EXECS WHO RUN

Simon Feldman’s story is not a typical Execs Who Run conversation. A founding partner in one of Australia’s largest retail groups, his life imploded after he embezzled $16.7 million and was sentenced to six and a half years in prison. What followed was a brutal reckoning with consequences, identity, and the long, messy process of rebuilding. In this conversation, Simon opens up about how the colla...

Scott Pugh has spent the past 15 years building teams and markets across Asia, most recently as the GM of APAC for Figma. Outside the office, he’s obsessed with some of the toughest endurance challenges in the region — including Hong Kong’s infamous 298-kilometre Four Trails Ultra Challenge. In this conversation, Scott opens up about the moment he told himself he “couldn’t run”, how he rewired tha...

Luke Carlson has spent two decades mastering performance — in business and in running. As the founder and CEO of Discover Strength, a 30-plus-location fitness company built around evidence-based strength training, Luke’s leadership philosophy is as structured as his marathon build-ups. A former NFL strength coach turned entrepreneur, he’s now chasing a sub-three-hour marathon at age 45, while runn...

Jess Baird Walsh has turned a simple 30-day challenge into an extraordinary streak of over 1,150 consecutive days of running — and she’s not stopping until she raises $1 million for the Indigenous Marathon Foundation. A leader in AI and innovation, startup founder, and mother of three, Jess brings the same consistency, grit, and self-accountability to her career that she does to the road. In this...

When a rockstar turns 50 and runs his first marathon, and his coach breaks a world record in a suit — this is what happens next. What happens when two very different runners cross the same finish line — one in a three-piece suit, the other five days after his 50th birthday? In this Execs Who Run bonus episode, Jason Hunt and Tim Minchin sit down to relive the Melbourne Marathon. Jason shares what...

Ned Phillips has sold horse manure door-to-door, run companies across Asia, and now runs Backyard Ultras for fun — the kind where you loop 6.7 kilometres every hour until everyone else quits. The British-born entrepreneur and former CEO turned solopreneur has built and lost multimillion-dollar startups, led with empathy through failure, and found joy in suffering. In this conversation, Jason and N...

Tim Minchin — comedian, composer, lyricist, actor, and accidental marathon trainee — shares the story of how running has been a thread through every stage of his life. From childhood asthma in Perth, to Melbourne’s struggling artist years, through the highs of Matilda , the heartbreak of Larrikins , and his current build-up to the Melbourne Marathon, Tim reflects on how running has given him resil...

Phoebe Pincus — COO of Startmate, co-founder of Cheeky Run Club, and marathon runner — joins Execs Who Run to share how running has transformed her approach to life and leadership. From ocean swims in Bronte to the cultural boom of run clubs post-COVID, Phoebe shows how running can be more than exercise — it can reshape identity, community, and confidence. In this episode, we explore: Why her Alwa...

Xavier Shay joins Execs Who Run to explore how software engineering, executive leadership, and distance running all thrive on structure, systems, and sustained effort. From his time scaling Square in the U.S. to leading innovation at Bendigo Bank, Xavier brings deep insight into building cultures that work—and staying grounded through running. 🔑 Key Moments in This Episode: Accidentally signing u...

In this inspiring conversation, Catriona McGregor—General Counsel and executive leader at Domain—shares her remarkable journey through law, leadership, motherhood, scuba diving, and ultramarathon running. Key Moments in This Episode: Growing up in Scotland and England, and her winding path into law How scuba diving in Fiji and the Galápagos shaped her spirit of adventure Moving to Sydney and build...

The world record for fastest marathon in a suit is 2:39. Soh Rui Yong owns it. Jason Hunt wants it. In this unforgettable episode, record-holder meets record-chaser in a conversation full of tactics, heatstroke, fashion, and mindset. If you've ever chased something ambitious—and maybe a little absurd—this is for you. Key Moments in This Episode: How Jason’s Guinness goal was sparked by a chance co...

Rick Baker, co-founder of Blackbird Ventures, joins Jason to share his remarkable journey from startup founder to visionary investor, including early investments in Canva. Rick also reveals how he's harnessing AI as his personal running coach, bringing discipline and joy into his daily routine. Jason also shares an exciting update about his upcoming world record attempt—running the Sydney Marathon...

Marie “Lootie” Leautey ran around the world. Over 28,000 kilometers. Four continents. One stroller. Zero injuries. In this episode of Execs Who Run, Lootie shares how she went from a pack-a-day smoker to the fastest woman to circumnavigate the globe on foot—solo and self-supported. Her story is one of radical reinvention, powered by spreadsheets, strategy, and a deep curiosity about what’s possibl...

Former Wallabies star Ben Alexander shares the unfiltered truth of life after elite sport—and how running helped him rediscover his energy, identity, and purpose. Key Moments in This Episode: How Ben got selected for the Wallabies after just 6 Brumbies games The mental and emotional collapse after the 2013 Lions series The pain of identity loss—and why it haunted him for years The unexpected power...

Clive Ormerod has led some of the most exciting brands in Australasia—but at his core, he’s a man who finds his best thinking on the run. In this episode, Clive joins Jason to talk about his unique journey from aspiring pilot to retail entrepreneur, Nike marketing leader, Les Mills CEO, and now global CEO of AS Colour. With stories from New Zealand, the UK, South Africa, and beyond, Clive shares t...

Tim Dettmann is on a mission to make Australia healthier—one lift, one run, and one conversation at a time. In this insightful and inspiring episode, Tim shares how he evolved from rural physio to health business builder, global marathon runner, and thoughtful advocate for equitable exercise access. Whether it’s leadership, fitness, or finding your limits, this episode is full of energy and wisdom...

Mia Farrow’s life is the ultimate endurance story—civil war survivor, immigrant, banker, mother, and mountain runner. From sprinting in her brother’s shoes through war-torn Serbia to conquering Aconcagua’s icy heights, Mia shares how running shaped her resilience and how motherhood deepened her purpose. Key Moments in This Episode: Growing up during the Yugoslav Wars and training on rubble tracks...

Commodore Peter Scott ’s journey from submarine commander to mountain ultrarunner is as bold as it is inspiring. In this episode, Peter reveals how a life of deep-sea leadership transformed into a pursuit of ultra-distance endurance—and what it taught him about service, sacrifice, and self-mastery. Key Moments in This Episode: - What it takes to earn submarine command in the Navy’s elite training...

Heather Hawkins faced ovarian cancer at 41 and transformed her toughest moment into a remarkable journey of resilience, adventure, and advocacy. In this deeply moving conversation, Heather shares the story of how running helped her reclaim life, conquer incredible global challenges, and raise powerful awareness for ovarian cancer. Key Moments in This Episode: Heather’s transformative cancer diagno...

Roger Hanney isn’t just a runner—he’s a force of nature. As the man behind HOKA’s rise in Australia and New Zealand , Roger helped turn an obscure, oversized shoe into one of the most trusted names in running. From battling early industry scepticism to watching the big brands follow suit ( looking at you, Nike ), he’s lived the brand’s growth from the inside out. But Roger’s story doesn’t stop at...

Michael Batko has never taken the traditional path. From working as a hotel entertainer in Greece to becoming a kickboxing runner-up in Austria, his early life was fuelled by curiosity, energy, and a desire to connect with people. That mindset carried through to a global career in consulting and finance—before he made the leap into Australia’s startup scene. After helping scale MadPaws and Expert3...

Left in Australia at 15 to pursue a better future, Ayesha Razzaq built a career leading major transformation at Energy Queensland —all while conquering the Six World Marathon Majors and raising over $75,000 for the Indigenous Marathon Foundation . Ayesha knows what it means to step outside her comfort zone. Growing up as a diplomat’s daughter, she moved between countries, but nothing prepared her...

What happens when you take an entrepreneurial mindset, a passion for problem-solving, and a desire to push boundaries? You get Robert Fowler—a cybersecurity leader who’s spent his career tackling complex challenges, both in business and on the run. At just 17, Robert co-founded a million-dollar computer business before transitioning to cybersecurity at Tyson Foods, a company that runs deep in his...

In the very first episode of Execs Who Run Jason sits down with Ben Kepes – Managing Director of Cactus Outdoor, professional company director, technology industry analyst, volunteer firefighter, paramedic, furniture maker, and ultra marathon runner. “The way to do well in running – and in life – is to just keep going. One foot in front of the other.” – Ben Kepes In this episode: [00:00:00] Introd...

Welcome to Execs Who Run! This trailer introduces the heart of the podcast—unscripted conversations with senior leaders who lace up and hit the road. Host Jason Hunt shares the mission behind the podcast and what you can expect from future episodes, including: Real stories of resilience, balance, and growth from leaders who run. Insights into how running shapes clarity, leadership, and mental heal...