Wild Hearts

The internet is drowning in ‘slop’- and George Howes has a fix. The former creative lead at Eucalyptus believes the solution to this ‘creative problem’ starts with a feedback loopand ends with a new kind of intelligence. After leading one of Australia’s fastest-growing startups through a wave of performance marketing breakthroughs, George walked away to build something better. That “something” bec...

What motivates a founder to shift from building a billion-dollar edtech unicorn to manufacturing missiles? And what happens when your career becomes a response to something deeply personal — the kind of world your kids might grow up in? Vu Tran is a doctor, a co-founder of Go1, and now the co-founder of Black Sky Industries — Australia’s first scalable missile and solid rocket motor manufacturer....

What happens when you pack a carry-on, fly across the world, and try to scale a healthcare startup in one of the world’s toughest markets? In the latest episode from our Operator series of Wild Hearts, we sit down with Jesse Creighton, Director (US), Heidi Health. Jesse shares what it really looked like to launch the company’s American expansion — from hosting awkward dinners with two doctors at a...

What does it take to achieve nuclear fusion in less time than it takes to build a traditional power plant prototype? In this episode of Wild Hearts, we’re joined by Ratu Mataira, CEO of OpenStar, a company that just hit the crucial "first plasma" milestone in a staggering 16 months.  We unpack the misconceptions surrounding fusion, the unique design of OpenStar’s levitated dipole reactor, and why...

How do you take a scientific hunch and turn it into a breakthrough that could change medicine forever? In this episode of Wild Hearts, we sit down with Elise Jenkins , co-founder of  Opto Biosystems , to discuss the journey of building a first-in-class brain implant that merges neurotechnology with oncology.  🎧  Subscribe on  Apple  or  Spotify  to learn. We explore the highs and lows of moving f...

In this episode we cover: ✅Challenges of creating a hardware product ✅Helping people overcome shame and stigma ✅Building a brand beyond a visual identity ✅Investing in your own mental health ✅Reaching your audience where they are With its range of sex toys and sex education resources, NORMAL has reimagined the sex shop into an online experience that is fun and informative, with the mission of...

What happens when a 10-second TikTok video changes everything overnight? For Annabelle Hay, co-founder and CEO of CLUTCH, it meant selling out 5,000 units in hours, navigating a manufacturing disaster, and scrambling to scale.  In this episode, Annabelle shares the rollercoaster journey of building a consumer brand from scratch, the unexpected lessons of going viral, and the challenges of breaking...

What happens when artificial intelligence isn't just assisting—but reshaping—the world of investment? In this episode of Wild Hearts, we chat with Armina Rosenberg, an investor combining traditional fundamental research with revolutionary AI-driven techniques.  Armina dives into how her firm, Minotaur, leverages AI to break down barriers, uncover global opportunities, and make investment decisions...

Imagine being able to understand your customers better than ever before—instantly. That’s the promise of AI-powered product management.  In this episode, Matt Hinds, Co-founder and CEO of Sauce AI, explains how AI is transforming the way companies prioritise, iterate, and execute on their product roadmaps. We dive into the tools, strategies, and mindset shifts that are allowing top teams to unlock...

Winning against billion-dollar incumbents isn't about money—it’s about strategy. In this episode, we talk to Steve Hind, the co-founder of Lorikeet , about how he and his team built an AI-powered customer support tool that’s not just competing but winning in one of the most crowded markets in tech. Steve shares the moment that led to their pivotal product shift, the principles guiding their succes...

How do you take a deeply human skill—asking great questions—and scale it with AI? Michelle Gilmore , co-founder and CEO of Juno, is tackling that challenge head-on. In this episode, we talk about her path from industrial design to AI entrepreneurship, why the best research isn’t about collecting data but understanding people, and how Juno is changing the way businesses learn from their customers....

AI & Creativity: how Springboards is changing the game for agencies What does it take to turn an idea into a global business in just six months? In this episode, we sit down with the founders of Springboards,  Pip Bingemann  and  Amy Tucker ,  to uncover their whirlwind journey from a three-person team with an MVP to a thriving international business that’s transforming the creative agency spa...

Discover how  Stephanie Carullo   from Box and Apple, transformed education through technology. In this episode, she shares the pivotal moments that redefined classrooms, the culture at Apple, and her vision for the future of AI in learning.  🔑 Why Apple’s "life's best work" mantra fosters trust and accountability across teams 📱 The revolutionary impact of the iPad on education and its role in t...

What does it take to launch Australia into the global space race? For Adam Gilmour, CEO and founder of Gilmour Space Technologies, the answer is a bold vision, relentless innovation, and an unwavering commitment from a founder and their team. In this episode of Wild Hearts, Adam shares the highs, lows, and lessons learned as he prepares for the first Australian-made rocket launch from Australian s...

Join us as we dive into the archives of Wild Hearts to re-live some of our favourite episodes! Flavia is connecting everything on earth via sending toaster sized satellites into low earth orbit. In the second episode of, host Mason Yates speaks to co-founder and CEO Flavia Tata Nardini and Blackbird Partner Niki Scevak about the rocket science company that is connecting everything on earth. Key to...

Join us as we dive into the archives of Wild Hearts to re-live some of our favourite episodes! Halter is a fenceless farming startup. They're creating mind control technology for cows. An engineer by trade and dairy farmer by birth, Halter CEO is familiar with the relentless demands of farming. “The day in the life of a farmer is you’re up at 4:30am every morning, even on Christmas morning, nothin...

Join us, as we dive into the Wild Hearts archives to re-live previous episodes from some of our favourite guests! Tim Doyle, co-founder of seed-stage company Eucalyptus, has spent $35M across political campaigns, mattresses and now healthcare. Before Eucalyptus, Tim was the Head of Marketing at Koala. In this conversation, Tim talks about how he allocates capital, how Eucalyptus captures attention...

Building a deep-tech company like  Fleet Space Technologies  isn't just about the technology; it's about the people, the focus, and the vision to change the world. In this episode of Wild Hearts,  Flavia Tata Nardini  takes us behind the scenes of Fleet's growth, sharing how critical decisions, customer feedback, and personal resilience have shaped her leadership.  Join us for a conversation that...

What happens when a founder bets everything on simplicity—and wins? 🎧  Subscribe on  Apple  or  Spotify  to learn. That’s the story of  Dr. Thomas Kelly  and his ambitious telehealth platform,  Heidi —a product that faced failure before transforming into a global success. In this episode of Wild Hearts, we delve into the remarkable journey of a founder who dared to strip everything back to focus...

What happens when one man’s parenting experiences become the blueprint for a global storytelling phenomenon? That’s exactly what Joe Brumm achieved with Bluey, the universally loved animated series.  In this episode, we explore the journey of a father-turned-creative visionary who bet everything on capturing the magic of family life. From creating a team culture that prioritises love and ownership...

Amber Joseph  is rewriting the rules of learning. After scaling a solo business to $700,000/year without cofounders or funding, she pivoted to tackle online education’s biggest flaws. Now the founder of  NextWork , Amber is building a platform that teaches real-world skills, validated by real companies.  In our latest episode of Wild Hearts, we sit down with  Amber  and dive deep into: 🚀 How  Amb...

How do you transform a rejection  into a stepping-stone for success? For Liam Millward, founder of Instant, that rejection sparked an obsession with speed and revenue that would drive his young company to incredible heights. In this conversation, we explore Liam’s journey of rapid growth, strategic pivots, and the lessons learned on the path to building a $100M+ business. In this episode, we learn...

What happens when you bring innovation to the heart of traditional farming?  In this episode, we sit down with Craig Piggott, CEO and Founder of Halter, to discuss the journey of transforming the farming industry with smart technology. Craig shares insights on managing supply chain and critical path changes, boosting productivity, the company's plans to expand globally, and how he and his team are...

How do you go from launching reusable rockets to pioneering cultured meat manufacturing? In this episode, Ines Lizaur, a former SpaceX engineer and now Head of Manufacturing at Vow, joins us on Wild Hearts to share her journey and insights on tackling big challenges in high-stakes environments. From her early days at SpaceX where she grappled with relentless deadlines and operational reliability,...

With over 2000 engineers, an ever-expanding product suite, and billions of users, how does Canvacontinue launching world-class products at breakneck speed? In the latest episode in our Operators Series, we dive into the mind of Robert Kawalsky, Head of Product at Canva, to uncover the strategies behind one of the most successful product teams in the world. Robert reveals how a relentless focus on...