Straight Talk with Mark Bouris

Jack Steele and Matt Ford, the comedic duo behind The Inspired Unemployed, share their unconventional career path and their foray into the brewing business with Better Beer. They discuss the wild experiences behind their travel aspirations and personal growth, touching on family dynamics and emotional connections. From launching a zero carb lager to the excitement of creating a travel show and their new venture Arrival Travel Co., they emphasize the joy of collaboration and the humor found in life’s unpredictability.

Michael Cheika, former head coach of the Wallabies, shares his fascinating journey from childhood sports to coaching top-tier rugby. He discusses the importance of cultural integration in sports and how his family's immigrant background shaped his identity. Cheika reflects on team dynamics, the evolution of rugby in Australia, and what separates great players from good ones. He also shares his insights from time spent in the fashion world and the mindset needed for success, drawing inspiration from champions like Lionel Messi.

In this episode, I sit down with Andrea Clarke — author, former TV journalist turned humanitarian, and now a leadership coach helping people stay relevant in a rapidly changing world. We discuss her new book, Adapt: Mastering Change in Four Steps. Her message is simple but powerful: don’t run from change — anticipate it, engage with it, and learn how to shape it. We talk about Andrea’s interesting early career, the high-stakes environments that shaped her leadership style, why trust and communication matter more than ever. We recorded this back in April, but in these turbulent and divided times, it’s more relevant than ever — especially if you’re leading a team or want to make 2025 a year of thriving. Purchase Andrea's book Adapt: Mastering Change in Four Steps here: https://www.simonandschuster.com.au/books/Adapt/Andrea-Clarke/9781761632433 https://www.amazon.com.au/Adapt-Mastering-change-four-steps/dp/1761632434  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I sat down with Australia’s biggest name in boxing ahead of his long-awaited rematch with Sebastian Fundora. We talked about preparation, legacy, what it’s like growing up with his legendary father, life outside the ring, lessons from Alex Volkanovski — and plenty more. Don’t miss the biggest boxing event of the year — featuring Tim Tszyu, Sebastian Fundora, Manny Pacquiao and Mario Barrios — live on Main Event via Kayo Sports, Sunday July 20. You don’t need a Kayo subscription to buy the Pay-Per-View.Pre-order the PPV here:  https://mainevent.kayosports.com.au/boxing/tszyu-vs-fundora-2.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Joye, head of Coolabah Capital, sheds light on the tumultuous landscape of global markets as Trump's tariffs shake economies. He discusses bond trading strategies and the impact of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East on financial predictions. The conversation dives into Australia's housing market stress and productivity challenges, alongside a thorough look at tax reform and the NSW budget. Joye also touches on the complicated dynamics between Elon Musk and Trump, revealing how such relationships influence economic policies.

Get Your Beanie for this week's Beanie for Brain Cancer round here! https://markhughesfoundation.com.au/ Mark Hughes, a former NRL player for the Newcastle Knights and NSW Origin representative, was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2013 and went on to co-found the Mark Hughes Foundation with his wife Kirralee, raising over $30 million through initiatives like Beanie for Brain Cancer and establishing a $25 million research centre at the University of Newcastle. Mark shares his inspiring journey from professional footballer to brain cancer survivor and founder of the Mark Hughes Foundation. Hear firsthand how resilience, positive mindset, and teamwork can transform personal struggles into a mission to make a difference. Follow Mark Bouris on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter & YouTube.   You can subscribe to the newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/e7C8akgj.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode recorded today, I speak with military strategist Major General Mick Ryan. After 35 years in the Australian Army, including deployments to East Timor, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and service on the U.S. Joint Staff, Mick now advises companies across Australia, the UK, and the U.S.   He breaks down the recent Iran-Israel confrontation and the US-brokered ceasefire, unpacking the complex geopolitical dynamics, technological warfare, and strategic calculations behind the scenes. Is this a genuine step toward peace — or just a temporary pause in a much larger conflict? We dive deep into the military maneuvers, intelligence tactics, and what it all means for the future of global security.   Purchase General Mick Ryan's latest book 'The War for Ukraine: Strategy and Adaptation Under Fire' here: https://www.amazon.com.au/War-Ukraine-Strategy-Adaptation-Under/dp/1682479528   Follow Mark Bouris on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter & YouTube.     You can subscribe to the newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/e7C8akgj.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Katsidis, a former Australian Olympian and world champion boxer known for his relentless, aggressive style and multiple lightweight titles, earned global respect for his thrilling battles and unshakable resilience in and out of the ring. Today, as a mindset coach, he shares hard-earned wisdom from his personal struggles—including addiction, profound loss, and redemption—to empower others with powerful lessons on mental health, perseverance, and purpose.In this powerful episode, Michael Katsidis shares his journey from a tough upbringing in Australia to becoming a world-renowned boxer, opening up about his early life, career highs and lows, personal loss, and battles with addiction. Now focused on sobriety and helping others through his Bulletproof Mindset program, he reflects on redemption, purpose, and life beyond the ring.Check out Michael's Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/michael_katsidis/Follow Mark Bouris on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter & YouTube.  You can subscribe to the newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/e7C8akgj.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andy Hearnden—better known as Andy Cooks—is a digital chef with over 15 million followers across TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. With more than 20 years of professional kitchen experience, Andy’s mission is simple: to help people cook better food at home.This episode is a raw, honest, and practical chat with someone who’s lived through it all and come out the other side with purpose, clarity, and a huge burst of creativity.We spoke about his childhood, the highs and lows of working in some of the world’s top restaurants, overcoming alcohol addiction, losing his job, and how that setback became the turning point that launched his social media journey. And of course, I couldn’t help myself—I had to ask him about the oils and appliances he actually uses in the kitchen.Check out Andy's website here: https://www.andy-cooks.comFollow Mark Bouris on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter & YouTube.  You can subscribe to the newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/e7C8akgj.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jarchy & Lu host one of Australia’s most popular podcasts, We Mean Well, and they’ve shot to fame in the world of social media. But I actually met Jarchy — aka Jack Archdale — 10 years ago when he was doing a show called The Streets of Sydney.It was great to chat with them about their journey, how they’ve built such a massive audience, their unique style of comedy, and how they’re feeling ahead of launching their new radio show next week.Follow Mark Bouris on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter & YouTube.  You can subscribe to the newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/e7C8akgj.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.