Exchanges with Evan Lucas

In a world where the rules of business are being rewritten in real time, what does it actually take to build something that lasts? This week on Exchanges, I sit down with Bernadette Schwerdt for a practical and energising conversation about entrepreneurship, online business growth, and what it really means to build with resilience. Bernadette shares her insights from interviewing Australia's leadi...

This week on Exchanges, we sit down with Peter Petrov about the state of AI investment and whether the boom we're living through is built to last. Drawing comparisons to past market bubbles including the dot-com era Peter unpacks the dynamics driving AI valuations, the risks that aren't getting enough attention, and what the next few years could look like for AI companies and investors alike as th...

The skies are changing and so is the future of national security. This week on Exchanges, we sit down with Ben Westgarth, CEO and CTO of Department13, for a fascinating and timely conversation about drone technology, counter-drone systems, and what it really takes to protect Australia in an increasingly complex world. Ben pulls back the curtain on how counter-drone systems actually work, why the a...

What does it take to leave a successful career behind and build something entirely your own? This week on Exchanges, we sit down with Natalie MacDonald for an honest and energising conversation about reinvention, purpose, and what the future of work really looks like. Natalie shares her journey from media to entrepreneurship, the lessons she learned along the way, and why building a strong persona...

What if the most powerful thing a leader can do is simply make people feel safe? This week on Exchanges, I sit down with Graeme Cowan co-founder of R U OK Day for a conversation about what the future of work looks like. Graham shares his own journey through mental health challenges, what it taught him about leadership, and why psychological safety isn't just a buzzword it's the foundation of every...

Welcome to season 5 of The Exchanges Podcast! This week on Exchanges, we sit down with mortgage expert Chris Foster-Ramsay for an honest and practical conversation about what the 2026 rate rises mean for everyday Australians and what you can actually do about it. Chris walks us through the smartest refinancing strategies available right now, how to get your household budget working harder under pr...

This week on Exchanges, I sit down with Amanda Rose for a wide-ranging exchange about leadership, politics, the forces reshaping society around us and tribalism. Because what does real leadership look like in a world that's changing faster than our institutions can keep up? Amanda shares her perspective on what effective leadership actually looks like today, the power of grassroots movements to dr...

This week on Exchanges, I sit down with Aisling Smith for a conversation that is equal parts personal and deeply important. Aisling shares her journey of discovering her own neurodivergence later in life, navigating the experience of raising a son with autism and ADHD, and what both of those things taught her about the way we design our workplaces and our world. We explore the very real strengths...

This week on Around the Echange: Are government handouts actually making things worse? It's the question nobody wants to answer are we trading short-term cost of living relief for long-term economic pain? From fuel excise cuts to energy rebates that never seem to end, is fiscal stimulus giving the Reserve Bank its worst nightmare: high inflation, low growth and rising unemployment all at once? Wit...

This week on Exchanges, we're joined by Dr. Catherine Ball researcher, futurist, and author for a fascinating deep dive into the science, technology, and future of sleep. From the role sleep played in human evolution to the way screens and modern life are quietly eroding our rest, Dr. Ball connects the dots between biology, psychology, and the world we've built around ourselves. We explore how AI...

What does it actually take to get ahead financially in Australia right now? This week, Exchanges sits down with Jessica Brady financial adviser, advocate, and author of Get Growing for an honest conversation about money, inequality, and what's really holding people back. From the reality of wealth inequality in Australia, the systemic barriers shaping financial outcomes, and what meaningful reform...

On Exchanges this week, Shahana McKenzie, CEO of Bioenergy Australia, joins Evan to dissect the barriers blocking one of Australia's most underutilised clean energy levers: biofuels. From policy uncertainty to infrastructure shortfalls, she explains what it would actually take to get the sector moving and why government-enforced mandates and the political will to act are the missing piece to unloc...

This week, Kate Littlejohn, credit expert, joins us to unpack the evolving landscape of credit, taxation, and business growth. We explore the changing dynamics of credit and lending, the challenges within Australia’s current tax system, and why a more holistic approach to tax reform is needed to drive productivity and long-term economic stability. To find out more about Kate: Instagram: https://ww...

The week on Exchanges the one and only style impactor Sally MacKinnon. Personal style is not about fashion it is about power, perception and how the world reads you before you say a word. In this episode Evan sits down with renowned stylist Sally McKinnon, whose two decades of transforming lives through fashion have made her one of Australia's most sought after voices on personal brand and style....

In this episode of Around the Exchanges, We need to confront the harder truth: that there is no perfect lever, no easy answer, and that the real question facing this country is whether fiscal policy can finally pick up the pieces. From Iran's shockwaves on global fuel supply to the reform budget this country hasn't seen since the GST, Evan unpacks the deeper forces driving inflation, household bud...

The current groupthink is Australia just needs to build more homes to solve the housing crisis, that is only part of the story. In this episode of Exchanges, Evan is joined by Eliza Owen, one of Australia's biggest thinkers in property. Eliza answers the deeper forces at play from tax settings that favour property investors, to decades of underinvestment in public housing, to the political dynamic...

This week, Liz Ritchie, CEO of the Regional Australia Institute, joins Exchanges to make the case for why regional Australia is central to the nation’s future. We explore the urgent need for strategic planning across housing, jobs, and infrastructure as Australia’s population grows, and unpack the pressures building in regional housing and rental markets. Liz explains why connectivity, livability,...

This week, Madeline Miller Gen Z Leadership Architect joins Exchanges to unpack how Gen Z is reshaping the meaning of work and identity. Madeline explains why this generation is increasingly skeptical of traditional career paths and promotions, and how they’re redefining success on their own terms. We explore Gen Z’s desire for work-life balance, their push for authenticity in the workplace, and t...

This week on Exchanges ASIC Commissioner Simone Constant joined us to unpack why Australia’s financial markets are at a crossroads, and why innovation has never been more important. We dive into the challenges facing public markets, the rapid growth of private markets and private credit, and what this shift means for businesses, investors, and the broader economy. Simone highlights the need for st...

On This Week’s Episode of Exchanges: Andy Fithall on Coffee, Connection, and Creating Social Good Andy Fithall, social entrepreneur and founder of The Good Machine, joins Exchanges to explore how purpose and profit can coexist. Andy shares the story of how he launched In Other Good News during the COVID-19 pandemic and grew it into a thriving social enterprise focused on creating positive impact w...

This week on Exchanges, Merriden Varrall Special Advisor Geopolitics at KPMG South ASPAC and Head of geopolitical insights outfit Vantage Geopol joins us to explore the rise of populism and its far-reaching implications for markets, trade, and institutional trust. We unpack how populism’s anti-establishment sentiment and ‘us versus them’ mentality are driving a new wave of protectionism, reshaping...

Welcome to Season 3 of Exchanges This Week’s Episode: Sarah Hunter on Inflation, Productivity, and Australia’s Economic Outlook from the inner thinking of the RAB Sarah Hunter, Assistant Governor (Economic) and Chief Economist at the RBA, joins Exchanges to unpack the current state of inflation in Australia and what it means for households, businesses, and policymakers. We discuss the RBA’s transi...

This week, Betsy Westcott, financial coach and former banker, joins us to share her journey from the world of banking to financial coaching and what she’s learned about the psychology of money along the way. We dive into the disconnect between wealth and personal happiness, the dynamics of Australia’s housing market, and our cultural addiction to debt. Betsy explains why financial education is cri...

This week, Lawrence Lam joins us to explore the powerful role that founders play in shaping company success. We dive into the unique traits and decision-making styles that set founders apart, and how their intrinsic motivation drives long-term vision and resilience. Lawrence unpacks the psychological side of corporate leadership, the risks that come with founder control, and why long-term incentiv...

This week, John Addis joins us to examine the state of fundamental investing in today’s markets and the growing influence of AI in analysis and research. The rise of passive investing, the opportunities (and risks) AI presents, and the historical parallels to the dot-com bubble. John also shares why learning from mistakes is central to building resilience as an investor. At its core, John emphasis...