Sweat Capital

Hosted by Sweat Capital

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148

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Conversations with leaders on building careers, companies & character the hard way. No shortcuts, just sweat. Founded by Charlie Selth, Will Chapman and Dimitri Gremos, the show began as 'The Business Of' – a passion project between Will and Charlie who were curious about what it really takes to succeed. Today, Sweat Capital is an evolving platform that combines that same curiosity with a bigger mission: to democratise access to knowledge and humanise business leadership in Australia.

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June 16, 202652 min

#149 - Best of 2026 So Far: Job Interviews, Cybersecurity, Consulting Wealth Management (Part 2)

We're just about halfway through 2026 with 26 episodes in the bag, so we wanted to look back at some of our favourite moments from the show so far this year.In Part 2, we revisit four conversations that stuck with us – from the art of ethical hacking and protecting Australia's largest companies from cyber threats, to lessons from Australia's highest ranked wealth adviser, to how to nail your next job interview or pitch.In this episode:00:00–09:05 Assadi Youssef (IBM) on the art of ethical hacking and protecting Australia's biggest companies from cyber threats [⁠⁠Episode #139⁠⁠]09:05–22:03 Jonathan Pease (Winning The Room) on how to nail your next job interview or pitch [⁠⁠Episode #145⁠⁠]22:03–33:36 Dr. Stephanie Allen (Kearney) on going from solving bus timetables to advising global healthcare giants [⁠⁠Episode #137⁠⁠]33:36–52:24 Charlie Viola (Viola Private Wealth) on going from a bank teller to Australia's highest ranked wealth adviser [⁠⁠Episode #141⁠⁠]***Follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠ & ⁠LinkedIn⁠.Enjoying the show? Share this episode with a friend who's playing the long game in whatever they're doing.We'll see you in the next one.

June 9, 202648 min

#148 - Best of 2026 So Far: AI, Careers, Moscow, Satellites & Backing The Right Horse (Part 1)

We're just about halfway through 2026 with 26 episodes in the bag, so we wanted to look back at some of our favourite moments from the show so far this year.In Part 1, we revisit six conversations that stuck with us – from how AI is revolutionising fundamental investing, to why you should view your career as a portfolio and not a ladder, to launching satellites into space after hitting rock bottom.In this episode:00:00–15:09 Armina Rosenberg (Minotaur Capital) on how AI is rewriting the rules of stock picking [Episode #130]15:09–18:13 Alexander Currie (Baker Botts) on what happens when your boss asks you to move to Moscow "just for 3 months" and it turns into 5-and-a-half years [Episode #134]18:13–24:16 Anthony Brown (NobleOak) on why your career is a portfolio, not a ladder [Episode #125]24:16–27:48 Graham Kerr (South32) on cramming in as many experiences as you can before you turn 30 [Episode #132]27:48–38:02 Flavia Tata Nardini (Fleet Space Technologies) on going from rock bottom to launching satellites into space [Episode #128]38:02–48:09 Brian Hartzer (Quantium Health), former Westpac CEO, on the importance of backing the right horse [Episode #144]Part 2 drops next week.***Follow us on Instagram & LinkedIn.Enjoying the show? Share this episode with a friend who's playing the long game in whatever they're doing.We'll see you in the next one.

June 2, 202636 min

#147 - Do These Things Right Now To Stop Falling Behind In The AI Race (Oliver Merrick)

In this episode of Sweat Capital, we sit down with Oliver Merrick, the 22-year old founder of Mez Corp, to unpack what it actually takes to build a business at the coalface of AI.Ollie's path is anything but conventional. The son of winemakers, he made his first $5 at 14 doing Instagram shoutouts from boarding school, cycled through drop shipping, print on demand and theme pages, and eventually quit a startup job he loved to bet on himself. Eight months after starting his current Instagram account, he booked a one-way ticket to France to join a hacker house with a Dutch founder he'd never met, and has since worked out of the UK, Dubai, DC, New York and Sydney.We unpack his framework for making businesses "dangerous with AI", why he believes the Elon Musk first-principles playbook (stop, audit, delete, simplify, then automate) matters more than chasing shiny agents, what it's like inside a global hacker house alongside founders running 400K-follower accounts and 8-figure consumer apps, and why distribution, curiosity and ruthless honesty about what you actually want are the most compounding skills of our generation.A genuinely inspiring conversation for anyone trying to figure out how to build, post and live with intent in the AI era.***Follow us on Instagram & LinkedIn.This episode was recorded on 13 May 2026.We'll see you in the next one,Keep playing the long game.

May 26, 202650 min

#146 - The Contrarian Bet on Japan That Most Investors Are Missing (James Halse)

In this episode of Sweat Capital, we sit down with James Halse, founder of Senjin Capital and former portfolio manager at Platinum Asset Management, to unpack one of the most overlooked opportunity sets in global investing: Japanese small-cap activism.James shares the journey from starting his career in tax at Deloitte, to spending years inside one of Australia’s most respected global equities firms, before eventually launching Senjin Capital with a dedicated focus on undercapitalised and undermanaged Japanese companies.We explore why Japan has historically been misunderstood by global investors, what has changed in recent years, and why James believes Japanese small-cap activism is the best opportunity he has seen in nearly two decades of investing. We also discuss the difference between cheap stocks and true value, how engagement and activism work in Japan, and why the market structure creates opportunities that are difficult to find elsewhere.A conversation about global equities, deep-value investing, activism, and what it takes to leave an established platform to build a specialist investment firm from scratch.*** This episode was recorded on 4 May 2026.Follow us on Instagram & LinkedIn.We’ll see you in the next one,Keep playing the long game.

May 19, 202641 min

#145 - How To Speak With Confidence At Work & Tell Better Stories (Jonathan Pease)

In this episode of Sweat Capital, we sit down with Jonathan Pease, creative strategist, entrepreneur and founder of Winning The Room, to unpack the psychology of communication, influence and presenting ideas in high pressure environments.Jonathan shares lessons from his career across advertising, media, television and business, including his early years at BBDO in New York working on global brands, building and selling creative businesses, and later coaching senior executives, founders and public figures on how to communicate with impact.We discuss why the best idea (alone) often does not win, how great presenters think differently, and what separates technically competent people from those you genuinely want to listen to. Jonathan also explains why storytelling, structure and delivery are becoming even more important in a digitally-driven world where content is abundant but attention is scarce.A very practical conversation about persuasion, creativity, confidence and the communication skills that compound over a lifetime.***This episode was recorded on 8 May 2026.Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We'll see you in the next one,Keep playing the long game.

May 12, 202640 min

#144 - Brian Hartzer: Former Westpac CEO On Navigating Pressure & Leading Quantium Health

In this episode of Sweat Capital, we sit down with former Westpac CEO Brian Hartzer to unpack one of the most fascinating careers in global finance - from studying history at Princeton to leading one of Australia’s biggest and most scrutinised institutions.Brian reflects on the realities of running a Big Four bank: balancing regulators, shareholders, customers and employees while operating under constant public scrutiny.We discuss the transition from consulting into banking leadership, what people underestimate about being a bank CEO, and the lessons he carried from ANZ and ultimately Westpac.We also explore Brian’s next chapter after banking - including his roles in fintech and as CEO of Quantium Health - where he’s now focused on the intersection of AI, data science and healthcare. A wide-ranging conversation about leadership, pressure, institutions, reinvention and building a career across multiple eras of business.You can also check out Brian's book: The Leadership Star: A Practical Guide to Building Engagement***This episode was recorded on 5 May 2026.Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠. We'll see you in the next one,Keep playing the long game.

May 8, 202629 min

#143 - Are Cover Letters, Business Cards & Notebooks Redundant In 2026? Should They Be? (April Recap)

In this April recap episode, Lulu, Charlie & Dimi discuss what's actually redundant in the business world today...Cover letters?Business cards?Physical notebooks?Long hours?Reflecting on recent episodes with the likes of Trent Blacket and Charlie Viola, we dive into whether or not certain customs and conventions still earn their place – or whether we're holding onto them out of habit, nostalgia, or sheer professional inertia.We also provide an update on how how the show is progressing, as well as flagging some exciting upcoming guests.We hope you enjoy!***This episode was recorded on 4 May 2026.Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠. We'll see you in the next one,Keep playing the long game.

April 21, 202635 min

#142 - Soph Greiner & Bella Filacuridi (Dome): How Two Young Founders Created Australia's First Ever Podcast Festival

In this episode of Sweat Capital, we sit down with Sophie Greiner and Bella Filacuridi, co-founders of Dome, to unpack what it actually takes to build a business inside one of the fastest-moving corners of media – the $130bn global podcast industry.Podcasts have quickly become one of the most powerful vehicles for community, identity, and cultural conversation in the world, and yet the commercial value of genuine fandom has still not been fully recognised.Enter: DomeFest – Australia's first-ever podcast fan festival, held earlier this year at Sydney's Hordern Pavilion. We dive into how two founders with zero event experience convinced the country's biggest podcast talent, and the team behind Lost Paradise, to back their vision, and why the turnout (with attendees flying in from across Australia & New Zealand) convinced them the IRL opportunity might be even bigger than the platform itself.We also explore the commercial thesis driving Dome, why an engaged audience of 10,000 diehard listeners is worth more to a brand than a show reaching the masses, why podcast hosts are trusted more than influencers, and why the next wave of value in the industry will flow to communities, not download counts. For founders, creators, marketers, or anyone thinking about community, media, or how to carve out a category in an industry dominated by legacy players, this episode is a rare look at how two young operators in their early twenties are turning shared obsession into commercial opportunity by building something Australia has never seen before.***This episode was recorded on 17 April 2026. Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠. We'll see you in the next one, Keep playing the long game.

April 14, 202647 min

#141 - Charlie Viola: From Bank Teller To One of Australia’s Highest Ranked Wealth Advisers

In this episode of Sweat Capital, we sit down with Charlie Viola, Founder of Viola Private Wealth, to unpack one of the toughest decisions in wealth management - walking away after you’ve successfully built a business and client base.Charlie helped grow Pitcher Partners’ wealth business from under $50 million to more than $3.5 billion in funds under management. At that point in his career, he made the call to execute a management buyout of Pitcher’s wealth arm.We discuss what drives a move like that, how winning clients changes when you’re on your own, and the realities of building a high-net-worth advisory business without the backing of an established advisory platform. Charlie also shares what wealthy clients actually value, how trust is built over decades, and how he’s scaled Viola Private Wealth to advising on over $3 billion today while maintaining a high-touch model.A conversation about relationships, credibility, and playing the long game in wealth management.***This episode was recorded on 8 April 2026.Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.We'll see you in the next one,Keep playing the long game.

April 10, 202634 min

#140 - “I Fell Into It…” Intentionality vs Serendipity In Careers (March Recap)

No shortage of highly successful people have been quoted as saying “I sort of just fell into it...” but what are people really saying here?In this March recap episode, Lulu, Charlie & Dimi explore the concept of intentionality and whether people ascribe enough weight to intentional decision making and its impact on career progression versus the serendipitous circumstances that people often encounter.We also dive deeper into how to find comfort in an uncertain world where on any given day…”AI is coming for your job”. ***This episode was recorded on 8 April 2026.Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.We'll see you in the next one,Keep playing the long game.