S03E13 | Nick Swifte from Swift Media - Does your business have a place advertising in mass media? How the digital revolution is creating more access for businesses advertising in media

Nick Swifte is an advertising, marketing and media professional with more than 25 years’ experience, including senior leadership roles overseeing State and Federal Government behaviour change campaigns. From negotiating national media agreements and managing teams of 60+ people, to securing “Outstanding” Federal Government rate outcomes, Nick has operated at the highest levels of media strategy, investment and procurement. Today, as Founder of Swifty Media, he helps organisations — including RSL Victoria, Crime Stoppers and Starbucks Australia — navigate the modern media landscape with smarter, more accessible advertising solutions.

In this episode, Nick breaks down whether mass media still has a place for growing businesses — and how the digital revolution has actually lowered the barrier to entry. He unpacks the myths around TV, radio and large-scale campaigns, explains how strategic media planning drives behaviour change, and shares practical insights for business owners considering stepping beyond social media into broader, high-impact channels.

🌐 Learn more: swiftymedia.com.au
🌐 Join the VBC Community: veteranbc.com/join-our-community

#VBC #VBCPodcast #VeteranBusinessCommunity #VeteranOwnedBusiness #VeteranBusiness #MediaStrategy #MassMedia #DigitalAdvertising #VeteranNetwork #BusinessGrowth #MarketingLeadership

Fresh drop!

S03E12 | Miriam Kent - Gallipoli Medical research - What is it, what do they do and why is it important.

Miriam Kent is the CEO of Gallipoli Medical Research, a not-for-profit advancing veteran health and wellbeing through world-class research. With a career spanning senior leadership roles in both Australia and the UK — including Brisbane City Council, The Body Shop, Marks & Spencer, and the Brisbane Economic Development Agency — Miriam brings deep experience in strategy, operations, and delivering meaningful impact at scale.

In this episode, Miriam shares insights from a 2025 Boss X International visit to the Australian Army’s Rifle Company Butterworth in Malaysia. She reflects on the physical and mental demands Reservists face daily, and how these skills translate into civilian workplaces. From experiencing the weight of military gear firsthand to understanding the resilience built in service, she explores how recognising everyday military commitment can shape support for veterans in business and beyond.

🌐 Learn more: https://gallipoliresearch.org.au

🌐 Join the VBC Community: veteranbc.com/join-our-community

#VBC #VBCPodcast #VeteranBusinessCommunity #VeteranOwnedBusiness #VeteranBusiness #VeteranHealth #MedicalResearch #VeteranWellbeing #Leadership #ADF #Reservists #MilitaryToCivilian

New Episode Drop!

S03E11 | The most important pod to date - Michelle Creevey - why veteran procurement matters to Australia

Michelle Creevey is a supply chain and procurement leader with nearly two decades of experience delivering high-value outcomes across complex and highly regulated industries. As Founder of Purpose Procurement, she helps organisations in defence, infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and technology design human-centric procurement strategies that strengthen supply chains, boost sovereign capability, and create measurable social and economic impact.

In this episode, Michelle shares insights from her career at Boeing Defence Australia — including architecting the award-winning social procurement strategy that grew Indigenous business spend from $3,945 to over $98 million. She explores how human-centred procurement, inclusive sourcing, and strong supplier relationships can turn intent into action, while also reflecting on her family’s proud military heritage and the values that underpin her leadership.

🌐 Learn more: https://www.purposeprocurement.com.au

🌐 Join the VBC Community: veteranbc.com/join-our-community

#VBC #VBCPodcast #VeteranBusinessCommunity #VeteranOwnedBusiness #VeteranBusiness #SocialProcurement #SupplyChain #DefenceIndustry #InclusiveSourcing #SovereignCapability #Leadership #Impact

New Episode drop!

S03E10 | Aaron Drew - Imperium engineering - How to harness Absolute Power. From firing Harpoon missiles on Australian frigates to leading a world class electrical engineering company fusing design, construction and software.

Aaron Drew joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1991 as a 17-year-old apprentice, serving 16 years across WA-based ships as a Missile and Gun Fire Control operator and maintainer. Spending more than 11 years at sea, including deployments to Iraq, Aaron built his career in high-risk, high-reliability environments where precision and accountability mattered.

After transitioning out of the Navy, Aaron studied Electrical Engineering before moving into the mining, oil & gas, and power sectors. He has since founded and operated multiple engineering businesses, culminating in Imperium Engineering and the development of Total-Ex, a world-leading software platform improving safety, compliance, and operational performance in hazardous industries. Proud father of two, husband, and dog-dad to two American Staffies, Aaron brings a veteran’s discipline into modern engineering and technology leadership.

🌐 Learn more: https://imperiumeng.com.au

🌐 Join the VBC Community: veteranbc.com/join-our-community

#VBC #VBCPodcast #VeteranBusinessCommunity #VeteranOwnedBusiness #VeteranBusiness #VeteranFounder #EngineeringLeadership #DefenceToIndustry #Mining #OilAndGas #SafetySystems

Fresh Pod Drop!

S03E09 | Marcus Nyholm from Live Financial planning - Your finances are an ecosystem. Why your financial advisor needs to be one of your inner circle.

Marcus Nyholm is a financial adviser and founder of Live Financial Planning, a practice built around clear, practical advice without unnecessary complexity. He began his career in financial services in his early 20s, completing his Certified Financial Planner (CFP) qualification before joining Victoria Police in 2006. Alongside his policing career, Marcus served in the Australian Army Reserve and later spent 14 years with the 1st Commando Regiment, including operational deployments to Timor-Leste and Afghanistan.

In this episode, Marcus shares why his philosophy is that “freedom is the new rich” and how smart financial planning creates options, not restrictions. He unpacks the unique financial complexity veterans and emergency services members face — from DVA and military super to business ownership — and explains how simplifying decisions, aligning assets, and planning with intent can create long-term security and genuine freedom.

🌐 Learn more: https://livefinancialplanning.com.au

🌐 Join the VBC Community: veteranbc.com/join-our-community

#VBC #VBCPodcast #VeteranBusinessCommunity #VeteranOwnedBusiness #VeteranBusiness #FinancialFreedom #VeteranFinance #EmergencyServices #BusinessOwners #FreedomIsTheNewRich

🎙 New Episode Drop!

S03E08 | Clint Rahe - peak performances doesn't just apply to elite athletes and teams - it's there for all of us. Tune in to get some basic hacks from an expert on how to deliver at your best

Clint Rahe is a former Royal Air Force Physical Training Instructor with 12 years’ service, working with fast-jet pilots, frontline squadrons, and special operations teams. After military service, he supported elite professional sports teams, including Premier League football clubs, Super League rugby teams, and national-level athletes. Today, as founder of The Performance Edge and author of The Cognitive Athlete, Clint translates military and elite performance, resilience, and recovery principles into practical tools for sustainable success without burnout.

Clint highlights a key insight for veterans: many underestimate how transferable their skills really are. Decision-making under pressure, leadership without authority, adaptability, resilience, and recovery are learned through experience, not classrooms. Sharing our stories and translating these skills into civilian language doesn’t just help others—it builds businesses, creates impact, and shortens learning curves for the next generation.

🌐 Learn more: theperformanceedge.com.au

🌐 Join the VBC Community: veteranbc.com/join-our-community

#VBC #VBCPodcast #VeteranBusinessCommunity #VeteranOwnedBusiness #VeteranBusiness #Resilience #Leadership #Performance #EliteAthlete #TransitionSkills #TheCognitiveAthlete #VeteranEntrepreneur

S03E07 | Dan Fussell - From firing live artillery in Afghanistan to teach corporate leadership through Adventure training. Come and see why Dan believes people don't rise to the moment, they fall to their highest level of training.

Dan Fussell is a former Australian Army officer with 14 years’ service, including operational deployments to Afghanistan as a Gun Line Troop Commander and Joint Fires Team Commander. After witnessing firsthand the pressures soldiers face on operations, Dan became deeply involved in adventurous training, using controlled exposure to fear, stress, and uncertainty to build resilience and leadership. Today, as Managing Director of Keltus, he delivers experiential learning programs that help individuals and organisations perform under pressure through deliberate, practical resilience training.

In this episode, Dan shares why resilience doesn’t end when the uniform comes off — it just becomes easier to neglect. From leaving the Army to building Keltus while living on the road with a young family, Dan unpacks how performance under pressure still demands intentional practice. Whether leading soldiers, staff, or yourself as a founder, his message is clear: you don’t rise to the occasion — you fall back on your training, and resilience must be continually earned.

🎧 Listen to the full episode:

🌐 Learn more: https://www.keltus.au

🌐 Join the VBC Community: veteranbc.com/join-our-community

#VBC #VBCPodcast #VeteranBusinessCommunity #VeteranOwnedBusiness #VeteranBusiness #ResilienceTraining #ExperientialLearning #HighPerformance #VeteranOwned #LeadershipUnderPressure

New pod release!

S03E06 | James Middleton - From managing the air warfare battle space in the Middle East to ethical leadership.

James Middleton is a former Royal Australian Air Force Air Battle Manager and Mission Commander on the E-7A Wedgetail, with nearly two decades of leadership experience across military operations and the defence industry. Serving at No. 2 Squadron, James led and mentored mission-ready teams across multiple deployments before transitioning into industry, where he has delivered complex capability development and leadership programs for organisations of all sizes. His work centres on building resilient, high-performing teams grounded in values and purpose.

In this episode, James explores purpose-driven leadership and why veterans often excel in business — but can struggle to scale purpose beyond the founder. He shares how behaviours, systems, and daily practices create genuine connection to purpose, enabling better decision-making, innovation, and resilience when it matters most. Drawing on lived experience, James challenges leaders — particularly in defence industry — to reconnect with the true purpose of their work and build organisations that perform sustainably without constant top-down motivation.

🌐 Learn more: ethiclead.com.au

🌐 Join the VBC Community: veteranbc.com/join-our-community

#VBC #VBCPodcast #VeteranBusinessCommunity #VeteranOwnedBusiness #VeteranBusiness #VeteranLeadership #PurposeDriven #DefenceIndustry #LeadershipDevelopment #HighPerformanceTeams #VeteranBusiness