Let's Just Start Podcast with Laura Racky and Christian Cunningham

What does it actually mean to “be yourself”? In this Weekend Edition, we explore the idea that much of modern life requires us to perform, at work, in relationships, and even with ourselves. From workplace behaviour to parenting to relationships, we explore the tension between authenticity and performance, and whether “being yourself” is actually useful advice at all. This episode examines: ​The c...

In this episode we discuss Australia’s economic reality, rich country, but in managed decline.  Also traditional career advice tells us to work hard, stay loyal, and success will follow, but in today’s environment, that model is increasingly outdated. We discuss what actually drives career progression, from the limits of competence alone to the importance of communication, positioning, and strateg...

This HEAVY Weekend Edition moves from energy security to tech layoffs to the justice system, and what all three reveal about how modern institutions actually behave. We start with Australia’s fuel situation and the strategic risk of relying on imported fuel while holding limited domestic reserves. Then we look at the growing wave of tech layoffs and ask whether AI is genuinely transforming product...

In this episode, we break down some of the most dangerous behaviours to spot in the workplace and why they matter more than most people realise. We talk about projection, gaslighting, white-anting, and the subtle ways people shape perception, undermine others, and shift accountability. There is also the bigger point that none of this matters if you are not willing to look hard at your own behaviou...

In this Weekend Edition, we start with the rapidly unfolding situation in Iran and what it could mean for global stability, oil prices, and Australia’s energy security. We talk through the strategic risks, why prolonged conflict would hurt everyone, and why Australia may be far less prepared than people realise. Then we shift gears into a much more positive conversation about leadership. We reflec...

Ep 47! This starts with the Kyle and Jackie O media controversy and turns into something much bigger. We tackle the grey zone between bullying and adult behaviour , why identity makes people cling to roles, and why modern culture has become allergic to nuance. Then we get practical on performance reviews , promotion strategy, and how to build leverage long before the meeting starts. We close with...

A new format - Let's Just Start Weekend Edition . Shorter episode on the biggest stories and what they mean for real life. In this episode we cover: Iran and analysis on why intervention, strategy, and regime change are never clean What the real drivers might be, beyond the public narrative Block cutting 4,000 jobs and why “AI” is a powerful headline The reality of visibility at work and the risk...

Some challenging stuff in Ep 45. Leaving a job without burning a bridge, one of the most confronting and important skills in professional life. We also talk about mass SaaS layoffs (WiseTech), tariffs, our 3 marriage agreements, guilt, loyalty, reputation, it's all there... In short: ​ How to resign and move on without torching relationships. ​Laura explains why leaving can feel personal, especial...

NEW STUDIO! Fun. We jump straight into three big buckets: health, developing people for 'great doers', and the psychological biases that quietly steer decisions at work. In no particular order: ​Fasting explained properly, not as a fad, but as a tool that needs context, timing, and discipline ​Autophagy in plain English, why the body starts recycling damaged cells, and why inflammation can drop wh...

In the final (probably) of the summer series, this is an excerpt from episode 27 focusing on two serious situations - increasing your authority at work, and dealing with bully bosses in the workplace. The phrases that build (or weaken) authority Confidence vs arrogance in leadership communication Handling “what about” people in meetings Creating ownership instead of issuing commands Protecting you...

In this episode, we tackle radical self-accountability, not as self-blame, but as an approach that can totally change your life. Even when something isn’t your fault, your reaction is still your responsibility. And when something is partly your fault (choices, omissions, patterns), refusing to face it stops you from learning the lessons it offers. This is an entirely new way to view the world, and...

This segment from Ep 17 runs through the 4 Hard Parts Of Senior Leadership No One Tells You About. But we will. There are parts of senior leadership that almost no one prepares you for, especially once real P&L responsibility lands on your desk. In this episode, we break down four hard truths about very senior leadership that most people only learn the painful way. First: you will always regre...

This segment from Ep 19 lays out a 12-step, values-intact roadmap to corporate success, not the Machiavellian version, but the version that actually works long-term. The framework starts with radical humility. Early in your career you know nothing, so your job is to learn, observe, volunteer, and absorb everything. From there, it moves into building relationships, finding mentors and sponsors, and...

This segment from Ep 18 was very popular. What happens when you set high personal standards in a world that increasingly rewards mediocrity. The discussion moves from “high performers at work” into something deeper. What message do you send yourself when you lower your standards to match those around you, at work, in relationships, or in everyday life? Using real examples, we tackle how constant e...

This segment from episode 10 was a popular one. Laura reviewed the book Nice Girls Don't Get The Corner Office by Dr. Lois Frankel about unconscious mistakes women make that sabotage their careers. The lived experience is that women can have it all, just not at all at once, and Laura reflected in this episode on how her perception of parenting and growing career had been jolted by reality. We&...

In this episode, Christian and Laura deal with one of the most controversial Australian policy debates: the under-16 social media ban. We agree that social platforms can be addictive and damaging for teenagers but argue the proposed ban is a blunt instrument that creates bigger downstream risks: privacy trade-offs, government overreach into parenting decisions, and the predictable “workaround econ...

This segment from Episode 5 on Laura Racky's Dopamine Playbook was EXTREMELY popular. Laura took the risk of being very open about her challenges with dopamine, executive dysfunction, and how she has built the structure to mitigate these challenges - albeit it is a battle that is never truly won. Christian and Laura get into this very challenging subject matter, and for many, this could be the...

3 Interview Questions that will change your team or business. The interview process - when you think about it - is a joke. 30 mins to 2 hours to understand someone enough to have them add to your culture? And for them to know enough about you to commit to yours? Here are three interview questions that can take some of the luck out of the process, and really get to the heart of what people are abou...

4 Signs you should quit your job was a VERY popular segment from Episode 9 where Christian and Laura went through the key signs it's time to leave your job. On Tiktok this clip had a couple of million views, perhaps at the time a lot of people were unhappy in their jobs. :) Less than 8 minutes, if you see these signs, it's time to find somewhere else. Find us here: Instagram: @letsjuststar...

This episode of Let's Just Start had a tough segment with Laura and Christian delving into reactions after Bondi. This topic is not for everyone, so please act accordingly. Our love to all effected by this horrendous situation. We discussed having pride in Australia again , after letting ourselves be worn down by naysayers. We also covered the jolt this event has caused, where empty rhetoric a...

End of year conversations don't have to be boring, and this one CERTAINLY isn't. In this episode of Let’s Just Start , Laura and Christian talk about what matters heading ending 2025, not resolutions, but compound behaviours. We talk negotiation beyond tactics (what to concede, when leverage matters), reading without pressure, and a bit on dopamine, momentum, and motivation. Christian leads a segm...

In this episode of Let’s Just Start , Laura and Christian cover a series of uncomfortable topics most people avoid saying out loud. We explore whether kids are born as they are, or shaped by parenting. How much influence do we really have on our kids? Why everyone is secretly making life up as they go, and knowing this is a kind of freedom. (or at least relief) The confronting idea that people are...

Segment from Episode 6: how to negotiate your salary in this LJS Moment That Matters. Getting a really good deal on salary is tricky business, and while some might say 'just leave' to make a big jump, we argue that you can plan ahead at your current employer and make yourself a great deal. Laura and Christian both agree that the negotiation begins WAY before the conversation, and here are some ide...

In today’s episode, we go from bikinis and burnout to organisation, timing, and trust. We break down the “ invisible string ” that connected our lives for years before we ever met — same streets, same orbits, same people — and some of the freakish signs the Universe sent us that we simply couldn't deny. Laura walks through the exact systems she uses to stay on top of hundreds of inputs a day:...

In this LJS Moment That Matters, we pull a high-impact conversation from Episode 4: the truth about staff equity. Christian argues for equity as a retention tool and an insurance policy for the founder, Laura breaks down the legal risks, shareholder oppression, and why even tiny shareholders can cause big problems. A sharp, honest look at the decision every growing business eventually faces. Find...