Straight Talk with Mark Bouris

Toby Walsh is one of the world's foremost artificial intelligence researchers — a professor at UNSW, author of multiple books on AI, and a regular voice at the United Nations on the governance of autonomous weapons. In this conversation, Mark Bouris and Walsh cover the full arc of AI: from Alan Turing's original question about machine intelligence, to the way ChatGPT actually works, to the c...

Craig Laundy joins me in Las Vegas for a direct conversation on business, politics and legacy, from the Bulldogs’ resurgence to the Laundy family’s investment in 2GB. We unpack the future of Australian politics, the role of AI, economic pressure points and what it takes to build long term impact across generations. Join my exclusive Mentored+ community:  https://mentored.com.au/be...

NRL star turned Fox League host Braith Anasta joins me for an honest, wide-open conversation about footy, family, mental health and life after the game. We get into: • Losing his dad to suicide at 15 • Mental health • NRL career highlights • Who scared him the most in the game • What he learned from the Johns brothers • Dealing with controversy • Fatherhood &bull...

At just 23 years old, Elvis Smylie is already making serious noise in world golf. Fresh off a breakthrough win and a multi-million dollar payday, Australia’s most exciting young golf prospect sits down to unpack the mindset behind his rapid rise. Elvis opens up about the independence required in golf, the pressure of performing on global stages, and why ownership of your career matters more...

Chris Kohler is a 35 year old Australian financial journalist, author, and content creator, currently serving as Finance Editor across the 9News network. As one of the most recognisable faces in Australian business reporting, he is known for making complex economic issues clear and accessible to everyday Australians. Purchase Chris's book here: https://www.penguin.com.au/books/how-they-get-you-978...

Anthony Mundine is one of the most talked about and polarising figures in Australian sporting history. Known as The Man or Choc, Mundine’s career spans elite rugby league, world title boxing, music and outspoken views on politics, health, and culture. Few athletes have crossed as many boundaries or challenged as many institutions while staying true to themselves. In this conversation, Mundin...

Just in time for the UFC in Sydney, one of the most iconic fighter managers, Tim Simpson, joins us for a deep dive into the business of the fight game. We get into how Tim became one of the most prominent managers in the sport, what it really takes to be smart in this game, the new broadcast deal, what fighters actually go through, some wild behind-the-scenes stories, the White House card, and muc...

Chris Katelaris, known online as Big Chocky, brings a perspective you don’t hear often. Adopted from Colombia at just two months old by a Greek-Cypriot Australian family, Chris has a deep love for Australia and grew up navigating questions of identity, belonging, and purpose. That lived experience now sits at the centre of why his content is striking a nerve with so many Australians. In this...

Ross Coulthart is one of Australia’s most prominent investigative journalists, known most recently for his fearless reporting on unexplained aerial phenomena (UAPs) or UFOs. He joins the podcast to discuss his career uncovering hard truths, the role of curiosity in journalism, declining trust in governments and media, and his deep investigations into UAPs, military encounters with unidentifi...

Shiza Shahid is an entrepreneur, investor, and social activist dedicated to advancing girls’ education and women’s rights. Shiza co-founded the Malala Fund in 2013 alongside Malala Yousafzai , helping build a global movement for girls’ education while navigating complex political and cultural realities. She later co-founded Our Place , a modern kitchenware brand focused on connec...

So thankful to speak to all these legends this year. There were so many great Straight Talk episodes .Who would you love to see on next year? Check out some highlights and let me know which was your favourite in the comments!  0:00:00 Greg Norman 00:16:02 Andy Cooks 00:30:03 Tony Abbott 00:42:18 Matt Ford & Jack Steele (Inspired Unemployed) 00:50:21 Michelle Payne 01:03:30 John Laws See o...

So thankful to speak to all these legends this year. There were so many great Straight Talk episodes. Who would you love to see on next year? Check out some highlights and let me know which was your favourite in the comments! 00:00:00 — John Howard 00:16:09 — Dana White & Premier Minns 00:23:54 — Prime Minister Anthony Albanese 00:34:03 — Delvene Delaney 00:44:00 &mdash...

Richard de Crespigny is the former Qantas A380 captain who was pilot-in-command of Qantas Flight 32, which suffered a catastrophic uncontained engine failure shortly after take-off from Singapore in 2010 with 440 people on board. In this episode, Richard takes us inside the cockpit to explain how leadership, teamwork and disciplined decision-making prevented disaster when the aircraft experienced...

Greg Norman changed the game of professional golf forever, both on and off the course. Greg is Australia’s most iconic golfer, who has disrupted the game of golf with LIV. Greg was world No.1 for 331 weeks through the 80s and 90s, and used his nickname to create the Shark brand, which has gone on to become an extremely lucrative global business. We spoke about: • Disrupting golf forever...

Wyatt Roy might not be a household name like our famous sportspeople, politicians or actors, but he is a young Australian playing a major role in one of the most innovative projects of our time. Wyatt is Australia’s youngest ever federal MP and was a key leader driving innovation inside Saudi Arabia’s NEOM project, one of the most ambitious city building visions in modern history. In t...

Larry Emdur has been a household name and TV icon in Australia for decades. In this conversation, Larry talks about growing up in Bondi, breaking into television, and the highs and lows that shaped his career. He opens up about what it takes to stay at the top of the media game, the importance of connecting with an audience, and why he still loves getting up early for the morning show. We also div...

Ricky Ponting is a 50-year-old Australian cricket legend, former national captain, coach, commentator, and one of the most accomplished batsmen in the history of the sport. It was awesome to get him in here just in time for the Ashes period. We spoke about his childhood, mindset, iconic career, leading one of the greatest ever cricket teams, managing big personalities like Shane Warne, his wine bu...

Hi guys! We were undergoing unexpected renovations in this podcast. So apologies for the audio for this one. Thanks everyone for listening. Nathan Stafford is a Sydney-based gardener and social media personality, best known as the face of Nathan’s Lawns and Gardens. He is best known for regularly restoring neglected gardens for free, especially for people doing it tough such as seniors and s...

Ita Buttrose is one of Australia’s most influential journalists, editors, and businesswomen. In this conversation, we trace her remarkable journey — from her early days at The Australian Women’s Weekly and Cleo to leading the ABC and becoming a national icon. Ita opens up about John Laws, her family influences, the women’s liberation movement, and the challenges of breaking...

Tony Abbott, Australia’s 28th Prime Minister, joins me to talk about leadership, courage, and conviction in an age where those qualities are under siege.  We unpack his views on what makes a great leader, how Australia has changed, and why he believes we’ve lost our national confidence. We also spoke about : His Early life and education Understanding Leadership and Courage Challen...

Michelle Payne is an Australian horse racing icon and the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup in 2015, riding Prince of Penzance to victory and breaking barriers in a male-dominated sport. Ten years on from that magical win, I speak to her about: Growing up with ten siblings Making history as the only female to win the Cup The dark side of fame Brain injuries from her career Dealing with...

You might know Mick Fanning as one of the greatest surfers of all time, but there’s a lot more to him than that. He’s a sharp businessman who helped build and sell Balter Breweries for a reported $200 million. Mick’s a three-time World Champion, one of the most respected figures in modern surfing, and someone who’s lived one hell of a life. I sat down with him at his latest...

Kate Reid built her career as an aerodynamicist at Williams Formula 1, before stepping out into the world of pastry making. In this episode, she opens about obsession, burnout, mental illness, and finding a new purpose, realising that her dream job wasn’t the dream life. She talks about rebuilding her life through baking and creating Lune Crossainterie , applying the same engineering mindset...

In this episode of Straight Talk , I sit down with former Prime Minister John Howard — Australia’s second-longest-serving PM — for an unfiltered conversation about leadership, politics, and the lessons that shaped his life. We start from the beginning: his early years in Earlwood, his education and early professional life, and how his interest in politics led him from a legal car...

Glenn Pallister was one of the original producers of Rugby League's The Footy Show . In this episode, he takes us inside his incredible career — from the early days of building one of Australia’s most iconic TV shows, to what made it a cultural phenomenon. Glenn shares untold behind-the-scenes stories, working with Matty & Fatty, producing Shane Warne's interview show, and reflects...