The Growth Concept With Keoni Upton

The Self-Taught Creative's Dilemma, Christian Rusli on Building a Brand While Studying Full-Time

Episode 2 of On the Streets of Perth a open mic podcast series where I sit down with guests out in the wild to capture unfiltered, real stories and experiences. No studio, no script, just honest conversation. This week I caught up with Christian Rusli on the streets of Fremantle a self-taught photographer and videographer who's carving out a name in the automotive and sports space here in Perth. We get into how he went from growing up around cars in his grandpa's Indonesian showroom to recently shooting the United Cup, one of the biggest pro tennis events of the year. We dig into the messy middle of building a creative business: finding a system that actually works, the tension between studying engineering and going all in on the camera, and the family pressure that comes with choosing the "less safe" path. Chris also shares his take on whether energy and confidence can outweigh experience (spoiler — I tell the story of how I bluffed my way through my first real estate shoot in full auto focus). We close with the card game and two questions that hit harder than expected — what you want but are afraid of, and the last time you felt deeply happy. If you're in that in-between stage of trying to balance the safe path with the creative one, this one's for you. About the Series On the Streets of Perth An open mic podcast series bringing unfiltered, real stories and experiences from creatives, founders and everyday people out on the streets of Perth. No edits to the truth — just real conversation in real settings. About Christian Christian Rusli is a Perth-based photographer and videographer specialising in automotive and sports content. Self-taught, currently studying engineering, and building his media brand on the side. Recently shot the United Cup pro tennis event in Perth. Connect with Christian * Instagram: @ [https://www.instagram.com/christianr.media/]christianr.media [http://christianr.media] * Portfolio: christianruslimedia.mypixieset.com [http://christianruslimedia.mypixieset.com] Connect with The Growth Concept * Website: thegrowthconcept.com.au [http://thegrowthconcept.com.au] * Host: Keoni Upton — Growth Concept Media [https://www.growthconceptmedia.com.au]

The Youngest Person Ever to Run Across Australia: 4,000KM, 62 Days, 1 Mission | Chad Aziz

In this episode I sit down with Chad Aziz a 20-year-old engineering student about to attempt something most people wouldn't even let themselves think about. On Wednesday, Chad is lacing up and running 4,000 kilometres from Perth to Sydney, aiming to become the youngest person ever to run across Australia an official Guinness World Record attempt while raising $100,000 for Zero2Hero, a Perth-based youth mental health charity. That's roughly 65 kilometres a day. Every day. For 62 days straight. We get into how this idea was born (and why he kept it a secret for so long), what it took to tell his parents he was deferring his engineering degree, and the real reason youth mental health is the cause he's putting his body on the line for. We also dig into Australia's drinking and party culture, why Chad chose a different path coming out of high school, and what it actually feels like to be 11 days out from the start of something this big. This one isn't just about running. It's about doing hard things on purpose, breaking free from the pressure to follow the crowd, and inspiring the next generation of young people to get outside, challenge themselves, and find a healthier way to live. Back Chad's mission & follow the journey: 📲 Instagram – @chadazizz [https://www.instagram.com/chadazizz/] 🌐 Website – chadaziz.com [http://chadaziz.com] 🎗 Charity – Zero2Hero (Youth Mental Health) [https://www.zero2hero.com.au/] 💰 Donate via MyCause (Zero2Hero) – mycause.com.au/events/chadazizrunacrossaustralia [http://mycause.com.au/events/chadazizrunacrossaustralia] 🙌 GoFundMe (support the run) – gofundme.com/f/chads-run-across-aus-for-youth-mental-health [http://gofundme.com/f/chads-run-across-aus-for-youth-mental-health] 🏃 Strava (live tracker coming soon) – strava.com/athletes/132163803 [http://strava.com/athletes/132163803]

The Man Who Studied Happiness for 10 Years — Here's What He Found FT: Declan Edwards

This one was recorded live at Curtin University, and it did not disappoint. Declan Edwards flew in from the other side of Australia — partly to visit family and to run a guest lecture at Curtin on the skills and science of happiness. We'd connected on LinkedIn about 18 months prior and had been meaning to sit down ever since. This was that moment. Declan is one of Australia's leading voices in Positive Psychology a happiness researcher, speaker, and educator who has spent over a decade helping individuals and organisations build science-backed skills of happiness. He founded BU Happiness College in 2017 with a vision of making the skills and science of happiness more accessible to individuals, organisations, and the world as a whole. His work has been featured globally in the Harvard Business Review, Psychology Today, and Thrive Global. BU Happiness College + 2 [https://www.buhappinesscollege.com/about] In this episode we go deep on some real stuff impatience, identity, the masks we wear, why adults forget how to play, and a line that genuinely stopped me mid-conversation: why are you in such a rush to get through life when the finish line is death? We also get into introspection as a skill, why fear yells while intuition whispers, and what it actually means to show up as the same person no matter the room you're in. This is a conversation I'll come back to. CONNECT WITH DECLAN 🌐 Website: declanedwards.com.au [http://declanedwards.com.au] 🎓 BU Happiness College: buhappinesscollege.com [http://buhappinesscollege.com] 📺 YouTube: BU Happiness College [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpINS9dQsGA3TqypBkjq9MQ] 📸 Instagram: @declanedwards_bu [https://www.instagram.com/declanedwards_bu/] 💼 LinkedIn: Declan Edwards [https://au.linkedin.com/in/declan-edwards-bu-happiness-college]

The One Word That's Quietly Destroying Your Relationships FT: Yvette Lever Relationship Coach

We recorded this one at the South Perth Foreshore on a perfect Perth afternoon — no conference room, no desk, just a real conversation about something most of us are genuinely bad at: having difficult conversations with the people we love most. Yvette works in the space of communication and relationships, coaching individuals and couples to break the patterns that keep them stuck. She's a Master NLP Practitioner, hypnotist, and personal and corporate coach with over seven years of experience helping people communicate better — not just in business, but in the relationships that actually matter. This episode isn't about conflict resolution tips or relationship hacks. It's about understanding why the same arguments keep happening — and what to actually do about it. What we get into: One word change that completely shifts how a conversation lands — swapping "but" for "and" sounds almost too simple until Yvette breaks down exactly why it works. We go deep on communication patterns — why some couples keep having the same fight for 20 years, and how changing one person's approach can break the whole cycle. The stuff we were given before we were eight — Yvette walks through how nearly every standard we hold our partner to, including making the bed, closing the toothpaste cap, putting glasses in the sink, came from our parents' values, not our own. And once you see it, you can't unsee it. How to actually set up a hard conversation — timing, checking in, managing the other person's anxiety before you've even started talking. The "we" vs "you" reframe — and why it's the difference between your partner feeling blamed and feeling like you're on the same team. If you've ever walked away from an argument thinking how did we even get here, this episode is going to give you some real clarity. Connect with Yvette: LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/yvette-lever [http://linkedin.com/in/yvette-lever] ---------------------------------------- Want to be a guest on The Growth Concept? Head to thegrowthconcept.com.au [http://thegrowthconcept.com.au]

Will AI End Humanity? The Real Risks, Dangers & Opportunities Ahead | Josh Horneman

In this episode, I sit down with Josh Horneman for a powerful conversation around AI, business, creativity, privacy, and what it means to stay human in a world that’s changing fast. Josh is a business coach, AI consultant, and founder based in Perth, and throughout this conversation he shares a balanced perspective on both the opportunity and the danger of AI. We unpack where this technology is heading, why curiosity matters more than ever, how businesses can use AI more intentionally, and why human qualities like emotional intelligence, discernment, and real connection will only become more valuable from here. What I loved most about this conversation is that Josh doesn’t speak about AI from a place of hype or fear. He speaks about it with depth, caution, and clarity. We talk about privacy in business, the risk of outsourcing your thinking, the future of creativity, and why staying curious is one of the most important skills you can build in this next era. Josh also shares how he thinks about raising his kids in a rapidly changing world, why he values EQ over IQ, and how learning, awareness, and gratitude continue to shape the way he lives and leads. If you want to connect with Josh, you can find him here: Website: https://www.joshhorneman.com/ [https://www.joshhorneman.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josh_horneman/ [https://www.instagram.com/josh_horneman/] LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/joshhorneman [https://au.linkedin.com/in/joshhorneman]