In this episode of The Startups Drive, I sit down with May Ku — founder of Reev, the upcoming dating app designed to move past swipes and algorithms. May talks about her background growing up in Korea, her path to Australia, and how she made the uncommon leap from a career in market research to entrepreneurship. We get into the realities of modern dating apps — from their focus on superficial swipes to their reliance on algorithms — and why she believes authentic connection can’t be eng...

In this episode of The Startups Drive, I sit down with Matt Ainsworth — a startup mentor with years of experience in Asia’s innovation scene. Having lived in Japan for nearly a decade, Matt brings unique insight into the country’s startup culture, its rapid pace of development, and what Australia can learn from one of the world’s most advanced ecosystems. We explore Matt’s journey to Japan, the cutting-edge prototypes and ideas emerging from its startup community, and where Australia has oppo...

In this episode of The Startups Drive, I sit down with David Kenney — a legend of Australia’s startup scene, mentor, investor, and author of the best-selling book Epic Execution. We dig into David’s journey and the story behind his book, as he shares insights on founder mindset, building the right team, and truly understanding your market and customer. We also tackle key questions every founder should ask — like what to know before starting, how to connect with your audience, and how to stay ...

In this episode of The Startups Drive, I’m joined again by Nathan Linsley — CEO and Founder of NadoCo Interactive — who recently shifted into the music industry, building tools to solve real problems artists and creators face. Nathan shares insights from his time exploring the startup ecosystems in South Korea and Japan, offering a unique perspective on how they differ from Australia’s startup scene, and what Aussie founders can learn from these global innovation hubs. We also dive into the r...

In this episode, I sit down with Natalie Tran — a business and transition coach and former accountant and finance executive — who helps people navigate their career changes and business growth through her business, Transition With Purpose. With a unique blend of strategy, practical experience and thoughtful coaching, Natalie empowers individuals to make intentional, fulfilling shifts in their lives. We cover everything from recognising when it’s time for a career change, to overcoming the fea...

In this episode, I sit down with Stephanie Nguyen—construction professional and founder of Master of Achievement, a business dedicated to helping others reach their goals. We explore a wide range of topics, including the value of having a mentor, how to find the right one for you, and the power of building meaningful connections through networking. At the heart of our conversation is a key takeaway: the more you understand yourself, the more equipped you are to grow and succeed. Whether you'r...

In this episode, I sit down with Peter Do, a nurse turned consultant at Oracle and an entrepreneur passionate about the intersection of health, technology, and fitness. We dive into his journey from the medical field to the startup world, the power of meaningful conversations, and what you can learn just by listening. Peter also shares insights on his journey into his first accelerator program that kickstarted his journey into healthtech. He sees it as his biggest failure, but offers valuable...

Gunnar Habitz, is a man who moved to Australia from Europe almost 8 years ago. He is an accomplished author who works in partnerships and knows how to build strong relationships with customers and clients. He is also an authority when it comes to email marketing and the power of email marketing. Today Gunnar and I sat down and spoke about building relationships and the power of building those relationships, the power of email marketing and how it is still the leading form of marke...

Nathan Linsley is a Senior Full Stack Engineer and the CEO & Founder of NadoCo Interactive. NadoCo works exclusively with startups to help them reach their full potential in the tech space and create any kind of SaaS, Mobile App or Platform that they can imagine.Today Nathan and I sat down and spoke about what it's like being in the start-up space, finding the right co-founder as well as ways to help startups and learn from past experiences. We also touched on AI and the future it holds f...

Raghav Ravisankar is a software engineer at Superhero, community organizer and AI researcher. In this conversation, Raghav and I spoke about the future of AI; building a community called Open Coffee Sydney; growing your network; A great and insightful conversation showing the power of both AI and Networking, This podcast is a must listen. Follow Myself https://www.instagram.com/longhurstkieran/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/kieran-longhurst-a60959155/ Follow Raghav http://raghavr.com/ ht...

Just a quick update on the podcast and the future with the revamping of it. Firstly, i want to say thank you to everyone who has listened to the podcast up and until this moment. It means a lot to me. The podcast is going to be changing with a revamp new look and new name going forward where i will be stilling down with people and having conversations with them but in a slight shift towards startups and business also. I am going to be having conversations and talking to them about things...

Isaac Adams is not only a man who has served his country, he is also a man who has committed his life to horses. He has been riding and training horses for a nearly a decade and has turned this passion into a way of helping people overcome personal challenges. Today, Isaac and I had the privilege of sitting down to discuss how interactions with horses can help people with trauma and overcoming adversity, as well as the deep bonds formed between riders and horses and how these connections mirr...

Christian Valenzuela is a man who has worked in film, videography and editing for nearly a decade. He is a man who loves films and passionate about films and editing. Christian and I sat down and spoke about the film industry, the growth of it and what the future holds for it with the impact of AI. We also spoke about a lot more topics and had both an insightful and fun conversation. Follow Myself https://www.instagram.com/longhurstkieran/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/kieran-longhurst-a60...

Doctor Alexander Roper has been in the education system for over 30 years, with two decades working in the higher education sector. He has been Dean at numerous institutions and makes it his goal to do what is best to help his students succeed in study and life. Alexander and I sat down and spoke about the education system - the good and bad - and going to education later in life compared to earlier in life. We also spoke about finding yourself through your degree and how it's incumbent upon ...

Jerome Buck has been coaching at grassroots level for over 30 years. He has seen the changes in coaching over his time and the effects it has had on coaches, Players, Parents and Clubs. In today's episode Jerome and I spoke about the changes in coaching over the years and difference and the impact that it has had on not only players but also coaches as well as also talking about coaching in a time of social media and letting kids have fun and enjoy sport with no added pressure put on them. ...

Chris Barton is not only a successful entrepreneur he is a man on mission. A mission of Building Resilience and raising awareness of mental health one step at a time. Chris has done many charity walks to help raise awareness and make a difference. In todays episode Chris and i talk about his movement Step Into Action and ways of building resilience in a time where mental health and suicide rates are rising. And its Chris mission to help change that one step at a time. Follow Myself https:/...