Beyond the Spotlight: Comedy, Meditation and Owning Success with Anthony

Beyond the Spotlight: Comedy, Meditation and Owning Success with Anthony

In this powerful episode of Owners Outlook, Shaun sits down with comedian Anthony as he opens up about a life-changing year, a near-death experience in Canada, and the 10-day silent Vipassana meditation retreat that reshaped the way he views success, ego, creativity, and personal healing. Known for making people laugh, Anthony brings a deeply reflective perspective on what happens behind the performance — the pressure, the self-talk, the ambition, and the emotional cost of chasing external success. Here’s what you can expect from this episode: A Life-Changing Turning Point Anthony shares the story of nearly freezing to death in Canada after a show, the difficult season that followed, and how those events led him to Vipassana meditation. The Power of Meditation and Self-Awareness Anthony breaks down the intensity of a 10-day silent retreat, what it taught him about the mind and body, and how daily meditation has helped him build a stronger line of defense against anxiety, anger, fear, and old patterns. Comedy, Ego, and the Pursuit of Success From leaving a career in insolvency accounting to becoming a touring stand-up comedian, Anthony reflects on how ego initially drove his ambition — and why external achievements did not bring the fulfillment he expected. Using Comedy to Give Back Anthony explores how comedy can become more than entertainment. He explains how laughter can disarm people, create connection, and become a way to share deeper ideas through humour. Redefining What Success Means In one of the most honest answers to the Owners Outlook signature question, Anthony challenges the word “success” itself and offers a grounded reminder that success is not always money, awards, or recognition — sometimes it is connection, presence, and walking away from a conversation feeling like something meaningful was shared. Tune in for a raw, thoughtful, and unexpectedly moving conversation about ego, healing, laughter, discipline, and what it really means to own your own success. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 0:09 Anthony’s near-death experience in Canada 1:02 Discovering Vipassana meditation 3:34 The 10-day silent retreat experience 5:22 Building an emotional “secretary” through meditation 8:25 From insolvency accountant to stand-up comedian 12:20 Early ambition and building a comedy career 14:20 The emptiness behind external success 18:46 Ego, achievement, and personal collapse 21:02 Why Anthony almost quit comedy 22:02 Using comedy to give to others 25:41 Comedy as a Trojan horse for deeper ideas 34:18 Daily habits, meditation, writing, and discipline 41:31 Why laughter matters 46:09 The Owners Outlook signature question 46:50 Anthony’s definition of success 57:27 The Vipassana course and final reflections 59:20 Closing remarks

The Art of Evolving: Creativity, Motherhood and Owning Success with Natalie Martin

In this episode of Owners Outlook, Shaun sits down with artist, entrepreneur, educator, and travelling creative Natalie Martin for a raw and honest conversation about creativity, resilience, motherhood, business, and what it really means to build a life around your passion. Natalie’s journey started long before she confidently called herself an artist. From selling old treasures to her younger brothers as a kid, to launching an early fashion label at university, working in graphic design, building a creative business, and now travelling Australia in a caravan with her family while teaching watercolour workshops — her story is one of evolution, courage, and learning to back herself through every season. But this conversation goes deeper than business. Natalie opens up about the challenges of running a creative business, the lessons that came from a difficult business partnership, the reality of being a mum while chasing creative work, and the major ankle injury that left her in hospital, unable to drive, on crutches for months, and forced her to rely on others in a way she never had before. Here’s what you can expect from this episode: Creativity, Business and Evolution Natalie shares how she went from graphic design to building a life as an artist, and why creative people need to allow themselves to grow, shift, and evolve over time. The Reality of Running a Creative Business From multiple income streams to online courses, workshops, artwork, e-commerce and teaching, Natalie explains what it really takes to make a living from your art — and why there is no fast track. Resilience Through Injury and Motherhood Natalie reflects on the hardest 12 months of her life, including grief, trauma, a serious ankle injury, raising two young boys, and learning how to ask for help when independence was no longer enough. Finding Purpose Through Teaching Natalie speaks beautifully about the joy of helping people reconnect with creativity, especially those who may not see themselves as creative at all. Owning Your Own Success In the final part of the conversation, Natalie shares a powerful perspective on success — not as a destination, but as something we need to pause, acknowledge, celebrate, and share along the way. This episode is a reminder that success isn’t always about arriving somewhere perfect. Sometimes it’s about looking back at every lesson, every mistake, every hard season, and realising they all played a part in shaping who you are today. Tune in for an honest, thoughtful and inspiring conversation with Natalie Martin on creativity, resilience, identity, and owning the journey you’re already on. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 0:08 Natalie’s early creative and entrepreneurial journey 2:29 Leaving a dream job to build her own business 4:48 Injury, grief, motherhood and resilience 8:50 Learning to accept help 10:21 The sacrifices behind chasing a dream 12:19 Reframing mindset through pain and recovery 14:24 Natalie’s first business and early lessons 15:47 Walking away from a business partnership 19:53 Building multiple streams of income as an artist 21:46 Advice for up-and-coming creatives 26:50 Habits and routines that support creativity 29:39 Creating while travelling Australia 32:20 Discovering the joy of teaching 35:27 Learning to call herself an artist 39:23 What owning your own success means to Natalie

From Bedroom Startup to Business Empire: Building, Winning and Taking Ownership with Nick Bell

In this episode of Owners Outlook, Shaun sits down with Nick — entrepreneur, investor, Shark Tank Australia judge, and founder behind multiple successful businesses — for a raw and honest conversation about business, resilience, ego, money, mistakes, and what it really means to take ownership of your own success. Nick’s story starts well before the big exits. From selling school lunches and sports equipment in high school, to building a skincare business that left him earning just $100 a week, his journey is one of hunger, hard lessons, and refusing to stay down. After years of struggle, Nick started a digital marketing business from his bedroom — cold calling across New Zealand and Australia, learning every part of the business, and eventually growing it into a company he sold for $39 million. But as Nick shares, the wins didn’t come without pressure, mistakes, public criticism, failed investments, and some very tough moments behind the scenes. Here’s what you can expect from this episode: From Struggle to Scale Nick shares how he went from losing money in his first business to making $10,000 in three days and scaling rapidly from his bedroom. The Reality of Business Growth Shaun and Nick unpack what happens when a business grows too fast without structure, systems, and the right people in place. Lessons From Losing Millions Nick opens up about failed investments, being burned by people he trusted, and why he now backs himself more than anyone else. Taking Ownership A powerful conversation about responsibility, avoiding the victim mentality, knowing your numbers, and why the person at the top must take full accountability. The Shark Tank Perspective Nick shares what he looks for in entrepreneurs within the first few minutes of a pitch, and what most business owners miss when trying to grow. Building for Cash Flow, Not Just Exit Nick explains why he focuses on profitable, cash-flow-positive businesses — and why he never starts a business purely to sell it. This episode is full of honest reflections, sharp business lessons, and real-world perspective from someone who has lived the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. Maybe the biggest takeaway is this: success is not just about money or the exit. It is about building something, learning from the hard moments, taking responsibility, and finding what genuinely drives you. Tune in to hear Nick’s story and reflect on the question we ask every guest: What does it mean to own your own success? Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 2:14 From struggle to $1 million in three months 4:13 Building resilience after losing everything 8:21 Growing too fast and learning the hard way 14:14 Life after a $39 million exit 16:20 What makes a business truly thrive 23:01 The lows, failed investments, and tough lessons 32:51 Habits, productivity, and working with speed 36:39 Building multiple businesses at once 49:15 Lessons from Shark Tank Australia 56:43 What it means to own your own success

Country Roots to World Stage: Barry Lester on Belief, Support & Owning Success

In this inspiring episode of Owners Outlook, Shaun Lord sits down with Australian lawn bowls champion Barrie Lester to explore a life shaped by sport, resilience, community, and gratitude. From growing up in a small country town in Victoria to representing Australia on the world stage, Barrie shares the moments that shaped his journey — the early competitive fire, the mentors who believed in him, the heartbreak of losing his mum, and the mindset that helped him turn the page and keep moving forward. Here’s what you can expect from this episode: Growing Up with a Competitive Spirit Barrie reflects on his childhood in country Victoria, where sport became part of his identity from a young age. Whether it was football, swimming, handball or lawn bowls, he carried a deep desire to give everything his best shot. The Power of Mentorship and Community Barrie shares how the Lakes Entrance Bowls Club, his mentor John Snell, and the wider bowls community helped shape not only his career, but the person he became along the way. Turning Pain into Purpose After the sudden passing of his mum, Barrie opens up about grief, rebuilding, and the decision to move to Melbourne to chase his dreams — carrying her memory with him every step of the way. Mindset, Preparation and Longevity Barrie speaks about what it takes to perform at the highest level for nearly two decades, from preparation and self-belief to learning how to handle pressure, judgment and setbacks. What It Means to Own Your Success For Barrie, success isn’t something you keep to yourself. It’s something you share with the people who helped you get there — the mentors, friends, family, teammates and supporters who played a part in your journey. Tune in for a heartfelt conversation about resilience, gratitude, perspective, and why no achievement is ever truly won alone.

Purpose Over Pressure: Trent Falson on Service, Courage & Owning Success

In this episode of Owners Outlook, Shaun sits down with Trent Falson, a fourth-generation Bondi local, Bondi lifeguard, former Australian surf lifesaving champion, and someone whose life has been shaped by service, pressure, purpose and community. Trent shares his journey from growing up in the water at Bondi, to becoming a lifeguard at just 18, and the reality of stepping into a role where life-changing decisions often happen in seconds. From dealing with fatalities early in his career, to supporting others through trauma, Trent opens up about the mental weight of first responder work and the importance of speaking up, seeking help and learning how to truly listen. Here’s what you can expect from this episode: Growing Up in Bondi Trent reflects on his childhood as a fourth-generation Bondi local, his early years in the ocean, and how surf lifesaving shaped his identity from a young age. Life as a Bondi Lifeguard From rescues and medical emergencies to moments of chaos and calm, Trent shares what it really takes to show up when people need you most. Mental Health, Trauma and Listening Trent speaks honestly about the emotional toll of first responder work, early signs of PTSD, and why sometimes the most powerful thing we can do for someone is simply listen. Purpose Over Status After stepping into the corporate world, sales, buyer’s agency and real estate, Trent realised that money and status could never replace the feeling of doing work that truly mattered. Owning Your Success For Trent, success means waking up each day, looking in the mirror, and feeling genuinely aligned with the person looking back. Tune in for a thoughtful and honest conversation about courage, purpose, slowing down under pressure, and what it means to build a life that actually feels right.