In this episode, I sit down with chef, MasterChef finalist, television host and entrepreneur Simon Toohey.Many Australians know Simon from MasterChef Australia (Season 11 and “Back to Win”) or from his SBS series Freshly Picked. But behind the television profile is a far more layered story — one that spans cocktail bars in London, a Masters in Gastronomy in Edinburgh, plant-forward food innovation, pop-up smokehouses, consulting internationally, and now launching the fast-growing Geelong City Market, attracting thousands of visitors every Saturday.We discuss:Growing up in a food-loving family and learning to cook when independence forced itWorking in London hospitality, including at globally recognised bar Callooh CallayWhy he chose plant-forward cooking as his point of differenceThe reality of competing on MasterChef — the pressure, structure and exposureBuilding a media brand through Freshly Picked on SBSLaunching the Geelong City Market — vision, business case, government support, and startup challengesWhat he has learned about entrepreneurship in the food industryThe hard days, the pivots, and the principles he anchors toThis is a conversation about food — but also about reinvention, resilience, public profile, sustainability, and backing yourself when you see a gap in the market.If you are interested in food systems, food startups, media, or building a purpose-driven career, this episode is for you.About the ShowWhat I Learned in Business (That Didn’t Kill Me!) explores the real stories behind business leaders, founders and professionals — the successes, the setbacks, and the lessons learned along the way.DisclaimerThe views expressed by guests are their own and are shared for general informational purposes only. This podcast does not constitute financial, legal, investment or professional advice. Listeners should seek appropriate independent advice before making business or financial decisions.If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show and share it with someone who might find value in it.You can connect with me via:LinkedIn: James H Stewart GAICDWebsite: www.jameshstewart.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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