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Q+A

Short, sharp answers to questions about business, investing, economics or politics.

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Q+A: Kogan.com at 20: what Ruslan Kogan learned from the highs and lows

Kogan.com was one of the original disruptors in Australian retail. Sean Aylmer speaks with founder and CEO Ruslan Kogan about the company’s 20-year journey, from importing TVs from factories to becoming one of Australia’s best-known online retailers.

Ruslan reflects on the highs of the COVID boom, the inventory mistakes that followed, how the business reinvented itself - and what he learned from his immigrant parents.

Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/

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Q+A: Why Employment Hero now wants to become the employer

Employment Hero has grown into one of Australia’s biggest startup success stories, with software used by more than 300,000 businesses across 180 countries.

Sean Aylmer speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Thompson about how AI is reshaping hiring, HR and employment itself. Ben also explains why small businesses struggle with employment, how AI is changing the economics of work, and why Employment Hero is evolving beyond software into “employment as a service”.

Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/

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Q+A: Winners and losers from the Federal budget

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers has delivered one of the most consequential - and controversial - budgets in years, targeting capital gains tax, negative gearing and wealth-based tax concessions. 

Economist Stephen Koukoulas joins Sean Aylmer to unpack what the changes mean for investors, homeowners and the broader economy.

Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/

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Q+A: The Week Ahead | 11 May 2026

This week the government hands down it's Federal Budget - with an eye on tax reform and spending cuts. Sean Aylmer is joined by economist Stephen Koukoulas to look at what to expect.

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Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/

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Q+A: Why interest in space investing is soaring

Space is rapidly becoming a serious investment theme, driven by falling launch costs, the rise of satellite networks, and growing commercial demand. 

Sean Aylmer speaks with Betashares Senior Investment Strategist Cameron Gleeson about the companies shaping the new space economy, from Starlink and Rocket Lab to geospatial mapping and AI-powered satellite data businesses.

Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/

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Q+A: How $242bn of infrastructure spending actually gets allocated

With $242 billion in infrastructure spending on the table, there is a challenge in deciding where to allocate the funds. Sean Aylmer speaks with Adam Copp, CEO of Infrastructure Australia, about how projects are assessed, prioritised and funded, and why tough trade-offs are unavoidable.

They unpack the key pressures shaping decisions — from freight and ports to clean energy and data centres — and explain how long-term trends like population growth, climate change and AI are influencing where money flows. It’s a practical look at how governments make high-stakes investment calls, and what that means for the economy and investors.

Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/

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Q+A: The Reserve Bank's inflation dilemma

The Reserve Bank has lifted interest rates again - but the bigger story is why it’s still worried about inflation.

Sean Aylmer speaks with Diana Mousina, Deputy Chief Economist at AMP, about what surprised her most from the RBA decision - and why another rate rise later this year is still on the table.

Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/

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Q+A: The Week Ahead | 4 May 2026

This week the RBA meets - and is widely tipped to hike rates again. Michael Thompson is joined by economist Stephen Koukoulas to look at what to expect.

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Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/

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Q+A: What’s really under the hood of your investments?

Private credit and income strategies have attracted plenty of interest from Australian investors - but many may not fully understand what they actually own.

Sean Aylmer speaks with Michael Frearson, Head of Fixed Income at Real Asset Management (RAM), about what’s really “under the hood” of fixed income investments. He explains how rising interest rates and global uncertainty are impacting sentiment - and why some investors may be selling without understanding the underlying assets.

This is general information only. Seek professional advice tailored to your circumstances before making investment decisions.


RAM works with BlueChip Communication, which is a supporter of Fear & Greed.

Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/

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Q+A: Why Australia is becoming a data centre powerhouse

Australia is rapidly emerging as a hub for data centres, driven by AI, cloud computing and massive global investment.

Sean Aylmer speaks with Belinda Dennett, CEO of Data Centres Australia, about why Australia is attracting global attention - including a $25 billion investment by Microsoft. She also breaks down the biggest challenges, including energy, transmission and water, and why data centres may actually be helping accelerate the renewable transition rather than hindering it.

Belinda Dennett appeared at the Microsoft AI Tour, which featured some of the biggest names in technology and business. For the highlights and announcements from the event, click here.

Fear & Greed is a partner of Microsoft for this event.

Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/

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