What I learned in business (that didn't kill me!)

What I learned in business (that didn't kill me!)

James H Stewart

Episodes 32
Avg. Duration 51m
Activity Highly Active
Apple Rating 5.0 (1)
Since Sep 2025
Latest Episode Jun 2026

Publishing Details

Schedule
Weekly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
65%
Hosting
feeds.acast.com

Contact & Outreach

About This Podcast

Have you ever wondered why some businesses go broke and others are successful? Have you ever wondered why some leaders rise to the top in difficult situations?


For 40 years I was a corporate undertaker. I buried businesses that failed and helped save those where there was still a pulse.


I was parachuted into some of corporate Australia’s biggest financial crisis, insolvencies and turnaround environments. I have been in Board rooms, Court rooms and on shop floors when all seems lost (and sometimes it was).


Over decades at the coal face of business (often in the most difficult circumstances), I have seen & heard stories that delighted and inspired me, as well as those which serve as a guide of the path not to take.


I also spent years in leadership roles at Ferrier Hodgson and KPMG Australia where I sat on the Board and was the National Consumer and Retail leader.


The purpose of What I learned about Business (that didn’t kill me!) is to share the stories behind some of the world's most interesting business situations, how they unfolded, how my guests dealt with them, and how those experiences changed them and the way they do business.


I hope that my podcast entertains and engages listeners who want to know more about the worlds great business leaders and the lessons that didn’t kill them…….


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Recent Episodes

S1E31 Andrew Cooper: Coopers Brewery

Jun 08, 2026 59m

Coopers Brewery is one of Australia's oldest family businesses and most famous brewers.In this episode James H Stewart sits down with Andrew Cooper, Executive Director of Coopers Brewery.Founded in…

S1E30 Jennifer Westacott AC: The Voice of Business

Jun 01, 2026 56m

What happens when business and government policy intersect? What happens when the institutions that underpin our democracy, economy and social cohesion come under pressure? What happens to leaders…

S1E29 Kim McDonnell: The Social Enterprise Entrepreneur

May 25, 2026 51m

Have you ever wanted to be part of a Social Enterprise? What about building a business that does good for the community - at scale?Kim McDonnell — founder of Thankful, Thankful4Farmers, and Saveful,…

S1E28 Tom Krulis: Godfreys. Petstock. Cheap as Chips.

May 18, 2026 50m

How a Holocaust survival story shaped a family legacy and inspired a serial retail investor to keep striving for success.In this deeply personal discussion, James H Stewart sits down with retailer,…

S1E27 Sally Bruce: The Social Impact Banker

May 11, 2026 56m

The Banking Royal Commission was the reset needed for the Australian banking industry and demanded by the community.Sally Bruce's first hand experience at Macquarie Bank, National Australia Bank, AMP…

S1E26 Peter Robinson: Bombs, Bullets & The Batman

May 04, 2026 53m

A former F18 fighter pilot, a former leader of the Australian aerobatic flying team the Roulettes, a Senior Advisor to the Australian Defence industry and someone who literally jumps off tall…

S1E25 Kate Jenkins AO: The Commissioner.

Apr 27, 2026 1h 5m

Harvey Weinstein and Brittany Higgins have one thing in common. They were at the heart of a movement to reform workplace safety and workplace culture and right at the centre of that process, was Kate…

S1E24 Angus Raine: Housing Affordability Crisis.

Apr 20, 2026 40m

The Australian residential housing market is unaffordable for many. It is being impacted by a perfect storm of a supply demand imbalance, rising construction costs, a fuel crisis, and a planning…

S1E23 Merriden Varrall: China, Trump & the New World Order.

Apr 13, 2026 49m

Geopolitics now sits at the centre of business decision-making.My guest is Dr Merriden Varrall, one of Australia’s leading geopolitical analysts and China specialists, and the founder and CEO of…

S1E22 Mark Raddan: CEO Interpath Advisory.

Mar 23, 2026 38m

What happens when one of the UK’s largest companies collapses—and takes trust in the entire UK audit profession with it?In this episode, I sit down with Mark Raddan, CEO of Interpath Advisory and…

S1E21 Adam Posner: What's the Point of Loyalty?

Mar 09, 2026 57m

What is customer loyalty — really?Is it points? Discounts? Retention metrics? Or is it something deeper?In this episode of What I Learned in Business (That Didn’t Kill Me!), I sit down with Adam…

S1E20 Anne Laure Descours: The Invisible Engine of Global Retail

Mar 02, 2026 55m

Everyone talks about sustainable retail products and saving the planet, but who really cares? Retailers? Customers? Government?The global retail sourcing & supply chain is invisible to most…

S1E19 Ian Robson: Premierships & Pressure points. Sport in the Spotlight

Feb 23, 2026 54m

Ian Robson is one of the most experienced and battle-tested sports administrators in Australia.At just 32 years old, with no prior CEO experience, Ian was appointed Chief Executive of the New Zealand…

S1E18 Simon Toohey: Masterchef to Market Maker

Feb 16, 2026 37m

MasterChef finalist, television host and food entrepreneur Simon Toohey, is this week's guest.Many Australians know Simon from MasterChef Australia (Season 11 and “Back to Win”) or from his SBS…

S1E17 Andrew Love: Surrounded by Liars and Thieves

Feb 09, 2026 44m

The collapse of Rothwells Bank in late 1988 signalled the beginning of the end for WA inc.In this episode, James H Stewart sits down with Andrew J Love, one of Australia’s most experienced former…

S1E16 Christo Van Egmond: The School of Rock!

Feb 02, 2026 40m

Christo Van Egmond — Inside the Business of Live MusicACDC is one of the worlds biggest rock bands.So what does it really take to bring the world’s biggest artists to Australia?In this episode James…

S1E15 Anastasia Pelot: Inside the Mind of Gen Z & Gen A.

Jan 19, 2026 55m

In this episode of What I Learned in Business (That Didn’t Kill Me!), James Stewart explores one of the most important and misunderstood challenges facing leaders, employers, marketers and boards…

S1E14 Andrew Yates: CEO KPMG Australia

Jan 12, 2026 53m

Big 4 accounting firms are never far from the spotlight.In this episode of What I Learned in Business (That Didn’t Kill Me!), James Stewart sits down with Andrew Yates, CEO of KPMG Australia, to…

S1E13 Jim Sarantinos: Parramatta Eels. No easy try.

Jan 07, 2026 49m

The Parramatta Eels are of Australia's Iconic sporting clubs. In this episode of What I Learned in Business (That Didn’t Kill Me!), James H Stewart sits down with Jim Sarantinos, CEO of the…

S1E12 Anna Samkova: Customer Strategy, Loyalty and Behaviour

Jan 04, 2026 55m

From surviving a devastating car accident in Ukraine to becoming one of Australia’s most influential thinkers in customer loyalty and digital strategy — this is the extraordinary journey of Anna…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does What I learned in business (that didn't kill me!) have?

What I learned in business (that didn't kill me!) has published 32 episodes since September 2025.

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What I learned in business (that didn't kill me!) is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 51m.

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