The Dion Guagliardo Podcast
Episodes
#125 Andrea Christie-David - Founder of Leor
12 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Andrea Christie-David - Founder of Leor. Founded in 2018, Leor grew into a nationally early learning service, ultimately ...
#124 Sven Almenning - Founder of The Speakeasy Group
15 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Sven Almenning - Founder of The Speakeasy Group. With a background bartending around the world, Sven founded Australia&ap...
#123 Chris Poulter - Founder and CEO of OSINT Combine
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Chris Poulter - Founder and CEO of OSINT Combine. After more than a decade of experience in the Australian Defence Force,...
#122 Diana Williams - Founder of Fernwood Fitness
16 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Diana Williams - Founder of Fernwood Fitness. Driven by her love of strength training, Diana opened Australia's firs...
#121 Kristina Karlsson - Founder of kikki.K and Dream Life
16 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Kristina Karlsson - Founder of kikki.K and Dream Life. Opening her first stationery store in 2001, kikki.K became a globa...
#120 Troy Sawdy - Founder and CEO of Titan Ind.
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Troy Sawdy - Founder and CEO of Titan Ind. Starting the company in 2019, Titan provides maintenance solutions for the min...
#119 Stuart Clout - Founder of thedocyard
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Stuart Clout - Founder of thedocyard. Starting his career as a lawyer, Stuart bootstrapped his company before going throu...
#118 Sarah-Jane Kurtini - Co-Founder of Tinybeans and Founder of PitchSlap
12 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Sarah-Jane Kurtini - Co-Founder of Tinybeans and Founder of PitchSlap. Creating Tinybeans in 2011, S-J bootstrapped the f...
#117 Rich Coombes - Four-time Founder, incl. Will & Co Coffee & Batlow Cider Co
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Rich Coombes - a four-time founder including companies such as Will & Co Coffee and Batlow Cider Co. Having co-founde...
#116 Quirin Schwaighofer - Co-Founder of MadeComfy
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Quirin Schwaighofer - Co-Founder of MadeComfy. MadeComfy was founded in 2015 and has become Australia's largest prof...
#115 Jim Penman - Founder of Jim's Group
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Jim Penman - Founder of Jim's Group. Since launching Jim's Mowing in 1982, Jim's Group has become Australi...
#114 David Hyman - Co-Founder and CEO of Lendi Group
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview David Hyman - Co-Founder and CEO of Lendi Group. Since founding the company in 2013, Lendi has become Australia's le...
#113 Steve Chapman - Founder of Hyro and Co-Founder of Shine
19 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Steve Chapman - Founder of Hyro and Co-Founder of Shine. Steve scaled Shine to become a major name in the beverage indust...
#112 Benjamin Zeccola - CEO of Palace Cinemas
12 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Benjamin Zeccola - CEO of Palace Cinemas. Founded by his father, Antonio, in 1965, Palace Cinemas has grown into Australi...
#111 Jaid Hulsbosch - Director at Hulsbosch
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Jaid Hulsbosch - Director at Hulsbosch. Founded by his father in 1982, the independently owned brand and design agency ha...
#110 Andrew Banks - Co-Founder of Morgan & Banks and Talent2 International
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Andrew Banks - Co-Founder of Morgan & Banks and Talent2 International. Founded in 1985, Andrew scaled Morgan & Ba...
#109 Erin Deering - Co-Founder of Triangl Swimwear and Founder of Deering
13 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Erin Deering - Co-Founder of Triangl Swimwear and Founder of Deering. Launching Triangl Swimwear in 2013, the brand saw r...
#108 Wayne Gerard - Founder of Prtnr and Co-Founder of RedEye
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Wayne Gerard — Founder of Prtnr and Co-Founder of RedEye. Over the past two decades, Wayne has built and exited multipl...
#107 Adam Ferrier - Founder of Thinkerbell
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Adam Ferrier - Founder of Thinkerbell. Founded in 2017, Adam has helped scale Thinkerbell into one of Australia's mo...
#106 Colleen Callander - Former CEO of Sportsgirl & Sussan and Founder of Mentor Me Women
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Colleen Callander - former CEO of Sportsgirl and Sussan and Founder of Mentor Me Women. Over a 30-year career in Australi...
#105 Steve Baxter - Co-Founder of TEN13 and Founder of Beaten Zone Venture Partners
04 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Steve Baxter - Co-Founder of TEN13 and Founder of Beaten Zone Venture Partners. Steve launched his first tech startup in ...
#104 Ben Thompson - Co-Founder and CEO of Employment Hero
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Ben Thompson - Co-founder and CEO of Employment Hero. With a valuation of almost $2 billion, Ben has scaled the company t...
#103 Amanda Rettig - Founder of Mimco and A-ESQUE
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Amanda Rettig - Founder of Mimco and A-ESQUE. As a design leader in the fashion industry, Amanda grew Mimco into a fashio...
#102 Angela Ferguson - Creative and Managing Director of Futurespace
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Angela Ferguson - Creative and Managing Director of Futurespace. As a business leader in workplace strategy and design fo...
#101 David McGrath - CEO of myPlates and TasPlates
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview David McGrath – Chief Executive Officer of myPlates and TasPlates. With a distinguished career as a technology and medi...
#100 Alan Jones - Managing Partner of M8 Ventures
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Alan Jones – Managing Partner of M8 Ventures. With a career that evolved through roles at Microsoft and Yahoo during th...
#99 Cassandra Kelly - Co-Founder of Pottinger
10 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Cassandra Kelly - Co-Founder of Pottinger — a multi-award-winning financial and strategic global advisory firm. In 2019...
#98 David Fastuca - Co-Founder of Locomote and CEO & Co-Founder Growth Forum
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview David Fastuca - Co-Founder of Locomote and CEO & Co-Founder Growth Forum. Founded in 2012, David grew Locomote into $...
#97 Tom Cawley - Executive Chair of MaxMine
18 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Tom Cawley - Executive Chair of MaxMine — an innovative technology company revolutionizing open-pit mining operations s...
#96 Jason T Smith - Founder and CEO of Back In Motion
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Jason T Smith. Jason was CEO of Back In Motion Health Group. Founded in 1999, Back In Motion grew into one of Australia’...
#95 Andrea Gardiner - Founder and CEO of Jelix Ventures and Ian Gardiner - Co-Founder of Innovation Bay
25 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Andrea and Ian Gardiner. Andrea is the founder of Jelix Ventures, an early-stage venture capital manager dedicated to sup...
#94 Steve Grace - Founder and CEO of The Nudge Group
11 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I sit down with Steve Grace, Founder and CEO of The Nudge Group. Since launching in 2019, The Nudge Group has redefined the role of r...
#93 Greg Taylor - Founder of Step One Underwear
29 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Greg Taylor - Founder of Step One Underwear. Founded in 2017, Step One has become one of Australia’s most popular under...
#92 Paul House - CEO of Imdex
17 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Paul House - CEO of Imdex, an ASX-listed mining-tech company with a market capitalisation of $1.2 billion. Paul has helpe...
#91 Matt Jones - Co-Founder of Four Pillars
10 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Matt Jones, co-founder of Four Pillars - one of Australia’s most popular gin companies. Since founding in 2013, Matt an...
#90 Phillip Di Bella - Founder of Di Bella Coffee and The Coffee Commune
25 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Phillip Di Bella - founder of Di Bella Coffee and more recently, the Coffee Commune. Founded in 2002, Phillip grew Di Bel...
#89 Adam Schwab - Co-Founder of Luxury Escapes
18 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Adam Schwab, co-founder of Luxury Escapes. Luxury Escapes is an online travel booking platform aimed at providing great t...
#88 James Clarke - Founder of Bolster Group
12 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview James Clarke, founder of Bolster Group. Founded in 2015, James has grown Bolster from a small team to now a multi-agency ...
#87 Leigh Jasper - Co-Founder of Aconex and Firmable
30 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Leigh Jasper - co-founder of Aconex and Firmable. Aconex provided collaboration software technology for the construction,...
#86 Frank Caruso - Founder of Caruso's Natural Health
23 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Frank Caruso, founder of Caruso’s Natural Health. Caruso’s Natural Health is one of Australia’s largest vitamin and...
#85 Christian Beck - Founder of Leap Legal Software
17 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Christian Beck - Founder of Leap Legal Software. Founded in 1992, Christian has grown Leap to be the largest legal softwa...
#84 Nick Greenhalgh - Co-Founder of PetO
07 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Nick Greenhalgh, co-founder of PetO. PetO is one of Australia’s leading pet supply stores selling goods such as food, t...
#83 Taryn Williams - Founder of WINK Models & #Gifted
18 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Taryn Williams - founder of Wink Models. Taryn talks about why she started the business as a 21 year old and why she was ...
#82 Michael Batko - CEO of Startmate
11 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Michael Batko - CEO of Startmate. Startmate is one of Australia’s largest startup accelerator programs. Over the past d...
#81 Mike Wilson - Founder of TinyMe
04 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Mike Wilson - founder of TinyMe. TinyMe is a manufacturing business specialised in making customisable kids toys and gift...
#80 Paul Roos - Sydney Swans Premiership Coach and Founder of Performance by Design
22 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview AFL legend and Sydney Swans Premiership coach Paul Roos. Today, Paul is the founder of Performance by Design where he has...
#79 Sophie Doyle - Founder of The Fable
15 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Sophie Doyle, the founder of The Fable. The Fable is an e-commerce company specialising in women’s work fashion. Founde...
#78 Ilan Israelstam - Co-Founder of Betashares
08 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Ilan Israelstam, Chief Commercial Officer and co-founder of Betashares. Betashares is one of Australia’s largest financ...
#77 Nick Morgan - Founder of Vudoo
30 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Nick Morgan, Founder of Vudoo. Vudoo is a software company that enables consumers to purchase products wherever they see ...
#76 Alex Naoumidis - Co-Founder of Mindset Health
25 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Alex Naoumidis - co-founder of Mindset Health. Mindset Health is a Melbourne-based company that develop digital programs ...
#75 Simon Bugeja - MD of Lucia's Group
11 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Simon Bugeja, managing director of Lucia’s Group. Lucia’s started as Australia’s first Italian pizza bar founded by...
#74 Saxon Wright - Co-Founder of Huskee and Pablo & Rustys
27 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Saxon Wright - co-founder of Huskee and founder of Pablo & Rusty's coffee roasters. Coffee lovers will be famili...
#73 Jordy Kay - Co-Founder of Great Wrap
25 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Jordy Kay, co-founder of Great Wrap. Great Wrap is a material science company that has created Australia’s first compos...
#72 Ben McHarg - Co-Founder of Life-Space Group
17 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Ben McHarg, co-founder of Life-Space Group. As the managing director of the family-owned business, Ben helped drive the s...
#71 Simon Beard - Co-Founder of Culture Kings
27 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Simon Beard - co-founder of Culture Kings. Culture Kings is a premium streetwear company founded by Simon and his wife Ta...
#70 Julio Ribeiro - Founder of Inventia Life Science
15 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Inventia is a science and technology company focused on building devices that can create advanced cell models that help accelerate drug discovery and ...
#69 Tim Levy - Founder of Qoria
09 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Tim Levy, founder of Qoria. Qoria is a global technology company that is dedicated to keeping children safe in digital en...
#68 Izhar Basha - Founder of EHPLabs
25 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Izhar Basha - founder of EHPLabs.EHPLabs is a sports nutrition company that develops various supplement products. Founded...
#67 David Dicker - Founder of Dicker Data
18 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview David Dicker, founder of Dicker Data. David started the business in 1978 has grown it over 46 years including listing it ...
#66 Adam Jacobs - Co-founder of The Iconic and Hatch
11 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Adam Jacobs - founder of The Iconic and Hatch. Founded in 2011, Adam quickly grew The Iconic, a fashion e-commerce compan...
#65 Tony Keating - Co-Founder of ResApp
27 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
ResApp is a biotech company that commercialised technology to diagnose respiratory illnesses based on an audio recording of a patient’s cough on the...
#64 Amanda Price - Head of High Growth Ventures at KPMG
20 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Having founded and worked in multiple startups both here and in the US, Amanda has grown the venture quickly having now helped over 300 of Australia’...
#63 Brad Moran - Founder of CitrusAd
14 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
CitrusAd is a software company that provides retailers with a system for merchants to compete for ad space on their websites. Starting in 2017, Brad M...
#62 James Symons - CEO of LocknCharge
28 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
LocknCharge makes products for organisations to securely store their physical devices. Taking over the family business, James has led the growth of th...
#61 Steven Maarbani - CEO of VentureCrowd
15 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Steven Maarbani - CEO of VentureCrowd. VentureCrowd is Australia’s leading digital crowd funding investment platform fo...
#60 Adrian Cester - Founder of Flavour Makers
31 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Flavour Makers is a food manufacturing business that develops products such as spices, baby food, curry sauces and much more. Founded in 1992, Adrian ...
#59 Maxim Shklyar - Co-Founder of InstantScripts
14 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
InstantScripts is an online telehealth platform that enables customers to receive online medical scripts, consultations, and more. Founded in 2018, Ma...
#58 Craig Blair - Co-Founder of AirTree
07 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Craig Blair - co-founder of AirTree - one of the largest Venture Capital firms in Australia. AirTree has been an early in...
#57 Brad Lorge - Co-Founder of Premonition
30 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Premonition was an AI driven logistics company that helped couriers orchestrate their drivers and deliveries in the most efficient manner. In 2022, on...
#56 Ben Hurst - Founder of HotDoc
21 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
HotDoc is Australia’s largest platform that connects doctors to patients. Patients can easily book appointments with their favourite clinics while d...
#55 Justus Hammer - Founder of Spreets and Mad Paws
08 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Spreets was a deal comparison website that famously sold for $40 million only 12 months after it started. MadPaws is his current business - an all in ...
#54 Dorry Kordahi - Founder of DKM Blue & Swanky Socks
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Dorry Kordahi, founder of DKM Blue, Swanky Socks and the former owner of Illawarra Hawks Basketball team. DKM Blue, Dorry...
#53 Doug Fitch - Co-Founder of Agworld
17 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Agworld is an agriculture technology startup that creates data management tools to help farmers and agronomists work more efficiently. Founded in 2009...
#52 Nick Humphreys - Co-Founder of Linktree
04 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Linktree is a tool allows you to create a directory to multiple websites from one URL link. Starting in 2016, Nick and his co-founders have grown the ...
#51 Daniel Petre - Co-Founder of AirTree
20 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Daniel Petre, Co-Founder of AirTree - one of the largest VC firms in Australia and New Zealand. Over it’s lifetime, Air...
#50 Paul Miller - Founding Partner at Deutsch Miller
13 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Deutsch Miller is one of the top boutique legal firms in Australia specialising in corporate law and dispute resolution. After moving across the world...
#49 Bruce Mackenzie - Founder of Humanforce
07 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Bruce Mackenzie, founder of Humanforce. Humanforce is a workforce management software company which has been recently acq...
#48 David Robinson - Co-Founder of Internet 2.0
24 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Internet 2.0 is one of Australia’s leading cybersecurity companies and is now worth $50 million. Founded in 2018, the company has gone on to make va...
#47 Grant Pestell - Managing Director of MPH Lawyers
16 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Being in the firm for 25 years, Grant has helped grow MPH Lawyers into one of the most successful law practices in Western Australia. Since 2002, he h...
#46 Sam Wood - Founder of 28
03 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
28 is an online fitness platform and community that provides workouts that anyone can do in under 28 minutes. Founded in 2016, Sam has grown the platf...
#45 Will Davies - Founder of Car Next Door, CEO of Uber Carshare
27 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Car Next Door was a peer-to-peer car sharing service that set out to challenge the one person, one car mentality. Starting in 2013, Will and his co fo...
#44 Joseph Healy - Co-Founder of Judo Bank
20 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Judo Bank is one of Australia’s largest and most trusted banks for small to medium-sized enterprises. Starting from a PowerPoint idea in 2016, Josep...
#43 Stu Laundy - Laundy Hotel Group
11 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Stu is a third-generation publican of his family business that now owns around 90 venues and is worth an estimated 1.4bn dollars.Throughout the episod...
#42 Kevin Gosschalk - Founder of Arkose Labs
29 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Arkose Labs is a SAAS company that protects its customers against cyber criminals. Founded in 2016, the company has raised 130m USD and has grown to n...
#41 Mark Woodland - Founder of Xplor & Kismet
22 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Working as a receptionist at his Mum’s business, Mark quickly became frustrated at the repetitive processes and boldly claimed “How hard could it ...
#40 Tom Amos - Co-founder of Sidekicker
31 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sidekicker is Australia’s largest online staffing platform that is re-inventing casual and temporary work for businesses and workers. Founded in 201...
#39 William On - Co-Founder of Shippit
23 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Shippit is Australia's leading multi-carrier shipping software and connects stores with the best courier at the time of purchase. Founded in 2014...
#38 John Fargher - Co-Founder of AgriWebb
11 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
AgriWebb is a digital platform that helps livestock producers with record-keeping, compliance and productivity. Starting in 2014, AgriWebb has now gro...
#37 Geoffroy Henry - Founder of Ofload
04 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Geoffroy Henry, founder of Ofload. Ofload is a digital B2B platform that helps shippers and road freight carriers connect...
#36 James Bruce and Stafford Fox - Founders of StrangeLove
27 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview James Bruce and Stafford Fox from boutique beverage company StrangeLove. Starting out in Byron Bay, the guys grew the bus...
#35 Giovanni Pino - Co-founder of Sourci
12 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Giovanni Pino, co-founder of Sourci. Sourci is Australia’s largest sourcing company that connects individuals and busin...
#34 Jeremy Mujis - Co-founder of Grown Alchemist
04 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Jeremy Mujis - founder of Grown Alchemist. Grown Alchemist is a skincare company that produces a range of innovative skin...
#33 Vu Tran - Co-founder of Go1
21 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Vu Tran - founder of Go1. As described by Vu, Go1 is the Netflix or Spotify of workplace learning. They aggregate trainin...
#32 Julie Mathers - Founder of Flora & Fauna
08 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Julie Mathers. Julie is the founder of Flora and Fauna, which is a successful beauty and personal care e-commerce brand t...
#31 Mick Liubinskas - Founder of Climate Salad
01 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Mick Liubinskas. This is a very special episode as Mick was our very first guest on the podcast. While we covered his car...
#30 Jon Gregory - Founder of Vitruvian
15 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Jon Gregory, founder of Vitruvian. Vitruvian is a fitness technology company that is famous for their “Trainer+” devi...
#29 Cameron Falloon - Founder of Body Fit Training
07 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Cameron Falloon - founder of Body Fit Training. Body Fit Training is Australia's fastest growing fitness franchise w...
#28 Tim Fung - Co-Founder of Airtasker
01 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Tim Fung, co-founder of Airtasker. Airtasker is Australia’s largest online marketplace that connects local community me...
#27 Kristy Chong - Founder of Modibodi
07 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Kristy Chong – founder of Modibodi. Kristy started the business in 2013 after 2 years of R&D before ultimately sell...
#26 Nick Hazell - Founder of v2food
23 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I interview Nick Hazell - founder of v2food. v2food is one of Australia's largest producers of plant-based meat. After raising o...