We went back to where it all started and fixed what should’ve been right the first time, cleaner audio, tighter edit, same great guest. Its episode 1 as it should've sounded.

This week our guest started his working life with livestock before making the natural transition to professional golf and eventually finding his way into insurance. Along the journey, he faced significant mental health challenges off the course. It’s a powerful and honest conversation that took us to places I never expected the podcast to go but I’m glad we tackled it head on rather than skimming past it.

For those playing at home: Mat “Dropper” Goggin currently 3,603rd in the world.

We sit down with Jordi Dower from Allianz for a yarn covering everything from IGA supermarkets to 4 month U.S. holidays and the curious art of returning to jobs we’d left less than a year earlier. It’s loose, it’s light and just when you think its back on track we talk about having great skills!

There’s no guest on this week’s episode as we take a moment to reflect on those who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today. Featured in this episode’s cover art is my grandfather, Ron Filer, a Corporal in the RAAF, photographed shortly after enlisting on the 15th of June 1942.

Lest we forget.

I’ve known Scott for over 16 years, thanks to my wife Nicole, who has been best friends with his wife, Susie for much, much longer. It’s ridiculous really, people come and go so easily, yet Scott has somehow stuck around for nearly two decades, which says a lot about what a great bloke he is… or how patient he must be.

He’s far too genuine and kind to have tolerated me for this long and in a true indictment of my own organisational skills, I waited a casual 14 years before finally recommending him for a job.

Despite being a relative newcomer to the general insurance industry, Scott is already kicking goals and making the rest of us look slightly less competent by comparison. Proof that being smart, decent and quietly driven still counts for something... even in insurance!

Music Notes:

Music track: Fun is Fun by Aylex

Source: https://freetouse.com/music

Music for Videos (Free Download)

Kate is our first guest who has flipped between the light and the dark side of the force... I mean the insurance industry. Before joining AHI, Kate sat within an insurer administration team before finding love at an insurance brokerage. That's no metaphor, Kate legitimately met her future husband at AB Phillips and then defected to the dark side of insurance. So buckle up as we unpack Kate’s unconventional career path, industry insights and how one job interview changed far more than just her CV.

No full episode today due to the Easter break however, episode 3 with Kate Quinlan from AHI, is in the can and will be released on the 10th of February 2026 at 9am.

Starting as the quiet receptionist at Advantage Jonstan Insurance in Frankston before moving up the ranks to manage clients then an office then a branch and now broking operations at Austbrokers Countrywide. Don't let her nervous nature in this episode fool you, Em is no shrinking violet. Emma Latcham is the life of the party with a heart of gold.

"Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

"RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

From working for an insurer in NZ, moving across Australia with a multi-Nat to finally settling down in Melbourne with his Nat. This is the insurance story (so far) about my great mate and great broker, Jonathan "Jono" Allen.