Best Madeleine Macrae Podcasts (2025)

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Madeleine Gray's Chosen Family + Chris Kraus and Graeme Macrae Burnet 54:37

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8h ago54:37

54:37

Stories of love, friendship, and the ties that bind - with a dash of dirt and darkness in three new works of fiction...Madeleine Gray's Chosen Family, a sharp exploration of friendship, love, and what it means to grow up when life gets messy; Chris Kraus' The Four Spent The Day Together, an autofiction-ish journey through a fractured America; and G…

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Building a Business That Serves People First with Patrick Brown | Ep 94 29:28

12h ago29:28

29:28

How can a simple college side hustle grow into a thriving, full-fledged business? In this episode of Scaling the Gap, host Madeleine MacRae welcomes Patrick Brown, founder and CEO of Surv. What began as Rent Sons, a playful idea to offer “quality service without the complaining of an actual son,” has grown into a purpose-driven franchise that build…

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Turning Life's Hard Knocks into a Coaching Legacy with Bill McDevitt | Ep 93 29:16

3d ago29:16

29:16

In this episode of Scaling the Gap, host Madeleine MacRae sits down with Bill McDevitt, founder of Top of the World Coaching. Bill shares his incredible journey from a 12-year-old paper boy learning business basics to a seasoned McDonald's executive, and finally to a small business coach dedicated to empowering leaders. His story is not a straight …

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October Book Buzz: Andrew Pippos, Kiran Desai, Olga Ravn & More 54:06

7d ago54:06

54:06

Kate and Cassie are back in the studio, introducing a line-up of October releases that span continents, centuries, and genres, kicking off with an Australian story set in the world of print journalism in Andrew Pippos' The Transformations. Then, we head to India with Kiran Desai’s The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, a grand tale shortlisted for this…

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The Leadership Strategy That Changes Everything with Matt Kunz | Ep 92 39:12

15d ago39:12

39:12

What really makes a franchise thrive, the systems or the people behind them? In this episode of Scaling the Gap, Madeleine MacRae chats with Matt Kunz, COO of Fastest Labs, about what it truly takes to grow a business without losing your humanity. From his early days running Sylvan Learning Centers with his wife to leading powerhouse brands like Fi…

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We reveal the books that didn’t quite make the Top 100 54:36

14d ago54:36

54:36

Join us for a lively Top 100 Books of the 21st Century after-party! Following last weekend’s extraordinary two-day countdown, this event recaps the results of over 288,000 votes cast by readers across Australia. Kate, Cassie, and special guests will unpack the trends, surprises, and insights that reveal what Australians are reading — and why. Plus,…

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The Power of Reinvention and Owning Your Journey with Ashley Peterson | Ep 91 22:33

22d ago22:33

22:33

In this episode of Scaling the Gap, host Madeleine MacRae sits down with Ashley Peterson, co-founder of Blue Mist Paint & Supply, a family-run paint and supply store in Greenville, South Carolina. What started as a renovation side hustle evolved through countless pivots, lessons, and leaps of faith into a thriving small business and community favor…

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Brisbane Writers Festival: Eric Puchner, Toni Jordan, Patrick Holland, Zeynab Gamieldien 54:35

22d ago54:35

54:35

Joining Kate and Cassie on stage at Brisbane Writers Festival, authors Eric Puchner, Toni Jordan, Patrick Holland, and Zeynab Gamieldien discuss their most recent novels and the books and writers who inspire them. With voting cast for our Top 100 Books of the Century, these writers make the case for their favourites. GUESTS Eric Puchner, novelist, …

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The Life of a Luxury Drapery Boss: Leading with Love with Oana Molodoi | Ep 90 29:34

29d ago29:34

29:34

In this episode of Scaling the Gap, host Madeleine MacRae sits down with Oana Molodoi, founder of OM Drapes Design, a Southern California company creating custom window treatments for high-end homes and interior designers. Oana shares how she launched the business in 2020 during the pandemic with no industry experience, built a website with her hus…

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Four new memoirs: Mandy Sayer/Elizabeth Gilbert/Arundhati Roy/S. Shakthidharan 53:57

28d ago53:57

53:57

We look at some compelling new memoirs, including Mandy Sayer’s No Dancing in the Lift, a tribute to her jazz drummer father, capturing the grit of Kings Cross and the grace of caregiving. Elizabeth Gilbert’s All the Way to the River recounts her intense love story with Rayya Elias, confronting addiction and devotion. Arundhati Roy’s Mother Mary Co…

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Build Success Through Community and Personal Growth with Jordan Godbey | Ep 89 45:05

1M ago45:05

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Top Poems of the 21st Century 54:06

1M ago54:06

54:06

What are your favourite poems of the last 25 years? The ones that you turn to, couplets memorised and shared, the lines that leapt from the page or stage. Poetry that both defined and defied space and time, whether it rhymed or not. Join Kate Evans, as she is joined by acclaimed author and poet Maxine Beneba Clarke, Stella Prize-winning poet and ac…

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How a Backyard Conversation Sparked a Multi-Territory Business with Adam Berryman | Ep 88 38:00

1M ago38:00

38:00

What if the key to escaping corporate burnout was sitting right next to you at the backyard firepit? In this episode of Scaling the Gap, host Madeleine MacRae sits down with serial entrepreneur Adam Berryman, who shares his journey from corporate burnout to owning multiple Budget Blinds franchises. Adam recounts how a casual conversation with his n…

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Patricia Lockwood's auto-fiction-ish Will There Ever Be Another You + The Buffalo Hunter Hunter + The Original 54:35

1M ago54:35

54:35

This week’s episode explores three new books. First up, Patricia Lockwood’s Will There Ever Be Another You, a third-person autofiction-ish tale that includes a family trip to Scotland, grief and fairies. Then we head to the American frontier for blood-soaked vengeance and vampires in Stephen Graham Jones’ The Buffalo Hunter Hunter. Finally, Nell St…

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Why Leadership is Learned on the Frontlines, Not in the Boardroom with Adam Povlitz | Ep. 87 36:02

2M ago36:02

36:02

In this episode of Scaling the Gap, host Madeleine MacRae sits down with Adam Povlitz, President of Anago Cleaning Systems, to explore how a family founded business transformed into a disruptive $100M+ franchise brand and why the next target is $300 million. Adam shares how Anago’s three tier franchise model turns the traditional structure on its h…

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Ian McEwan's What We Can Know + new work from Olga Tokarczuk and Miranda Darling 54:36

2M ago54:36

54:36

We get stuck into some new fiction, starting with Ian McEwan’s What We Can Know, a meditation on a future shaped by climate disaster and memory. We’re joined by Australian authors Madeleine Gray and Gretchen Shirm to take a look at Miranda Darling’s Fireweather, a poetic story of breakdown and resistance, and Nobel Prize winner Olga Tokarczuk’s Hou…

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How to Blend Elegance, Strength, and Innovation with Kelley Hoven | Ep 86 29:31

2M ago29:31

29:31

In this episode of Scaling the Gap, host Madeleine MacRae welcomes Kelley Hoven, Brand President of Gatsby Glass, an emerging powerhouse in the glass solutions industry. With more than 30 years in sales and marketing, including 24 years in franchising, Kelley brings a rare blend of corporate acumen, entrepreneurial grit, and deep insight into what …

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Still Turning Heads at 250: Jane Austen’s Enduring Charm 54:30

2M ago54:30

54:30

In the year of Jane Austen’s 250th birthday, this lively and thought-provoking discussion explores her life, legacy, and literary brilliance — her novels are charming, sure, but also radical, political, witty, and entertaining. Presented in partnership with the State Library of NSW, this event brings together Kate Evans and Cassie McCullagh with Sc…

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Windows Into the Future with Rick Locke | Ep 85 26:50

2M ago26:50

26:50

In this episode of Scaling the Gap, host Madeleine MacRae welcomes Rick Locke, CEO and industry leader in the fenestration space, who scaled his business from a single location to nine across five states, generating more than $60 million in annual revenue. Rick opens up about the lessons he carried from the corporate world into small business owner…

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Superstar children's author Andy Griffiths reviews! Plus, Omar Musa's Fierceland and Geoff Dyer's Homework 54:06

2M ago54:06

54:06

Australian poet, artist, hip hop musician and author, Omar Musa, tells a story of Australia and Borneo, forests and fathers, in his new novel Fierceland. An American saga of love, war, and complicated families in Patrick Ryan’s Buckeye, and experimental British author Geoff Dyer returns with Homework, a look back on his childhood and coming of age …

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Franchise Isn’t Just About Systems, It’s About People with Thomas Scott | Ep 84 33:51

2M ago33:51

33:51

In this episode of Scaling the Gap, host Madeleine MacRae sits down with franchise leader and lifelong entrepreneur Thomas Scott, founder of Home Run Franchises. With over 20 years of experience scaling businesses and empowering franchisees, Thomas shares his remarkable journey from a newspaper journalist in New Orleans to running three rapidly gro…

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Greyhounds, dark academia and an Amish community in new fiction by Toni Jordan, R.F. Kuang and Ron Rindo 54:35

2M ago54:35

54:35

An Australian story of the tender, eager lives of greyhounds and their owners in Tenderfoot by Australian author Toni Jordan. Dark academia in Yellowface author R.F. Kuang’s new fantasy novel, Katabasis. Sport, miracles, and the Amish, in Ron Rindo’s Life, and Death, and Giants. BOOKS Toni Jordan, Tenderfoot, Hachette R.F. Kuang, Katabasis, Harper …

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How Decluttering Your Life Clears the Path to Success with Bruce Kozak | Ep. 83 36:31

3M ago36:31

36:31

In this episode of Scaling the Gap, Madeleine MacRae speaks with Bruce Kozak, co-founder of Bin There, Dump That, a residential dumpster rental franchise. After getting laid off from his job in the steel industry, Bruce and his wife, Loy, decided to start a business that helps people clear out clutter during major life changes like downsizing, divo…

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A simmering summer in Greece, rare snails, dystopia with a twist: new fiction by Amy Taylor, Leif Enger and Maria Reva 54:37

3M ago54:37

54:37

The Bookshelf continues to explore new fiction, beginning in this episode with Ruins by Amy Taylor, a plunge into holiday chaos during a simmering summer in Greece. Maria Reva’s Endling takes us to Ukraine, where an eccentric scientist is breeding rare snails. And, Leif Enger’s I Cheerfully Refuse...dystopia with a twist. BOOKS Amy Taylor, Ruins, A…

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How to Build a Legacy That Outlasts the Business with Jeremy Owens | Ep 82 37:01

3M ago37:01

37:01

In this episode of Scaling the Gap, host Madeleine MacRae sits down with Jeremy Owens, third-generation contractor and founder of US Construction Zone, for a powerful conversation on redefining success, reclaiming your time, and building a legacy that lasts beyond business. Jeremy shares how growing up in a multi-generational remodeling family shap…

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AI in America, a kidnapping in Corsica, the transformative power of boxing: books by Gary Shteyngart, Darrow Farr, and Lucas Schaefer 54:36

3M ago54:36

54:36

Kate and Cassie discuss Vera, or Faith, Gary Shteyngart’s new novel about a ten-year-old Korean-American girl growing up in a dystopian United States. Alongside guest critics, they also look at The Bombshell by Darrow Farr, which traces the radicalisation of a young French woman in Corsica, and The Slip by Lucas Schaefer, the story of a missing tee…

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Ten Businesses in Ten Years: The Vision That Launched a Legacy with Klay Hafeez | Ep 81 33:26

3M ago33:26

33:26

In this episode of Scaling the Gap, host Madeleine MacRae sits down with Klay Hafeez, a former oil and gas engineer turned multi-franchise owner, for a powerful conversation about identity, risk, grit, and building a legacy from scratch. Klay’s journey is anything but ordinary. He grew up in a culture where entrepreneurship wasn’t the norm, but he …

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People turning into trees, mythical rivers rising...new novels by Rhett Davis and Gurnaik Johal (plus, Irish fiction with Colm Tóibín) 59:25

3M ago59:25

59:25

Australian author Rhett Davis re-imagines the everyday in his novels. In his latest, Arborescence, ordinary people begin transforming into trees. Is it a cult? Performance art? Or something else entirely? Also on the show: Guest reviewer Roanna Gonsalves discusses Saraswati, the debut novel by Gurnaik Johal, which winds its narrative around a sacre…

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Why Seeing Others’ Gifts May Be Your Greatest Gift with Rob White | Ep 80 37:36

3M ago37:36

37:36

Many leaders focus on skills, but Rob White built his career on purpose, passion, and a belief in serving others. In this heartfelt episode, host Madeleine MacRae sits down with Rob, Brand President at Monster Tree Service, to unpack how values-driven leadership, a love for small business, and the courage to follow divine direction can lead to endu…

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2025 Miles Franklin Literary Award assessed 54:06

3M ago54:06

54:06

A critical assessment of the shortlist and winner of Australia’s most prestigious literary award, The Miles Franklin Literary Award. Kate and Cassie are joined by guests, scholar and literary biographer (and former judge of the MFLA) Bernadette Brennan; and critic and publisher, Geordie Williamson. BOOKS Brian Castro, Chinese Postman, Giramondo Mic…

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Why Humble Leadership Builds Trust with Jeremy Morgan | Scaling the Gap Ep 79 40:30

4M ago40:30

40:30

In this episode of Scaling the Gap, host Madeleine MacRae sits down with Jeremy Morgan, Group President at Horsepower Brands, to explore how hands-on leadership, lived experience, and leading with influence can transform your business and your legacy. Jeremy shares his unconventional journey from broke college student running a painting franchise t…

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Parties, scandals, sex, love: new novels by Nell Zink, Amy Bloom and the controversial James Frey 54:06

4M ago54:06

54:06

Parties, scandals, sex, love, families, friendship, death – these books have, as they say, all the things. Nell Zink’s Sister Europe moves through one night in Berlin, while Amy Bloom’s I’ll Be Right Here sweeps through 80 years of history, and in James Frey’s Next to Heaven, the beautiful and rich fall apart rather spectacularly. BOOKS Nell Zink, …

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Why Delegation is Your Growth Multiplier with John Nieuewenburg | Scaling the Gap Ep 78 43:34

4M ago43:34

43:34

If you’re great at your craft but feel like running your business is the hardest part, you’re not alone. In this episode, Madeleine MacRae welcomes seasoned business coach John Nieuwenburg, who specializes in helping small business owners make the leap from “technician” to true CEO. John works with tradespeople and professionals who’ve mastered the…

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New Australian crime + hungry ghosts and a great white whale 59:00

4M ago59:00

59:00

Stories of the sea – and a great white whale in Xiaolu Guo's Call Me Ishmaelle; Hungry ghosts and kitchen mishaps in Daria Lavelle's NYC set novel Aftertaste; and the latest Australian crime fiction (of which there is a lot!) BOOKS AUSTRALIAN CRIME FICTION:  Mark Brandi, Eden Paul Daley, The Leap Sam Guthrie, The Peak Angie Faye Martin, Melaleuca M…

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Culture, Humility & Leading Without the Ego with David Balkan | Scaling the Gap Ep 77 27:21

4M ago27:21

27:21

In this episode of Scaling the Gap, host Madeleine MacRae welcomes David Balkan, a veteran entrepreneur who spent the last 40+ years growing his family’s plumbing company into New York City’s largest house sewer and water service line contractor. But what makes David’s story compelling isn’t just the scale of the business—it’s the transformation be…

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Sydney Writer's Festival: The State of the Art of the Novel 54:06

4M ago54:06

54:06

What’s the state of fiction today? Four brilliant minds—Samantha Harvey (UK), Rumaan Alam (USA), Torrey Peters (USA), and Robbie Arnott (AUS)—tackle the question live at the 2025 Sydney Writers’ Festival. Expect bold takes, big ideas, and a few surprises.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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How Losing A Job Led to Buying It: Matt Cobb’s Story | Scaling the Gap Ep 76 33:18

4M ago33:18

33:18

What if the business that fired you ended up being your biggest blessing? In this episode of Scaling the Gap, host Madeleine MacRae sits down with Matt Cobb, co-owner of Southern Traditions Window Fashions, for a conversation that hits every note: grit, failure, rebuilding, and leading with purpose. Matt shares his unconventional journey: laid off …

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Mystery in new fiction from Ben Okri, Sameer Pandya and Anjet Daanje 54:06

4M ago54:06

54:06

The same question is at the heart of three very different international novels on The Bookshelf this week, “What really happened”… To a WWI soldier who has forgotten his name and identity in The Remembered Soldier by Dutch author Anjet Daanje? To a fortune teller for the elite class in Ben Okri’s Madame Sosostris and the Festival for the Broken-hea…

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Is Money Still Your Measure of Success? | Scaling the Gap Ep 75 26:08

4M ago26:08

26:08

What does success really mean to you? In this episode, host Madeleine MacRae breaks format and flies solo to share a raw, deeply personal reflection on what it truly takes to scale, not just your business, but yourself. If you've ever felt like you should be further along by now or questioned whether the struggle is worth it, this episode is for yo…

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Sweat, sport and sharp Australian satire; And the 2025 International Booker Prize winner 54:06

5M ago54:06

54:06

What would make a great Australian sporting novel? Our guests discuss translating the love of the game, footy nicknames, and intense team culture in ex-AFL player Brandon Jack’s Pissants. And making sport of the Melbourne literary scene, Dominic Amarena’s debut novel I Want Everything is a clever, celebratory satire. Kate and Cassie also review the…

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Chris Robinson: The 7 Steps That Shatter Complacency | Scaling the Gap Ep 74 33:42

5M ago33:42

33:42

We all know complacency when we see it in others—but what about when it’s hiding in our own routines, masked as success? It’s easy for leaders to mistake comfort for progress—until a harsh wake-up call reveals just how far they've drifted from their drive. So, how do you reignite your hunger for growth when success starts to feel… safe? In this epi…

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Popular fiction across space and time, and queer bush doof thriller in Thomas Vowles' Our New Gods 54:05

5M ago54:05

54:05

The latest best-selling novels from Taylor Jenkins-Reid (Atmosphere) and Fredrik Backman (My Friends) explore 1980s astronauts, ambition and romance; and teenage anguish, friendship and art. Emotive and cinematic, how often is popular fiction written for the screen? Speaking of the screen, screenwriter Thomas Vowles’ debut novel Our New Gods takes …

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Start Before You’re Ready: Scaling Through The Chaos with Todd Green | Scaling the Gap Ep 73 31:16

5M ago31:16

31:16

So many entrepreneurs hit pause, waiting for all the pieces to fall into place before they take action—but that pause can come at the cost of real momentum. What if the secret to success is just getting started, even when things feel a little messy? In this episode of Scaling the Gap, host Madeleine MacRae sits down with Todd Green, president of Pr…

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Reading James Joyce's Ulysses for Bloomsday (and new fiction galore) 1:00:00

5M ago1:00:00

1:00:00

A guide to James Joyce from Irish writer Mary Morrissy, ahead of Bloomsday (16 June); New Zealand writer Becky Manawatu continues to explore howls of pain and compassion in her second novel, Kataraina; and magic realism in the boundaries between life and death, and Eastern Europe, in Helen Marshall's The Lady, the Tiger and the Girl Who Loved Death…

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Craig Ceccarelli: Scaling with Integrity in a Cutthroat Industry | Ep 72 33:16

5M ago33:16

33:16

Is cutting corners the only way to get ahead in business? Plenty of people think so—chasing quick wins and flashy success while leaving their values behind. But some entrepreneurs choose a different path. They stay grounded, play the long game, and still come out on top. In this episode of Scaling the Gap, host Madeleine MacRae welcomes Craig Cecca…

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New fiction from Gail Jones, S A Cosby and Seán Hewitt 54:06

5M ago54:06

54:06

Fiction from all over the world, crossing genres, borders and ideas in American crime writer S A Cosby's King of Ashes, a gripping tale of family, smoke, and fire; Irish writer Sean Hewitt’s Open, Heaven, a beautifully woven story about longing, escape and memory; and, first up, The Name of the Sister, the latest from acclaimed Australian literary …

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Zac Palmer: Why Success Without Fulfillment is Failure | Ep 71 32:09

5M ago32:09

32:09

What if everything you’ve been told about success is wrong? You’re crushing your goals, hitting your targets—maybe even making more money than ever. So why does it still feel like something’s missing? In this episode of Scaling the Gap, host Madeleine MacRae sits down with Zac Palmer, renowned sales and persuasion strategist, who’s personally drive…

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A vibrant gay coming-of-age story set in Geraldton 54:04

6M ago54:04

54:04

Kate and Cassie read W.A. writer Holden Sheppard's King of Dirt, a vibrant, gay coming-of-age story set in Geraldton. Plus, Australian author Jennifer Mills' new one, Salvage, in which we enter a very well drawn post apocalyptic Mad Max-ish world; and, Florence Knapp's The Names has been named one of the most anticipated fiction releases of the yea…

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Turn Failure Into Fuel: A Franchise Founder’s Comeback Story with Steven Livingston | Ep 70 35:14

6M ago35:14

35:14

Are you feeling stuck in your career, yearning for something more but unsure how to make the leap? You're not alone. Many people dream of entrepreneurial success but struggle to break free from the golden handcuffs of corporate life. In this episode of Scaling the Gap, host Madeleine MacRae chats with Steven Livingston, a self-proclaimed "corporate…

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Sydney Writers' Festival: Top 100 Books launched with Alan Hollinghurst, Catherine Chidgey, Mariana Enriquez, Afra Atiq 55:06

6M ago55:06

55:06

What books have shaped the 21st century so far? Recorded live at the 2025 Sydney Writers’ Festival, literary heavyweights Catherine Chidgey (NZ), Mariana Enriquez (Argentina), and Alan Hollinghurst (UK) swap favourites, challenge conventions, and dive into the fiction and non-fiction that’s made a mark—and sparked debate.…