Q+A

australian businesses are taking longer to collect payments from customers, and they're responding by delaying payments to their own suppliers. the result? an additional $5.5 billion tied up in working capital across the companies surveyed in the latest mcgrathnicol working capital report.

sean aylmer speaks with jason ireland and sean wiles, partners at mcgrathnicol advisory, about australia's sharp deterioration in working capital performance, the sectors under the greatest pressure, and what businesses can do to free up cash.

mcgrathnicol is a supporter of fear & greed.

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many australians know they could benefit from financial advice, but never take the first step. whether it's the cost, uncertainty about where to start, or the belief that advice is only for wealthy people, there are plenty of barriers. and putting it off could have significant consequences.

sean aylmer speaks with jenneke mills, head of technical services at mlc expand, about when to seek financial advice, the mistakes people make, how to choose the right adviser, and why the benefits can extend well beyond money.

this interview is part of fear & greed's weekly series in partnership with mlc expand.

this is general information only. always seek professional advice before making investment decisions.

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

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australian business confidence has fallen to some of its lowest levels in decades, as higher interest rates, rising costs and economic uncertainty put pressure on businesses. but despite the challenges, some australian companies are continuing to invest, innovate and expand overseas.

sean aylmer speaks with andrew auerbach, nab group executive business & private banking, about what's separating successful businesses from those struggling, the growing pressure on cash flow, and why the latest nab business survey paints such a gloomy picture.

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what does it take to build a business that makes a real difference? and how do you balance a strong sense of purpose with the financial realities of keeping a business running?

in the first episode of extraordinary business stories, sean aylmer and michael thompson speak with two state winners of the 2026 telstra best of business awards: lindsay marchment from the man cave, victorian change award winner, and clare lilley from hobart exercise physiology, tasmanian change award winner.

they discuss the impact of their work, the challenges of funding and growth, how they measure success, and why building the right team and culture matters just as much as the bottom line.

extraordinary business stories is a special four-part fear & greed q+a series brought to you by telstra. meet this year's state winners at telstra.com.au/awards.

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the rise of artificial intelligence is creating new cybersecurity risks for businesses. ai agents can access information, interact with systems and carry out tasks on our behalf. but what happens when they access something they shouldn't? and how can businesses protect themselves when threats are moving at machine speed?

sean aylmer speaks with nam lam, group vice president for australia and new zealand at sailpoint, about the lessons from the recent medicare security incident, the growing importance of identity security, and why traditional cybersecurity defences are no longer enough.

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australia's superannuation system has become very good at helping people save for retirement. but turning those savings into an income that lasts for decades is a different challenge. now a new generation of retirement products is promising greater certainty, flexibility and potentially more income.

sean aylmer speaks with ashton jones, director of retirement innovation at mlc, about the changing retirement landscape, modelling suggesting some retirees could receive up to 60% more income, the trade-offs involved, and why having a retirement plan matters more than ever.

this interview is part of fear & greed's weekly series in partnership with mlc expand.

this is general information only. always seek professional advice before making investment decisions.

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

see omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

australia is at the centre of a growing battle over artificial intelligence and copyright. ai companies want greater freedom to train their models using creative works, but the music industry argues that existing copyright laws are working – and that changing them could undermine artists' livelihoods.

michael thompson speaks with chris maund, co-ceo of mushroom music, about why the industry is resisting changes to copyright law, the ai licensing deals already being signed, and why australia's decision could have consequences for creators around the world.

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

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australia could be facing one of the strongest el niño events on record, bringing the risk of drought, bushfires and higher food prices. but the economic consequences could extend much further, adding to inflationary pressures at an already difficult time for the economy.

sean aylmer speaks with paul bloxham, chief economist for australia, new zealand and global commodities at hsbc, about the potential impact on agriculture, global food prices, insurance costs and government finances - and why another inflation shock could force the reserve bank to raise interest rates again.

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australia's economy is slowing, unemployment is rising, and yet inflation remains stubbornly high. it's an uncomfortable combination for the reserve bank, which is trying to work out whether four interest rate rises have done enough to bring inflation under control.

sean aylmer speaks with sally auld, chief economist at nab, about the week ahead for the economy, as well as last week's jump in unemployment to 4.7 per cent, which sectors are holding up and which are struggling, and why nab believes interest rates may have peaked. they also answer a listener question about why education costs remain such a persistent contributor to inflation.

the week ahead with nab is brought to you by national australia bank

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what does it take to turn magic into a serious business? for scott zhou, it meant dropping out of a commerce/law degree, building a team of professional magicians, and finding a way to sell something people really need to experience to understand.

sean aylmer speaks with scott, ceo of the black ties, about building a business generating roughly $700,000 a year, why marketing matters as much as the magic itself, and his ambition to create australia's own version of hollywood's famous magic castle. scott also performs a trick that leaves sean completely baffled.

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

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