Sweat Capital

#146 - The Contrarian Bet on Japan That Most Investors Are Missing (James Halse)

In this episode of Sweat Capital, we sit down with James Halse [https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-halse-cfa/], founder of Senjin Capital [https://senjincap.com/] and former portfolio manager at Platinum Asset Management, to unpack one of the most overlooked opportunity sets in global investing: Japanese small-cap activism. James shares the journey from starting his career in tax at Deloitte, to spending years inside one of Australia’s most respected global equities firms, before eventually launching Senjin Capital with a dedicated focus on undercapitalised and undermanaged Japanese companies. We explore why Japan has historically been misunderstood by global investors, what has changed in recent years, and why James believes Japanese small-cap activism is the best opportunity he has seen in nearly two decades of investing. We also discuss the difference between cheap stocks and true value, how engagement and activism work in Japan, and why the market structure creates opportunities that are difficult to find elsewhere. A conversation about global equities, deep-value investing, activism, and what it takes to leave an established platform to build a specialist investment firm from scratch. ***   This episode was recorded on 4 May 2026. Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/] & LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/sweatcapitalpod/]. We’ll see you in the next one, Keep playing the long game.

#145 - How To Speak With Confidence At Work & Tell Better Stories (Jonathan Pease)

In this episode of Sweat Capital, we sit down with Jonathan Pease, creative strategist, entrepreneur and founder of Winning The Room [https://www.winningtheroom.co/], to unpack the psychology of communication, influence and presenting ideas in high pressure environments. Jonathan shares lessons from his career across advertising, media, television and business, including his early years at BBDO in New York working on global brands, building and selling creative businesses, and later coaching senior executives, founders and public figures on how to communicate with impact. We discuss why the best idea (alone) often does not win, how great presenters think differently, and what separates technically competent people from those you genuinely want to listen to. Jonathan also explains why storytelling, structure and delivery are becoming even more important in a digitally-driven world where content is abundant but attention is scarce. A very practical conversation about persuasion, creativity, confidence and the communication skills that compound over a lifetime. *** This episode was recorded on 8 May 2026. Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/sweatcapitalpodcast/]⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/sweatcapitalpod/]⁠⁠. We'll see you in the next one, Keep playing the long game.

#144 - Brian Hartzer: Former Westpac CEO On Navigating Pressure & Leading Quantium Health

In this episode of Sweat Capital, we sit down with former Westpac CEO Brian Hartzer to unpack one of the most fascinating careers in global finance - from studying history at Princeton to leading one of Australia’s biggest and most scrutinised institutions. Brian reflects on the realities of running a Big Four bank: balancing regulators, shareholders, customers and employees while operating under constant public scrutiny. We discuss the transition from consulting into banking leadership, what people underestimate about being a bank CEO, and the lessons he carried from ANZ and ultimately Westpac. We also explore Brian’s next chapter after banking - including his roles in fintech and as CEO of Quantium Health - where he’s now focused on the intersection of AI, data science and healthcare.  A wide-ranging conversation about leadership, pressure, institutions, reinvention and building a career across multiple eras of business. You can also check out Brian's book: The Leadership Star: A Practical Guide to Building Engagement [https://www.amazon.com.au/Leadership-Star-Practical-Building-Engagement/dp/0730390837] *** This episode was recorded on 5 May 2026. Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/sweatcapitalpodcast/]⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/sweatcapitalpod/]⁠⁠. We'll see you in the next one, Keep playing the long game.

#143 - Are Cover Letters, Business Cards & Notebooks Redundant In 2026? Should They Be? (April Recap)

In this April recap episode, Lulu, Charlie & Dimi discuss what's actually redundant in the business world today... Cover letters? Business cards? Physical notebooks? Long hours? Reflecting on recent episodes with the likes of Trent Blacket and Charlie Viola, we dive into whether or not certain customs and conventions still earn their place – or whether we're holding onto them out of habit, nostalgia, or sheer professional inertia. We also provide an update on how how the show is progressing, as well as flagging some exciting upcoming guests. We hope you enjoy!***This episode was recorded on 4 May 2026. Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/sweatcapitalpodcast/]⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/sweatcapitalpod/]⁠⁠. We'll see you in the next one,Keep playing the long game.

#142 - Soph Greiner & Bella Filacuridi (Dome): How Two Young Founders Created Australia's First Ever Podcast Festival

In this episode of Sweat Capital, we sit down with Sophie Greiner [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiegreiner/] and Bella Filacuridi [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bella-filacuridi/], co-founders of Dome [https://www.instagram.com/homeofdome/], to unpack what it actually takes to build a business inside one of the fastest-moving corners of media – the $130bn global podcast industry. Podcasts have quickly become one of the most powerful vehicles for community, identity, and cultural conversation in the world, and yet the commercial value of genuine fandom has still not been fully recognised. Enter: DomeFest – Australia's first-ever podcast fan festival, held earlier this year at Sydney's Hordern Pavilion. We dive into how two founders with zero event experience convinced the country's biggest podcast talent, and the team behind Lost Paradise, to back their vision, and why the turnout (with attendees flying in from across Australia & New Zealand) convinced them the IRL opportunity might be even bigger than the platform itself. We also explore the commercial thesis driving Dome, why an engaged audience of 10,000 diehard listeners is worth more to a brand than a show reaching the masses, why podcast hosts are trusted more than influencers, and why the next wave of value in the industry will flow to communities, not download counts. For founders, creators, marketers, or anyone thinking about community, media, or how to carve out a category in an industry dominated by legacy players, this episode is a rare look at how two young operators in their early twenties are turning shared obsession into commercial opportunity by building something Australia has never seen before. *** This episode was recorded on 17 April 2026. Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/sweatcapitalpodcast/]⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/sweatcapitalpod/]⁠⁠. We'll see you in the next one, Keep playing the long game.