Ben Crowley isn’t your typical health entrepreneur. He started out teaching English in Japan, got hooked on boxing, and ended up building one of Australia’s leading supplement businesses. Today, he runs Bulk Nutrients, the flagship sponsor of our Project 100 series.

In this episode, I sit down with Ben to unpack how he built a high-growth, direct-to-consumer business that cuts out the middlemen and delivers premium products at unbeatable value. We talk the importance of work culture manufacturing, logistics, product testing, and what it really takes to scale a business without losing control of quality or customer trust. 

This one’s for the underdogs, the builders, or the health-conscious who want to know exactly what they’re putting in their bodies.

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My team and I have been paying attention, and one thing is clear - you want to hear from businesses beyond Sydney, not just the success stories, but especially those facing real challenges.

That’s why we’re launching The Small Business Callout under The Mentor channel-giving business owners across the country a voice. In between The Mentor episodes, we’ll hear what’s working, what’s not, and what real support from the government should look like. We want to hear from all industries - those struggling, those overlooked, and those who have something to say but haven’t had the platform to say it.

I’ll continue hosting The Mentor, but these callouts will drop between episodes. For our latest episode, we have - Jason Spaull from Gold Coast based business Coastal Asbestos, which is dedicated to safely removing and managing asbestos across Queensland. Like many small businesses, Jason is feeling the pressure of Australia’s economic climate, navigating rising costs, compliance challenges, and an uncertain future.

This is about real business owners, real struggles, and real conversations. Let’s get into it.

Check out Coastal Asbestos's website here: https://www.coastalasbestosremoval.com.au/

If you want to be on Small Business Callout - Email: [email protected]

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Sam Gordon is an entrepreneur, property investor, and host of the Top 1% Podcast, where he shares insights from his journey as a high school dropout to building multiple multi-eight-figure businesses, offering listeners strategies to maximise their potential and impact.

In our conversation, we covered how he built his property portfolio, his inspiration from Harry Triguboff, how to identify growth opportunities in real estate, the complexities of scaling a property portfolio, his entrepreneurial journey, and the key lessons he’s learned from speaking with the top 1%.

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Brandon Dodoro and Katherine Tippett, founders of STEPZ, have been innovating the marine industry since 2017, driven by a passion for safety and accessibility on the water, and an emphasis on adventure. Their specialised boat trailer ladders make launching and retrieving vessels easier and safer for boating enthusiasts across Australia. However, as Australia's economy tightens, they're feeling the strain-like so many small business owners, fighting to stay afloat.

It’s not always a success story. Running a small business can be lonely, and despite being the backbone of this country, too often, business owners feel like their voices aren’t being heard. I know many of you tuning into The Mentor can relate.

My team and I have been paying attention, and one thing is clear—you want to hear from businesses beyond Sydney, not just the success stories, but especially those facing real challenges.

That’s why we’re launching The Small Business Callout under The Mentor channel—giving business owners across the country a voice. In between The Mentor episodes, we’ll hear what’s working, what’s not, and what real support from the government should look like. We want to hear from all industries—those struggling, those overlooked, and those who have something to say but haven’t had the platform to say it.

I’ll continue hosting The Mentor, but these callouts will drop between episodes. For our fourth episode, we have—Brandon Dodoro and Katherine Tippett.

Check out the STEPZ website here: https://stepzco.com/

If you want to be on Small Business Callout - Email: [email protected]

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Nathan Grant, founder of SlantBoardGuy, has been pioneering posture and mobility solutions through his innovative slant boards since 2010, driven by a passion for helping people improve their wellbeing and physical health through proper alignment. But with Australia's economy tightening, he's feeling the strain-like so many small business owners fighting to stay afloat.

It’s not always a success story. Running a small business can be lonely, and despite being the backbone of this country, too often, business owners feel like their voices aren’t being heard. I know many of you tuning into The Mentor can relate.

My team and I have been paying attention, and one thing is clear—you want to hear from businesses beyond Sydney, not just the success stories, but especially those facing real challenges.

That’s why we’re launching The Small Business Callout under The Mentor channel—giving business owners across the country a voice. In between The Mentor episodes, we’ll hear what’s working, what’s not, and what real support from the government should look like. We want to hear from all industries—those struggling, those overlooked, and those who have something to say but haven’t had the platform to say it.

I’ll continue hosting The Mentor, but these callouts will drop between episodes. And for our third episode, we have—Nathan Grant.

Check out SlantBoardGuy's website here: https://slantboardguy.com/au/

If you want to be on Small Business callout email: [email protected]

You can subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://mentored.com.au/newsletter-sign-up

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Kate Inglish, founder of Kate Inglish Designs, has been crafting personalised baby hampers and keepsakes since 2010, driven by a passion for sparking joy and preserving precious memories for new mums. But with Australia’s economy tightening, she’s feeling the strain-like so many small business owners fighting to stay afloat.

It’s not always a success story. Running a small business can be lonely, and despite being the backbone of this country, too often, business owners feel like their voices aren’t being heard. I know many of you tuning into The Mentor can relate.

My team and I have been paying attention, and one thing is clear—you want to hear from businesses beyond Sydney, not just the success stories, but especially those facing real challenges.

That’s why we’re launching The Small Business Callout under The Mentor channel—giving business owners across the country a voice. In between The Mentor episodes, we’ll hear what’s working, what’s not, and what real support from the government should look like. We want to hear from all industries—those struggling, those overlooked, and those who have something to say but haven’t had the platform to say it.

I’ll continue hosting The Mentor, but these callouts will drop between episodes. And for our second episode, we have—Kate Inglish.

Check out Kate Inglish Design's website here: https://kateinglishdesigns.com.au/

Check out their socials here: https://www.instagram.com/kateinglishdesigns/

If you want to be on Small Business callout email: [email protected]

You can subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://mentored.com.au/newsletter-sign-up

Join the Facebook Group.

Follow Mark Bouris on Instagram, LinkedIn & YouTube.

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Small businesses are the backbone of this country, yet too often, owners feel like their voices aren’t being heard. And I know many of you tuning in on The Mentor can relate.

My team and I have been paying attention, and one thing is clear - you want to hear from businesses beyond Sydney, not just the success stories, but especially those facing real challenges.

That’s why we’re launching the Small Business Callout under The Mentor channel - giving business owners across the country a voice. Every week, we’ll hear what’s working, what’s not, and what real support from the government should look like. We want to hear from all industries, from those struggling, from those who feel overlooked, or those who have something to say but haven’t had the platform to say it.

I’ll keep hosting The Mentor, but these callouts will drop between episodes. And kicking it off is someone who lives and breathes small business - Simon Potts, founder of Boxes for Business. Simon sent a powerful brief to Mentored Studios, outlining the reality for small businesses and what the government needs to do better. Working with business owners daily, he has an unwavering passion for this community. He shared sharp insights on their challenges and the support they actually need. Enjoy!

Check out Boxers for Business website here: https://boxesforbusiness.com.au/

If you want to be on Small Business callout email: [email protected]

You can subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://mentored.com.au/newsletter-sign-up

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Michael Ramsey is the co-founder of STRONG Pilates alongside Mark Armstrong in 2019, has built a global fitness brand that blends traditional Pilates principles with high-intensity, low-impact cardio training. With a Master of Commerce in Marketing from RMIT University and experience owning F45 franchises, Michael has extensive expertise in brand strategy, business development, and digital marketing.

STRONG Pilates is rapidly expanding, with recent launches in the USA, Japan, Singapore, and Dubai - and there’s no sign of slowing down. In our conversation, we discussed what makes STRONG Pilates unique, the key lessons Michael gained from his experience with F45 franchises, and the right approach to scaling a business. We also explored the power of building a brand and community, his biggest entrepreneurial insights, and what’s next for STRONG Pilates.

You can subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://mentored.com.au/newsletter-sign-up

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Sam Kelly is the Managing Partner and owner of Hello Social - one of Sydney’s top integrated marketing agencies.

Recognised as Campaign Magazine’s Social Media and Influencer Marketing Agency of the Year in both 2022 and 2023, Hello Social has set the standard in the industry.

In this episode, we explore Sam’s journey and what makes his agency stand out. I’ll share key lessons from my own experience with rebranding and refining messaging. We’ll also tap into insights from business icons like Richard Branson and Elon Musk, examine how memes are shaping today’s digital landscape, and discuss the strategies that drive a strong social media presence. Sam and I dive into the crucial elements of launching a brand, when is the right time to enter the market, the founder’s role, and the powerful influence of psychology in marketing success.

If you’re serious about taking your brand and social media game to the next level, this episode is packed with real insights and practical advice you can’t afford to miss. 

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Stella Petrou Concha is the Founder and CEO of Reo Group, a leading national talent and executive recruitment agency.

Stella is a powerhouse in the recruitment agency world and she's also the author of Stone Heart Light Heart: The Intelligence of Self Mastery. Her self-mastery frameworks are embraced by global giants like Google, TikTok, and Meta. She also shares her expertise as a guest lecturer at leading universities, including UNSW, Macquarie, and UTS.

We spoke about Stella's journey, the demands of a CEO, how to stand out in a competitive job market, the importance of embracing failure, the role of employers in supporting mental health and productivity, her approach to self-mastery, and her plans for the future.

Purchase Stella's book here: https://www.amazon.com.au/Stone-Heart-Light-Intelligence-Mastery/dp/1922357189

You can subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://mentored.com.au/newsletter-sign-up

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