A podcast focused on learning from top experts of various industries to help listeners become better designers, creatives and giant thinkers.
Episodes
Sunday Apr 03, 2022
Sunday Apr 03, 2022
Welcome to episode #93. Today’s guest is heavily in the tennis world and whether you’re a tennis fan or not, this gentleman needs little introduction. He is the Founder, Chairman & CEO of the Mouratoglou Academy and CEO of UTS (Ultimate Tennis Showdown), which is a revolutionary tennis league aiming to modernise the tennis industry.
Our guest today is one of the most recognised figures in tennis, with 10 Grand Slam titles, 2 Gold Medals, and 31 coaching singles titles. He is known for his innovative and disruptive vision. Having started his tennis academy in 1996. He’s been coaching and mentoring for more than 25 years, including legends such as Serena Wiliams and rising stars like Stefanos Tsitsipas and Coco Gauff.
He’s also consulted for the largest sport media on the planet, published his own books, founded a foundation supporting the future stars of tennis, even featured in a Netflix documentary titled ‘The Playbook’, and opened tennis centres in the world’s most stunning locations. Affectionately nicknamed the “Mastermind”, our guest is rewriting tennis’ legacy in every way possible.
Some of the topics we spoke about include:
- What we need to look for when hiring a coach
- What he as a coach looks out for when coaching someone that wants to work with him
- His view on the 'coachability' of a person
- How to get the most out of someone when coaching
- And then we swung the conversation to all things Web 3 and NFT’s including his project and involvement in that space.
So if you’re someone that’s interested in world class practices around coaching, being coached – and, the innovation that's happening with the melding of tennis and Web 3 and NFTs, then this episode is for you.
Now a quick note, if we aren’t connected yet on Instagram, I invite you to follow me on my handle @TheGiantThinker as I share daily posts and stories on helping decision-makers, business owners and leaders get unstuck lightning fast through human-centred design methodologies, creative strategies and personal experiences. Send me a DM I’d love to hear from you! You can find me on my handle @TheGiantThinker.
Alright, let’s dive in.
I present to you … the highly strategic, charismatic and results-driven tennis coach ... Patrick Mouratoglou!
More on Patrick can be found via the links below:
https://www.instagram.com/patrickmouratoglou
https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-mouratoglou-49364132
Subscribe to The Giant Thinkers Podcast on iTunes.
Want to know the most productive tool that has helped me accelerate my progress?
It’s the Five-Minute Journal; the simplest, most effective thing you can do everyday to be happier.
It’s a physical journal that gives you a positive quote, followed by three questions you answer in the morning and two questions to answer in the evening before bed.
It basically anchors your mind in a positively focused, intentional and grateful mindset, in less than 5 minutes a day. Grab yours here: GiantThinkers.com/fiveminutejournal
Wednesday Jan 26, 2022
Wednesday Jan 26, 2022
Welcome to episode #92. I’ve really enjoyed releasing these weekly solo episodes throughout this January 2022 in the hope of providing some practical strategic direction and actionable tactics. The start of any year can sometimes be overwhelming, especially with the expectations we set on ourselves, one way to manage this is to zoom out with a far broader perspective than our current view point. Which is why this particular episode is so special. I’ll be sharing how to use creativity as a tool to make massive impact.
If we aren’t connected yet on Instagram, I invite you to follow me on my handle @TheGiantThinker as I share daily posts and stories on helping decision-makers, business owners and leaders get unstuck lightning fast through human-centred design methodologies, creative strategies and personal experiences. Send me a DM I’d love to hear from you! You can find me on my handle @TheGiantThinker.
Alright, let’s get dive in!
More on Ram Castillo can be found via the links below:
https://www.instagram.com/thegiantthinker
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ram-castillo-39a39923
https://twitter.com/thegiantthinker
https://www.clubhouse.com/@thegiantthinker
Subscribe to The Giant Thinkers Podcast on iTunes.
It's Wix. They're the leading website creation platform that’s got all the tools you need to create, manage and grow your brand.
Whether you’re starting your online business or you’ve got a side hustle, you can design a site to showcase your brand that’ll look great on any device.
Join over 200 million people already using Wix’s wide range of solutions to enhance their businesses.
Like ultra-smart SEO tools designed to get you found on search engines, faster loading times to create outstanding user experiences and payment solutions to help you boost your revenue. Plus, with enterprise grade security built into every site, you know you're in safe hands. You can manage everything from one dashboard on desktop and mobile so you can be available anywhere at any time: in the office, at home or on the go.
I encourage you to take a look for yourself. I'm quietly confident, you'll be pleasantly surprised. Head over to Wix.com and create a website you're truly proud of today.
Tuesday Jan 18, 2022
Tuesday Jan 18, 2022
Welcome to episode #91. I hope you’ve been enjoying this mini-series of weekly solo episodes from me. Audio-keynotes throughout this January 2022 to give you practical strategic direction and actionable tactics. In this particular episode I’ll be sharing how to use the law of singularity to increase effectiveness in your health, wealth and business.
If we aren’t connected yet on Instagram, I invite you to follow me on my handle @TheGiantThinker as I share daily posts and stories on helping decision-makers, business owners and leaders get unstuck lightning fast through human-centred design methodologies, creative strategies and personal experiences. Send me a DM I’d love to hear from you! You can find me on my handle @TheGiantThinker.
Alright, let’s get dive in!
More on Ram Castillo can be found via the links below:
https://www.instagram.com/thegiantthinker
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ram-castillo-39a39923
https://twitter.com/thegiantthinker
https://www.clubhouse.com/@thegiantthinker
Subscribe to The Giant Thinkers Podcast on iTunes.
It's Wix. They're the leading website creation platform that’s got all the tools you need to create, manage and grow your brand.
Whether you’re starting your online business or you’ve got a side hustle, you can design a site to showcase your brand that’ll look great on any device.
Join over 200 million people already using Wix’s wide range of solutions to enhance their businesses.
Like ultra-smart SEO tools designed to get you found on search engines, faster loading times to create outstanding user experiences and payment solutions to help you boost your revenue. Plus, with enterprise grade security built into every site, you know you're in safe hands. You can manage everything from one dashboard on desktop and mobile so you can be available anywhere at any time: in the office, at home or on the go.
I encourage you to take a look for yourself. I'm quietly confident, you'll be pleasantly surprised. Head over to Wix.com and create a website you're truly proud of today.
Tuesday Jan 11, 2022
Tuesday Jan 11, 2022
Welcome to episode #90. I hope your 2022 is off to a productive and purposeful start. In this particular episode I’ll be sharing how to use design thinking as a problem solving tool.
If we aren’t connected yet on Instagram, I invite you to follow me on my handle @TheGiantThinker as I share daily posts and stories on helping decision-makers, business owners and leaders get unstuck lightning fast through human-centred design methodologies, creative strategies and personal experiences. Send me a DM I’d love to hear from you! You can find me on my handle @TheGiantThinker.
Alright, let’s get dive in!
More on Ram Castillo can be found via the links below:
https://www.instagram.com/thegiantthinker
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ram-castillo-39a39923
https://twitter.com/thegiantthinker
https://www.clubhouse.com/@thegiantthinker
Subscribe to The Giant Thinkers Podcast on iTunes.
It's Wix. They're the leading website creation platform that’s got all the tools you need to create, manage and grow your brand.
Whether you’re starting your online business or you’ve got a side hustle, you can design a site to showcase your brand that’ll look great on any device.
Join over 200 million people already using Wix’s wide range of solutions to enhance their businesses.
Like ultra-smart SEO tools designed to get you found on search engines, faster loading times to create outstanding user experiences and payment solutions to help you boost your revenue. Plus, with enterprise grade security built into every site, you know you're in safe hands. You can manage everything from one dashboard on desktop and mobile so you can be available anywhere at any time: in the office, at home or on the go.
I encourage you to take a look for yourself. I'm quietly confident, you'll be pleasantly surprised. Head over to Wix.com and create a website you're truly proud of today.
Tuesday Jan 04, 2022
Tuesday Jan 04, 2022
Welcome to episode #89. Of course, happy new year wherever in the world you're listening! I wanted to release a few solo episodes to kick off 2022. In this particular episode I’ll be sharing how to get unstuck in 4 steps.
If we aren’t connected yet on Instagram, I invite you to follow me on my handle @TheGiantThinker as I share daily posts and stories on helping decision-makers, business owners and leaders get unstuck lightning fast through human-centred design methodologies, creative strategies and personal experiences. Send me a DM I’d love to hear from you! You can find me on my handle @TheGiantThinker.
Alright, let’s get dive in!
More on Ram Castillo can be found via the links below:
https://www.instagram.com/thegiantthinker
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ram-castillo-39a39923
https://twitter.com/thegiantthinker
https://www.clubhouse.com/@thegiantthinker
Subscribe to The Giant Thinkers Podcast on iTunes.
It's Wix. They're the leading website creation platform that’s got all the tools you need to create, manage and grow your brand.
Whether you’re starting your online business or you’ve got a side hustle, you can design a site to showcase your brand that’ll look great on any device.
Join over 200 million people already using Wix’s wide range of solutions to enhance their businesses.
Like ultra-smart SEO tools designed to get you found on search engines, faster loading times to create outstanding user experiences and payment solutions to help you boost your revenue. Plus, with enterprise grade security built into every site, you know you're in safe hands. You can manage everything from one dashboard on desktop and mobile so you can be available anywhere at any time: in the office, at home or on the go.
I encourage you to take a look for yourself. I'm quietly confident, you'll be pleasantly surprised. Head over to Wix.com and create a website you're truly proud of today.
Friday Nov 05, 2021
Friday Nov 05, 2021
This is episode #88 – today’s guest is the former Global Senior Vice-President of Design and Marketing at Fossil Group. Fossil Group offers its products under its proprietary brands, such as Fossil, Skagen, Misfit, Michele, Relic, and Zodiac; and under the licensed brands, that include Armani Exchange, Diesel, DKNY, Emporio Armani, Kate Spade New York, Michael Kors, Puma, Tory Burch, Skechers and BMW. Now here’s an incredible fact, he was actually the first full-time designer hired for Fossil Group in 1987 and continued on for a whopping 30 years.
During his 30-year tenure, the company grew from $5M to $3B in sales. At its apex, he managed a multi-disciplined, creative team of 108, that included capabilities for all brand communications, marketing packaging design, photography, pre-press and web authoring for 4 owned brands and 13 licensed brands.
Some of the topics we spoke about include:
- His secret to longevity
- Energy drainers and energy givers
- What makes a brand special and different
- Non-negotiables when hiring the right person
- How to get the best out of your team
- Insights to problem solving and plenty more.
So if you’re someone that’s interested in self enquiry, self reflection and developing qualities within yourself for longevity as a creative and entrepreneur, then this episode is for you.
Now a quick note, if we aren’t connected yet on Instagram, I invite you to follow me on my handle @TheGiantThinker as I share daily posts and stories on helping decision-makers, business owners and leaders get unstuck lightning fast through human-centred design methodologies, creative strategies and personal experiences. Send me a DM I’d love to hear from you! You can find me on my handle @TheGiantThinker.
Alright, let’s dive in.
I present to you … the highly pragmatic, down to earth and kind-hearted … Tim Hale!
More on Tim can be found via the links below:
Linkedin.com/in/tim-hale-4090921
Subscribe to The Giant Thinkers Podcast on iTunes.
Want to know the most productive tool that has helped me accelerate my progress?
It’s the Five-Minute Journal; the simplest, most effective thing you can do everyday to be happier.
It’s a physical journal that gives you a positive quote, followed by three questions you answer in the morning and two questions to answer in the evening before bed.
It basically anchors your mind in a positively focused, intentional and grateful mindset, in less than 5 minutes a day. Grab yours here: GiantThinkers.com/fiveminutejournal
Friday Oct 29, 2021
Friday Oct 29, 2021
Welcome to episode #87 – today’s guest is is widely recognised for her role as a Dragon and Venture Capitalist for 13 seasons on the multi-award-winning TV series, Dragons' Den. She is the General Partner of District Ventures Capital, a $100M venture capital fund focused on helping market, fund and grow entrepreneurs and their companies, in the food and health space. She’s launched, operated and managed businesses for 35 years. Her strategies and business savviness are highly sought after, and she has helped businesses succeed from early stage startups, to multi billion corporations. She’s also a three-time best-selling author and accomplished public speaker.
To make mention of some of her recognition, voted Canada’s Most Powerful Women Top 100 Hall of Fame, the Pinnacle Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence, as well as PROFIT and Chatelaine’s Top 100 Women Business Owners. She’s a Marketing Hall of Legends inductee and a proud recipient of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Award. She’s even served as an Honourary Captain in the Royal Canadian Navy. On top of that, she’s a mother of four and a grandmother of 5.
Some of the topics we spoke about include:
- How to navigate the ups and downs
- Characteristics of a great entrepreneur
- How to assess risk
- How to prove or disprove a market need
- What world class marketing look like
- What makes a standout pitch and so much more.
So if you’re someone that’s interested in reaching hard and reaching high as an entrepreneur, then this episode is for you.
Now a quick note, if we aren’t connected yet on Instagram, I invite you to follow me on my handle @TheGiantThinker as I share daily posts and stories on helping decision-makers, business owners and leaders get unstuck lightning fast through human-centred design methodologies, creative strategies and personal experiences. Send me a DM I’d love to hear from you! You can find me on my handle @TheGiantThinker.
Alright, let’s dive in.
I present to you … the courageously transparent, kind and thoughtful … Arlene Dickinson!
More on Arlene can be found via the links below:
Linkedin.com/in/arlenedickinson
Subscribe to The Giant Thinkers Podcast on iTunes.
Want to know the most productive tool that has helped me accelerate my progress?
It’s the Five-Minute Journal; the simplest, most effective thing you can do everyday to be happier.
It’s a physical journal that gives you a positive quote, followed by three questions you answer in the morning and two questions to answer in the evening before bed.
It basically anchors your mind in a positively focused, intentional and grateful mindset, in less than 5 minutes a day. Grab yours here: GiantThinkers.com/fiveminutejournal
Friday Oct 22, 2021
Friday Oct 22, 2021
Welcome to episode #86 – today’s guest is an Emmy award-winning designer, director, CEO and Chief Strategist of Blind and the founder of The Futur — an online education platform with the mission of teaching 1 billion people how to make a living doing what they love.
He currently serves as the chairman of the board for the SPJA, and as an advisor to Saleshood. He has also served as: advisory board member for AIGA/LA, Emmys Motion & Title Design Peer Group, Otis Board of Governors, Santa Monica College and Woodbury University.
He’s given talks and conducted workshops on a range of subjects, including: Sales, Negotiations, Value Based Pricing, Mindset, Branding, Graphic & Motion Design, Social Media Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Business Management, and Client Relations.
Some of the topics we spoke about include:
- How to bring your personal brand to life
- How to validate a feasible and viable idea – and a potential audience
- Objection handling
- Building confidence as a public speaker and speaking to clients
- And what scares him most.
So if you’re someone that’s interested in building, creating and positioning a creative business, then this episode is for you.
Now a quick note, if we aren’t connected yet on Instagram, I invite you to follow me on my handle @TheGiantThinker as I share daily posts and stories on helping decision-makers, business owners and leaders get unstuck lightning fast through human-centred design methodologies, creative strategies and personal experiences. Send me a DM I’d love to hear from you! You can find me on my handle @TheGiantThinker.
Alright, let’s dive in.
I present to you … the Loud Introvert with a big mission … Chris Do!
More on Chris can be found via the links below:
Subscribe to The Giant Thinkers Podcast on iTunes.
Want to know the most productive tool that has helped me accelerate my progress?
It’s the Five-Minute Journal; the simplest, most effective thing you can do everyday to be happier.
It’s a physical journal that gives you a positive quote, followed by three questions you answer in the morning and two questions to answer in the evening before bed.
It basically anchors your mind in a positively focused, intentional and grateful mindset, in less than 5 minutes a day. Grab yours here: GiantThinkers.com/fiveminutejournal
Friday Oct 15, 2021
Friday Oct 15, 2021
Welcome to episode #85 – today’s guest is an Australian brand designer and branding icon, responsible for the development of many of Australia's leading identities including Qantas, Woolworths, Virgin Australia, Rebel, Taronga Zoo, Caltex, P&O Cruises, Foxtel and hundreds more. In 1982, he pioneered the concept of combining brand, brand strategy and product development.
Some of the topics we spoke about include:
- What life was like as a designer in the Netherlands in the 70s before bouncing to NZ then migrating to Sydney, Australia
- How he scored his first client which was Qantas
- His biggest learnings after reimagining, repositioning and redesigning some of the world’s most iconic brands
- And the harsh reality of being a leader, a business owner and a designer that’s always striving for better.
So if you’re someone that’s interested in lifting the hood and hearing the heart, mind and wisdom of an Australian branding and identity pioneer, then this episode is for you.
Now a quick note, if we aren’t connected yet on Instagram, I invite you to follow me on my handle @TheGiantThinker as I share daily posts and stories on helping decision-makers, business owners and leaders get unstuck lightning fast through human-centred design methodologies, creative strategies and personal experiences. Send me a DM I’d love to hear from you! You can find me on my handle @TheGiantThinker.
Alright, without further ado.
I present to you … the Insightful, intelligent and modest … Hans Hulsbosch!
More on Hans can be found via the links below:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hans-hulsbosch-8426bb21
Instagram.com/hulsbosch_brand_design
Subscribe to The Giant Thinkers Podcast on iTunes.
Want to know the most productive tool that has helped me accelerate my progress?
It’s the Five-Minute Journal; the simplest, most effective thing you can do everyday to be happier.
It’s a physical journal that gives you a positive quote, followed by three questions you answer in the morning and two questions to answer in the evening before bed.
It basically anchors your mind in a positively focused, intentional and grateful mindset, in less than 5 minutes a day. Grab yours here: GiantThinkers.com/fiveminutejournal
Wednesday Oct 06, 2021
Wednesday Oct 06, 2021
Giants, this is episode #84 – today’s guest is an Australian Comedian, Writer, TV and movie Actor – and Dancing With The Stars Australia – 2020 winner. Winning the mirrorball trophy and $50,000 for her charity, the Safe Steps Family Violence and Support Centre. She is in fact the first Comedian I've interviewed on the show. And has brought so much joy and laughter to millions of households.
She won the Best Supporting Actress at the AACTA awards (The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts) for her role as Dolly Faraday in the acclaimed ABC1 drama ‘The Beautiful Lie’. She’s also starred in the award-winning TV series ‘Laid’, Logie Award winning drama ‘Offspring’ and in all five seasons of Working Dog's show ‘Utopia’, for which she won another AACTA Award for Best Performance in a Television Comedy in 2015.
Comedy audiences would also know her from her appearances on Spicks and Specks, The Project and is a regular on the hilarious show; ‘Have You Been Paying Attention?’ one of my favourites. Internationally, she’s been a guest on Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Chelsea Lately and The Rob Brydon Show.
In 2016 she also co-created, co-wrote and starred in the smash hit comedy Rosehaven with Luke McGregor, for which she won the 2017 award for Best Performance in a Television Comedy at the AACTAs, has been nominated twice for Most Popular Actress at the Logies, as well as two nominations for her writing at the AWGIEs (Australian Writers Guild). Season five of Rosehaven by the way, is out now – definitely give it a watch, it is brilliant.
Some of the topics we spoke about include:
- How she grew up, including her big break
- Her creative writing process
- How she manages the different hats (on and off the stage)
- And very candidly and vulnerably, shares some of her experiences with anxiety, depression and all things mental health and wellness from her vantage point..
So if you’re someone that’s interested in unpacking the journey of a high-performing, multi-faceted creative professional, in a way that might help you forge your own creative identity – and want to listen to something both funny and real, then this episode is for you.
Now a quick note, if we aren’t connected yet on Instagram, I invite you to follow me on my handle @TheGiantThinker as I share daily posts and stories on helping decision-makers, business owners and leaders get unstuck lightning fast through human-centred design methodologies, creative strategies and personal experiences. Send me a DM I’d love to hear from you! You can find me on my handle @TheGiantThinker.
Alright, on with the show.
I present to you … the quick-witted, courageous and insanely talented ... Celia Pacquola!
More on Celia can be found via the links below:
https://www.instagram.com/celia_pacquola
https://twitter.com/celiapacquola
Subscribe to The Giant Thinkers Podcast on iTunes.
Want to know the most productive tool that has helped me accelerate my progress?
It’s the Five-Minute Journal; the simplest, most effective thing you can do everyday to be happier.
It’s a physical journal that gives you a positive quote, followed by three questions you answer in the morning and two questions to answer in the evening before bed.
It basically anchors your mind in a positively focused, intentional and grateful mindset, in less than 5 minutes a day. Grab yours here: GiantThinkers.com/fiveminutejournal
Wednesday Sep 29, 2021
Wednesday Sep 29, 2021
Hey Giants, welcome to episode #83. If this is the first time you’re tuning in, thank you so very much for being here! This podcast explores the decision-making of people who have been exposed and have proven experience at a world-class level of specialisation. It is my deep belief that Giant living requires giant thinking and if you resonate with that, you might enjoy the portfolio of guests we’ve had on the show, from Kelly Slater, to multiple Shark Tank Investors, to Gold Medalist Olympians, to Musicians, Designers, Creatives, Founders and leaders of all types – for organisations such as Nike, Deloitte, VISA, Squarespace, Wordpress, CreativeLive, Vaynermedia and even The White House.
Now for those that have been a long-time, dedicated listener, firstly, I’d like to apologise for the radio-silence. I took a year off the podcast ‘grid’. Straight up. Without any announcement, I just needed a break. Which, in hindsight, I definitely could have managed, communicated and planned better. But this ... ‘time’ – gave me the space to untangle and to recalibrate. It gave me a new set of eyes and a new vantage point. It helped me refine what’s important; who I want to serve and how best (for now) to do it.
I want to serve entrepreneurs and business owners. Whether you’re a designer or in the creative industry, or not – it doesn’t matter. What matters is, you have a vision for a better world through your contribution, through your product, through your service. And I want to give you access to people, places, tools and knowledge to help you cut the guesswork, see the blind spots and succeed faster.
So on that note, regarding this Giant Thinkers Podcast, it’ll now be 8 curated episodes per year. An 8-episode season will run from October to November each year and my intention is for it to be of the highest quality. In storytelling, in thinking, in diversity, in vulnerability and in practicality.
To kick things off, for 2021 season 7, this episode is a solo piece. I recently delivered and recorded this talk for Breakfast With Champions – A club on Clubhouse which is a voice-based social app. And the keynote style talk I delivered was on ‘Wealth Wisdom Wellbeing’. My position was that being rich doesn’t necessarily mean being wealthy. Being wealthy could mean acquiring internal treasures for external change. That wealth accumulation is in the overcoming.
So if you’re someone that’s interested in hearing about my very personal journey and the 7 x key tips for attaining my version of true wealth, then this episode is for you.
Now a quick note from me, if we aren’t connected yet on Instagram, I invite you to follow me on my handle @TheGiantThinker as I share daily posts and stories on helping decision-makers, business owners and leaders get unstuck lightning fast through human-centred design methodologies, creative strategies and personal experiences. Send me a DM I’d love to hear from you! You can find me on my handle @TheGiantThinker.
Alright, let’s get stuck in.
I present to you … me – enjoy!!
More on Ram Castillo can be found via the links below:
https://www.instagram.com/thegiantthinker
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ram-castillo-39a39923
https://twitter.com/thegiantthinker
https://www.clubhouse.com/@thegiantthinker
Subscribe to The Giant Thinkers Podcast on iTunes.
Want to know the most productive tool that has helped me accelerate my progress?
It’s the Five-Minute Journal; the simplest, most effective thing you can do everyday to be happier.
It’s a physical journal that gives you a positive quote, followed by three questions you answer in the morning and two questions to answer in the evening before bed.
It basically anchors your mind in a positively focused, intentional and grateful mindset, in less than 5 minutes a day. Grab yours here: GiantThinkers.com/fiveminutejournal
Friday Oct 30, 2020
Friday Oct 30, 2020
Welcome to episode #82 if this is the first time you’re tuning in, thank you so very much for being here, my name is Ram Castillo and this podcast explores the decision-making of people who have been exposed and are experienced in a particular expertise or specialisation. It is my deep belief that Giant living requires giant thinking and if you resonate with that, you might enjoy the portfolio of guests we’ve had on the show, from Kelly Slater, to Shark Tank Investors, to Olympians, to Musicians, to Designers / Creatives and leaders of all types.
Now, today’s guest is a food technologist and the Co-founder & Managing Director of Twisted Healthy Treats. A company that started back in 2009. Twisted are obsessed with creating Australia's best tasting frozen desserts that are actually good for you.
All their products are made from natural ingredients and are all Australian made and 100% Aussie owned. Her background is in large scale Project Management within the Financial Services industry, but always dreamed of having her own company ever since she was a child.
Fast forward 10 years, she is a mum of 3, Twisted now manufacture and sell take home tubs, multipacks and single serve cups to over 5000 outlets across Australia — including a national distribution deal with Woolworths and more recently Costco Australia and Coles Supermarkets.
They are also the ONLY 'ice cream style' product that is approved for sale in School Canteens by the Australian Government — 2 million Australian school kids enjoy Twisted yoghurt in their lunch break.
Some of the topics we spoke about include:
- What to consider when entering the frozen dessert category
- How to set yourself apart from the many health food brands available
- The journey of how long it can take from ideation to first product in market – and the testing, iteration and validation involved
- Pricing decisions and cost structures
- Processes, prioritisation, managing and a whole heap more.
So if you’re someone that has some seriously giant aspirations – and are interested in the fusion of product innovation, food and running a business, then this episode is for you.
Now a quick note from me, if we aren’t connected yet on Instagram, I invite you to follow me on my handle @TheGiantThinker as I share daily posts and stories on helping decision-makers, business owners and leaders get unstuck lightning fast through human-centred design methodologies, creative strategies and personal experiences. Send me a DM I’d love to hear from you! You can find me on my handle @TheGiantThinker.
Alright, let’s get stuck in.
I present to you a woman that I very much admire and look up to … the warm-hearted, brave and resilient ... Cass Spies!
More on Cass can be found via the links below:
https://www.instagram.com/cassspies
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrstwisted
https://www.twistedhealthytreats.com.au
https://www.instagram.com/twistedhealthytreats
https://www.facebook.com/TwistedHealthyTreats
Subscribe to The Giant Thinkers Podcast on iTunes.
Want to know the most productive tool that has helped me accelerate my progress?
It’s the Five-Minute Journal; the simplest, most effective thing you can do everyday to be happier.
It’s a physical journal that gives you a positive quote, followed by three questions you answer in the morning and two questions to answer in the evening before bed.
It basically anchors your mind in a positively focused, intentional and grateful mindset, in less than 5 minutes a day. Grab yours here: GiantThinkers.com/fiveminutejournal
Friday Sep 25, 2020
Friday Sep 25, 2020
Hey Giants, welcome to episode #81. Especially if this is the first time you’re tuning in – I appreciate you giving this show a listen. We have two guests today in one interview, it’s a double whammy! They are both co-hosts of a business podcast titled Biz Buds …
One of them is the Founder and CEO at Design Cuts, the highest-rated online marketplace for designers. Design Cuts helps their community of 550,000 members save money off the best digital resources to help their regular creative projects. He is also a podcaster of two shows (the other besides Biz Buds is titled The Honest Designers Show – and he loves mentoring fellow creatives to help them master their marketing.
The other guest is an award-winning creative director, designer, and agency veteran. In 2002, he founded the creative agency Riser, which provided design and development services for clients including Disney, Google, Warner Bros., Fox, NBC, ABC, National Geographic and many other high-profile brands. He sold his agency in 2015 and now spends his time speaking, developing books, courses, and social media content to help creatives level-up. He is the author of a very popular book called “Burn Your Portfolio” and latest ... “The Psychology of Graphic Design Pricing.”
Some of the topics we spoke about include:
- How to design a business that’s geared to succeed
- Market penetration exploration and hypothesis validation
- How to niche a business
- Navigating effort vs outcome when it comes to revenue generating activities and plenty more.
So if you’re someone that’s interested in designing a business successfully, that puts people at the heart by solving real customer needs, but you’re not 100% sure where to start, then this episode is for you.
Now a quick note from me, if we aren’t connected yet on Instagram, I invite you to follow me on my handle @TheGiantThinker as I share daily posts and stories on helping decision-makers, business owners and leaders get unstuck lightning fast through human-centred design methodologies, creative strategies and personal experiences. Send me a DM I’d love to hear from you! You can find me on my handle @TheGiantThinker.
Alright, let’s get stuck in.
I present to you … the entrepreneurial A-team ... Michael Janda and Tom Ross!
More on Tom and Michael can be found via the links below:
https://www.instagram.com/tomrossmedia
https://www.instagram.com/morejanda
Subscribe to The Giant Thinkers Podcast on iTunes.
Want to know the most productive tool that has helped me accelerate my progress?
It’s the Five-Minute Journal; the simplest, most effective thing you can do everyday to be happier.
It’s a physical journal that gives you a positive quote, followed by three questions you answer in the morning and two questions to answer in the evening before bed.
It basically anchors your mind in a positively focused, intentional and grateful mindset, in less than 5 minutes a day. Grab yours here: GiantThinkers.com/fiveminutejournal
Thursday Aug 27, 2020
Thursday Aug 27, 2020
Giants, this is episode #80. Our guest today is a very successful Entrepreneur, specialising in the education space, having started and run 9 businesses, one of which is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. His primary business is Success Resources. It’s the world's largest education seminar company. With over $1billion in sales through his businesses, he is considered an expert in the touring space having run more than 1400 events in the last 17 years. Hosting thought leaders such as Tony Robbins, Gary Vaynerchuk, Grant Cardone, Jay Shetty, Robert Kiyosaki of Rich Dad Poor Dad, Sir Richard Branson and many more.
Success Resources have staged and marketed world class events in the fields of management and leadership, sales and marketing, personal development and wealth creation to over 10 million participants in regions including: Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, China, UK, Spain, Germany, South Africa, Italy, India, US and Canada.
Some of the topics we spoke about include:
-
How he builds long-term partnerships with world-class thought leaders like Richard Branson, Tony Robbins, Gary Vaynerchuk and Grant Cardone
-
His non-traditional strategic approach when acquiring customers (of what he defines as an ‘unorthodox approach’ – that it’s not for everyone)
-
How he pursues new market verticals and expands to other regions
-
How to move from transactional relationships to transformational relationships
-
And all things scaling related.
So if you’re someone that’s interested in joint venture deals, partnerships and relationships – in the world of business and brand collaboration, then this episode is for you.
Now a quick note from me, if we aren’t connected yet on Instagram, I invite you to follow me on my handle @TheGiantThinker as I share daily posts and stories on helping decision-makers, business owners and leaders get unstuck lightning fast through human-centred design methodologies, creative strategies and personal experiences. Send me a DM I’d love to hear from you! You can find me on my handle @TheGiantThinker.
Alright, let’s get stuck in.
I present to you … the business building juggernaut ... Michael Lane!
More on Michael Lane can be found via the links below:
https://www.instagram.com/itsmichaellane
https://au.linkedin.com/in/itsmichaellane
https://success-resources.com.au
http://innovatordiaries.com/english/expert-in-touring-business-live-events-michael-lane
https://infinitygroupaustralia.com.au
Subscribe to The Giant Thinkers Podcast on iTunes.
Want to know the most productive tool that has helped me accelerate my progress?
It’s the Five-Minute Journal; the simplest, most effective thing you can do everyday to be happier.
It’s a physical journal that gives you a positive quote, followed by three questions you answer in the morning and two questions to answer in the evening before bed.
It basically anchors your mind in a positively focused, intentional and grateful mindset, in less than 5 minutes a day. Grab yours here: GiantThinkers.com/fiveminutejournal
Monday Jul 13, 2020
Monday Jul 13, 2020
Giants, welcome to episode #79. Our guest today is at the forefront of making coaching an everyday leadership behaviour. He’s the author of The Coaching Habit ... the best-selling coaching book of this century with over 700,000 copies sold and over 1,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. His new book, The Advice Trap, focuses on what it takes to stay curious a little bit longer and tame your Advice Monster.
In 2019, he was named the #1 thought leader in coaching, and was shortlisted for the coaching prize by Thinkers50, the “Oscars of management”. He is also the founder of Box of Crayons; a learning and development company that helps organisations transform from advice driven to curiosity-led.
Some of the topics we spoke about include:
- How to shift from advice-driven to curiosity-led
- The importance of staying in a state of ‘unknowingness’ just a little bit longer
- How to tame our ‘Advice Monster’
- How people can influence their organisations culture
- And his recommended ‘what’ based questions (there’s a bunch that he shares and they are powerful – you’ll be able to use them right away)
So if you’re someone that’s interested in being more coach-like, and putting curiosity at the heart of how you communicate, behave and lead, with a connectedness to business outcomes and individual growth, then this episode is for you.
Now a quick note from me, if we aren’t connected yet on Instagram, I invite you to follow me on my handle @TheGiantThinker as I share daily posts and stories on helping decision-makers, business owners and leaders get unstuck lightning fast through human-centred design methodologies, creative strategies and personal experiences. Send me a DM I’d love to hear from you! You can find me on my handle @TheGiantThinker.
Alright, let’s get stuck in.
I present to you … the highly-energetic, compelling and hyper-practical ... Michael Bungay Stanier!
More on Michael Bungay Stanier can be found via the links below:
https://www.instagram.com/mbs_works
https://linkedin.com/in/michaelbungaystanier
https://www.facebook.com/boxofcrayons.biz/
https://twitter.com/boxofcrayons
Subscribe to The Giant Thinkers Podcast on iTunes.
Want to know the most productive tool that has helped me accelerate my progress?
It’s the Five-Minute Journal; the simplest, most effective thing you can do everyday to be happier.
It’s a physical journal that gives you a positive quote, followed by three questions you answer in the morning and two questions to answer in the evening before bed.
It basically anchors your mind in a positively focused, intentional and grateful mindset, in less than 5 minutes a day. Grab yours here: GiantThinkers.com/fiveminutejournal
Wednesday Jun 24, 2020
Wednesday Jun 24, 2020
Hello Giants, this is episode number #78. I have been on a little hiatus, took a personal break and intentionally slowed down to reflect and re-assess – on what was most important to me at this time, weighing up priorities, exploring where I wanted to make the most impact.
These are thoughts that once you unpack, can turn into a 1000 person party in your head. If you’ve ever asked yourself the question “where might my time and energy make the most impact and difference in the world?” it can be incredibly confronting – however, when you create the space … when you truly switch off and go inwards, when you dance and sit in that discomfort, meaningful dialogue does emerge. Pair that with insights, support and guidance from trusted peers, mentors and loved ones, greater clarity is within reach.
Speaking of fear, overcoming the uncomfortable, being brave and courageous, today’s guest is known for her presence in Artistic Cycling.
As of releasing this episode, she’s currently 25 going on 26 years old. She was a competitive athlete in Artistic Cycling between the years 2000-2020 (that’s right, she started when she was about 6 years old) and in 2010 (by the age of 16 onwards) was a member of the German national team.
Her greatest achievements in the sport have been the silver medal in 3 different occasions at the UCI Indoor Cycling World Championships in 2016, 2017 and 2019 as well as winning the European Championship, twice – one in 2012 and the other in 2018.
In February this year, 2020 she retired from the competition side of the sport, to focus on three areas; performing in shows, studying her Masters of Science in Clinical Nutrition at the University of Hohenheim in Germany, and exposing Artistic Cycling through her Instagram platform (where she currently has over 370,000 followers) – you’ve got to take a look at her content yourself, it’s jaw dropping.
Some of the topics we spoke about include:
- How she’s been able to sustain great interest in such a specific craft
- Her relationship with fear and her response to fear
- How her practice, training and risk mitigation looks like
- The technical, mental, physical and creative aspects of the sport, and plenty more.
So if you’re someone that’s curious about designing a life towards peak performance and performing, then this episode is right up your alley.
A little side-note: something was up with my side of the mic that I only found out after the recording which caused a little bit of subtle static in moments. I apologise in advance for that, as it’s the first time I’ve encountered it and not the quality anyone should be listening to. I’m pretty devastated by this. That said, I learnt something new from the experience; in this case, the application software I was recording on needed to be updated. A small tip there for other podcasters to not make the same mistake I did!
Okay let’s do this. I present to you … the all-smiling, all-cycling, world-class athlete … Viola Brand!
More on Viola Brand can be found via the links below:
Ellen Welcomes World-Renowned Artistic Cyclist Viola Brand
Facebook.com/violalovescycling
Subscribe to The Giant Thinkers Podcast on iTunes.
Want to know the most productive tool that has helped me accelerate my progress?
It’s the Five-Minute Journal; the simplest, most effective thing you can do everyday to be happier.
It’s a physical journal that gives you a positive quote, followed by three questions you answer in the morning and two questions to answer in the evening before bed.
It basically anchors your mind in a positively focused, intentional and grateful mindset, in less than 5 minutes a day. Grab yours here: GiantThinkers.com/fiveminutejournal
Wednesday Feb 19, 2020
Wednesday Feb 19, 2020
Giants welcome to episode #77 — a special, second solo Q&A episode with yours truly to kick start 2020. Questions submitted by you the listeners. I’ve curated the top 7 based on the most similar questions asked, and also the ones I felt would be the most widely useful or applicable.
To help you skip to the answer most relevant to you, as I know many of you are time poor, I’ll list all the questions out below.
The seven questions I’ve answered in order are:
Q1. Brittany:
Do you truly believe in the industry of graphic design that it’s all about who you know not what you know?
Q2. Carlos:
How do you manage different personalities in a design team successfully, the good and the bad?
Q3. Jessica:
How to overcome anxiety in a creative process when you start to develop your business or when you talk to clients, and to be confident in whatever you are doing?
Q4. Joy Phala:
Social media marketing related … I use LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to market my services ... and I’ll usually post pictures of completed projects. Now, that remains a very small pool of content to pull from. When I don’t have completed projects, what else would you like to see, as a potential customer or as a potential employer … What else would you like to see on my pages that would increase likability and build trust and eventually lead to a sale?
Q5. Keturah:
What are the best tips, tricks and advice you have for getting new clients within the design industry?
Q6. Richard:
What do you do as a designer when you have a set of goals, but to reach them you need some amount of resources and you don’t have those resources. What do you do in the meantime? What do you do to attain those goals?
Q7. Simona:
In your line of work, you’re constantly pushing the boundaries on design and on business, and I’m sure there are things that you’re not always 100% confident in – so could you talk us through your thought process on how to overcome those fears and how to get past them?
So they are the 7 questions I’ve attempted to answer. By all means take it with a grain of salt. It’s my two cents and subjective at the end of the day. But I do hope it’s helpful and if you’d like me to do more of these, let me know on Instagram via a DM to my handle: TheGiantThinker
Subscribe to The Giant Thinkers Podcast on iTunes.
Want to know the most productive tool that has helped me accelerate my progress?
It’s the Five-Minute Journal; the simplest, most effective thing you can do everyday to be happier.
It’s a physical journal that gives you a positive quote, followed by three questions you answer in the morning and two questions to answer in the evening before bed.
It basically anchors your mind in a positively focused, intentional and grateful mindset, in less than 5 minutes a day. Grab yours here: GiantThinkers.com/fiveminutejournal
Monday Dec 30, 2019
Monday Dec 30, 2019
Giants, this is episode #76! Today’s guest is an enormous inspiration. She’s the Founder and Creative Director of kikki.K, the award winning, global Swedish design and stationery business that offers stylish gifts, seasonal collections, stationery (of course) and functional organising tools – all to inspire and empower people to live their best life. Currently, kikki.K has 102 stores, they are stocked in another 250, and sold online in over 147 countries worldwide..
Needless to say the growth of this brand is staggeringly impressive. What makes it so, is how kikki.K all started. Our guest wrote on a piece of paper – all her dreams at 3am one morning when she couldn’t sleep, she was 22 years old. That was the seed. And in this episode we uncover the entire origin story, which is a testament to the power of staying true to our own dreams.
Speaking of, since she emigrated to Australia from Sweden a couple of decades ago, it’s been her ambition to spread the power of dreaming big to the masses. So much so, she has set herself a target to inspire one hundred and one million people to write down three specific dreams, and to go chase after them.
Some of the topics we spoke about include:
- Where she gets her inspiration to create the products that she releases
- What factors have influenced her level of scale
- Her self-care practices, including her 5am “holy hour”
- What she’s learnt from being coached 1:1 by Robin Sharma.
So if you’re someone who also has big, bold ambitions but don’t know where to start, or perhaps there’s a voice inside you, nudging you that there’s something lacking, then this episode will be right up your alley.
I present to you … the endless dreamer and powerhouse doer … Kristina Karlsson!
More on Kristina Karlsson and kikki.K can be found via the links below:
Subscribe to The Giant Thinkers Podcast on iTunes.
Want to know the most productive tool that has helped me accelerate my progress?
It’s the Five-Minute Journal; the simplest, most effective thing you can do everyday to be happier.
It’s a physical journal that gives you a positive quote, followed by three questions you answer in the morning and two questions to answer in the evening before bed.
It basically anchors your mind in a positively focused, intentional and grateful mindset, in less than 5 minutes a day. Grab yours here: GiantThinkers.com/fiveminutejournal
Tuesday Dec 10, 2019
Tuesday Dec 10, 2019
Hello Giants, Ram here. This is episode #75! I’m so excited to introduce to you a creative thought leader who I’ve not only admired for the past decade, but is someone I’ve learned a lot from in the space of living bravely and creating boldly. He is a Designer, Author and Teacher, his philosophy is to “begin before your ready”. It’s helped him work for global brands like Adobe, MailChimp, Time, Moet & Chandon and The City of New York. To him, braveness is the key to creativity – and we unpack a lot of that in the interview.
His work has been exhibited twice at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and is represented in permanent museum collections worldwide including the Louvre in Paris. Awards to his name include an Emmy, a gold and silver medal from the Art Directors Club, and a Grand Prix from the Brno Biennale.
It’s now his mission to teach people like you and I how to illuminate our individual gifts in order to find clarity and purpose.
Some of the topics we spoke about include:
- What to do when you’re in a creative slump
- Ways to address any fears that hold you back
- How to be your unapologetic self
- And the need for more people to push and challenge.
So if you’re in a creative block, or looking to amplify what you’ve created, then this is for you – as we uncover what it takes to live a creative and fulfilling life.
I present to you … the wildly creative, thought-provoking and experimental… James Victore!
More on James Victore can be found via the links below:
Subscribe to The Giant Thinkers Podcast on iTunes.
Want to know the most productive tool that has helped me accelerate my progress?
It’s the Five-Minute Journal; the simplest, most effective thing you can do everyday to be happier.
It’s a physical journal that gives you a positive quote, followed by three questions you answer in the morning and two questions to answer in the evening before bed.
It basically anchors your mind in a positively focused, intentional and grateful mindset, in less than 5 minutes a day. Grab yours here: GiantThinkers.com/fiveminutejournal
Friday Sep 20, 2019
Friday Sep 20, 2019
Giants, this is episode #74! We’ve got a good friend of mine on the show. He and I live halfway across the world from each other. He’s based in New York, I’m in Sydney. We did this interview in LA. I’d describe him as an incredibly dedicated, super talented young gun. Currently aged 25, he’s already been a Creative for Gary Vaynerchuk, for Gary’s personal brand and numerous VaynerMedia projects. He worked side-by-side with Gary for over 3 years – specialising in videography, editing, art direction and design.
This year however, he received acceptance into the highly sought-after 2019 Adobe Creative Residency program. It’s an enormously rare opportunity. Allowing him to spend a year, full-time on a personal creative project, while sharing his experience and process with the entire global creative community.
We unpack his journey to date, which is a testament to the power of going all in on your passion. Including how he landed his dream job with Gary, his humble beginnings, and what he’s up to now.
Some of the topics we spoke about include:
- The one item he can’t travel without
- Practical advice on having mentors around you like Gary Vee
- The tactics he practises to overcome imposter syndrome
- How the Adobe Creative Residency program defines creative success, and plenty more.
So if you’re unsure where to take your career, or if you’re facing a creative block, then this is for you – as we uncover what it takes to go after your creative pursuits.
I present to you … the always moving, hyper-curious, creative storyteller … Tyler Babin!
More on Tyler Babin can be found via the links below:
TylerBabin.com
The Adobe Creative Residency
GaryVaynerchuk.com
LinkedIn: Tyler Babin
Twitter: @Tyler_Babin
Instagram: @babin
YouTube: @babin
Subscribe to The Giant Thinkers Podcast on iTunes.
Want to know the most productive tool that has helped me accelerate my progress?
It’s the Five-Minute Journal; the simplest, most effective thing you can do everyday to be happier.
It’s a physical journal that gives you a positive quote, followed by three questions you answer in the morning and two questions to answer in the evening before bed.
It basically anchors your mind in a positively focused, intentional and grateful mindset, in less than 5 minutes a day. Grab yours here: GiantThinkers.com/fiveminutejournal