
Agency
In 2018, I was broke, 200k in debt, and working an unfulfilling job. I started a content creation agency and scaled it from 1 freelancer to a team of 30+ in just 4 short years. Now I run Australia’s fastest-growing agency: rivyl. As a guy who runs an agency working with global brands and celebrities, I decided to start interviewing people who take Agency over their lives. To unpack what entrepreneurs do to get ahead in business and life. My goal is to unearth the tactics, mindset, and motives that make high performers tick so you can get a leg up and take Agency with whatever you’re doing.
Latest episodes

Nov 14, 2024 • 1h 29min
#49 - Mastering Leadership Under Pressure | Michael Hooper
Wallabies legend Michael Hooper dives into mastering ego for unstoppable team chemistry. And he shares strategies inspired by Sun Tzu’s The Art of War to tackle challenges, adapt on the fly, and keep his edge as a leader, both in the game and beyond. This is Hooper, unfiltered and unstoppable.
Book Rivyl in for a free 30-minute call, here: http://l.rivyl.com/JUPbkj
Wix Studio - Scale your business at https://www.wix.com/studio
(00:00) Introduction
(10:00) The Unexpected Path to Leadership
(15:00) Balancing Ego with Team Dynamics
(20:10) The Importance of Mentorship
(26:00) Communication and Emotional Intelligence
(31:05) Building Confidence and Overcoming Challenges
(36:20) Lessons from Sporting Icons
(41:30) Handling Criticism and Feedback
(47:00) Developing a High-Performance Mindset
(52:10) Aligning Personal and Team Goals
(57:40) Emotional Intelligence in Leadership
(01:02:55) Personal Habits for Success
(01:08:15) Strengthening Mental Toughness
(01:13:30) Managing Team Dynamics
(01:18:45) Continuous Improvement and Feedback Loops
(01:24:00) Pursuit of Excellence and Innovation
(01:28:00) Reflecting on Career Milestones

Nov 7, 2024 • 1h 35min
#48 - From Public Housing to Millionaire Success | Bradley Gimbert
From bullied teen to resilient entrepreneur, Bradley Gimbert shares his journey: boxing as a lifeline, lessons from imprisonment, and the drive to build Indigenous Wealth. This episode dives into his path of overcoming challenges, mastering self-reliance, and staying laser-focused on a bigger vision. Don’t miss this story of grit, growth, and giving back.
Book Rivyl in for a free 30-minute call, here: http://l.rivyl.com/JUPbkj
(00:00) Introduction
(01:10) Discovering Boxing
(03:37) Boxing as a Turning Point
(05:50) A Decisive Incident
(07:08) Lessons from Imprisonment
(17:20) Focus on Self-Determination
(18:12) Career Ambitions and Hurdles
(32:33) Reintegrating into Society
(47:37) Personal Milestones
(48:15) Daily Life Adjustments
(50:11) Humble Beginnings
(51:07) Importance of Strategy
(01:00:00) Boxing's Impact on Ethics
(01:07:08) Handling Personal and Social Issues
(01:17:32) Career Advancement
(01:20:00) Building Supportive Relationships
(01:25:00) Reflecting and Learning
(01:28:30) Aspirations and Future Vision
(01:31:50) Closing and Wisdom

Oct 31, 2024 • 2h 8min
#47 - Wallabies Legend's Path to Greatness and Resilience | Drew Mitchell
From schoolyard scrapes to global rugby stardom, Drew Mitchell’s journey is packed with grit, glory, and game-changing moments. Grab a front-row seat to Drew’s on-field antics, his battles with injury, and unforgettable pitch-side stories. Today’s episode of Agency is filled with wisdom, laughs, and insights only a true rugby legend can share.
Book Rivyl in for a free 30-minute call, here: http://l.rivyl.com/JUPbkj
(00:00) The Kickoff Begins
(06:20) Early Hurdles and Triumphs
(12:40) Worldly Adventures Await
(19:00) Culture Shock and Awe
(25:20) Playing International Rugby
(31:40) On-field Highlights
(38:00) The Art of the Mind Game
(44:20) Lessons in Humility
(50:40) Scaling New Heights
(57:00) Leadership Between the Lines
(01:03:20) The Test of Recovery
(01:09:40) Mindfulness and Balance
(01:16:00) Wallabies Wisdom
(01:22:20) Shift Happens: Rugby's Evolution
(01:28:40) The Joys of the Tour Life
(01:35:00) A New Game Plan
(01:41:20) Goals Beyond the Game
(01:47:40) Wisdom from Rugby
(01:54:00) Reflections and Revelations
(02:00:20) The Final Huddle

Oct 24, 2024 • 1h 34min
#46 - Inside the Beauty Industry with Australia's Leading Hair Artist | Natalie Anne
The beauty game has changed, and this episode is your front row seat to learning from Australia’s leading hair artist, Natalie Anne. Get an inside scoop on mastering client connections, building products that truly meet market demands, and building an unbreakable bond with your customers.
Book Rivyl in for a free 30-minute call, here: http://l.rivyl.com/JUPbkj
(00:00) Introduction
(03:16) The Shift to Authentic Content Creation
(05:42) Embracing Constant Change
(08:18) Learning from Mistakes and Mentorship
(12:20) The Importance of Real-Time Learning
(15:30) Balancing Creativity and Structure
(19:09) Navigating Industry Trends and Challenges
(22:35) Building Genuine Customer Relationships
(26:42) Event Planning and Managing Details
(29:22) Social Media's Impact on Business Growth
(32:47) Transparency and Behind-the-Scenes Content
(36:43) Creative Collaboration and Overcoming Differences
(40:18) Systematizing Creative Processes
(43:51) Evolution of Beauty and Industry Standards
(47:23) Tailored Client Engagement Strategies
(50:28) Product Development and Market Responsiveness
(53:29) Challenges of Self-Funding Business Ventures
(56:19) Educational and Inspirational Initiatives
(01:01:58) Importance of Team Dynamics in Success
(01:05:22) Building Trust with Ethical Business Practices
(01:08:18) Applying Theoretical Concepts to Practice
(01:11:11) Managing Evolving Personal Brands
(01:14:41) Future Directions
(01:18:00) Closing Thoughts and Takeaways

Oct 17, 2024 • 1h 51min
#45 - Finding Purpose in Life After Australian Survivor | JordanSchmidt
Jordan Schmidt, an Australian Survivor star and the founder of Modern Mentality (where he helps young men find confidence and purpose), opens up about his time on the show. Get the inside scoop on his time in the game and discover the life-changing lessons he’s learned along the way. Including how he found his purpose on the show and how you can do the same.
Warning: Graphic content is discussed throughout this episode. Viewer discretion is advised.
Book Rivyl in for a free 30-minute call, here: http://l.rivyl.com/JUPbkj
(00:00) Introduction
(04:13) The Survivor Australia Journey Begins
(10:46) Adapting to Change
(15:31) The Importance of Teamwork
(22:29) Mind and Body Connection
(27:46) Strategies for Success
(31:31) Emotional and Physical Resilience
(36:49) Behind the Scenes of Survivor Australia
(40:48) Reflecting on Survivor Australia
(45:23) Navigating Personal Challenges
(50:56) Motivation and Inspiration
(55:03) The Role of Humor
(58:13) The Power of Reflection
(01:01:16) Life Lessons Learned
(01:05:46) Facing Fears
(01:10:23) Finding Purpose
(01:13:04) Living Authentically
(01:16:46) The Value of Gratitude
(01:20:13) The Road to Fulfillment
(01:25:01) Leadership and Influence
(01:28:13) Coping with Pressure
(01:31:49) The Pursuit of Happiness
(01:34:16) Embracing Change
(01:36:46) Final Reflections
(01:39:22) Takeaways

Oct 11, 2024 • 1h 33min
#44 - How AI is Redefining Web Design | Dan Anisse
Dan Anisse shares how merging human creativity with AI fueled Relume’s rise to unicorn status. Learn how early AI adoption, combined with proven strategies, gave them an unbeatable edge – and how AI as a “super-assistant” can drive explosive growth and next-level productivity. Discussed in detail in today’s episode of the Agency Podcast.
Book Rivyl in for a free 30-minute call, here: http://l.rivyl.com/JUPbkj
(00:00) Introduction
(03:45) Early Steps
(07:29) Building an Agency
(10:01) Leveraging Insights
(13:53) Embracing Technology
(17:06) Early Adoption of AI
(20:26) Overcoming Challenges
(23:33) Insight Factory Concept
(26:46) Technology vs. Tradition
(30:15) Proposal Automations
(33:51) Dealing with Uncertainty
(36:06) Expanding Horizons
(39:21) AI as a Super Assistant
(42:46) Insights on Motivation
(46:15) Book Reading Strategy
(49:23) Product Development
(52:21) Dealing with Nerves
(54:06) Handling Setbacks
(56:49) Building Resilience
(59:36) Merging with AI
(01:02:43) Business Philosophy
(01:05:11) Exploring the Unknown
(01:07:56) The Mantras
(01:10:31) Lessons Learned
(01:13:26) Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Oct 3, 2024 • 1h 34min
#43 - The Mindset Powering Australia’s Most Elite Gym | Lachlan Rowston
In this episode of the Agency podcast, we speak with Lachlan Rowston, one of Australia’s most well-known and respected fitness entrepreneurs, about his Gen 2 gym model, overcoming market saturation, challenging the traditional gym status quo, strategies for building a loyal client base and much more.
(00:00) Intro
(03:46) Gen Two Fitness
(07:31) Subscription Models
(12:01) Centralized Programming
(16:31) Navigating Business Growth
(21:31) Upfront Payments
(25:46) Operating During a Pandemic
(32:01) Lessons from Lockdown
(35:31) Business Strategy Shifts
(40:01) Systematic Community Building
(44:01) Managing Client Engagement
(48:01) Balancing Growth and Reflection
(52:01) Mental Frameworks for Positivity
(56:31) Overcoming Negative States
(01:01:01) Leadership and Delegation
(01:04:31) Prioritizing Non-Urgent Tasks
(01:07:31) Avoiding Life Passing By
(01:10:31) Work-Life Balance Challenges
(01:13:01) Frameworks for Decision Making
(01:16:01) Navigating Economic Uncertainty
(01:18:31) Partnership Opportunities
(01:21:31) Scaling into New Markets
(01:24:01) Branding and Marketing
(01:27:31) Future Vision and Goals
(01:30:31) Conclusion and Gratitude

Sep 26, 2024 • 1h 26min
#42 - Scaling Your Business with Digital Marketing and E-Commerce | Jay Wright
In this episode of Agency podcast, Jay Wright, one of Australia’s top e-commerce experts, breaks down the essentials of marketing. From quickly adapting to changing digital trends, harnessing consumer feedback for explosive growth, and strategic product development, discover the tactics he uses to help his clients more than 10x their revenue.
Book Rivyl in for a free 30-minute call, here: http://l.rivyl.com/JUPbkj
(00:00) Intro
(04:45) E-Commerce Fundamentals
(10:21) Overcoming Camera Shyness
(15:36) Networking for Success
(20:23) Leadership and Action
(26:00) Building Brand Authenticity
(30:16) Product Development Insights
(35:34) Case Study: Scaling Success
(40:24) Handling Rapid Growth
(45:03) Learning from Failures
(55:10) Leveraging Industry Knowledge01:00:06 Building a Strong Team
(01:05:14) Marketing Strategy Evolution
(01:10:23) Personal and Professional Growth
(01:15:06) Vision for the Future
(01:20:04) Legacy

Sep 19, 2024 • 1h 4min
#41 - How Comedians Perfect Their Craft | Mark Normand
Stand-up comedian Mark Normand is known for his sharp, punchy delivery and observational humor. He has appeared in major platforms like Conan, The Tonight Show, and The Late Show. In this episode, Mark and Dain discuss how to craft comedy materials, find your own style, handle hecklers, engage the audience, the art of improvisation, and how to continuously evolve as a comedian.
Book Rivyl in for a free 30-minute call, here: http://l.rivyl.com/JUPbkj
(00:00) Intro
(03:24) The First Open Mic
(04:16) Joke Writing Beginnings
(04:52) First Comedy Meeting
(06:01) A Troubling Comedy Debut
(07:13) Gaming and Comedy Parallels
(08:00) The Long Road to Mastery
(10:00) Struggles and Resilience
(12:00) The Transition to Professionalism
(15:00) Building an Audience
(17:30) Personal Success Defined
(19:15) Evolution of Comedy Styles
(22:00) The Comedy Process
(23:30) Networking and Success
(25:45) Creativity in Constraints
(28:45) Independence vs. Gatekeeping
(31:32) Comic Critique of Hollywood
(33:45) The Rise of Podcasting
(35:25) Building a Crew
(36:12) The Value of Hard Work
(38:10) Long-Term Struggle
(39:45) Overcoming Impatience
(41:30) Adjusting to New Media
(43:10) Technology and Social Commentary
(45:40) Comedy's Changing Landscape

Sep 12, 2024 • 1h 27min
#40 - Turning Setbacks into Comebacks: An Athlete's Path to Resilience | Emily Chancellor
In this episode of Agency, we sit down with Emily Chancellor, one of Australia’s top rugby players. A force of resilience and leadership, Emily takes us inside her journey – from the triumph of being named Rugby Australia Player of the Year to the grit required to bounce back from a torn ACL.
She opens up about her time with the Wallaroos and NSW Waratahs, sharing the mental and physical battles of recovery and the critical role of mental toughness and teamwork in elite sports. This is a story of relentless pursuit, resilience, and mindset needed to dominate not only in sports but in business and life.
Also streaming on YouTube, and Apple Podcasts.
Book Rivyl in for a free 30-minute call, here: http://l.rivyl.com/JUPbkj
(00:00) Intro
(02:00) Overcoming Challenges
(05:15) The Power of Small Wins
(08:30) Balancing Positivity and Realism
(12:00) Using Criticism as Motivation
(15:21) Evolving Sports Landscape
(19:44) Equality in Sports
(23:16) The Necessity of Self-Reflection
(26:46) The Obsession for Success
(30:31) Accepting Criticism and Moving Forward
(33:01) Personal Transformations
(36:16) Building Mental Resilience
(39:46) Inspirations and Role Models
(43:01) Balancing Personal and Professional Life
(46:31) Self-Identity in Career
(49:48) Understanding Strengths and Weaknesses
(52:01) Emotional Intelligence in Sports
(55:19) Building a Supportive Community
(58:46) Goals Beyond Sports
(01:02:01) Lessons Learned from Adversity
(01:05:26) Facing Gender Challenges
(01:08:31) Creativity and Innovation in Training
(01:12:11) Psychological Strategies for Success
(01:15:31) Defying Expectations
(01:19:03) Defining Personal Legacy