Success and More Interesting Stuff

Hosted by Livewire Markets

Business Entrepreneurship Management

Website RSS feed

Episodes

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

About the show

Take a front-row seat to hear the stories behind some of Australia’s most successful and iconic sports people and business leaders. The show is hosted by Matthew Kidman, former business editor of the Sydney Morning Herald and author of three books. Kidman takes the time to uncover the rarely heard stories behind these successful individuals to give listeners a unique perspective of what makes them tick.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 3, 2026Episode 6956 min

David Friedlander: The Dealmaker

Success and More Interesting Stuff has enjoyed conversations with a range of stock market participants. We have never talked to a lawyer - until today. David Friedlander could possibly be one of the most influential people in Australian corporate activity over the last 40 years. In this episode of Success and More Interesting Stuff, David shares his insights on the impact of AI on the legal profession and takes us inside some of Australia's biggest corporate deals.

June 29, 2026Episode 6758 min

The world is fracturing and Australia faces some critical decisions - FY27 Outlook

The geopolitical and economic tides have shifted. Recent decades played out against a backdrop of globalisation, disinflation, falling interest rates, and above-normal equity market returns. That era is behind us, and the path forward looks vastly different. This shift sits at the core of this special episode, which brings together three leaders in equity investing, gold mining, and economics. The panel dives into the outlook for geopolitics, commodities, inflation, and equities - highlighting both the challenges and the unique opportunities ahead.

June 1, 2026Episode 6656 min

Morry Waked and the rise of an investing juggernaut

Morry Waked revolutionised the funds management industry in Australia. Armed with a natural gift for mathematics and the rigorous training of an actuary, he made the leap from insurance to the equities market and helped turn quantitative investing into a legitimate, powerhouse strategy. By using sophisticated algorithms to strip away emotion and generate above-average returns, Morry has spent over 20 years at the absolute frontier of Australian finance.

May 4, 2026Episode 6450 min

Manny Pohl: Is Growth still the right bet?

Manny Pohl may well be the 'father of growth investing' in Australia, but his journey began thousands of miles away as an electrical engineer in South Africa. From a chance meeting on the Gold Coast to co-founding the $17-billion-dollar powerhouse Hyperion Asset Management, Manny has spent decades proving that 'quality growth' is the ultimate winning strategy. But in a new era of rising interest rates and AI disruption, the old rules are being rewritten. In this episode, Matthew sits down with the founder of ECP Asset Management to discuss the early experiences that shaped his philosophy, the evolution of the Australian market, and why he’s doubling down on growth in an age of uncertainty.

April 6, 2026Episode 6355 min

Dr Don Hamson: The pivot that built a $25bn business

In this episode of Success and More Interesting Stuff, we sit down with Dr Don Hamson, founder of Plato Investment Management. Hamson built a $25 billion fund manager, but it started with a problem. His original long/short strategy was disrupted during the GFC when regulators banned short selling. What followed was a shift towards income, built around a simple idea. In Australia, franking credits matter, particularly for retirees. That focus became the foundation of Plato’s business. Today, Hamson runs a global investment firm with a systematic approach to investing, focused on consistency, risk management and long-term outcomes. In this conversation, we unpack that pivot, how he thinks about building portfolios, and why process matters more than prediction over time.

March 3, 2026Episode 6252 min

Why Jillian Broadbent believes reform, not rhetoric, will drive Australia forward

Jillian Broadbent has worked at the heart of Australia’s financial and policy institutions for decades. She began at the Reserve Bank under Nugget Coombs, helped build Bankers Trust during deregulation, and later served three terms on the RBA board through the Asian and global financial crises. She also chaired the Clean Energy Finance Corporation from inception and served as Chancellor of the University of Wollongong. In this episode, Broadbent reflects on central banking, board life, clean energy finance and why Australia still needs meaningful economic reform.

February 2, 2026Episode 6152 min

This ain’t junk! Why GYG’s Steven Marks refuses to compromise on quality

Guzman y Gomez Founder & co-CEO Steven Marks joins Matthew Kidman to discuss his decision to leave Wall Street, the tough early years building GYG, why quality is non-negotiable, and what comes next as the business expands into the US.

December 16, 2025Episode 6046 min

Gold, AI and the risks investors can’t ignore heading into 2026

To mark the 50th episode of Success and More Interesting Stuff, Matthew Kidman is joined by Chris Judd, Jun Bei Liu and Dr Shane Oliver for a panel discussion focused on four timely issues facing markets as we approach 2026.

November 11, 2025Episode 5855 min

Mark Landau's best investment decision

Mark Landau’s best investment decision wasn’t a stock pick — it was meeting his future business partner, Rafi Lamm. Together they built L1 Capital from scratch into a $17 billion fund manager. In this episode, Landau reflects on the lessons from success, setbacks, and starting again as a listed company.

October 6, 2025Episode 5752 min

Alexis George: Rebuilding AMP

From small-town Bega to the boardrooms of London and Hong Kong, Alexis George built a global career before taking on one of the toughest jobs in Australian business — rebuilding AMP. In this episode, she shares her story, the lessons she learned abroad, and how she’s reshaping AMP’s culture and strategy for the future.