On this episode of The Yarn, we hear the remarkable story of how Scott Maggs turned personal tragedy into lifesaving action. After losing our friend Wes to skin cancer at 26, Maggs created a movement that began with growing beards and evolved into Skin Check Champions. Learn how a conversation at a wake led to 22,000 free skin checks, the discovery of 500 potential melanomas, and a million-dollar beard auction that changed Australia's approach to early detection.

Join us as we explore how grief became purpose with Scott Maggs, the founder turning facial hair into lifesaving conversations.

In Episode 3 of this season of The Yarn, we dive into Australia's housing data with CoreLogic's Tim Lawless for a sobering look at affordability. 

From Sydney's 13-year deposit hurdle to Adelaide's surprising unaffordability ranking, discover what the numbers reveal about our housing crisis. Lawless shares insights on supply shortages, infrastructure costs, and why demand-side solutions alone won't fix the problem.

Join us as we crunch the housing numbers with Tim Lawless, Australia's leading property data analyst.

On this episode of The Yarn, we explore the intersection of elite sports and blockchain technology with Australian Olympian Tori West. From her journey as a self-funded heptathlete to her vision for revolutionizing sports data ownership through digital assets, discover how West qualified for Paris while building a tech company. Learn about the challenges facing Olympic athletes, the realities of sports funding in Australia, and why blockchain could transform how athletes control their data.

Join us as we dive into sports and innovation with Tori West, an Olympian bringing blockchain technology to athletics.

Launching season 4 of The Yarn, we dive into the implications of Trump's re-election with former US Ambassador Arthur Sinodinos. From trade policy and tariffs to the future of AUKUS, discover how Trump's second term could reshape the US-Australia relationship.

Drawing on his personal experience with President Trump, Arthur shares unique insights into the President-elect's leadership style, economic priorities, and what it means for Australia's strategic interests.

Join us as we explore the future of US-Australia relations with Arthur Sinodinos, who brings invaluable perspective as Australia’s former Ambassador to Washington.

Don't miss this season premiere!

Supply is the Silver Bullet - Professor Steven Hamilton on Solving Australia's Housing Crisis

In this episode of The Yarn, we venture across the Pacific to speak with Australian economist Professor Steven Hamilton at George Washington University. From breaking down why supply is the true 'silver bullet' to solving the housing crisis to examining how federal funding could pressure local councils, Steven provides a crystal-clear analysis of what's really driving Australia's housing crisis. Discover why corporate housing isn't the answer, how immigration policy affects housing and what we can learn from success stories like Auckland.

Join us as we explore the economics of housing reform with Professor Steven Hamilton, an Australian voice bringing fresh perspective from Washington DC.

In this episode, we examine the construction industry's perspective on solving Australia's housing crisis with Denita Wawn, CEO of Master Builders Association of Australia. From addressing skilled labour shortages to navigating complex industrial relations, discover why construction companies are struggling despite record demand. Denita Wawn shares insights on why businesses are closing, how pattern bargaining impacts costs, and what reforms could help first home buyers get into the market.

Join us as we explore the challenges facing Australia's builders with Denita Wawn, the CEO leading the Master Builders through turbulent times.

Don't miss this episode!

In Episode 2 of this season of The Yarn, we dive into the grassroots movement transforming local housing politics with Jonathan O'Brien from Yes in My Backyard (YIMBY) Melbourne. From successfully challenging heritage overlays to confronting restrictive zoning in Australia's most exclusive suburbs, discover how the YIMBY movement is introducing contestability into Council decisions. O'Brien shares insights on their three-pronged approach of local advocacy, digital infrastructure, and policy research, while explaining how the YIMBY movement has spread from San Francisco to Australia's major cities.

Join us as we explore the youth-led housing revolution with Jonathan O'Brien, a driving force behind Melbourne's YIMBY movement.

Starting season 3 of The Yarn, we explore the evolving landscape of mortgage lending with Anja Pannek, CEO of the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia (MFAA). Join us as we unpack critical issues facing borrowers, from the contentious serviceability buffer to capital risk weights, and examine potential reforms to help first home buyers. Pannek shares insights on why 73.7% of Australians now use mortgage brokers and discusses innovative solutions to address the housing accessibility crisis.

In this explosive episode of The Yarn, we take a deep dive into the complexities of the Australian housing crisis. From zoning, superannuation, and government action, join us as we engage with Peter Tulip, the Chief Economist at the Center for Independent Studies.

On this episode of The Yarn, join Kate Pounder, the dynamic former CEO of the Tech Council of Australia, as she delves into the pressing issues at the forefront of Australia's technology landscape. Broadcasting from the iconic Parliament House in Canberra, Kate offers an insider’s view on the challenges and triumphs in the tech sector.