In this episode of Momentum Media's Contested Ground Podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant, Steve Kuper and Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson unpack the concept of sovereign industrial capability and its growing importance amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The trio explore how the idea of sovereignty has evolved from a defence-specific concept into a broader national priority, particularly as global supply chains face disruption and Australia confronts its structural dependencies.

They discuss the lack of a clear, shared definition of sovereign capability, and how misunderstandings persist even within defence and national security circles.

The conversation highlights the need for Australia to identify and secure critical capabilities domestically, ranging from fuel and logistics to data and cyber resilience.

The episode also reflects on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and questions whether Australia has made meaningful progress in strengthening self-reliance, or if it remains vulnerable to external shocks.

With rising geopolitical tensions and shifting global dynamics, the speakers consider whether the era of globalisation is reaching its limits.

These topics include engaging discussion across:

• The meaning (and ambiguity) of sovereign industrial capability in modern Australia.
• Lessons from COVID-19 and ongoing reliance on fragile global supply chains.
• The impact of geopolitical conflict on fuel security, logistics and economic stability.
• The challenge of building true national resilience versus shifting dependence.
• The role of political leadership and decision making in shaping sovereign capability.
• The effects of political fragmentation and polarisation on national security planning.
• Whether globalisation has reached its limits and the rise of nationalism.
• The practical components of sovereignty, including fuel, munitions, cyber resilience and industrial capacity.

Enjoy the podcast!

What does the war in Iran have to do with Australian housing? Potentially, everything.

In this bold episode of Momentum Media's Contested Ground Podcast, Phillip Tarrant, Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson and leading real estate commentator Tom Panos unpack one of the most overlooked questions in Australia right now: how escalating conflict in the Middle East could reshape the nation's property market.

From fuel prices, inflation and interest rates to rents, construction costs, investor confidence and housing supply, this is a serious attempt to connect global conflict with local property pain (or, maybe, opportunity). The conversation explores whether Australia's real estate market is resilient enough to withstand another major shock, what it means for home owners and investors, and why the consequences of war can hit far closer to home than many realise.

This is not just a discussion about foreign affairs. This podcast episode is sharp, original and one of the first serious efforts to examine how geopolitics could directly shape the future of Australian housing.

Enjoy the podcast!

Australia has long prided itself on being the "Lucky Country", celebrating a culture of "she'll be right" now that a national culture of apathy is biting at home as the world continues to burn.

As the war in the Middle East continues to rage by the day, Australia and Australians are beginning to feel the very real ramifications in our daily lives.

All of this comes as Australia's political leaders and policymakers continue to point fingers at one another for the respective failures over the past three decades that have all combined to leave Australia dangerously exposed to the shocks of the new multipolar world.

But these aren't the only challenges that are serving to leave Australia in a volatile, unpredictable position, as social cohesion, industrial and economic resilience and demographics combine to create a powder keg for both the public and its policymakers.

Contested Ground host Steve Kuper is joined by Ben Dullroy of Beaten Zone Venture Partners and Bravo Delta Advisory as they break down the combination of global and domestic factors shaping the nation's resilience, stability and security.

This conversation comes at a time when the public and private debate continues about who has failed the nation, were the ultimate costs of neoliberal hyperglobalisation worth it and can we pivot quickly enough to secure our economic, political and strategic interests?

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In this episode of Momentum Media's Broker Daily Uncut, host Julian Barnes is joined by Finni brokers Eva Loisance and Costa Arvanitopoulos to unpack the latest shifts across housing and lending.

The panel explores slowing price growth, affordability pressures, and changing buyer behaviour, as demand shifts toward more accessible property types and markets. They also touch on lender trends, serviceability challenges, and the growing role of non-majors.

Loisance, Arvanitopoulos, and Barnes then move on to examine the rise of sophisticated scams targeting borrowers, raising new concerns around trust and verification in an increasingly digital landscape.

Rounding things off, the trio looks at the lender market and which banks and non-banks are performing well from a broker's perspective.

On the episode of Momentum Media's Under The Hood podcast, host Imogen Wilson is joined in the studio by accounting practice coach, Amanda Gascoigne, to break down what it truly means to embody "better practice, better life".

Tune in to hear more about:

• Amanda's career journey and how she got to where she is today.
• Why coaches and mentors are key in helping practice owners achieve success.
• How the accounting industry has changed over the last 27 years.
• The benefits of reaching out for help.
• Amanda's key roles as part of the GST Stewardship Group and TPB Board.

Enjoy the podcast!

In this week's episode of Momentum Media's Business Accelerator, Alex Whitlock and Jason Back examine the hidden cost of neglected business hygiene, from outdated branding and inactive social channels to inconsistent messaging across platforms.

As consumer behaviour shifts from word-of-mouth discovery to word-of-mouth validation, they discuss why brokers are increasingly judged on what clients see online before making contact. Dormant LinkedIn profiles, stale websites, mismatched imagery, and fragmented branding can quietly erode trust, and you may never know you lost the deal.

The episode outlines how to conduct a practical business hygiene audit, assess whether your digital presence builds confidence, and decide which platforms genuinely deserve your focus.

Tune in to learn how tightening up the small details can protect credibility, support referrals, and ensure your business remains visible and relevant in 2026.

In this episode of the Momentum Media's Secrets of the Top 100 podcast, deputy editor Emilie Lauer sits down with Dr Diaswati Mardiasmo, chief economist at PRD, to discuss how real estate agents can harness data to grow their footprint.

Dr Mardiasmo unpacks how the explosion of accessible data has changed the balance of power between agents and consumers. Where market intelligence once came from industry knowledge, buyers and sellers now arrive armed with Google searches, artificial intelligence (AI) tools, and price trackers – meaning you need to be more accurate than ever.

The discussion examines how agents can differentiate themselves in a data-saturated market, with Mardiasmo arguing that value now lies in interpretation, crafting clear and credible narratives.

The episode also dives into the risks of oversimplification, the importance of data literacy across agencies, and why business data is critical for smarter resourcing and competitive strategy.

In this episode of Momentum Media's REB Business Empowerment Showcase, editor Liam Garman sits down with Lloyd Ernst, founder and CEO of Cloudstaff, for a deep dive into how principals and directors can build scalable, future-ready, and tech-enabled real estate businesses.

Ernst reflects on his business's journey, founding companies that have since become multinational, providing insight into how remote workforces that align with local culture and performance objectives are fundamental for growth in today's real estate market.

Ernst and Garman then dive into the challenges of building trust and accountability across offshore teams, how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping workflows, and why the next generation of agencies will operate more like tech-enabled service companies than traditional offices. They then explore how Cloudstaff helps companies do this securely, overseeing cyber risks and enabling staff to effectively support the business.

Finally, Ernst offers practical insights for principals on how to leverage remote teams of any size without losing control, quality, or brand integrity, and explains how Cloudstaff's tailored training ensures offshore staff can quickly integrate and contribute to business success.