Always Business Class

What happens when your very first trip to Antarctica ends with the ship on the sea floor?

In this episode of Always Business Class, hosts Steve Hui and Steve Pirie-Nally sit down with Greg Carter, CEO and founder of Terra Nova Expeditions and one of Australia's genuine Antarctic authorities. His first voyage ended in a shipwreck and a rescue by the Chilean Navy and the Argentinian Air Force. He has spent the twenty years since going back.

Greg traces a career that runs from a secondhand laptop in London to the pointy end of polar travel: cofounding Chimu Adventures and selling it to Intrepid, a stint as Chief Commercial Officer at Albatros, and now a boutique company built on one idea, that in Antarctica the destination is the luxury, not the ship.

Along the way they get into whether Antarctica is really overtouristed, why a smaller ship changes everything from your time ashore to who you end up crying next to on night nine, and the world first day sailing aboard the yacht Icebird.

If Antarctica has been sitting on your bucket list, this episode is your reminder that the best time to start planning is now.

Presented with thanks to Accor Plus Explorer.

In This Episode
The shipwreck that started it all, and why you never say "Titanic" Whether Antarctica is really overrun with tourists Why guides with PhDs matter more than you think Building Chimu Adventures and the exit to Intrepid Travel How smaller ships create a deeper experience The world first day sailing aboard Icebird How Antarctica changes the people who go The remarkable past life of the RMS St Helena Taking teenagers to the ice with the Antarctic Classroom

Chapters
00:00 The Shipwreck, and Never Say "Titanic"
01:22 Rescued by the Chilean Navy and Argentinian Air Force 03:29 Building Chimu From a Laptop in London
05:48 Is Antarctica Really Overtouristed?
07:15 Guides With PhDs and Peter Hillary's 43rd Voyage
08:39 The Exit to Intrepid Travel
12:00 Getting There: Flights and Visa Free Rules
14:47 Flying Over Antarctica and Mawson's Huts
18:03 Why Terra Nova: Smaller Ships, More Time Ashore
21:10 What "Immersive" Really Means
23:24 Icebird: A World First in Antarctica
25:45 How Antarctica Changes People
29:22 Internet on the Ice: Help or Hindrance?
37:17 Where the Name Terra Nova Comes From
38:15 The Extraordinary Life of RMS St Helena
41:55 The Antarctic Classroom
44:42 Rapid Fire Round

Is the goal really to fly business class… or is it to live a life filled with unforgettable travel experiences?

In this episode of Always Business Class, hosts Steve Hui and Steve Pirie-Nally reflect on the evolution of Flights Club, sharing why their mission has grown beyond premium cabins and into something much bigger: helping people redeem their travel dreams.

Drawing on hundreds of conversations with members, they reveal that the biggest obstacle to travel isn't earning points—it's waiting for "someday." Whether it's Europe, Antarctica, the NFL in Melbourne, or a weekend wellness escape, every meaningful journey starts with making the decision to go.

Steve and Steve also discuss how business owners can use travel to create a richer life, why frequent flyer points are simply a tool rather than the destination, and how their growing community is connecting people through shared experiences, business relationships, and a love of exploration.

If you've been putting off your bucket list, this episode is your reminder that the best time to start planning your next adventure is now.

In This Episode
Why Flights Club's mission has evolved beyond business class

The importance of defining your travel dreams

How frequent flyer points help unlock more travel

Why business owners should prioritise experiences over possessions

The idea of "80 great summers" and making every year count

The value of community through shared travel experiences

Booking smarter with points, cash fares, and flexible strategies

Why now is the time to plan future travel

How Flights Club helps members maximise every trip

The future of travel, events, and member experiences

Chapters
00:00 Redeeming Your Travel Dreams
01:42 Why Flights Club Has Evolved
04:03 Defining Your Bucket List
07:31 Travel Is More Than One Big Trip
09:17 Creating Life-Changing Experiences
12:00 Lessons From Flights Club Members
16:39 Turning Points Into Real Travel
18:06 Why Demand for Travel Is Surging
20:58 Smarter Ways to Book Flights
24:32 Planning Your Next 12 Months of Travel
25:56 New Experiences and Member Events
29:16 House of Points and Everyday Rewards
30:31 The Future of Flights Club

What does it take to turn a simple everyday frustration into a globally recognised brand?

In this episode of Always Business Class, Steve Hui and Steve Pirie-Nally sit down with Rex Kuo, co-founder of Orbitkey, to unpack the journey from a side project built after work to one of Australia's most successful product design companies.

Rex shares how a simple idea to eliminate noisy, bulky keys became a record-breaking Kickstarter campaign that raised over $210,000 in just 30 days, launching a business that now sells millions of products worldwide. Along the way, he opens up about balancing entrepreneurship with a full-time career as a pharmacist, building a global team, expanding through retail, and creating products that genuinely improve everyday life.

The conversation also explores product innovation, crowdfunding, travel, family, business partnerships, and why building a purpose-driven company has been just as important as building a profitable one.

Whether you're launching your first business, creating a physical product, or simply love hearing the stories behind iconic Australian brands, this episode is packed with practical lessons and founder insights.

In This Episode
How Orbitkey started from a simple frustration with noisy keys

Raising over $210,000 through Kickstarter in just 30 days

Why you don't need to quit your job to start a business

Building a global product brand from Australia

The role of crowdfunding in validating new ideas

Lessons from launching 13 successful Kickstarter campaigns

Growing through retail, trade shows, and international expansion

Collaborating with Disney and Marie Kondo

Building a strong company culture across global teams

Using travel to inspire creativity, productivity, and better business

Why purpose, sustainability, and B Corp certification matter

Supporting neurodiversity in the workplace

Chapters
00:00 Meet Rex Kuo, Co-founder of Orbitkey
01:59 The Idea That Started Orbitkey
03:43 Launching Australia's First Kickstarter Success
06:02 Turning a Side Hustle into a Business
09:05 Growing Beyond One Product
10:45 Taking Orbitkey Global Through Trade Shows
15:10 Building a Loyal Community Through Kickstarter
18:39 The Power of Great Co-founders
20:42 Family, Travel and Frequent Flyer Points
25:36 Building a Global Team and Company Culture
30:33 Purpose, Sustainability and Becoming a B Corp
33:18 Product Philosophy and Long-Term Thinking
36:37 The Secrets Behind Successful Kickstarter Launches
40:18 Collaborating with Disney and Marie Kondo
42:24 Supporting Neurodiversity at Work
45:31 Rapid Fire Travel Questions

What if travel wasn't just a reward for working hard, but one of the most powerful tools for improving how you think, make decisions, and perform?

In this episode of Always Business Class, Steve Hui and Steve Pirie-Nally explore the neuroscience behind travel and why stepping away from your routine can sharpen creativity, improve judgment, and help you return with greater clarity.

Together, they unpack why new environments force your brain out of autopilot, how short, frequent trips can be more powerful than one long holiday, and why business owners should think of travel as a performance reset rather than simply time off.

From staycations and business class to Crystal Cruises and spontaneous walks through unfamiliar cities, this conversation challenges the way we think about travel and productivity.

In This Episode
Why travel activates different parts of your brain

The science behind breaking out of autopilot

How travel improves creativity and decision-making

The four stages of a performance reset

Why shorter, more frequent trips can outperform long holidays

Staycations as an accessible performance tool

Removing friction through smarter travel

How travel experiences inspire better businesses

Why exploration helps you feel like you've lived longer

The philosophy behind "Redeeming Your Travel Dreams"

Whether you're planning an overseas adventure or simply checking into a hotel across town, this episode offers a fresh perspective on using travel as an investment in your performance, wellbeing, and business.

Chapters
00:00 Travel as a Performance Reset
01:22 Why Your Brain Needs New Environments
07:31 The Four Stages of the Travel Reset
09:30 Why Short Trips Can Be More Powerful
14:06 Lessons from Crystal Cruises
20:17 Removing Friction Through Better Travel
22:16 Can Travel Be Better Than Therapy?
24:26 Escaping Autopilot Through Exploration
27:28 Redeeming Your Travel Dreams
30:39 The Blueprint for Better Travel

What if the biggest competitive advantage in business isn't AI, but curiosity?

In this episode of Always Business Class, Steve Hui and Steve Pirie-Nally sit down with innovation strategist, author, speaker, and Wonder & Wonder founder Sarah Pirie-Nally to explore the intersection of technology, human behaviour, travel, and the power of wonder.

Sarah shares lessons from her years leading innovation initiatives at Commonwealth Bank, her work helping organisations embrace emerging technologies, and why curiosity remains one of the most valuable skills in a rapidly changing world.

The conversation explores how AI can become a genuine business advantage, why human-centred design matters more than ever, and how travel creates the pattern interrupts that lead to better ideas, stronger relationships, and happier lives.

This is a conversation about innovation.
About designing experiences people genuinely want.
And about using technology to create more freedom, more creativity, and more meaningful travel experiences.

Sarah Pirie-Nally
Founder, Wonder & WonderAuthor, Speaker & AI Strategist
Flights Club Membership
https://iflyflat.com.au/membership/
Accor Plus Explorer Membership
https://www.accorplus.com/explorer-membership/

00:00 Why Travel Activates Wonder
01:45 Meeting Sarah & The Origins of Wonder
04:10 Innovation, Curiosity & Better Questions06:45 From Corporate Innovation to AI Strategy
10:00 Why Businesses Need Wonder More Than Ever
12:05 AI Is Not Your Strategy
14:00 Understanding Human-Centred Design
17:05 Building Products People Actually Want
18:30 How Travel Changes The Way We Think
20:00 Pattern Interrupts & Everyday Wonder
23:00 AI, Customer Experience & Business Growth
26:10 Building Your Business Operating System
29:00 Creating A Second Brain For Teams
32:00 Using AI To Simplify Family Life
35:00 Buying Back Time With Technology
36:20 Why Travel Creates Better Humans
38:40 AI, Wonder & The Future Of Business