Fresh off 876 shows touring Australia with Beauty & The Beast, performer Amy Hopwood joins Q&A with S&A to share what life is really like behind the curtain.

From juggling competitive dance training throughout school to booking Disney’s Frozen before even graduating with her Performing Arts qualification, Amy opens up about breaking into the industry during COVID, surviving 8–9 show weeks, navigating imposter syndrome, and the loneliness of touring life.

They talk everything from career plans and education, to sacrifice and burnout, and the brave decision to step away and rediscover identity beyond the stage. Amy also shares her advice for young performers on how to stay grounded, supported, and keep the spark alive.

An honest look at the highs, the hustle, and the realities of life as a professional performer.

Connect with Amy on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/amyhopwood_/

General Advice Disclaimer:

The information discussed in this podcast is general in nature and provided for educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, legal, taxation, business, or other professional advice. Please seek advice from a suitably qualified professional before acting on any information discussed. Aintree Group and featured podcast guests accept no liability for any actions taken based on this content.

Shane and Andrea chat with Aintree Group–sponsored athlete Kaylen Bassett for an inspiring and insightful conversation about family, resilience, and elite performance in canoe slalom.

Kaylen shares his unconventional journey into the sport, the strong family foundations that underpin his career, and the mental skills required to compete at the highest level. The conversation centres on a career-defining achievement — winning a bronze medal at the 2025 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships in Penrith, marking Australia’s first men’s C1 World Championship medal in over a decade.

From life on the World Cup circuit and the realities of constant international travel, to finding balance, entering flow state under pressure, celebrating success, and juggling work alongside elite sport, this episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at what it truly takes to perform on the world stage — and what lies ahead on the road to Oklahoma and the 2028 LA Olympic cycle.

Follow Kaylen's journey: https://kaylenbassett.com/ | IG: @kaylenbassett

Visit Paddle Australia website to see details of upcoming races and how you can support the Australian Paddling team: https://paddle.org.au/

General Advice Disclaimer:

The information discussed in this podcast is general in nature and provided for educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, legal, taxation, business, or other professional advice. Please seek advice from a suitably qualified professional before acting on any information discussed. Aintree Group and featured podcast guests accept no liability for any actions taken based on this content.

When the right solution doesn’t exist, sometimes the only option is to create it yourself!

In this episode, Andrea chats with Melissa Voss, Co-Founder of FuseWork, to discuss how identifying gaps and developing the right tools to fill them can transform not only your own business but an entire industry.

They explore what it means to take initiative when no one else will, how problem-solving can be a powerful catalyst for business growth, and why collaboration between accountants and technology is more important than ever.

Melissa shares the story of how FuseWork was born from a desire to make accountants’ lives easier, and how that drive to solve everyday challenges evolved into a software company that has redefined efficiency and innovation within the accounting profession.

Find out more about FuseWork: https://www.fuse.work/

Connect with Melissa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissajvoss/

General Advice Disclaimer:

The information discussed in this podcast is general in nature and provided for educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, legal, taxation, business, or other professional advice. Please seek advice from a suitably qualified professional before acting on any information discussed. Aintree Group and featured podcast guests accept no liability for any actions taken based on this content.

In this episode, Shane and Andrea sit down with mother–daughter powerhouse Jane Willox and Maddie Devereux, the team behind Kitchen Queens Catering.

The pair share how their shared passion for food grew into a thriving business, and how working together as family has strengthened both their bond and their brand. From the joy of cooking to the fulfilment of feeding others, Jane and Maddie talk about the heart behind their hospitality and the simple pleasure of bringing people together over a great meal.

They also open up about their experience on My Kitchen Rules - the lessons learned, the realities of competing on national television, and the challenges of being in the public eye. Despite it all, they reflect on the meaningful takeaways from the experience and the heartwarming reason they chose to participate in the first place.

More from Jane & Maddie:

IG: @kitchenqueens_ | @janeywillox | @maddiedevereux

https://kitchenqueens.com.au/

General Advice Disclaimer:

The information discussed in this podcast is general in nature and provided for educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, legal, taxation, business, or other professional advice. Please seek advice from a suitably qualified professional before acting on any information discussed. Aintree Group and featured podcast guests accept no liability for any actions taken based on this content.

In this episode of Q&A with S&A, Andrea sits down with Mary-Anne Brasacchio and Geena Di Stefano, founders of the Social Soirée Collective, to talk about the importance of connection, especially for mothers who are rediscovering their identity later in life.

Born out of the lull in the events space following the COVID pandemic, the Social Soirée Collective was created to give women a place to connect, unwind, and belong - a space just for them. No corporate networking expectations. No kids’ schedules. Just genuine connection and community.

Mary-Anne and Geena share how they’ve combined their backgrounds in business ownership, branding, travel, and event hosting with their personal experiences of motherhood and reinvention to build something truly special: a movement that reminds women it’s never too late to find your people, or yourself, again.

Find out more about Social Soiree Collective:

https://www.socialsoireecollective.com.au/

@socialsoireecollective

General Advice Disclaimer:

The information discussed in this podcast is general in nature and provided for educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, legal, taxation, business, or other professional advice. Please seek advice from a suitably qualified professional before acting on any information discussed. Aintree Group and featured podcast guests accept no liability for any actions taken based on this content.

In this episode, Andrea chats to Val Coin from Via Technology about all about the joys, challenges and benefits of transformation, systems and processes and being a husband-and-wife business team.

They talk about how all businesses can learn from hospitality when it comes to the importance of system and process, and how technology should be the last thing on the list when you want to successfully transform your internal processes - it's all about the people!

Connect with Via Technology:

https://www.viatechnology.com.au/

@viatechnologyau

General Advice Disclaimer:

The information discussed in this podcast is general in nature and provided for educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, legal, taxation, business, or other professional advice. Please seek advice from a suitably qualified professional before acting on any information discussed. Aintree Group and featured podcast guests accept no liability for any actions taken based on this content.

In this episode of Plant Grow Reap, Andrea and Shane catch up with event photographer Melissa Hobbs to explore her creative journey - how discovering a love of photography in adulthood led to building an in-demand business trusted to capture life’s most meaningful moments.

Mel shares what it’s like to photograph the energy, emotion, and connection that define an event. She also chats about travel, networking, business ownership, and motherhood, and how each of these experiences has shaped her perspective behind the lens.

Find out more about Melissa’s work: melissahobbs.com

General Advice Disclaimer:

The information discussed in this podcast is general in nature and provided for educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, legal, taxation, business, or other professional advice. Please seek advice from a suitably qualified professional before acting on any information discussed. Aintree Group and featured podcast guests accept no liability for any actions taken based on this content.

In this episode, Shaun de Vries, founder of Open Pantry Consulting, shares the remarkable story of his diverse career in hospitality — from early success buying his first bakery at just 21, to hard lessons learned through rebuilding his life and business after a life-changing car accident and navigating insolvency.

He reflects on the power of strong business relationships, the importance of being proactive with debt, and how honesty, transparency, and learning from mistakes can turn even the toughest experiences into opportunities for growth.

Today, Shaun has found his calling helping hospitality venues across Australia scale with confidence — specialising in recruitment, operational strategy, and technology integration.

About Open Pantry Co: https://www.openpantryconsulting.com/

General Advice Disclaimer:

The information discussed in this podcast is general in nature and provided for educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, legal, taxation, business, or other professional advice. Please seek advice from a suitably qualified professional before acting on any information discussed. Aintree Group and featured podcast guests accept no liability for any actions taken based on this content.

In this episode of Q&A with S&A, Shane and Andrea sit down with Wayne Schmidt - global traveller, digital nomad, business mentor, and industry leader with over 35 years of experience in accounting, sales, and technology.

Wayne shares his remarkable journey from programming on mainframes and pioneering fixed-fee models, to launching software giants like Xero, and now mentoring firms while travelling the world. He reflects on lessons learned from corporate life, why planning for retirement is really about planning what you’re retiring to, and how AI is reshaping the accounting profession at breakneck speed.

Tune in for candid stories, practical advice, and a glimpse into Wayne’s life as a semi-retired consultant balancing work, travel, and lifestyle - all while staying ahead of the curve.

About Bespoke Mentor: https://www.bespokementor.com/

Connect with Wayne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wayneschmidt/

More about Aintree Group: https://aintreegroup.com.au/

General Advice Disclaimer:

The information discussed in this podcast is general in nature and provided for educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, legal, taxation, business, or other professional advice. Please seek advice from a suitably qualified professional before acting on any information discussed. Aintree Group and featured podcast guests accept no liability for any actions taken based on this content.

In this episode of Q&A with S&A, Andrea and Shane chat with Gus McLennan, Co-Founder and CEO of Propella.ai, about how AI is reshaping professional services businesses. Over the past year, Aintree Group has partnered with Propella.ai to develop AI-driven internal process databases, boosting accuracy, security, and data management.

The conversation looks at common myths and legitimate concerns, while also highlighting the opportunities AI can unlock when applied thoughtfully. Gus shares guidance on overcoming overwhelm, managing resistance to disruption, and addressing security concerns - so businesses can embrace the benefits of AI in a fast-evolving space with confidence.

About Propella.ai: https://www.propella.ai/

General Advice Disclaimer:

The information discussed in this podcast is general in nature and provided for educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, legal, taxation, business, or other professional advice. Please seek advice from a suitably qualified professional before acting on any information discussed. Aintree Group and featured podcast guests accept no liability for any actions taken based on this content.