From Dancer & Counsellor to Best Friend Business Partners: The Calla Collective Story - Andi & Kim | Calla Collective

From Madagascar to Australia: Weaving Heritage into Modern Living Will Buono | TANORA

In this episode of I Started a Business, we chat with Will, founder of TANORA, a brand inspired by Madagascan heritage and Australian living, known for its beautifully woven raffia pieces and considered approach to design. We dive into what it’s been like building a brand across two countries, working closely with artisan communities, and growing something with real intention at its core. tanora.com.au [https://www.tanora.com.au/?srsltid=AfmBOoqqfI2dtrzv4DwjjdK0vGuwXQoEIkFKwm8-m2-f2fSq9jstKFHu] @tanora [https://www.instagram.com/tanoradesign/]

From Japan to Melbourne: Building Connection Through Homeware - Hans & Febby | With Miles Store

In this episode of I Started a Business, we sat down with Hans and Febby - the founders behind With Miles Store. Based in Melbourne, they’re building a brand that brings a colourful, playful side of Japan to Australia, curating everything from Japanese homeware to matcha. What started in 2023 as a passion for sourcing unique pieces has quickly evolved, with their first experience of matcha in 2024 opening up a whole new world of flavour (think popcorn and chocolate notes). In our chat, Hans and Febby share how those early discoveries shaped the direction of the business, and what they learned from their first market - where customers showed a real curiosity for both matcha and Japan’s vibrant culture. Most of all, we talk about the value of real-life connection - why offline experiences matter to them, and how that might shape what’s next for With Miles Store. withmiles.com.au [https://withmiles.com.au/] @with.miles [https://www.instagram.com/with.miles/]

From Seeking Community to Leading One: The 16 Year Evolution of Quirky Cooking - Jo Whitton | Quirky Cooking

Jo Whitton 's journey began in 2008, when she turned to nutrient dense, traditional foods to address her family’s health challenges, food intolerances and her son’s severe OCD and anxiety. Her research and dedication led to significant health improvements for her entire family , leading her to found 'Q uirky Cooking ' from her home in the Atherton Tablelands , Far North Queensland. Since then, she has written three best selling cookbooks : Quirky Cooking, Life-Changing Food and Simple, Healing Food , and is currently developing her much awaited fourth title. Passionate about teaching simple ways to transition to a whole food, nutrient dense diet, Jo's approachable style helps others adopt sustainable, nourishing habits , supporting them to reduce and alleviate chronic health issues and improve overall wellbeing. The Quirky Cooking online retail store, wholesale operations and Quirky product development are managed by Commercial Operations Manager, Emma, based out of CLIK Collective in Vermont , allowing Jo to focus on her passion "food as medicine ", producing recipes, videos, podcasts, programs and support resources for her hundreds of thousands of loyal followers. Today, Quirky Cooking offers a variety of resources designed to promote health and wellbeing, including: * Free recipe blog  * 3 best selling cookbooks * A range of health focused products * Online and in person cooking classes and workshops * An online gut health cooking and lifestyle program * 1 on 1 personal coaching calls * Gut health cooking retreats in Italy and FNQ * Cooking videos, podcasts & much more! quirkycooking.com.au [https://quirkycooking.com.au/] @jowhitton [https://www.instagram.com/jowhitton/] @quirkycooking [https://www.facebook.com/quirkycooking]

From Dancer & Counsellor to Best Friend Business Partners: The Calla Collective Story - Andi & Kim | Calla Collective

In this episode of I Started a Business, we had the pleasure of chatting with Andi and Kim - the duo behind Calla Collective. Best friends turned business partners, they’re the creative force behind a brand built on beauty, truth and goodness, with products designed to bring meaning into everyday moments. What started as a quiet whisper has grown into a purpose-led business now reaching customers far beyond Victoria through wholesale. In our chat, Andi and Kim share how Calla Collective began, what it’s really like working alongside your best friend and how their different approaches - dreamer and realist - shape the way they grow. We also talk about showing up authentically online, navigating the hard seasons of business (including closing two physical stores) and why failure is a bruise, not a tattoo. callacollective.com.au [https://www.callacollective.com.au/] @callacollective [https://www.instagram.com/callacollective/]

The Taste of Australia: From Naturopath to Native Food Expert - Julie Merlet | NATIF

Julie from NATIF joins us on the podcast to share her journey from naturopathy to native food expert. We chat about ethical sourcing, MasterChef moments, her favourite native ingredients and what it’s like running a 100% Aussie made business.  If you’ve ever wondered how native foods go from bush to table. This episode is packed with stories, tips and inspiration. natif.com.au [https://natif.com.au/] @natif [https://www.instagram.com/natif.com.au/?hl=en]