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PODCAST

The Growth Equation

The Growth Equation is a podcast dedicated to helping Australian marketing agencies thrive in the ever-evolving world of digital marketing. We go beyond the surface level and dive deep into the "messy middle" of scaling a business – the challenges, the triumphs, and the lessons learned along the way. Each episode features candid conversations with agency founders and leaders who share their experiences, strategies, and insights on topics such as: - Navigating the Messy Middle: Overcoming common

business management

All Episodes

28:47

Staying Relevant in a Shifting Industry with Matt...

The Growth Equation ·

2026/04/08

I’ve been in the business game for a long time, but my chat with Matt Remphrey from Parallax was a masterclass in the "niche paradox." Matt has steered his creative agency through 24 years of evolution, but the real magic happened when he stopped trying to be everything to everyone. In this episode, we dive deep into how Parallax pivoted from a generalist branding studio to a specialist powerhouse in the wine and drinks industry. Matt shares how narrowing his focus actually allowed him to expand his

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29:51

Balancing Business and Well-being with Chanelle Le Roux

The Growth Equation ·

2026/04/01

Chanelle Le Roux built Ninki from a freelance copywriting hustle on Fiverr into a multi-arm content marketing agency and coaching practice. In this candid conversation, she talks about burning out badly enough to try selling her business, why she's now leaner and more profitable than ever, the South African outsourcing opportunity most Aussie businesses are sleeping on, and why perfection is the enemy of momentum.Key Topics Covered:✅ Ninki’s origin and early pricing: Fiverr, Upwork, and whether to

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29:24

Sonja's SEO Empire: From Humble Beginnings to...

The Growth Equation ·

2026/03/25

Sonja Pototzki-Raymond has helped her clients generate over $700 million in sales — and she built her agency by accident. Known as "The Search Queen," Sonja is the CEO of The Search Republic, a 2025 40 Under 40 winner, and one of the most refreshingly honest voices in SEO.In this episode, we cut through the noise of the SEO world. Sonja has worked with Guinness, L'Oréal, and Nestlé, but she's here for the small business owner — talking real conversions, real ROI, and why the rules of search are

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32:25

Entrepreneurial Beginnings: How a Childhood Dream...

The Growth Equation ·

2026/03/18

Aaron Witnish runs Content Only, a content creation system built around one simple idea: one monthly interview, weeks of content, zero social media stress. It's a long way from where he started, and the path to get there was anything but straight.In this episode we get into the real story. Business exits, team cuts, a partner's cancer diagnosis, and the accidental Zoom call with a bricklayer that changed everything about how Aaron thinks about content.Key topics:From digital products to agency work

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33:33

The Art of Balancing Business and Creativity with...

The Growth Equation ·

2026/03/11

I’m joined this week by Cameron Watt for a refreshingly honest conversation about what happens when you decide to "burn the boats" and go all-in on a dream. Cameron is an Australian–English film producer and director whose debut film, Project Impossible, hit cinemas globally in 2024. As the founder of Skie Video, he has built a reputation for producing premium, story-driven content for everyone from hungry startups to major enterprises. But the road to turning passion into profit wasn't a straight

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30:41

Digital Nomad to Marketing Maven: How Katherine Built...

The Growth Equation ·

2026/03/04

This episode features Katherine Tuominen, founder of Catalyst Brand Strategy — a boutique PR and communications agency working with impact-driven founders in wellness, health, and purpose-led industries. With over a decade in the game, Katherine helps brands turn complex ideas into clear positioning, credible media visibility, and long-term authority, blending data-driven strategy with human-centred storytelling.Her path to Catalyst is anything but linear: born in Finland, raised in Australia, now

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28:51

From Political Studies to Marketing Maven: Maria's...

The Growth Equation ·

2026/02/25

In this episode, I sit down with Maria Kathopoulis, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of UNTMD Media.Maria didn’t start in marketing. She studied political and international studies in the US before moving to Australia and co-founding a football training app with her husband, a former professional footballer. After burning between $50,000 and $150,000 on agencies that couldn’t produce clarity or results, she jumped into Meta Ads herself.What changed? She understood the numbers.By focusing on

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27:45

From Freelance Hustle to Top 20 Agency: Brendan...

The Growth Equation ·

2025/12/18

In this episode of The Growth Equation, Brendan Ellich joins me to unpack how a “why not?” freelance experiment during COVID evolved into BluFire, a Melbourne-based paid media agency now partnering with 7–8 figure service businesses. We walk through the whole journey: starting with almost no capital, juggling random client work, making the call to stop freelancing and build a real business, and then growing a tight local team that works together in-office four days a week. Brendan is refreshingly

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28:05

Beating Burnout and Information Overload: How Maxim...

The Growth Equation ·

2025/12/10

In this episode of The Growth Equation, Tristan Wright sits down with agency owner Maxim Claes to unpack what really happens when you hit burnout, get stuck in information overload, and decide to rebuild your business with more intention. As the founder of boutique marketing agency Media Waffle, Maxim now helps beauty and aesthetic clinics generate consistent enquiries and booked appointments using simple, reliable lead generation systems.Maxim shares how he went from managing “a bit of everything”

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41:49

Mentorship, Mindset & Second Chances: How Simon John...

The Growth Equation ·

2025/12/08

This episode of The Growth Equation features Simon John Phillips, a true veteran who has been building Shopify brands since 2011. Working across the full e-commerce spectrum as a brand owner, agency operator, coach, 3PL founder, and fractional exec, Simon has spent 14 years inside the evolution of social-driven e-com. That experience now powers The Ecommerce Accelerator 5.0, a real-time operating system for brands serious about scaling.Despite his deep expertise, Simon shares a powerful and honest

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40:38

Resilience in Motion: Chris Hogan Adapted, Grew, and...

The Growth Equation ·

2025/12/03

This episode of The Growth Equation features Chris Hogan, founder of MeMedia Marketing Agency, reflecting on over two decades of experience in the marketing industry. Chris shares a candid account of the realities that come with building and growing a business—ranging from the excitement of successful projects to the tough challenges of mental health struggles and burnout. He stresses the significance of focus in business, famously saying, “you can’t ride two horses with one ass,” highlighting the

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33:36

Navigating the Challenges of Entrepreneurship with...

The Growth Equation ·

2025/12/01

In this episode of The Growth Equation, I sat down with Lex Stanley, the founder of Vastly Digital, to explore the real challenges and triumphs of entrepreneurship in today’s digital marketing world. Lex’s journey is refreshingly honest—from launching her business during the uncertainty of COVID-19 to realising the limits off freelancing and pivoting to building a scalable agency. What stood out was Lex’s blend of “corporate punk” values: honouring old school customer service with a rebellious,

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26:27

Freedom, Finances and Funnels: Adrian Stewart on...

The Growth Equation ·

2025/11/24

In this insightful episode, Tristan engages with Adrian Stewart, co-founder of Scale Messaging, to explore his entrepreneurial journey—from freelancing in Berlin to building a company that significantly enhances e-commerce conversion rates. Adrian shares the challenges and triumphs of growing a business from the ground up, emphasising the importance of strategic planning, adaptability, and understanding human behaviour in an ever-evolving digital landscape. As co-founder of Scale Messaging, a CRO

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38:51

Why Building Better Beats Building Bigger with Andrew...

The Growth Equation ·

2025/11/19

Andrew Hatfield built Deepstar Strategic after 30 years across Dell, Red Hat, NetApp, and Portworx—moving from infrastructure engineering to product marketing. He's helped clients achieve 289% ARR growth and Fortune 500 exits by connecting Market-Product-Model-Channel fit.In this episode, we cut through the GTM noise. Andrew breaks down why most B2B tech companies are stuck in feature-factory mode and how to shift to strategic maturity. We explore value-based outcomes over vanity ARR metrics, how

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33:15

Niche Down, Level Up: The Evolution of Hedgehog...

The Growth Equation ·

2025/11/17

This week on The Growth Equation, I caught up with Josh Berg from Hedgehog Marketing for a really down-to-earth conversation about what it’s actually like to run a marketing business these days. Josh shares the ups and downs of starting out with his sister, juggling a growing team when they were barely out of their twenties, and what happened when the fast growth train started to hit some bumps.What’s refreshing about this chat is hearing how Josh moved away from the typical agency model to

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37:48

The Tailored SEO Story with Richard Chalmers

The Growth Equation ·

2025/11/13

Richard Chalmers from Tailored SEO brings a candid perspective on growing a digital agency far from the big-city marketing hubs. The journey started in music, swapped guitars for business books, and continued through agency roles and a pivotal move to Tasmania. With few marketing jobs available locally, Richard carved a niche—first as a side project, then as a full-time commitment when old options faded. Building Tailored SEO was never a straight line; setbacks like the COVID lockdown turned

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31:51

Breaking the Glass Ceiling: How Mills Motion...

The Growth Equation ·

2025/11/11

In this episode, I have a fascinating conversation with Steve Mills, founder of Mills Motion and High Production Practice. Steve shares his entrepreneurial journey from freelancing and broad marketing services to carving out a highly specialised niche in the dental and cosmetic industries. What really stood out to me was how Steve and his team pivoted to a webinar-based model during the challenges of COVID—an innovative approach that not only kept their business afloat but also delivered exceptional

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36:34

Beyond the Rebrand: How Sonya McIntyre-Reid Built a...

The Growth Equation ·

2025/11/06

In this episode of The Growth Equation, I had the pleasure of chatting with Sonya McIntyre-Reid, the driving force behind Linchpin Digital. Sonya’s journey is one of transformation and resilience — starting as a solo freelancer with a simple marketing concept called Kiss Marketing, then evolving her business through multiple rebrands into a dynamic, flexible agency that operates remotely across cities and even continents. Her story is a powerful example of how embracing change and refining your

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34:49

Audience First: The Insider’s Guide to Smart Media...

The Growth Equation ·

2025/10/30

What really happens behind the shiny pitch decks and agency buzzwords? This episode lifts the lid on the world of media buying, exposing the tricks, traps, and triumphs that define today’s marketing landscape. Elise Hedley Dale, founder of Media Words, brings decades of hands-on experience—navigating the fast lanes of global agencies and building a thriving independent consultancy from the ground up.Honest and unfiltered, Elise calls out the “cowboys” who give the industry a bad name, shares how

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31:34

Lessons from the Trenches: Joanna Sharma on Agency...

The Growth Equation ·

2025/10/23

Ever wondered what it’s really like to run a digital agency from the ground up—while juggling family, shifting markets, and the daily chaos that comes with building something new? This episode peels back the curtain with Joanna Sharma, founder of Drum Digital, who joins me for a genuinely raw and inspiring chat about the tough stuff most entrepreneurs only whisper about.Joanna’s journey is packed with turning points, from launching her agency while on maternity leave to scaling a team in the midst

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