#485: Burnt Crusts & Second Chances: Pizza Bros’ Recipe for Reinvention with Joey Pepperoni & Marty McFly

James Fuller is the co-founder and CEO of Hnry, an all-in-one accounting and tax platform built specifically for sole traders. In this episode, Mark sits down with James to unpack why 1.5 million Australian sole traders are missing out on thousands of dollars each year in unclaimed tax deductions, and how Hnry is flipping the traditional accounting model on its head. James breaks down exactly how the platform works, why most sole traders are unknowingly overpaying tax, and what it really costs to ignore your admin. Learn more about Hnry here: https://hnry.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fletcher and Connor Watson are two brothers building a production empire, Wildfire Content, while Connor plays for the Sydney Roosters in the NRL. Here's how they're revolutionising branded content through authentic storytelling. This episode dives deep into their journey from starting a charity after a family tragedy to creating compelling documentary-style campaigns for luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and major clients like Hyundai. The boys break down their unique approach to "branded documentary" content, how they leverage Connor's sporting connections, and why authenticity trumps everything in today's oversaturated advertising landscape. Starting Wildfire Content from a family tragedy and charity work How to win government tenders in the production space Working with luxury brands: Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dior The rise of "branded documentary" style content Why risk and authenticity are essential for cutting through Balancing brotherhood with business partnership Their breakout YouTube series "Off-Season" Join my exclusive Mentored+ community: https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/ Subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://the-mentored-platform-pty-ltd.myklpages.com/l/WWJGc5 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liam Bell turned a COVID lockdown into a seven-piece band phenomenon called Play Lunch. Now he's taking his "bogan funk" sound to America. This episode dives deep into the business of music, from building a seven-person creative team to mastering social media without losing authenticity. Liam breaks down how Play Lunch cracked the code on modern music marketing, built a devoted fanbase through deliberately imperfect branding, and turned merchandise into their financial lifeline. Plus, how they're preparing to export Australian culture to US audiences. • Building a seven-piece band during the COVID lockdown • Creating the "bogan funk" genre and Australian identity in music • Managing personalities and delegation in creative businesses • Social media strategy that prioritises authenticity over polish • Revenue models: why merch outsells streaming in modern music • Preparing Australian acts for international markets Join my exclusive Mentored+ community: https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/ Subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://mentored.com.au/newsletter

Adam Schwab grew Luxury Escapes from a bootstrapped Groupon clone into a billion-dollar travel empire without raising capital until COVID. Here's exactly how he did it. In this deep dive, Adam breaks down the contrarian moves that built one of Australia's most successful travel businesses. From accidentally discovering the travel arbitrage that competitors missed, to building competitive moats through switching costs and AI-powered personalisation. He reveals why focus beats diversification, how they turned hotel partnerships into a cornered resource, and the metrics that actually matter when building enterprise value. Join my exclusive Mentored+ community: https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/ Subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://mentored.com.au/newsletter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jack Say and Isaac Gibbons turned COVID boredom into TikTok gold, then built SmartAss toilet paper from their viral comedy empire. Jack and Isaac reveal how they went from filming empty supermarket shelves during Melbourne's lockdown to creating a data-driven content machine with 15 success pillars. They break down their "orb" philosophy for protecting business partnerships, landing their product in every Coles store, and building authentic brands that audiences actually want to buy from. The 15-pillar algorithm they use to predict viral content How they turned their first TikTok video into a sustainable business Why 85% of Australian toilet paper cuts down virgin trees (and how they're disrupting this) • The "orb" concept that protects their 20-year friendship in business Their data-driven approach to brand building and audience analysis • How they got into Coles just 6 weeks after launching Why they choose recycled, Australian-made over quick cash partnerships Join my exclusive Mentored+ community: https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/ Subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://mentored.com.au/newsletter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.