
Humans Aren't Robots
By Sam Davies @ KWP + Partners + Hannah Priebe-Clarke @ hpc.
Humans Aren’t Robots is a series of conversations about what makes work and life more human. We chat with creative leaders, innovators, and curious minds about creativity, curiosity, and the ideas shaping modern business and culture.
HAR is a platform for those daring to think beyond the algorithm. It lives between technology and texture, structure and spontaneity, leaving room for nuance, creative tension, and the freedom to say “I don’t know.”
Because the most dangerous mindset isn’t being wrong. It’s thinking you’re done.


Daniels Langeberg Olsson — Technology, People + Environment
Dans takes us on an epic journey working around the world, from urban planning to innovating here in SA.
The perfect HAR guest a mixture of a deeply human worldview with tech at the centre of all his thinking. Dans has a philosophical take on technology, the environment and people, and how culture and urban design can either foster or hinder connection.

Justina Gardiner — Life is marketing
From L’Oréal Canada to San Remo, Adelaide, Justina brings an artistic, creative and worldly lens to defining brand.
She leans into experimentation, learning fast and redirecting when needed, bringing a philosophical perspective to both business and life.
In this episode, we pause to ask: what does brand and marketing actually mean in 2026, and how do businesses cut through and amplify?
A big believer in community, Justina also gives her time to boards including Meals on Wheels, Impact 100 and Brink Productions, bringing a depth of human experience to the HAR mics.

Eli Moulton + Justin James - Three Businesses, One Household, No Off Switch
Two founders. Zero filter.
Eli Moulton started Plus One Dress Hire on maternity leave. What began as a practical idea became a movement - one built on sustainability, inclusion, and the belief that every woman deserves to feel extraordinary.
Now she's building Em Body and redefining what it means to lead a brand with values at the centre.
Justin James knew he wanted to be a chef at ten years old. From bussing tables in Michigan to Eleven Madison Park, Noma, and building Restaurant Botanic into one of Australia's most celebrated dining experiences - his career has been a masterclass in craft.
Now he's doing the most ambitious thing yet: opening Restaurant Aptos, a 14-seat, 16-course, multiroom dining experience inside a 156-year-old converted church in the Adelaide Hills.
They're also partners. Building three businesses and a family at the same time, under the same roof, with no real off switch.
In this episode, they held nothing back - on what it actually takes to step out on your own, cultural shifts with fresh eyes and how you can build and be an entrepreneur while juggling a family.

Rebecca Weber - AI in the Classroom: The Future of Learning
AI and learning was deeply divisive when large language models first arrived. Many saw it as a threat to the entire education system.
Rebecca Weber saw opportunity for teachers and for students.
After nearly two decades in education, Rebecca is now helping lead one of the most ambitious AI rollouts in Australian schools, building tools that are already saving teachers thousands of hours and reshaping how students learn.
In this conversation we unpack how South Australia became a global early adopter of AI in education, and how design thinking helped turn a real classroom problem into a tool now used across hundreds of schools.
We explore what happens when teachers and students learn together using AI as a tool, why productive struggle still matters in learning, and why technology should amplify human capability, not replace it.

Adam Koch - Sweat: From PDF Workouts to Global Fitness App
A real conversation about what it takes to manage scale at speed, empower teams to perform at their peak and juggle ambition with family life.
We sit down with Adam Koch to unpack what leadership looks like beyond the title.
Adam does not lead by having all the answers. He leads by getting great people in the room, asking better questions, setting clear direction and then stepping back so his team can thrive.
From years spent working and travelling the world to grounding himself back in Adelaide, we explore the experiences that shaped his leadership philosophy and ultimately led him to Sweat.
We trace the evolution of Sweat, from static PDF workout plans to one of the most respected fitness apps in the world, and the pressure, discipline and clarity required to scale without losing focus or values.
This episode explores leadership without ego, growth through chaos and the work of building systems while scaling. It is a perfect example of how the path is rarely linear, but that’s all part of the magic.

Peta St Clair - How LIV Golf Adelaide Changed the Rules of Live Sport
This episode explores how LIV Golf Adelaide has become the benchmark for live sport experiences.
Peta St Clair unpacks how LIV pushes the edge, builds unforgettable moments, and why Adelaide is central to the magic.

David Simmons - 40 Under 40 & The Art of Telling Your Story
This episode is a deep dive into the 40 Under 40 program—what it means, why it matters, and why more young South Australians should back themselves and apply. Sam and journalist David Simmons (Solstice Media) break down what they look for as judges, from compelling storytelling to impact beyond revenue.
They tackle the struggle many South Aussies have with talking themselves up (hello, tall poppy syndrome) and why Adelaide’s culture of underplaying success needs to shift. The conversation also swings into broader territory—how Adelaide stacks up on the global stage, why our food and drink scene deserves more credit, and the evolving state of journalism in an era of AI and media fragmentation.
It’s a candid, thought-provoking chat about ambition, storytelling, and why putting yourself forward for opportunities like 40 Under 40 isn’t self-serving—it’s about building a stronger, more connected ecosystem.
To apply for this years 40 under 40 head to - https://solsticemedia.com.au/40-under-40/nominations/nominate-someone/

Nicole Dyson - Future Anything
Links:
Nicole Dyson
Future Anything
The Art Of Gathering book by Priya Parker

Callum MacPherson - Young Blood Men's Mental Health
Links:
Callum MacPherson
Young Blood Mens Mental Health

Lauren Black - Atlassian Foundation

Ben Colley - Teamgage

Purpose & Community
Everything we do these days says something about us, where we buy our clothes, what food we eat and especially where we work. People want to be a part of something they believe in.

Creativity

Fear

Diversity
All these conversations were recorded live at SouthStart.
In this episode I speak with Sally-Ann Williams - CEO at Cicada Innovations, Lauren Capelin - Principal at Starmate, Katrina Dunn - Global MD Impact Capital - Catalize, Sarah Nolet - General Partner at Tenacious Ventures

Future of Work

Getting Curious, Creative & Chaotic @ Southstart - Craig Swann
Some key areas of the conversation were:
Southstart 2021
Community building
How to have better (more meaningful) conversation
Decentralisation and the future (and what it means)
Blockchain technology
The importance of hospitality
and much more!
Thanks so much to Craig for taking the time to speak, and we look forward to Southstart 2021 - GET YOUR TICKETS HERE.

How To Grow A LINKTREE - Nick Humphreys

Punk Rock, Cannabis & The Art Of Ethical Marketing - Cormac Sheehan

Design is 90% Communication - 10% Work - Alastair Simpson

How Technology And Humanity Can Come Together To Drive Action - Trent Clews-De Castella

The Future Of Sex - Bryony Cole

Rapping your way to team happiness and success - Mile Orkin

Technology led banking NOT bank led technology - Dom Pym

How design can turn a house into a home - Kate Freebain
I am really interested in the bridge between industrial design and interface design. I think back to 2000 in my final year of high school, in my design class we worked on designing mobile phones, looking at new form factors (mine looked like a slightly slimmer 5210 🙂 I can't help but wish we had focussed on the interface design at that point in time. An industrial design ethos lends itself very well to UX / UI and Kate and I discuss these parallels and how they have helped shape her career across both hardware and software design.
If you would like to find Kate you can on LinkedIn or Twitter and also check out Google Nest

Season 2 - Creative Leadership Trailer
We hope you enjoy this season.

Empathy is key to leading a team through crisis - Jim Antonopoulos

Navigating The Economic Impact of Covid-19 with HT Capital
We discussed the importance of small businesses really taking the time now to take a step back, look at their cashflow, pipeline (short and longer-term), different scenarios and how the situation could affect their individual business; rather than diving immediately into getting access to government stimulus packages. It's important to assess your own situation, as every business is unique. How can you shape your business to be in the best possible position in 12 months time?

Out Of The Tank, And Into The Tent - Steve Baxter
We discussed the work ethic of young people and how it's changed since Steve's earlier work with start-ups; with an insight into the difference between millennials entering the workforce now vs the generation that were starting out just after the recession of the 90s.
I asked Steve how he maintains his teams, he likes to keep it old school - no ping pong tables and no working from home.
And of course, I had to ask Steve about his time on Shark Tank and whether, as an investor, it was beneficial. Also, touching on the Beer Pal pitch, an app we developed.
A great chat with some insights into an old school work culture in a modern environment. Enjoy!

How To Make Impact With A Purpose
Mark is Head of the Foundation and the Australian Lead for the Pledge 1% Foundation. This foundation encourages, inspires and assists companies to pledge 1% of either their equity, profit, time or products to a chosen cause.
Adam is the co-founder and director of Humanitix. A ticketing platform that allows events to make an impact as 100% of booking fees goes towards closing the education gap. They have programs helping girls go to school, scholarships available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and give nutritious meals to kids who need it as well as educating them on the importance of a balanced diet for a healthy body and mind.
Sarah is the founder of GOGO Events, an Adelaide based company that employs those at risk of and facing homelessness. They run elaborate gala award nights, corporate celebrations, community festivals and more. They are also founding members of Carbon Neutral Adelaide, ensuring to take care of the planet by choosing local suppliers and producers.
This was such a great chat and really inspired me to want to do more. I have signed our team at Digital Noir up to Pledge 1% and everyone has really got on board with this and we're having some great conversations about how we can donate our time and expertise. Watch this space!

From Adelaide To The Heart Of Silicon Valley - Devin Mancuso
I had a really interesting chat with him about so many different topics. We discussed how he got into the design space, recounting the exact moment he really fell in love with it (while studying computer science and business management). As well as the struggles of teaching himself UX at a time when there really wasn't a lot of information available.
We talked about the importance of having a great user experience in apps, how people made decisions before designers were really a thing, and what human-centred design means to him.
We also dive into how design strategy became something he wanted to pursue, and where he got a chance to do this at Google initially. He really paints a picture of the energy that people in Silicon Valley feel, and how exhausting it can sometimes be! Showing the importance of aligning yourself with what you want to do and who you want to be.
This is a great chat to check out for anyone working or with an interest in the design space. Enjoy!

Is Being A Digital Master All It's Cracked Up To Be? - Ben Lee
In our chat we discuss how Ben is taking a different approach to the usual 'entrepreneur thing'. He's stopped posting as much, stopped vlogging, stopped doing eternal podcasting and is focusing more on his work and his team.
Ben and I also touched on the short term success that exists in the current climate; brands with so much exposure and thousands of followers can be forgotten about the next day. People's attention span is so short these days, it can be hard for businesses to stay afloat. We also got into a discussion about distributed teams, offshoring, and the importance of having as much 'in-person' time as possible.
Ben also shares his insight into how the Australian start-up market is different to what he's used to in America, and what surprised him most!
This was another exciting chat that I'm excited to share. Enjoy!

Why Your Business Needs A Clear Vision - Elaine Stead
We got into the importance of having a purpose. Knowing the "why" of your business will keep you on track and focused, whether you're doing great or shit's hitting the fan.
Elaine also gave us some insight to what the SAVCF are looking for when entrepreneurs and founders come to them with their ideas. As well as give us some tips on approaching and meeting with venture capitalists; what makes people stand out, how you should act and how to get on their radar.
This is a great chat to listen to if you're starting a business or thinking of taking your current business to the next level! Enjoy.

How Busy Is A Barrier In The Way Of Happiness - Penny Locaso

Keeping Wellbeing At The Core Of Design - Laura Ryan
Laura is the Strategy Director at Mentally Friendly, an exciting design and innovation studio with a human-centred approach.
We talked about what wellbeing (really) is and where it can come from - especially in the workplace. A feeling of wellbeing stemming from a sense of purpose, by doing something that matters to you, by being empathetic.
Laura refers to herself as a designer, even though she says she can't draw, she works as part of the design team using research and strategy to help the process, rather than designing in the traditional sense.
We both believe that designers have a responsibility when it comes to marrying profit with empathy and ensuring that what they produce doesn't cause distress or concern to the user.
We chatted about all this and more. Another very fitting podcast for our Humans Aren't Robots series. Enjoy.

Wearable Technology That's Out Of This World - Alex Moss
Alex has not always worked in this space though, she comes from a fashion, design, and art background. After reflection, she decided she wanted to do something different. Something that would make a difference. For nine months, she taught herself medical device engineering in a garage and in 2016 won the NASA Hackathon Best Use of Hardware. This hardware has been altered since then, making it more appropriate for use in the mining industry.
We got to discuss where the inspiration for the device came from and how she managed to keep her idea alive for long enough to see it launch. She also tells us what she has in store for the future of the company.
This is a chat I'm excited to share, enjoy.

Using Design Thinking As A Powerful Tool - Dan Levy
Dan gives us a rundown of how the whole process works and how implementing these strategies can be beneficial to a business. We were also lucky enough to hear the beautiful story behind his company's name, and how it inspired a mantra that Dan stands behind.
Hopefully, I can have another exciting chat with Dan soon. Enjoy.

Blockchain Trading Is The Future Of Sustainable Energy - Jemma Green
Jemma is the executive chairman at Power Ledger where renewable energy is at the forefront of their mission. Through the utilisation of blockchain, Power Ledger have enabled peer-to-peer trading of excess solar electricity.
We discuss the importance of disruptive innovation in terms of leading to big change and exactly how her tech works.
With the current nature of the climate, looking towards sustainable methods is a rising importance. This is a great listen for anyone interested in making a change to solar energy or for those interested in Power Ledgers operations. Enjoy!

A Dive Into The World Of Podcasting - Amelia Veale
This was a really exciting chat and a great listen for anyone thinking of starting their own podcast, enjoy!

Keeping Content Authentic For The Masses - Stephanie Winkler
We talked about how content and relationships at VICE have been bettered using data. As well as touching on how VICE do their best to take refreshing approaches to their work, accommodating the need for new exciting content that their audience craves.
I hope I get to talk with Stephanie next year at Pause Fest 2020.

Leveraging Stock Content Could Have Saved The Fyre Festival - Lou Weiss
We touched on some of this history and then took a dive into the current state of stock content and where Shutterstock want to take it. We also spoke about how you can leverage content to create viral campaigns. He was a pleasure to chat with, and I could have gone on for a lot longer. Hopefully, I can catch him for a beer in New York over Christmas.

How Movember's Cultural DNA Has Grounded It's Success - Sam Gledhill & Marcus Nance

A Visionary Future For Adelaide - Bianca Shuman
A great listen for anyone starting in business or interested in what it might take to get something fresh and innovative off the ground!

It's The Pauses In Between The Beats That Make The Magic - Mykel Dixon & Anna McCracken
Both Anna and Mykel spoke so fluently about some of the challenges that face us as modern humans and the disconnect we often find ourselves in. I particularly loved the concept of Dadirri that Anna brought up - which is an indigenous term for 'deep listening' - something we should all practice more often! I hope you enjoy the chat and please check out both Anna and Mykels work, two shining positive rays of light in a sometimes gloomy world.

Convergence: Humans - Impact - Technology - Craig Swann

We Are All Creative. We Have Just Forgotten How To Be! - Stephen Gates
Coming at you from PauseFest, Stephen is currently the head design evangelist at Invision - a company most of us in the creative fields will have heard of (and love). His role, essentially involves going into companies (they partner with 97% of the worlds Fortune 100 brands) to elevate the business impact of design through education, coaching and thought leadership.
The Crazy One Podcast: thecrazy1.com/

How An Agile Mindset Will Get The Best From Your Team - Craig Brown
To find a conference, follow the prompts at:
www.lastconference.com/
Read Sam's review of a LAST conference he attended: www.digital-noir.com/last-conference-adelaide-review/
Or you can follow the conference or Craig Brown:
Twitter: @LASTconf @brown_note
LinkedIn: Craig Brown www.linkedin.com/in/craigwbrown/
Website: https://everest.engineering/#/

Choosing Partners That Share Your Values - Jacqui Bull
Sidekicker is a technology platform that lets businesses hire temporary staff, or as they call them, Sidekicks. Backed by SEEK and with offices in every major city across Australia and New Zealand, they employ 10,000 Sidekickers, connecting them with businesses seeking temporary and casual staff across hospitality, events, office admin, promotions and warehousing.

How To Build A Valuable And Sustainable Business - Grant Munro
A good listen for anybody who works in a service business.
Grant Munro: www.linkedin.com/in/grantmunro/
Shutterstock: custom.shutterstock.com/

Growing A Team Is Like Gardening - Paolo Malabuyo
Paolo spoke at Pause Fest earlier in the year about 'The 5 P's' - a practical framework that he has put together for leading teams, which we talked about in our chat. As well as this, we discussed his insights on what it takes to lead an innovative team and the state of UX design in 2019.
You can find him online at www.i4design.com and @wildchicken.
If you're interested in learning more about opportunities at Google, you can check out www.design.google for more information.