You’d be hard pressed to find a more determined entrepreneur than Irene Falcone. From the comfort of her garage, Irene created low-tox eCommerce brand Nourished Life and eventually sold it for $20 million. But the experience was anything but nourishing, she tells us with raw honesty on this episode of First Act. From those dark days, Irene went on to create non-alcoholic beverage brand Sans Drinks. Despite initial success riding the wave of zero-alcohol drinking trends, the business went into administration in 2023 after a period of fiery competition from bigger beasts in the industry. Not one to be battle worn, Irene rose again with a new venture, Clean Nectarine, ready to disrupt the clean beauty industry she pioneered all those years ago. You can check out Clean Nectarine - https://cleannectarine.com.au/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason T Smith is someone who has redefined resilience in business. Jason’s entrepreneurial journey started with an entirely different goal – to become a medical missionary. But life took him on a detour, and at just 24, he founded what would become Australia’s largest physiotherapy network, the Back In Motion Health Group, which he later sold for over $100 million. Despite his success, Jason sees himself as an unlikely entrepreneur. He’s even written a book about it (called Unlikely, in fact). On First Act, Jason takes us through the highs and lows of his story, from dashed hopes of becoming a doctor to even – wait for it – being a victim of corporate espionage. What a story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aviv Palti is a lifelong entrepreneur with a knack for building businesses — and a heart set on making a difference. As the CEO of Lifestyle Brands and founder of the Cambodia Rural Students Trust (CRST), Aviv’s journey weaves together commercial success and social impact. Starting his first business at just 19, Aviv grew a small family venture into a thriving wholesale brand with global partnerships. But it was a family trip to Cambodia that unlocked a new purpose—breaking the poverty cycle through education. In this episode of First Act, Aviv reflects on the highs and lows of his entrepreneurial journey, the power of mentorship, and how dreaming big can transform lives. He also shares the incredible success stories of CRST students, who’ve gone from rural poverty to leadership roles across Cambodia. Get ready to be inspired by Aviv’s belief that business, just like life, is about giving back—and that “it’s not about me, it’s about we”. You can find out more about Cambodia Rural Students Trust and Aviv Palti's book Empowered: A New Generation of Leaders here: https://www.cambodiaruralstudentstrust.org/empowered Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Megan Dalla-Camina’s career is a masterclass in reinvention. From climbing the corporate ladder in male-dominated industries to becoming a best-selling author, speaker, and advocate for women's empowerment, Megan has continually pushed boundaries and shattered glass ceilings. But what happens when a high-flying executive decides to step away from the boardroom and embrace a life of purpose-driven work?  In this episode, Megan shares how leaving corporate life led her to redefine success, the pivotal moments that sparked her passion for empowering women, and the lessons she’s learned about balancing ambition with authenticity. Tune in to uncover how Megan’s journey is inspiring a new generation of women leaders and why she believes true power comes from within. Find out more about Megan Dalla-Camina and Women Rising Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lucy Bloom's journey is anything but ordinary. From launching a boutique ad agency at just 19, to leading life-changing initiatives in Ethiopia and Cambodia, Lucy has carved a unique path fueled by creativity, resilience, and a knack for doing business differently. But what happens when the CEO who built a charity from the ground up gets fired by her own board?  In this episode, Lucy reveals how breaking her leg sparked her entrepreneurial spirit, why storytelling is the secret sauce for any successful business, and the unconventional career moves that led her to become one of Australia’s most in-demand keynote speakers. Tune in to discover how Lucy turns challenges into opportunities, and why she believes you should always "chase the squirrels" in life. You can find out more about Lucy Bloom here: https://thelucybloom.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Growing up in a tiny village in Poland, Charlie Puchala could have never imagined she’d one day be running a multi-million-dollar construction empire in Sydney. But with grit, determination, and a touch of flair, she’s made it happen.  Now, as the powerhouse behind Puch Constructions and Charlie’s Interiors, she’s building more than just structures—she’s building a legacy. From navigating the challenges of starting over in a new country at the age of eight to launching her own ethical fashion label, Charlie’s story is one of passion, perseverance, and pure hustle. We sit down with Charlie to hear how a young girl from rural Poland transformed into one of Australia’s most dynamic entrepreneurs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shaun Christie-David is a passionate entrepreneur who’s turning the tables on the food industry with a purpose-driven mission. Founder of Plate it Forward, Shaun’s journey from the corporate world of finance to creating a socially conscious food business is nothing short of inspiring. Initially set on a different path, Shaun discovered a deeper calling – one that blends his love for food with a commitment to giving back to the community. In this episode of First Act, Shaun shares how he pivoted his career, the challenges he faced along the way, and why he believes that business can be a force for good. Learn how he’s using his culinary ventures, Colombo Social, Kabul Social and Kyiv Social to make a real difference every day. Sit back as we unpack the power of purpose and the impact one person can make when they follow their passion. Get ready to be inspired by the heart and soul behind Plate it Forward! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is Heaps Normal heaps normal yet? That’s a question we posed to Andy Miller, the beer-branding wunderkind who co-founded the fast-growing, Sydney-based non-alcoholic beer brand. While it’s a staple in pubs, bottle-Os and supermarkets now, it’s easy to forget that Heaps Normal only brewed into existence during the first COVID lockdown in 2020. As the CEO and co-founder, Andy brought the marketing nous needed to successfully launch a challenger brand, previously managing marketing at craft beer company Young Henrys.  Together with a brewer and pro surfer, Andy created a booze-free brand that even full-strength beer drinkers don’t hate. It turns out there's a few secrets to that success - and challenges as well. Andy Miller cracks opens a can and gives us a heaps awesome insight on First Act. You can find out more about Heaps Normal here: https://heapsnormal.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meet Corrina Wright, a winemaking trailblazer who has transformed her family's vineyard into a celebrated brand. Born into six generations of grape growers, Corrina initially dreamed of becoming a lawyer. However, a trip overseas sparked a new appreciation for her winemaking heritage and led her back to a life among the vines. In this episode of First Act, Corrina shares her story of embracing her family legacy, becoming the first winemaker in her immediate family, and overcoming the challenges of a male-dominated industry. With a passion for promoting diversity and inclusion, Corrina is reshaping the future of winemaking. Join us as we go behind the scenes with Corrina to discover how her unique journey and dedication have made her a standout in the world of wine. Cheers to Corrina’s inspiring journey at Oliver's Taranga! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alec Ramsey is a chronic overachiever. The Sydney-based serial entrepreneur builds globally successful brands like it’s a sport – the latest being cult budget-friendly fragrance brand Àerre, which creates convincing dupes of luxe perfumes so you don’t have to fork out for an exxy Tom Ford or Maison Margiela. Disruption is his game. Flower delivery service Floraly uses tech to deliver fresher, more sustainable flowers. Churchill Gowns sells academic gowns online, undercutting universities by selling to directly students. His startup accelerator Idea Crunch helps founders prove their business models and get funding from investors. And it all started with a novel idea in the schoolyard that made him his first $100. Alec Ramsey, welcome to First Act. More info at aerre.co. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Angus Stevens’ life flashed before his eyes. He didn’t think he would make it after a hang-gliding accident left him in hospitalised for months. The Sydney father-of-two came out of the near-death experience with fresh sense of purpose. This paved the way for a new business venture: virtual reality and augmented reality studio Start Beyond. Coming from a background in writing, directing and producing TV, documentaries, theatre and short films, and working with the likes of Taylor Swift, Bob Geldof, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, Angus found his calling. Start Beyond has since developed more than 1.2 million AR and VR learning experiences. Their clients include Fortune Global 500 companies Accenture and Meta, as well as Woolworths and St John Ambulance. So how did Angus get to this unique space? Hear his inspiring career journey on FIRST ACT. For more info, visit startbeyond.co. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

‘Am I the CEO?’ Astrid Jorgensen asked herself while wrapping her head around the idea that maybe her wildly popular Pub Choir was indeed a business. But when you attract fans like Mariah Carey, KISS and The Cranberries, you’re onto something. Over the past 7 years, Pub Choir has become a global phenomenon that brings thousands of people together to learn the harmonies of a song in the most non-judgemental way. Astrid is the centre of the Pub Choir universe – it cannot exist without her powerful energy and her unique ‘musical thinking’, as we learn on this episode of First Act. We go behind-the-scenes with Astrid on her path from high school teacher to a choral conductor, composer and performer who’s taught more than 300,000 people to sing.  Head to pubchoir.com.au for more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First Act is back with a brand new season, kicking off on Friday 14 June. Each week, Kochie’s Business Builders editors and co-hosts Cec Busby and Adam Bub talk with some of Australia’s most innovative business owners and personalities and share their inspirational stories and origin tales. So subscribe now for the new season of First Act. Because every story has a beginning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cameron Falloon is passionate about fitness. He’s spent decades helping elite athletes, the rich and famous and everyday Aussies meet their fitness goals to be the best they can be. He is the founder of Body Fit Training - the fastest-growing fitness franchise in Australia - with over 240 locations opened across the globe. Plus he’s the former head fitness coach of the Geelong Cats, the Western Bulldogs and was the high performance coach of Port Adelaide Power for a time. At the ripe old age of 24, he was the personal trainer of perhaps the world’s most famous woman - Princess Diana. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Melbourne entrepreneur Mike Halligan is a bit of an overachiever. He’s mastered the worlds of eCommerce, marketing, blogging, apps and subscription services – all driven by his desire to find solutions to consumer problems and build brands accordingly. Some of his pet projects have taken off, others haven’t. Right now, he’s the co-founder of a howling multi-million dollar success: Scratch, Australia’s fastest-growing direct-to-consumer dog food company. On this episode of First Act, Mike speaks honestly about the lessons he’s learned that any startup founder or budding entrepreneur will lean in to hear. Episode notes In this episode, Mike shares: 2:58 – Growing up in an entrepreneurial family 5:31 – Lessons learned from launching a business as a teen 9:30 – The benefits of studying entrepreneurship 11:10 – Building a successful marketing firm at age 19 – Engage Marketing 15:25 – Jumping on the early blog designing bandwagon – The Blog Designers 18:50 – Evolution into eCommerce and building online stores – Online Store Guys 21:55 – The power of eCommerce to scale a business 24:30 – Launching one of the first health tech apps – BodyWise 30:05 – Advice for people wanting to launch an app today 33:05 – The birth of Scratch subscription pet food service 36:45 – The benefits of a subscription model for business efficiency 44:20 – Reigniting the spark for business after failure Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He’s one of the most recognisable faces on Australian TV thanks to My Kitchen Rules, but that’s only one part of the Manu Feildel story. Coming from a family of French foodies, Manu caught the cooking bug working as a teenage apprentice in his dad’s restaurant in Brittany. Armed with natural talent and joie de vivre, Manu embarked upon a career working in some of the finest French restaurants in London before making the move to Australia. From the highs of heading up hatted restaurants to the heartbreak of closing much-loved venues, Manu’s learned the hard lessons of hospitality firsthand. In this frank, funny and fascinating First Act, Manu shares the secrets of surviving fine dining, navigating TV fame and the challenges of getting a brand into supermarkets (The Sauce By Manu is his latest). Episode notes: In this episode, Manu unpacks: 2:00 – The most overrated food trend 4:00 – Manu’s family foodie history + early days in the food industry 7:00 – Lessons learned from working in hospitality 9:30 – From France to London – Manu’s early career moves 12:00 – Differences between Australian vs European food industries 13:51 – Making a fresh start in Australia – early successes and failures 16:50 – Hardest lessons learned from business challenges 20:00 – Breaking through depression after business failure 22:45 – Upsides and downsides to starring on My Kitchen Rules 25:45 – Learning to be a public figure 27:50 – From representing brands to building his own – By Manu 30:10 – The long journey from idea to supermarket shelves 36:30 – Why the switch from TV chef to supermarket brand? 38:15 – La Botanique – going into business with wife, Clarissa 40:45 – Crowdfunding to expand the By Manu team and brand Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lisa Cox has a no-BS approach to life. Her ability to cut through fluff has been key to her success as an internationally respected disability advocate, award-winning author, business consultant and media professional. It hasn’t been an easy ride. At just 24, Lisa suffered a brain haemorrhage caused by an infection. Three weeks in a coma, two months on life support and dozens of operations and procedures later, Lisa had to rebuild her life, living with a brain injury. Dealing with such a curveball presented Lisa with a second chance. Now, she’s renowned as one of Australia’s most powerful voices for representation, diversity and inclusion for people living with disabilities. Episode notes:In this episode, Lisa unpacks: 2:39 – Making a career out of communicating 6:25 – Disrupting expectations of people with disabilities 9:30 – Fighting back after a sudden, debilitating illness at age 24 12:00 – Disability is more than socially good – it’s good for business 15:29 – Why disability representation matters in media, marketing and advertising 17:35 – Virtue signalling – businesses MUST do better than once a year 22:32 – The problem with the ‘positive inspo’ space 25:44 – Challenges with social attitudes towards people with disability 30:10 – Tiers of prejudice – invisible vs visible disability 34:00 – Understanding what employees with disabilities need 36:12 – The importance of consulting with people with lived experience 39:45 – Support and self-care as a disability advocate 41:30 – Supporting small business owners with disabilities  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Warning: This episode of First Act deals with trauma and may be potentially distressing for some listeners. Yarrie Bangura is a survivor. At the age of eight years old, her family fled the civil war in Sierra Leone and migrated to Australia as refugees. While the painful memories live on, Yarrie has found a way to celebrate the positive parts of growing up in her West African village. Inspired by a natural recipe made by her aunty and grandmother, Yarrie created Aunty’s Ginger Tonic. Now a successful entrepreneur living in Sydney, Yarrie has captured the vibrant spirit of Africa and is passionate about giving back to her adopted homeland of Australia. Episode notes: In this episode, Yarrie talks about: Life in Sierra Leone and the conflict that caused Yarrie’s family to flee (4m) Starting new life in Australia as a teen - coping with trauma + learning a new language (9m30s) Yarrie’s mother’s inspiring entrepreneurial survival skills (16m30s) The family inspiration and product development behind Aunty’s Ginger Tonic (19m25s) Expanding from markets to supermarket shelves (27m30s) Building a business support network to help you reach success (31m45s) Next steps: Expanding the Aunty’s Ginger Tonic flavour range (36m45s) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From SoCal beaches to the streets of Darlinghurst, Clovis Young’s journey to becoming a fast food mogul has been a winding one. Growing up in sunny California, Clovis fell in love with the fresh flavours of Mexican cuisine. But it wasn’t until he ditched his Wall Street job as an equity trader for life down under, that he began his singular mission: to bring fresh Mexican food to Australians. It was a move that would disrupt the local fast food movement with a healthier alternative. Fast forward 13 years later and you can find Mad Mex Fresh Mexican all across the nation. Episode notes: Clovis’ first act – early foodie memories + creative parents (1m) From Wall Street to Australian taco tycoon – next steps (9m 40s) Business blind spots – a steep learning curve (15m30s) Running a business with your significant other (20m) Bootstrapping, franchising + challenges of moving into new territories (24m30s) How a community-focused approach works best (29m) Resilience tips when coping with business challenges (35m) The power of transparency (40m) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Camplify is an Australian startup success on the road to world domination. Based in Newcastle, NSW, entrepreneur Justin Hales came up with the idea of connecting RV owners with holidaymakers through an online marketplace. Airbnb for caravan and campervan hire, if you like. In 2015, Camplify was born. Now Camplify is a multimillion-dollar, ASX-listed brand that’s expanded to the UK, Spain and New Zealand. Justin joins First Act to share what he’s learned about about raising capital for a startup, scaling up and harnessing the power of the sharing economy. Episode notes: Justin’s first act – early life and entrepreneurial journey (1m 45s) The ‘aha’ moment that sparked Camplify (6m50s) Building the Camplify community (10m) How a business accelerator program helped Camplify take off (14m) Overcoming self-doubt and challenges (17m) Growing pains – dealing with rapid growth + raising capital (19m) Dealing with COVID interruptions (22m30s) Ups and downs of overseas expansion (27m) Maximising the sharing economy (31m50s) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices