Across The Table With David Melse

For episode 222, David and Buddy sat down for the first new podcast episode of the year, announcing the end of the previous podcast format, and announcing an all new style for 2026. Rather than continuing the studio format, we are spicing things up and taking the podcast on the road, with a new style that combines free form documentary and educational content. David lays out his goals for the new year, as well as recapping some of the big events from 2025.

This is just a short one as we test out the new format, but we are hyped to bring you the next episode! Stay tuned for more!

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We’d like to thank our sponsor for this episode, Rosefern Homes. Check them out here:
https://www.rosefernhomes.co.nz/

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Produced by Buddy Booth

For episode 221, we sat down with Curtis Fairweather to dissect the exponential growth of his Tallow Skincare business, which launched only ten months ago and has scaled at a record-breaking pace. Curtis shares the core strategy that fueled this fire: keeping his processes aggressively streamlined, launching with only four key products for the first seven months, and leaning heavily into paid ads to generate quick cash flow that could be immediately reinvested for maximum acceleration. It’s a masterclass in how to build a high-growth e-commerce brand designed for velocity.

The conversation dives into the unlikely origin story of the product, which started as a bone broth venture before pivoting after a customer mentioned using the residual animal fat (tallow) to treat a hand rash. Curtis explains how he intentionally shifted the brand's focus from general 'beauty' to solving real-world problems like eczema, a move that gave his business instant credibility. This approach was cemented by working closely with the Eczema Association, which helped the product cut through the crowded market and gave his rapidly growing 19-person team a powerful sense of mission.

Finally, Curtis gives us the honest truth about the grind required to sustain this scale. He reveals he stayed too long at his day job in a software company and was "way burnt out" before taking the leap, which ultimately accelerated his growth. We cover the logistical nightmare of running manufacturing and shipping 100% in-house, and how he just signed a lease for a new space three times bigger to hold inventory. This chat is packed with hard-won lessons on the necessity of simplifying your product line, focusing on the most important, high-leverage task, and accepting that your yearly goals will likely be met in four months.

Check out Primal Pantry:
https://www.primalpantry.co.nz/

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We’d like to thank our sponsor for this episode, Rosefern Homes. Check them out here:
https://www.rosefernhomes.co.nz/

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Across The Table with David Melse has taken a dramatic increase in production value thanks to the team at Distinct. 

Looking for content partners to take your brand to the next level? Get in touch with them here:
https://www.distinctagency.co.nz

For episode 220, we sat down with Diego Ramirez, an expert known for mastery in AI business automation. Diego shares an unprecedented and urgent message: his current technical skillset is on the verge of obsolescence. He explains that with platforms like OpenAI and other tools advancing so rapidly, the need for human input on the how to automate will soon vanish. This conversation is a crucial wake up call for any business leader trying to stay ahead of the curve.

We dive deep into the next level of expertise, which Diego predicts will shift entirely from the technical execution to the strategic question: What and why should a business automate? This pivot requires business owners to be open minded and not fearful of new technology, or risk falling behind those who already have a "leg up" in the market. The true challenge is no longer coding, but vision.

Ultimately, this is a discussion about future-proofing your business and your career. Diego shares the importance of surrounding yourself with "expanders"—people who stretch your blueprint for what is possible—to help you ask the right questions and develop the intuition necessary to thrive in an era of exponential change. Get ready to shift your thinking from tasks to strategy and secure your place in the automated future.

Check out Diego at HMN PLUS:
https://www.hmn.plus/

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We’d like to thank our sponsor for this episode, Rosefern Homes. Check them out here:
https://www.rosefernhomes.co.nz/

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Across The Table with David Melse has taken a dramatic increase in production value thanks to the team at Distinct. 

Looking for content partners to take your brand to the next level? Get in touch with them here:
https://www.distinctagency.co.nz

For episode 219, we sat down with James Wallace for an extraordinary and raw account of the business crisis that rocked his company over the last nine months. James offers a crash course in the true cost of scaling, revealing how his management philosophy—a desire to "see the best in people" and an inability to control structural mistakes—led to a catastrophic breakdown. He details how the company’s culture deteriorated to a point where he "didn't want to go to work," client losses mounted, and expensive legal challenges emerged, leaving him feeling like a "shell of a human" while balancing the crisis with being a new father.

The conversation shifts to the critical "line in the sand" moment in April when James realized the business was facing death if he didn't take immediate, radical control. He shares the strategic decisions that stabilized the ship, including personally stepping back into the sales trenches with his brother to generate significant recurring revenue, which bought the company the time necessary to execute a brutal but necessary restructure. James breaks down how he slashed the workforce but created a new structure that was "delivery heavy," prioritizing a high quality product over bloated management.

Today, the company is not only out of the woods but is experiencing its best margins ever, with monthly revenue expected to cross the $300,000 mark. James offers his hardest-won lessons on the necessity of protecting a healthy culture "at all costs," the mistake of trying to "farm out" director responsibilities he disliked, and the vital importance of making tough decisions early rather than hoping problems will correct themselves. This episode is a must-listen for any leader who has faced adversity, proving that genuine intention and forward momentum are the ultimate keys to transforming failure into explosive growth.

 

Check out Digital Simple here:
https://www.digitalsimple.co.nz/

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We’d like to thank our sponsor for this episode, Rosefern Homes. Check them out here:
https://www.rosefernhomes.co.nz/

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Across The Table with David Melse has taken a dramatic increase in production value thanks to the team at Distinct. 

Looking for content partners to take your brand to the next level? Get in touch with them here:
https://www.distinctagency.co.nz

For episode 218, we sat down with Hayley Sharp, a certified breathwork facilitator, coach, and former corporate HR professional. Hayley shares her compelling journey from a 15-year corporate career—where she experienced multiple rounds of burnout—to taking a huge leap into self-employment to help others find a new way of living and being.

In this episode, we talk about:

The Science of Burnout: Hayley defines burnout not just as emotional exhaustion, but as the body hitting a tipping point where it enters an underlying survival mode, contrasting this with the literal threats faced by our ancestors.

Identifying Your Stress Mode: We go beyond the common Fight and Flight responses to explore the often overlooked Freeze (procrastination, feeling weighed down) and the super common Fawn (people-pleasing and sacrificing personal needs).

Breathwork as a Superpower: Hayley explains how her specific, guided breathwork technique allows you to access a non-ordinary state of consciousness by slowing down the default mode network (the "monkey mind"). This allows you to dispel stuck energy, emotions, and stress stored within the body.

Blending the Spectrum: Hayley shares her unique methodology of blending logic, science, and spirituality, explaining that spirituality often shows up in business as following your intuition and instinct—that "gut feel" that drives bold, aligned action.

The Power of Retreats: The conversation also touches on her luxurious, immersive retreats, which combine c.

 

Check out Hayley Sharp:
https://www.hayleysharp.co.nz/

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We’d like to thank our sponsor for this episode, Rosefern Homes. Check them out here:
https://www.rosefernhomes.co.nz/

___________________

Across The Table with David Melse has taken a dramatic increase in production value thanks to the team at Distinct. 

Looking for content partners to take your brand to the next level? Get in touch with them here:
https://www.distinctagency.co.nz