Meaning Business Podcast

What are the biggest threats facing Australian businesses in 2026, and is your business prepared for them? Bruce and Peter unpack the major risks Australian business owners need to be thinking about right now, from cybercrime and economic uncertainty to rising costs, staff shortages, supply chain disruption and succession planning.

Bruce & Peter explore the biggest business risks in 2026, including:

• Cyber security and digital d...

Can giving back actually make your business stronger?

In Episode 84 of The Meaning Business Podcast, Bruce Coudrey and Peter Spinda are joined by Mark Woolley from McInnes Wilson Lawyers to explore the relationship between business, charity, purpose and profit.

Mark has extensive experience working with charities and not-for-profit organisations, including his involvement with Redkite, Small Steps 4 Hannah, the Ash Barty Foundation a...

What would you buy, hold or sell if your own money was on the line?

In this episode of The Meaning Business Podcast, Bruce Coudrey and Peter Spinda play Buy, Hold or Sell: Business Edition — using real Australian business-for-sale listings to put their business instincts to the test.

Jay throws a series of real listings at Bruce and Peter with nothing more than the information available to potential buyers. They have to decide:...

What can more than 5,000 business sales and 30 years of experience teach you about getting deals done?

In this episode of The Meaning Business Podcast, Bruce Coudrey shares the lessons he’s learned from thousands of business transactions and explains why the best business sales don’t happen by chance - they happen through preparation, process and continuous improvement.

Bruce and Peter Spinda discuss how the business sale...

Most business owners believe growth comes from spending more on marketing or finding more customers. But what if that’s the biggest mistake you can make?

In this episode of The Meaning Business Podcast, Bruce Coudrey and Peter Spinda explore the different ways businesses can grow and why long-term success requires much more than simply increasing sales.

From vertical integration and horizontal expansion to diversification, oper...

Thinking about buying a business? Here’s what smart buyers know before they make an offer.

In this episode of The Meaning Business Podcast, Bruce Coudrey and Peter Spinda are joined by Mathew Hartley, Australian supermarket sales specialist, senior business broker and national award winner from Benchmark Business Sales & Valuations.

Drawing on years of experience helping clients buy and sell supermarkets across Australia, M...

Is chasing higher profits actually making your business worth less?

While profit is essential for survival, it’s only one part of what makes a business valuable. Bruce and Peter explain why two businesses earning exactly the same profit can have vastly different valuations, how business valuation multiples really work, and why investing in people, systems and management can dramatically increase what your business is worth.

Usi...

What ever happened to Groupon, Yahoo, Blockbuster, Kodak, MySpace, Toys “R” Us, Skype, GoPro, Sega and Atari?

Some of the world’s biggest brands missed billion-dollar opportunities, failed to adapt, or made decisions that changed their future forever.

In this episode of the Meaning Business Podcast, Bruce and Peter unpack the fascinating stories behind these iconic companies before exploring one of the biggest quest...

As your business grows, your leadership style needs to grow with it.

In Episode #77 of the Meaning Business Podcast, Bruce Coudrey and Peter Spinda explore how leadership evolves at different stages of business growth. Is it better to be deeply involved in every aspect of your business, or should you focus on building strong teams and delegating responsibility?

Drawing on real-world business experiences and examples from leaders like...

Bruce and Peter explore the good, the bad, and the ugly side of business partnerships. From trust and communication to written agreements, succession planning, and partnership disputes, they discuss why some partnerships thrive while others fall apart.

Drawing on real client experiences and their own business journeys, Bruce and Peter share practical advice on choosing the right partner, managing disagreements, setting clear expecta...

What happens to your business if you suddenly pass away, become seriously unwell, or can no longer make decisions?

In this episode, Bruce and Peter are joined by Tony Crilly from Perspective Law to discuss business succession, wills, estate planning, trusts and the importance of having clear agreements in place.

Tony shares real examples of what can go wrong when business owners do not have a proper plan, from disputes between famili...

Bruce and Peter sit down with Australian football legend John Kosmina to explore the powerful connection between sport, leadership, culture and business success.

From building winning teams and maintaining high standards to managing people, creating momentum and avoiding the trap of chasing growth at all costs, John shares lessons from decades in elite sport that apply directly to business owners and leaders.

A practical and honest c...

What really happens behind the scenes of a business sale? In this episode of the Meaning Business Podcast, Bruce Coudrey and Peter Spinda sit down with Ashlee Boden, Finance & Contracts Manager at Benchmark Business Sales, to discuss contracts, settlements, due diligence, vendor finance, trust accounts, and the many moving parts involved in buying and selling businesses.

Ashlee shares insights from working on hundreds of busines...

Could your business survive a disaster?

In this episode of the Meaning Business Podcast, Bruce and discuss how business owners can prepare for disasters, disruptions, and unexpected challenges.

From financial crises and COVID to fuel price shocks, supply chain issues, workplace incidents, and succession problems, Bruce and Peter explore why disasters are not rare events - they are a normal part of business.

The discussion covers conti...

In this episode, Bruce and Peter sit down with Elise Balsillie from Thrive to explore how small businesses can navigate challenging economic conditions while still growing.

Drawing on insights from thousands of businesses across Australia and New Zealand, Elise shares practical strategies around time management, customer experience, marketing, and embracing technology without overwhelm.

The conversation covers everything from digital...

Business owners often spend decades building wealth inside their business - but what happens when it’s time to step away?

In this episode of the Meaning Business Podcast, Bruce and Peter sit down with Jamie Nemtsas from Wattle Partners to discuss retirement planning, business exits, superannuation, wealth creation, and why many business owners may never truly retire.

Jamie shares practical advice on knowing your number, buildin...

Most business owners know they’ll exit one day… but very few actually plan for it. In this episode, we’re joined by Kerry Boulton to break down the biggest exit mistakes business owners make, and why so many leave it too late.

From building and selling her own business to advising owners for decades, Kerry shares practical insights on exit planning, succession, business value, and what it really takes to prepare f...

Having a business plan isn’t optional if you want to succeed - it’s critical. In this episode, Bruce Coudrey and Peter Spinda break down why business plans matter, how to write one without overcomplicating it, and how it gives you clarity, direction, and control in your business.

If you want to build a stronger, more profitable business and stay on track, this episode is for you.

The Meaning Business Podcast is your go-to...

Do you really need to be an entrepreneur to succeed in business?

In this episode Bruce & Peter challenge the common belief that entrepreneurship is the only path to success. They break down what success actually looks like in business, the different ways you can build wealth, and why chasing the “entrepreneur” label might be holding you back.

Whether you’re running your own business, working with...