Equity Mates Investing Podcast

Most investors spend their time looking for the next stock to buy, Stephen Arnold, Founder and CIO of Aoris, argues that great investing starts by knowing what not to own. In this episode, he explains Aoris’ quality-first approach, why the fund avoids entire sectors like banks, mining and biotech, and how a concentrated portfolio of just 15 businesses helps them focus on companies with durable advantages, strong cultures and long runways for growth.

In this episode:
00:00 – Why Aoris runs a concentrated portfolio
02:22 – What “quality-first value investing” means
07:52 – Red flags and Aoris’ no-go zones
09:29 – Compass Group: The world's largest contract caterer
18:29 – Cintas: The boring compounder hiding in plain sight
25:06 – The importance of defining what not to buy
27:13 – Why Aoris avoids banks, mining, biotech and more
35:19 – Why only 15 stocks and lessons for investors

Thanks to Aoris for sponsoring this episode and helping to keep our content free. The Aoris International Fund is available as an Active ETF, via the following ASX listed products: ASX: BAOR: Aoris International Fund Active ETF (Class B) & ASX: DAOR: Aoris International Fund Active ETF (Class D) (Hedged).

Visit the Aoris Website to download the Owners Manual - https://www.aoris.com.au/

ETFs and Stocks mentioned: Compass Group (LSE: CPG), Cintas (NASDAQ: CTAS), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA)

———

Want to get involved in the podcast? Record a voice note or send us a message

And come and join the conversation in the Equity Mates Facebook Discussion Group.

———

Want more Equity Mates? Across books, podcasts, video and email, however you want to learn about investing – we’ve got you covered.

Keep up with the news moving markets with our daily newsletter and podcast (Apple | Spotify)

We’re particularly excited to share our latest show: Basis Points

Listen to the podcast (Apple | Spotify)

Watch on YouTube

Read the monthly email

———

Looking for some of our favourite research tools?
Download our free Basics of ETF handbook
Or our free 4-step stock checklist
Find company information on TIKR
Research reports from Good Research
Track your portfolio with Sharesight

———

This podcast is intended for education and entertainment purposes only. Any advice is general advice and has not taken into account your personal financial circumstances. Before acting on general advice, you should consider if it is relevant to your needs. If unsure, speak to a financial professional. The host of this podcast and their guests may have positions in the companies mentioned. Equity Mates Media is part of the Betashares Group but maintains editorial independence and operates under Australian Financial Services licence 540697.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The biggest names in AI and technology are about to ask investors for an eye-watering $400 billion. SpaceX is heading to market, OpenAI and Anthropic are lining up behind it. Bryce and Ren unpack why the next few months could be the biggest test yet for the AI investment narrative, Bryce reveals his stock thesis framework using Intuitive Surgical as a case study, and for the first time 3 x stocks are pitched for the Equity Mates Community Portfolio.

In this episode:
00:00 — The $400 billion AI market stress test
01:31 — SpaceX IPO demand explodes
05:47 — Alphabet, Meta, OpenAI and Anthropic chase capital
09:11 — Why IPO investors should slow down
10:40 — South Korea’s AI-fuelled bonus boom
14:13 — Bryce reveals his stock thesis cards
15:48 — Intuitive Surgical: thesis, risks and valuation
23:15 — Community Portfolio update and Bitcoin review
26:43 — GE Vernova, Siemens and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries pitch

ETFs and Stocks mentioned: SpaceX, OpenAI, Anthropic, Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL), Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA), Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA), Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.B), Facebook, Twitter, Alibaba (NYSE: BABA), Shopify (NASDAQ: SHOP), Block (NYSE: XYZ), SK Hynix, Samsung Electronics, Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG), Medtronic (NYSE: MDT), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), DaVinci Surgical System, DHHF, Bitcoin, Pro Medicus (ASX: PME), Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT), Global X Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure ETF, GE Vernova (NYSE: GEV), Siemens Energy (ETR: ENR), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (TYO: 7011)

———

Want to get involved in the podcast? Record a voice note or send us a message

And come and join the conversation in the Equity Mates Facebook Discussion Group.

———

Want more Equity Mates? Across books, podcasts, video and email, however you want to learn about investing – we’ve got you covered.

Keep up with the news moving markets with our daily newsletter and podcast (Apple | Spotify)

We’re particularly excited to share our latest show: Basis Points

Listen to the podcast (Apple | Spotify)

Watch on YouTube

Read the monthly email

———

Looking for some of our favourite research tools?
Download our free Basics of ETF handbook
Or our free 4-step stock checklist
Find company information on TIKR
Research reports from Good Research
Track your portfolio with Sharesight

———

This podcast is intended for education and entertainment purposes only. Any advice is general advice and has not taken into account your personal financial circumstances. Before acting on general advice, you should consider if it is relevant to your needs. If unsure, speak to a financial professional. The host of this podcast and their guests may have positions in the companies mentioned. Equity Mates Media is part of the Betashares Group but maintains editorial independence and operates under Australian Financial Services licence 540697.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fresh off the sale of Eucalyptus to Hims & Hers in a $1.6 billion deal, co-founder Tim Doyle joins Equity Mates to unpack the journey from startup idea to global healthcare platform. He shares what it was really like in the deal room, the early lessons from Koala and digital marketing, how GLP-1 medications transformed the business, why Australia needs better startup infrastructure, and what founders can learn about risk, ambition and building at scale.

In this episode:
00:00 – The $1.6 billion exit and signing day chaos
02:49 – Why Eucalyptus decided to sell
10:31 – The origins of Eucalyptus and early startup lessons
17:54 – Good businesses, bad businesses and portfolio thinking
26:34 – Building telehealth amid industry criticism
30:52 – How GLP-1s changed everything
40:53 – AI, startups and the next technology wave
47:50 – ESOPs, startup talent and the future of Australia’s ecosystem

ETFs and Stocks mentioned: Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META), Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL), Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY), Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX), Atlassian (NASDAQ: TEAM), Woolworths Group (ASX: WOW)

———

Want to get involved in the podcast? Record a voice note or send us a message

And come and join the conversation in the Equity Mates Facebook Discussion Group.

———

Want more Equity Mates? Across books, podcasts, video and email, however you want to learn about investing – we’ve got you covered.

Keep up with the news moving markets with our daily newsletter and podcast (Apple | Spotify)

We’re particularly excited to share our latest show: Basis Points

Listen to the podcast (Apple | Spotify)

Watch on YouTube

Read the monthly email

———

Looking for some of our favourite research tools?
Download our free Basics of ETF handbook
Or our free 4-step stock checklist
Find company information on TIKR
Research reports from Good Research
Track your portfolio with Sharesight

———

This podcast is intended for education and entertainment purposes only. Any advice is general advice and has not taken into account your personal financial circumstances. Before acting on general advice, you should consider if it is relevant to your needs. If unsure, speak to a financial professional. The host of this podcast and their guests may have positions in the companies mentioned. Equity Mates Media is part of the Betashares Group but maintains editorial independence and operates under Australian Financial Services licence 540697.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What did everyday Australian investors do when markets turned volatile in 2026? Using Betashares Direct data, Bryce and Ren unpack the ETFs, stocks and themes attracting the most capital. From buying the dip in quality companies to piling into leveraged ETFs, gold, critical minerals and defence, this episode reveals how retail investors navigated a year defined by geopolitical tensions, inflation concerns and market swings.

In this episode:
00:00 – What Betashares Direct data reveals about Australian investors
01:09 – The most bought ETFs in 2026 so far
03:04 – Top individual stocks and the rise of buying the dip
06:08 – Auto-investing, market volatility and investor behaviour
08:16 – Bulls vs bears: leveraged ETFs, gold and inverse funds
12:01 – Critical minerals become the hottest thematic
15:02 – Defence spending and geopolitical investing trends
18:14 – Key lessons from retail investor behaviour

ETFs and Stocks mentioned: Betashares Diversified All Growth ETF (ASX: DHHF), Betashares Australia 200 ETF (ASX: A200), Betashares Global Shares ETF (ASX: BGBL), BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ), Betashares Geared Global Equity Fund (ASX: GHHF), Betashares Geared Australian Equities ETF (ASX: GEAR), CSL (ASX: CSL), Woodside Energy (ASX: WDS), DroneShield (ASX: DRO), WiseTech Global (ASX: WTC), Pro Medicus (ASX: PME), Xero (ASX: XRO), Cochlear (ASX: COH), BetaShares Australian Equities Strong Bear ETF (ASX: BBOZ), BetaShares Energy Transition Metals ETF (ASX: XMET), Global X Copper Miners ETF (ASX: WIRE), BetaShares Global Uranium ETF (ASX: URNM), Lynas Rare Earths (ASX: LYC), BetaShares Global Defence ETF (ASX: ARMR)

Betashares Capital Ltd (ABN 78 139 566 868 AFSL 341181) is the issuer of the Betashares Funds, as well as Betashares Invest, the IDPS-like scheme available via Betashares Direct. Read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determination, available at www.betashares.com.au, before making an investment decision. This information is general in nature and doesn’t take into account any person’s financial objectives, situation or needs. You should consider its appropriateness taking into account such factors and seek professional financial advice.

———

Want to get involved in the podcast? Record a voice note or send us a message

And come and join the conversation in the Equity Mates Facebook Discussion Group.

———

Want more Equity Mates? Across books, podcasts, video and email, however you want to learn about investing – we’ve got you covered.
Keep up with the news moving markets with our daily newsletter and podcast (Apple | Spotify)
We’re particularly excited to share our latest show: Basis Points
Listen to the podcast (Apple | Spotify)
Watch on YouTube
Read the monthly email

———

Looking for some of our favourite research tools?
Download our free Basics of ETF handbook
Or our free 4-step stock checklist
Find company information on TIKR
Research reports from Good Research
Track your portfolio with Sharesight

———

This podcast is intended for education and entertainment purposes only. Any advice is general advice and has not taken into account your personal financial circumstances. Before acting on general advice, you should consider if it is relevant to your needs. If unsure, speak to a financial professional. The host of this podcast and their guests may have positions in the companies mentioned. Equity Mates Media is part of the Betashares Group but maintains editorial independence and operates under Australian Financial Services licence 540697.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Australia’s property market is adjusting to a post-budget reality, South Korean investors are piling into leveraged AI bets at a breathtaking pace, and a community question sparks a deep dive into one of the biggest investing decisions Australians face: should you invest more through super or outside it? Plus, Owen Rask reviews a real Equity Mates portfolio featuring ETFs, individual stocks and a REIT.

In this episode:
00:00 – Property investing after the budget
08:41 – South Korea’s AI-fuelled stock market frenzy
12:49 – Community Question: Invest inside or outside super?
14:42 – The tax advantages of superannuation
16:25 – Flexibility, FIRE and accessing your money early
19:00 – Contribution caps, balance limits and Div 296
23:15 – Life-stage considerations when building wealth
24:34 – Pimp My Portfolio with Owen Rask and community member Marty

Stocks & ETFs mentioned: Vanguard Australian Shares ETF (ASX: VAS), VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF (ASX: QUAL), VanEck Australian Banks ETF (ASX: MVB), Fortescue (ASX: FMG), Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.B), Magellan Financial Group (ASX: MFG), Big River Industries (ASX: BRI), Centuria Office REIT (ASX: COF), Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW), REA Group (ASX: REA), Domain Holdings Australia (ASX: DHG), Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Megaport (ASX: MP1), NextDC (ASX: NXT)

How I Got Started Newsletter: https://getstartedinvesting.beehiiv.com/

Newsletter Sign Up: https://equitymates.com/join-our-newsletters/

———

Want to get involved in the podcast? Record a voice note or send us a message

And come and join the conversation in the Equity Mates Facebook Discussion Group.

———

Want more Equity Mates? Across books, podcasts, video and email, however you want to learn about investing – we’ve got you covered.

Keep up with the news moving markets with our daily newsletter and podcast (Apple | Spotify)

We’re particularly excited to share our latest show: Basis Points

Listen to the podcast (Apple | Spotify)

Watch on YouTube

Read the monthly email

———

Looking for some of our favourite research tools?
Download our free Basics of ETF handbook
Or our free 4-step stock checklist
Find company information on TIKR
Research reports from Good Research
Track your portfolio with Sharesight

———

This podcast is intended for education and entertainment purposes only. Any advice is general advice and has not taken into account your personal financial circumstances. Before acting on general advice, you should consider if it is relevant to your needs. If unsure, speak to a financial professional. The host of this podcast and their guests may have positions in the companies mentioned. Equity Mates Media is part of the Betashares Group but maintains editorial independence and operates under Australian Financial Services licence 540697.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.