Things. Reasons.

Things. Reasons.

Things. Reasons. is the independent show for Australian IT leaders who want more than vendor theatre and LinkedIn spin. Hosted by Naran McClung and Jono Staff, each episode unpacks what's really driving change in the industry—technology shifts, talent gaps, budget pressure, vendor plays, and leadership calls—and the reasons behind them. Why things happen. What drives decisions. Who benefits. It's the conversation after the meeting, when the script drops and people say what they actually think. Expect sharp insight, unfiltered perspectives, and the occasional laugh that hits too close to home. If you're tired of polished panels and surface-level takes, this is your antidote: real conversations that matter in Australian IT.

  1. 16 DEC

    The Analyst, the Disclaimer, and the Two-Speed AI Economy

    Things. Reasons. is an independent podcast. The views expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not represent any company or organisation. Content is for general information and entertainment only and should not be taken as professional, legal, or financial advice. While care is taken, no guarantee is made as to accuracy. Any references to people or organisations reflect personal opinions only and are not intended to harm reputation or imply wrongdoing. Follow Naran McClung on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naranmcclung/ Follow Jono Staff on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanstaff/ Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/0YbxPo0LFFc  And don't forget to subscribe and rate the show! We love hearing your thoughts and answering questions. For all enquiries, contact pru@thingsreasons.show

    42 min
  2. Australia's AI Energy Emergency with Andrew Sjoquist

    16 DEC

    Australia's AI Energy Emergency with Andrew Sjoquist

    What happens when the world's fastest-growing technology meets one of Australia's biggest natural advantages — renewable energy? In this episode, Andrew Sjoquist — Australian tech founder and CEO of WinDC — joins us to unpack the explosive energy demands of AI, why traditional data centers can't keep up, and the bold idea he believes could reshape the industry. Andrew breaks down: How portable, renewable-powered AI data centers actually work — and why they could transform access to compute. The limitations of today's hyperscale data centers and why proximity to energy matters more than ever. What this shift means for regional Australia — jobs, infrastructure, and new innovation hubs. Why understanding the power supply chain is becoming a core skill for tech leaders. The role of government, regulation, and long-term policy in enabling (or blocking) AI growth. A sharp, practical conversation about energy, innovation, and the global race to build the infrastructure AI will need next. Show Notes: Things. Reasons. is an independent podcast. The views expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not represent any company or organisation. Content is for general information and entertainment only and should not be taken as professional, legal, or financial advice. While care is taken, no guarantee is made as to accuracy. Any references to people or organisations reflect personal opinions only and are not intended to harm reputation or imply wrongdoing. And don't forget to subscribe and rate the show! We love hearing your thoughts and answering questions. For all enquiries, contact pru@thingsreasons.show

    56 min

  3. 19 NOV

    What's Really Happening Inside Microsoft, Boomerang Execs and Intrapreneurship

    Why would someone leave Microsoft — twice — and still come back for a third round?  Gustavo Fuchs has done exactly that. Now leading Channel Sales across Asia, he's seen the company evolve from the inside out — from old-school enterprise to AI-era operator.  In this episode, Gustavo joins Naran and Jono to unpack:  What's really changed inside Microsoft — culture, speed, and decision-making in the AI era.  Why so many AI projects stall at proof-of-concept stage — and how to break through it.  How leaders should approach their first 90 days differently — what to do before you make any big calls.  The rise of the intrapreneur — building, learning, and influencing fast inside complex organisations.  Why some people just can't stay away from big tech — and what that says about the culture at Microsoft.  A grounded conversation about leadership, culture, and staying relevant when the pace of change never slows down.  Show Notes  Things. Reasons. is an independent podcast. The views expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not represent any company or organisation.  Content is for general information and entertainment only and should not be taken as professional, legal, or financial advice. While care is taken, no guarantee is made as to accuracy. Any references to people or organisations reflect personal opinions only and are not intended to harm reputation or imply wrongdoing.  Follow Naran McClung on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naranmcclung/  Follow Jono Staff on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanstaff/    And don't forget to subscribe and rate the show! We love hearing your thoughts and answering questions. For all enquiries, contact pru@thingsreasons.show

    47 min

  4. 11 NOV

    Tech Layoffs, Lazy Leadership, and the Myth of "AI Efficiency"

    We finally tempted Matt Boon to 'rant cast', and it didn't disappoint.  Matt's been shaping how Australian IT leaders think for decades. He's the person the industry turns to when it needs perspective.  Together with Jono and Naran, the conversation hits the uncomfortable stuff: the tech layoffs dressed up as "AI efficiency," AWS's 30,000 cuts, and why announcing record profits straight after firing people is a leadership fail.    They dig into cloud overspend, digital transformation fatigue, and the reality that most "modernisation programs" never actually end.  Matt throws out ROI in favour of ROV — Return on Value. Jono questions why boards never carry the cost of technical debt, and Naran presses on what real accountability should look like.  It's direct, a bit uncomfortable, and exactly the kind of conversation our sector needs more of.    Show Notes  Things. Reasons. is an independent podcast. The views expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not represent any company or organisation.  Content is for general information and entertainment only and should not be taken as professional, legal, or financial advice. While care is taken, no guarantee is made as to accuracy. Any references to people or organisations reflect personal opinions only and are not intended to harm reputation or imply wrongdoing.  Follow Naran McClung on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naranmcclung/  Follow Jono Staff on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanstaff/  And don't forget to subscribe and rate the show! We love hearing your thoughts and answering questions. For all enquiries, contact pru@thingsreasons.show

    40 min

  5. 24 OCT

    AWS Spend Blows Out, CommBank's AI Misstep, and the Bubble Building in Big Tech

    Show Notes:  Things. Reasons. is an independent podcast. The views expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not represent any company or organisation.  Content is for general information and entertainment only and should not be taken as professional, legal, or financial advice. While care is taken, no guarantee is made as to accuracy. Any references to people or organisations reflect personal opinions only and are not intended to harm reputation or imply wrongdoing.  Follow Naran McClung on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naranmcclung/  Follow Jono Staff on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanstaff/  And don't forget to subscribe and rate the show! We love hearing your thoughts and answering questions. For all enquiries, contact pru@thingsreasons.show   Episode Summary:  In this episode of Things. Reasons., Jono Staff and Naran McClung fire up a new segment — What Grinds Our Gears.  From the government's half-billion-dollar AWS bill and the question of who's really keeping watch on cloud spend, to CommBank's public AI fail that saw staff replaced by their own automation, Jono and Naran get into the uncomfortable questions others won't ask.  They also look at the hype cycle around generative AI — from pilot fatigue to talk of an "AI bubble" — and what it means for Australian IT leaders trying to balance cost, risk and reputation.  It's independent commentary on the decisions shaping tech in Australia — and why sometimes the "easy" choice isn't the right one.

    26 min

  6. 8 OCT

    Thought Leadership Fatigue, Media Myths, and the Authenticity Gap — with James Henderson

    Show Notes: Follow Naran McClung on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naranmcclung/  Follow Jono Staff on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanstaff/  Check the episode out on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/hGQIVi84Tmk  And don't forget to subscribe and rate the show! We love hearing your thoughts and answering questions. For all enquiries, contact pru@thingsreasons.show  Episode Summary: In this episode of Things. Reasons., Naran McClung and Jono Staff sit down with James Henderson, Editorial Director at Moxie Insights — the media insider who's spent his career turning complex tech and business shifts into stories that leaders actually pay attention to. They get into: Thought leadership fatigue — why the term's lost meaning, and how authenticity became the real differentiator. B2B media myths — how the sausage is really made, why "copy-and-paste content" still dominates, and what it'll take for the industry to evolve. The authenticity gap — why most corporate content still sounds fake, and how leaders can tell better stories without a personal brand coach. From "find your fusion" to fanzines and fake job titles, James pulls back the curtain on media, messaging, and the art of saying something worth hearing.

    48 min

  7. 24 SEPT

    Avoiding AI Pilot Stalls Plus Superannuation's Next Chapter with Simon Reiter, CareSuper CTO

    Show Notes:  Follow Naran McClung on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naranmcclung/  Follow Jono Staff on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanstaff/    Check the episode out on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/e8kexzZSAl8  And don't forget to subscribe and rate the show! We love hearing your thoughts and answering questions. For all enquiries, contact pru@thingsreasons.show  Episode Summary:  In this episode of Things. Reasons., Naran McClung and Jono Staff sit down with our inaugural guest — the indomitable Simon Reiter, CTO at CareSuper — an experienced technology leader shaping the future of superannuation.  Adapt CIO Edge: AI dominates the agenda, but only 2% of organisations have moved past proof-of-concept.  Superannuation's next chapter: consolidation, digitisation, and automation reshaping a $4.1 trillion industry.  Leadership realities: from compliance to stress management — what it actually takes to deliver for members.  Plus, Simon takes on the Quickfire Three: the advice he'd give his younger self, a belief he's abandoned, and how he spots a true partner.

    38 min

  8. 10 SEPT

    Telstra Sells Off, Even OpenAI Needs Consultants, CyberCX Gets Scooped

    Show Notes: Follow Naran McClung on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naranmcclung/  Follow Jono Staff on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanstaff/  Check our Youtube Channel for full episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@Things.Reasons And don't forget to subscribe and rate the show! We love hearing your thoughts and answering questions. For all enquiries, contact pru@thingsreasons.show  Episode Summary: In the launch of Things. Reasons., Naran McClung and Jono Staff cut straight into the forces reshaping Australian IT — and why they've launched a new independent show.  They unpack:  Telstra's sell-off — why focusing back on core connectivity could be the telco's smartest move in years. Traditional MSPs under pressure — as agentic AI rewrites business models, are people-based consultancies already outdated? CyberCX acquisition — capability, brand equity, or people: what was really behind the deal? AI and talent pipelines — what happens to grads, careers, and future CIOs when AI can outpace entry-level jobs? Plus, Jono takes on the Quickfire Three: the advice he'd give his younger self, a leadership myth he's abandoned, and how to spot a true partner from a pretender. 👉 Tune in to this first episode to get your dose of candid, unfiltered commentary — and hear what we have in store for future episodes.

    32 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Things. Reasons. is the independent show for Australian IT leaders who want more than vendor theatre and LinkedIn spin. Hosted by Naran McClung and Jono Staff, each episode unpacks what's really driving change in the industry—technology shifts, talent gaps, budget pressure, vendor plays, and leadership calls—and the reasons behind them. Why things happen. What drives decisions. Who benefits. It's the conversation after the meeting, when the script drops and people say what they actually think. Expect sharp insight, unfiltered perspectives, and the occasional laugh that hits too close to home. If you're tired of polished panels and surface-level takes, this is your antidote: real conversations that matter in Australian IT.

Information

  • Creator
    Things. Reasons.
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    Things. Reasons.

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