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Artwork for The Contrarians

The Contrarians with Adam and Adir

Adam Schwab and Adir Shiffman
Australia
Luxury Escapes
Atlassian
Tesla
Temple & Webster
Vanta
Qantas
Canva
Netwealth
Cettire
Covid-19
Openai
NVIDIA
Netflix
Work From Home
Chemist Warehouse
Artificial Intelligence
Jellycat
Guzman Y Gomez
Inflation

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 weeklyEpisodes108Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Business

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Artwork for The Contrarians

Latest Episodes

Adam and Adir sit down with Frank Greef, the man who led the LinkedIn campaign against the government’s disastrous budget—and copped a slap from Albo and the Nine papers for his trouble. Plus, the guys break down the latest from OpenAI and Anthropic,... more

SiteMinder has been caught in the ASX tech sell-off, but the hotel software business may be stronger than its share price suggests. Adam, Adir and Scott break down the company’s subscription revenue, transaction growth, AI risk, valuation, profitabil... more

Adam and Adir welcome The Contrarian’s new CEO, discuss the federal budget and get clear on who loves it (and why), catch up on Guzman y Gomez and why leaving the US is the right call, and talk through the EY parental rort and what good parental leav... more

Happy Saturday! We’re back with another batch of listener questions.

This week you asked:

🌏 With Adam and Adir increasingly frustrated about life in Australia, have they ever seriously considered leaving for somewhere like Singapore or the UAE? more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Steve Baxter
Beaton's Own Venture Partners founder; veteran VC and Shark Tank personality
Beaton's Own Venture Partners
Episode: Shark Tank Star and VC Steve Baxter, Mythos, Will Quantum Kill Encryption, Pope Double Standards, Data Centres, Glydways and Hermes
Scott Middleton
Australian investor described as the Australia's Warren Buffett
Carma investor
Episode: Special Bonus: Carma Deep Dive with special guest, Scott Middleton
Ward Williams
Guest who asked about Australian identity
Episode: Ask Us Anything: Should fuel price surges mean people work from home? + What does it mean to be Australian?
Perry Williams
Colleague at The Australian, co-author on a biography of Mike Cannon-Brooks and Scott Farquhar
The Australian
Episode: Rich List, Atlassian Crash, Seek Horrors, Operation Epic Fury, Biennial Disgrace, Councils Behaving Badly and Adir’s Great and Terrible Calls
Adrian Rima
Listener guest, asked about GYG pricing and market expectations
Listener
Episode: Ask Us Anything: The dwindling radio industry + How did the market get GYG so wrong?
Dennis Friedman
Listener guest, asked a question about contrarian tells
Listener
Episode: Ask Us Anything: The dwindling radio industry + How did the market get GYG so wrong?
Chris Janz
Founder of Capital Brief, former Fairfax executive
Capital Brief
Episode: Eucalyptus Sale Deep Dive, is Waymo an Uber killer, Winnings’ Winnings, Victoria becomes an official Crime State, Adir Visits Lakemba and special guest business publishing legend, Chris Janz
Jessy Wu
Venture capitalist and entrepreneur who closely follows SXSW events
Episode: Jellycat Deep Dive, Atlassian Share Price Crash, Kings Counsel Ransom, Writers Festival Monstrosity, SXSW Sydney Dies and Adam’s Passport Bliss
Dave Hyman
Founder and CEO of Lendi
Lendi
Episode: Woolworths v Coles, Cettire Nears the Precipice, Australia’s Secret Unicorn Founder, Neurodivergent Founders and Dan’s Brush with Dictators

Hosts

Adam Schwab
Co-founder of Luxury Escapes; host with Adir; noted for contrarian, market-focused commentary.
Adir Shiffman
Co-host and Exec Chairman with a contrarian, investment-backed perspective; frequent industry and policy insights.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 214 ratings
  • 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
    Australia10 months 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
  • Fantastic business insight

    Adam and Adir have a great synergy and provide a unique insight into a wide range of businesses and industries along with their views on many current issues happening both locally and internationally. Well worth listening.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    rodking
    Australia2 years ago
  • Behind the scenes

    Love the insights Adam and Adir provide to the business world, always educational, thought provoking and insightful. I also enjoy the friendly banter these guys have. Thanks A&A!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DC on the GC
    Australia2 years ago
  • :)

    :)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    coolperson59
    Australia2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Consistent, high-energy host dynamic with a clear Australian business perspective.
Banters and anecdotes add color but occasionally mute on-the-record insights.
Excellent mix of practical business lessons and big-picture market analysis.
Listeners value blunt, data-driven takes on startups and policy.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#57
Australia/Business

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ask Us Anything: Should Australians consider leaving for Singapore or Dubai? + How should renters think about the latest budget?
Q: Why are non-residents exempt from CGT on non-property assets, and what policy implications does that have?
The exemption is argued to be a policy choice to attract capital; however, it creates a disparity where Australian residents face much higher taxes, potentially driving capital abroad and hurting domestic asset markets.
Ask Us Anything: Should Australians consider leaving for Singapore or Dubai? + How should renters think about the latest budget?
Q: How will the budget affect Daniel, a late-30s renter in Sydney with a young family, in practical terms?
It raises capital gains tax rates on new investments, reduces turnover and availability of rental properties, and makes it harder to find affordable housing while inflation remains high; overall it tightens financial pressure on renters.
Ask Us Anything: Should Australians consider leaving for Singapore or Dubai? + How should renters think about the latest budget?
Q: What is your one-word takeaway on the budget for a late-30s renter in Sydney?
A harsh assessment: horrific, with both hosts agreeing it represents a disastrous shift that undermines aspirations and imposes higher taxes on middle-Australia.
Ask Us Anything: My boss is working from home but we’re in all the office + Dealing with loss and it’s impact on work
Q: Q3: Freya shares a personal loss and asks how such experiences influence life and work philosophy.
Both hosts reflect on prioritizing long-term happiness, the fragility of life, and the importance of balancing ambition with meaningful relationships, suggesting listeners use loss as a catalyst for sharper life choices.
Ask Us Anything: My boss is working from home but we’re in all the office + Dealing with loss and it’s impact on work
Q: Q2: Hudson asks for sympathy and advice for 28-year-olds facing financial instability and housing unaffordability.
They acknowledge the structural challenges, agree that wages and housing costs are misaligned, and offer strategies like lowering expenses, increasing income through side work, and exploring cost-saving living arrangements while recognizing broader policy-driven headwinds.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Contrarians

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

Two veteran Australian business voices deliver high-signal, contrarian takes on startups, corporate Australia, policy, and tech. Across episodes, they dissect funding climates, government policy, market moves, and practical startup growth strategies, often pairing sharp analysis with candid anecdotes from their own entrepreneurial and investment experiences. The conversations frequently center on Australia's startup ecosystem, tax and policy shifts, industry dynamics, and the global tech and markets backdrop, making it useful for founders, investors, and teams navigating growth, policy, or alliances with large incumbents. A notable strength is their ability to translate complex macro topics into actionable, real-world guidance, with a fearl... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Contrarians?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Contrarians:

1. Chanticleer
2. The Fin
3. The Rules of Investing
4. The Money Café with Alan Kohler
5. Equity Mates Investing Podcast

How many episodes of The Contrarians are there?

The Contrarians launched 3 years ago and published 108 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. Steve Baxter
2. Scott Middleton
3. Ward Williams
4. Perry Williams
5. Adrian Rima
6. Dennis Friedman
7. Chris Janz
8. Jessy Wu

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