Straight Talk with Mark Bouris

Russell Manser lived a life of crime and built a criminal career off robbing banks during the 80s and early 90s. This eventually led him to prison, serving up to 23 years. But there is more to Russell's story than a life behind bars.  Russell experienced sexual abuse at a young age whilst at several boys' homes.  Thirty years later he provided evidence to Royal Commission into Institutional Respon...

Kirk Docker –– is a producer, documentary maker show creator and the co-creator of one of the most successful Australian TV formats in history, You Can’t Ask That. He’s pulled the curtain on society's fringes and has shown us the truth of who we really are.  The hit series is now in its 7th season and asks the questions you’re too scared to explore. The format that has been sold across the globe a...

Nedd Brockmann wants to see how far he can push his body to discomfort.  Too often, we avoid the uncomfortable, especially when dealing with homelessness. Brockmann wants you to get used to that feeling and do something about it.  With his long flowy mullet, Nedd will run across Australia from Perth's Cottesloe Beach to Sydney's Bondi to raise $1 million for charity. The challenge is to do it with...

Nothing in sport happens without V'Landys. Peter V'Landys is the Australian Rugby League Commission chairman, Chief Executive, and board member with Racing NSW. He's described as a hard-willed enthusiast with a crash-or-crash-through style of negotiation. Peter is someone determined to pay back the debt to the game for the life opportunity it provided him.  Join Mark Bouris and Peter in a spe...

Religion presents a singular view of the world and asks you to believe in it.  Journalism presents many world views and wants you to arrive at the truth independently. Tom Tilley is someone who's born out of the tension between these two. You might know him as the former longtime host of triple j's 'Hack', a youth journalism program. He's someone who can speak to people from all walks of life...

Joe Hockey served as Australia's ambassador to the United States in the last year of President Barack Obama's term and throughout Donald Trump's presidency.  He's now released a memoir that tells the tale of those tumultuous, extraordinary times titled, fittingly, Diplomatic . Significantly few people emerged unscathed from their encounters with Trump, and Hockey proved to be the notable exce...

There are two sides to life. There are moments of great joy and periods of great sadness.  The father of six, now seven children, Danny Abdallah, sat down with Mark Bouris to share his story that tragically forced his family into the public eye in 2020 after a drunk driver killed their three children and niece in Oatlands, Sydney's west.  Danny and his wife, Leila, have since publicly fo...

Since the last election, Australia has faced national, life-altering events such as the devastating 2019/20 Black Summer, the COVID-19 pandemic, and global economic uncertainty.  It is now time to decide which party is up to the task of getting us through the next three years.  The 30th Prime Minister of Australia, Scott Morrison, joins Mark Bouris.  An invitation to the Opposition...

The Wolf of Wall Street, Jordan Belfort, likes to fly close to the sun and does everything to the maximum.  Belfort has beautifully rehabilitated his image and is now chasing down new frontiers in the crypto space. Mark Bouris and Jordan Belfort discuss how to analyse cryptocurrency properly and why it needs to be regulated and how to find a network to get ahead. See omnystudio.com/listener f...

One of the most significant sales of Australian business recently is SWEAT.  Adelaide entrepreneurs Kayla Itsines and Tobi Pearce co-founded the digital workout platform. This is the first time Tobi has sat down to chat about the headline-making $400 million sales to US software company iFIT.  Since stepping down from his role as CEO in February 2022, the outrageously successful business...

Mainstream media hasn't done their job for women in sports coverage, and at times, it's pretty pathetic locally and internationally.  Female athletes across the field struggle to have their stories told like their male counterparts. Chloe Dalton, a triple code athlete, is sick of women being sidelined and has established the [female] athlete project , platforming athletes at the top of their...

War is an inherently wasteful exercise. So what has led to Putin's invasion? What will the outcome be? What does it mean for us in Australia? Recently retired, Major General Mick Ryan has been at the forefront of military strategy and leadership in Australia for decades. He's served in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan and as a strategist on the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff. There's one bett...

Tim Olsen is one of Australia's most prominent art dealers, who has continued to inject energy and contribute to the Australian arts.  He is also the son of this country's most famous artist – John Olsen.  Tim felt the heavy burden of his father's legacy, challenged to find a sense of individualism. This led Tim down a dark path, and he realised something had to change drastically. Buy Tim Olsen's...

John Kavanagh is one of the world's best MMA coaches and is one of the main reasons behind UFC star, Conor McGregor's worldwide success.  Behind that success is Kavanagh's philosophy for a win or learn mindset. Mark Bouris unpacks this philosophy and discusses how you can approach success faster by accepting and learning to love failure. **** APPLY FOR S2 SURVIVE + THRIVE  **** Join the...

The boxing world witnessed one of its biggest upsets last year between the then undisputed AmericanTeofimo Lopez and Greek-Australian George Kambosos Jr for the glory of world champion and five belts.  George Kambosos Jr. reflects on his underdog win with Mark Bouris and looks forward into the future on who Kambosos will take on next. **** APPLY FOR S2 SURVIVE + THRIVE  **** Join the Fac...

Matthew Reilly wrote his first self-published novel, Contest , at aged 19 while studying law at university.  How he came to be represented by Pan MacMillan after putting out that novel himself is now the stuff of publishing legend.   Matt is finally living out his lifelong dream to direct a film called "Interceptor" starring Elsa Pataky, backed by Netflix, which is set to be release...

If you think Merrick Watts is "just" a funny guy, then think again. Being underestimated and proving people wrong is something he loves to do.  Merrick is, in his own words, a chameleon. He's able to adapt and thrive in any situation you throw at him.  Grapes Of Mirth 2022 Event tickets. ––––––––––––––&nd...

Eddie Hearn is one of the most prominent names in boxing.  As chairman of Matchroom Sport, Hearn is behind some of the biggest clashes in the industry like Tyson Fury v Deontay Wilder, Canelo Álvarez vs. Caleb Plant and Katie Taylor vs Claressa Shields. Eddie Hearn talks to Mark Bouris about Matchroom's influence, the infamous KSI V Logan Paul 2 fight and his thoughts leading up to Te&...

When Ivan Cleary presented his son The Clive Churchill medal, moments after the heart-stopping 2021 grand final win against the South Sydney Rabbitohs, the crowd's loud cheers faded into the background.  It was a surreal moment for the Penrith Panthers coach, who, just a year ago, was recovering from their premiership loss against Melbourne Storm.  And it was a surreal moment for the Penrith faith...

In more than 30 years, Harry Garside took home an Olympic bronze medal after facing Cuba's Andy Cruz at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.  Despite the accolades for securing a spot in the Olympics, he remains hungry to do more and be better as a pro boxer.   –––––––––––––––––––&n...

While everyone is thinking about the COVID-19 pandemic, writer, filmmaker John Safran is checking up on the world's largest cigarette company, Philip Morris.  In September 2018, on the same day as World No-Tobacco Day, Philip Morris announced it wants to “unsmoke” the world. In his latest book, Puff Piece – How Philip Morris Set Vaping Alight (and burned down the English lan...

Former NBA and NBL player Andrew Bogut is one of the many people caught in the middle of Australia's lockdown. After going public on social media about the hard COVID-19 lockdown in Melbourne, Bogut's explosive rant went viral, triggering a divided response amongst people.  Mark and Andrew have an open discussion about why they believe the COVID-19 lockdowns are affecting those in lower socio-econ...

Hugh van Cuylenberg is the founding director of The Resilience Project , a best selling author, and co-host of the popular podcast, The Imperfects .  Hugh is on a quest to share what it means to live a happier, more fulfilled life through practising gratitude and building resilience.  Many of us lack the tools to practise gratitude and resilience, leaving us worse off and incomplete.&nbs...

Right now, being Treasurer isn't an enviable job. Mark Bouris spoke to the Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg about the plan for reopening the Australian economy safely, why the economic foundations remain strong and the likelihood of a bounce-back for Australian businesses. Follow Mark Bouris on  Instagram ,  LinkedIn   & YouTube . Got a question or comment for Mark? Send an email .  See omnys...

Michelle Bridges has managed to carve her way to the top of the fitness world and maintains her top spot as an industry leader. But in 2020, Michelle experienced what she describes as one of her “darkest moments”, and as a result, the public saw a different side of her. Michelle Bridges is incredibly honest during her chat with Mark Bouris and shares how she managed to get through an unfamiliar da...