Fear & Greed Q+A

Australian businesses recognise the enormous potential of artificial intelligence, but concerns about security, privacy and accountability are making some reluctant to embrace it. So how do businesses move from saying no to AI to finding a practical, responsible way forward? Sean Aylmer speaks with Stefan Leitl, VP and General Manager, Cisco ANZ, about why AI should be onboarded like a new employe...

What does it take to build a successful First Nations business? And how do you balance commercial realities with a commitment to community? In the second episode of Extraordinary Business Stories, Sean Aylmer and Michael Thompson speak with two State Winners of the 2026 Telstra Best of Business Awards: Jebb Hutchison from TVN On-Country, Victorian First Nations Award Winner, and Jason Elsegood fro...

This is a big week for the economy, with the Reserve Bank board widely expected to deliver this year's fifth interest rate increase tomorrow afternoon. Sean Aylmer speaks with Gareth Spence, Head of Australian Economics at NAB, about the week ahead, including the RBA's interest rate decision, its updated economic forecasts, the outlook for household spending and why unemployment could climb above...

Australian businesses are taking longer to collect payments from customers, and they're responding by delaying payments to their own suppliers. The result? An additional $5.5 billion tied up in working capital across the companies surveyed in the latest McGrathNicol Working Capital Report. Sean Aylmer speaks with Jason Ireland and Sean Wiles, Partners at McGrathNicol Advisory, about Australia's sh...

Many Australians know they could benefit from financial advice, but never take the first step. Whether it's the cost, uncertainty about where to start, or the belief that advice is only for wealthy people, there are plenty of barriers. And putting it off could have significant consequences. Sean Aylmer speaks with Jenneke Mills, Head of Technical Services at MLC Expand, about when to seek financia...

Australian business confidence has fallen to some of its lowest levels in decades, as higher interest rates, rising costs and economic uncertainty put pressure on businesses. But despite the challenges, some Australian companies are continuing to invest, innovate and expand overseas. Sean Aylmer speaks with Andrew Auerbach, NAB Group Executive Business & Private Banking, about what's separatin...

What does it take to build a business that makes a real difference? And how do you balance a strong sense of purpose with the financial realities of keeping a business running? In the first episode of Extraordinary Business Stories, Sean Aylmer and Michael Thompson speak with two State Winners of the 2026 Telstra Best of Business Awards: Lindsay Marchment from The Man Cave, Victorian Change Award...

Sean Aylmer speaks with Gareth Spence, Head of Australian Economics at NAB, about the week ahead, including the September CPI figures, why inflation expectations matter, what the unemployment rate tells us about the strength of the labour market, and whether the RBA will raise rates on Melbourne Cup Day. The Week Ahead with NAB is brought to you by National Australia Bank . Find out more: https://...

Friday 23 October 2026 AI discovers one of the biggest failings in internet security ever, triggering the shut-down of websites globally.  The Aussie superannuation system rates as one of the best in the world Higher interest rates hit home builders and retailers, sending share prices south Fortescue Metals takes the battle to Chinese iron ore buyers, with implications for the national budget...

The rise of artificial intelligence is creating new cybersecurity risks for businesses. AI agents can access information, interact with systems and carry out tasks on our behalf. But what happens when they access something they shouldn't? And how can businesses protect themselves when threats are moving at machine speed? Sean Aylmer speaks with Nam Lam, Group Vice President for Australia and New Z...

Australia's superannuation system has become very good at helping people save for retirement. But turning those savings into an income that lasts for decades is a different challenge. Now a new generation of retirement products is promising greater certainty, flexibility and potentially more income. Sean Aylmer speaks with Ashton Jones, Director of Retirement Innovation at MLC, about the changing...

Australia is at the centre of a growing battle over artificial intelligence and copyright. AI companies want greater freedom to train their models using creative works, but the music industry argues that existing copyright laws are working – and that changing them could undermine artists' livelihoods. Michael Thompson speaks with Chris Maund, co-CEO of Mushroom Music, about why the industry...

Australia could be facing one of the strongest El Niño events on record, bringing the risk of drought, bushfires and higher food prices. But the economic consequences could extend much further, adding to inflationary pressures at an already difficult time for the economy. Sean Aylmer speaks with Paul Bloxham, Chief Economist for Australia, New Zealand and Global Commodities at HSBC, about t...

Australia's economy is slowing, unemployment is rising, and yet inflation remains stubbornly high. It's an uncomfortable combination for the Reserve Bank, which is trying to work out whether four interest rate rises have done enough to bring inflation under control. Sean Aylmer speaks with Sally Auld, Chief Economist at NAB, about the week ahead for the economy, as well as last week's jump in unem...

Friday 16 October 2026 Australia’s unemployment rate hits a five year high, but it might not be enough to prevent another rate hike.  The auction market slump is forcing sellers to accept lower prices The federal government launches its flagship online safety legislation ASIC drops its insider trading investigation into WiseTech Global founder Richard White Apple shifts into the smart h...

What does it take to turn magic into a serious business? For Scott Zhou, it meant dropping out of a commerce/law degree, building a team of professional magicians, and finding a way to sell something people really need to experience to understand. Sean Aylmer speaks with Scott, CEO of The Black Ties , about building a business generating roughly $700,000 a year, why marketing matters as much as th...

Australia has a shortage of financial advisers, just as more people need help planning for retirement and managing their wealth. Could artificial intelligence help close the gap - without replacing the human adviser? Sean Aylmer speaks with Liz McCarthy, CEO of MLC Expand, about how AI is transforming financial advice, the extraordinary productivity gains already being achieved, and what the relat...

Australian small businesses are embracing artificial intelligence, and according to Microsoft, they're ahead of many other countries. But as AI becomes more powerful, what happens to businesses that are slow to adopt it? Sean Aylmer speaks with Ralph Haupter, Microsoft's Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer for Small and Medium Enterprises and Channel, about Australia's AI adoption,...

Artificial intelligence can solve complex problems and identify patterns that humans might miss. But can it actually predict which investments will outperform? Sean Aylmer speaks with Slava Platkov, Senior Investment Director at Dimensional, about new research testing machine learning models across global markets. They discuss why predicting returns is so difficult, why successful forecasts don't...

NAB Senior Economist Taylor Nugent joins Sean Aylmer to discuss what tomorrow's RBA minutes might reveal, why the central bank is sticking with its 2–3 per cent inflation target, and why this week's unemployment figures could be crucial ahead of the November interest rate decision. The Week Ahead with NAB is brought to you by National Australia Bank Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au...

Text messaging has traditionally been a marketing tool for businesses. But it's increasingly becoming a way to manage appointments, deliveries, customer service and even sales — with the potential to save businesses time and money. Sean Aylmer speaks with Andrea Topping, Vice President, Product Applications at Sinch, about the shift towards two-way customer conversations, the importance of t...

Cyber attacks can cost a business far more than lost data. They can disrupt operations, damage client relationships and consume enormous amounts of time — and for accountants and financial advisers handling sensitive information, the stakes are particularly high. Recorded at Class Ignite 2026, Sean Aylmer speaks with Lydia Pearson, Head of Growth Solutions at MyProsperity; Nathan Steiner, Se...

Australians expect organisations to behave with integrity and accountability. But the new 2026 Australian Governance Index reveals a substantial gap between those expectations and what people believe they're actually seeing, with 43 per cent of Australians saying organisational behaviour has become worse in recent years. Sean Aylmer speaks with Katrina Horrobin, CEO of the Governance Institute of...

Crypto has rallied strongly, but regulatory uncertainty remains after the US Senate failed to pass the CLARITY Act. So where does Bitcoin fit in portfolios now - and how are the big institutional investors thinking about it? Sean Aylmer speaks with John D’Agostino, Head of Institutional Strategy at Coinbase, about regulation, Bitcoin’s role in portfolio construction, and why he believe...

Australia’s housing shortage is already being constrained by costs, skills shortages and lengthy construction times. Now another enormous investment boom could add to the pressure: data centres. Sean Aylmer speaks with Gareth Spence, Head of Australian Economics at NAB, about the week ahead, including building activity. They also look at the potential for AI infrastructure to compete with ho...