Let's Be Mates

In this episode we are talking with Craig Hutchison. Konrad Marshall from the Sydney Morning Herald summarised ‘Craig’ as…  Craig Hutchison or Hutchy as he is known as,  is chief executive and majority shareholder of the Sports Entertainment Network, a company he created 15 years ago as a tiny PR agency named Crocmedia, which later morphed into a prolific creator of syndicated sports radio content and is now a byzantine beast that owns and operates 21 radio stations across Australia, with broadcast rights to the AFL, NRL, soccer, cricket, basketball and more.   With about $70 million in annual revenue, it has turned this country boy and university dropout into a millionaire media mogul.  His portfolio is busily diversifying, too, including into TV production (Rainmaker) and talent (Bravo Management), boutique events (Ballpark Entertainment) and publishing (AFL Record).   It also now, inevitably, owns part of a sporting team (National Basketball League club Melbourne United). After more than a decade of incremental acquisitions and mergers, Hutchison has built a national sports media empire – from scratch, by stealth.

In this episode we are talking with Jon Gregory the founder of Vitruvian. Vitruvian have recently launched their first product the v-form trainer. The idea was born out of Jon’s background working with algoritihms – he believed there was a better way to do resistance training and set about creating a product to do just that.

Just like us at MATE, we believed there was a better way to sell internet to customers and provide them a better product and service than they had always been accustomed to.

2020 was a year where the home health and fitness market boomed and Vitruvian are well placed to take advantage of this. We discuss the challenges of launching a global fitness business from the ground up, the lessons learn along the way and how the world of fitness is changing into the future.

We are super excited to talk about this innovative product from another Aussie business

In this episode we are talking to Sam Cawthorn. After a devastating car accident in 2006, Sam was left with an amputated arm as well as a severe leg disability. A naturally born leader, he didn’t let this setback stop him from reaching his goals, and instead turned his story into a triumph and went on to become a global influencer, best-selling author and one of the world’s most in-demand speakers – training executives from the likes of the United Nations, CommBank and BP

When many people hear the word ‘influencer,’ they automatically conjure up images of suntanned, bikini models posing in front of a beach while slurping down a cocktail. However, in recent years we have seen the definition of ‘influencer’ become more robust with the introduction of wider social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube. Sam believes that our obsession with becoming influencers will only grow in future years, as people turn away from trusting big corporations and instead look to individuals who demonstrate what their values are, and that they can stick to them.

We discuss with Sam how he built resilience after his accident, what characteristics of highly influential people are and how brands can work with influencers as a sales channel. Sam also gives us his inside tips on making sure your kids follow the right influencers on social media.

In this episode, we are talking to Dr Frank Chow, a Workplace Related Mental Health Specialist.

Dr. Chow is Director and Psychiatrist at leading Sydney-based practice 2OP Health, a unique Organisational and Occupational psychiatric service, specialising in workplace related mental health care, providing tailored support to individuals, organisations and health professionals across Australia.

At MATE we understand the strain that the workplace can put on employee's mental health as well as the way the workplace has evolved over the last year due to COVID and the challenges that that has presented. Through our #LetsBeMates movement which supports the Black Dog Institute, we want to help raise awareness of mental health issues, especially in the workplace and help where we can.

We chat with Dr Chow about workplace burnout, how to support employee's mental health as well as uncover some strategies to help you switch off outside office hours, especially for those people working from home.isode we are talking to Dr Frank Chow, a Workplace Related Mental Health Specialist.

Dr. Chow is Director and Psychiatrist at leading Sydney-based practice 2OP Health, a unique Organisational and Occupational psychiatric service, specialising in workplace related mental health care, providing tailored support to individuals, organisations and health professionals across Australia.

At MATE we understand the strain that the workplace can put on employee's mental health as well as the way the workplace has evolved over the last year due to COVID and the challenges that that has presented. Through our #LetsBeMates movement which supports the Black Dog Institute, we want to help raise awareness of mental health issues, especially in the workplace and help where we can.

We chat with Dr Chow about workplace burnout, how to support employee's mental health as well as uncover some strategies to help you switch off outside office hours, especially for those people working from home.

Find out more about DR Chow's work at 2OP health - https://2ophealth.com.au/

You can learn more about MATE internet and mobile plans at www.LetsBeMates.com.au.

SHOW LESSIn this episode we are talking to Anthony the founder and director of an organisation called Popcar.  MATE was started with a problem we thought Australians had when purchasing their Telco products, this is what drove us to do what we do.  We resonate with Popcar’s story which is all about making car sharing better than car ownership which is a unique proposition for us all.  Our aim at MATE is to give people what they need but do it better and offer them the value they deserve.  Our mate’s at Popcar are trying to do exactly the same!  To learn more about Popcar or sign up to their car share program, head to www.popcar.com.au   To find out more about Mate’s no contract Internet and Mobile plans with all Aussie support, visit www.LetsBeMates.com.au  Subscribe to hear the latest episode each week on Youtube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast player

In this episode we are talking to Angus Kidman the editor-in-chief at Finder. He's an award-winning journalist who has reported on technology, travel, finance and other topics for over 25 years. Angus appears regularly on Sunrise, Today, The Project, Seven News and other TV and radio shows.

His previous jobs include editor for Lifehacker Australia and editor-in-chief for Australian Personal Computer, and he's written for dozens of publications including Escape, the Sydney Morning Herald, Gizmodo, The Australian, the AFR, Kotaku, ZDNet and Business Insider.

On this podcast we often talk to entrepreneurs and businesspeople from other industries but this is a chance for us to get an industry experts opinion on the state of play of internet in our country and what the growing trends and next big things are for 2021 and beyond.

You can check out Angus's work at Finder

You can learn more about Mate internet and mobile plans at www.LetsBeMates.com.au.

In this episode we are talking to Sean Hall, Founder and Chief Energiser of Energx. Sean works with Australian organisations who share the belief that the most valuable, sustainable and high growth potential asset they have is the collective energy and creativity of their people.

At MATE, our people are the heart and soul of our company, so we really resonate with that philosophy. 2020 has brought about many new challenges to people’s mental health and well being with much of the change happening essentially overnight from lockdowns, working from home to new routines and social isolation.

We are going to chat with Sean in more detail about those mental health challenges as well as some strategies  to help combat theses stressors including the benefits of play for adults and Sean’s collaboration with LEGO.

As a business, we have seen firsthand the impacts of mental health issues on our staff and extended families and whilst we try to do our bit to support mental health and our families, there are always new strategies and ideas we can learn about.

You can check out the LEGO botanicals range here, you can find out more information about Sean's work at Energx here

You can learn more about Mate internet and mobile plans at www.LetsBeMates.com.au.

In today’s episode we are talking to Daniel Sandaver. Dan is the successful owner of scale-up technology company Codafication; an Insurtech solving data complexity at the heart of the insurance industry.

From chasing cyclones, to chairing technology companies, Dan has a broad experience in project management, business development, enterprise solutions and change management. Dan is also the proud father of two sets of twins, four boys under four, of which, like the companies, is a blessing, dynamic and a new challenge every day

Today we are going to talk about life as a start up and moving to a fully fledged business,. Just like the MATE story, its full of trials and tribulations as well as unbelievable success.

To learn more about Codafication, visit codafication.com

You can learn more about Mate internet and mobile plans at www.LetsBeMates.com.au.

Subscribe to hear the latest episode each week on Youtube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast player

In today’s episode we are talking to Johann the founder of Sole app, a new money management app that he founded in 2021 using his life savings. MATE was started with a problem we thought Australians had when purchasing their Telco products, this is what drove us to do what we do. At the time, our founders also put their own money on the table and mortgaged their houses to start the business in our Aunties backyard. We resonate with Sole apps story which is all about creating an easy, beautiful accounting app that has no confusing lingo or jargon. Our aim at MATE is to give people what they need but do it better and offer them the value they deserve. Our mate’sat Sole App are trying to do exactly the same!

To learn more about Sole App, visit www.soleapp.com.au

You can learn more about Mate internet and mobile plans at www.LetsBeMates.com.au.

Based on listeners feedback, we have created a series of quickfire episodes to deep dive on what makes us successful. In this Episode, Dom O’Brien, Head of Customer acquisition gives us an insight into customer acquisition strategies and channels that have been successful for Mate and how they can apply to your business too.