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

The globally acclaimed Simon Phillips is arguably Australia's top theatre director. His directing credits range from the contemporary to Shakespearean classics, musicals to Opera. He has been the go-to man for shows such as Love Never Dies, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Cabaret and High Society to name just a few .. and has too many awards to list in this intro. When he's not in Australia he's at New York's Broadway, London's West End or en route to another show opening on the other side of the world. Simon is a born director. He started directing classmates as an 8-year old in New Zealand and hasn't stopped since. His path has included director roles at the State Theatre Company of South Australia, Melbourne Theatre Company and Opera Australia, and says his rise has been due to a mix of good luck and hard work. Simon talks about what makes a memorable performance, how he deals with criticism, what separates the stars (such as actor Geoffrey Rush) from the rest, the balance of creative and commercial

Jon and Sarah Lark have been at the forefront of a thriving Australian craft spirits industry for the last ten years, and have won awards for their gin all over the world, including Australia's best gin. It all started with a seachange. The couple visited Kangaroo Island while on honeymoon, and decided it was the perfect place to set up their own distillery, on a hunch that gin was about to make a comeback. They weren't wrong. With a little help from Jon's brother, Bill, known as the godfather of whisky in Tasmania, KI Spirits is now producing the most sought after gin. Their cellar door is a tourist destination on the Island, business is booming and the gin market is growing. Jon and Sarah share their story, which has great successes and many challenges - including export tax, and the logistics of working on the island. We also get a great little lesson on the history of gin, and the distilling process. More on Kangaroo Island Spirits: http://kispirits.com.au Rooster Radio is hosted by Andrew Monte

As we continue our two-hour interview with Geelong premiership coach Chris Scott, we now learn about what drives and motivates the leader on a deeper level. This interview is syndicated with Off-Field, a podcast that focuses on the world of sport outside of the arena, and also hosted by Rooster Radio's Andrew Montesi and James Begley. In Part 1 (iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-72-geelong-coach-chris-scott-part-1-volatile-world/id1048369433?i=1000382346291&mt=2 SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/rooster-radio/ep-72-geelong-coach-chris-scott-part-1-the-volatile-world-of-an-afl-coach), Chris talked in detail about the volatile world of coaching and his rapid rise to the top. If you missed it, make sure you go back and have a listen. Now in Part 2, Chris goes into the detail of high performance from the perspective of overseeing an elite team, but also on a personally. Chris is a Dad, and each of his fellow coaches at Geelong have three or more kids, so despite holding one of the most demand

You're unlikely to have ever heard a current AFL coach like this before. Geelong premiership coach Chris Scott joins us for an in-depth, two -hour discussion and we're bringing it to you, in full, over two episodes. This interview is syndicated with Off-Field (http://off-field.co), a podcast that focuses on the world of sport outside of the arena, and also hosted by Rooster Radio's Andrew Montesi and James Begley. This is not just a typical footy chat. If you lead a team, have an interest in high performance and want to know how the best in the business operate, you'll get a lot out of this interview. The Brisbane Lions dual premiership player says he didn't want to be a coach. After finishing his playing career, Chris took an offer to be an assistant at Fremantle because he thought it might be his one and only chance to give coaching a shot, and fell in love with the job almost instantly. Less than three years later, at just 34 years old, he was being shortlisted for senior coach opportunities but was

Roosters Andrew Montesi and James Begley have recently launched a new show called Off-Field, and it focuses on the world of sport outside of the arena with the people who make it happen. We talk to sports stars and industry professionals about sports marketing, business, contracts, endorsements, leadership and more. The show is available on your favourite podcast player, but for this Rooster Radio episode we've put together some highlights from a few of our Off-Field interviews to give you a taste - we've got Aussie netballer Caitlin Bassett and TEKNO motorsports owner Jonathon Webb, first up though is boxing legend Danny Green, who we caught up with around his blockbuster fight with Anthony Mundine. And don't forget .. check out http://off-field.co for the full interviews and don't forget to subscribe, because there's more episodes available now and coming up! 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, y

The business career of Nidal Rasheed, entrepreneur and founder of Silvertail Property Group, began as teenager with network marketing and lolly vending machines. Selling sugary treats was so profitable it helped him pay his way through university. But it was Nidal's move into the restaurant game that became a baptism of fire. The 22 year old was struggling to manage staff, trying to do it all and then found himself in hospital due to stress. At that point he was sent overseas by his parents to recalibrate. Nidal came back with a renewed focus and drive, throwing himself into property sales, paying off his restaurant debts and quickly becoming the most successful salesman at his company nationally. It could've been easy to enjoy the fruits of sales but the passion for business was still there. He quit and started Silvertail Property Group from his kitchen table, with zero clients and a simple plan to help property investors with their projects from start to finish. Within a couple of years Silvertail had

Massive Joes is a household name in the fitness industry in Australia and even internationally, but it is a business story that isn't widely known. Founder Joseph Mencel, 31, has grown the company into one of Australia's largest supplement retailers, with a booming web business, eight stores across Adelaide, Perth and Melbourne, another one opening soon in Sydney, and a separate apparel company that's growing globally. Joe explains how he has built brand loyalty that most companies can only dream of. Massive Joes has a highly engaged social media community of one million users, and gyms are filled with people proudly wearing the Team Massive Joes brand. Joe benefits from being a first mover. He started importing supplements over a decade ago when few products were available locally, and he profited from launching the first supplement eBay store before building the first version of http://massivejoes.com. Amazingly, the company remained a side project for a number of years while Joe completed mechanica

The workplace is in the midst of significant change. For some business owners this is something to fear while for others, like Jodi Walton and Dani Bieg, it is something to embrace. Jodi and Dani are cofounders of Harrison McMillan, recognised as Australia's Most Innovative Recruitment Agency by SEEK in 2016, and a great entrepreneurial story. They're changing the game through a new pay-as-you-go business model, and also through its own firm culture. At the Harrison McMillan office, digital detoxes, enforced lunch breaks and flexible working hours are standard. It sounds great in theory but is much more challenging in practice. Jodi and Dani explain the science behind it, how they measure the success of the initiatives and how they ensure peak performance for their clients. In fact, they've had over 120 clients nationally in under four years, so their approach is clearly being embraced as an alternative in the recruitment market. Recruitment is a tough gig, for candidates, employers and recruiters th

With two acquisitions to his name, five startups on the go and a list of investments, IT entrepreneur Geoff Rohrsheim has an unquenchable fire in the belly. Geoff is a former EY Entrepreneur of the Year winner for the southern region and had 3 start-ups appear in the BRW Fast 100. His company, Kloud Solutions grew rapidly in five years and was ranked the fastest growing company in Australia in 2014, before being acquired by Telstra in early 2016 for north of 40 million dollars. This was Geoff's second sale. His first company, Strategic Data Management, was also picked up for a multi-million dollar sum .. and he explains the fundamentals of planning for a successful exit. He tried retirement for a few months but got bored. Geoff is currently co-founder of five startups, all focused on emerging fields in tech, and explains how he keeps on top of the growing companies. Not bad for a bloke who finished high school having never touched a computer. Geoff comes from humble beginnings, he's one of six kids, a

Prepare to tap into the genius of Geoff Kwitko, and we don't use the term "genius" lightly. Geoff started coding software at around eight years old, and by the age of 25 he had founded and sold three companies while graduating top of his university with two bachelors degrees. Geoff has also helped a number of other business owners grow and sell their companies. There are few people in the world with Geoff's rare ability to expertly understand and integrate technology, marketing, psychology and business strategy. He finds value and opportunity because most people falsely believe that the rules of the game of business can't be changed. He is now a "gun for hire", specialising in startups and also turning traditional companies into scaleable and systemised operations. He once kept his extensive knowledge to himself, but now has a passion for sharing all he has learned through consulting and training teams. Geoff looks at all things, including tech, business and human behaviour, with a data driven appr

Kristina Dryza is a global trend forecaster who is rated one of the world's top female futurists. Kristina was raised in Adelaide but has been based between London, New York, LA, Tokyo, Hawaii and Sydney, working with international brands such as IKEA, Virgin Atlantic, Nestle, Vodafone, BP, AOL, Nissan and many more. Her work focuses on the past, present and the possible. She observes systems, processes and life with an emphasis on the "now" moment and relates it to corporate strategies, products, services and experiences. Ultimately, Kristina gives her clients context, and helps them sense the future. She shares many important insights, especially as you think and plan for 2017. We talk about a number of emerging social, cultural and consumer trends and issues, including: - Breaking through the social media echo chamber - The need for humans to get in sync particularly with nature's rythyms - The purpose economy - The experience economy - The need for an information detox - And a discernment filter W

Coopers Brewery is one of Australia's most iconic and much loved brands. It is the country's largest independent brewing company, the world's largest producer of home-brew equipment, and rated the world's top family business. Coopers chairman, Glenn Cooper, shared the brewery's amazing story on Rooster Radio. Glenn is a fifth generation Cooper. The company was founded by Thomas Cooper in 1862, and has survived recessions, the Great Depression, World War 2 and other enormous challenges, including a hostile takeover attempt. Glenn talks about the pivotal moments for Coopers, and why its shareholders strongly oppose "selling out" despite the potential for a big pay day. Joining the family business wasn't initially on Glenn's career plan. He was told to choose another path, as the brewery would not survive let alone thrive. So he studied engineering and found success in his own right after starting a computing company. Glenn says that jobs for family members at the brewery are not automatic, they need

Australian Fashion Labels is a genuine startup success story. It's now a company with multiple fashion brands, 1700 stockists, operations in Australia, the US and China, 140 employees and revenue of $60 Million. We talk to AFL's Adelaide-based founders, Melanie and Dean Flintoft, who sold everything and started the business from their loungeroom, with an unwavering confidence in their innovative business model and an appetite for risk. We hear about the enormous complexities of their world, from cash flow, through to design, the supply chain and the challenge of entering new countries with different cultures, behaviours and trends. We also talk about what has triggered the company's growth, and how celebrities like Nicole Richie and Solange Knowles came to wear their brands. We also get an insight into what's next for the all conquering Australian Fashion Labels. Find out more about Australian Fashion Labels: http://www.australianfashionlabels.com.au/ Rooster Radio is hosted by Andrew Montesi and Ja

Natasha Malani helps Australian companies access the Indian market, helps grow leaders and also serves as a local government councillor in Adelaide. Three worlds that seem separate, but as Natasha tells us, they are very much linked. Natasha talks about how she went from not appreciating her Indian heritage to promoting the country as a place to go for ambitious Australian business owners. For an entrepreneurial person, entering local government could seem like an odd move, some perceptions of local councils are more about parking tickets and red tape than innovation, but Natasha explains the changing dynamic and why she's encouraging young business leaders to get involved local government. A bit more about Natasha: She is Area Councillor at Adelaide City Council and served as Deputy Lord Mayor in 2014 and early 2015. Natasha is the Director of South Australian Leaders, a leadership program supporting the growth and innovation of South Australian SMEs. She also manages her own consultancy 'Access Indi

Farrin Foster's City Mag is driving a new conversation about its city, Adelaide, highlighting stories of resilience and potential against the backdrop of economic uncertainty. It has become a media outlet for culture, entrepreneurship and creativity .. and a much needed voice for young people. Through this lens, Farrin has learned a lot about what makes authentic, thriving cities. But Farrin says independent media, and the wider media in general, faces enormous challenges, which we've also discussed in previous episodes. Broken business models have seen journalistic values compromised and the rise of sponsored content. It's also put more pressure on the media's relationship with politics, a relationship that Farrin says is "toxic". She's seen it from the perspective of a journalist, and also a political adviser. We cover this and much more in this episode of Rooster Radio. Check out City Mag: http://citymag.com.au/ Rooster Radio is hosted by Andrew Montesi and James Begley. Connect with Rooster Radio

Rooster Radio pulled together a beer tasting event with Swell Brewing at one of our favourite venues, the Henry Austin in Adelaide, South Australia. It was a great night tasting quality craft brews and hanging out with Rooster Radio guests and listeners. If you didn't get an invite you must not be on our mailing list .. sign up at http://roosterradio.biz so you don't miss out on the next one. Tune in to our a short and sharp live interview with Swell's founder, Dan Wright. About Dan (in his words): Travelling North and South America following the surf on a budget meant that there were a lot of very long bus rides. It was during these breaks from the swell, that I began to think about the awesome craft beer industry in the Americas. Why wasn't there anything like this in Australia? So out came the journal, and over numerous 10 hour bus rides, the idea for Swell Brewing Co. developed. As soon as I returned to Australia, I started on my brewing career. Setting up a brewery in our back shed, I worked hard

Television current affairs veteran Graham Archer fears for the future of investigative journalism. With social media driving a news cycle at break neck speed, bite sized content and broken business models, risky investigations are less attractive to media companies. The question is - do we care? Graham still does. Current affairs television has been his world for the last 25 years, with Channel 9's A Current Affair, ABC's 730 Report and now Channel 7's director of news and current affairs in Adelaide. Graham says media plays a crucial role in holding powerful people and organisations to account, and can influence justice even when the Courts and Parliament can't. This was certainly the case for Henry Keogh, who was wrongly convicted for murder in a high profile case that played out in South Australia from 1995, until Keogh's release in early 2016. It is a remarkable and shocking story (references below for more information about the case). Graham was one of the few journalists who continued to ask questi

To remove a burn you need a six inch blade and a steady hand, our guest Dr John Greenwood says. This is a day in the life of the renowned plastic surgeon and Medical Director of the Adult Burn Centre at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Dr Greenwood looks after 450 acute burns patients each year across South Australia, Northern Territory and parts of New South Wales and Victoria. He heads up Australia's only mobile burn response unit, and in the aftermath of the Bali bombings worked a 36 hour shift treating victims and saving lives. Working in a world of life and death, Dr Greenwood shares his learnings about the will to live, resilience and responding to trauma. Outside of surgery, Dr Greenwood is leading groundbreaking research and developing innovative new products that will soon achieve his goal to replace the skin graft .. it's fascinating, and includes the development of what we can only describe as a "skin factory". He's an englishman who was crowned an Australian of the Year, and a music lover with a

We sat down for a bite to eat and a chat with Luke Southwood, formerly of MasterChef and now head chef of renowned South Australian restaurant Bistro Dom .. but he's much more than that. Luke was born in Papua New Guinea and cut his teeth in the kitchens of Barcelona, before taking on some of Australia's finest and most exclusive restaurants. The most exclusive of all was the Sanctuary at Byron Bay, one of the world's top rehabilitation facilities and programs. It was here that Luke learned about the link between food and the mind, and developing meals that heal the soul. His explanation of food psychology is fascinating. Luke has become somewhat of a kitchen counsellor. He has worked with struggling youth and helped them gain a sense of value and self-respect. It's particularly interesting when restaurant kitchens are known as stressful, intense and often brutal environments, and we don't often think about leadership and culture in this context. Luke talks about his own leadership approach and the dynam

We bring you a special episode from InDaily's South Australia Business Index event, Adelaide's premier business event where the state's top 100 companies are revealed. Rooster Radio hosted the live panel discussion, extracting insights from business experts about where South Australia is at, the challenges and the opportunities in business. Two of the panelists are previous Rooster Radio guests. Professor Jana Matthews is the Director for Business Growth at Uni SA and recognised as a world leading expert in business growth. Josh Baker is a hospitality entrepreneur with a number of bar and restaurant ventures in Adelaide, and has been a driving force behind the CBD's cultural revival. Also on the panel was Geoff Rohrsheim, a seasoned entrepreneur in the tech space, who sold his company Kloud Solutions to Telstra for more than $40 million earlier this year, and Scott Dolling from Taylor Collison, who contributed to pulling together the South Australian Business Index, and shares his great market knowledge.