The Mentor with Mark Bouris

Paul Scully is a 51-year-old lifelong Wollongong local and the current NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, serving as the Member for Wollongong since 2016.

In this episode, we dive into his family heritage and education, the political background and dynamics that shaped his career, and his perspective on raising the standard of living and government resp...

Dominique Gill is the Founder and Managing Director of Urban Core, a multi award-winning construction company generating $80 million in annual revenue, with offices in New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland. A pioneer in diversity and inclusion, Dominique leads one of Australia’s few female-led building firms, with women making up 50% of the Urban Core workforce.

The housing crisis is hitting everyone, especially first home buyers. Empower Money is changing the game by helping Aussies buy a home with zero deposit. Founder Peter Khoury shares his journey from startup struggles to building an innovative funding model that’s making home ownership possible for more people than ever before.

Jenny O’Brien is the founder of Beyond Wellness, a bespoke retreat and concierge service in the Barossa. This episode was part of our podcast trip down in South Australia. Jenny shares her journey from community work to creating Beyond Wellness, the challenges she overcame, and how burnout led her to focus on health and healing. She also talks about the impact of her retreats, the role of na...

Sammy Robinson is one of Australia’s most famous influencers, an entrepreneur, and the founder of fashion label One Mile.

In this episode, she opens up about her journey from creating content as a teenager to building a successful fashion brand. We dive into her early days on YouTube, the evolution of social media, an...

This week I sit down with Paul Grosmann, CEO of R.M.Williams, to talk about one of Australia’s most iconic and enduring brands. We go back to 1932 and the story of founder Reginald Murray Williams, and how a bloke with no formal training built a business that became a global name. Paul shares what makes the boots and jackets so special, why Aussies are so loyal to the brand, and how it has s...

Charles Hinckfuss, founder and creative director of MCM House, joins us to share the story of building one of Australia’s most distinctive furniture brands. In this chat, we get into the hustle behind MCM House — where the ideas come from, how you stay ahead of trends, the grind of running logistics and retail, and what it takes to keep a brand “cool” in a tough market. Char...

Join me as I sit down with Steve Chapman and Taylor Chapman, the husband-and-wife team shaking up Australia’s hydration game with Hyro. We talk about how they turned personal experiences and a passion for wellness into a bold new product, the science behind electrolytes, and what it really takes to launch a startup, raise capital, and build a loyal community. They open up about the highs, th...

I had the pleasure of hosting a charity breakfast with Premier Chris Minns to raise funds for Chalky’s Gym in Moree.

Chalky’s isn’t just a boxing gym — it’s a place where young people in the community learn confidence, discipline, and character. Boxing has changed the lives of many out there. It gives kids purpose, routine, and someo...

In this episode, we sit down with Michael Lamprell — founder of CABN, the off-grid escape reshaping how Australians connect with nature and themselves.

Michael opens up about the reality behind a seemingly successful life in global sales and marketing — and the internal struggles that pushed him to make a change. A trip to Harvard and a book on minima...

Dave Klaiber built his career in advertising and directing — pitching big ideas and leading creative campaigns for major brands. But these days, he’s using his skills to tackle something more personal: men’s mental health, community, and connection.

In this episode, Dave opens up about the highs and lows of t...

After five years of serving up the soul of Sicily in the heart of Paddington, Simone Crivello and Isobel Galloway made headlines a couple weeks ago with a raw, heartfelt message announcing the closure of their beloved restaurant, Zafferano Trattoria Mediterranea.

In this episode, MB sits down with the couple behind the viral video that struck a chord with small bu...

We headed down to Aldinga, South Australia, to sit with Trinh and Mike—the couple behind The Little Rickshaw. What started as a weekend pop-up in an old blacksmith’s workshop is now one of the most talked-about restaurants in South Australia.

In this episode, we unpack their journey—how they built this restaura...

We’ve hit the halfway checkpoint.
Let’s take a look back at some of the best moments from The Mentor this year — packed with powerful insights and lessons.

Who do you want to see next on The Mentor? Drop y...

I’m proud to be a co-owner of The Bird Whiskey, alongside Andrew Nugent — but the person running the show every day is Paul Giles. In this episode, we sit down with the man who’s been flying the flag for The Bird since day one.

Paul shares how this whiskey came to life, the story behind the name, and why we’ve taken a different path—focused on authenticity, First Nations culture, and creating something that connects with people,...

David Short went from running major operations in the liquor industry to backing himself and launching Shorty's Liquor—a boutique business that built a reputation serving some of Australia’s biggest corporates. In this episode, he takes us through the highs and lows of building Shorty's from scratch, the grind of sales and team building, and the bold expansion decisions that set him apart.

We dig into how COVID-19 forced a busin...

When Joey Pepperoni and Marty McFly launched Pizza Bros in 2019, they saw a pizza scene obsessed with tradition—and asked: Where’s the rebel energy? Their answer? A mobile pizza truck that crashed festivals until COVID left them bankrupt, in debt, and delivering pizzas to survive.

I sat down with Joey and Marty (between oven rotations at The Imperial Hotel) to break down their phoenix-from-the-ashes comeback. We talk about ...

When Jason Titman took the helm of Swyftx in 2019, he saw a crypto industry riddled with complexity—and a glaring gap: Where was the customer-first mindset? His answer? An exchange that treats Web3 like any trusted service, not a Wild West gamble.

Jason and I sit down for a conversation as he breaks down the Swyftx difference, and why culture—not just code—is their competitive edge. We also discussed how they’re rewriting crypto...

When they launched Bassike in 2006, Deborah Sams and Mary Lou Ryan weren’t just starting a brand—they were solving a problem. Frustrated by the lack of high-quality, sustainable wardrobe staples, they set out with a mission to build what didn’t exist. From day one, their vision was clear: organic cotton, Australian craftsmanship, and ethics woven into every decision. What began as a commitment to local makers and responsible materi...