What's The Craic Podcast

“You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to take the first step.” After years working FIFO, Darren Peterson reached a point where anxiety, poor sleep, alcohol, and gambling were taking over. That experience became the catalyst for a complete career change — one that’s now helping thousands of people take charge of their mental health, communication, and wellbeing. In this episode,...

“Business growth starts with personal growth.” From data analyst to entrepreneur, recruiter, endurance athlete, and silent retreat participant - Douglas Robertson has built a business around helping people unlock opportunities while continually challenging himself to grow. In this episode, I sit down with Doug to discuss recruitment, leadership, fitness, entrepreneurship, and why some of the bigge...

“You don’t have to know exactly where you’re going. Sometimes the best opportunities come from saying yes.” Paula Rogers left recession-era Ireland, built a career in London, and eventually found her home in Perth. Along the way she’s led publishing businesses, major industry organisations, state-wide policy conversations, and some of WA’s most influential networks. In this episode, we talk about:...

“Success means nothing if you don’t bring people with you.” From helping build one of Perth’s biggest Irish community events to delivering a major resort development on the WA coast, Tom Tierney has spent his career backing people, building businesses, and taking the road less travelled. In this episode, I sit down with Tom to discuss entrepreneurship, community leadership, property development, f...

“We packed up our lives, left everything behind… and started again in Perth.” Moving countries sounds exciting. In reality, it can be equal parts opportunity, uncertainty, homesickness, and hope. In this episode, I sit down with Arlene, founder of The Relocation Expo, to talk about her family’s journey from County Louth, Ireland, to Perth, Western Australia, and how that experience inspired her to...

“The best opportunities in life usually come from backing people, building trust, and playing the long game.” In this episode of What’s the Craic Podcast, I sit down with Justin Scanlan, CEO of APM Group’s Allied Health Portfolio, to unpack the journey from growing up in rural North Dublin to leading one of Australia’s largest allied health networks. We talk about:🇮🇪 Growing up in Skerries and mov...

“Building a business is hard… but building a culture people actually want to be part of is even harder.” In this episode of What’s the Craic Podcast, I sit down with Mairead Breen, co-founder and Executive General Manager of FSC Civils, to unpack the journey from rural Ireland to helping build one of WA’s leading civil construction businesses. We talk about: 🇮🇪 Growing up in a tiny Irish village b...

“If you choose a path… go all in. That’s where the growth happens.” In this episode of What’s the Craic Podcast, I sit down with Sam Carter, former Wallabies lock, to unpack the reality behind a professional rugby career and the lessons that come from the highs, the setbacks, and everything in between. We talk about: 🏉 Going from an “average” school player to earning a contract with the Brumbies...

“Change happens at the speed of trust.” In this episode of What’s the Craic Podcast, I sit down with Louise Zawada, executive coach and transformation strategist, to unpack what it really takes to lead through change while balancing career, family, and everything in between. We talk about: 👩‍👧‍👧 Life as a mum of two and navigating 25 years as a FIFO wife 🎓 Completing a Master’s degree while wo...

“At some point, you realise Plan A isn’t going to happen… and that’s where everything changes.” In this episode of What’s the Craic Podcast, I sit down with Zaymn, Group General Manager of Finance and Sales at John Hughes Group, to unpack the journey from chasing a professional cricket career to leading one of WA’s largest automotive businesses. We talk about: 🏏 Growing up chasing the dream of pl...

“Leadership isn’t about you. It’s about the environment you create for others to thrive.” In this episode of What’s the Craic Podcast, I sit down with Trent Cotchin, former Richmond captain and three-time premiership winner, to unpack the real story behind leadership, pressure, and what it takes to build a winning culture. We talk about: 🏉 Being drafted young, dealing with injuries, and carrying...

“It’s not just what you eat. It’s how you store it, cook it, and prepare it.” In this episode of What’s the Craic Podcast, I sit down with Dr Amelia Harray - a dietician, nutritionist, and clinical researcher from the UWA Medical School, to unpack the hidden impact plastics and food marketing have on our health. We talk about: 🥗 Why protein-fortified products and supplements are often more market...

“We’re not just building houses… we’re building people’s dreams.” In this episode of What’s the Craic Podcast, I sit down with Andy Kearns, director and owner of Perway Construction, to unpack the journey from leaving Ireland during the recession to building a successful residential construction company in Perth. We talk about: 🇮🇪 Leaving Ireland in 2011 during the recession and landing in Perth w...

In the first episode of the newly rebranded What’s the Craic Podcast , I sit down with fellow Irishman man George Harrington, an engineer and project delivery specialist who moved from Ireland to Perth and built a career across some of the toughest and most interesting projects around the world. We talk about: 🇮🇪 Growing up in Cork with a strong work ethic installed from his father 🎓 Studying eng...

After years as The Elite Executive , the podcast is getting a new name. In this episode, we explain the thinking behind the rebrand to What’s The Craic , where the name comes from, and why it better reflects the conversations we’ve always wanted to have. “What’s the craic?” is a simple Irish question. It means what’s going on, how’s life, what’s new. And that’s exactly how every conversation on th...

“Success means nothing if you lose yourself in the process.” In this episode, I sit down with Yasmin Cooper, former telecommunications executive turned health and wellness entrepreneur, to unpack the journey from running a high-pressure corporate business to building a life rooted in movement, mindset, and meaning. We talk about: 📞 Building and leading an Optus Business Centre from the ground up...

“I just try to be a good use of people’s time.” In this episode, I sit down with Brian Briscoe, founder of Briscoe Search, to unpack his journey from Irish backpacker to respected executive recruiter in Perth and how a cancer diagnosis at 24 shaped everything that came after. We talk about: ✈️ Landing in Australia and falling into recruitment (armed with only Yellow Pages and a phone) 🧬 Getting f...

“I didn’t want to look back in 10 years and regret not taking the chance.” In this episode, I sit down with Bryan Johnson, an institutional stockbroker and co‑founder of Wallabi Group, to unpack two decades of career decisions... and the moment he realised his health needed the same discipline as his work. We talk about: 📈 Building a finance career inspired by Wall Street and forged at firms like...

“I would sooner shut the business down than do it the way everyone else does.” In this episode, I sit down with Niamh Murphy, founder of Cailin Mining and Civil, to unpack a journey that’s anything but conventional... From arriving in Australia to fund acting school, to taking on one of the most broken parts of the mining industry. We talk about: 🚜 Breaking into a male-dominated industry as a mac...

From Club Pro to Coaching With Purpose: Glenn Paul’s Journey in Golf and Business In this episode, Odhran sits down with Glenn Paul, a seasoned golf coach with over two decades in the game, to explore how sport, family, and business collide in real life. From early inspiration watching pro tournaments as a kid to chasing the tour life in the U.S., Glenn shares how his journey through the PGA syste...

“Not every business works... but every one teaches you something.” We’re kicking off 2026 with a full-circle moment: my first-ever client in Perth, Eoin Byrne, joins me on the mic to share 20+ years of real-world business lessons... from beach cafés to biotech. We talk about: 🍦 How an ice cream truck evolved into a beachside café 🌯 The hard (and painful) lessons from a failed Mexican food franch...

“You can’t do it all — and you shouldn’t. Leadership starts with learning to say no.” In this episode, I sit down with Gillian Forde , Operations Director at Aurecon for Western Australia and the Northern Territory, to unpack her journey from Ireland to the top of one of Australia’s most respected engineering consultancies. We talk about: 🛫 Leaving post-GFC Ireland to restart in Perth 🔧 From str...

If you’re willing to move to the other side of the world… you’ve already proven you can succeed.” In this episode, I sit down with John O’Donnell , Group Business Manager at Kilmore Group - one of Western Australia’s fastest-growing construction firms, now employing over 110 people. We talk about: 🏗️ How Kilmore grew by doing the work other builders avoid 🇮🇪 John’s journey from post-GFC Ireland to...

🎯  From Burnout to Beast Mode: Gian's 20kg Transformation Story Join us for an incredible journey with Gian, a cybersecurity leader at Telstra, who lost 20 kilos in 12 months while juggling a high-pressure executive role and raising a 2-year-old. Key Talking Points: ✅  The COVID Wake-Up Call  - How Melbourne lockdowns destroyed his fitness routine and led to unhealthy eating habits ✅  Findi...

“I never had ambitions to be a CEO. I think I probably just fell into it.” In this episode, I sat down with Niamh O’Connor , the accidental CEO of Western Force , whose journey from growing up in Ireland to leading a professional rugby organisation is anything but conventional. We dive into: 🏉 Why her path to CEO wasn’t linear — and why that’s her strength 🚨 The misconceptions people have about...