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Viv's journey into the spotlight as a gift wrapping expert is a remarkable one. Initially met with scepticism, she transformed what many see as a frivolous skill into a source of joy and excitement. As she notes, “You have to be comfortable within your own skin that what you have to say has some value.” This self-acceptance is crucial, especially in a world that often prioritizes more traditional...

Wine Chats: What gives a podcast the X factor? Great chemistry, honest conversation and the willingness to keep showing up. Wine Chats hosts Billi Milovanovic and Lyndsey Kirkwood join Nic Hayes on #TheExpertsPodcast for a behind-the-scenes look at building a podcast from scratch. What began with Billi’s personal blog became a conversation between two friends whose chemistry was already well teste...

This episode dives deep into the challenges small business owners face and the crucial role they play in our economy. Gabe Enslin, a sought-after small business expert, reminds us that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are indeed the backbone of the Australian economy. They generate over fifty percent of the GDP and employ two-thirds of the workforce. Yet, Gabe emphasises a sobering reality: "If...

Mental health for men has been in the past a taboo subject, two Irishmen are changing this with a coffee and a bit of exercise. Dave Eccles and Tadhg Kennelly the founders of When No One's Watching (WNOW) share their story on The Experts podcast. The pandemic served as a catalyst, revealing the urgent need for connection and support among men. Tadhg explains how the isolation of losing his job led...

Beyond Canberra’s Political Bubble Canberra might be the centre of Australian politics, but it is also a city of tradies, teachers, business owners and families dealing with the same pressures as the rest of the country. In this episode of The Experts Podcast, Nic Hayes speaks with 2CC breakfast presenter Stephen Cenatiempo about the real Canberra, his unconventional journey into radio and why loc...

Why Earned Media Matters More Than Ever AI, fake experts and misinformation are reshaping the communications landscape. In this episode of The Experts Podcast, Nic Hayes speaks with leading PR strategist Trevor Young about the growing challenge of establishing trust and credibility in an increasingly artificial world. The Rise of Fake Experts Media outlets are receiving pitches featuring fake expe...

The Changing Media Game with Russel Howcroft The media landscape has changed dramatically, but one thing hasn’t: the battle for attention. This week on The Experts Podcast, Nic Hayes sits down with one of Australia’s most recognised advertising and media figures, Russel Howcroft, to unpack what has changed, what hasn’t and what it takes to build a brand in an increasingly fragmented media world. R...

Putting Children First A confronting story of lived experience, systemic failure and the fight to reform child protection. In this episode of The Experts Podcast, Nic Hayes sits down with child safety advocate and founder of the Child First Movement, Jason Blyth. Jason’s story is difficult, deeply personal and ultimately one of purpose. Having experienced abuse and the failures of the child protec...

Growth Isn’t Always Success What happens when a business grows fast, turns over more than $30 million and employs 140 people, but still struggles to pay the bills? In this episode of The Experts Podcast, Nic Hayes sits down with trades entrepreneur Kane Tyler Smith for a refreshingly open conversation about growth, profit, cash flow and learning some very expensive lessons. Kane started his appren...

Should Media Contributors Get Paid? Should experts and regular contributors be paid for appearing in the media? It is a debate that has been around for years, but Amanda Rose’s very public departure from her weekly spot on Seven’s Sunrise has put it firmly back on the agenda. This week on The Experts Podcast, Nic Hayes sits down with media professional and TV contributor Carmen Braidwood to ask wh...

A solo performance from Nic Hayes today on the frequently asked questions around the event #MeetTheMedia. The 2026 season of #MeetTheMedia kicks off in Brisbane and it is SOLD OUT. The other events in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide are filling up fast. The frequently asked questions around Media Stable's #MeetTheMedia go something like this: What is #MeetTheMedia? What was it designed to do...

Celebrating the Life of Derryn Hinch: The Human Headline Few figures have left a mark on Australian media quite like Derryn Hinch. For almost six decades, the New Zealand-born broadcaster, journalist, newspaper editor, television presenter and senator built a career on asking the difficult questions, challenging authority and fighting for those who couldn’t fight for themselves. Affectionately kno...

It is always fascinating when the media becomes the story. The departures of two of Australia’s biggest broadcast personalities, Karl Stefanovic from television and Kyle Sandilands from radio, have dominated headlines. Their every move is analysed, every rumour reported, but what happens once the spotlight begins to fade? Do they build something even bigger on their own? Do they continue to domina...

One of the true trailblazers in mental health, resilience and leadership joins us on The Experts Podcast this week. A man with lived experience who has dedicated much of his working life to helping leaders become better at what they do. His message starts with two simple but often overlooked skills: empathy and listening. Graeme Cowan is a founding director of R U OK?, a speaker, facilitator and m...

If you grew up in the 80s or 90s, you will recognise our next guest from her days on television. A pioneer for women in television hosting, she now finds herself waking up Queenslanders on breakfast radio. In her own words, television is still not completely out of the question. There may even be a campaign to bring back the role of Imogen Miller on Home and Away. Sofie Formica is a television ico...

Have you noticed that public figures are becoming a little freer with their language? The Leader of the Opposition labels the Prime Minister an "arrogant prick". The leader of One Nation calls a reporter a "bitch". The President of the United States, Donald Trump, drops the F-bomb during a press conference. Are we becoming a little too comfortable with profanity in public discourse? Communications...

The launch of a new season of The Experts always has to be special. I cannot help but feel we needed to dive deeper into the conversations started by Darryl Sparey of Hard Numbers and Simon Murphy from indigo murphy on the topic of GEO. Where it is going and are the days of SEO numbered? I felt after that podcast there were more questions than answers. In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape...

Overnights is one of the toughest shifts in radio. The hours are demanding, the talkback unpredictable, and the audience… occasionally unfiltered. It takes a skilled broadcaster to hold it all together and still deliver a compelling program. Our next guest does exactly that. Pat Panetta is a veteran of the Australian media landscape and the host of Australia Overnight. As Nic puts it, his voice is...

If you’ve ever dabbled in the dark arts of SEO, you’ll understand the frustration, time, money and effort poured into results that don’t always stack up. Now there’s a new force reshaping search: Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO); the system underpinning how AI and large language models deliver answers. Nic sits down with Darryl Sparey from Hard Numbers in the UK and Simon Murphy from indigo mu...

In this episode of #TheExpertsPodcast, we speak with Kathryn Taylor, CEO of EON Foundation—an organisation proving that location is no barrier to powerful storytelling and meaningful media impact. Working across some of the most remote communities in Australia, EON Foundation is transforming the health of First Nations Australians through practical, community-led initiatives. By focusing on growin...

If you work in the communications space or even just have a general interest in the mood and where media is at this moment, then the Medianet Landscape Report is a must read. Amrita Sidhu, Managing Director of Medianet joins us each year to discuss the findings, and while many won't be surprising, the trends and differences each make for a must-read.  Nic and Amrita dive into a few of the findings...

It wasn't that long ago we had this guest on the show for her last book, now, her new one is out in April called Only You; The unexpected gift of being alone. Dr Marny Lishman was only with us sixteen episodes ago with her book Crisis to Contentment and she's back with an absolute page turner. A true lived experience book, remarkably personal and a deep reflection of her own world where being alon...

The radio industry is highly competitive, and most broadcasters don't get the chance to part ways with their employer on their own accord (ask Kyle Sandilands). Our guest on The Experts podcast moved stations on his own terms and he couldn't be happier. Oliver Peterson was the Drive presenter on 6PR for 10 years before making the move to local rival ABC in the same role. Oli as he is affectionatel...

#Meet the Media: What Journalists Actually Want The #MeetTheMedia tour is locked in for 2026, with events across Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide. But what do journalists really get out of it? In this episode, Nic Hayes speaks with three experienced media professionals who attend the series—not just as journalists, but as participants looking for stories, talent and fresh voices. Jo...

This week on The Experts Podcast, former co-host Carmen Braidwood returns to unpack what may well be the LinkedIn post of the year and a conversation that has struck a nerve across the events industry. The topic? The ongoing practice of event organisers asking speakers, particularly women to appear on stage for free. With International Women’s Day on 10 March, calendars are filling with breakfasts...