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Artwork for The Contrarians

The Contrarians with Adam and Adir

The Contrarians
Australia
Luxury Escapes
Atlassian
Canva
Vanta
Tesla
Temple & Webster
Netwealth
Nvidia
Artificial Intelligence
Qantas
Openai
Covid-19
Netflix
Jellycat
Waymo
Cettire
Xero
Guzman Y Gomez
Disney

Get the fearless truth about start-ups and corporate Australia from guys that give you the hard facts, not the company line. Hear Luxury Escapes co-founder Adam Schwab and Catapult Sports Exec Chairman Adir Shiffman provide the inside word on the biggest stories in business with a contrarian take from the guys who sit on both sides of the table. New episodes dropping weekly.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes249Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Business

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Artwork for The Contrarians

Latest Episodes

Join us on Substack for articles, news and more: ⁠https://www.thecontrarianspod.com/⁠

Adam and Adir unpack the fallout from Australia’s credit-card surcharge changes, why retailers and consumers may both end up worse off, and whether the policy risks adding more inflationary pressure. Mike apologises for GTAVI misinformation, discussi... more

Adam and Adir unpack the brutal sell-off across Australian retail, where names like JB Hi-Fi, Nick Scali, Temple & Webster and Myer sit in the cycle, and whether the downturn is starting to create long-term bargains. They also dig into Mass Group’s s... more

Adam and Adir dig into whether businesses are actually generating enough economic value from AI to justify the enormous amount being spent on it, before unpacking a controversial Fair Work ruling involving an Uber driver. They also take a deep dive i... more

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Recent Guests

Ben Adams
Head of Visa, Commercial and Government Solutions
Visa
Episode: Meta Comes Back, JB Hi-Fi Gets Cheap, and Hello World’s $135m Acquisition Gets Weird
Luke Larrative
Friend of the pod, contrarian guest mentioned in intro
Episode: Meta Comes Back, JB Hi-Fi Gets Cheap, and Hello World’s $135m Acquisition Gets Weird
Tim Slattery
Managing partner and co-founder of ASA Real Estate Partners
ASA Real Estate Partners
Episode: Commercial Property Cycle, Retail’s Comeback, Aged Care and Finding Value Where Nobody’s Looking: with Commercial Property Gun, Tim Slattery
Chris Judd
Fund manager, Cerutty Macro Fund Management
Cerutty Fund Management
Episode: Live Show, Macro Investing King Chris Judd joins, Apple’s $3,500 Foldable Bet, Australia’s Housing Mess, Cogstate and the Firmus Moneyshot
Ridgley Scott Farquhar
Australia's favorite private jet taker, featured guest
Atlassian co-founder? (contextual)
Episode: Tech Bros Goes Off, DEF CON Hackers, Waymo vs Zoox, and The LinkedIn Algorithm
Ian Gardiner
Gurus of podcasting and venture, founder of Last Orders; on board with Innovation Bay activities
Innovation Bay / Last Orders
Episode: Australia's Most Powerful VCs Join the Pod
Rick Baker
Co-founder of Blackbird Ventures, influential in Australia's VC ecosystem
Blackbird Ventures
Episode: Australia's Most Powerful VCs Join the Pod
Michael Joel
Guest in the room
Episode: AI Bubble, Waymo Ditches Uber, Jacinta Allan’s Disaster, KPMG Scandal and Jim Chalmers’ Crashes Housing in All the Wrong Places
Tim Wilson
Shadow Treasurer and former MP
Australian Parliament
Episode: Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson Joins the Pod. And, Robyn Denholm cosplays Founders, Elon a Trillionaire and the great Xero Pay Rip-Off

Hosts

Adam Schwab
Co-host; Luxury Escapes co-founder; Host of The Contrarians; deep experience in startups and consumer brands.
Adir Shiffman
Co-host; Exec Chairman at Catapult Sports; Host of The Contrarians; experienced investor and operator.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 241 ratings
  • Excellent podcast

    Excellent podcast. Great deep dives into businesses with insights that are rare to find……and funny.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MelMB
    Australia2 months ago
  • OMG right wing racists out of touch with everyday Aussies

    OMG right wing racists out of touch with everyday Aussies

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    ncholxz
    Australia3 months ago
  • Loving the Pod

    Great Aussie humour matched with insightful conversation

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    EBA23
    Australia4 months ago
  • Great content - delivery needs work

    Great content.

    But why do the hosts keep talking over each other so much? I had wanted to hear joe Aston talk but he could hardly get a word in!

    And I get that you are both well connected but the conversation descends into a **** measuring contest too often on who knows whom/what etc.

    Please interrupt each other less and keep up the great content.

    The content is really quite interesting but the delivery is grating.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Trmta
    Australiaa year ago
  • A Must Listen for Aussie Entrepreneurs

    A must-listen for anyone in the Australian business scene. With a strong but not exclusive focus on Australian industries, Adam and Adir bring the unique perspective only founders and operators can offer. Their broad points of view, grounded in real-world experiences, offer insights you won’t get from traditional media. They cover everything from startups to larger legacy businesses, from private to publicly listed companies, and across a wide range of industries — from tech to retail. The in-de... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Robyward
    Australia2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Audiences value the hosts' blunt candor and practical business insights.
Critiques note the banter can verge on confrontational but acknowledges the quality of analysis.
Listeners praise the show for strategic takes, though some critique delivery with frequent interruptions.
Fans appreciate Australia-focused coverage with global relevance and real-world case studies.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#52
Australia/Business

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Commercial Property Cycle, Retail’s Comeback, Aged Care and Finding Value Where Nobody’s Looking: with Commercial Property Gun, Tim Slattery
Q: What was it like to run a public company at a young age?
Tim describes working hard, leveraging prior M&A experience, and navigating investor relations, ultimately building a resilient business that could achieve substantial growth and a strong exit.
Ask Us Anything: How Do We Get Real People Into Politics? + When Is It Time To Pivot? (with Chris Judd)
Q: When is it time to pivot in business when things aren't working?
Pivot when the cumulative costs of continuing outweigh the potential benefits of changing direction, and when repeated attempts fail to achieve product-market fit or other defined success metrics.
Ask Us Anything: How Do We Get Real People Into Politics? + When Is It Time To Pivot? (with Chris Judd)
Q: Is money the main driver for getting people into politics, or are there other factors at play?
Money is not the sole solution; the environment, culture, and perceived impact of public service play a major role, along with governance reforms that reduce red tape and improve policy outcomes.
Ask Us Anything: How Do We Get Real People Into Politics? + When Is It Time To Pivot? (with Chris Judd)
Q: What do you think Australia can do to get real people back into politics?
The discussion suggests reducing the perverse incentives around public service, addressing the harsh environment that deters newcomers, and focusing on policies that make politics more rewarding for capable individuals beyond just salary increases.
HMC Capital Comeback Tour and AFG Fights Housing Slump: With Star Fund Manager Luke Laretive
Q: What makes HMC Capital an attractive proposition despite recent volatility?
The hosts summarize that HMC Capital is driven by a manager with strong deal-making ability, and while the equity price has faced pressure from complex structures and specific asset issues, the underlying assets (e.g., Healthscope-related properties) have potential durable demand and the discount to net tangible assets suggests a margin of safety if the company can navigate capital-raising and re-tenancy challenges.

Audience Metrics

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Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Contrarians

What is The Contrarians about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two Australian business voices provide contrarian takes on startups, finance, politics, and corporate strategy, drawing on their dual perspectives from operating and investing. Episodes routinely critique leadership decisions, governance, branding shifts, and market narratives while weaving in real-world anecdotes from luxury hospitality, sports, tech, and policy. The show stands out for its fearless, no-holds-barred style, guests who offer insider angles, and a willingness to challenge conventional wisdom across global and local business stories. Potential listeners will find practical frameworks for evaluating deals, ownership, and strategy, along with sharp, entertaining banter that keeps complex topics approachable for ambitious profess... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Contrarians?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Contrarians:

1. The Fin
2. Chanticleer
3. How I Made It
4. Straight Talk with Mark Bouris
5. The Rules of Investing

How many episodes of The Contrarians are there?

The Contrarians launched 3 years ago and published 249 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Contrarians?

Recent guests on The Contrarians include:

1. Ben Adams
2. Luke Larrative
3. Tim Slattery
4. Chris Judd
5. Ridgley Scott Farquhar
6. Ian Gardiner
7. Rick Baker
8. Michael Joel

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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