Real STUFF with Hunter Johnson

Stu Gregor: Four Pillars Gin co-founder Want to become a shareholder of STUFF? Find out more here - https://www.birchal.com/company/stuff In this episode of “Real STUFF”, Hunter sits down with Australian success story, Stu Gregor. Stu is the co-founder of Four Pillars Gin which he scaled to become a phenomenal success and household name, which led to its recent acquisition by Lion. Stu chats through the story behind the brand, how he juggled a fast paced business and being a father of two, as well as the powerful rise of women in sport and leadership. Following a multi-decade career leading a PR firm and working on many leading food and drinks brands, Stu co-founded Four Pillars in 2013. Since then the brand has gone from strength to strength, eventually becoming Australia’s #1 craft spirit and the winner of Global Gin of the Year (twice!). Stu is one of Australia's best-loved raconteurs (and drinkers!), but success aside, he is a hilarious, genuine and captivating guest. Stu shares an inspiring and honest outlook on what’s required to grow a business - which is both refreshing and insightful - and this podcast is a great listen for those who are looking for a window into Stu’s philosophies and modus operandi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul Bassat: Visionary Investor & Business Founder Want to become a shareholder of STUFF? Find out more here - https://www.birchal.com/company/stuff In this episode of “Real STUFF”, Hunter chats with one of Australia’s most prominent investors and business people, Paul Bassat. Paul’s background is quite extraordinary and ranges from Co-Founder of one of Australia’s most successful online businesses ever, SEEK Limited, the biggest employment platform in the country which became an ASX top 100 listed company with a market cap of $4Bn, to being a commissioner of the AFL, to a board member of Wesfarmers, to being Co-Founder of Square Peg Capital – one of the most effective and successful VC firms in the country – holding more than $2.5bn under management. Achievements aside, Paul is kind, genuine and full of energy and he and his family have been amazing supporters of STUFF and The Man Cave. Hunter is grateful to Paul for carving out the time to come on the Real STUFF podcast while travelling in Israel. Hunter and Paul discuss a range of topics, from intergenerational trauma and post-traumatic growth, to managing mental health while being under immense pressure. Paul reflects on the generational shift in mental health awareness, and the power of being open and treating mental health like any other medical issue one might face. The conversation moves onto business, with Paul elaborating on his role as a Venture Capitalist with Square Peg, and the strength of the startup ecosystem in Australia. Paul shares his enthusiasm for interacting with the next generation of Aussie Founders, and the shift towards a desire for businesses that are strongly linked to purpose, demonstrating innovative ways to tackle the broader challenges we face as a global community. Paul’s outlook is optimistic - which is both refreshing and contagious - and this podcast is a great listen for those who are seeking an inspiring view of what’s possible when good ideas, good people and entrepreneurial rigour combine. Discover more about Paul and Square Peg Capital at https://www.squarepegcap.com/people/paul-bassat Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr Arne Rubinstein: doctor, counsellor, mentor, speaker & workshop facilitator In this week’s episode of "Real STUFF” our host Hunter Johnson sits down with Founder of the Rites of Passage Institute, Dr Arne Rubinstein, an internationally recognised expert on rites of passage and adolescent development. A GP, author, social commentator - and a longtime mentor to Hunter. Arne has worked with teenagers since graduating from the International Institute for Youth Leaders in 1982. He worked as a GP for 12 years specialising in Adolescent Health, Preventative Medicine and Emergency Medicine. During Arne’s time in emergency medicine he noticed a lot of young men being admitted to hospital due to taking risks and living on the edge without anyone to facilitate them through those experiences. “They were doing it (searching for an edge) in their cars, doing it getting into street fights, or jumping from cliffs into water, and unfortunately as an emergency doctor I also saw that way too often it would impact the rest of their lives, if not kill them.” He realised they were caught in a world between child and adult and their actions often had disastrous lifelong consequences. Through his research he discovered that for thousands of years indigenous communities around the world had recognised the importance of creating a process to support the coming of age of boys and girls. This prompted Arne to leave his medical career to work full-time creating Rites of Passage programs. Hunter and Arne’s conversation spans the historical link of rites of passage to First Nations cultures, how Arne developed his Rites of Passage program to help support tens of thousands of boys to begin the transition into becoming a man, to the role of elders in facilitating a rite of passage and the concept of “the edge” - the space between comfort and appropriate discomfort - “a concept that can be both physical and emotional that has a direct link to personal growth.” Discover more about Arne and the Rites of Passage Institute at https://ritesofpassageinstitute.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran: Australian contemporary artist - but don’t put him in a box In this week’s episode of "Real STUFF” our host Hunter Johnson sits down with the contemporary artist Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran at the Sydney Opera House. During the podcast, Hunter and Ramesh explore various themes related to art, identity, and cultural values. Ramesh is a Sri Lankan-Australian artist best known for his figurative ceramic practice. He came to Australia as a refugee when he was just a baby, and settled in suburban Sydney at a time when Pauline Hanson was a thing and people spat at brown skin. Growing up in a new migrant context, Ramesh recalls refugees having to work much harder than other people just to exist. Ramesh’s artworks often challenge traditional beliefs and explore the intersection of gender, religion, and culture. His big, colourful, figurative, and may would say “iconic” sculptural works have been exhibited around the world, and he has won a slew of awards. “I don’t want to be a follower, I want to be a leader….” “I think if you want to make a change, you have to accept that you’ll be disliked by a group of people” During the podcast, Ramesh and Hunter discuss the challenges of being a contemporary artist in a rapidly changing world and how technology has transformed the way artists create and distribute their work. Ramesh shares his thoughts on the role of art as a catalyst for social change and how his art serves as a tool to start conversations about topics that are often considered taboo. He also explains how he incorporates his personal experiences into his art and how he hopes to inspire others to embrace their unique identities and perspectives. Overall, the podcast offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of contemporary art and how artists are challenging traditional notions of beauty and identity. Ramesh's passion for his craft and his dedication to using art to make a positive impact on society is truly inspiring and will leave listeners with much to think about. Ramesh has exhibited his work globally, and his art has been featured in numerous exhibitions, including at the National Gallery of Australia and the Art Gallery of New South Wales. He is also a tenured lecturer at the University of New South Wales. Ramesh is represented by Sullivan+Strumpf. Sign up for all the latest news and to be first to hear about his next show, or check out @ramesh__mario and @sullivanstrumpf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad Banducci: the leader of Australia’s most trusted brand, Woolworths Kicking off Season 2 of the Real STUFF podcast, Hunter Johnson is humbled to be in conversation with Woolworths CEO and Managing Director Brad Banducci, one of the most respected corporate leaders in the country. Their chat explores purpose, leadership, and well-being in business and in life. An Italian-South African, Brad moved to Australia 30 years ago and while he now calls Sydney home, he maintains a strong connection with his birthplace not far from Johannesburg. Brad joined Woolies in 2011 and has held the top position since 2016. During this time he has steered the retail behemoth through a number of crises including COVID, and transformed the business to root the Woolworths culture around purpose - which has played a significant role in the economic success, healthy culture and customer loyalty of the organisation. Some of us have been quick to erase aspects of the pandemic from our memory, and it is poignant to hear the pride in Brad’s voice as he recalls his hardworking staff who became some of the nation’s frontline heroes, showing up each day to make sure we had all the food and essentials we needed. In addition to being an undisputed titan of industry, Brad is incredibly self aware and shares his perspectives on conscious bias, the importance of diversity in good decision making, and how his daughters have played a role in shaping his views. He also spends his Saturdays travelling to suburbs like Blacktown, Penrith and Parramatta to ensure he has an authentic understanding of his customers and their needs. (How many other CEOs of ASX-listed companies could say the same?) Brad demonstrates a genuine care and concern for the mental wellbeing of his workforce - which numbers over 200,000 people - and opens up about suicide rates within the business and what is being done to support Woolworths employees. If you’re keen to know what it takes to be Australia’s #1 most trusted brand, listen in to Brad Banducci lift the lid in his chat with Hunter Johnson on Real STUFF. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the second Father’s Day special of Real STUFF, Hunter Johnson sits down with retired Rugby Union legend Dean Mumm. Dean’s professional sports career included over 100 appearances for the NSW Waratahs, 3 years in the UK playing for Exeter and 56 caps for the Australian Wallabies. Outside of his inspiring sports career and transition into business, Dean opens up about his journey to fatherhood. Dean and his wife Sarah have given birth to six children, four of whom were lost due to preterm birth. Dean provides insight into the strength and resilience required to get through this experience, as well as the joys of fatherhood with his two sons, and his and Sarah’s mission to raise funds for research into reducing the prevalence and impact of preterm birth through their charity BorneHMRI. Read more about and support BorneHMRI: ​​https://hmri.org.au/bornehmri Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special Father’s Day episode of Real STUFF, Hunter Johnson interviews Michael Schneider, Managing Director of one of Australia’s most iconic and trusted retailers, Bunnings. As well as his role at Bunnings leading a team of 52,000 people across Australia and New Zealand, Mike is the father of two young men. If that's not enough hats to be wearing, he’s also the Chairman of the Love Me Love You Foundation and a Board Member of both the Melbourne United Basketball Club and the Corporate Mental Health Alliance Australia. Mike opens up about the lessons learned from his own father and how this has guided his experience as a Dad and his approach to business, his mental health journey, and the importance of authenticity and compassion in life and leadership. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Real STUFF flips the script in this episode, with Hunter Johnson interviewing the interviewer extraordinaire, Holly Ransom. What the hell is it with these snowflake millennials, huh? Warm up for winter with this fast-paced fire-cracker of a conversation and blitz through generational divides, harmful stereotypes, and what it takes to maintain a peak mental state as a young person in today’s world. Author of The Leading Edge, CEO of Emergent, and Harvard Kennedy School graduate, Holly has sat down with the likes of Barack Obama, Billie Jean King, Julia Gillard, Professor Muhammad Yunus and Richard Branson. She opens up about a stoic upbringing and a mental health breakdown. Chuck another log on the fire and let your marshmallows melt with this intensely personal convo. In this episode, get real insights on Real STUFF like this: “It hit me, the idea that to make change happen, we need to empower women and heal the hearts of men.” “Vulnerability is a strength, that once you embrace it, is impossible to live without in any of your relationships.” “As an entrepreneur, we need to intentionally connect to our roots and pull our community close around us. It can be hard to hold onto your tribe and your community when life is moving at such a pace.” “The behaviours that I succumb to, they may not be my fault, but they are my responsibility.” Learn more about Holly at hollyransom.com or join one of her upcoming community challenges at epicchallenge.co Find Holly on socials: LinkedIn Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Real STUFF, Hunter sits down with the legendary Michael Hooper, an Australian professional rugby union player and captain of the Wallabies – the Australian national team. This chat covers topics like Michael’s biggest lessons in leadership, the power of asking for help, managing mental health and rites of passage. They also discuss their experiences with hard times, the pressures that come with being a role model and explore Michael’s newest journey – fatherhood. This is a podcast by STUFF. Find out more about us at websiteofstuff.com or @followthestuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Real STUFF hits some raw edges in this episode, with Hunter Johnson interviewing one of Australia’s most free-speaking mental health experts, Dr Zac Seidler. Debunking a tonne of speculations and hypotheses on men’s mental health, this conversation cuts to the bone with everyday ways to check in on ourselves and our mates. Amidst loads of ridiculous teenage references and hilarious accounts of growing up anxious, there is a trigger warning. Hunter and Zac touch on suicide, depression and anxiety to bring new personal truths to these heavy topics. Dr Zac says men aren’t dying because they don’t open up, rather, we have a system that shuts them down. Dr Zac is currently Director of Mental Health Training at Movember and Senior Research Fellow with Orygen at the University of Melbourne. No ivory towers. No judgement. Just honest acknowledgement that we are all on a daily, dynamic journey when it comes to our mental health. Thanks for walking it with us! In this episode, get real insights on Real STUFF like this: “There's a discussion in society that goes “thank God for the next generation”. And I wholeheartedly agree, but I don't want to be handing them the shit show that we are existing in at the moment.” “I will climb down the ladder with you, but I won't go all the way to the bottom and I will hold my arm out and I will pull you back up. You know, and I think too many guys go all the way down and then you're fucking sinking in the mud. You will hold on to the ladder and I will hold on to you.” “​​We've done this research at Movember that shows over 40% of guys regret telling anyone about their mental health, wow, for a big stat, it's huge. It's huge.” Learn more about Zac at www.zacseidler.com Find Zac on socials: Twitter: https://twitter.com/zacseidler LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-zac-seidler-50379a66/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zacseidler/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Real STUFF guest James O’Connor has experienced more adrenaline rushes than most. After playing for Australia in front of thousands of fans as a youngster, he was a model, a party boy, a substance abuser and spent time in jail. Chatting to Hunter Johnson, the Reds star reveals the biggest feel good of all. This conversation tears through assumptions about masculinity and what it takes to walk the hero's journey. Mental health, intuition, drug abuse, and healthy relationships are all on the table in this feast of a convo. Hope you’re hungry! In this episode, get real insights on STUFF like: “They gave me everything, money, women, drugs, it was all thrown at me… I was given everything I needed to self-destruct.” “Being at one with yourself in nature, and having the courage to just sit with those feelings and let them move through you… that’s what enables you to improve week on week, to let things go that aren’t working, to be free from what other people expect of us.” “ I got done with a friend of mine for doing cocaine in Paris, it was a tough time and I was put in a prison cell for three days. But it wasn't like lockup in Australia, which I've been in as well. It was proper heavy, it felt like I was in a medieval dungeon… That was my rock bottom, where I was like, well, my rugby career is over. And what am I doing with my life?” A podcast by STUFF www.websiteofstuff.com www.instagram.com/followthestuff Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Real STUFF puts creativity, mental health and transcendental experiences on the agenda this week with Monte Morgan, better recognised as one half of cult pop duo Client Liaison. We’re not going to lie, having participated in screaming throngs as this guy strutted the festival stage over the past ten years, we may be feeling just a teensy bit awestruck. But rest assured, Monte is as down-to-earth, thoughtful, and authentic as they come. Get ready to unpack a swag of good stuff including how to get in the flow of creative inspiration, why Prince-fandom is not the end game, and how a wellbeing journal could save you from yourself. In this episode, get real insights on STUFF like: “We always said that we straddled the underground world and the pop world, but we've put a real emphasis on having greater meaning in our lyrics, making people think twice.” “Growing up I was a Prince fan, I was a dancer, I used to dress pretty crazy. I’d go to the country and people would heckle me. I always found Australian masculine culture quite closed… but we’ve ended up writing songs that flip that narrative, and celebrate Australia’s diversity in a way.” “We used to go and play on these tiny stages in the early days, and we’d bring our own smoke machines… The last gig we did we had flames on stage! We’ve always thought people listen first through their eyes.” “There's something powerful about breaking people's expectations through performance. When you go and see someone perform at first you feel discomfort for them, and you go, 'Oh, no, please don't, that’s so embarrassing.' But when you see them have confidence up there, it brings a confidence out in you. Yeah. I love that connection.” A podcast by STUFF www.websiteofstuff.com www.instagram.com/followthestuff Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Real STUFF covers bold new territory in this episode with youth advocate, Rhodes Scholar, and feminist Yasmin Poole. What is feminism and how can men play a role? How do we check our own behaviour to help others belong? Composed, raw, and driven from an early age to speak truth to power, Yasmin sees feminism as an inclusive term, allowing all of us to challenge our understanding of discrimination and privilege. Yasmin explains how it’s easy to see the world as equal when you’ve not been discriminated against, and how we are blinded to our own privilege until it’s taken away. This episode comes with a trigger warning for racism and sexual harassment. Nothing like challenging ourselves to listen outside our comfort zone on this edgy episode of Real STUFF. In this episode, get real insights on STUFF like this: “I just got accepted into Gender Studies at Oxford, but when I was 14 I was embarrassed to call myself a feminist because the guy I liked said ‘oho you’re not one of those people with unshaved armpits are you?” “A more equal world doesn’t just benefit underrepresented people, an equal world benefits us all.” “Privilege is often invisible to those who have it.” “If we're willing to also challenge our own style of Leadership, we open our minds to what Leadership can be.” “I think for young men, when we feel challenged, it starts with identifying that feeling of discomfort that might immediately arise or even anger. And just sitting with that for a little bit and saying, Well, why do I feel angry?… A more equal world starts with listening, and with curiosity.” A podcast by STUFF www.websiteofstuff.com www.instagram.com/followthestuff/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Real STUFF this week kicks it up a gear as Hunter Johnson interviews the iconic Bombers captain Dyson Heppell. The two talk in real terms about club culture, keeping perspective and not letting fame go to your head (with or without dreads). A corker for anyone wanting to understand what high performance looks like when it comes to competing in elite teams. In this episode, get real insights on STUFF like this: “Sometimes you gotta be the buzz killer when it comes to tough calls.” “The thing is, if it doesn’t sit right, you don’t do it.” “Old culture is about waiting your turn, earn your respect, the alpha directs the play, the loudest voice is prioritised, competition at all costs… The new culture is about … we will give you the opportunity if you’re willing to work for it, just lead in your way, just be yourself." “Leadership is doing the right thing when no one is looking.” “What’s key is developing the player as well as developing the person.” Find Dyson on Instagram at @dysonheppell. A podcast by STUFF. www.websiteofstuff.com @followthestuff Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Real STUFF digs into the transformation of masculinity with one of the leaders of the movement, Tom Harkin, founder of Tomorrow Man. The mutual respect between Hunter and Tom allows a cut-to-the-chase deep dive into the journey to manhood in all its beauty, bravery and bullshit. Tom’s experience holding space for vulnerability in men, whether they be elite athletes or high-performance executives, sees him go deep with self-reflection about his own relationship with his dad, and the father he wants to be for his kids. It doesn’t get more real than this. In this episode, get real insights on STUFF like this: “The funny thing about walls is somebody built them..” “She fucking terrified me. Every part of me felt unworthy. But I knew in my gut… this is my future wife.” “It's so brutal for parents – you bring them into the world. You spend all this money, all this time looking after them. And then they hit about 16, and they just want to destroy you.” “You've got to be willing to care more about your mates, then then you care about staying comfortable.” “I still don't feel like a man… probably because I got these little boy legs.” “When we're all playing the game - all on autopilot - it's easy to be assholes to each other.” Find Tom on Instagram at @tomorrowman_au or at www.tomharkin.com.au. A podcast by STUFF www.websiteofstuff.com media@websiteofstuff.com www.instagram.com/followthestuff/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/stuffglobal/ https://www.facebook.com/followtheSTUFF/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Real STUFF spins the tables on Dylan Buckley and Daniel Gorringe of List Cloggers fame. These boys are well adept at shooting rapid-fire banter and self-effacing quips down the mic, and are the first to step up and support causes like The Man Cave, but when Hunter goes deep into how these footy legends support each other and their own mental health… frankly we all get a bit choked up. Nothing like laughter through tears for this inaugural episode of Real STUFF. In this episode, get real insights on STUFF like this: “The peer pressure was massive…” “Dyl made me beatbox up the front of the bus…” “It’s scary being an Australian bloke and putting something creative out there.” “I told Dad, I’m really struggling. He looks at me and says, mate I am too.” “We weren’t brought up to know how to go through shit…” “Today I know I can’t control what happens, but I can control how I react to it.” “Women have a way of just piercing through all that crap.” “I’d be nowhere without my mates, I really wouldn’t.” Find Dyl and Dan on Instagram at @listcloggers, @dylbuckley and @dangorringe. A podcast by STUFF www.websiteofstuff.com media@websiteofstuff.com www.instagram.com/followthestuff/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/stuffglobal/ https://www.facebook.com/followtheSTUFF/ For mental health resources, visit Beyond Blue, or call Lifeline on 13 11 14 for confidential one-to-one support. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices