Podcast · Business

Business Is Boring

Think business is boring? This podcast proves it's anything but. Join Simon Pound as he talks to everyone from accidental entrepreneurs to industry leaders about their business journeys and what propelled them to where they are today. Made in partnership with Deel.

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 49 min
Latest: 18 Aug 2025
Language: English

Latest episode

18 Aug 2025 · 48 min

How free meal planning is changing food research

What started as a way to escape meal planning admin has turned into a powerful tool shaping the future of food. Appetise is a free, recipe-rich meal planning and smart shopping platform loved by tens of thousands across New Zealand and Australia. Co-founders Toby and Elise Hilliam transformed an admin-killer into a two-sided business: empowering home cooks and providing FMCG brands with authentic, behavioural insights. In this episode, we explore how Appetise launched for free, rebranded from MenuAid, and leveraged its growing user base—now over 90,000 households—to deliver billions of…

Play episodeWhatsApp Download

Earlier episodes 29 most recent

11 Aug 2025 · 50 min
The billion-dollar company that's just getting started
From starting Crimson Education as a teenager to leading a company operating at a $300 million revenue run rate, Jamie Beaton has been on an extraordinary journey. In this episode, Simon Pound talks with the Crimson founder about his path from acceptance into 25 of the world’s top universities to scaling a billion-dollar global education business. They cover the creation of Crimson Global Academy, the role of AI in shaping education, and Jamie’s new teaching role at the University of Auckland’s Business Navigators program. Along the way, they explore lessons in resilience, leadership, and…
5 Aug 2025 · 28 min
From Aotearoa to the world: how Wai Mānuka is going global
What started as a conversation between three friends in Whakatāne became a new category in drinks - a premium sparkling Mānuka honey beverage rooted in kaupapa Māori. In this episode, Joseph Harawira shares the Wai Mānuka journey - from army discipline and sports high performance to launching at the America’s Cup and landing the brand in New York. We talk about staying true to cultural values, sharing the story of Aotearoa, and building a business that’s as ambitious as it is grounded. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
28 Jul 2025 · 54 min
The AI tool that turns conversations into action
What if your meetings, interviews, or coaching sessions could turn themselves into structured insights, ready-to-go content, or instant action points? That’s what Contented AI - a Christchurch-based startup led by Lucy Pink and Hannah Hardy-Jones - is building. In this episode, we talk about the journey from early idea to functioning product, bootstrapping vs raising, building with intention from Aotearoa, and how the Contented team has carved out a distinctive wedge in the AI space. We also dig into what it means to build a tool that listens and suggests - not just takes notes - and how…
21 Jul 2025 · 1 hr 2 min
Rowan Simpson on the right way to be wrong
Rowan Simpson has helped shape some of Aotearoa’s most iconic startups - from Trade Me and Xero to Vend and Timely - usually from behind the scenes. But with the release of his new book How to Be Wrong, he’s stepped into the spotlight to share some hard-earned lessons about success, leadership, and the quiet people who build great companies. In this episode, we talk about what startup culture still gets wrong, how stories are told and who gets left out, and why the real impact of startups should be measured far beyond headlines and valuations. Rowan opens up about the mistakes he’s made, the…
14 Jul 2025 · 43 min
How AF Drinks is leading their space in the US
AF Drinks is the fast-growing alcohol-free beverage brand from Aotearoa that is rapidly expanding into global marketplaces, landing on shelves across the US, and even teaming up with global celebrities like Khloé Kardashian and Kris Jenner. Lisa King, founder of AF Drinks, joins the pod to discuss launching with purpose, building credibility in a new, huge market, and how the company is redefining what it means to celebrate without alcohol. We also dig into the reality of building a consumer product company - the capital, the inventory, the logistics - and how a few new retail launches are…
7 Jul 2025 · 37 min
How Polymath is reimagining maths class
What if maths class looked more like Roblox than a workbook? In this episode, Sophie Silver - co-founder and CEO of Polymath - joins us to talk about building a game-based learning platform that kids actually want to use. From her background in psychology and tutoring to launching through Startmate and now reaching students across the world, Sophie shares how Polymath is reimagining education through adaptive algorithms, immersive gameplay, and real-world problem solving. We explore what it takes to build a new category in edtech, why focusing only on maths has been a strength, and what…
30 Jun 2025 · 54 min
Ben Forman & Kat Lintott - From Wrestler to What’s Next
Kat Lintott and Ben Forman helped build Wrestler into one of Aotearoa’s most forward-thinking creative and production studios – fusing storytelling, technology and culture in work for brands like Allbirds, and pioneering bold new spaces like the Web3 project Soul Aether. After scaling the studio and building a vibrant creative community, they sold Wrestler to UFORodeo – a move that opened the door to a new phase, where they are still supporting projects.In this episode of Business is Boring, they join us to reflect on the full journey: what it takes to build a studio from scratch, the…
23 Jun 2025 · 43 min
How Pals became Pals
Pals is the pastel-coloured RTD that somehow made ready-to-drink drinks cool for the first time. But it wasn’t always assured to be a success, in fact, it started with a wine brand that was very hard to make a business from, a lot of learning, and a sense that there had to be a better way. This week on Business is Boring, we sit down with Nick Marshall and Mat Croad, two of the co-founders of Pals, to unpack how they turned an overlooked, over-sugared category into a cultural icon. We go deep on what it takes to build a brand people love, how they’ve resisted the typical “grow fast, sell…
16 Jun 2025 · 51 min
How timber innovation can protect old growth forests
When you think of premium feature timber for cladding, decking or façades, your mind likely goes to cedar - that rich, beautiful wood loved by architects and homeowners. But there’s a cost. Cedar and other prized timbers are often harvested from ancient, irreplaceable forests. Logging them disrupts ecosystems, accelerates climate risk, and destroys biodiversity - all to meet demand for aesthetic and performance expectations from people who don’t often know the true cost of their choices. Daniel Gudsell saw the problem. And rather than telling people to stop using beautiful timber, he set out…
9 Jun 2025 · 52 min
The virtual CFOs with very real results
You’ve probably come across Oxygen Advisors if you’ve spent any time around Aotearoa’s startup scene. And if you haven’t, well - you’ve almost certainly heard of the companies they’ve helped grow. They’ve been behind the scenes with the likes of Tracksuit, Auror, Ideally and dozens more - helping them grow, operate best in class finance teams and raise capital - guiding them through the tough parts of building. With over 100 startups backed and a 97% survival rate, Matt Dold and Mike Mandis have built a track record that’s almost unheard of. In this episode, they join us to pull back the…
2 Jun 2025 · 49 min
The compostable cling wrap winning big in the US
In a world drowning in plastic waste, Jon Reed of Compostic is pioneering a revolutionary approach to everyday kitchen products. Through sheer determination and innovative thinking, Jon transformed a personal frustration with single-use plastics into a thriving business that now sits on the shelves of major US retailers like Whole Foods and Target. His home compostable cling film and kitchen bags represent more than just a product - they're a bold challenge to the traditional plastics industry. He has expanded Compostic from a small New Zealand startup to a brand distributed across thousands…
26 May 2025 · 43 min
Changing the face of investment
Finance, investment and better money habits have traditionally been areas mainly staffed by, led by and advocated by men. Boring men. Two friends, Sophie Hallwright and Victoria Harris, saw a need for interesting and relevant information, advice and community for women. They launched The Curve, a platform boasting an internationally popular podcast, investing club, courses and community. The Curve is now a fantastic example of how building community and providing value can be turned into a business that creates positive impact and profit. During a brief visit home to Aotearoa, co-founder…
19 May 2025 · 51 min
Why great operators can make for great venture capitalists
Venture capital is one of the most prominent types of capital out there. But it isn’t necessarily a great fit for every business. We’re joined by Barnaby Marshall, partner and investor at Icehouse Ventures, to talk VC, when it is good, when it is not helpful, and also to chat about his path into the space. Barnaby has invested in and supported great companies like Dawn Aerospace, Basis Tracksuit, and Ideally - and is part of Brand Fund - which is where host Simon Pound got to see him at work up close. But he is also an entrepreneur and active business grower. Before VC he was a co-owner at I…
12 May 2025 · 44 min
How Keep the Change changes lives
Being good with money is not easy. The whole credit, consumer, and hedonistic world are built to try to get people to spend too much on things they don’t need, for short term gain. The actual tips for how to be better with money are quite simple. Spend less than you earn, save a good percentage even when you don’t earn a lot, stay away from expensive debt, invest in upskilling and invest for the long-term as compounding benefits are your friend. However simple these ideas might seem actually connecting with people and getting them to believe they can make the change can be the hardest thing.…
5 May 2025 · 50 min
Doing better at business by doing better
In theory every business has the potential to bake doing good into how it makes money. But very few do. Brianne West has shown with first Ethique, and now Incrediballs, that with intentional action you can make a brand, business, product and movement for change, where everything you sell means you create a net positive for the world. Brianne joins us to share how she does this, and how the opportunity is there for everyone else to too! Incrediballs is her new venture, nearing launch for the effervescent tablets that you drop in water for the soft drink experience and taste, without the…
28 Apr 2025 · 53 min
Why people leaders make great CEOs
People leaders are often the quietly most vital parts of a business. Great people leaders are like a cross between HR and an executional chief operating officer - someone who takes the business strategy and breaks it down into what everyone needs to do, and then helps every manager in a business stay accountable. There are no great companies without great people policy and execution, and people leaders need to understand culture, strategy, how people tick and how to create high performance environments- all the kind of things that also make for a great CEO. So why don’t we see more CEOs…
21 Apr 2025 · 45 min
How to build a community of 10,000 marketers
Building community can be one of the most important parts of building a brand and business. When people talk about businesses and customers, we are really talking about a community of people. What does it take to become a valuable and useful member of a community, rather than just a business selling into a community? What are the benefits? And how do you set out to give enough value that people want to do things with you and for you? These are all questions today’s guest is an expert in. Chanel Clark is a marketing leader who decided she needed community around her to help her grow in her…
14 Apr 2025 · 48 min
Creating an Extraordinary new category
On this season of Business is Boring we’re talking to leaders who are great examples of the best of business - and today we are looking at the opportunities and challenges of creating your own category. Creating a category allows you to be the leader and get away from the competition. But it is one of the hardest things to do - as you need to create awareness, trust, new habits and understanding in the market. It takes energy, positivity, confidence, optimism, perseverance as well as a great product and business discipline. These are things that Steven Zinsli has in spades - and that host…
7 Apr 2025 · 52 min
A banking challenger emerges
This season on Business is Boring we’re talking to people who are examples of better ways to do business. This week we meet Jovan Pavlicevic, co-founder of SquareOne, a financial empowerment and spending card for kids, and now, Emerge, the challenger for small business banking. In many ways Emerge is the classic disruptor, coming in and taking share from the big bank incumbents by being faster, nicer, smarter and more customer-centric than the big players. We learn what it takes to be a positive disruptor, as one thing about Emerge is that they’ve got where they are by being better to deal…
16 Dec 2024 · 46 min
From Aotea to the world: Tama Toki on energy, connection, and purpose
Growing up in a self-sufficient community on Aotea Great Barrier Island, Tama Toki owes much of his problem-solving nous and deep connection to the whenua to his unique upbringing. As the founder of Aotea (a skincare line rooted in rongoā Māori knowledge) and Aotea Energy (a company focused on renewable micro-grid solutions), Tama’s work blends innovation with purpose. In this final episode of Business is Boring for the season, we dive into Tama’s journey, the mātauranga Māori guiding his ventures, and his vision for a future where energy and business empower communities. This is the last…
9 Dec 2024 · 42 min
Creating Humanistic AI
AI is becoming an integral part of daily life, and chances are you’ve already used the work of today’s guest. Tom Gruber is the co-founder and creator of Siri, the intelligent assistant that revolutionised how we interact with technology with Apple. But Tom’s contributions to AI extend far beyond voice commands—he’s a pioneer of “Humanistic AI”, a design philsophy that champions the idea that artificial intelligence should amplify human potential, not replace it. While in Aotearoa for the Spark Accelerate Summit, Tom joined Simon Pound to chat about designing human-centered tech, the future…
2 Dec 2024 · 44 min
Building smarter cities and ethical AI with Dr. Ayesha Khanna
AI, smart cities, and the future of urban living aren’t just buzzwords—they’re reshaping our world. Few are driving this transformation more than Dr. Ayesha Khanna, co-founder and CEO of Addo, an AI advisory firm dedicated to harnessing technology for the greater good. A futurist, thought leader in AI ethics, and passionate advocate for diversity in tech, Dr. Khanna’s impact spans continents, from shaping smart city initiatives in Asia to empowering young women through her education nonprofit 21st Century Girls. While Dr. Khanna was in Aotearoa for the Spark Accelerate Summit, she joined…
25 Nov 2024 · 45 min
How to get the best of AI today
AI can be a superpower, but like all tools, if you know what you’re doing you’re going to get a better result. In a nutshell: the better the inputs, the better the outputs. That’s what Edmundo Ortega is here to help with. He’s an AI educator at Section - the business education and up-skilling platform - who was here in New Zealand to teach a course on AI prompting, and to present at the Spark Accelerate summit. Edmundo is a seasoned entrepreneur and Silicon Valley expert and he joined us to talk about his journey, his views on the future of tech, and the lessons he’s learned along the way.…
18 Nov 2024 · 54 min
Live from Spark Accelerate: Balancing innovation and efficiency for organisational success
How can organisations proactively disrupt themselves to stay ahead in rapidly changing markets while optimising costs? Nadine Higgins hosts a panel of international business and technology leaders for an engaging discussion on creating a culture of innovation that encourages risk-taking and experimentation, balanced with smart resource allocation and efficiency improvements. Expect transformative ideas from frontline disruptors, as they explore the importance of continuous reinvention to maintain competitive advantage and organisational resilience in the face of uncertainty. Featuring:…
11 Nov 2024 · 1 hr 2 min
How Karma Drinks earns its name in Sierra Leone
Karma Drinks and All Good Organics are among the best examples of businesses putting purpose and social impact at the heart of what they do. While providing great products, they also provide fairer wages to the growers and entrepreneurs involved in the production of goods, and part of all proceeds go to the Karma Foundation, which works to provide opportunities to people in Sierra Leone. The chair of that foundation is Albert Tucker, who has been a pioneer and advocate for Sierra Leone and fair-trade practices globally. Albert was in New Zealand to share more about the foundation’s work, and…
4 Nov 2024 · 54 min
NZ tech’s favourite recruiter
Recruitment can be a great business if you do it well. You get roughly 15% of the salary of the people you place as a success fee, and if you have a good relationships with companies and talent you can repeat the process over and over. But it’s not a simple gig! Great recruiters need to understand the people and the businesses they work with - and every job you place directly affects your reputation. Troy Hammond is a recruiter who specialises in the high growth space who has become a sounding board, support person and champion for so many people in the start-up scene. Through his company…
28 Oct 2024 · 46 min
25 years of Nature Baby
Nature Baby is the organic baby wear company creating natural, long-lasting and well-made clothing, with a retail model that’s big on community. Co-founders Jacob and Georgia Faull have built to four stores, 55 staff and stockists around the world, and have ridden many waves of business, fashion and commerce to get there. To talk the journey, what’s next and their new circularity initiative Worn Again, co-founder Jacob Faull joins the pod. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
21 Oct 2024 · 43 min
The old idea that could be the future for trades payments
When a client didn’t pay Max Semmons-Russell’s plumbing business for a completed $30k job it nearly knocked his company over. When it happened again he decided there had to be a better way. Asking around he saw the problem was huge, and there might be a solution that had fallen out of use. Escrow is a concept where people put a payment with a trusted third party until the product or service has been delivered. Max built Green Light Escrow to make it easy for trades businesses to use escrow to have certainty of payment, and customers to know they only pay when the job is delivered. To talk…
14 Oct 2024 · 49 min
The biggest opportunity for startups? People!
Although the biggest spending line for most startups is people, most startups don’t get serious about people until they get pretty big. Doing so earlier might just be the biggest lever startups can pull to increase their chances of making it in the long run, and making the journey along the way as smooth as possible. Kimberley Gilmour is one of New Zealand’s most experienced people leaders, having been instrumental in the scaling and operations of Icebreaker, Groov and Vend. Now the founder and CEO of Sprinklr, a new “people operations” company that is partnering with early-stage companies…

About Business Is Boring

Business Is Boring is a English business podcast from The Spinoff. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: The Spinoff
Language: English
Category: Business
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 49 min
Latest episode: 18 Aug 2025
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1118188207
Rights: The Spinoff 2023

RSS feed Apple Podcasts

More English business

Take it with you

The Melo app keeps playing with the screen off, works in the car and on your watch, wakes you to your station, and browses the whole catalogue offline. Free, no ads, no account.