#503 Inside the Wave Pool: The Master Plan That’s Going to Change the Gold Coast with Luke Altschwager
Luke Altschwager is the Managing Director at Palm Valley, and he’s partnered with Mick Fanning to build the Gold Coast’s first wave pool. In this episode, Mark sits down with Luke to unpack the massive transformation of Parkwood Village — a project that fuses sport, business, and entertainment into one of the most ambitious developments in Queensland. They talk about Luke’s business journey, the risks, financing hurdles, and the surf technology that’s set to change the way people experience the Gold Coast. Check out the Palm Valley Gold Coast website here: https://palmvalleygc.com/ You can subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://mentored.com.au/newsletter-sign-up Join the Facebook Group. Follow Mark Bouris on Instagram, LinkedIn & YouTube.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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#502 Holly Fowler: Creating the Dating App for the Neurodivergent World
In this episode, Holly Fowler, founder of Wable, joins us to share how she’s building the world’s first dating app designed specifically for the neurodivergent community. Inspired after watching Love on the Spectrum, Holly opens up about the personal experiences that led her to create Wable, co-founding it with Michael Theo, the stigma neurodivergent people often face in dating, and how her platform is creating safer, more inclusive spaces for genuine connection. We explore the challenges of launching a startup in an overlooked market, the growing investor interest in neurodiversity, and Holly’s vision for the future. You can subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://mentored.com.au/newsletter-sign-up Join the Facebook Group. Follow Mark Bouris on Instagram, LinkedIn & YouTube.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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#501 Britt and Taz from The Block – Behind the Scenes of the hit TV show
In this episode, The Block 2025 contestants Britt and Taz sit down to share their full story — the stuff you didn’t see on TV. They kick things off by talking about their background as police officers and how their unique bond helped them take on the high-pressure world of reality renovation. Then, they break down their Block journey: the day-to-day grind of renovating under pressure, the challenges they faced, and how they tackled key design decisions. You’ll also get an insider look at their auction prep, marketing strategy, and what really goes down in the lead-up to that nail-biting finale. Britt and Taz wrap up with personal reflections, what they’d do differently, and what’s next for them after The Block. Their real estate agent, Mark Nunn, also joins the conversation to discuss the property play and share his expert insights into the auction process. You can subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://mentored.com.au/newsletter-sign-up Join the Facebook Group. Follow Mark Bouris on Instagram, LinkedIn & YouTube.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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#500 Speaking with the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces for NSW: Hon Paul Scully
Paul Scully is a 51-year-old lifelong Wollongong local and the current NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, serving as the Member for Wollongong since 2016. In this episode, we dive into his family heritage and education, the political background and dynamics that shaped his career, and his perspective on raising the standard of living and government responsibility. We break down the challenges around housing supply and planning reforms, explore how political decisions play out in communities, and discuss innovative government policies designed to tackle today’s pressing issues. Paul also shares how he balances budget pressures with policy implementation, before looking ahead to his future plans and legislative reforms for NSW. You can subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://mentored.com.au/newsletter-sign-up Join the Facebook Group. Follow Mark Bouris on Instagram, LinkedIn & YouTube.CSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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#499: Why the Trades Will Be Vital in an AI World with Dominique Gill
Dominique Gill is the Founder and Managing Director of Urban Core, a multi award-winning construction company generating $80 million in annual revenue, with offices in New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland. A pioneer in diversity and inclusion, Dominique leads one of Australia’s few female-led building firms, with women making up 50% of the Urban Core workforce. In this episode, Mark Bouris speaks with Dominique Gill about how she’s reshaping construction through purpose-driven leadership and a 50% female workforce. They discuss industry challenges, psychological safety, innovation on site, and why construction remains vital in the age of AI. You can subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://mentored.com.au/newsletter-sign-up Join the Facebook Group. Follow Mark Bouris on Instagram, LinkedIn & YouTube.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark Bouris speaks to business owners and entrepreneurs, finding out what makes them tick and their plans for growth. Some business owners are on the way up and enjoying new success, others are at a turning point. Mark digs into their stories and finds out why they set out to create their own path, their challenges and where they go from here. Based on his own personal experiences and learnings, he also passes on his own guidance on how to take their business to the next level.
Australia