He built a second brain using ChatGPT, uploaded 1000 hours of his raw thoughts, and used AI to change not just his business - but his identity. Matt Lakajev is the founder of Seven Figure Creators and Australia’s #1 lead gen expert. But this episode is about something deeper than sales. After working 16-hour days, hitting burnout, and revisiting old trauma at Coachella, Matt built an AI-powered second brain to map his subconscious, rewrite mental patterns, and unlock clarity most founders never ...
Jun 30, 2025•1 hr 3 min
She scaled a side hustle to $1M in 1 year with only 1 employee. And she did it all through a pregnancy. Mikhailla Fitzgerald is the founder of a talent agency that was acquired just four years after launch. But behind the headlines is a story of rebuilding after losing a child, shutting down a 7-figure business to avoid burnout, and figuring out who she was after giving up the founder title. In this episode of Chew the Fat, Mikhailla shares the sacrifices she makes as the breadwinner of her fami...
Jun 10, 2025•33 min
She broke her bones to ski, trained through clinical PTSD, and now is a world champion footballer and dual paralympian. Rae Anderson is a dual Paralympian who’s represented Australia in long jump, javelin, alpine skiing, and football. From being told she didn’t “look disabled” to winning a World Cup with the ParaMatildas, Rae’s story shows that anything is possible with unbeaten resilience. In this episode of Chew the Fat, Rae shares how cerebral palsy shaped her mindset from childhood, why she ...
Jun 02, 2025•35 min
She built a multi-million dollar franchise, raised over $1M for positive impact, and now she’s on a mission to help 70,000 businesses give $1B by 2035. Alana Nicholls is the founder of ProPurpose, a movement helping business owners embed generosity into their business models. But before that, she grew Platinum Electricians with her husband from a single van to a national franchise, while sponsoring a child every month for every van they added. This proved that purpose and profit aren’t opposites...
May 26, 2025•49 min
He went from selling creatine in high school to running 90 gyms across 13 countries - and now he’s moving his entire family to the US to chase the next chapter. Michael Ramsey is the co-founder of Strong, the $35M Pilates franchise. But while most would coast at 90 locations, Michael believes if you're not growing, you're dying. So he sold everything, packed two suitcases, and moved his family to America. In this episode of Chew the Fat, Michael shares how he built a brand that makes men comfort...
May 12, 2025•43 min
She dedicated 42 years to curing childhood cancer, helped double survival rates in leukaemia children and now leads a global revolution in personalised treatment. Professor Michelle Haber is the Executive Director of the Children’s Cancer Institute. What began as a three-person lab in 1984 has now grown into a world-leading research institute responsible for doubling survival rates in some of the deadliest childhood cancers. In this episode of Chew the Fat, Michelle shares how academic success w...
May 06, 2025•57 min
She moved to Bali to start a business at 21, before getting her bikinis in the hands of EmRata. Bridgette Gale founded her swimwear brand at 21, cracked the US market from Bali, made $100K overnight with a collaboration with Jessie James Decker, and cold emailed Emily Ratajkowski’s agent before landing her for a shoot. In this episode of Chew the Fat, Bridgette shares how she grew her swimwear business with no funding, the pivotal moments that forced her to trust her gut over her fear, and why "...
Apr 28, 2025•51 min
Can a coffee chat change your life? Do mentors choose their mentee first? And can a 21 year old really run a $60 million HealthTech company? Here’s your answer. Akhil Gadde is the co-founder of DR2, a health tech company that acquired Australia’s largest after-hours doctor services and scaled to over $60 million in revenue, just two years after launch. In this episode of Chew the Fat, Akhil shares what it’s like acquiring a 200-person company at 20 years old, securing a $20M+ loan from Commonwea...
Apr 14, 2025•46 min
AJ was abandoned at 14, hid his childhood from everyone including his wife, but now runs an 8-figure wellness company. AJ Williams is the founder of Revel Saunas, a business built on obsession, data, and a drive to prove what's possible when you put the middle finger up to adversity. He aimed to hit $3 million in revenue within 12 months, but did it in the first and is now at over $30M. In this episode of Chew the Fat, AJ opens up about escaping domestic violence, sleeping in cars, and hiding th...
Apr 07, 2025•54 min
How to book 3000 sales calls with $0 ad spend…this is a masterclass by Matt Lakajev. He turned down a $280k salary to start a business, and now makes $280/month! Matt Lakajev is ranked No.1 in Australia for lead generation across all social media channels. He helps business owners make money through LinkedIn and is the founder of Seven Figure Creators. In this conversation, Matt reveals why most business owners destroy their brand on LinkedIn, how AI makes you better (not just faster), and how o...
Mar 31, 2025•55 min
Can an 8-figure business be built from a bathroom joke? And what if $18 million was donated off the back of it? Simon Griffiths is the co-founder of Who Gives a Crap, the wildly successful toilet paper company that uses half its profits to build toilets and fund clean water projects around the world. From a lightning in a bottle idea in his bathroom to a business that's donated over $18 million, Simon built a global brand by doing everything differently… bold packaging, laugh-out-loud copy, and ...
Mar 24, 2025•46 min
From earning $0 for a year to making $900k a month, the drive of purpose-led founders is like nothing else. Jess Redman and Benji Dimitrioski are the founders of Natures Farmer Sea, a direct to consumer producer of sea moss with no chemicals. Benji, a former professional boxer and Jess, a cancer survivor, teamed up and experienced a 90% conversion rate at in-person markets before scaling with e-commerce. In this episode of Chew the Fat, they reveal why they prioritise purpose over profit, why th...
Mar 20, 2025•48 min
He turned $1,000 into a billion-dollar brand with a protein bar that outsold Cadbury and Ferrero chocolate bars in the UK. Alan Barratt is the Founder of Grenade, one of the biggest brands in sports nutrition. As a close friend of Richard Branson and Steven Bartlett, he also mentors at Virgin Startup and is a partner at Flight Fund. As a teen, Alan watched his family (literally) work themselves to death for nothing, so he made a different choice. A gym-obsessed teenager earning $4 an hour, he st...
Mar 17, 2025•1 hr 7 min
She turned 1M Youtube subscribers into a 10M+ Business by trying multiple side hustles before landing on FAYT the Label. Brittany Saunders went from working at McDonald's to making $300K a year at 22 from brand deals. She then started FAYT the Label in her garage and grew to 70 team members and with zero funding or debt. In this episode of Chew the Fat, Brittany shares how she made $2M in one weekend, why traditional marketing loses to personal branding nowadays, and why she cringes when people ...
Mar 10, 2025•56 min
Debt forces many entrepreneurs to “get a real job”. Moving out with his fiance whilst $12k in debt almost made Tom Noske quit. But today his personal brand of 424k followers earns him over $1.5M a year through his business, Time To Build. This week on Chew the Fat, Tom shares how he lost a mentor by asking them how much they earn from their personal brand, the childhood experiences that make him feel like he still “isn’t good enough”, and why sharing your unique passions rather than niching down...
Mar 03, 2025•1 hr 6 min
Can a daughter achieve her father’s dreams of becoming an inventor? Annabel Hay, the founder of Clutch Glue proves you can. Annabel is the first person to be offered more money than she asked for on Shark Tank. She turned it down, but then raised $1.4 million from Blackbird, marking the largest pre-seed round in FMCG history. From her TV appearance, one clip hit 200 million views, before a casual Tiktok of her applying Clutch Glue drove $160K in sales overnight. In this conversation, Annabel sha...
Feb 24, 2025•1 hr
Does “winging it” really work for a multi-million dollar company? And what if you started the company with the love of your life? Don Robertson and Matilda Murray, the husband-and-wife powerhouse behind STAX. , prove you can. They’ve created Australia’s first inclusive fitness fashion brand, offering sizes from XXS to 4XL. Today, STAX. has over 150 employees relying on them — but according to Don and Matilda, they’re still “winging it.” In this episode of Chew The Fat , Don and Matilda tell Fran...
Feb 17, 2025•52 min
Jamie Oliver and Bear Grylls wore his helmets. But Rob Joseph still hasn’t had taxable income since JobKeeper. This is the reality of building a business from the ground up. Rob is the founder of Anti-Ordinary, a revolutionary action sports helmet that fits and looks like a beanie. His mission? To create the safest helmet in the world — without sacrificing comfort or style. But that mission hasn’t come cheap. After an initial $200,000 investment, Rob found himself $1 million in debt. A competito...
Feb 10, 2025•40 min
🎙️ Welcome to "Chew the Fat," where real business insights meet real-world success stories. From launching a Korean-inspired wellness brand out of her Bondi garage to winning $250K on Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars last year, Sophie Hood is shaking up the hangover relief game - one pear at a time 🍐 Her brand, @SeoulTonic, blends traditional East Asian ingredients with slick, modern branding, landing her in 80+ retailers (and counting). But Sophie isn’t stopping there… She's on a mission to take Se...
Feb 03, 2025•50 min
🎙️ Welcome to "Chew the Fat," where real business insights meet real-world success stories. Jason Daniel is the founder and CEO of LSKD, the sportswear brand born out of a backyard hustle and a deep love for action sports. Starting at just 16, Jason turned his obsession with BMX and motocross into a movement - literally. What began as selling tees under the name Loose Kid Industries in his mum’s spare room evolved into LSKD, a globally recognised activewear brand inspiring people to chase the v...
Jan 28, 2025•48 min
🎙️ Welcome to "Chew the Fat," where real business insights meet real-world success stories. Meet Raquel Bouris, the fearless female founder of Who Is Elijah, Australia’s independent fragrance brand that’s redefining the luxury perfume industry. Starting at just 23 in her garage, Raquel saw an opportunity to create cruelty-free, genderless scents, hand-filled right in Sydney. Since launching in 2018, Raquel has transformed a bold idea inspired by a Coachella trip into a $20M business. With a bot...
Jan 20, 2025•43 min
🎙️ Welcome to "Chew the Fat," where real business insights meet real-world success stories. What if building wealth could be fun and achievable? Meet Tash Invests. At 27, she’s one of Australia’s top voices in personal finance, made it on the @Forbes 30 Under 30 list, and has over $250k invested in shares. Tash proves that thinking long-term and sacrificing a little now can mean big rewards later. In this episode, Tash shares her journey from buying her first apartment at 22 to launching her bo...
Dec 16, 2024•38 min
🎙️ Welcome to "Chew the Fat," where real business insights meet real-world success stories. From startups to fortune 500 giants, Surge crafts bold strategies, cutting-edge tech, and growth marketing tools that put user experience at the forefront. Bhanuka Harischandra didn’t just build a business, he built a movement that’s rewriting the rules of digital media and marketing. As the founder of Surge Global, Bhaunka is empowering brands to smash boundaries, conquer new markets, and lead with stra...
Dec 10, 2024•1 hr 21 min
Ever wonder where your business is leaking money? In this Founders Lab episode, Tobi Pearce delivers a masterclass on capital efficiency and scaling with purpose. He’ll challenge you to assess your processes: Can you cut it, automate it, or offshore it? Learn how to build a strong foundation for businesses in the $1 to $10M range, make tough yet necessary decisions, and identify what truly drives value. Discover how opportunity cost can either propel you forward or hold you back, and why AI is a...
Dec 05, 2024•43 min
Welcome Dan Anisse from @relume to this week's episode of The Founders Table. What if your customers weren’t just buyers but raving fans who shaped your products alongside you? In this episode, we dive into the art of creating community-led products. Ideas and adaptations built around real feedback and input from the people who matter most. From crafting discovery roadmaps to creating loyal Facebook groups, we chat about the magic of involving your audience at every touchpoint to build authority...
Nov 27, 2024•21 min
🎙️ Welcome to "Chew the Fat," where real business insights meet real-world success stories. Are you willing to put in the work? For Steve Chapman, the answer has always been yes. A born entrepreneur and relentless hustler, Steve’s journey has taken him from multiple bold ventures to founding Hyro, the hydrating electrolyte drink mix that helps you replenish, recover, and win. His story is one of grit, determination, and a refusal to settle for anything less than extraordinary. In this episode, ...
Nov 25, 2024•50 min
What does it take to be not just a leader, but the leader who inspires, grows, and wins? In this episode of The Founders Lab, we dive deep into the heart of leadership mastery. From cultivating a high-performance culture to embodying a coaching mindset, Steve Chapman, Jacques and Frank share the non-negotiables every leader must embrace. Highlights include: Transforming "wins and losses" into wins and learns The importance of leadership as a transfer of energy Doubling your impact as a leader ev...
Nov 20, 2024•40 min
🎙️ Welcome to "Chew the Fat," where real business insights meet real-world success stories. "Winning comes in different ways. Stay focused, stay connected, stay Melo.” Welcome to the podcast, Carmelo Anthony. From dominating on the court to now conquering the business world as a venture capitalist, Melo’s journey has been all about the ultimate sacrifice. What does it take to lock into your craft when everything - your body, mind, time - is on the line? Listen in to hear how he leads on and off...
Nov 18, 2024•50 min
🎙️ Welcome to "Chew the Fat," where real business insights meet real-world success stories. Welcome to today’s episode, where we’re thrilled to chat with an inspiring entrepreneur who turned his passion of Lego into a global success story - Kenny Lee, the founder of Light My Bricks. Back in 2016, Kenny started his business with just $10k and a “why not” attitude. He was in his mid-30s, working a stable job, raising three kids, but instead of letting that stop him, he broadened his thinking and ...
Nov 13, 2024•45 min
🎙️ Welcome to "Chew the Fat," where real business insights meet real-world success stories. Scaling a business isn't just about having a great product - it's about building a powerhouse team to drive it forward. But how do you identify the best humans for the job? In this episode, Tobi Pearce dives deep into the strategies every founder needs to know to attract, recruit, and retain top talent. Discover how asking the right questions can evolve your hiring approach over time and why a strong tal...
Nov 11, 2024•27 min
