Straight Talk with Mark Bouris

Wallabies Coach Les Kiss: The Road Ahead for Australian Rugby & the 2027 World Cup

Australian rugby has a massive opportunity ahead of it. A home World Cup in 2027, a new Wallabies coach and a chance to rebuild one of the great sporting teams in the country. Les Kiss is the new head coach of the Wallabies, a former Queensland State of Origin player and one of the few coaches to have worked at the highest level across both rugby league and rugby union. In this episode of Straight Talk, I sit down with Les to unpack his journey from growing up in Bundaberg to coaching the Springboks, Ireland, the Queensland Reds and now the Wallabies. We get into the real problems facing Australian rugby, why so much of our best talent is being lost overseas, what South Africa has done differently to build extraordinary depth, the lessons Les learned working inside the Springboks system and what Australia needs to do to become a genuine force again. Les also opens up about his coaching philosophy, why he refuses to obsess over outcomes, the importance of his “What’s Important Now” mindset and what it will take to build a Wallabies side capable of doing something special on home soil in 2027. Subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://the-mentored-platform-pty-ltd.myklpages.com/l/WWJGc5 Join my exclusive Mentored+ community: https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/ Executive Producer: Samuel Morgan Head of Production: Jonah Mclachlan See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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UFC Champ Alex Volkanovski on Retirement, His Next Fight & Life Outside the Ring

Alex Volkanovski walked into Mark's studio years ago with no idea what his brand was. Now he's a former UFC featherweight world champion, part-owner of a fight gear company, building a media presence through Cooking with Volk, and defending his belt at 38 — by choice, not necessity. This is a conversation about identity, purpose, and what happens when elite athletes build something that lasts beyond the sport. Volk is as calculated in business as he is in the octagon, and this conversation proves it. For more content like this: Subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://the-mentored-platform-pty-ltd.myklpages.com/l/WWJGc5 Join my exclusive Mentored+ community: https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/ Executive Producer: Samuel Morgan Head of Production: Jonah Mclachlan See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Johnathan Thurston "I was going down the wrong path": The Decision That Changed My Life

Johnathan Thurston didn't make the Broncos academy as a kid — and that rejection lit a fire that carried him to four Dally M Medals, three Golden Boots, and the most iconic grand final moment in NRL history. But this conversation goes well beyond football. JT breaks down the chess match inside rugby league in a way you've never heard before — body language reads, defensive line manipulation, kicking routines under grand final pressure. And then he talks about the work he's doing now, pulling kids away from the justice system and back into school, one program at a time. This is what a champion actually looks like when the jersey comes off. For more content like this: Subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://the-mentored-platform-pty-ltd.myklpages.com/l/WWJGc5 Join my exclusive Mentored+ community: https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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The Atlassian Story: The Rise of the Tech Bros & the Ultimate Broken Partnership

Two journalists from The Australian spent years digging into the real story behind tech giant Atlassian, and turned it into a book. It traces how two UNSW graduates built a global software company from a Glebe share house into a NASDAQ listed giant worth more than $100 billion at its peak. Along the way, Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar became best men at each other's weddings and eventually bought mansions next door to each other in Point Piper. But the book also uncovers how internal tensions, diverging lifestyles and a neighbourhood renovation dispute ultimately drove a wedge between them, turning one of Australia's greatest business partnerships into one of its most quietly broken. Purchase the book here: https://harpercollins.com.au/products/9781460769492 For more content like this: Subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://the-mentored-platform-pty-ltd.myklpages.com/l/WWJGc5 Join my exclusive Mentored+ community: https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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James Tedesco: The Mindset that made him an NRL Great & the life he's building after footy

James Tedesco has won grand finals, captained his state and country, and collected more Jack Gibson Medals than anyone in Roosters history. But what drives a man who's already achieved everything rugby league has to offer? In this episode of Straight Talk, Teddy discusses the self-doubt that never goes away, the mindset work he's done since 2015, and the brutal discipline of consistency that separates the talented from the great. For more content like this: Subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://the-mentored-platform-pty-ltd.myklpages.com/l/WWJGc5 Join my exclusive Mentored+ community: https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Punters Politics' Konrad Benjamin: "Politicians Fear Lobbyists More Than They Fear Us"

Konrad Benjamin is the creator of Punters Politics, one of Australia's fastest-growing independent political commentary channels, and a former economics and PE teacher who taught across Victoria, New South Wales and China. In this episode, he sits down with me to dissect the incentive structures that shape Australian politics, corporate power and the housing crisis. The conversation moves from classroom economics to gas royalties, corporate lobbying, the staffer-to-lobbyist pipeline, and what a genuine fix might actually look like. For more content like this: Subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://the-mentored-platform-pty-ltd.myklpages.com/l/WWJGc5 Join my exclusive Mentored+ community: https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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The $1.6 Billion Founder: The Slow Decline of Australia Nobody Wants to Talk About & How We Win!

Charlie Gearside co-founded a $1.6 billion telehealth empire from scratch. No medical background, no blueprint, just a bet that Australians deserved better access to healthcare. But now he's turned his attention to something bigger, a cultural movement to remind Australia how to take risks again. This episode covers how Eucalyptus went from a $2 million Blackbird raise to a US acquisition, why Australia's business creation rate has been declining since the 1970s, and what Charlie is doing about it through Build Australia. Learn more about Build Australia here: https://buildaustralia.com/ For more content like this: Subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://the-mentored-platform-pty-ltd.myklpages.com/l/WWJGc5 Join my exclusive Mentored+ community: https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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F1 Legend Mark Webber: The Crash That Nearly Killed Me, Oscar Piastri, & rival Sebastian Vettel

Mark Webber is 1 of only 5 Australians to win a Formula 1 Grand Prix and a 9-time race winner who competed at the highest level of motorsport for over a decade alongside Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, and Lewis Hamilton. In this episode, Mark traces his journey from being a ball boy for the Canberra Raiders in Queanbeyan to holding up that 1st-place trophy on the infamous Monaco podium... twice. Webber took me through the decisions, mentors, and mindset shifts that defined his incredible career, covering how he went from a 2-race contract to a successful Formula 1 career, what he believes all the greats have in common, his near-fatal crash at 280km/h, and working with Oscar Piastri. This conversation is as much about what it takes to build an elite life as it is about Mark's incredible journey. You don't want to miss this one. --- For more content like this: Subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://the-mentored-platform-pty-ltd.myklpages.com/l/WWJGc5 Join my exclusive Mentored+ community: https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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NRL Boss Peter V’landys on the Historic $5.3B Broadcast Deal, PNG & the Future of Rugby League

Peter V'landys is the Executive Chairman of the NRL and one of Australia's most decorated sports administrators, having previously led Racing NSW through a comparable transformation. In this episode, he joins me to break down how he turned a financially fragile NRL, two months from insolvency during COVID, into a $500 million asset base backed by a record $5.3 billion broadcast deal. The conversation covers negotiation strategy, rule innovation, the PNG Chiefs expansion, the growth of the women's game, and Peter's personal approach to health and longevity. Subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://the-mentored-platform-pty-ltd.myklpages.com/l/WWJGc5 Join my exclusive Mentored+ community: https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Michael Cheika on the Sydney Roosters, Building Winners & Coaching Culture (round 2)

Most coaches talk about culture. Michael Cheika has actually built it — across five countries, two codes, and some of the hardest turnaround jobs in world rugby. In this live podcast at the Sydney Roosters Business Club, MB sits down with Cheika to unpack what real alignment looks like from the inside, why pressure is an illusion, and what it actually takes to build a team that knows how to win. Subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://the-mentored-platform-pty-ltd.myklpages.com/l/WWJGc5 Join my exclusive Mentored+ community: https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Nikki Osborne (Bush Barbie): The Aussie Comedian who broke the internet!

It’s all very serious today, so it was refreshing to have a funny conversation. Nikki Osborne didn’t just get the Prime Minister on her podcast. She DMed him, turned up at the Lodge in Canberra wearing a pith helmet, and got him talking about things you’d never hear in a press conference. In this episode of Straight Talk, I sit down with the comedian behind Bush Barbie to find out how she pulled it off and why her alter ego has tapped into something a lot of Australians are quietly desperate for. It’s a conversation about comedy, character, political correctness, and what it really takes to build a career from nothing over more than twenty years. Subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://the-mentored-platform-pty-ltd.myklpages.com/l/WWJGc5 Join my exclusive Mentored+ community: https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Pocock on Life before politics, gas, gambling and taking on the major parties

David Pocock is a former Wallabies captain turned independent Senator for the ACT. Born on a farm in Zimbabwe, he arrived in Australia at 14 after his family lost their land in the seizures of the late 1990s, found his feet through sport, and went on to represent the Wallabies before swapping the ruck for the red benches of the Senate. I sat down with David for an honest conversation about where he came from, how sport shaped him, and why he decided to take on the major parties as an independent. We speak about: Growing up on a farm in Zimbabwe and the violence that forced his family out Arriving in Australia at 14 and finding belonging through sport The rugby road from Western Force at 17 to captaining the Wallabies Why he ran as an independent and what shocked him most about Parliament The widow's tax and how his team found the flaw the major parties missed His push to rein in gambling advertising and what it is doing to young Australians A 25% gas export tax and the question of who our natural resources really belong to The squeeze on small business and how government procurement could back Aussie firms Why he thinks Parliament needs a lot more long-term thinking See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Ex-Army Soldier & Defence Investor Steve Baxter on how War has changed forever

Steve Baxter is a former Shark Tank investor, ex-Army guided weapons technician, and founder of Beaten Zone Venture Partners, a fund backing Australian defence startups and pushing them into the US market where the real money is. In this conversation, Steve takes us from growing up in outback Queensland and joining the army at 15, through building and selling one of Australia's biggest dial-up internet providers, to why he believes private capital — not government grants — is the key to Australia's sovereign defence capability. We get into cardboard drones that took out Russian aircraft in Kursk, robot dogs armed for the battlefield, a hypersonic aircraft built in Brisbane, and why 83% of Australia's super funds won't touch defence investment because of ESG. Steve also gives his blunt take on the Iran war, why he thinks deterrence beats conflict every time, and what he'd say to anyone about investing in the business of war. Subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://the-mentored-platform-pty-ltd.myklpages.com/l/WWJGc5 Join my exclusive Mentored+ community: https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Gerard Rennick on How Australia’s Economy Is Broken and How We Fix It

Gerard Rennick, founder of the People First Party and former Queensland senator, joined me to discuss his journey from rural Queensland to politics and why he believes Australia needs more leaders with real-world experience. Drawing on his background in finance and a Master’s in Tax Law, Rennick shared his views on the economy, housing, taxation, productivity and capital markets. He has since built his own party from the ground up around five policies he believes could fundamentally reshape how Australia handles money, tax, superannuation and infrastructure. Subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://the-mentored-platform-pty-ltd.myklpages.com/l/WWJGc5 Join my exclusive Mentored+ community: https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Dr Nick Coatsworth: COVID Mistakes, Big Government & The Future of Australia

Former Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Nick Coatsworth joins me for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, healthcare, and the future of Australia. Drawing on his experiences in humanitarian medicine, the COVID pandemic, and the health system, Dr Coatsworth shares his perspectives on public policy, economic challenges, and what Australia needs to do to build a stronger future. It’s a thoughtful discussion on resilience, responsibility, and the lessons that shape better decision-making Subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://the-mentored-platform-pty-ltd.myklpages.com/l/WWJGc5 Join my exclusive Mentored+ community: https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Communication Expert: The 4 Psychological Drivers Behind All Self-Doubt

Most people think self-doubt is the problem. Dr. Shadé Zahrai says it's not... it's what's underneath it. In this episode we sit down with communication expert and PhD researcher Dr. Shadé Zahrai to unpack the four psychological drivers that either fuel your self-doubt or build what she calls "Big Trust." This isn't therapy-speak, it's research-backed, practical, and built for people who are already doing the work but can't figure out why they keep getting in their own way. Subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://the-mentored-platform-pty-ltd.myklpages.com/l/WWJGc5 Join my exclusive Mentored+ community: https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Exercise Expert: Dr Stacy Sims On The Best Way to Train, Eat & Age Well (Project 100)

Dr Stacy Sims is one of the world's leading exercise physiologists specialising in women's health, and she joins Project 100 to explain why the science women have been given is largely based on male data and what that means for how women should actually train, eat, and protect their healthspan. From the cellular differences between the sexes, to perimenopause, creatine, protein timing, Alzheimer's risk, and why sleep beats everything else. This is a conversation every woman (and the people who love them) need to hear. Subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://the-mentored-platform-pty-ltd.myklpages.com/l/WWJGc5 Join my exclusive Mentored+ community: https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Jim Jefferies on Albo's Joke Scandal, His Nephew's Tragic Death & America's Madness

Jim Jefferies has done 6 Netflix specials, more than any comedian on earth. But this conversation goes well beyond comedy. Jim opens up about his nephew Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, one of four soldiers killed in the Whitsundays helicopter crash, and why he believes both Liberal and Labor governments closed ranks to bury the truth. From ICE raids to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's joke scandal, Ozempic to sports cards, this is Jim Jefferies completely unfiltered. Find tickets to see Jim on his Australian comedy tour here: https://jimjefferies.com/ Subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://the-mentored-platform-pty-ltd.myklpages.com/l/WWJGc5 Join my exclusive Mentored+ community: https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Property Expert: Why Australian House Prices Are Falling Faster Than Expected

Tim Lawless is Australia's most closely watched property data analyst and right now, the market is moving faster than anyone predicted. As Head of Research at Cotality (formerly CoreLogic), Lawless sits at the centre of every major shift in Australian housing. In this conversation, he and Mark Bouris go deep on what the federal budget has done to investor confidence, why the numbers are deteriorating faster than the data can capture, and what the property market realistically looks like from here. Lawless also walks through the economics of holding an investment property in 2026, city by city, with unusual candour about where the opportunities may eventually re-emerge. Subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://the-mentored-platform-pty-ltd.myklpages.com/l/WWJGc5 Join my exclusive Mentored+ community: https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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"It was a Disaster" Chris Joye on the Budget, Australia’s Property Correction, Trump & Bitcoin

Chris Joye is one of Australia's sharpest economic minds. He's a fund manager, AFR columnist, and architect of the indices used to measure Australian house prices. In this conversation, Joye delivers a blunt assessment of where Australia is headed economically. He argues the federal budget was a defining moment that exposed the government's agenda: taxing the private sector to fund an expanding public service. He connects that policy shift to rising inflation, falling house prices, and a growing brain drain that few politicians are willing to confront honestly. Topics covered: • Why the federal budget was a turning point for Australian economic confidence • Sydney and Melbourne house prices falling at double-digit annual rates • The RBA's inflation battle and why interest rates may need to go higher • Australia's national and state debt crisis and what it means for future taxes • The case for cutting the NDIS, selling the NBN, and raising the GST • Why high-net-worth Australians and entrepreneurs are quietly leaving • Trump's economic model and what Australia could learn from US prosperity Subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://the-mentored-platform-pty-ltd.myklpages.com/l/WWJGc5 Join my exclusive Mentored+ community: https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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