Richly Told

Does loyalty actually exist in business? When a long-time customer leaves, it stings. Business owners often feel betrayed, wondering where the loyalty went after all they've invested. But what if loyalty in business isn't really a thing at all? What if what feels like betrayal is actually just business working the way it should? In this episode, Richard and Lee explore what loyalty really...

What if the only thing stopping you isn't timing, but your own belief about timing? Lee recently got back into freelance writing after years away from it. Within days of putting the word out, two publications came knocking. But it made her wonder: why do so many people in his industry say there's no work, when doors are opening for her right now? In this episode, Richard and Lee revisit a...

What happens when two people process the world in completely different ways, but neither stops to ask why? Richard and Lee started their week exhausted! One just off night shift, the other not quite well. But in the fog of fatigue, they stumbled into a conversation that revealed something bigger than either of them had realised: they approach every challenge from opposite ends of the spectrum. And...

What happens when you stop moving? Richard and Lee explore a timeless parable about a rat that falls into a container full of rice. The rat is happy, safe, warm. Everything it needs is right there. But as it eats and sleeps, eats and sleeps, the pile of rice slowly diminishes - while the distance between the rat and the exit grows. Eventually, the container is empty. The rat has trapped itself. In...

Are your policies and procedures making it harder for people to do business with you? Richard and Lee have had a frustrating week dealing with multiple businesses across different sizes. Their phone systems don't work. Their booking processes have too many barriers. And somewhere along the way, the policies designed to protect the business have become obstacles to selling. In this episode, Richard...

How did we end up rushing through everything? From manipulative emails to Amazon's scarcity tactics to the endless churn of supermarket campaigns, manufactured urgency is everywhere. And it's designed to override your instincts. In this episode, Richard and Lee dig into how sales, marketing, and even everyday people use urgency and anxiety to get a reaction. They explore the difference between hea...

How much of the stress in life is actually coming from the situation... and how much is coming from the way we react to it? After returning from a chaotic family trip to Singapore, Richard and Lee reflect on the pressure they placed on themselves before even leaving home. Between unfinished renovations, work demands, travel exhaustion and constant problem-solving, they found themselves asking a bi...

Ever wonder why you make certain business choices? It might be your past calling the shots. Richard and Lee recently had a raw conversation. They realised their different approaches (one on a set track, the other forging a new trail) came from deep-seated fears. These hidden influences can anchor you. They shape how you take risks, communicate with partners, and even block your growth. This episod...

Can being too honest with clients sometimes create more stress than clarity? After a kitchen installation turns into a lesson in communication, Richard and Lee look at the fine line between keeping clients informed and giving them more detail than they actually need. What starts as a small issue with cabinetry becomes a bigger question about service, stress, trust and overexplaining. They also ref...

Do people ever look at your life and ask how you keep going, while missing the pressure, sacrifice and clarity behind it? In this episode, Richard and Lee reflect on determination, mental toughness and what really keeps people moving when life feels relentlessly full. From travel, night shifts and family logistics to the way outsiders frame busy lives as either chaos or luck, they explore the diff...

Are you holding back because it still doesn't feel ready? So many people wait for the perfect time, the perfect plan, or the perfect version of themselves before they begin. But in real life, things are often messy, rushed, and far from polished. Sometimes the pressure to get it right becomes the very thing that keeps progress from happening at all. In this episode, Richard and Lee record from...

What if the biggest opportunities are the ones insiders have stopped noticing? When an industry starts repeating itself, it’s easy to assume everything worth doing has already been done. But sometimes the real problem isn’t a lack of ideas. It’s a lack of fresh perspective. In this episode, Richard and Lee reflect on a major trade show in Las Vegas and what it revealed about innovation, habit, and...

Do you build your business to last a lifetime, or just until your next holiday? Recording from a mobile studio in San Francisco, Richard and Lee look at the stark differences between Australian and American business cultures. They reflect on the "dynasty" models of iconic institutions like In-N-Out Burger and Boudin Sourdough, noting how these families focus on generational wealth rather...

Do you ever feel like people see your success but completely miss the struggle it took to get there? Freshly returned from a family holiday in Fiji and staring down a chaotic home renovation, Richard and Lee find themselves grappling with the "lucky" label. They challenge the common habit of attributing hard-earned freedom to mere chance, exploring why we often apologise for the lives we...

Are you tired of being misunderstood through a screen? Richard and Lee continue their reflection on the modern decline of communication, questioning whether our obsession with efficiency is actually making us worse at being human. They look at the startling loss of non-verbal cues in our digital world and why even the biggest names in tech are raising their children in tech-free environments. If y...

Do you find yourself saying you're "too busy" for a quick coffee, only to realise years have passed since you last connected with a local friend? Richard and Lee look at why maintaining relationships requires more than just saying "yes" to an invitation (it requires the intentionality to reach out and initiate the conversation yourself). They challenge the traditional conce...

Does kit feel like you're walking on eggshells every time you need to give a bit of feedback? Richard and Lee look at why simple communication has become so fraught (and why the famous compliment sandwich might actually be part of the problem). The conversation looks at the growing trend of defensiveness in Western workplaces. From the pressure of US corporate mergers to the unique challenges...

If you've ever looked at someone else's life on social media and thought they were just "lucky," this conversation might change your perspective. It is easy to see the highlights, but the reality involves a lot of action and a willingness to screw things up along the way. Richard and Lee are freshly back from a field test in the Philippines, where they took their entire family along for a work tri...

If you have ever felt like you are just patching up holes in a business that needs a complete rethink, the Richly Told podcast is a great place to find some perspective. Sometimes the systems we built years ago just cannot handle where we want to go next. Richard and Lee look at their own home renovation (ripping out decades of old slate and removing walls) to show why a total rebuild is often les...

It's easy to feel like you are failing when you hear people say that everyone has the same 24 hours in a day . Richard and Lee look at why this common motivational phrase is actually quite damaging. Lee shares her own story of trying to finish an MBA during a family tragedy and a global pandemic (all while homeschooling her children and running a business). They explain how different life expe...

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗽? If you are a founder or business owner trying to figure it all out on your own, the Richly Told podcast is a great place to find some tips. This week, Richard and Lee share an honest look at a "problem child" in their own business (a product they have wrestled with for two years) and the temptation to just shut...

If you have been trying to find the secret sauce to a successful business, Richard and Lee have a story for you. They recently visited the Archie Rose Distillery in Sydney (a place that grew to be the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere in just ten years) and what they found wasn't just great whiskey. They take you through how this business nailed the experience economy. It started with targeti...

If you've been waiting for the perfect time to launch that business or start that hobby, this episode is the gentle nudge you need. It’s easy to get stuck in the planning phase (or the worrying phase) and never actually take the first step. Richard and Lee wrap up the year by looking at a simple note Lee wrote to herself twelve months ago: "Get going, get good later." They talk about why this mind...

With Richard travelling through Europe for meetings, Lee is flying solo in the studio this week. She grabs a coffee to share a transparent look at what happens when you finally stop fighting against your natural instincts. It starts with the simple reality of business partnership (and marriage). When you are stuck in the daily grind, it's impossible to see what is actually going on. Lee explai...

If you have ever felt like a missed deadline or a difficult client was a life-or-death situation, this solo episode with Lee is going to resonate. With Richard travelling to Europe for Christmas, Lee takes the mic to share some thoughts on a tough week involving local bushfires and high-pressure deadlines. She looks at the concept of 'manufactured stress' (a term Richard uses) and why our...