Coast & Commerce

In the last episode of the Forward Thinking podcast special season, host Ben Amos interviews Peter Deans, founder of Goru World and author of the Startup Toolkit. They discuss the importance of supporting startups, the challenges faced by entrepreneurs, and the innovative ecosystem on the Sunshine Coast. Peter shares insights from his extensive experience in finance and consulting, emphasising the...

In the 7th episode of the Forward Thinking podcast, Ben Amos interviews Owen Bowling, co-founder and CEO of Coach Welly, a health technology platform. Owen shares his journey in the fitness industry, the evolution of Coach Welly, and the importance of community and collaboration in the entrepreneurial ecosystem on the Sunshine Coast. He discusses the challenges of differentiating in a competitive...

In today’s episode of the Forward Thinking Podcast, Ben Amos interviewed Liz Boyd from the Sunshine Coast Screen Collective live at FWDFest 2025 to discuss the growth and development of the film and screen industry on the Sunshine Coast. They explore the role of the Screen Collective in fostering collaboration among filmmakers, the economic impact of the screen industry on the greater local commun...

This episode of the Forward Thinking Podcast features interviews with Jared Cunningham from Ravinn, a cybersecurity company, and Zach Cole from PicSEO.ai, an innovative image optimisation tool. Hosted by Ben Amos, the conversation explores the importance of cybersecurity for businesses of all sizes, the challenges of scaling a tech startup, and the value of networking and collaboration within the...

In this fourth episode of the Forward Thinking Podcast, Ben Amos chats with two inspiring entrepreneurs at Forward Fest 2025: Pam McLean and Chandni Arora, who share their journeys of building businesses rooted in passion and values. Pam discusses her experience in the childcare industry and how she focuses on creating a nurturing environment for children and staff alike. Chandni shares her transi...

Episode three of the Forward Thinking Podcast features two innovative founders, Chris Risby from STAT and Tama Jamieson from Dyna, who are disrupting traditional industries in healthcare and hospitality respectively. Chris discusses how STAT aims to create a sustainable healthcare model through a digital platform that connects practitioners and organisations, while Tama shares his journey in creat...

In episode two of the Forward Thinking Podcast, hosts Ben Amos and Craig Jussick engage with three young entrepreneurs from Glasshouse Christian College who were part of the DeLorean Project there. They discuss their startup app, Room Readi, which aims to enhance the customers shopping experience. The conversation highlights their journey via FWD Fest, key learnings, and the importance of mentorsh...

Forward Thinking is a Coast and Commerce Podcast special series of eight episodes featuring live interviews from Forward Fest 2025. Episode 1 highlights two innovative businesses: Aqua Ubique and Moyai. Aqua Ubique focuses on generating drinking water from air, addressing the issue of water scarcity in Australia. The founder, Shannon Lemanski, shares how FWD Fest has been pivotal in his entreprene...

NEW COAST & COMMERCE PODCAST special series drops weekly from this Tues 1 Sept... Hosted by Ben Amos and produced by Craig Josic INTRODUCING: >>> FWD Thinking: Innovation Stories from FWD Fest 2025, featuring Sunshine Coast Businesses Making a Global Impact. Subscribe and follow us to catch all 8 episodes on your preferred podcast player.

In Episode 8, the last of Coast and Commerce Season 4, Ben Amos chats with Brad Chesham, founder of Bundle of Rays, about the transformative potential of immersive learning technologies of XR, AR, and VR in healthcare education. Brad shares his journey from nursing to entrepreneurship, the challenges of innovating in a conservative industry, dealing with entrepreneurial sacrifices and the importan...

On episode S4-7 Ben Amos speaks with Craig Josic, an entrepreneur and philanthropist, about the importance of collaboration in business, the evolution of the Sunshine Coast's business ecosystem, and the role of FWD›››FEST in driving business community engagement and entrepreneurial growth. They discuss pivotal moments in the region's development, the concept of Silicon Coast, the region's recognit...

Welcome to episode S3-6 of the Coast and Commerce Podcast. In this conversation, Ben Amos and Colin Graham from Causeway Innovation discuss the evolving business landscape of the Sunshine Coast, focusing on the importance of innovation and the potential for growth within the region. They explore the concept of economic gardening, emphasising the need to nurture existing businesses rather than sole...

In today's episode of the Coast and Commerce podcast, Ben Amos interviews James Blevin, CEO of Youturn, a not-for-profit organisation focused on supporting youth in the Sunshine Coast region. They discuss the complexities of running an NFP, the evolution of Youturn over the years, and the importance of community engagement and philanthropy. James emphasises the symbiotic relationship between busin...

In S4-4 of Coast & Commerce, Ben Amos chats with Lachie Smart, a Generations Keynote Speaker to explore the themes of generational differences, empathy, and personal growth through the lens of a young pilot's journey to break stereotypes about millennials. They discuss the importance of understanding the context of individual experiences to bridge gaps between generations and the role of mento...

In episode S4-3 of the Coast and Commerce podcast, our host Ben Amos interviews Dave Biggar, CTO of Zone Manufacturing, discussing his journey from boat building to the RV industry, the establishment of Zone RV, and the challenges faced in manufacturing. They explore the importance of innovation, the advantages of being based on the Sunshine Coast, and the future vision for Zone Manufacturing, whi...

In this conversation, Ben Amos and Tara Jacobson from Groei Education discuss the urgent need for educational reform to better align with the rapidly changing demands of the workforce. They explore the disconnect between what traditional education provides and the skills that industries require, particularly in the context of advancing technologies like AI. Tara shares her journey in innovating ed...

In the first episode of Season 4 of the Coast and Commerce podcast, Ben Amos speaks with Stella Romagnoli, coordinator of the Diverse Queensland Workforce Program. They discuss the importance of a culturally diverse workforce, the challenges faced by migrants in finding employment, and the benefits that hiring migrants can bring to businesses on the Sunshine Coast. Stella shares her personal exper...

In the last episode of season 3 of the Coast and Commerce podcast, Ben Amos interviews Anthony McLean, General Manager of Ambrose Construct Group. They discuss the journey of Ambrose from a small building company to a national player in the insurance repair industry, and how they have scaled the business using technology, structure and efficiencies. Anthony shares insights on building a high-perfo...

In this episode of the Coast and Commerce podcast, Ben Amos speaks with Nicole McNaughton, CEO of the Food and Agribusiness Network (FAN), about the vibrant food and beverage industry on the Sunshine Coast. They discuss the importance of small businesses, the diversity of local food producers here, and the challenges faced by the industry. Nicole shares insights on how FAN supports its members thr...

In this episode of the Coast and Commerce podcast, Sunshine Coast Mayor, Rosanna Natoli discusses the challenges and opportunities presented by the region's growth, and the importance of community engagement for planning. She emphasises the important role and flow on effects of small businesses in the local economy and outlines the various council initiatives to support them. The conversation also...

In this conversation, Ben Amos interviews Shannon Lemanski, founder of Aqua Ubique, a company that addresses the water crisis in Australia by harnessing humidity to create drinking water. Shannon shares his journey from military service to entrepreneurship, highlighting the importance of purpose over profit in his business start up. Aqua Ubique aims to provide sustainable drinking water solutions...

In this conversation, Ben Amos and Alan Hegerty from Impactus Advisory discuss the importance of strategic direction and clarity in business growth. They explore how leaders can gain a broader perspective, akin to an 'astronaut view', to understand the potential impact of their business. The discussion emphasises the significance of culture, talent acquisition, and the role of AI in enhancing effi...

Summary In this episode of Coast and Commerce we hear from Dave Neal from Eighth Mile Consulting. Ben and Dave explore the multifaceted nature of leadership, drawing from Dave's unique journey from military service to business consulting. They discuss the importance of influence, the balance between leadership and management, and the role of emotional intelligence in effective leadership. The conv...

Kris Carver from Entag joins Ben for episode 2, season 3 of Coast and Commerce. Their conversation explores the importance of embracing technology in businesses on the Sunshine Coast. It emphasises that technology is not just for tech-based businesses, but for all businesses looking to thrive and differentiate themselves. The Sunshine Coast Tech Industry Alliance is highlighted as a resource for b...

Tony Kelly, owner of Tony Kelly Restaurant Group, shares his journey in the restaurant industry and the ups and downs he has faced. He emphasises the importance of belief in oneself and surrounding oneself with talented people. Tony discusses the success of his restaurants on the Sunshine Coast and the support he receives from the local community. He also talks about his plans for future restauran...