In this episode, we sit down with Nathan Turner — Canadian entrepreneur and mortgage investment expert — to learn from the big transformations of his career.

After selling his business at a significant loss in 2009, Nathan channelled some hard lessons into building a thriving mortgage investment business, which today includes an investment fund and an annual conference, all run alongside his wife from home.

In our conversation, Nathan opens up about the real turning points that shaped him, from a painful business collapse to a revolutionary shift in mindset.

A genuinely honest and inspiring conversation about what personal growth in business really looks like, you'll come away with decision-making strategies, resilience techniques, and a life-affirming mantra you'll take into every business challenge ahead...

Key Moments:

• Nathan's Accidental Path to Entrepreneurship (03:23)
• Nothing Prepares You Like Doing It (03:53)
• How a Failed Job Application Sparked a New Direction (05:53)
• Starting a Business From Scratch (09:04)
• Overcoming Imposter Syndrome (13:06)
• The $200k to $20k Collapse (16:55)
• Making Business Decisions Without Emotion (16:02)
• Practical Tools for Hard Decisions (21:06)
• What NOT to Do When Stressed (21:00)
• Pivoting Into Mortgage Investing (22:16)
• Finding Purpose by Solving Real People's Problems (26:29)
• Win-Win Business Thinking (26:45)
• How to Keep an Open Mind Without Losing Focus (28:21)
• The Ideas Binder (29:31)
• You Can Do Anything — Just Not All at Once (30:39)
• Book Recommendations (32:15)
• Nathan's Kitchen Bench Moment (35:30)

About Nathan:

Nathan Turner grew up in Alberta, Canada, and stumbled into entrepreneurship when he and his wife opened a Curves fitness franchise in 2004 after a stint teaching English in Korea. Alongside the franchise, he explored real estate before the 2008 financial crisis pulled him into distressed mortgage investing — a world he discovered at a conference and never looked back from.

Nathan’s continued openness to new possibilities has led to a healthy approach to development: learning to adopt new skills and ways of thinking has transformed his career over the years.

Resources Mentioned

• Bailout Riches by Bill Bartmann
• Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
• Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker
• Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

Not sure what's holding you back...?

Every entrepreneur faces invisible blockers. Discover which one is at play for you so you can move forward with confidence.

Take the free Homegrown CEO Blocker Quiz now. It’s quick, free, and gives you instant clarity on where to focus next. Follow this link to get started: https://liv-5cmyfuaf.scoreapp.com

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Become a member of our online community and get exclusive bonus episodes, access to new episodes before general release, and premium PDFs of every episode’s key takeaways.

You'll also receive practical tools and resources to fuel your professional journey, including guided challenges, forums and live sessions. Most importantly, you'll be part of a supportive network of entrepreneurs, leaders and professionals, brought together by a mutual desire to learn from and support one another.

Join now using the promo code PODCAST for 50% off your first two months! Click the link to register: https://homegrown-ceo.mn.co/landing/

Got a lesson to share?

We are always happy to hear from inspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders! If your journey could pass on some pearls of wisdom, please do get in touch about joining us as a guest: liv@homegrown.ceo

Mentioned in this episode:

Bonus Content

For access to this episode's bonus content, including more of our conversation and a downloadable PDF of the key takeaways, join our thriving online community. Make new connections, build lasting habits, and become part of an exciting new network. Start your 7 day free trial now, and use the promo code PODCAST at the checkout for 50% off your first two months.

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No business looks the same as it did when it was established. Reacting to market demands, economic shifts, personal challenges and every other hurdle thrown at us as entrepreneurs is what keep a business going.

In this episode, we'll explore the essential skills of adaptability and agility in entrepreneurship, with the real-life advice and examples from established business founder Jess Hodge.

Throughout the establishment and growth of her award-winning company, Resourceful Living, Jess has remained quick on her feet. From adjusting their offering in response to customer feedback, to rebuilding the operation following an arson attack on their factory, her true resilience is rooted in the knowledge that there is always a solution - there is always a way.

Key Takeaways:

• Jess's Journey to Resourceful Living (01:44)
• How Job Loss Sparked an Entrepreneurial Mindset (02:49)
• Starting a Business From Scratch (08:16)
• Overcoming Imposter Syndrome (08:54)
• Staying True to Your Vision While Adapting to the Market (10:21)
• Making Business Decisions Without Emotion (13:10)
• Practical Tools for Hard Decisions (15:06)
• Surviving an Arson Attack (17:50)
• Back Up and Running in 90 Days (19:33)
• Grit vs. Perseverance — What's the Difference? (23:02)
• When to Stop Pushing and Start Listening (24:53)
• How to Build Genuine Resilience (28:27)
• Jess's Kitchen Bench Moment (31:41)

About Jess:

After many years of success in marketing and advertising, a trip to South East Asia changed everything. Seeing the plastic waste wash up on the beaches, Jess made a complete career pivot and founded a recycled plastic startup, Resourceful Living. She has grown the company into an impressive, award-winning business supplying 100% recycled materials to commercial brands across Australia, with expansion into multiple new depots expected soon.

Resources:

Read more about Resourceful Living: https://resourcefulliving.com.au/

Connect with Jess on LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/jesshodge-resourcefulliving

Not sure what's holding you back...?

Every entrepreneur faces invisible blockers. Discover which one is at play for you so you can move forward with confidence.

Take the free Homegrown CEO Blocker Quiz now. It’s quick, free, and gives you instant clarity on where to focus next. Follow this link to get started: https://liv-5cmyfuaf.scoreapp.com

Join our community!

Become a member of our online community and get exclusive bonus episodes, access to new episodes before general release, and premium PDFs of every episode’s key takeaways.

You'll also receive practical tools and resources to fuel your professional journey, including guided challenges, forums and live sessions. Most importantly, you'll be part of a supportive network of entrepreneurs, leaders and professionals, brought together by a mutual desire to learn from and support one another.

Join now using the promo code PODCAST for 50% off your first two months! Click the link to register: https://homegrown-ceo.mn.co/landing/

Got a lesson to share?

We are always happy to hear from inspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders! If your journey could pass on some pearls of wisdom, please do get in touch about joining us as a guest: liv@homegrown.ceo

Mentioned in this episode:

Bonus Content

For access to this episode's bonus content, including more of our conversation and a downloadable PDF of the key takeaways, join our thriving online community. Make new connections, build lasting habits, and become part of an exciting new network. Start your 7 day free trial now, and use the promo code PODCAST at the checkout for 50% off your first two months.

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Whether you're a total AI convert, or a more hesitant user, this episode offers an essential discussion on best practices when using it in business. Joined by Tahnee Perry, founder of AI agency A25, expect a clear framework for using AI with intention, practical lessons from her experience rolling it out across teams, and a grounded take on what the future of work actually looks like...

Key Takeaways:

• The Driver vs. Passenger Framework (02:04)
• How to Avoid Being a Passenger (03:48)
• Using AI as a Strategic Thought Partner (05:51)
• Rolling Out AI in Teams & Organisations (07:11)
• A Real-World AI Rollout Gone Wrong (09:55)
• Building Real Time-Saving Workflows (15:04)
• Keeping Up With the Pace of AI (19:11)
• Advice for Early-Career Professionals (20:12)
• What Successful AI-Forward Companies Look Like (24:21)
• Essential Professional Skills for the AI Era (25:49)
• Key Takeaways Summary (28:17)
• Tahnee's Kitchen Bench Moment (29:10)

About Tahnee:

Tahnee is a long-time marketer who has spent over two decades working with start ups and growth companies in San Francisco. After co-founding and selling a travel start up in 2003, she spotted the early potential of generative AI and launched A25 — an agency dedicated to teaching teams and leaders how to apply AI practically in their day-to-day work.

Between running workshops, building automations and helping teams to navigate structural and cultural shifts, Tahnee has become a truly authoritative voice in the implementation of AI at work.

Resources Mentioned:

• Subscribe to Tahnee's Newsletter
• A25 - Transform your team into AI-powered strategists in days, not years.
• Anthropic - Anthropic is an AI safety and research company that's working to build reliable, interpretable, and steerable AI systems.
• Loveable - Turn ideas into production-ready web apps in minutes. AI handles the build.
• Replit - Build and deploy software collaboratively with the power of AI.
• Follow Matt's journey with AI - The Messy Middle

Further Resources Tahnee Recommends:

• The Artificial Intelligence Show
• One Useful Thing
• Marketing Against the Grain

Not sure what's holding you back...?

Every entrepreneur faces invisible blockers. Discover which one is at play for you so you can move forward with confidence.

Take the free Homegrown CEO Blocker Quiz now. It’s quick, free, and gives you instant clarity on where to focus next. Follow this link to get started: https://liv-5cmyfuaf.scoreapp.com

Join our community!

Become a member of our online community and get exclusive bonus episodes, access to new episodes before general release, and premium PDFs of every episode’s key takeaways.

You'll also receive practical tools and resources to fuel your professional journey, including guided challenges, forums and live sessions. Most importantly, you'll be part of a supportive network of entrepreneurs, leaders and professionals, brought together by a mutual desire to learn from and support one another.

Join now using the promo code PODCAST for 50% off your first two months! Click the link to register: https://homegrown-ceo.mn.co/landing/

Got a lesson to share?

We are always happy to hear from inspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders! If your journey could pass on some pearls of wisdom, please do get in touch about joining us as a guest: liv@homegrown.ceo

Mentioned in this episode:

Bonus Content

For access to this episode's bonus content, including more of our conversation and a downloadable PDF of the key takeaways, join our thriving online community. Make new connections, build lasting habits, and become part of an exciting new network. Start your 7 day free trial now, and use the promo code PODCAST at the checkout for 50% off your first two months.

Join the Community

Offering essential strategies for managing high workloads and communicating effectively, in this episode we are delighted to welcome author, entrepreneur and life coach Wendy Alexander.

After building a high-level career in corporate recruitment, Wendy launched Happy Career Hub to support mid-life professionals, especially menopausal women, to create their Career 2.0. Her mission is to help 1 billion women thrive after menopause and reclaim the lives they were always meant to live.

Exploring techniques such as negotiation, mindfulness, delegation, and communication with senior management, listen on as Wendy offers insight into how prioritising emotional wellbeing helps us to remain effective in professional roles.

Key Takeaways:

• Introduction (0:24)
• Recognising Stress & The Power of Saying No (2:04)
• Negotiating Workload & Career Progression (3:32)
• Data-Driven Communication with Leadership (5:25)
• Presenting Decisions, Not Just Problems (8:38)
• Protecting Your Team Under Pressure (9:57)
• Communicating When Stressed (12:19)
• Self-Awareness & Asking for Help (13:46)
• Delegation & Sharing the Load (15:41)
• Daily Stress Regulation Tactics (18:07)
• Recap & Key Takeaways (20:37)
• Wendy's Kitchen Bench Moment (24:43)

About Wendy:

Wendy walked away from corporate life after feeling burned-out and disconnected, which led her to the thriving career she has built for herself since. Her business, Happy Career Hub, strives to help midlife professionals to regain confidence and balance in their professional lives, offering real-world strategies, mindset shifts and practical tools to make their bold ‘Career 2.0’ a reality.

As a survivor of domestic violence, a published author, a former hiring manager in Australia’s top 50 companies, and a woman of colour who grew up in apartheid South Africa, her story of resilience, reinvention and real talk has reached thousands across LinkedIn, YouTube and podcasts.

Not sure what's holding you back...?

Every entrepreneur faces invisible blockers. Discover which one is at play for you so you can move forward with confidence.

Take the free Homegrown CEO Blocker Quiz now. It’s quick, free, and gives you instant clarity on where to focus next. Follow this link to get started: https://liv-5cmyfuaf.scoreapp.com

Join our community!

Become a member of our online community and get exclusive bonus episodes, access to new episodes before general release, and premium PDFs of every episode’s key takeaways.

You'll also receive practical tools and resources to fuel your professional journey, including guided challenges, forums and live sessions. Most importantly, you'll be part of a supportive network of entrepreneurs, leaders and professionals, brought together by a mutual desire to learn from and support one another.

Join now using the promo code PODCAST for 50% off your first two months! Click the link to register: https://homegrown-ceo.mn.co/landing/

Got a lesson to share?

We are always happy to hear from inspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders! If your journey could pass on some pearls of wisdom, please do get in touch about joining us as a guest: liv@homegrown.ceo

Mentioned in this episode:

Bonus Content

For access to this episode's bonus content, including more of our conversation and a downloadable PDF of the key takeaways, join our thriving online community. Make new connections, build lasting habits, and become part of an exciting new network. Start your 7 day free trial now, and use the promo code PODCAST at the checkout for 50% off your first two months.

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Welcoming CEO, speaker and writer Faris Aranki, this episode will focus on practical techniques that you can use to enhance your emotional intelligence as a business leader, resulting in better meetings, greater self-awareness, and a team which actually works together.

As the CEO of Shiageto Consulting, an innovative consulting firm blending strategy and emotional intelligence, Faris understands not only the importance and impact of strong EQ in leaders, but the actionable steps they can take to improve this skill.

Key Moments:

• Farris's Background (1:55)
• IQ, EQ, and FQ Explained (2:58-4:11)
• Case Study: Leader Dominating Meetings (5:08)
• Leadership Rules and Accountability (7:38)
• EQ in High-Stress Meetings (9:13)
• The Unplugged Exercise (11:54)
• Observing Body Language (12:41)
• Hybrid Meeting Strategies (14:44)
• Engaging Remote Participants (16:40)
• Building Empathy as a Leader (19:15)
• Understanding Your Team (20:46)
• Case Study: Improved Performance in Trading Team (22:32)
• Developing EQ Daily (26:00)
• Summary of Key Takeaways (27:02)
• Faris's Kitchen Bench Moment (29:26)

About Faris:

Having spent over 20 years delivering strategic change for businesses around the world, Faris came to realise what hinders institutions from achieving their goals isn’t the quality of their ideas, but their ability to get engagement and focus around those ideas - aspects he is an expert in. To build on this passion, he set up Shiageto Consulting in 2019 to help businesses and individuals improve their strategic effectiveness.

On top of leading Shiageto, Faris is now an accomplished speaker, writer and contributor for a variety of outlets.

Not sure what's holding you back...?

Every entrepreneur faces invisible blockers. Discover which one is at play for you so you can move forward with confidence.

Take the free Homegrown CEO Blocker Quiz now. It’s quick, free, and gives you instant clarity on where to focus next. Follow this link to get started: https://liv-5cmyfuaf.scoreapp.com

Join our community!

Become a member of our online community and get exclusive bonus episodes, access to new episodes before general release, and premium PDFs of every episode’s key takeaways.

You'll also receive practical tools and resources to fuel your professional journey, including guided challenges, forums and live sessions. Most importantly, you'll be part of a supportive network of entrepreneurs, leaders and professionals, brought together by a mutual desire to learn from and support one another.

Join now using the promo code PODCAST for 50% off your first two months! Click the link to register: https://homegrown-ceo.mn.co/landing/

Got a lesson to share?

We are always happy to hear from inspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders! If your journey could pass on some pearls of wisdom, please do get in touch about joining us as a guest: liv@homegrown.ceo

Mentioned in this episode:

Bonus Content

For access to this episode's bonus content, including more of our conversation and a downloadable PDF of the key takeaways, join our thriving online community. Make new connections, build lasting habits, and become part of an exciting new network. Start your 7 day free trial now, and use the promo code PODCAST at the checkout for 50% off your first two months.

Join the Community

This episode will explore the impact of creative activities on our mindset and output as entrepreneurs, from generating fresh ideas, to restoring balance and confidence in ourselves.

With insight from Susie deVille, an expert in innovative and creative practices, we'll discover strategies and daily exercises to reawaken our inner creative, with examples of entrepreneurs who saw positive results from doing just that.

Key Moments:

• Susie's Journey into Creativity (1:35)
• The Five M's Framework (5:38)
• Real-World Success Story (12:50)
• How to Get Started with Creativity (16:01)
• Overcoming Creative Blocks (20:24)
• Embracing Imperfection (22:35)
• Key Takeaways (24:55)
• Susie's Pivotal Moment (25:39)
• Closing Thoughts (28:24)

About Susie:

Susie deVille is the dynamic Founder & CEO of the Innovation & Creativity Institute, a trailblazing business coach, and an accomplished artist. With over 30 years of entrepreneurial success, including the creation and sale of a highly profitable real estate firm, Susie is on a mission to empower individuals to tap into their innate creativity, discover their true selves, and unlock their full entrepreneurial potential.

As a human behaviour specialist and creative strategist, Susie combines a rich academic background in anthropology and a master’s degree in entrepreneurship. Since 2005, she has been dedicated to researching innovation and creativity, continuously refining her methods to remain at the forefront of her field.

She is the author of Buoyant: The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Becoming Wildly Successful, Creative, and Free

Not sure what's holding you back...?

Every entrepreneur faces invisible blockers. Discover which one is at play for you so you can move forward with confidence.

Take the free Homegrown CEO Blocker Quiz now. It’s quick, free, and gives you instant clarity on where to focus next. Follow this link to get started: https://liv-5cmyfuaf.scoreapp.com

Join our community!

Become a member of our online community and get exclusive bonus episodes, access to new episodes before general release, and premium PDFs of every episode’s key takeaways.

You'll also receive practical tools and resources to fuel your professional journey, including guided challenges, forums and live sessions. Most importantly, you'll be part of a supportive network of entrepreneurs, leaders and professionals, brought together by a mutual desire to learn from and support one another.

Join now using the promo code PODCAST for 50% off your first two months! Click the link to register: https://homegrown-ceo.mn.co/landing/

Got a lesson to share?

We are always happy to hear from inspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders! If your journey could pass on some pearls of wisdom, please do get in touch about joining us as a guest: liv@homegrown.ceo

Mentioned in this episode:

Bonus Content

For access to this episode's bonus content, including more of our conversation and a downloadable PDF of the key takeaways, join our thriving online community. Make new connections, build lasting habits, and become part of an exciting new network. Start your 7 day free trial now, and use the promo code PODCAST at the checkout for 50% off your first two months.

Join the Community

Offering strategies for building resilience to sustain long-term business success, this episode will discuss how to bounce back from setbacks and stay focused on long-term goals.

Joined by advertising legend Bant Breen, we'll hear lived examples from his entrepreneurial journey, including the significant challenges and resilience strategies that helped him persist and succeed in building his company, Qnary.

Key Moments:

• The Vision Behind Qnary (1:44)
• Early Struggles and Near-Death Moments (3:31)
• Going Against Startup Culture (6:25)
• Lessons on Resilience (8:18)
• Finding Product-Market Fit (10:13)
• The COVID Crisis and Reinvention (12:22)
• Leading Through Change (14:00)
• Stepping Back as a Leader (16:05)
• Building Long-Term Goals (19:32)
• Organic Company Culture (21:15)
• Changing Attitudes on Problem-Solving (23:00)
• Top Tips for Entrepreneurs (24:34)
• Kitchen Bench Moment (26:35)

About Bant:

In 2012, Bant Breen founded the award-winning executive reputation management and talent branding company Qnary, recognized as one of America's fastest-growing companies by Inc. magazine five years in a row. As Qnary's Executive Chairman and CEO at the time of recording, Bant previously held leadership roles at WPP, Publicis, Dentsu, and IPG, was inducted into the Advertising Hall of Achievement in 2010, and was named a top comms tech player by PRWeek in 2021.

In March 2020, he earned his PhD and now lectures on marketing, executive reputation, and AI's impact on media at Blanquerna – Universitat Ramon Llull in Barcelona, Spain.

Not sure what's holding you back...?

Every entrepreneur faces invisible blockers. Discover which one is at play for you so you can move forward with confidence.

Take the free Homegrown CEO Blocker Quiz now. It’s quick, free, and gives you instant clarity on where to focus next. Follow this link to get started: https://liv-5cmyfuaf.scoreapp.com

Join our community!

Become a member of our online community and get exclusive bonus episodes, access to new episodes before general release, and premium PDFs of every episode’s key takeaways.

You'll also receive practical tools and resources to fuel your professional journey, including guided challenges, forums and live sessions. Most importantly, you'll be part of a supportive network of entrepreneurs, leaders and professionals, brought together by a mutual desire to learn from and support one another.

Join now using the promo code PODCAST for 50% off your first two months! Click the link to register: https://homegrown-ceo.mn.co/landing/

Got a lesson to share?

We are always happy to hear from inspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders! If your journey could pass on some pearls of wisdom, please do get in touch about joining us as a guest: liv@homegrown.ceo

Mentioned in this episode:

Bonus Content

For access to this episode's bonus content, including more of our conversation and a downloadable PDF of the key takeaways, join our thriving online community. Make new connections, build lasting habits, and become part of an exciting new network. Start your 7 day free trial now, and use the promo code PODCAST at the checkout for 50% off your first two months.

Join the Community

Each episode welcomes an expert leader, founder or entrepreneur to share the game-changing insights which shaped their careers. Through their toughest challenges and greatest wins, we’ll uncover the valuable, actionable lessons that our audience can take forward in their own professional journey.

Exploring themes such as business growth, leadership, innovation, resilience, balance and mentorship, we’ll also uncover our guests’ Kitchen Bench Moment - the one big decision or experience which changed everything…

About the Host

Entrepreneur, investor, digital commerce pioneer… your host, Matt Coleborne, is the original Homegrown CEO. With a rich journey from starting and scaling ventures, to leading the international expansion of renowned brands, his perspective and accomplishments bring a unique and valuable depth to the podcast.

Matt’s belief in the power of shared experiences, alongside the clear need for a platform and wider online community where they could be shared and celebrated, led to Homegrown CEO as we know it today.

Join our community!

Become a member of our online community and get exclusive bonus episodes, access to new episodes before general release, and premium PDFs of every episode’s key takeaways.

You'll also receive practical tools and resources to fuel your professional journey, including guided challenges, forums and live sessions. Most importantly, you'll be part of a supportive network of entrepreneurs, leaders and professionals, brought together by a mutual desire to learn from and support one another.

Join now using the promo code PODCAST for 50% off your first two months! Click the link to register: https://homegrown-ceo.mn.co/landing/

Got a lesson to share?

We are always happy to hear from inspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders! If your journey could pass on some pearls of wisdom, please do get in touch about joining us as a guest: liv@homegrown.ceo