In this episode we cover: ✅Challenges of creating a hardware product ✅Helping people overcome shame and stigma ✅Building a brand beyond a visual identity ✅Investing in your own mental health ✅Reaching your audience where they are With its range of sex toys and sex education resources, NORMAL has reimagined the sex shop into an online experience that is fun and informative, with the mission of empowering absolutely anybody to explore their sexuality free from stress and stigma. In this special li...
Mar 11, 2025•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast What happens when a 10-second TikTok video changes everything overnight? For Annabelle Hay, co-founder and CEO of CLUTCH, it meant selling out 5,000 units in hours, navigating a manufacturing disaster, and scrambling to scale. In this episode, Annabelle shares the rollercoaster journey of building a consumer brand from scratch, the unexpected lessons of going viral, and the challenges of breaking into retail. In this conversation, we cover: 🔥 The TikTok video that went viral overnight and sold ...
Mar 04, 2025•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast What happens when artificial intelligence isn't just assisting—but reshaping—the world of investment? In this episode of Wild Hearts, we chat with Armina Rosenberg, an investor combining traditional fundamental research with revolutionary AI-driven techniques. Armina dives into how her firm, Minotaur, leverages AI to break down barriers, uncover global opportunities, and make investment decisions at unprecedented speeds. It's not just about efficiency; it's about reshaping the way capital is all...
Feb 25, 2025•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast Imagine being able to understand your customers better than ever before—instantly. That’s the promise of AI-powered product management. In this episode, Matt Hinds, Co-founder and CEO of Sauce AI, explains how AI is transforming the way companies prioritise, iterate, and execute on their product roadmaps. We dive into the tools, strategies, and mindset shifts that are allowing top teams to unlock massive leverage in world of product development. In this conversation, we cover: 🧠 The evolving ro...
Feb 18, 2025•52 min•Ep 18•Transcript available on Metacast Winning against billion-dollar incumbents isn't about money—it’s about strategy. In this episode, we talk to Steve Hind, the co-founder of Lorikeet, about how he and his team built an AI-powered customer support tool that’s not just competing but winning in one of the most crowded markets in tech. Steve shares the moment that led to their pivotal product shift, the principles guiding their success, and why they believe 2025 is the year AI will truly transform enterprise support. In this conversa...
Feb 11, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep 17•Transcript available on Metacast How do you take a deeply human skill—asking great questions—and scale it with AI? Michelle Gilmore, co-founder and CEO of Juno, is tackling that challenge head-on. In this episode, we talk about her path from industrial design to AI entrepreneurship, why the best research isn’t about collecting data but understanding people, and how Juno is changing the way businesses learn from their customers. In this conversation, we cover: 🔍 The art of asking the right questions—and why small wording change...
Feb 04, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep 16•Transcript available on Metacast AI & Creativity: how Springboards is changing the game for agencies What does it take to turn an idea into a global business in just six months? In this episode, we sit down with the founders of Springboards, Pip Bingemann and Amy Tucker, to uncover their whirlwind journey from a three-person team with an MVP to a thriving international business that’s transforming the creative agency space. Subscribe on Apple or Spotify to learn. In this conversation, we cover: The incredible growth of Springbo...
Jan 29, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep 15•Transcript available on Metacast Discover how Stephanie Carullo from Box and Apple, transformed education through technology. In this episode, she shares the pivotal moments that redefined classrooms, the culture at Apple, and her vision for the future of AI in learning. 🔑 Why Apple’s "life's best work" mantra fosters trust and accountability across teams 📱 The revolutionary impact of the iPad on education and its role in transforming classrooms worldwide 📖 The secret to embedding Apple’s culture of clarity, strategy, and co...
Jan 21, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Ep 14•Transcript available on Metacast What does it take to launch Australia into the global space race? For Adam Gilmour, CEO and founder of Gilmour Space Technologies, the answer is a bold vision, relentless innovation, and an unwavering commitment from a founder and their team. In this episode of Wild Hearts, Adam shares the highs, lows, and lessons learned as he prepares for the first Australian-made rocket launch from Australian soil. Throughout the episode, we cover: 🚀 Adam Gilmour’s bold vision to enable human colonisation of...
Jan 14, 2025•51 min•Ep 13•Transcript available on Metacast Join us as we dive into the archives of Wild Hearts to re-live some of our favourite episodes! Flavia is connecting everything on earth via sending toaster sized satellites into low earth orbit. In the second episode of, host Mason Yates speaks to co-founder and CEO Flavia Tata Nardini and Blackbird Partner Niki Scevak about the rocket science company that is connecting everything on earth. Key topics covered: How the next industrial revolution will be in space. The unique challenges facing spac...
Jan 08, 2025•42 min•Ep 16•Transcript available on Metacast Join us as we dive into the archives of Wild Hearts to re-live some of our favourite episodes! Halter is a fenceless farming startup. They're creating mind control technology for cows. An engineer by trade and dairy farmer by birth, Halter CEO is familiar with the relentless demands of farming. “The day in the life of a farmer is you’re up at 4:30am every morning, even on Christmas morning, nothing waits for you.” That’s about to change. Halter has developed an IoT wearable collar that can direc...
Jan 01, 2025•1 hr 19 min•Ep 15•Transcript available on Metacast Join us, as we dive into the Wild Hearts archives to re-live previous episodes from some of our favourite guests! Tim Doyle, co-founder of seed-stage company Eucalyptus, has spent $35M across political campaigns, mattresses and now healthcare. Before Eucalyptus, Tim was the Head of Marketing at Koala. In this conversation, Tim talks about how he allocates capital, how Eucalyptus captures attention, where to extract value where others can’t see and how to acquire customers. Later on in this episo...
Dec 25, 2024•59 min•Ep 14•Transcript available on Metacast Building a deep-tech company like Fleet Space Technologies isn't just about the technology; it's about the people, the focus, and the vision to change the world. In this episode of Wild Hearts, Flavia Tata Nardini takes us behind the scenes of Fleet's growth, sharing how critical decisions, customer feedback, and personal resilience have shaped her leadership. Join us for a conversation that reveals the human side of leadership in one of the most cutting-edge industries today. Throughout the epi...
Dec 17, 2024•53 min•Ep 13•Transcript available on Metacast What happens when a founder bets everything on simplicity—and wins? 🎧 Subscribe on Apple or Spotify to learn. That’s the story of Dr. Thomas Kelly and his ambitious telehealth platform, Heidi—a product that faced failure before transforming into a global success. In this episode of Wild Hearts, we delve into the remarkable journey of a founder who dared to strip everything back to focus on what mattered most. We cover: 🩺 The turning point: How Tom realised Heidi wasn’t delivering joy to clinic...
Dec 10, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep 11•Transcript available on Metacast What happens when one man’s parenting experiences become the blueprint for a global storytelling phenomenon? That’s exactly what Joe Brumm achieved with Bluey, the universally loved animated series. In this episode, we explore the journey of a father-turned-creative visionary who bet everything on capturing the magic of family life. From creating a team culture that prioritises love and ownership to scaling joy across continents, Joe’s story is an extraordinary blend of heart and hustle. In this...
Dec 03, 2024•52 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast Amber Joseph is rewriting the rules of learning. After scaling a solo business to $700,000/year without cofounders or funding, she pivoted to tackle online education’s biggest flaws. Now the founder of NextWork, Amber is building a platform that teaches real-world skills, validated by real companies. In our latest episode of Wild Hearts, we sit down with Amber and dive deep into: 🚀 How Amber Joseph scaled a solo services business to $700,000/year with no cofounders or funding. 🤔 Amber’s pivot ...
Nov 26, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast How do you transform a rejection into a stepping-stone for success? For Liam Millward, founder of Instant, that rejection sparked an obsession with speed and revenue that would drive his young company to incredible heights. In this conversation, we explore Liam’s journey of rapid growth, strategic pivots, and the lessons learned on the path to building a $100M+ business. In this episode, we learn: 🚀 The pivotal rejection and how it motivated Liam to persevere. 💼 The early funding struggle and ...
Nov 19, 2024•55 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast What happens when you bring innovation to the heart of traditional farming? In this episode, we sit down with Craig Piggott, CEO and Founder of Halter, to discuss the journey of transforming the farming industry with smart technology. Craig shares insights on managing supply chain and critical path changes, boosting productivity, the company's plans to expand globally, and how he and his team are reimagining the possibilities for agriculture. What can you expect in this episode? 📱 The in-app ex...
Nov 12, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast How do you go from launching reusable rockets to pioneering cultured meat manufacturing? In this episode, Ines Lizaur, a former SpaceX engineer and now Head of Manufacturing at Vow, joins us on Wild Hearts to share her journey and insights on tackling big challenges in high-stakes environments. From her early days at SpaceX where she grappled with relentless deadlines and operational reliability, to her transition to Vow, we explore how Ines has applied her experience from the fast-paced aerospa...
Nov 05, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast With over 2000 engineers, an ever-expanding product suite, and billions of users, how does Canvacontinue launching world-class products at breakneck speed? In the latest episode in our Operators Series, we dive into the mind of Robert Kawalsky, Head of Product at Canva, to uncover the strategies behind one of the most successful product teams in the world. Robert reveals how a relentless focus on long-term goals, their product-first philosophy, and cross-functional teamwork fuels Canva’s success...
Oct 29, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast What does it take for a startup to go from a house of brands to a healthcare powerhouse? And what changes about your leadership to get it there? This is the third time Tim Doyle, the founder of Eucalyptus, has joined us on Wild Hearts. Last episode, Tim shared his ambition to shock the business into a new level of growth. In this episode, we reflect on what’s changed at Eucalyptus over the past few years, his lessons as a CEO of a rapidly-changing company, and making good on Euc’s mission to ser...
Oct 22, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast ✨ What does it take for a startup to go from 14,000 users to 19 million in less than a year? How about being acquired by Canva within two years of launching? In the case of Leonardo AI, the answer lies in innovation, speed, and strategic growth, as explored in this episode of Wild Hearts featuring Leonardo AI co-founder and CEO JJ Fiasson. Leonardo has transformed the world of generative AI, helping creators develop hyper-realistic art for gaming, video production, and marketing. In the words of...
Oct 15, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast What does it take to grow from one of the first hires to leading the team at one of NZ’s fastest-growing tech startups? Welcome back to our Wild Heart Operator series! This series is dedicated to surfacing the lessons from verified world class operators, the Australians and New Zealanders at the forefront of building generational companies. From product to manufacturing, engineering to marketing, each of these conversations is a masterclass in how someone at the top of their game gets it done. T...
Oct 08, 2024•52 min•Ep 42•Transcript available on Metacast What does it take to go from running a family-owned service station to being the global chair of Tesla? The answer is curiosity, courage, connections and the ability to collect as many ‘Pokemon Cards’ (skills) as possible. In this episode of Wild Hearts, we are honoured to be joined by Robyn Denholm - Global Chair of Tesla, Chair of the Tech Council of Australia, and Operating Partner here at Blackbird. We’ll dive deep into the lesser-told stories from Robyn’s career to uncover the lessons and i...
Oct 01, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep 41•Transcript available on Metacast Forget what you think you know about building a new e-commerce experience because Carted sees the world differently. It’s a world where the merchant is no longer the only focus for commerce innovation. In this episode, we talk to Holly Cardew, Carted’s Founder, about how they are changing the future of shopping by standardising and organising the world’s products into a shoppable knowledge graph. In Carted’s new ecosystem, shoppers are at the centre, and non-traditional commerce platforms will b...
Dec 19, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Ep 40•Transcript available on Metacast Reshaping education and employment, with Tom Brunskill, Co-Founder of Forage Forage is on a mission to transform career education and employment. By offering job simulations from leading companies, they enable students to gain real-world skills and experience, enabling them to make more informed decisions about the career they pursue. This innovative approach challenges traditional recruitment methods, focusing on education first to create a more inclusive and diverse talent pool. ✅ How Tom’s un...
Nov 21, 2023•1 hr 20 min•Ep 39•Transcript available on Metacast Unlocking a new way of living with Toby Thomas-Smith, Co-Founder of Kiki Kiki is on a mission to revolutionise the way we live and connect. By leveraging the power of existing social ties, their unique peer-to-peer subletting platform enables users greater flexibility to travel, helping unlock new lifestyles, friendships and savings. ✅Growing a “cult-like” community around the ethos of subletting ✅Lessons from early mistakes launching in New Zealand ✅Launching in New York: Kiki’s global vision E...
Oct 31, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Transcript available on Metacast ❤️🔥Episode 6, Season 4 “Ship less, but better”, with Lucy Denton, Head of Design at Dovetail ✅Lessons from working at Atlassian ✅Detention & Sparring: “sacred rituals” of Dovetail’s design team ✅Balancing product simplicity with new features ✅Design thinking & the “double diamond” framework Dovetail is on a mission to help the world improve the quality of everything. Dovetail’s customer insights hub allows teams to quickly analyse research data and share insights collaboratively, helping thous...
Aug 22, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Transcript available on Metacast Searching the way we think with Jesse Clark, co-founder of Marqo ✅Lessons from working at Stitch Fix and Amazon ✅What it means to be truly “developer first” ✅The decision to make Marqo open source ✅Who will be the winners and losers of the AI revolution Marqo is building a revolutionary framework that provides search functionality to developers, allowing their applications to search anything - text, images, video, audio - with human-like understanding. Marqo makes it possible to do things that w...
Aug 08, 2023•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast EdApp is changing workplace education and training with accessible and engaging mobile learning which leverages microlearning and gamification. By using a freemium model, and through their partnerships with NGOs such as the United Nations, EdApp is empowering and educating millions of learners around the world. ✅ Deciding to join SafetyCulture rather than raise venture capital ✅ Importance of thinking global from day one ✅ Hiring the hungry, not the proven ✅ Advantages of freemium model Episode ...
Jul 25, 2023•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
