Small Business Lifestyle

Six years ago Geoff Bannister left the corporate world behind abandoning his role as Operations Manager at McDonald's to launch a business. The grand plan: to open a retro café with his wife Kristy. High on the list for the developing menu was custom doughnuts. It was while waiting for the café to be completed the couple cottoned on to the idea of a doughnut delivery service and Dr Dough Donuts was born. Those humble beginnings have spawned a seven-figure business that now delivers delicious sweet treats across Sydney seven days a week. Geoff shares how they went from café owners to founders of a doughnut empire and why customer service is the heart of this successful business.

Today’s guest is Natasha McNamara. In her role as a vocal coach, Tash assists everyone from actors to doctors to lawyers and business owners with how to speak with confidence. Whether you're preparing for a pitch or presenting to a board, there are skills and techniques you can learn to become a more confident presenter. Tash joins me today to reveal some of the secrets behind delivering a speech worth listening to – and how to speak with more clarity and purpose in your business and everyday life.

Today’s guest is Simone Simone Milasas, author of The Joy of Business and Getting Yourself out of Debt, Joyfully. Simone is a self-made millionaire, she runs several successful enterprises and has helped grow the mindfulness movement, Access Consciousness, to a global phenomenon. Simone’s passionate about helping people free themselves from negativity and limitations and she joins me today to share a little advice and some of her recent business journey

Carolyn Butler-Madden the founder of The Cause Effect. Carolyn is absolutely passionate about helping businesses big or small, connect with their brand purpose. She’s a champion of Cause Marketing and a big believer in using business as a vehicle to create social impact and empower change. Her philosophy of putting social purpose at the heart of a business is energising business owners around the country and capturing the hearts and minds of Australians. Carolyn is on a mission to accelerate this movement of business as a force for good. and shares the commercial impact of purpose-driven businesses and brands. ​

Janty Mohammed is the director of the Australian Institute of Internet Marketing Services (AIIMS). Janty is passionate about helping small businesses grow. He joins us today to talk through some recent trends – one of which – online reviews – is having a real impact on small business growth. And for anyone who has ever had a negative review, Janty gives us the lowdown on how to deal with it to turn your adversary into an advocate.

Serial entrepreneur and business owner Nic McClanahan has decades of experience running businesses and now she's brought that knowledge to bear to help women in business achieve success. Her new monthly program The Accountability Circle helps female founders connect, learn, and be held accountable by their peers. It also provides opportunities for referrals and doing business together. Nic believes accountability is essential to success and she joins us on the show today to share why we all need a bit of accountability in our lives and how it can help you grow your business.

Today’s guest is Claire Southall, a marketing expert and founder of the Customer Profiler. Claire has an obsession with putting the customer at the centre of the marketing journey and is a great believer in the power of data. She joins me today to share how small business owners should approach their marketing and how to distil the essentials in a marketing campaign.

We catch up with Kamal Sarma founder of Rezilium - a startup focussed on equipping teams and individuals with the right mindset to ensure success. Kamal recently joined forces with Luke Cook from Cuppa of Life and he’ll be sharing with us his experiences around mindfulness and connection as part of mental health month. Kamal spent several years as a monk so he knows a thing or two about the techniques required to strengthen our resilience and quiet our mind. Kamal joins us to explain why mental hygiene is so important to wellbeing and shares some tips and tools to improve your mental health.

Today’s guest is Rebecca Klodinsky founder of cult swimwear label, IIXIIST. Bec started her brand at the ripe old age 24 with just $2000 while studying a double degree at uni. Eight years later - and IIXIST is a household name – loved and worn by celebrities like the Kardashians and Rihanna. Bec joins us today to talk about how she grew her business to international success, the role of Insta and influencers in her success and how she championed sustainability and eCommerce long before they were popular.

Monica Meldrum is the founder and CEO of organic food brand, Whole Kids. Monica and her husband James poured their life savings into the startup and have grown the business from a tiny one product operation out of the family home to become the largest producer of organic snacks for kids in Australia. With a simple philosophy of unjunking foods and kids’ lives, Whole Kids has become a favourite with mums and dads around the country. But it all began with a desire to make an impact: to make the world a happier, healthier place for kids to grow up. Monica believes a healthier start in life leads to a healthier future and it's the guiding light behind Whole Kids.

Today’s guest is Simone Tully - the founder of the Organic Meats Group. Long before organic became fashionable, Simone was touting the benefits of organic farming from her cattle station in far west Queensland. Over the course of the last 30 years, Simone has created a global organic beef export business that has brought Aussie beef to the world stage. She’s here today to talk about her journey and the opportunities for women in agriculture.

Today’s guest is Kate Williams the founder of Nodo. After being diagnosed as a coeliac, Kate was struck by the lack of yummy baked goods on the market and launched Nodo to put the fun back into gluten-free. Her delicious doughnuts taste great and have been lovingly prepared with nothing but good intentions and the best ingredients. Kate is here today to share her small business journey and how she grew Nodo from a pop-up store to a thriving business

On this episode of Flying Solo, we catch up with Michelle Youl, the founder of Furever After, a service that helps grieving animal lovers farewell their pets. When Michelle’s beloved furbaby died she was dismayed by the treatment she received when laying her pet to rest. Determined no other pet owner would be treated without compassion she launched Furever After and found her passion. She joins us today to talk pets, people and purpose.

Today’s guest is Tina McIntosh the founder of Brain Changer. After over a decade of suffering chronic pain, Tina was desperate for a solution, when she stumbled upon the work of Professor Lorimer Moseley and Dr David Butler and their book, Explain Pain. After reading their book, something clicked and after further research - Tina developed Brain Changer - as a digital self-management system that put neuroscience into pain management. The idea: to help people rethink their way to a pain-free existence. Brain Changer was the ACT winner of our Innov8rs competition and Tina is here today to share a little of her journey.

Steve Liddell the founder of Street Science. Steve is passionate about all things STEM and wants Aussie kids to be passionate about them too. He started Street Science in an effort to bring science to life. His engaging shows and hands-on workshops put the fun back into facts. He’s gone from a veritable one-man band to a team that tours the eastern seaboard firing up kids' love of learning. Steve shares his entrepreneurial journey from side hustle to thriving business.

Today’s guest is Joanne Stutley, founder of Darlin’ Dal. Jo really believes that food is not only nourishment it’s medicine. So much so that she left behind a career as a nurse to pursue one focusing on ayurvedic techniques. These studies have come to fruition with her business Darlin Dal. From her café, Jo spruiks the good word on the healing powers of dal. She dropped by today to share with us her journey to entrepreneurship and explains why we all need to think more about the vitality of our gut.

Nicole Prudames CEO of Bush Medijina. This first nation business walks in two worlds as it brings together the knowledge of the local elders to create a business that delivers products that use native botanicals to make healing remedies available to all. Bush Medijina operates from a little shed on a remote island off the coast of the Northern Territory. It’s run by elders and members of the community and is a wonderful success story and our NT winner of our Innov8rs competition

Catherine Randabel is the creator of the HeadBed. This innovative invention helps put an end to pain at the salon sink. Catherine’s HeadBed is also an incredible safety device, saving hairdresser's customers from potential health risks. She shares her entrepreneurial journey and how she’s grown HeadBed to be a must-have salon product.

In this episode of Flying Solo we meet Julie Hirsch one of the cofounders of Eloments Vitamin Tea. Julie’s brews are refreshing and tasty and have a positive impact on your health and the planet. She shares the journey behind this purpose-driven business and explains how you can merge purpose and passion to create a business with impact.

Serial entrepreneur Ben Lipschitz drops by to give us the lowdown on his latest startup, FoodByUs. Ben is passionate about bringing innovation to the hospitality industry and FoodByUs is helping him do that - by connecting hospitality businesses with local producers to get the best deals and products for their business. Ben's business is leading a tech revolution in the sector and despite the challenges of COVID-19, FoodByUs is going from strength to strength.