Join us for an in-depth conversation with three-time Olympic marathoner Lee Troop as he shares the unfiltered story of his journey from a young boy running with his father to a world-class athlete and now, a community visionary.

Lee provides a raw and honest account of his twenty-year professional career, unpacking the relentless discipline required to run 250-kilometer weeks and complete a 1,000-day running streak. He reflects on the highs of his major city marathon performances and the hard-won lessons from three vastly different and challenging Olympic campaigns. He also speaks candidly about the immense physical and psychological toll of elite sport, including the career-ending injury that reshaped his life’s purpose.

The conversation then shifts to his current passion: an eight-year mission to bring a world-class running festival to his hometown, Geelong. Lee details the immense logistical hurdles, from navigating city-wide road closures to emergency service access plans. This is a masterclass in community building, as Lee explains how the Geelong Running Festival is designed to be “more than just a race.” Discover the intricate details behind its purpose-driven model, including partnerships with local charities, the creation of an Indigenous running group, a meticulously designed medal celebrating Geelong’s heritage, and a finish-line festival built to celebrate every single participant.

This is not just a story about running; it’s a powerful narrative about resilience, the importance of mentorship, and transforming a lifetime of personal achievement into a lasting legacy for an entire community.

Sign up for the Geelong Running Festival.

This episode was proudly brought to you by ISO365 – ISO Compliance, as a Service.

Listen on Spotify.

What happens when two brothers take a punt on a few billboards and end up building a regional media business with more than 600+ billboards and 50+ people? In this episode of Beyond Growth, Reyan sits down with Luke Course, co-founder of Gawk, to unpack the real story behind the business.

What started as an idea to build a few passive-investment billboards turned into something much bigger. Luke shares the highs, lows and plenty of lessons from the journey, including the early days of getting their hands dirty, navigating COVID, making bold decisions during uncertainty, and building a business where people and culture sit at the centre.

They talk about why the brothers chose to focus on regional Victoria, how Gawk has maintained its unique larrikin culture while scaling, and why investing in people has become one of their biggest competitive advantages.

In this episode, they explore:

If you’re a founder trying to grow, a leader navigating the challenges of scaling, or simply love a good underdog story, this conversation is about backing yourself, backing your people and doing business differently.

Find out more about Gawk at gawk.com.au.

This episode was proudly brought to you by ISO365 – ISO Compliance, as a Service.

Listen on Spotify.

In an era of AI, digital saturation and endless content, why is local radio still thriving?

Reyan Fernando sits down with Rachel Patterson, General Manager of Geelong Broadcasters (K Rock & Bay 93.9), to explore the enduring power of localism and what makes radio so difficult to replicate.

From her journey across 25 radio stations to her “listening-led” leadership style, Rachel shares what she’s learned about building genuine connections with audiences, teams and communities.

Together, they unpack the “magic bundle” of radio, from real-time human connection and local relevance to authenticity, personality and community.

In a world increasingly shaped by algorithms and artificial content, this conversation explores why the human touch might just be the ultimate competitive advantage.

This episode was proudly brought to you by ISO365 – ISO Compliance, as a Service.

Listen on Spotify.

After 21 years as a police detective, Dale Smith made a life-changing decision to walk away and build Scaada, an environmental solutions business driven by people, planet, and community.

In this conversation, Dale shares the personal transformation behind the business. He reflects on letting go of an ego-driven leadership style, navigating ADHD, and learning that true leadership comes through collaboration, trust, and empowering others.

We also explore how Scaada has built a culture that hires for character, develops leaders from within, and tackles some of Australia’s toughest environmental challenges, from disaster response to water conservation.

This is an honest conversation about leadership, personal growth, and building a business that creates a lasting impact.

Find out more about Scaada at scaada.com.au.

This episode was proudly brought to you by ISO365 – ISO Compliance, as a Service.

Listen on Spotify.

Join Reyan Fernando for a deep dive into the professional lives of Bill Winter and Mark Edmonds, two seasoned business leaders with decades of experience across family business consulting, corporate retail, and board governance.

In this episode, we explore:

Whether you are navigating succession planning, looking to join a board, or simply seeking wisdom on leadership and giving back, this conversation offers a masterclass in staying engaged, curious, and forward-thinking at every stage of life.

This episode was proudly brought to you by ISO365 – ISO Compliance, as a Service.

Listen on Spotify.

“Technology is the great enabler, but trust is the foundation.” In this episode, host Reyan Fernando sits down with Tristan Ellett, founder of Bigfish Technology, to unpack the rapidly evolving world of IT. From the early days of dial-up to the current AI arms race, Tristan shares his journey of building a business that prioritizes people over pixels.

They dive into:

Whether you’re a business owner navigating IT complexity or a leader looking to scale, this conversation offers a roadmap for staying relevant, secure, and human in an increasingly digitized landscape.

This episode was proudly brought to you by ISO365 – ISO Compliance, as a Service.

Listen on Spotify

What if the biggest opportunity for growth isn’t beating your competitors, but working alongside them? In this episode, Reyan Fernando sits down with Ryan Toppin, Founder of The Toppin Group, COO of Evolved Ecosystem, Co-Founder of Auto Fetch and Melbourne host of Founders Live, to explore why strategic partnerships are becoming one of the greatest competitive advantages in business.

Ryan shares the mindset that has shaped his entrepreneurial journey, from sport and retail to finance, fintech and AI, explaining why an obsession with customer experience has been the common thread behind every venture he’s built.

Together, they dive into the impact AI and automation are having on modern businesses, why leaders need to embrace change rather than fear it, and how collaboration consistently outperforms a scarcity mindset. Ryan also unpacks the importance of aligning sales and marketing, solving real customer problems and using long-form content to build trust and create meaningful business relationships.

In this episode you’ll learn:

If you’re looking for practical ideas to grow your business in an AI-driven world, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

This episode was proudly brought to you by ISO365 – ISO Compliance, as a Service.

Listen on Spotify

In this episode, Reyan Fernando sits down with Mark Neeld, CEO of Geelong United Basketball, to explore a remarkable leadership journey spanning elite AFL, high-performance sport, and community impact. From his years as a player, coach, and football executive to leading one of Australia’s fastest-growing basketball organisations, Mark shares what it takes to build winning cultures, develop great people, and create a lasting sporting legacy.

Mark takes us behind the scenes of launching the Geelong Venom WNBL team in just three months, a bold undertaking that required vision, community support, and relentless execution. He discusses the challenges of building a professional sporting club from scratch, the importance of increasing female participation in sport, and why creating pathways for women and girls remains a key focus.

The conversation also explores leadership under pressure, lessons learned from his time at the Melbourne Demons, managing public scrutiny, and maintaining a high-performance mindset while staying connected to the community.

Topics covered:

Whether you’re a business leader, sports fan, coach, or entrepreneur, this episode offers valuable insights into resilience, culture, leadership, and the power of bringing a community together around a shared vision.

This episode was proudly brought to you by ISO365 – ISO Compliance, as a Service.

Listen on Spotify

Dive into the extraordinary story of Kate Darby, an AFLW pioneer who defied expectations and reshaped the game. From her childhood dream of playing footy to her late-career debut at 27, Kate shares the grit and determination that defined her path.

Discover how a life-changing encounter with a young fan ignited her passion for community work, and hear the powerful account of her return to elite sport after becoming a mother, a journey that not only led to her best season but also inspired significant policy changes within the AFLW.

Now coaching the next generation, Kate’s legacy is one of unwavering spirit, profound impact, and continuously rewriting the playbook for what’s possible.

This episode was proudly brought to you by ISO365 – ISO Compliance, as a Service.

Listen on Spotify

Join Reyan Fernando for an inspiring chat with Tom Simic, founder of Simic Financial, as he reveals his ambitious plan to become Australia’s largest virtual CFO advisory. Discover the incredible discipline behind his success, from earning six university degrees before 30 to being named “Young CA of the Year.”

In this episode, Tom unpacks:

If you’re a business owner looking to scale, optimise profits, or simply be inspired by relentless ambition, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in to learn how Tom is redefining financial advisory and building an empire, one strategic move at a time.

This episode was proudly brought to you by ISO365 – ISO Compliance, as a Service.

Listen on Spotify