Episodes

  • Peter Freedman AM - Røde

    Peter Freedman AM - Røde
    Jul 9 2025
    Peter Freedman AM is the self-made billionaire maverick behind one of Australia’s greatest manufacturing success stories. As the Founder and Chairman of RØDE Microphones, he turned a near-bankrupt family electronics business in 1987 into a global powerhouse—now exporting to over 120 countries, manufacturing everything in Sydney, and used by the world’s leading content creators, filmmakers, musicians, and broadcasters. Bold, driven, and obsessively hands-on, Peter is more than a tech entrepreneur—he’s a fierce advocate for Australian manufacturing, design excellence, and innovation on home soil. He famously reverse-engineered his first microphone in 1990, and never looked back—building vertically integrated factories filled with robots, launching revolutionary products like the VideoMic and RØDECaster, and acquiring global brands like Mackie, Lectrosonics, Aphex and SoundField under the Freedman Group. Awarded Member of the Order of Australia in 2016, and named EY Entrepreneur of the Year in 2014, Peter is as well known for his philanthropy as he is for his products—donating millions to arts, mental health, and design, including a record-breaking purchase of Kurt Cobain’s MTV Unplugged guitar, which he turned into cultural capital for Australia. Blunt, brilliant, and deeply committed to legacy, he’s said: “I’m not a capitalist. I just love winning.” This is a story of grit, reinvention, and building global greatness—out of a suburban factory in Sydney. Founder & Host | Rob Langton #ausbiz #billionaire #richlist #businessnews #businessaustralia #businessau #rode #peterfreedman #rodemicrophones #theinterviewau #theinterview #readymedia
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    1 hr and 17 mins
  • Malcolm Steinberg - LAI Group

    Malcolm Steinberg - LAI Group
    Jun 22 2025
    In this exclusive feature profile, we sit down with one of Australia’s most enduring and visionary entrepreneurs — Malcolm Steinberg. Born and raised in Perth in the 1940s, Malcolm’s entrepreneurial journey began at just 18 years old, when he acquired 21 pinball machines from a relative and began placing them in corner stores, milk bars, and pubs across the city. That humble venture marked the beginning of what would become a pioneering career in the world of interactive entertainment. In 1978, Malcolm launched the first Timezone in downtown Perth — a bold move that would ultimately redefine family entertainment across the Asia-Pacific. Over the decades, Timezone grew from a single arcade into a global entertainment powerhouse, with venues in Australia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. Along the way, Malcolm also founded LAI Games, a Perth-based arcade game manufacturer that has produced some of the world’s most iconic and innovative machines — exporting to over 50 countries worldwide. But his legacy doesn’t stop at business. In honour of his grandmother, a Russian immigrant and early inspiration, Malcolm established the Malka Foundation — a philanthropic venture focused on empowering young people and supporting social enterprise across Australia. In this conversation, we explore the full arc of Malcolm’s journey: from his early days in suburban Perth, to building Timezone into a generational brand, to giving back through the Malka Foundation. Along the way, he shares lessons on reinvention, risk, and building businesses that endure. The Interview | Australia's most watched business program. Founder & Host | Rob Langton Produced & distributed exclusively | Ready Media Group. Further Information: https://readymedia.com.au/ https://www.lai.com.au/ #ausbiz #businessnews #richlist #malcolmsteinberg #theinterviewaustralia
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    54 mins
  • Michael Dempsey - Pipeline Capital

    Michael Dempsey - Pipeline Capital
    Jun 12 2025
    In this exclusive profile, Michael Dempsey, Founder of Ezidebit shares his remarkable journey in building & scaling his global payments business prior to selling for $305m in 2014. Michael Dempsey is a prominent Australian entrepreneur and investor, best known for founding Ezidebit, a leading payments processing company that revolutionized the way Australian businesses manage electronic transactions. Starting in 1998, Michael leveraged his engineering background to create a scalable platform that rapidly gained traction in the market. Ezidebit grew to become one of the most trusted names in payment solutions, processing billions of dollars annually. In 2014, the company was acquired by Global Payments, marking a significant milestone in Michael’s career. After his success with Ezidebit, Michael shifted his focus to investment through Pipeline Capital, his family office established to target high-growth industries, particularly fintech. With his entrepreneurial expertise and a deep understanding of both technology and business operations, Michael now invests in innovative companies, helping them scale and thrive in competitive markets. Throughout his career, Michael has shown a keen ability to identify market gaps, develop technology-driven solutions, and lead companies to success. His journey from a tech startup founder to a respected investor demonstrates his vision, leadership, and commitment to fostering innovation in the Australian business landscape. Founder & Host - Rob Langton Produced exclusively by Ready Media Group. https://readymedia.com.au/ https://pipecapital.com/ #ausbiz #businessnews #richlist #theinterviewau #readymedia
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    52 mins
  • Karl Morris AO - Ord Minnett

    Karl Morris AO - Ord Minnett
    May 30 2025
    Today, we are privileged to sit down with Karl Morris, the CEO and Managing Director of Ord Minnett, one of Australia’s leading wealth management and financial services firms. With over 30 years of experience in the financial industry, Karl’s leadership has been pivotal in steering Ord Minnett through significant growth and adaptation in an ever-changing market. A proud Brisbane native, Karl’s career path began with a foundation in business and commerce, earning his degree at Griffith University, before joining Ord Minnett in 1990. Over the years, he has held various leadership roles, including State Manager, Branch Manager, and Executive Chairman, before becoming CEO in 2004. Under Karl’s stewardship, Ord Minnett has maintained its reputation for excellence in client service and strategic growth, all while navigating the evolving landscape of financial technology, market trends, and regulatory changes. In this exclusive feature profile, we’ll explore his journey, the evolution of Ord Minnett, and his insights on the future of financial services.
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    50 mins
  • Grant Petty - Blackmagic Design

    Grant Petty - Blackmagic Design
    May 20 2025
    Joining our program on this episode is self-made billionaire Grant Petty - the founder and CEO of Blackmagic Design, the company behind some of the most game-changing technology in the film, television, and live production industries. From cinema cameras to colour grading software to live switchers, Blackmagic has redefined what’s possible—and who gets access to it. What started in Grant’s garage in Melbourne is now powering everything from Hollywood blockbusters to independent YouTube channels. But more than a tech founder, Grant is a filmmaker at heart—driven by a belief that creativity shouldn’t be held back by cost or complexity. In this conversation, we dive into the early days of Blackmagic, how Grant’s rural upbringing influenced his approach to innovation, and why he’s so obsessed with democratising creativity. Founder & Host - Rob Langton
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    1 hr and 19 mins
  • Morry Waked - Vinva Investment Management

    Morry Waked - Vinva Investment Management
    Apr 27 2025
    Our guest on today’s episode is investment legend, Morry Waked - the low profile but high-achieving Founding Principal & Managing Director of Vinva Investment Management. Vinva Investment Management is an independent, global investment firm that specialises in managing active equity strategies across Australian & global equity markets, with a remarkable $25bn of funds under management - in 2024, Magellan acquired a minority equity stake in Vinva for a reported $138.5m. Prior to founding Vinva in 2010, Morry’s career encapsulated a diverse range of positions including Global Head & Chief Investment Officer of Barclays Global Investors – BGI for short - (Global Active Equities), Chief Executive Officer of Barclays Global Investors (Australia & New Zealand), Head of Australian Equities at BGI and Head of Quantitative Research at Rothschild Asset Management. In 2023, Morry was inducted into the Australian Fund Manager Hall of Fame as one of only twenty-two fund managers since its inception. He is a Graduate of Macquarie University, having completed both a Masters degree and a Bachelors degree in Economics, majoring in actuarial science and statistics. In this exclusive feature-length profile, Morry shares his journey, from the son of a taxi driver to the pinnacle of financial markets, along the way charting the challenges he encountered, the opportunities he pursued and the lessons he’s learnt from a lifetime in one of the most competitive industries in the World. Founder & Host - Rob Langton https://readymedia.com.au/ https://vinva.com/
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    51 mins
  • Ross Norgard

    Ross Norgard
    Apr 13 2025
    In this exclusive feature profile, Perth businessman, investor & rich-lister Ross Norgard shares his business career - from working as a chartered accountant in the halcyon days that was Western Australia in the 1980's, to the high-achieving deal-maker famed for rescuing and listing hundreds of businesses on the ASX over a four plus decade journey. More recently, Ross was the Founding Chairman of NearMap - a business that was acquired by US private equity in a $1.1bn deal and currently invests privately in a number of mining, property & technology ventures. Founder & Host - Rob Langton https://readymedia.com.au/
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    33 mins
  • Rory Vassallo - Vassallo Corporation

    Rory Vassallo - Vassallo Corporation
    Apr 6 2025
    An exclusive profile of self-made multi-millionaire & entrepreneur, Rory Vassallo - sharing his extraordinary self-made journey in building one of Australia’s most successful childcare businesses, ultimately culminating in a circa $65m deal to sell 22 centres to G8 Education in 2014 before embarking on a number of private ventures including more recently, taking back management control of fourteen centres. In this fascinating discussion, Rory reflects for the very first time on his background, early endeavours, business career and the fundamentals required for overcoming challenges & chasing long-term success. Founder & Host - Rob Langton Produced by Ready Media Group.
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    57 mins