Influencers & Entrepreneurs Podcast

George Hartley - Multiple Tech Startup Entrepreneur & Co-Founder of Bluethumb, Smartrmail & Sendy

George Hartley fits the profile perfectly of your modern day start up tech entrepreneur. He bootstrapped his first ecommerce company in 2012, co-founded a new business in 2016 perfecting email marketing and is in the process of launching a new tech business relying on blockchain technology. George originally started marketing at University, however he quickly pivoted back into hid passion in computer science & gained valuable experience working in the emerging app development space in Victoria during a time of massive development growth. After toying with a few e commerce ideas, George quickly saw a need for art online in Australia, and industry he believe was underderserved & Bluethumb was born, now Australia's largest online art website. Smartmail was then born out of necessity for Bluethumb in 2016, and is now a standalone venture which combines smarter email marketing for global ecommerce companies. Moving into his newest venture, combining blockchain technology with email marketing rewarding good behaviour online. We discuss the joy of creating a business where your success brings clients success, the future of email marketing, the high's and low's of working with blockchain technology, working with global corporations across the World, chatbots, AI and how you sleep being across 3 tech startups, aswell as advice to entrepreneurs looking to get into startup space and much more. Find out more about George's businesses via the links below: Bluethumb: https://bluethumb.com.au/ Smartrmail: https://www.smartrmail.com/ Sendy: https://sendy.network/

James Cridland - Radio Futurologist, Digital Media Influencer & creator of podnews.net & media.info

James Cridland is a digital radio and media influencer, who is extremely well known in the radio and digital media circles internationally. This is predominately due to his wealth of experience since 1989 as a radio presenter, media producer, podcaster, director, consultant, speaker, judge and above all else a radio futurologist. James started off cutting his teeth at well-known UK media organisations in the 90's such as Virgin Radio & the BBC, and after a Global research trip, he branched into more consulting type roles whilst running some private businesses in that space. One of his 'side hustles' as he calls it, is the well-known media.info website, a huge digital media source of information which generates over 500,000 monthly visitors alone James more recently moved his family to Brisbane, and we talk through the difference in digital media in Australia when compared to the work he does travelling the world consulting to top companies throughout the US, UK, Europe and every else in between. We also discuss the growth and recent explosion in podcasting, an industry James has worked closely since 2005 which leads on to how and why James has more recently created one of the Worlds largest podcast newsletters and podcast, known simply as.... www.podnews.net In this in-depth conversation we also talk through digital radio and media trends that have emerged or emerging on us, including the rise of voice search and smart speakers as well as his thoughts on who will win that battle and the next major threat to the apple podcasts platform.

Joshua Marriage - Online privacy activist & emerging influencer in the Cryptocurrency sector on protecting your data & identity

Josh Marriage was drawn into online privacy after he went through the grueling process of having to have his own image removed from unfavourable websites. This occurred after he was stalked due to his popularity after starting the online beard grooming and growing community, Beardspo! Josh talks to me about the importance of protecting your valuable data, and as he says himself, we trade privacy for convenience far too much with hundreds or even thousands of businesses online. He also discusses the importance of protecting your name and image, using pseudonyms, the frustration of privacy policies how not to get taken advantage of online. Josh even shares some great tips about how to create better security with your email accounts, use two factor authentication, avoid phishing scams and much more. We also cover his role at internationally renowned Crypto organisation, CloakCoin, podcasting and he reveals more about his brand-new venture which combines his two passions, crypto and privacy into one new business. This conversation is highly informative, educational and eye opening, which lead to me to take immediate action in the way I protect my own information and data online. Find out more about the companies Josh is involved in: https://www.cloakcoin.com/ https://hushmoney.club/ https://beardspo.com/

Shawn Godwin - Founder of Base Architecture & Quincy's Bar & Cafe on looking after staff, embracing digital & not trying to be the expert at everything

Shawn Godwin is the co-founder of one of SEQLD's best known and award winning architectural firms, Base Architecture, as well as recent owner of a new café and bar called Quincy's, in Brisbane funky Northside suburb of Grange. Shawn has built Base from the ground up since 2004, and during this time has expanded their digital presence to attract a combined following of over 17,000 followers across Social Media. Shawn talks to me about the importance of exploring digital opportunities for a new or established business, as well as touching on the point that if you aren't the expert in a particular, then don't be afraid you outsource or delegate to someone who is, that can do a better job! It is this philosophy which has helped Shawn focus on what he considers to be the most important aspects to both his businesses, which is keeping his staff happy and fulfilled. During this episode you will hear Shawn's secrets to keeping staff long term, including embracing all of his employee's feedback and opinions, bringing pets to work as well as selecting the best people that come along, even if there isn't a project for them at the time. We also cover surviving the GFC embracing and talk about why Shawn more recently deviated into owning a hospitality business, or as he says it, moving to the wrong side of the bar. I think every business owner or aspiring business owners, can all learn something from someone who believes in always putting your staff first, embracing your local community and ceasing the opportunities when they arrive. Base Architecture: https://www.basearchitecture.com.au/ Quincy's Bar & Cafe: http://quincys.com.au/

James Grugeon - Creator of Australia's first social enterprise beer company on having a drink for a good cause

James Grugeon loves a beer.. So much so, that after his arrival to Australia from the UK, he decided to set up Australia's first ever Social Enterprise Beer Company, appropriately named, the Good Beer Co. So what does a Socially responsible beer company do? Well as you will find out, With every Good Beer drunk, at least 50% of the profits and a proportion of every keg and carton sold is shared with their charity partners, both here in Australia and back in the UK. James walks me through this relatively new concept and explain the process of contract brewing, whilst talking at length about how he went about approaching local craft breweries and major liquor retailers as well working with charity-based corporations that we wanted to partner with, in order to turn his vision into a reality. It hasn't all gone down as smooth as a Friday knockoff beer however, James runs through the challenges he has overcome working against brewing Giants, deciding upon locations and the importance of being across digital marketing. James also educated me on the origins of his new beers that he has helped produce such as 'love squared' a beer dedicated reference to Australia's vote for same sex marriage, the 'Great Barrier Beer' a beer where proceed go towards helping save QLD's 7th Wonder of the World, and one topic very close to his heart, 'The Great Get Together Pale Ale' in honour of a dear friend and great cause in his homeland. James has a great vision and his journey is still very much building. It is refreshing to hear that a beer company has been established with good intentions at heart for communities across the World, as well as also refreshing to know that as a Beer Drinker, you can have an ale or two and help save the environment or support a great cause. Find out more at http://www.thegoodbeerco.com.au/