PODCAST · business
FlowZone
by Mark Kentwell
FlowZone Podcast is where high performers, entrepreneurs, and world-class thinkers break down the systems, habits, and mindsets that fuel peak performance — without burnout.If you want to work smarter, perform better, and live with more energy, you’re in the right place. Welcome to the FlowZone.
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61
My AI Crash Course For Business Owners (Actually Get Sh** Done)
Most founders using AI daily are still stuck at Level 1 — and don't even know it. In this episode, I break down the exact crash course I gave a $100M real estate founder who uses Claude every day but couldn't explain how AI was actually working in his business. The gap between using AI and getting real value from it is massive, and the three questions are the map out of it. Plus, I share the one question the founder didn't ask - but every serious founder needs to hear. This isn't theory. This is what AI looks like inside a real business that's actually using it. If you're a founder, senior leader, or business owner trying to figure out where to start with AI, this is your starting point. 0:45 — The 3 Levels of AI — Chat, Automation & Agentic Explained 3:05 — The Exact Tool Stack — Claude, Grok & Perplexity — When to Use Each 5:12 — Best Agents to Start With — Manus, Perplexity Computer & Claude Cowork 5:54 — Real Example #1 — Full Presentation Built in 4 Minutes With Cowork 6:19 — Real Example #2 — Live Client Research in 60 Seconds (+ Free Prompt Offer) 7:11 — Real Example #3 — The Buyer Database That Replaces $20K in Marketing 8:14 — The Bonus Question — How Much Time You Actually Need to Invest Each Week 9:41 — Your First Move Tomorrow — One Project, 30 Minutes, Level 1 Done Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1/ Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: https://presence.realestate/ Nexr: https://nexr.com.au/
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Top 5 AI Tools Every Real Estate Agent Should Use in 2026
Mark Kentwell reveals the 5 AI tools he actually uses every day — not 25, not 10, just a tightly refined stack that drives his entire business. You’ll discover how tools like Claude, Perplexity, Wispr Flow, Fathom, and OpenClaw are being used to think, build, communicate, research, and execute business tasks at scale. This isn’t theory — it’s a real operating system used to save 60–80% of daily workload. If you’re trying to build a smarter workflow, scale faster, or understand how AI is actually used in business right now, this episode is a blueprint. 00:33 – How He Chooses Tools: The “Save Hours or Nothing” Rule 01:12 – Claude: The Core AI for Thinking, Building & Proposals 05:26 – Cloud vs Local AI Agents (Manus, OpenClaw, Risks & Power) 09:01 – Wispr Flow: The Voice Tool That 10x Communication Speed 09:40 – Perplexity: Live AI Research vs Claude (Key Differences) 11:32 – Fathom: Turning Every Meeting Into AI-Powered Data 12:19 – The Full AI System: How All 5 Tools Work Together Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1/ Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: https://presence.realestate/ Nexr: https://nexr.com.au/
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How to Use Claude To Automate Mundane Business Tasks (Full Guide)
Claude Dispatch is the most powerful AI feature released since Claude Projects — and almost no one is using it yet. Mark Kentwell has been running it inside a $15 million business for a week, and in this video he breaks down exactly what Claude Dispatch is, how to set it up, and the first agentic AI workflow he built from day one. Claude Dispatch turns your desktop into a remote AI worker you control entirely from your phone. While you're in an Uber or away from your desk, Claude opens folders, builds documents, runs research, and handles admin automatically — no keyboard required. Mark walks through a real live example: feeding a discovery call transcript into Claude and having it generate a fully branded client proposal plus a pre-populated agreement ready to sign — a process that used to take his business 4 to 24 hours of back-and-forth with support staff. If you're still using AI like a glorified Google search, Claude's agentic AI tools are your next level. #ClaudeAI #AIProductivity #ClaudeDispatch #AgenticAI #AIForBusiness Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1/ Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: https://presence.realestate/ Nexr: https://nexr.com.au/
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Foundr's Nathan Chan: Why Founders Can't Afford to Stay Hidden in 2026
Nathan Chan, founder and CEO of Foundr, sits down with Mark Kentwell on FlowZone to break down what it actually takes to build a powerful brand in 2026 — and why AI is changing everything about how founders grow. Nathan shares his raw, unfiltered take on the AI tools he's spending $1,000/month on, why documentation is now the secret weapon most founders are ignoring, and the mistake he made hiding behind the Foundr brand for over a decade. He also unpacks the personal brand vs. company brand debate, the "house of brands" model, and why founder-led content is the biggest growth hack available to bootstrapped businesses right now. If you're a founder trying to cut through the noise, build authority, and scale smarter with AI, this episode is packed with real strategy. 2:13 — The Creator Boom: Why Everyone Wants to Be a Founder Brand Now 11:01 — Nathan's Actual AI Stack: Manus, NotebookLM & Why He Ditched ChatGPT 19:14 — The "10x Founder" Framework: Using AI to Multiply Yourself, Not Just Automate 21:16 — The #1 Lesson from the Most Advanced AI User Nathan Knows: Documentation Wins 30:42 — If He Started Foundr From Scratch in 2026: What Nathan Would Do Differently 41:27 — The House of Brands Strategy: Using Talent & Creators to Scale Your Brand 53:38 — The Found Operators Community & Partnering with the Best in the World 56:08 — Minimum Team & Budget to Go Serious on Content (~$80–100K/year) 59:08 — Rapid Fire: The Biggest Lies About Personal Branding in 2026 Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1/ Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: https://presence.realestate/ Nexr: https://nexr.com.au/
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Survive or Collapse: The Crisis Decision Every Entrepreneur Will Face
Igor Vainshtein has started 20 businesses — 18 of them failed. But out of those failures came a sold company, a globally scaling golf tech app, and a move to the US to build something big. In this episode of Flow Zone, Igor sits down with Mark to break down the real cost of entrepreneurship: the $5M business lost overnight on New Year's Eve, getting wiped out by Lehman Brothers, having a Google ad account wrongly suspended during peak season, and what each of those moments actually taught him. From how AI and personal brand are reshaping what's possible for founders, to why Igor is betting everything on the US market again — and what happened the last time he made that move — this is one of the most honest conversations about failure, resilience, and building for the long game you'll hear all year. 3:31 The $5M Business Lost on New Year's Eve — Betrayal by His Own Partners 7:43 How He Stopped the Bleed — Then Got Hit by Lehman Brothers 11:30 The Golf Simulator Business That Led to a US Public Company Acquisition 18:50 Moving to the US to Scale — and How Google's AI Algorithm Nearly Destroyed Him 22:20 Why He Sold — and the Deal Structure He Used to Stay in on the Upside 24:50 Golf Track: Using AI + Computer Vision to Disrupt a $20K Hardware Market 31:10 Personal Brand as a Flywheel — Why It's Non-Negotiable for Founders 38:45 Australia vs US: The Honest Truth About Scaling Globally 48:17 Entrepreneur — The Board Game That Teaches Resilience Through Play 53:09 Rapid Fire: How Much Time Founders REALLY Need to Spend on AI and Personal Brand 55:22 Igor's Definition of Failure — and the Only One That Actually Counts Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1/ Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: https://presence.realestate/ Nexr: https://nexr.com.au/
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Allan Dib: The Business Jobs AI Is Replacing Right Now - Is Yours Next?
Allan Dib — bestselling author of The 1-Page Marketing Plan and founder of Lean Marketing — returns for his second appearance on FlowZone to break down exactly how business owners can use AI to make more money, save money, and deliver more value to their customers. Allan's run multiple eight-figure exits and is now implementing AI at a global scale through a marketing and operations lens — this episode gets straight into what's actually working right now. Don't miss Allan's free AI tool that walks you through building your own one-page marketing plan in under 15 minutes — link in the show notes. 1:30 - The One-Page Marketing Plan (Before, During & After) 5:45 - Make More Money With AI: Ad Testing, Content & Personal Brand 10:15 - The 3 Levels of AI: Chat, Automation & Agents 19:30 - Claude, Perplexity & Right Tool for the Right Job 23:00 - Plugging Funnel Leaks With Chatbots & Voice Agents 26:30 - Save Money With AI: Legal, Accounting & Coding 35:45 - The CIA Dossier Trick: Building Deep Context for Personalised AI 43:00 - Where AI Fails: The Copywriting Slop Problem 49:45 - Boosting Customer Value: Packaging Your Expertise as AI Tools 51:30 - What AI Can't Replace: Community & Real-World Connection 56:55 - Rapid Fire: Allan's Contrarian Takes on the Future of Business Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1/ Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: https://presence.realestate/ Nexr: https://nexr.com.au/
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I Built An AI Receptionist To Handle Every Enquiry In My Business (Copy Me)
Mark Kentwell, founder of Presence Real Estate Group, reveals how he built an AI voice agent to handle every inbound call in his $15M real estate business — and how you can do the same in five steps. In this video, Mark shares his complete AI voice agent setup, from choosing the right platform to writing a system prompt, building a knowledge base, and deploying agentic functions that convert leads 24/7. This isn't theory. Mark demoed 20+ providers, landed on VOQUO, and shares the real framework behind his AI agent "Peter" — including an advanced phonetic mapping tip for Australian accents that he's never seen anyone else cover. Whether you're in real estate or any service business, this is the practical blueprint for never missing a lead again. Drop 'agent' in the comments to get Mark's exact system prompt framework, grab the free download in the description, and subscribe for more content on building smarter businesses with AI. 0:53 - Step 1: How to choose a voice AI provider (7 criteria) 03:50 - Step 2: Writing the system prompt (4 questions to answer) 06:22 - Step 3: Building the knowledge base (the agent's memory) 07:13 - Step 4: Agentic functions — SMS, transfers, CRM integration 08:12 - Step 5: Test, break, refine — and what to do when it goes wrong 09:03 - What your business looks like 30 days from now Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1/ Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: https://presence.realestate/ Nexr: https://nexr.com.au/
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AI Masterclass For Founders: From Beginner To Expert In 10 Minutes
Mark Kentwell has spent 3 years integrating AI tools into a multi-million dollar real estate business — no code, no developer required. In this episode, he breaks down the exact 3 AI use cases saving him 100+ hours a month and driving 10x efficiency across his entire operation. From using Claude to build a fully documented business operating system, to automating every piece of written communication, to deploying a 24/7 AI voice receptionist that handles real estate leasing calls around the clock. This is the no-fluff, practical AI playbook for founders and business owners ready to stop chatting with AI and start building with it. If you've been sitting on the fence with AI, this is your starting point. 0:00 - Most Founders Are Using AI Wrong 0:53 - Use Case 1: Building Your Entire Operating System With AI 3:21 - Use Case 2: AI Handles Every Written Communication 5:07 - Use Case 3: The AI Voice Receptionist (24/7 Leasing Calls) 7:06 - The Results: 7-Day Coverage, Zero Voicemails, Unexpected Data Win 8:13 - The AI Gap Is Becoming a Canyon — What Happens Next? Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1/ Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: https://presence.realestate/ Nexr: https://nexr.com.au/
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Business Owner Explains: Why Your Team Will Be Replaced By AI
Mark Kentwell — builder of two 8-figure businesses and $120M private equity portfolio — breaks down exactly how he eliminated 10 full-time roles from his real estate business using AI, without sacrificing service quality. Mark walks you through his exact AI toolkit (Perplexity, Claude, NotebookLM and more), shares live prompt examples for researching clients and team members, and gives you a step-by-step framework to identify and eliminate your biggest business bottlenecks with AI. Whether you're an employee, entrepreneur, or scaling a company to 9 figures, this is the AI playbook you can't afford to ignore. 0:00 – I Had 10 Staff & Still Couldn't Keep Up 1:21 – The Real Estate Industry Problem That Started It All 3:20 – The Perplexity Prompt: Research Anyone in 2 Minutes (Not 4 Hours) 9:02 – The 80x–1000x Time Arbitrage You're Missing 10:22 – How Mark Spent $1.5M Documenting Systems (And What AI Replaced It With) 13:50 – Voice AI Agents, CRM Automation & The Data Entry Team He Eliminated 18:12 – The Framework: How to Identify & Fix Any Bottleneck With AI 22:29 – What To Do Next (Mark's Challenge to You) Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1/ Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: https://presence.realestate/ Nexr: https://nexr.com.au/
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He Sold For $24 Million at 29 (Everyone Can Do this)
Angus Ferguson built Real Time Agent from scratch, got 10% of all Australian property transactions flowing through it, and sold to Domain for $24M. Now he's back — building Foundit, a technology-enabled buyer's agent service betting on Australia's next big property shift. In this episode, Angus and Mark unpack the $24M exit, what years inside a 300-person corporate really taught him, and the 5-pillar model behind his new venture. They also break down why the buyer's agent market is exploding (1% → 8% → 25%) and why brand now beats tech. If you're a founder, real estate professional, or entrepreneur thinking about your next big move - this one's for you. 1:12 - The $24M Exit: How RTA Went From 0 to 10% of All Aussie Transactions 4:00 - Domain Said "Invest" — He Said "Buy the Whole Thing" 5:15 - What Corporate Taught Him That Startups Never Could 7:26 - Burning Out as an Entrepreneur Inside a 300-Person Business 13:53 - "If You Can't Change the People, Change the People" 17:55 - Why Values on a Page Beat Values That Just "Live" in the Culture 30:51 - The Buyer's Agent Explosion: 1% → 8% → 25% of All Transactions 34:47 - The 5-Pillar Business Model Behind Foundit 41:39 - Raising $3.2M & Betting Big on Brand Over Tech 47:51 - Why Saying No to the Wrong Agents Is Harder Than Finding the Right Ones 53:44 - Why VCs Now Rank Brand & Community Above Tech 1:07:48 - Personal Brand, AI Avatars & the Future of Real Estate Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1/ Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: https://presence.realestate/ Nexr: https://nexr.com.au/
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I Ranked The Best AI tools For Building a Business in 2026
Mark Kentwell runs a $15 million real estate company — and AI has already delivered him $5–$10 million in ROI. In this raw, unscripted solo episode, Mark pulls back the curtain on the exact AI tools he uses every single day, from Claude and ChatGPT to Perplexity, Grok, Gamma AI, and a live voice AI receptionist he's built from scratch. No fluff, no gatekeeping — just what's actually working inside a real business right now. Mark also breaks down his $200–$250 million enterprise value roadmap for Presence Real Estate, why he's giving 21% equity to his team through an ESOP, and how AI is the engine behind his fastest scaling period yet. Whether you're in real estate or not, this episode is a masterclass in using AI to document, systemise, and dramatically accelerate your business. 0:00 — $5–$10M ROI from AI: The Bold Opening Claim 3:03 — The AI That Found $1M/Month Bleeding from Real Estate Databases 9:15 — The Exact AI Stack: Claude, ChatGPT, Perplexity & Grok Explained 13:35 — Gamma AI: How Mark Builds Presentations in 2–3 Minutes 24:55 — Live Demo: AI Voice Receptionist "Oscar" Takes a Real Call 36:27 — GoList, Rex Software & the Lead Discernment Tools Saving Millions 45:04 — AI Saved Me $5–10M: The Real ROI Breakdown 49:47 — How AI Replaced 3 Years of Documentation in 10 Hours 56:39 — What Mark Would Do If Starting From Scratch With AI Today Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1/ Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: https://presence.realestate/ Nexr: https://nexr.com.au/
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Ex-SAS Commander: The #1 Mistake High Performers Make
On this episode of Flow Zone, Mark sits down with Anthony ‘Harry’ Moffitt — SAS veteran, registered psychologist, human performance consultant and an author. He reveals why the most successful founders and elite performers he works with are falling apart on the inside, and why overthinking is the silent killer behind it all. Harry introduces his powerful frameworks — "The Third Thing" and "The Fourth Pillar" — explaining why your business identity will consume you if you let it, and why philosophy is the missing piece in every high-performance model. If you've ever felt trapped by your own success, this one's for you. 1:00 — Meet Harry Moffitt: "Don't let this place be all you are" 9:28 — The SAS is a prison yard you get to go home from — what that means for identity 14:33 — From the streets of Kabul on Friday to lamb chops with the kids on Sunday 20:32 — Military vs sport vs business: where the real parallels are (and where they break down) 26:25 — Why modernity is destroying our ability to think — and what to do about it 30:41 — The Third Thing: why every elite performer needs a life outside work and family 38:24 — The Fourth Pillar: the missing piece in every high-performance framework 47:32 — "Leadership is a moral act" — Harry's challenge to every founder and CEO listening Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: presence.realestate/ Nexr: nexr.com.au/
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500+ interviews with world leaders - Here's What She Learnt
In this episode of Flow Zone, Sarah Grynberg reveals how she transformed from a burnt-out breakfast radio producer waking at 3am with two young kids to building one of Australia's most successful podcasts, A Life of Greatness. After interviewing over 500 world leaders, billionaires, and celebrities including Andrew Huberman, Matthew McConaughey, and Hamish Blake, Sarah shares the surprising traits that separate truly great people from everyone else, and the mindset practices that pulled her from rock bottom to hosting live shows with global health leaders. She also breaks down the visualisation techniques used by elite athletes and how she applied them to manifest her live show success within just one year. Whether you're building a personal brand, starting a podcast, or trying to escape burnout, this conversation delivers the blueprint! 1:06 – Introduction: Sarah Grynberg 3:37 – What separates great people from everyone else (after interviewing 500+ guests) 7:33 – From corporate marketing to producing breakfast radio at 3am with two kids 13:13 – How meditation and visualisation transformed her mindset (the 70% advantage research) 19:27 – "A belief is just a thought you keep thinking" – rewiring a lack mentality 30:04 – Why being a person of your word is the foundation of personal brand 48:07 – How Sarah built multiple income streams from podcasting (live shows, coaching, keynotes) Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: presence.realestate/ Nexr: nexr.com.au/
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Get Access to High-Net-Worth Deal Flow (Without Doing Cold Outreach)
Maxwell Nee went from losing everything in property development during COVID to building a network of 200+ wealthy families worth $50M+ each - all through referrals, with zero marketing spend. In this episode, the Singapore-based entrepreneur reveals how he structures deals that deliver short, medium, and long-term returns simultaneously, why he refuses to monetise his exclusive family office network, and the counterintuitive investment framework he learned from watching billionaires operate. Whether you’re building investor relationships or evaluating your next deal, this conversation delivers a masterclass in strategic networking and deal architecture. 0:00 – Building a 200-family investment network through referrals alone 10:09 – The real reason most investor networks fail 16:18 – Flamingo: The near-zero churn SaaS tracking tax days for billionaires 22:47 – Maxwell’s deal evaluation framework: start with the offtake 30:21 – The Ashton Kutcher lesson: Why he passed on Uber, Airbnb, and Facebook 41:53 – The 3-benefit rule: short-term cash, long-term equity, strategic credibility 48:01 – Business partnership failures: values misalignment and “cowboy energy” 54:24 – How billionaires think about risk: “suck the oxygen out” before chasing returns Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: presence.realestate/ Nexr: nexr.com.au/
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Transform an Unmotivated Team (Without Having to Micromanage)
In this episode of Flow Zone, bestselling author and enterprise change consultant Friska Wyne reveals why 80% of organisational transformations fail and the psychological framework that actually gets people to embrace change. Discover the "6 P's of Fear" that sabotage every change initiative, why middle managers are the make-or-break factor most leaders ignore, and the single communication strategy that separates successful transformations from expensive failures. Whether you're implementing AI, restructuring your team, or trying to shift your company culture, this conversation delivers the practical playbook you need.4:05 — The 6 P's of Fear: Position, Prestige, Performance, Protection, Pride & Power8:28 — Orphaned at 2 Weeks: How Personal Transformation Became Her Business12:23 — The $440K Consulting Disaster: Why Pseudo-Experts Are Costing Companies Millions17:52 — Life or Death Change: The WA Police Technology Overhaul That Couldn't Fail20:51 — How to Implement AI Without Destroying Team Morale25:32 — The Future Talk Framework: 86 Questions That Unlock Real Conversations36:46 — Personal Brand as Change Management: Getting Your Team to Buy In43:38 — Why Executives "Don't Have Time" Is the Most Expensive Excuse Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: presence.realestate/ Nexr: nexr.com.au/
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This Sh!t Works: How to Fire Bad Clients Gracefully
Ever feel trapped by a client who drains your energy, time, and sanity? This episode tackles the uncomfortable truth most agents and business owners avoid: sometimes your worst client is costing you more than they'll ever pay you. When a difficult client takes three times the hours but pays the same fee, they're not a full-fee client—they're a one-third fee client. From proper discovery calls to the warning signs you're ignoring, this episode breaks down why the clients you choose to keep are just as important as the clients you choose to win. 0:00 — The client that makes your stomach drop 1:46 — Why difficult clients are actually one-third fee clients 3:59 — The real reason you won't let go (it's fear) 5:43 — The 3-step script to fire a client gracefully 7:38 — What you get back when you finally let go Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: presence.realestate/ Nexr: nexr.com.au/
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$290M Exit: The One Thing That Separates $10M vs $100M
Tristan Sternson went from bedroom startup to delivering $290 million worth of exits. In this episode of Flow Zone, he reveals the exact playbook that transformed struggling businesses into acquisition targets, and why most entrepreneurs get turnarounds completely wrong. This isn't theory, it's battle-tested strategy from someone who's bought and sold the same business three times. You'll hear why private equity isn't what you think it is, how he survived Covid with Qantas as his biggest customer, and the one thing that separates $10M businesses from $100M businesses. 0:00 - The $290M Exit Reveal2:30 - Why Turnarounds Aren't Actually Broken8:40 - First Exit: $35M InfoReady Deal That Doubled15:22 - Public vs Private Company Secrets20:15 - Why He Sold at 36 Instead of Pushing Further27:12 - Partnering with Private Equity (Not What You Think)33:59 - Customer Obsession That Changed Everything39:21 - "Choose Your Own Adventure": Writing Your Press Release First43:03 - 22 Team Members Got Equity in the Exit53:12 - Rapid Fire: The #1 Rule for $100M Businesses Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: presence.realestate/ Nexr: nexr.com.au/
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Australia Real Estate 2026: What Agents Must Know to Survive
Mark Kentwell reveals how to build a multi-million dollar real estate business in 2026 with AI automation and a minimal team. From the minimum viable team structure (hint: your first hire should be a systems champion, not a cold caller) to the custom tech backbone that connects everything, this is the blueprint for entrepreneurs and future agency owners who want to build a real estate practice that actually lasts. Whether you're starting from scratch or transitioning a legacy business, these frameworks scale from $1M to $100M. 0:00 – The old real estate model is dead 4:30 – Minimum viable team: Your first hire is a systems champion 6:46 – Why prop tech CRMs can't keep up 11:00 – Traffic light system for listings and buyers 17:00 – Property management is wealth creation, not a side hustle 19:12 – 1 manager for 10,000 units: How it's already happening 26:08 – Future of talent: Best hires won't come from real estate 28:17 – The founder's real job in 2026 Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: presence.realestate/ Nexr: nexr.com.au/
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Millionaire Founders Exposed: The Hard Lessons Nobody Talks About
This special compilation brings together the best business wisdom from Flow Zone's episodes in May 2025. From founders who've navigated administration and emerged stronger, to entrepreneurs battling global giants in international courts, to the raw conversations about mental health, tall poppy syndrome, and what real success actually looks like - this episode delivers the unfiltered truth about building a business and a life worth living. Don't just watch - take notes, because this is the business advice that actually works. 0:00 — Introduction2:40 — Part 1: Where It All Fell Apart20:40 — Part 2: When The Tide Turned26:10 — Part 3: What The Greats Taught Me39:05 — Part 4: How Winners Think42:35 — Part 5: The Legacy Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: presence.realestate/ Nexr: nexr.com.au/
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He Bought Into a Dying Industry and Turned It Into a $17M Exit: David Fastuca
David Fastuca did what most founders would never dare, he bought back his travel tech company in July 2020, right as the industry was collapsing. With his cousin Ross, they self-funded through 18 months of zero revenue, rebuilt the pipeline from scratch using cold calls and a clever compliance-focused pitch, and ultimately sold Locomote to Webjet for $17 million. Now he's channelling those hard-won lessons into Coach Pilot, an AI sales brain built on 9,000+ mega prompts and 20 years of sales IP. In this episode of Flow Zone, David breaks down why first-time founders obsess over product while second-timers focus on distribution, how to sell in a market everyone else has abandoned, and why the biggest mistake founders make is being "scared to sell." 0:00 – Introduction: $75M in exits and buying into a dying industry 3:37 – The Covid Gamble: Why he bought back Locomote in July 2020 6:42 – What surprised him selling to a public company (Travelport) 10:46 – The moment every other buyer walked away 14:59 – The Pitch That Worked: Selling travel when no one was travelling 19:00 – The $17M Exit: How the Webjet deal came together 21:13 – Why marketing's only job is to make sales easier 24:00 – Why Founders Fail at Sales: First-time vs second-time founder mindset 27:00 – From coaching community to AI product (Coach Pilot) 33:24 – How 9,000 mega prompts turn bad inputs into world-class outputs 38:12 – MVP is dead: Why "minimum viable" no longer works 44:51 – What success looks like this time around 48:46 – Lightning Round: Cold calling in 2025, hiring mistakes, and founder advice Follow David Fastuca: Instagram: www.instagram.com/davidfastuca/ LinkedIn: www.au.linkedin.com/in/davidfastuca Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: presence.realestate/ Nexr: nexr.com.au/
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Brutally Honest Advice For Real Estate Businesses (750k Mistake)
Spent $750,000 on a state-of-the-art real estate office in 2014. Agents’ response? “Too far to drive, parking’s too hard, I’m scared of lifts.” This massive investment became a rod for my back, but it taught me what most real estate leaders get completely wrong about performance. I built Presence to $15 million with a hybrid work environment, and it nearly broke us. Your office doesn’t create culture. Your systems do. From the traffic light listing system to desktop client acquisition, here’s what actually drives performance when agents can work from anywhere. :point_right: The brutal truth? When agents get the choice to do nothing, everything changes. 0:00 - The $750K Office Disaster 0:38 - Built $15M Hybrid (Nearly Broke Us) 2:20 - Office Doesn’t Create Culture—Systems Do 4:13 - Defining What Great Performance Actually Looks Like 5:43 - The Traffic Light System (Ranking Every Listing) 10:01 - Buyer Pipeline Management Strategy 15:30 - Response Time = Competitive Advantage in Hybrid 28:00 - 4 Offices, Wider Talent Pool Strategy 29:03 - Desktop Client Acquisition (The Future) 31:57 - Systems Over Activity: Making Hybrid Work Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: presence.realestate/ Nexr: nexr.com.au/
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The Value Loop: How To Stop Resale Platforms Stealing Your Revenue?: Corey Topp
Event organiser Corey Topp has seen it all: scammers selling the same ticket to multiple people, fans heartbroken at the door after paying $200 for fraudulent passes, and resale platforms killing event profitability. After 20 years running festivals, from backyard parties to selling out Sydney’s Music Bowl, he’s built Eventflo, a blockchain ticketing platform that’s solving the industry’s biggest nightmares. In this episode, Corey breaks down the knockout festival scam that made headlines, why traditional ticketing platforms crash when you need them most, and how blockchain technology eliminates fraud without fans even knowing they’re using it. He reveals the “value loop” that ensures fans, organisers, and the industry all win—plus why most event promoters fail because they don’t track their numbers. If you’ve ever been scammed buying tickets or wondered why events struggle to sell out, this is the conversation you need to hear. 0:00 - The Scam That Started Everything: Multiple fans buying the same ticket 2:29 - From Backyard Parties to Sydney Music Bowl: 20 years of event evolution 6:45 - Why Traditional Ticketing Platforms Keep Crashing 11:30 - The Knockout Festival Disaster: 11 victims confront the scammer 18:20 - Heartbroken at the Door: When $200 tickets won’t scan and events are sold out 25:15 - How Resale Platforms Kill Event Profitability (The value loop explained) 33:40 - Why Blockchain? The accidental tech pivot that changed everything 38:50 - NFT Tickets That Change Every 2 Minutes: How it actually works 42:15 - Making Blockchain Invisible: Users don’t even know they’re using it 47:30 - RAPID FIRE: Why event promoters fail, biggest marketing wastes, and Australia’s nanny state problem 50:20 - What’s Next: EventFlo goes live after this summer Follow Corey Topp: Instagram: www.instagram.com/coreytopp/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/coreytopp/ Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: presence.realestate/ Nexr: nexr.com.au/ #TicketScam #EventIndustry #BlockchainTechnology #Entrepreneurship #FestivalFraud #StartupStory #NFTTicketing #EventTech
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Remote Work: Why It's Unfair To Young Workers: Adam Schwab
Australian entrepreneur, Adam Schwab, doesn't hold back on the remote work debate. The Luxury Escapes co-founder who built a billion-dollar travel empire reveals why he believes working from home is destroying young professionals' careers, costing businesses millions in lost productivity, and creating an unfair two-tier workforce. In this episode, Adam shares his unfiltered take on the agency cost problem plaguing big corporations, why he won't hire from banks or big consulting firms, and the exact hiring strategy that's kept Luxury Escapes' turnover under 10% for seven years. If you're building a business or climbing the corporate ladder, this conversation will challenge everything you thought you knew about modern work culture. 0:00 - Trailer: Remote Work Controversy Teaser 2:00 - Introduction: From Corporate Lawyer to $1B Travel Empire 2:43 - The Biggest Lie in Business Today - Agency costs destroying shareholder value 5:05 - The Middle Management Trap - Why wrong hires kill company growth 10:42 - Never Hire From Banks - The exact hiring strategy for hungry teams 15:20 - Scaling Past Founder Fantasy - Creating ownership mentality throughout business 30:15 - The Optus Failure - When management and ownership split goes catastrophically wrong 38:47 - How Luxury Escapes Survived COVID - Revenue dropped to zero, competitors died 43:33 - Building for 50 Years - Long-term thinking vs short-term profitability 45:13 - The Remote Work Debate - Why Adam's controversial 5-day office policy works 46:40 - The Retention Data - Remote workers have double the attrition rate 47:17 - Why It's Unfair to Young People - The hidden cost of working from home 47:35 - The 45-Year-Old Manager Problem - Gen X and Boomers staying home hurt young careers 48:10 - The 5-Day Office Rule - How Luxury Escapes maintains sub-10% turnover 49:14 - Rapid Fire: Start-up advice, innovation theater, investors vs builders 51:15 - Business Podcasts Done Right - What makes great business content 52:06 - Real Entrepreneurs vs Wantrepreneurs - Grit and hard work Follow Adam Schwab: Instagram: www.instagram.com/adamjschwab/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/adam-schwab-64b439a/ Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: presence.realestate/ Nexr: nexr.com.au/
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Money or Freedom? Most Entrepreneurs Choose Wrong: Ash Bent
Ash Bent hit $4.2 million per month in just two years after pivoting to neon signs during COVID. He was spending $100,000 per day on Facebook ads and burning through cash to chase growth. He fired 40 people in a single day and felt... free. Now running Kloud, an ice bath company built on health and sustainable growth, Ash shares the lessons most entrepreneurs learn too late: funding is overrated, rapid scaling is like fast food (feels good but destroys you), and if your business isn't aligned with your values, it won't last. From million-dollar months to rock bottom and back, this is the story they don't tell you about entrepreneurship. 0:00 - Intro: From $4.2M/Month to Firing 40 People2:15 - COVID Pivot: 80% Revenue Drop to Launching Neon Signs5:30 - $0 to $500K in Days: Every System Broke9:45 - First Meta Ban: Lost My Main Revenue Channel12:20 - Spending $100K Per Day on Ads at Peak16:10 - Second Meta Ban: Burned $800K in 30 Days19:45 - The Collapse: Firing 40 People in One Day22:30 - Why I Felt Free After Losing Everything28:15 - Building Kloud: Ice Baths and Sustainable Growth35:50 - ADHD Diagnosis Changed How I Build Companies41:30 - Lightning Round: Why Funding is Overrated48:15 - Scaling Too Fast is Like Fast Food50:45 - Work-Life Balance Doesn't Exist—Just Be You Follow Ash Bent: Instagram: www.instagram.com/_ashbent/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ash-bent-8185a317b Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: presence.realestate/ Nexr: nexr.com.au/
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No Filter, No Excuses: The Rebel's Path to Building Wealth: Danny Grant
Danny Grant got fired from every job—now he runs a multi-million dollar empire. In this Flow Zone episode, he reveals how being unapologetically himself became his biggest business advantage. He shares his "unrealistic goals with realistic steps" framework, why he talks about guns and drugs in corporate boardrooms, and how personal branding became the ultimate business weapon. If you've never fit the mould or felt the conventional path wasn't for you, this episode shows why that's your superpower. 0:00 - Introduction: The Unfiltered Entrepreneur Who Talks Gangsters in Boardrooms 1:52 - Why the Conventional Path Never Worked: Getting Fired & Finding His Own Way 3:04 - Building Melbourne's #1 Nightclub Empire: Moving 10,000+ People Weekly 3:38 - The Culture Vulture Strategy: Infiltrating 7-8 Different Music Genres Simultaneously 9:45 - From Nightclubs to Alcohol Brand: The $10M Exit That Almost Didn't Happen 18:40 - The "Unrealistic Goals, Realistic Steps" Framework for Any Business 27:15 - Why Being Authentic & Unfiltered Is Now Your Competitive Advantage 33:50 - The Boardroom Test: Talking About Guns & Drugs to Corporate Executives 40:28 - Personal Branding in 2025: Why Every Business Needs a Face 45:03 - Rapid Fire: Business Education, Perfect Plans & The Biggest Entrepreneurship Lies 46:40 - Final Advice: How to Start When You Have Nothing (No Money, No Connections) 48:07 - Winners Aren't Afraid of Losing: The Mentality That Changes Everything Follow Danny Grant: Instagram: www.instagram.com/dannyrants/ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@dannysrants LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/danny-grant-9628a5102 Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: presence.realestate/ Nexr: nexr.com.au/
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Female CEO: Stop Promoting Women Because They're Female! Here's Why: Hayley Westoby
Meet Hayley Westoby, the 34-year-old entrepreneur who walked away from toxic corporate culture-not once, but twice-to build two thriving businesses on her own terms. In this episode, Hayley challenges everything you've been told about female ambition, work-life balance, and what actually builds wealth. She exposes the brutal reality of being denied promotions because of "gender quotas," shares why hustle culture is dead, and reveals how she completely restructured her business model after realising she'd built a cage instead of freedom. 0:00 - Trailer: Gender Quotas, Ambition & The "I Am The Table" Movement 1:55 - Full Episode Begins: Meet Hayley Westoby 2:58 - "I Am The Table" Philosophy: Why Women Shouldn't Just Bring A Seat 6:47 - When Ambition Gets Labeled As Aggression 9:12 - The Gender Quota Story: Denied Promotion After 9 Months of Proving Herself 10:36 - Second Walkout: Requesting Performance Pay & Getting Shut Down 12:29 - Merit vs Quotas: Why Gender-Only Hiring Backfires 17:20 - Sophie Hood's Red Bull Story: When Employers Support Ambition Right 24:18 - The Trust Problem in Marketing & Real Estate (It's The Same Everywhere) 29:05 - Breaking Down Marketing BS: Why Overcomplicating Things Sells But Hurts 32:04 - Gambit Collective Model: How Pay-As-You-Go Actually Works 38:07 - Redefining Wealth: From Fast Cars To Freedom & Time 39:32 - The Business Pivot: Realizing She'd Built A Prison, Not A Dream 45:00 - Reality Check: "No Time To Start? You Won't Have Time To Run It" 48:00 - AI & Human Connection: What Machines Can't Replace 51:07 - Why Work-Life Balance Is A Dangerous Myth (And What To Do Instead) 56:17 - Final Words: Start Before You're Ready—Done Beats Perfect Retry Follow Hayley Westoby: Instagram: www.instagram.com/hayleywestoby/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/hayleywestoby Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: presence.realestate/ Nexr: nexr.com.au/
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The Australian Housing Crisis Is Fake (Here’s Proof): David Besser
David Besser is a veteran property developer with 35+ years shaping Melbourne's boutique housing market. In this episode, he reveals the brutal reality of off-the-plan apartment disasters, why local councils are blocking affordable housing projects they claim to support, and how one developer is fighting back with transparency. David exposes the hidden costs destroying housing affordability—including $240,000 in government fees on every $800,000 apartment. 0:00 - Off-Plan Apartment Trap & VR Solution 6:42 - Staircase Disaster in $5M Apartments 13:46 - Water Detection Systems & The Big Four 18:42 - $240K Government Fees Per Apartment 21:00 - Council Rejected 160 Affordable Apartments 26:12 - Three Marriages & Adaptability Lessons 29:17 - Banks Called In Profitable Fashion Business 33:12 - Profit vs Cash Flow: Oxygen vs Water 37:57 - Cancel Cancel: 45-Year Mindset Philosophy Follow David Besser:I nstagram: www.instagram.com/besserdavid/ Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: presence.realestate/ Nexr: nexr.com.au/
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No Real Estate Agents: Creative Agency's Controversial Rule: Marcus Willis
Marcus Willis, founder of Kill Boring Dead, reveals why challenger brands win against giant competitors and how the eternal student mindset keeps him ahead in marketing. From his controversial “No Real Estate Agents” policy to breaking down Nike’s billion-dollar mistake abandoning brand building for performance marketing, Marcus shares brutal truths about what actually works. He explains why AI is forcing marketers to think 10x bigger, how personal brands compete against 90,000-person agencies, and why most marketing fails because brands overcomplicate everything. 0:00 - Why 99% of Real Estate Agents Are Banned 4:16 - The Death Star Strategy for Challenger Brands 7:43 - The Eternal Student Mindset After 10 Years 10:45 - Real Estate’s Broken 95/5 Model Exposed 20:48 - Marketing’s Real Purpose: Just Make One Thing Memorable 25:03 - Starbucks Lost “The Third Place” & The Four Ps Breakdown 29:27 - Nike’s Performance Marketing Disaster Cost a Decade 32:18 - Detector Inspector: Melbourne to #1 in Australia 38:40 - AI Eliminates Performance Marketing (Amplifies Creativity) 45:52 - Personal Brands Beat 90,000-Person Agencies 48:51 - What Makes Your Older Self Proud in 10 Years Follow Marcus Willis: Instagram: www.instagram.com/marcuswillis LinkedIn: www.au.linkedin.com/in/marcus-willis-b0651734 Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: presence.realestate/ Nexr: nexr.com.au/
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From $0 to $12K Per Night: Building Australia's Luxury Empire: Tom Ormerod
Tom Ormerod built Australia's premier luxury accommodation platform Luxico from a simple frustration: picking up keys from fish and chip shops for million-dollar homes. Now averaging $12,000 per booking, his company serves billionaires, celebrities, and ultra-wealthy clients with wild requests ranging from grand pianos to exotic animals delivered at a moment's notice. In this episode, Tom reveals the behind-the-scenes reality of working with billionaires, the crushing moment his TV show got dropped, and how he's using personal branding to scale internationally. He also breaks down the current challenges facing Australia's short-term rental industry, including the 7.5% Victorian tax that's reshaping the market. Plus, his expansion plans with "Stay Longer" platform and why he believes luxury hospitality is the ultimate relationship business. 0:00 Introduction - Australia's $12K Per Night Empire2:04 The Netflix Audition That Changed Everything3:05 8-Year TV Journey: From Concept to Binge11:07 What Billionaires Actually Request (You Won't Believe This)15:08 The "Stay Longer" Platform Strategy22:16 Working with Celebrities & Royalty Behind the Scenes28:00 The Crushing Moment: Getting Dropped by Major Network31:03 Personal Branding Through TV: The Real Strategy37:51 Why Original TV Content is "Higher Risk" in Australia41:11 The 7.5% Tax Destroying Victoria's Rental Market45:07 International Expansion Plans: Mykonos to Bali Follow Tom Ormerod: Instagram: www.linkedin.com/in/tom-ormerod-5a645640/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/thatvillaguy/ Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: presence.realestate/ Nexr: nexr.com.au/
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How Ignoring Every 'Should' Built Her Wellness Business: Emma Maidment
Emma Maidment reveals how she transformed from a burned-out corporate PR executive to a thriving wellness entrepreneur by following one simple principle: authentic alignment. After years of pushing through anxiety and health issues while climbing the corporate ladder at tech startups like 99designs, Emma discovered the secret to creating a magnetic personal brand that attracts the right opportunities effortlessly. In this powerful conversation, Emma shares her proven framework for building trust through storytelling, why "fake it till you make it" will eventually destroy your business, and the strategic communication techniques she learned working in police media that apply directly to personal branding. She breaks down the difference between surface-level success and true flow state, revealing why most entrepreneurs struggle to build sustainable brands that stand the test of time. 0:00 Introduction - From PR to Purpose 2:04 The Corporate Trap - Following the path you "should" take 6:00 Body Screaming Misalignment - Health crisis from pushing through anxiety 8:37 The Coffee Shop Revelation - Friend's question that changed everything 11:43 99designs Success Story - Inside the $35M tech startup boom 19:21 Authentic vs. Fake Success - Why truth always reveals itself 23:05 Magnetic Brand Formula - You have to know who you are 38:06 Long-Form Content Strategy - How podcasts build trust faster than posts 48:24 Police Media Secrets - Strategic communication lessons for business 57:16 What Is Flow State? - Living in alignment with your true purpose Follow Emma Maidment: Instagram: www.instagram.com/emmamaidment_/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/emmamaidment/ Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: presence.realestate/ Nexr: nexr.com.au/
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Stay, Sell, or Step Back: The Business Owner's 3 Hardest Options
I'm stepping back from the day-to-day operations of my business while relocating to Melbourne, yet I still maintain full control. Most founders either stay trapped forever, sell everything, or try this risky third option: turning their company into a true investment that runs without them. I'm sharing the brutal reality of this transition - appointing a C-suite, self-funding the change, and why removing "founder fairy dust" could tank margins and revenue. With 1300 investors and 45+ team members counting on me, failure isn't an option. 0:00 - The 3 Options Every Business Owner Must Face 0:47 - Option 1: Stay in Business Forever (The Master Tailor Trap) 2:16 - Option 2: Full Exit Strategy & Complete Sale 4:37 - Option 3: Step Out & Become an Investor 5:23 - The E-Myth Pyramid: From Technician to Investor 6:27 - My Choice: Why I'm Choosing Option 3 7:17 - 1300 Investors & 45+ Team Members: Why I Didn't Sell 8:33 - Two Key Decisions: C-Suite & Capital Strategy 9:29 - The Fairy Dust Problem: What Happens When Founders Leave 10:22 - Reinvestment Reality: Why You Need Capital for Transition Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark's Businesses: Presence Real Estate: https://presence.realestate/ Nexr: https://nexr.com.au/
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How He Built a 25-Country Brand in 15 Years (Then Chose to Walk Away): Owen Bowling
Owen Bowling, mission-driven entrepreneur and fitness industry veteran with over 20 years of experience, co-founder and CEO of Coach Welly (AI-powered wellness platform), shares how a knee injury that put him through a roof became the catalyst for building Crank It Fitness into a globally recognised brand distributed in 25+ countries. After surviving a decade-long legal battle with an American giant and ultimately closing the business during COVID, Owen reveals his philosophy of measuring opportunities by "who you become in the process" and why joy and fun are non-negotiable in business and life. 00:00 - Owen's unconventional path: circus, semi-pro soccer in Italy, to fitness entrepreneur 02:27 - How suspension training connected with his movement background 04:15 - The crucial knee injury: falling through a roof that created space for creativity 06:00 - Building Crank It Fitness and the education platform necessity 08:27 - Global expansion strategy through trade shows and relationship building 14:00 - The terrifying 40-page cease and desist letter from America 21:27 - David vs. Goliath: 10-year legal battle and the COVID shutdown decision 25:00 - Why the competitor went bankrupt but still came after them 27:00 - Measuring opportunities by personal growth, not just financial returns 31:00 - The missing piece: helping people find their "why" and purpose alignment 36:00 - Joy as the breakthrough word and "if you're not having fun, what's the point" 38:00 - Family, People, Planet, Fun: his four-pillar life mantra 42:00 - Why we idolize sports people too much and the hidden costs of extreme focus 45:00 - Coach Welly's ecosystem approach to AI-powered wellness 50:00 - B2B2C model advantages over direct-to-consumer wearables 53:00 - Privacy concerns and anonymous data aggregation 56:00 - AI's vertical curve acceleration and the creative augmentation debate 59:00 - Final wisdom for entrepreneurs in crisis moments: "Forward, Trust, Let Go" Follow Owen Bolwing: Instagram: www.instagram.com/owenbowling/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/owenbowling/ Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark's Businesses: Presence Real Estate: presence.realestate/ Nexr: nexr.com.au/
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How He Turned Australia's Ugliest Industry Into $10M Empire: Jacob Spencer
Jacob Spencer, owner and managing director of Mobile Skips approaching $10 million revenue, shares the counterintuitive strategy that transformed an "unsexy" industry: deliberately choosing businesses where customer experience doesn't exist. After learning systems mastery at McDonald's and applying it to Australia's $4.95 billion waste removal industry, Jacob reveals why targeting unsexy industries with exceptional service creates unbeatable competitive moats. 00:00 - Why Jacob chose the "unsexy" waste removal industry strategically 04:15 - How McDonald's systems training shaped his franchise philosophy 08:02 - The $4.95 billion Australian waste market and Mobile Skips' positioning 14:00 - Managing franchisee innovation vs. systematic consistency 17:19 - What franchisees must master: the "Celebrity Service" framework 23:25 - The I.A.B.C. trust model that transformed his leadership approach 30:00 - Dealing with toxic rockstars and values-based decision making 38:10 - Jacob's transition from doing everything to leading five experienced leaders 41:16 - How crippling anxiety became his biggest business challenge 46:11 - Tactical anxiety management: cold exposure and distraction vs. intellectualizing 49:07 - The personal story driving his anxiety and how therapy helped 56:32 - Balancing spare time with purpose: Street Enterprise board work 1:00:21 - Building businesses that survive beyond the founder 1:02:15 - The freedom challenge facing successful entrepreneurs Follow Jacob Spencer: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-spencer-mobileskips Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark's Businesses: Presence Real Estate: https://presence.realestate/ Nexr: https://nexr.com.au/
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Why Average Salespeople Are 'Screwed': Doug Brown
In this game-changing conversation, Doug Brown, founder of CEO Sales Strategies followed by nearly 2 million people, exposes the shocking reality that's killing most sales organizations: 97% of salespeople don't know their ideal buyer characteristics. After working across 360+ industries with global giants like Procter & Gamble and Intuit, Doug reveals why sales isn't random luck—it's a predictable mathematical system, and why average salespeople are about to be "screwed" in the AI revolution. What makes Doug's approach revolutionary? While most companies treat sales like a mysterious black box, Doug has cracked the code on making revenue mathematically predictable through micro-measurements and daily accountability. His methodology transforms sales from subjective guesswork into precise funnel math, revealing why over 90% of businesses—even Fortune 500 companies—lack basic sales metrics that could transform their growth. Doug's transformation of Intuit's struggling division isn't just impressive—it's systematic. He reveals how they went from a $10 million loss to a $7 million gain in one year by shifting from selling "checks" to solving "check fraud protection," and why the real breakthrough came from understanding both business ROI and personal ROI of buyers. We explore his counterintuitive finding that remote sales teams can outperform in-office teams when properly systematised, and why he trains sales teams four days a week despite pushback from executives. Discover why he believes "technology is flat in the field," how AI will separate professional salespeople from average ones, and why the master prospector always outsells the master closer in volume. Doug shares his prediction that sales compensation models won't fundamentally change, but the processes will be completely revolutionised, why daily training creates compound interest effects in performance, and how 22 hours per week can be reclaimed through AI integration. We dive deep into his philosophy that sales must address both business and personal return on investment, why Harvard research shows 97% of salespeople miss their ideal buyer profile, and how AI can transform average producers into top performers if they embrace the technology. Doug reveals why companies doing $48 million grew to $110 million through systematic daily training, how to use AI for prospect research most salespeople ignore, and why the future belongs to salespeople who build personal brands and leverage technology rather than compete against it. 00:00 - Why 97% of salespeople fail to identify their ideal buyers 03:15 - How to make sales mathematically predictable through systems 04:00 - The specific metrics most companies aren't measuring 06:33 - Why over 90% of businesses lack basic sales funnel data 07:00 - The Intuit case study: From $10M loss to $7M profit in one year 13:58 - Why technology has leveled the playing field for all salespeople 21:00 - Remote vs in-office sales teams: What the data really shows 24:18 - The fatal hiring mistake companies make with remote salespeople 26:49 - How 30 minutes of daily training created $62M in growth 28:26 - The compound effect: Why 1% daily improvement transforms performance 32:08 - Doug's blunt prediction: Why average salespeople are "screwed" 33:10 - The economics of AI: $20/month vs $60K salary reality 34:08 - How AI can transform average producers into top performers 42:32 - The prospect research advantage most salespeople ignore 44:21 - Why human connection becomes more critical in the AI era 45:57 - What will actually change about sales compensation models Follow Doug Brown: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dougcbrown Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark's Businesses: Presence Real Estate: https://presence.realestate/ Nexr: https://nexr.com.au/
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The Psychology Behind Personal Branding in the AI Era: Mel Yu
In this powerful conversation, Mel Yu, international speaker, brand strategist, and mental health advocate, reveals the uncomfortable truths about building authentic personal brands in the AI era. What makes Mel's approach revolutionary? While most people build personal brands to chase money and followers, Mel discovered that true personal branding is about "creating people of influence, not influencers"—and why authenticity always beats the algorithm. Her methodology centers on identity and reputation in the marketplace, the power of polarity in brand positioning, and why the most successful personal brands require you to risk being disliked. Mel's transformation from trauma-focused content creator to luxury brand strategist isn't just inspiring—it's systematic. She reveals how losing her partner to suicide initially built her brand around mental health advocacy, but how staying there would have kept her trapped in the past. We explore her courageous decision to evolve her messaging despite fearing her community would "love her less," and why she now says "I remember where I've come from every day—that's why I can't stay there." We dive deep into her philosophy that only 3% of your audience is ready to buy at any time, why personal brands are taking market share from traditional influencers, and how to position yourself as a thought leader rather than a trend-follower. Mel reveals why she rejected the pressure to stay in her trauma story, how to navigate brand evolution without losing your core audience, and why building a personal brand requires being comfortable with people not liking you. 01:12 - The difference between influencers and personal brands: "We're creating people of influence, not influencers" 03:02 - Simple definition of personal branding: "Your identity and reputation in the market" 05:25 - Why personal brands are winning: "People want substance, depth, and lived experience they can relate to" 09:26 - The authenticity vs algorithm balance: "Without authenticity, you're just a cookie cutter puppet" 16:07 - Why money shouldn't be the primary driver: "There are a million other ways to make money—you don't actually need a personal brand" 17:44 - The psychology behind personal branding: "Every human just wants to feel seen, heard and understood" 28:05 - The courageous brand evolution: "I was worried you guys would love me a little less" 29:43 - Breaking free from trauma positioning: "I remember where I've come from every day—that's why I can't stay there" 32:04 - The engagement trap of trauma content: "Misery loves company—sad content gets the highest engagement" 34:17 - Personal branding as service: "It's one of the most selfishly selfless things you can do" 36:07 - Psychology as foundation: "Once you understand the human mind, you have more compassion and empathy" 41:02 - Teaching resilience through failure: "What did you do to fail today? We need to normalize these lessons" 48:18 - The hero's journey principle: "No hero sets off on a linear journey—the valleys of despair create the best stories" Follow Mel Yu: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mellieyu Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark's Businesses: Presence Real Estate: https://presence.realestate/ Nexr: https://nexr.com.au/
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From Athlete to Millions of Downloads: How He Built Australia's Biggest Fitness Podcast in 9 Years
In this incredibly insightful conversation, Danny Kennedy, creator of Australia's pioneering "Fitness and Lifestyle" podcast, reveals how he went from elite basketball player to building one of the country's most successful podcasts with millions of downloads. Starting in 2016 when almost no one in Australia was podcasting, Danny shares the raw truth about his 9-year journey of relentless consistency and authentic storytelling. What makes Danny's approach revolutionary? While most creators chase viral moments and perfect content, Danny discovered the power of "documenting, not creating" - simply sharing his authentic journey and lessons learned. His methodology centers on value-first content creation, landing high-profile guests like 360 through simple Instagram DMs, and the compound effect of showing up weekly for nearly a decade. Danny's transformation from failed athlete dealing with constant setbacks to successful entrepreneur and creator isn't just inspiring - it's systematic. He reveals how his basketball failures actually desensitised him to rejection, making him fearless in reaching out to guests and creating content. We explore his evolution from scripted, perfectionist episodes to raw, authentic conversations that people say make him "exactly the fucking same" in person. Discover why he believes authenticity beats perfection every time, how he went from 5 listeners to millions of downloads through sheer consistency, and why treating content creation like "dollar cost averaging" in investing is the ultimate long-term strategy. Danny shares his transition from recording in underground car parks with USB mics to running monthly masterminds with high-performance entrepreneurs. We dive deep into his philosophy of "meeting people where they are" rather than where you want them to be, why he rejected advice to niche down (and became grateful he did), and how personal branding in the AI age requires radical authenticity. Danny reveals his approach to adding value, building genuine relationships, and why the magic happens when you stop trying to please everyone and start resonating with your true audience. 01:12 - How he got rapper 360 on his podcast: "I literally just reached out via Instagram" 04:23 - Why early podcasting was easier: "Most people didn't even know what a podcast was" 06:08 - The Gary Vee moment that made him start: "Why wait till tomorrow for something you can do today?" 10:53 - Detachment from instant outcomes: "Reality will catch up to who you're being, not what you're doing" 18:04 - The evolution of podcasting: From car recordings to professional studios 22:03 - How everyone has value to add: "It's an extension of the lessons I've learned" 27:23 - The Vegas episode that changed everything: Authenticity over perfection 31:25 - Why he rejected advice to niche down and stayed broad 38:11 - "Documenting, not creating" - Gary Vee's influence on content philosophy 44:02 - Meeting mentors where you are vs. where they are now 46:06 - The mastermind evolution: Hand-picking entrepreneurs for monthly growth sessions Follow Danny Kennedy: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djkfitness Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark's Businesses: Presence Real Estate: https://presence.realestate/ Nexr: https://nexr.com.au/
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25
From $300 Net Worth to 8-Figure Exit: Allan Dib
In this profoundly honest conversation, Allan Dib, author of the #1 Amazon bestseller "The One Page Marketing Plan" (over 1 million copies sold worldwide), reveals the raw truth about his journey from a $300 net worth when he got married to building and exiting an 8-figure business. But this isn't just another success story - Allan shares the brutal reality of why money doesn't buy happiness and how he almost lost everything that mattered while winning in business. What makes Allan's approach revolutionary? While most entrepreneurs chase endless financial goals, constantly resetting the bar from $10K to $100K to more, Allan discovered the dangerous trap of "winning the battle but losing the war." His framework goes beyond traditional business advice to life design, revealing why he went from "dirty fuel" (desperation) to "clean fuel" (purpose) and how this shift transformed everything. Allan's methodology centers on systematic life design rather than just goal setting. Drawing from his friendship with James Clear (Atomic Habits), he breaks down how an amazing life starts with amazing days, and why treating your personal commitments with the same respect as client appointments changes everything. He reveals his daily system of 5-6 non-negotiables that, when executed consistently, compound into an extraordinary life. We explore his transformation from being 20-30kg overweight and health-deteriorating to working out 6 days a week, how discipline in one area affects all others, and why physical fitness literally made him more money. Allan shares the pivotal moment looking at a photo with his late father that sparked his complete life overhaul, moving from business success at the expense of everything else to holistic success. Discover why he believes passion follows success (not the other way around), how he "sends the elevator back down" through his work impacting millions globally, and why the books that come from lived experience are the most powerful. Allan reveals his three-note system for capturing ideas (stories, snippets, core content) and why he never faces a blank cursor when writing. Key Timestamps: 02:48 - From $300 net worth to 8-figures: "Rich is definitely better, but money doesn't buy happiness" 04:44 - The transition from "dirty fuel" to "clean fuel" and why desperation has diminishing returns 08:30 - Why he gets fan mail daily now vs. only complaints in his tech businesses 12:52 - The "Second Mountain" concept and why the journey creates who you are 21:22 - Designing his ideal life: remote work, no suits, office overlooking water 25:20 - Why "passion follows success" and the screw manufacturer who loves his business 35:37 - The health transformation: from 30kg overweight to 6-day workout routine 37:52 - The photo with his father that changed everything: "We looked friggin identical" 42:26 - His daily system: 5-6 things that make a great day, compounded into a great life Follow Allan Dib: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allandib Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark's Businesses: Presence Real Estate: https://presence.realestate/ Nexr: https://nexr.com.au/
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24
The Man Who Designed Shoes for NBA MVP James Harden: Vince Lebon
In this deeply authentic conversation, Vince Le Bon reveals how he transformed from self-doubt and industry skepticism to becoming the globally recognised founder of Rollie Nation, designing for NBA MVP James Harden and building a footwear empire across 11 countries. But this isn't your typical entrepreneurial success story - Vince shares the profound personal journey that led him to prioritise family happiness over business growth and how his creative process became the foundation for everything he builds. What makes Vince's approach revolutionary? While most founders chase growth at any cost, Vince teaches the three pillars of sustainable success - Self, Relationships, and Wealth - revealing why you must start with yourself first and why he'd sell his business before sacrificing family happiness. His methodology goes beyond traditional business advice to authentic leadership, helping entrepreneurs overcome the "mental prison" of constantly restarting their brand every few years due to market volatility. Discover why he believes most founders get stuck chasing ego projects instead of purpose-driven work, how his meditation and ice bath practices regulate his nervous system for creativity, and why being authentically yourself in business will become your greatest competitive advantage. We explore the dangers of tall poppy syndrome in Australia, the importance of creating the right environment for flow states, and why trauma and struggle might be essential for entrepreneurs to step into their most confident, authentic selves. 04:26 - The biggest challenges facing Australian retailers and his brand experience philosophy 08:03 - How COVID forced a 30-day sprint that generated 92% of monthly sales 10:11 - Why he shortens sprint cycles from 90 to 60 days during volatile times 14:26 - The stop-start-continue framework and what he identified to stop doing 18:51 - Working with NBA MVP James Harden and the wild journey to that collaboration 21:01 - How creativity drives everything and why it's his primary fuel source 23:26 - When flow hits a brick wall - getting out of the "I don't want to be here" energy 26:03 - His triangle framework: Self, Relationships, and Wealth - and why you must start with yourself 27:03 - How he brings his family into his world and why he'd sell before jeopardising them 31:18 - Dealing with tall poppy syndrome and the Porsche story that changed his perspective 38:18 - Living authentically in New York vs Australia and removing the cloth from your torch 41:05 - Why he has 10 years left to build a global brand and the clarity that brings 45:49 - The difference between building for creativity vs. ego and calling out his own bullshit 49:15 - How Rollie evolved from a travel shoe to representing diversity, creativity, and flow states Follow Vincent Lebon: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vince_lebon Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark's Businesses: Presence Real Estate: https://presence.realestate/Nexr: https://nexr.com.au/
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23
From Mental Prison to TEDx Stage - Finding Your Authentic Voice in an AI World: Dan Ballard
In this deeply authentic conversation, Dan Ballard reveals how he transformed from living in a "mental prison" of anxiety and self-doubt to becoming a globally recognized mentor who helps others find their authentic voice. But this isn't your typical success story - Dan shares the profound personal journey that led him to the TEDx stage and how that experience became a hallmark moment that changed everything about his approach to communication and influence. What makes Dan's approach revolutionary? While most communication coaches focus on what you say, Dan teaches the four layers of communication that create true influence - revealing why your words matter least and your presence matters most. His methodology goes beyond performance to authenticity, helping people overcome self-sabotage and self-doubt to own their voice completely. Discover why he believes most people get stuck on the wrong layer of communication, how his spiritual background informs his mentorship approach, and why being more human in an AI world will become our greatest advantage. We explore the dangers of transhumanism, the importance of knowing who you are before outsourcing yourself to technology, and why trauma might be essential for men to step into their most confident, authentic selves. 04:15 - How TEDx changed everything about his confidence and composure 08:32 - The journey from wanting validation to finding authentic voice 12:16 - Why he became a TEDx curator and speaker coach 21:01 - The four layers of communication that create real influence 25:15 - Why authenticity isn't a performance you can fake 29:03 - How to find your voice in professional services without losing clients 41:19 - Why being more human beats AI and transhumanism concerns 44:03 - His theory on controlling anxiety vs. excitement 49:31 - Why trauma is essential for men's authentic development Follow Dan Ballard: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danballard Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark's Businesses: Presence Real Estate: https://presence.realestate/Nexr: https://nexr.com.au/
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22
Relationship Expert EXPOSES Why 50-Year Marriages Are Actually Toxic: Sally Jane Douglas
In this raw and inspiring conversation, Sally Jane Douglas reveals how she transformed from traditional dating advice to revolutionizing modern relationships by doing something no other relationship mentor will claim: she applies business strategy principles to love, creating intentional partnerships that last. But this isn't your typical relationship guru story - Sally has pioneered a unique approach by treating relationships like strategic ventures, complete with values alignment, clear agreements, and measurable outcomes. What makes Sally's approach groundbreaking? While most relationship "experts" focus on finding love, Sally teaches you how to design it. Her four-pillar intentional relationship framework has helped thousands of women move beyond the transactional nature of dating apps to create deep, authentic connections. Her methodology goes beyond compatibility to "comfortability" - understanding not just if someone fits your criteria, but if you can truly be yourself with them. Discover why she believes 50-year unhappy marriages aren't success stories, why online dating creates transactional relationships instead of genuine connections, and how childhood experiences with her parents' relationship shaped her mission to help others build conscious partnerships. You'll learn her game-changing approach to dating that treats it like a strategic business plan, why she advocates for "fishing where your type of fish are" instead of random app swiping, and her stepping-stone methodology that turns self-awareness into relationship readiness. Sally shares incredible insights about transitioning from dating coach to relationship mentor, why men fear their partners getting relationship coaching, and how she's now expanding to help couples create the intentional partnerships both people truly want. This isn't just another dating advice story - it's a profound exploration of conscious relationship building, the psychology of modern love, and how intentional design creates lasting partnerships. 01:55 - From dating chaos to intentional relationship design 05:29 - "We buy what we sell" - Why authenticity beats perfection 14:20 - The four-pillar relationship framework revealed 18:45 - Why "comfortability" matters more than compatibility 25:12 - The stepping-stone strategy from single to partnered 29:33 - Why 50-year unhappy marriages aren't success 35:41 - Dating apps vs. real world connection strategies 42:16 - Why men fear relationship coaching (and shouldn't) 48:22 - Expanding to help couples build conscious partnerships Follow Sally Jane Douglas: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sallyjanedouglas Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark's Businesses:Presence Real Estate: https://presence.realestate/Nexr: https://nexr.com.au/
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21
Lost Everything, $348K in Debt - Now Helps 10,000 Clients: Chris Christofi
In this raw and inspiring conversation, Chris Christofi reveals how he transformed from a 24-year-old who lost everything and owed $348,000 to building one of Australia's leading property investment firms helping over 10,000 clients build wealth. But this isn't your typical rags-to-riches story - Chris has revolutionised property investment by doing something no other company will claim: he buys what he sells, putting his own money where his mouth is with a $2.1 million personal experiment that proved his methodology works. What makes Chris's approach groundbreaking? While most property "experts" talk theory, Chris bought 17 properties in 3.5 years using his exact system, generating $2.1 million in growth and $430,000 in cash flow. His four-pillar safety-first formula protects clients from the over-leveraging mistakes that destroyed his own financial life. Discover why he calls himself "retired" while working 100 hours a week, why he'd refuse $1 billion if it meant stopping work, and how childhood trauma from nearly being homeless drives his mission to help others build wealth safely. You'll learn his game-changing "comfortability" assessment that goes beyond borrowing capacity, why he allows 4% vacancy rates when others use 2%, and his stepping-stone approach that turns the first property into a springboard for multiple investments. Chris shares incredible stories about building and donating a house to charity (making $250,000 tax-free profit in the process), raising $263,096 for homeless causes, and why he chose to work with builders who would "lose money" on his charity project. This isn't just another property investment story - it's a profound exploration of purpose-driven entrepreneurship, the psychology of wealth building, and how childhood experiences shape our relationship with money and success. Chris reveals why work-life balance is a myth, how "gas left in the tank" thinking drives continuous growth, and why surrounding yourself with your "tribe" matters more than any business strategy. 01:07 - From $348K debt to helping 10,000+ clients 04:01 - "We buy what we sell" - The $2.1M personal experiment 09:15 - The four-pillar investment formula revealed 12:22 - Why "comfortability" matters more than borrowing capacity 16:01 - The stepping-stone strategy for multiple properties 22:27 - Why he chose homelessness charity (powerful backstory) 25:18 - Raising $263,096: "I hit all four targets, I didn't push enough" 28:38 - Building a charity house: $250K tax-free profit strategy 33:33 - "I'd refuse $1 billion if I couldn't work anymore" 35:16 - Why he's "retired" while working 100 hours/week 37:45 - The "gas left in the tank" mentality explained Follow Chris Christofi: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_chrischristofi Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark's Businesses: Presence Real Estate: https://presence.realestate/ Nexr: https://nexr.com.au/
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20
The 92% Accurate Secret That Predicts Your Future: Nick Bowditch
In this profound conversation, Nick Bowditch reveals how he went from Facebook's early days to becoming a therapist building revolutionary AI technology that's changing addiction recovery forever. After surviving his own drug addiction and multiple rehab stays, Nick is now pursuing his PhD in clinical psychology while developing "Sharon" - an AI algorithm that predicts addiction relapse with 92% accuracy by analyzing digital behavior patterns, speech, and linguistics. What makes this groundbreaking? Traditional therapy methods are often worse than chance at predicting relapse, while Sharon can't be "bullshitted" like human therapists can be. Discover why addiction in 2025 looks completely different - it's no longer primarily drugs or alcohol, but behavioral addictions to work, shopping, food, sex, and porn, all rooted in childhood trauma. Nick shares the life-changing insight that the harsh inner voice most people carry isn't actually theirs - it's someone else's voice from childhood that became internalized. Learn his simple but powerful "silly sausage" technique for transforming brutal self-talk into kindness, and his three-question reality check system that stops mental spirals: "Is it real? Can I change it? Does it matter anyway?" You'll hear incredible stories about anthropomorphising his AI into a "person" he spends hours with daily, why he chose the name Sharon (and why Karen didn't make the cut), his experience lying for Australia as a drug addict, and the moment becoming a father triggered his deepest mental health challenges. Nick reveals why authenticity is actually easier than pretending, how the "cheapest seats" always have the loudest critics, and his definition of flow: "being able to do things without trying while still killing it." This isn't just another tech or therapy story - it's a raw, honest exploration of trauma, recovery, and how AI might revolutionise mental health treatment while helping us understand the voices that drive our behaviour. 02:06 - Meet Sharon: 92% accurate addiction relapse prediction AI 04:05 - Why traditional therapy fails at predicting relapse 21:14 - Addiction in 2025: behavioral vs. substance-based 23:08 - Why all addiction traces back to childhood trauma 15:18 - The inner voice revelation: it's not actually yours 39:19 - The "silly sausage" self-talk transformation technique 49:47 - Three reality-check questions that stop mental spirals 28:16 - Why authenticity is easier than pretending 53:52 - How Sharon got her name (and why not Karen) 06:00 - Anthropomorphizing AI: spending time with Sharon daily 24:13 - How becoming a father triggered mental health crisis 12:00 - The peer review process and defending controversial work 59:56 - What "flow" means: accomplishing without trying Follow Nick Bowditch: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickbowditch Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark's Businesses: Presence Real Estate: https://presence.realestate/ Nexr: https://nexr.com.au/
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19
How a 45-Day Exercise Revealed His Life's Purpose: Ryan Spaccavento
In this transformative conversation, Ryan Spaccavento shares how he went from running a successful events business in Melbourne to founding Coffee on Cue, Australia's fastest-growing workplace coffee company, after COVID lockdowns forced him into the darkest period of his life. When his coach challenged him with a simple question - "If you could do anything and rebuild from now, what would you do?" - Ryan committed to answering it every single day for 45 days. What emerged wasn't just business clarity, but a complete blueprint for his happiness. Discover Ryan's 5 non-negotiables that transformed his approach to life: being around coffee, controlling a sales engine, changing his environment at will, leading and inspiring people, and occasionally being on stage. Learn how this self-awareness led him to accidentally discover the workplace coffee revolution - where one premium coffee solution increased office attendance by an entire day per week and 90% of employees reported increased internal opportunities. Ryan reveals his "rigorous filtering" approach to relationships that helped him build his inner circle as an adult in a new city, why he believes you must "slow down to speed up" during challenging times, and how he's transitioning from doing everything himself to becoming the leader who "waters the whole garden." His most powerful insight? Flow state happens "when you are doing your life's best work, directly proportionate to the purpose you hold according to your higher self." You'll hear incredible stories about working at the first Apple Store in Australia, the depression that hit when he worked alone from home, how coffee became his conduit for meaningful human connection, and why he believes hospitality will be something people pay for to have authentic conversations. This isn't just another entrepreneurship story - it's a practical guide for anyone feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or searching for their next chapter. 01:15 - What "flow" means: doing your life's best work aligned with higher purpose 02:22 - How COVID lockdowns in Melbourne became his darkest period 03:33 - The 45-day exercise that changed everything 05:02 - Ryan's 5 non-negotiables for happiness revealed 06:26 - Why he must be able to change his environment 07:57 - From Apple Store success to work-from-home depression 10:30 - The need for human connection and being on stage 16:00 - "Rigorous filtering" approach to building relationships 18:15 - Why reciprocal relationships matter more as you grow 22:03 - Coffee on Cue origin: "Saving people from shitty coffee at events" 24:11 - The three workplace problems premium coffee solves 25:00 - Proof: +1 day office attendance per week with coffee 27:09 - Why coffee beats alcohol for meaningful conversations 29:35 - The future of workplace culture and human connection 32:10 - Evolving from doer to leader who "waters the whole garden" 34:39 - Advice for dark moments: "Slow down to speed up" 35:26 - How to serve your higher self through challenges Follow Ryan Spaccavento: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanspaccavento Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark's Businesses: Presence Real Estate: https://presence.realestate/ Nexr: https://nexr.com.au/
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18
She Quit Her $Million Sales Job to Teach Meditation: Sally Kellett
In this transformative conversation, Sally Kellett shares how she went from being a high-performing sales executive at Cisco with multi-million dollar targets to founding Marason, one of Melbourne's most sought-after mindfulness studios with over 6000 members. After realising that successful people around her were miserable despite having "everything," she made a bold decision at 21 to transition within 10 years to a business of impact - and she delivered exactly on schedule. Discover Sally's complete evening wind-down routine featuring warm ambient lighting, specific music choices, and "nighttime voice" conversations with her husband that optimise sleep quality. Learn her morning practices including dog walks without sunglasses before 12pm and light exposure techniques backed by neuroscience. Sally reveals her unique "non-woo" approach to mindfulness that attracts corporate executives and busy professionals who typically avoid traditional wellness spaces. Her most powerful insight? The difference between hedonic happiness (external rewards that fade after 6 months) and eudaimonic happiness (internal meaning and purpose that lasts forever). You'll hear how she helps clients measure the success of their LIFE, not just their career, and why she believes everyone is already whole - they just need to remove what's covering their light. Sally shares incredible stories about working with men who fear they'll have to "give up everything" to be happy, her training with Buddhist nuns at Thich Nhat Hanh's monastery in Vietnam, and how she's created a safe space for people to explore better versions of themselves without therapy labels. This isn't just another mindfulness conversation - it's a practical blueprint for busy professionals who want both material success AND genuine fulfillment. 01:15 - What "flow" means: alignment vs resistance 02:24 - Why she loved her corporate job but still needed to leave 04:15 - The moment she decided to transition at age 21 04:55 - Building a 6000+ person mindfulness community 07:08 - The "phoenix rising" transformation process 09:01 - Why happiness and money are completely different practices 10:12 - Hedonic vs eudaimonic happiness explained 13:32 - How to help people find meaning in their lives 16:31 - Signs someone's life looks good but lacks flow 17:53 - The shift from "doing" to "being" 22:55 - How to "clean up" your life relationships 28:17 - Working with men: overcoming the "woo" barrier 32:10 - The antidote to anger is patience (Buddhist wisdom) 32:00 - Future plans for Marason and expanding reach 39:03 - Complete sleep hygiene routine breakdown 43:00 - Morning routine for natural energy and flow Follow Meirav Ambar: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewellpreneurcode Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: https://presence.realestate/ Nexr: https://nexr.com.au/
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17
How This CEO Changed Everything with One Morning Routine: Meirav Ambar
In this powerful conversation, Meirav shares how she transformed from being constantly in "action mode" to creating harmony across all aspects of her life. After achieving business success in her 30s but struggling with alignment in other areas, she embarked on a journey of self-discovery that completely changed how she approaches both business and family life. Learn her exact 6am morning routine that includes meditation, special tea from her mentor, and quiet reflection time. Discover the beautiful family gratitude practice where she sits on the floor with her partner and two kids, holding hands and sharing what they're grateful for each day. Meirav reveals how she applied business frameworks to her personal life - creating vision statements, identifying core values, and setting 3-year goals just like she would for a company. Her most important value? Generosity - which shapes every relationship and business decision she makes. You'll also hear incredible stories about teaching her 6-year-old son to pitch his toy idea to the CEO of Little Stores (complete with market research and presentation skills!), how she navigates being direct in Australian business culture coming from Israeli heritage, and the specific strategies she uses to help startup founders switch between operational and strategic thinking. This isn't just another productivity conversation - it's a blueprint for integrating your authentic self into every aspect of your life, from the boardroom to the breakfast table. 00:39 - What "flow" means and why one blocked area affects everything 01:14 - The exact morning routine that encourages life flow 02:10 - Family gratitude practice that's changing her kids' lives 04:02 - How she went from "action mode" to intentional living 06:21 - Using business tools for personal development 08:28 - The shift that happened at age 40 11:11 - Her most important value: Generosity 18:19 - From P&G to entrepreneurship: lessons learned 24:00 - Being direct in Australian business culture 31:44 - Common startup founder roadblocks 39:11 - Teaching her 6-year-old to pitch to CEOs 42:42 - "You were born to stand out" parenting philosophy Follow Meirav Ambar: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meirav-ambar-5bbb4953/ Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: https://presence.realestate/ Nexr: https://nexr.com.au/
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16
From 4% Survival to Serving Millions: Michael Crossland
I sat down with Michael Crossland, one of the world's most sought-after inspirational speakers, to explore what it means to transform trauma into purpose and find your true flow in life. Diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma at just 11 months old and given a 4% chance of survival, Michael became the sole survivor of a cancer drug trial where 24 other children passed away. But his story of resilience doesn't end there - from having his baseball dreams crushed to chasing external validation through material wealth in banking, to nearly losing his premature son, Michael has faced more character-building moments than most could imagine. In this raw and powerful conversation, he reveals how he transformed from someone desperately seeking approval to a man who's found his flow zone through service to others. We dive deep into his philosophy of living in the present, the balance between global impact and being present for family, and why he measures success not by what he accumulates, but by the lives he touches daily. 00:00 - Michael's incredible survival story and early struggles with identity 04:11 - The balance between global mission work and being present for family 08:33 - Learning to say no and the matrix for choosing which causes to support 12:10 - Why Michael doesn't know his speaking fees and keeps money at arm's length 16:03 - From seeking external validation to finding true purpose 20:06 - The power of identifying what you DON'T want to become 22:11 - Michael's darkest moments: baseball dreams crushed and health battles 28:13 - The transformation from materialism to meaning in the banking years 33:19 - Dealing with tall poppy syndrome and learning to value yourself 38:01 - The mission to reach people before they hit rock bottom 42:24 - "Meals with Mike" - feeding 250 school kids and finding opportunities to serve 48:17 - The ripple effect of small acts of service and anonymous giving 56:20 - Why Michael doesn't do long-term planning and lives in daily flow 58:24 - Finding your why: doing something your future self will be proud of Follow Michael Crossland: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelcrossland Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: https://presence.realestate/ Nexr: https://nexr.com.au/
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15
Life Coach Reveals: The Mirror Method That Transformed 1,000+ High Performers - Shannah Kennedy
I sat down with Shannah Kennedy, one of Australia's first life coaches and bestselling author of "The Life Plan" and "Plan B," to explore what it really takes to design a life you don't need to escape from. After burning out with chronic fatigue in her late 20s, Shannah developed a systematic approach to high-performance living that's helped over 1,000 clients - from Olympic gold medalists to Fortune 500 CEOs. In this conversation, she reveals the exact framework she uses to help people discover who they are beyond their job title, master the art of recovery, and create a personal roadmap for the next decade. This isn't your typical life coaching conversation - it's a masterclass in building sustainable success while maintaining your health, relationships, and sanity. 00:24 - The problem with modern life coaching and why most coaches lack credibility 04:11 - How to identify if you're a candidate for life coaching 06:06 - "You are not your job" - discovering your identity beyond your career 08:18 - Why personal brands and AI make this conversation more relevant than ever 09:24 - Live coaching session: Discovering Mark's core values 14:39 - What elite athletes taught Shannah about high-performance living 19:14 - The difference between fixing trauma and planning your future 26:35 - How to make decisions that serve your 10-year-older self 31:42 - From chronic fatigue to life coach: Shannah's rock bottom moment 44:19 - Live demonstration: Creating your personal mirror exercise 51:32 - The one practice guaranteed to improve your life: The three-breath technique Follow Shannah Kennedy:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shannahkennedy Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: https://presence.realestate/ Nexr: https://nexr.com.au/
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14
From $650M Global Brand to Starting Over: Kristina Karlsson
In this powerful episode, I sit down with Kristina Karlsson, co-founder of kikki.K, the globally renowned Swedish design and stationery brand that grew In this powerful episode, I sit down with Kristina Karlsson, co-founder of kikki.K, the globally renowned Swedish design and stationery brand that grew to 120 stores with $650 million in revenue before facing administration during COVID-19. Kristina shares her raw journey through losing her business, identity, and picking herself back up to launch Dream Life, her new venture aimed at empowering 101 million people worldwide through journaling and coaching. 0:00 - Introduction to Kristina Karlsson's entrepreneurial journey 3:02 - What being in "flow" means and how it relates to living your dream life 5:22 - Embracing failure as a stepping stone to success, not its opposite 10:22 - The devastating moment kikki.K went into administration 14:00 - Dealing with the second administration and making the decision to start over 18:45 - The personal development tools that helped Kristina through her darkest times 23:20 - The power of walking for hours to solve problems and find mental clarity 27:40 - How journaling practice became Kristina's key to maintaining sanity and balance 31:15 - The identity crisis of losing a business with your own name 35:00 - Finding excitement in creating something new with Dream Life 39:10 - How her global coaching program is helping others pursue their dreams 42:02 - Kristina's three powerful questions that can transform your perspective and life 45:30 - Final thoughts on making the most of your one precious life Follow Kristina Karlsson: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinadreamlife Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: https://presence.realestate/ Nexr: https://nexr.com.au/
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13
Building a Multi-Million Dollar Agency with Your Spouse: John Bevitt
I sat down with John Bevitt, co-founder of Honeycomb Strategy, to explore what it really takes to build a successful business with your life partner. John and his wife Renata turned their research expertise into a multi-million dollar agency while navigating marriage, parenthood, and some of the toughest business challenges imaginable.In this conversation, John reveals how they overcame self-limiting beliefs, survived COVID as new parents while keeping their business alive, and created a workplace where authenticity is the foundation of success. This is a candid look at the realities of mixing business with marriage and coming out stronger on the other side.0:00 - John's journey from researcher to entrepreneur4:30 - When they decided to launch a business in their 20s9:15 - The "hat rental" business and early entrepreneurial spirit14:00 - Breaking through limiting beliefs about age and experience18:45 - Working with your spouse: the real challenges23:20 - Having a baby during Melbourne's strict COVID lockdown27:40 - How they divide responsibilities in business and life31:15 - Complementary superpowers in business partnership35:00 - Using AI to transform market research39:10 - Creating a culture of authenticity in your company44:20 - Advice to his younger self: "Trust that you can do it"49:50 - Final thoughts on balancing business, marriage and familyFollow John Bevitt:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geoffjowettFollow Mark Kentwell:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_kentwellTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwellLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1Mark’s Businesses:Presence Real Estate: https://presence.realestate/Nexr: https://nexr.com.au/
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12
He Built a $35M Fitness Empire… Then Lost Himself: Geoff Jowett
I sat down with Geoff Jowett, the man behind Vision Personal Training and Bodytrim, to unpack the truth about what happens when your business success comes at the cost of your identity. Geoff built a $35 million fitness empire with over 120 staff — but behind the scenes, he was battling addiction, ADHD, and burnout. In this conversation, he opens up about chasing dopamine, losing himself in the hustle, and what real success looks like after it all comes crashing down. This is a raw, honest, and powerful conversation about rebuilding from the inside out. 0:00 – Geoff’s business success and what it cost him 2:00 – Building Bodytrim: 120 staff, $35M in revenue 4:15 – The emptiness behind external achievement 6:10 – Getting diagnosed with ADHD in his 30s 8:00 – Dopamine and chasing constant stimulation 10:30 – When you lose yourself in your business identity 14:20 – The pressure of being the ‘fitness guy’ 18:05 – Hitting rock bottom: “I had everything, but nothing” 21:00 – What fulfilment actually looks like now 25:40 – How Geoff manages dopamine today 29:10 – Creating a life outside of business 33:00 – Advice to younger entrepreneurs 36:50 – Final thoughts on reinvention and success Follow Geoff Jowett: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geoffjowett Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark’s Businesses: Presence Real Estate: https://presence.realestate/ Nexr: https://nexr.com.au/
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
FlowZone Podcast is where high performers, entrepreneurs, and world-class thinkers break down the systems, habits, and mindsets that fuel peak performance — without burnout.If you want to work smarter, perform better, and live with more energy, you’re in the right place. Welcome to the FlowZone.
HOSTED BY
Mark Kentwell
CATEGORIES
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