DRIVEN with Simon Noakes

Hosted by Simon Noakes

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Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

A series of conversations with those driven in life, business and everything in between.

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18 recent

June 4, 202654 min

#18 MANNAS CHAN - NOAKES NICKOLAS

From moving to Tasmania, Australia from Hong Kong at a young age to becoming one of Adelaide's top real estate agents, Mannas Chan's journey is built on hard work and accountability. After completing a degree in Physiology, Mannas spent seven years in door-to-door sales, progressing to lead a large team before making the move into real estate. Since then, his career has gone from strength to strength. A great conversation about expectations growing up, embracing challenges, and why taking full responsibility for your success can change everything.

November 10, 20251 hr 9 min

#17 JEMMA TURNER - MAGAIN

At just 20 years old, Jemma Turner stepped into the world of real estate with big dreams and even bigger drive. Fast forward to today, she’s an elite agent selling over 100 homes a year - all within a powerhouse team of just three. In this episode, Jemma opens up about her journey to the top, the lessons learned from early setbacks, and the mindset that’s fueled her success. From building resilience in a competitive industry to becoming an inspiring role model for the next generation of agents, Jemma’s story is a masterclass in perseverance, passion, and personal growth. Tune in to hear how she turned ambition into achievement and what it really takes to become one of the best.

September 30, 20251 hr 0 min

#16 JAE CURTIS - BELLE

Jae’s journey to success was anything but overnight. From touring the world in a boy band to almost walking away from real estate more than once, his path has been full of highs, lows, and lessons. But when it finally clicked, Jae pushed through to the next level, building momentum, growing and leading a thriving team, and balancing the demands of fatherhood along the way. In this raw and honest chat, Jae opens up about resilience, self-belief, and what it really takes to carve out a career and life you love.

September 4, 202557 min

#15 NICK PELVAY - FOX REAL ESTATE

Nick Pelvay’s journey in real estate began early, growing up surrounded by property and quickly finding his passion for the industry. He’s worked alongside some of the highest-performing agents in the country, learning what it takes to thrive in a competitive market. Over the years, Nick has embraced change, moving between businesses and developing a specialty in luxury, high-end, off-plan property sales. His story is one of growth and resilience, from an ambitious young agent finding his feet, to a skilled professional and proud dad of three, balancing family life with a successful real estate career.

April 9, 2025Episode 141 hr 2 min

#14 JAKE BILLICH - NOAKES NICKOLAS

In this episode, we dive into the journey of Jake – a driven young associate whose rise in the industry has been nothing short of impressive. From navigating early challenges to overcoming the inevitable hurdles of growth, Jake shares what it takes to build momentum in a competitive market. His relentless work ethic and commitment to delivering unbelievable client service have made him one of the fastest-growing young agents in the game. An inspiring conversation for anyone chasing success with purpose.

March 10, 2025Episode 131 hr 29 min

#13: TAYLA TAARNBY - TAARNBY

With over a decade of experience in real estate, Tayla has built an impressive career, selling more than 110 properties a year while running a business and raising two daughters. In this episode, Tayla opens up about her journey into the industry, the unique strengths she brings as a female agent, and how she balances rapid career growth with motherhood. An inspiring conversation about pursuing your goals, embracing challenges, and making the most out of every opportunity.

February 5, 2025Episode 121 hr 9 min

#12: MARK LANDS - LANDS REAL ESTATE

Mark shares the daily disciplines that drive success, the importance of maintaining high standards in every aspect of your work, and the key strategies for thriving as an agent in today’s competitive market. A smooth, engaging, and thought-provoking conversation with a true philosopher of the industry.

October 17, 202454 min

BRENT ILLICIC - MASTERING THE AUCTION CRAFT

We sit down with renowned auctioneer Brent, who shares his captivating journey through the world of auctions. From the wild stories of bidding wars to the adrenaline-pumping moments of calling 600 auctions a year. Join us as we explore the lessons learned from both the highs and lows of auctioneering, the pressure of performing, the importance of mentorship, and how he transformed challenges into opportunities for growth.

August 28, 202446 min

MATTHEW ANAND - SCALING UP

Matthew Anand is one of a kind —humble, hardworking, and driven. He moved from Brunei to Australia with his family at a young age and, after losing his father early on, developed a deep sense of gratitude and a strong desire to help others. Fast forward to today, Matt is the top agent at Noakes Nickolas for the second year in a row, with over 100 sales a year under his belt. He’s quickly becoming one of Adelaide’s finest agents, especially in the development space. In this episode, we chat about his journey from IT to property development, and now to being a high-performing real estate agent. It’s a laid-back conversation that’ll leave you feeling inspired.

July 17, 2024Episode 91 hr 6 min

TOP AGENTS OF SA - TOM CRAWFORD

Tom Crawford is truly unique. Growing up in North West England, his life took an unexpected turn during a backpacking trip around Australia. After breaking his arm, he found himself in Adelaide, where he was introduced to real estate. Embracing this new opportunity, Tom decided to make Adelaide his home. Over the past few years, he has climbed the ranks to become one of the top agents in the city. Tom's hard work, charismatic persona, and relentless drive to improve have led him to sell 200 properties a year in one of the most competitive markets. Sit back and enjoy the journey of a humble man from England who has become an iconic agent in Adelaide.