) and how the program continues to evolve. For Andrew, a former journo who has been producing content of all kinds for 13+ years, the podcast was an experiment which quickly turned into something much more. I n this episode, he talks about why he believes podcasts are the most powerful media, how to start a show, the tech required, lessons learned and much more. For enquiries about podcast support services, connect with Andrew and find out more here: http://apiropodcasts.com You can support Rooster Radio at http://patreon.com/roost

Professor David David, the world's leading craniofacial expert, has spent three decades restoring dignity for thousands of patients from all corners of the globe. Professor David performs "everyday miracles" for people who would otherwise be facing conditions that are limiting, debilitating and often life-threatening - such as distortion of the face and skull, cleft lip and palate deformities, facial growth anomalies as well as tumours and other facial issues that require reconstructive surgery. The acclaimed humanitarian has been awarded a Companion of the Order of Australia, the ANZAC Peace Award and South Australian of the Decade. Professor David describes himself as an average student who was talked into pursuing a medical career, but says his turning point came while training under inspirational doctors in Paris. He returned to Adelaide to establish the Australian Craniofacial Unit in 1975, and it remains the world's top medical centre in its field, pioneered a specialised, multidisciplinary approa