Across The Table With David Melse

For episode 235, we sat down with Harrison Strickland at YTG to talk about everything that's happened in the last 12 months. We discuss merging his two businesses into one, building a personal brand, and what it really feels like to reach some of the biggest goals you've been working towards.

We also get into AI, the future of content and 3D rendering, sales, cold calling and why keeping things simple can be more effective. Harrison shares what he's learned about getting out of the day to day, dealing with the ups and downs of running a business and why having someone to talk to can make such a difference when you're building something of your own.

Finally, we talk about what comes next, including Harrison's goals around travel, buying a super car, and building a more location independent business that gives him more freedom. We also discuss the reality of working from overseas, the appeal of building a business around the life you actually want and what the next 12 months could look like.

 

Check out Revolution Studio here:

www.revolutionstudio.co.nz

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Shot on location at YTG thanks to Liam Mehlhopt!

Check out YTG here

www.ytg.co/nz 

Produced by Buddy Booth

For episode 234, we sat down with Lou Heller, a Christchurch based personal stylist who helps clients step into their authentic selves by transforming the way they approach their wardrobes. Throughout the episode, Lou dives deep into the emotional and psychological aspects of clothing, revealing how our daily outfit choices influence our internal calm, energy, and overall confidence. She breaks down why so many people get trapped by store displays and fast fashion trends, offering a fresh perspective on how to view clothing as a tool for self expression rather than just a protective layer.

Lou shares actionable strategies for organizing your closet, teaching us how to audit existing wardrobes, curb impulsive overconsumption, and build a personalized system where dressing well becomes completely effortless. We also unpack her famous three word style framework and discuss how uncovering childhood preferences can unlock a more playful, authentic approach to modern dressing.

Beyond practical styling advice, Lou opens up about her personal journey, from growing up on a farm to navigating career pivots, life changes, and eventually combining intuitive counseling with personal styling. We also talk about the power of social media, brand collaborations, and emerging trends within fashion. 

 

 

Check out Lou here:

www.louheller.com

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Produced by Buddy Booth

For episode 233, we take the podcast on the road for a quick recap to share the power of daily tracking. We briefly talk about everything going on behind the scenes at ALT, all while we pick up some furniture for the new office. This one is short and sweet, but full of great information! 

 

Check out ALT here:

www.Altco.nz

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Produced by Buddy Booth

For episode 232, we sat down with Jayden Smith, founder of Empire Chicken. Building a brand in the hospitality industry is rarely a smooth journey, and Jayden brings an incredible level of honesty to the table about the real challenges his business is currently facing. We dive deep into the gritty details of running a chicken empire when the economic landscape shifts and the realities of the market set in.

This conversation strips away the glamour of entrepreneurship to focus on the hard metrics of survival and strategy. We explore the tough decisions required when managing overhead costs, rethinking store footprint, and navigating the heavy complexities of debt and operations. Jayden shares exactly what it takes to keep the doors open and why adapting your playbook is the only way to survive when the numbers stop adding up easily.

We also discuss the unvarnished truth behind handling one star Google reviews, the complexities of managing landlords, and the future of artificial intelligence in hospitality. Whether you are running a local retail shop or trying to build a massive enterprise, this episode is packed with crucial lessons for any business owner.

 

Check out Empire Chicken here:

www.empirechicken.nz

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Produced by Buddy Booth

For episode 231, we sat down at Bessie Steakhouse with Brad Fraser, Co-Founder of Agentic Intelligence to catch up over some incredible food and dive into the future of tech. Brad shares exactly how his company managed to scale rapidly from just 4 staff 18 months ago, to 44 staff today. He walks us through his unorthodox fifteen minute hiring playbook that ditches resumes for pure trust, explains why high agency teams will absolutely chew up and spit out average performers, and warns why getting too comfortable is the quickest way to kill your creative edge.

Brad breaks down the biggest flaw of modern AI, which is the looming compute shortage. We also speak about what sovereign AI really means for the local industry, and we look closely at the painful reality that access to top tier tech is about to get way more expensive for businesses trying to keep pace.

We also dive into the rise of vibe coding and how the entire landscape of software development is being turned on its head. Brad explains how the barrier to entry for building tech is shifting rapidly, changing the way engineering teams function and forcing founders to completely rethink how they deploy software in a fast moving market.

We round things out by looking at how to solve massive business headaches by stripping away the corporate fluff and using first principles thinking. And then, towards the end things get completely off the rails and we talk about cars, travel, adventure, UFOs, and living to 100. Thank you to the incredible team at Bessie for the wonderful experience. 

Check out Agentic Intelligence here:

www.agenticintelligence.co.nz

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We’d like to thank Bessie steakhouse for hosting us for this episode.

Check them out here:
www.bessie.co.nz

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Produced by Buddy Booth