Let's Just Start Podcast with Laura Racky and Christian Cunningham

Christian Cunningham and Laura Racky
  • 4.4 (29)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED TWICE WEEKLY

Laura Racky and Christian Cunningham talking business, growth, parenting, leadership, fashion, politics, and some occasional economics.

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    Confidence Before Evidence, UFO Files & Australia’s Economic Squeeze (In Plain English) #60

    In this episode, we go everywhere. We start with the looming release of new UFO and UAP files from the United States, why public attitudes toward “conspiracy theories” have changed dramatically over the last 20 years, and whether people would even care if governments confirmed extraordinary truths. From there, we dive deep into the Australian economy: inflation, interest rates, government spending, housing, debt, population growth and why the Reserve Bank may have no choice but to keep tightening. We discuss the mechanics of inflation, the pressure facing households and businesses, and why downturns often create enormous opportunities for serious operators. We also answer a listener question about job interviews, research, and whether you need to genuinely care about the organisation you work for. That gets into a much bigger conversation about pride in work is ultimately be for yourself, not your employer. Finally, we finish with one of our favourite discussions in a long time: confidence. Where does it come from? Can you build it without evidence? Is there a difference between competence-based confidence and the confidence required to jump before you’re ready? This one moves from aliens to economics to philosophy pretty quickly… but somehow it all connects. In short: The psychology of confidenceFake it till you make itWhy pride in your work mattersThe disconnect people feel from modern jobsInflation, debt and the RBAWhy downturns create opportunityThe difference between fear and belief Find us here: Digital Resources: Therackycunninghamcollective.com Instagram: @letsjuststartpodcast Tiktok: @letsjuststartpodcast Youtube: @LetsJustStartPodcast Laura Insta: @laura.racky Laura Tiktok: @lauraracky Christian Insta: @leaderbiltacademy Christian Tiktok: @leaderbilt Leadership training and coaching: Leaderbilt.co

    53 min

  2. 3 MAY

    Corporate Jargon, Staying Too Long In Bad Situations, And Being Wrong #59

    We started with corporate jargon and ended up talking about how people hide from decisions, avoid discomfort, and delay change. We break down (and somehow argue over) what common workplace phrases actually mean, when they’re useful, and when they’re just a way of avoiding decisions. From there, the conversation shifts into why people stay in jobs, relationships, or situations longer than they should. Comfort, fear, uncertainty, and the reality of making a move when you don’t know what’s on the other side. We also get into being wrong. Why people struggle with it, how it shapes behaviour, and how it shows up in parenting and everyday decisions. In short: What corporate jargon actually means in practiceWhen it’s useful vs when it’s just avoidanceWhy people stay in situations longer than they shouldFear of change vs fear of regretThe role of comfort and familiarityWhy rejection and uncertainty stop people movingHow being wrong affects behaviour and decision makingParenting, mistakes, and course correctingWhat people model without realising it Themes include: Avoidance dressed up as process Corporate language, over-explaining, delaying decisions — these are often not neutral tools. They are ways of managing discomfort and risk. Short-term safety vs long-term cost Whether it’s staying in a job or avoiding a decision, people prioritise immediate stability over long-term improvement, often without realising the trade-off. Narratives as protection People construct explanations that allow them to stay where they are without feeling like they’re making a poor decision. Ego and identity Admitting you’re wrong is not just about the situation, it’s about what that says about you. That’s why it’s so difficult. Modelling behaviour Especially in parenting, but also in leadership, people copy what you do, not what you say. Your behaviour under pressure becomes the lesson. Find us here: Digital Resources: Therackycunninghamcollective.com Instagram: @letsjuststartpodcast Tiktok: @letsjuststartpodcast Youtube: @LetsJustStartPodcast Laura Insta: @laura.racky Laura Tiktok: @lauraracky Christian Insta: @leaderbiltacademy Christian Tiktok: @leaderbilt Leadership training and coaching: Leaderbilt.co

    59 min

  3. 1 MAY

    Five Fast Questions Ep 1 (No Prep, No Filter) #58

    We tried something new with this one. Five fast questions, no prep, no structure, just straight answers and seeing where it goes. The Five This Week The decision that almost sent our careers in a completely different direction What people get wrong about being a good leader The best advice we’ve been given (and whether we followed it) What we’d tell our 25-year-old selves now A belief we used to hold strongly that we’ve completely changed our minds on Decisions that completely changed direction, advice that stuck (and advice that didn’t), what we'd tell our younger self, and a couple of beliefs we’ve had to completely rethink over time. There’s a mix of serious and not serious at all. We’ll see if this format works. If it does, we’ll do it again. Find us here: Digital Resources: Therackycunninghamcollective.com Instagram: @letsjuststartpodcast Tiktok: @letsjuststartpodcast Youtube: @LetsJustStartPodcast Laura Insta: @laura.racky Laura Tiktok: @lauraracky Christian Insta: @leaderbiltacademy Christian Tiktok: @leaderbilt Leadership training and coaching: Leaderbilt.co

    11 min

  4. 25 APR

    Bias, Blind Spots, 5 Communication Skills That Will Carry Your Career (We Argue!), And The Stories We Tell Ourselves (Plus Court Of UNPOPULAR Opinion) #57

    Some tricky topics in this episode. The Bias You're Proudest Of Is the One Holding You Back We all walk around with filters we've built over a lifetime and most of us would fight to keep them. Christian and Laura unpack why the biases that feel like wisdom are often the ones doing the most damage, and how becoming conscious of them (not eliminating them) is what actually changes everything. Why Smart People Can't See Their Own Blind Spots The more analytical you are, the better you are at defending your bias, and why the sharpest people in the room are often the most blind. Everything Is Possible (When You Stop Looking Through the Keyhole) If you can only view the world through one small opening, you're missing everything around it. Awareness, not perfection, is the whole game. The Uncomfortable Truth About Micromanagement Nobody Wants to Hear Nobody wants to be told that the micromanagement they're complaining about might be their fault. But that's exactly what gets said in this episode. You Set the Standard by What You Tolerate — Including in Your Own Head The patterns you keep repeating, the judgments you keep making, the conversations you keep having, they're all data. This episode digs into what those patterns are actually telling you, and why the one thing most worth fixing is the thing most people spend a lifetime avoiding. Court of UNPOPULAR Opinion Micromanagement may not be what you think, insecurity is the one thing to fix, and partisan politics is boring. In short: ​Why objectivity is not as common as people think​How bias shapes your decisions​Real examples of blind spots in everyday situations​Why people defend their own thinking​When your patterns start working against you​A different way to approach conversations​Court Of UNPOPULAR Opinion Find us here: Digital Resources: Therackycunninghamcollective.com Instagram: @letsjuststartpodcast Tiktok: @letsjuststartpodcast Youtube: @LetsJustStartPodcast Laura Insta: @laura.racky Laura Tiktok: @lauraracky Christian Insta: @leaderbiltacademy Christian Tiktok: @leaderbilt Leadership training and coaching: Leaderbilt.co

    52 min

  5. 17 APR

    Court Of UNPOPULAR Opinion, And Questions From The Racky Collective on Bad Reputation Bosses, Tackling Overwhelm, Work, Kids, And Ageing Parents #56

    This episode looks at real world situations that many people face at the same time, even if they rarely talk about them openly. How do you deal with a boss or company with a bad reputation (while protecting your own)? How do you tackle overwhelm when the to do list gets so big that it crushes you under it? How do we deal with career, parenting, and ageing parents - often all in the same season? Very tricky questions and we dealt with them as honestly as we could. We also launched a new segment, the Court of UNPOPULAR opinion. 1. Spouses should or shouldn't track each other's locations? 2. The workplace is no place for birthday cakes? 3. Holidays are overrated? Stick around for the verdict. In Short: What do you do when the environment around you is not ideal, your workload builds beyond what feels manageable, and life outside of work is demanding more of your time and energy? The conversation focuses on how to think clearly in these moments. From managing your own position in a complex workplace, to regaining control when everything feels urgent, to making deliberate choices when life becomes full, this episode is about responding with intention rather than reacting to pressure. Find us here: Digital Resources: Therackycunninghamcollective.com Instagram: @letsjuststartpodcast Tiktok: @letsjuststartpodcast Youtube: @LetsJustStartPodcast Laura Insta: @laura.racky Laura Tiktok: @lauraracky Christian Insta: @leaderbiltacademy Christian Tiktok: @leaderbilt Leadership training and coaching: Leaderbilt.co

    54 min

  6. 11 APR

    5 Ways We Accidently Damage Our Reputations, Why Everything Feels Harder At The Moment, Magical Mindset Changes, What Women 'Should' Do When Treated Poorly, And Tom Cruise

    This episode moves through the tension many people are feeling right now. Costs are rising, confidence is falling, and the economic environment has shifted. We discuss the end of cheap money and how that has changed behaviour across individuals, businesses, and governments. From there, the conversation turns to why everyday life feels more expensive, and what is actually happening beneath the surface. We then shift to the role of mindset, personal responsibility, and how we can change everything. This is how we acknowledge reality without being defined by it, and finding a way to move with purpose even when conditions are not ideal. We finish with 5 Ways We Accidently Damage Our Reputations, lessons from the great Tom Cruise, and Laura's pettiness. In short: ​What the end of cheap money means for behaviour and decision making​Survey results from NAB and ANZ on consumer sentiment, lowest in history of recording​Why prices feel (and likely are) permanently higher ​How expectations built in the past no longer match current conditions​The role of mindset in changing our entire lives​How Women 'should' respond to being treated badly ​Practical ways to focus on what can still be controlled, with gratitude​5 ways we accidently damage our reputations ​Lessons from Tom Cruise Find us here: Digital Resources: Therackycunninghamcollective.com Instagram: @letsjuststartpodcast Tiktok: @letsjuststartpodcast Youtube: @LetsJustStartPodcast Laura Insta: @laura.racky Laura Tiktok: @lauraracky Christian Insta: @leaderbiltacademy Christian Tiktok: @leaderbilt Leadership training and coaching: Leaderbilt.co

    1hr 4min

  7. 5 APR

    EASTER EDITION: Laura's Negotiation Tactics, Crystal Balls, Buffets, Mapping, And The Dance, Family, First Quarter Scorecard, And Christian On Fatherhood

    Ep 54 - A LOT in here on family, negotiation, deal making, first quarter scorecard, and Christian CORNERED on fatherhood. We start with an honest discussion about fatherhood, what it means, how it changes priorities, and the realities that often go unspoken. We also go deep on Laura working through her negotiation structure and how negotiation actually works in the real world. We are basing this on real-world experience and try to make it as useful as possible. We also lament the choices for many young families in Australia. In short: ​How we think about family, time, and priorities more clearly​The difference between responsibility and presence​Why modern life is changing decisions around having children​How to predict where a negotiation will land​Why understanding people matters more than strategy​The importance of mapping stakeholders and incentives​How to expand deals beyond price​Why patience and timing are critical in negotiation​How to navigate ego, pressure, and hidden agendas Find us here: Digital Resources: Therackycunninghamcollective.com Instagram: @letsjuststartpodcast Tiktok: @letsjuststartpodcast Youtube: @LetsJustStartPodcast Laura Insta: @laura.racky Laura Tiktok: @lauraracky Christian Insta: @leaderbiltacademy Christian Tiktok: @leaderbilt Leadership training and coaching: Leaderbilt.co

    1hr 1min

  8. 31 MAR

    Weak Leaders, Status Anxiety, And 5 Subtle Confidence Signals That Actually Matter #53

    In this episode, we explore the hidden dynamics that shape how people are perceived at work, from confidence and influence to status anxiety, as well as strong and weak leadership. We cover ways to handle difficult colleagues, build trust quickly, and tactically position yourself for success. The conversation also touches on decision making, long-term thinking, and why many people misread what success actually looks like. In short: How to reframe difficult people at workWhy most “confidence” advice is wrongHow to think clearly when others are reacting emotionallyThe real meaning of status anxiety (and how to avoid it)Practical ways to signal authority without saying a wordWhy high performers often clash with weak leadershipTactical ways to navigate that situation without losing momentumHow to separate what you want from what others project onto you Find us here: Digital Resources: Therackycunninghamcollective.com Instagram: @letsjuststartpodcast Tiktok: @letsjuststartpodcast Youtube: @LetsJustStartPodcast Laura Insta: @laura.racky Laura Tiktok: @lauraracky Christian Insta: @leaderbiltacademy Christian Tiktok: @leaderbilt Leadership training and coaching: Leaderbilt.co

    58 min
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4.4
out of 5
29 Ratings

About

Laura Racky and Christian Cunningham talking business, growth, parenting, leadership, fashion, politics, and some occasional economics.

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