Curiosity Crisis Podcast

Astrophysicist and science communicator Kirsten Banks joins us to explore the universe in a way that’s both accessible and deeply thought-provoking. From breaking down big cosmic ideas to discussing what we still don’t understand, this conversation looks at how engaging with astrophysics can shift perspective, challenge assumptions, and reconnect us with the bigger questions about our place in the...

Angel investing sounds glamorous from the outside but behind the headlines, it's about backing people, not just ideas. In this conversation, we get real about what it takes to evaluate founders, why speed beats perfection, and how to build your radar in a space with no rule book. Whether you're an aspiring investor, a founder, or just curious about how the startup world really works, gra...

Is stability actually destabilising? According to economist Hyman Minsky, the answer is yes. In this deep dive, we apply the "Financial Instability Hypothesis" to four centuries of economic history to prove that the asset changes, but the behavior stays the same. We analyze the structural mechanics behind the world's biggest manias, comparing the leverage of the 1840s Railway Mania...

China processes 90% of the world's rare earth elements and controls 100% of high-temperature magnet production materials essential for fighter jets, electric vehicles, wind turbines, and smartphones. In this episode, we explore how China strategically built this monopoly through state consolidation and technological mastery, why Western nations struggle to compete, and what this means for gre...

Most of the world runs on systems we never think about—until they break. From Roman aqueducts and the Chinese Grand Canal to modern undersea cables, power grids, GPS satellites, and water systems, hidden infrastructure has always been the backbone of progress. In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the invisible networks that keep civilisation running, explore how their failures ripple into...

Venture capital may feel like a Silicon Valley invention, but its roots go back centuries — from explorers pitching monarchs to railroad financiers and tulip traders. In this episode, we explore what history teaches us about backing bold ideas, bubbles, and human nature, and why the timeless lessons of people, storytelling, and curiosity still shape today’s hyper-competitive startup world. Curiosi...

Our guest today is a true Australian icon and a fascinating mind! From a modest $24 investment in a lawn mowing business while pursuing his PhD in history, he built an empire. Jim Penman is the founder of Jim's Group, the largest franchising chain in the Southern Hemisphere, with over 40 divisions and thousands of franchisees globally. But beyond the business success, he's also an author...

Mitchell Scott is the Principal Data Scientist at Consilio, where he works in the Rapid Prototyping Team developing specialised Large Language Models for legal problem-solving. A unique blend of solicitor and published data scientist, Mitch helps create cutting-edge AI tools. His algorithm for identifying gendered language in legal drafting was shortlisted for the 2022 Financial Times Innovative L...

We were joined by Dennis Barnes, CEO of Snowy Hydro, a leader in Australia’s energy transition. With decades of experience in the sector, he’s steered major companies through transformation, decarbonisation, and infrastructure growth. We talked about his career, how he sees the future of energy, and what’s next for Snowy Hydro. -- Dennis Barnes is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director...

We talk about all things productivity and the many methods we have personally tried and benefited from! Join for a fun episode and get some tips for your next project! #Business, #Investing, #Technology, #Curiosity, #Entrepreneurship, #STEM, #Science, #Engineering, #Mathematics, #Innovation CuriosityCrisis.com Curiosity Crisis Podcast - Instagram and LinkedIn

Tariffs have become very important in today’s geopolitical and economic landscape however they are not new. Tariffs were an economic tool used in the ancient world and have evolved through history to be used today. All tools have use cases but not all tools are suited to all use cases. In this episode we look at a history of  tariffs, when they have been used in the past from ancient and industria...

In this episode, we dive into the inspiring story of Octopus Energy – the UK’s fastest-growing energy supplier and a leader in the global decarbonization movement. From disrupting a stagnating market to building the innovative Kraken platform, Octopus has transformed the energy sector with its tech-driven, customer-first approach. Discover how they scaled from zero to 7.3 million customers, domina...

In this episode we interview Ian—a retired investment professional with extensive experience in capital markets research, asset allocation, risk management, and investment analytics. An Economics (Hons) graduate from Sydney University who also qualified as an actuary, Ian has held key roles at major super annuation institutions and investment committees.  Though retired, Ian's seasoned expert...

Our game changing habits! We often asks our guests what's keeping them curious and what the keys are to their success, so we did some reflecting. We discuss the key habits that serve us and keep us moving forward in this world! #Business, #Investing, #Technology, #Curiosity, #Entrepreneurship, #STEM, #Science, #Engineering, #Mathematics, #Innovation CuriosityCrisis.com Curiosity Crisis Podcas...

Major tech companies are redefining energy autonomy to meet their growing demands. Discover how Microsoft is pioneering advanced nuclear solutions, Google is achieving 24/7 carbon-free energy with renewables, and Amazon is deploying distributed energy networks at scale. Learn how these innovative strategies are shaping the future of sustainable energy and setting the stage for other industries to...

Janet Wiles is a Professor of Human Centred Computing at the University of Queensland and leads a UQ project on human centred AI. She has delivered talks for Google and TEDx and has 30 years’ experience in research and teaching in machine learning, artificial intelligence, bio-inspired computation, complex systems, visualisation, language technologies and social robotics. We talk all things Human...

Locky Gilbert will be a name familiar to many. Locky has lived a life in the public eye for a while now, having been a star on hit shows, the Bachelor, SAS Australia and Survivor, and has made appearances on many other shows in his time. Locky is an avid adventurer and family man, and shares this life with us through his Instagram, inspiring many to get outdoors.  What people might not know howeve...

Cam Bostock hikes, travels and inspires others for a living.  We love what Cam does so much that this is his 2nd time on the podcast!  We needed to chat to him again as our last episode with him was recorded the day before he flew to America to start the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Cam has just touched back down in Australia after hiking for 5 months, from Mexico to Canada along the PCT - an incred...

Why is space on the agenda again? Economics and opportunity. The renewed space race is increasingly driven by private companies rather than solely by government efforts, with firms like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Rocket Lab leading the charge. These companies are transforming the economics of space exploration through innovation, making space more accessible and financially viable. We delve into wha...

We chatted to Darren Kane, the Chief Security Officer at NBN - The National Broadband Network and picked his brain about all things security and defense. Darren has been the CSO at NBN since 2015. Prior to NBN, Darren served in Federal Government Law Enforcement Agencies for over 19 years in the Australian Federal Police and financial markets regulator the Australian Securities & Investment Co...

Home solar, batteries and Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) are emerging as some of the most popular energy innovations in recent years. Some listeners will be very unfamiliar with the concept of a virtual power plant so  we want to go through how they will potentially change our energy situation in the future. This is the final installment in a micro series tackling different parts of the energy transi...

Learn the story of a young 21 year old starting a business straight out of university, growing and scaling it over a 10 year journey, to most recently being acquired by the business he aspired to when he started it all. Hursh Dodhia-Shah was the Founder and Director of Aligned Agency, a digital agency based out of Perth, WA, servicing clients around Australia and the globe. They work right across...

We take electricity for granted, even though it is such a fundamental aspect of our lives. Society and our economies depend on electricity. We are chat with Dylan Pathirana, a Renewable Energy Engineer and Energy Market Enthusiast, to break down what actually happens behind the scenes when we turn on a switch at home. How does the industry and the energy market facilitate the use of electricity in...

Harrison Lingard, the Founder and CEO of Fieldd started a growth and automation software for home and automotive service, built to make the lives of Service Based businesses streamlined, easy and more scalable. Since starting Fieldd, the journey has been nothing short of incredible. Building his own software solution took him to 25,000 customers and 50 staff in just 2 years, and he was even featur...

Why is nuclear energy such a big part of so many global economies’ plans to get to net zero? We investigate nuclear energy’s role in a net zero future, how it works, why it’s advantageous, and bust some of the questions and myths around its safety. We also talk about its cost relative to other energy, its role in the energy mix and its growth into the future. #Business, #Investing, #Technology, #C...