In The Trenches

Hanif Ibrahim
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Running a business isn't easy. The late nights, tough decisions, and constant pressure to grow, adapt, and succeed—it's all part of the journey. In the Trenches is a business podcast created for Perth business owners who know what it's like to be in the thick of it. Each episode dives into real stories from business owners, industry leaders, and experts who have faced challenges head-on, found opportunities in unexpected places, and made the decisions that shaped their success. We're not here for vague theories or feel-good advice. We focus on tangible insights—practical strategies, financial realities, and the lessons that actually make a difference in running a business. Brought to you by The Finance Agency, In the Trenches is about more than just storytelling. It's about equipping business owners with the knowledge, inspiration, and commercial insights they need to navigate their own path. Whether you're scaling up, managing cash flow, or tackling industry shifts, we bring you the voices and experiences that matter—helping you make smarter decisions and move forward with confidence. If you're building something great, if you're making tough calls every day, if you're in the trenches—this is the podcast for you.

  1. S02E11: Why Most Leaders Fail at Communication (And What to Do Instead) | Alan Sieler

    28 APR

    S02E11: Why Most Leaders Fail at Communication (And What to Do Instead) | Alan Sieler

    What does it actually mean to communicate and why do we get it wrong so often? In this episode, Alan Sieler, Founder of the Ontological Coaching Institute, explores communication at a deeper level, not just as a skill, but as a fundamental part of being human. Because to be human is to relate, and where there is interaction, there is often miscommunication. We unpack why communication breaks down, how our emotional state or "mood" shapes every conversation, and what leaders can do to take responsibility for how they are heard and understood. From assumptions and reactive responses to the importance of listening and timing, this conversation brings practical frameworks leaders can apply immediately. At its core, this episode challenges a common belief. Communication is not just about what you say. It is about how you show up. If you want to lead better, build stronger relationships, and create real understanding in your team, this is a conversation worth listening to.   🎥Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ai22Ty1DyGg?si=K40Sby8BAkUI8LN4 🔗https://linktr.ee/In_The_Trenches.pod  🔗Connect with Hanif Ibrahim: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-sieler-ab102711/  🔗Connect with Alan: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-sieler-ab102711/ Website: https://ontologicalcoaching.net/   If you're building something great—hit follow, share the episode, and leave us a review.     Powered by The Finance Agency: https://financeagency.com.au/ Recorded at Podwave Studios: https://podwavestudios.au/

    1hr 8min
  2. S02E10: From Waste to Wealth: How Greg Watts Is Rebuilding Soil, Farming & the Future of Food

    20 APR

    S02E10: From Waste to Wealth: How Greg Watts Is Rebuilding Soil, Farming & the Future of Food

    What if the key to rebuilding our soils and transforming farming has been sitting in our waste all along? According to Greg Watts, that "waste" might be the answer to improving soil health, strengthening farm economics, and shaping the future of food. As CEO of C-Wise, Greg is turning organic byproducts into high-performance compost at scale, helping farmers reduce reliance on synthetic fertilisers, improve soil health, and unlock better yields. But this isn't just about compost. It's about a much bigger shift. In this episode, Greg breaks down how decades of modern agriculture have stripped carbon from our soils, pushing them closer to desert, and why the solution isn't more chemistry, but biology. We dive into:  The hidden problem with synthetic fertilisers   Why soil carbon is the foundation of productive farming   How compost can improve yield, reduce costs, and increase resilience   The commercial realities farmers are facing today   And why we're entering what Greg calls "the age of biology"  This is a conversation about business, science, and the systems that feed us, and what it will take to fix them. 🎥Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC0b8-2XYeI 🔗https://linktr.ee/In_The_Trenches.pod  🔗Connect with Hanif Ibrahim: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanif-ibrahim-18175a9/  🔗Connect with Greg: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-watts-29922822/ Website: https://cwise.com.au/   If you're building something great—hit follow, share the episode, and leave us a review.     Powered by The Finance Agency: https://financeagency.com.au/ Recorded at Podwave Studios: https://podwavestudios.au/

    52 min
  3. S02E09: Why Young Men Are Struggling (Masculinity, Confidence & Social Skills) w/Mark Boulton

    6 APR

    S02E09: Why Young Men Are Struggling (Masculinity, Confidence & Social Skills) w/Mark Boulton

    In this episode, we sit down with Mark Boulton from Arakan Martial Art to discuss the growing challenges facing young men today. From social isolation and gaming addiction to declining confidence and communication skills, many boys are struggling to develop the tools they need to navigate life. We explore what is driving these changes and how they are impacting identity, relationships, and self-worth. Mark shares insights from working closely with young people, highlighting how discipline, physical training, and shared experiences can help build resilience, confidence, and emotional control. This conversation goes beyond martial arts. It focuses on personal development, masculinity, and what young men need to become capable, grounded individuals. Key takeaways: Why many young men lack confidence and social skills The impact of isolation and digital environments How discipline and training build resilience The importance of real-world challenges and mentorship     🎥Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/762ryGp-dDs   🔗In The Trenches Podcast 🔗Connect with Hanif Ibrahim: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanif-ibrahim-18175a9/ 🔗Connect with Mark Boulton: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arakanmartialartperth Website: https://www.arakan.com.au/   If you're building something great—hit follow, share the episode, and leave us a review.     Powered by The Finance Agency: https://financeagency.com.au/ Recorded at Podwave Studios: https://podwavestudios.au/

    1hr 3min
  4. S02E08: Inside Australia's Defence Boom No One's Talking About w/Fred Bkamdin

    26 MAR

    S02E08: Inside Australia's Defence Boom No One's Talking About w/Fred Bkamdin

    Australia and Western Australia are entering a major defence and shipbuilding boom, but it is happening largely under the radar. In this episode, Hanif sits down with Fred Bkamdin, National Business Growth Manager-Marine (Defence & Commercial Excellence) at Energy Power Systems Australia and President of Australian Industry & Defence Network WA, to unpack what is really going on inside the industry. From the scale of investment and long-term pipeline of work, to the urgent demand for skilled workers, Fred shares why this is not a short-term spike, but a sustained shift that will shape Australia's economy for decades. They explore the realities of defence manufacturing in Australia, the flow-on impact to jobs and infrastructure, and why collaboration, trust, and capability are critical in an industry where the stakes are ultimately about safety and security. If you want to understand where real opportunity is emerging in Australia right now, this is a conversation worth paying attention to.   🎥Watch the full episode on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/6xVlkx8ma_k   🔗https://linktr.ee/In_The_Trenches.pod 🔗Connect with Hanif Ibrahim: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanif-ibrahim-18175a9/ 🔗Connect with Fred Bkamdin: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fred-bkamdin-b2b6296/   If you're building something great—hit follow, share the episode, and leave us a review.     Powered by The Finance Agency: https://financeagency.com.au/ Recorded at Podwave Studios: https://podwavestudios.au/

    1hr 1min
  5. S02E07: The Truth About Australia's Economy Right Now w/ Daniel Gradwell

    18 MAR

    S02E07: The Truth About Australia's Economy Right Now w/ Daniel Gradwell

    In this episode of In the Trenches, Daniel Gradwell returns for a second conversation, almost a year after being the very first guest on the show. A lot has changed since then and some things have remained the same. Host Hanif Ibrahim sits back down with Daniel, Economist and Associate Director of Property at ANZ, to unpack what's actually happened in the Australian economy over the past 12 months and what it means heading into 2026. From unexpected interest rate movements to shifting market sentiment, this conversation cuts through the noise and focuses on what business owners need to understand right now. 🔗https://linktr.ee/In_The_Trenches.pod 🔗Connect with Hanif Ibrahim: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanif-ibrahim-18175a9/ 🔗Connect with Daniel: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-gradwell-47530123/   If you're building something great—hit follow, share the episode, and leave us a review.     Powered by The Finance Agency: https://financeagency.com.au/ Recorded at Podwave Studios: https://podwavestudios.au/

    1hr 1min
  6. S02E06: Inside the Playbook of Digital Scammers: How Fraudsters Target Digital Exchange Users w/Gabby Lewis

    12 MAR

    S02E06: Inside the Playbook of Digital Scammers: How Fraudsters Target Digital Exchange Users w/Gabby Lewis

    Digital exchanges have opened up new opportunities for investors, but they've also created new opportunities for scammers. In this episode, we sit down with Gabby Lewis, Head of Fraud and Financial Crime at Swyftx, to unpack the fast-evolving world of scams targeting crypto and digital exchange users. Gabby explains how modern fraudsters combine classic investment scams with sophisticated social engineering tactics. We also discuss some simple steps that users can take to avoid scams and keep your funds secure. If you use digital exchanges, or are considering entering the space, this episode will give you a clearer understanding of how scams work and the practical steps you can take to stay safe.   🔗https://linktr.ee/In_The_Trenches.pod 🔗Connect with Hanif Ibrahim: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanif-ibrahim-18175a9/ 🔗Connect with Gabby: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabbyl33/ Website: https://swyftx.com/au/   If you're building something great—hit follow, share the episode, and leave us a review.     Powered by The Finance Agency: https://financeagency.com.au/ Recorded at Podwave Studios: https://podwavestudios.au/

    41 min
  7. S02E05: Intellectual Property Is Everywhere (And You're Ignoring It) w/Juan Perez

    2 MAR

    S02E05: Intellectual Property Is Everywhere (And You're Ignoring It) w/Juan Perez

    Most business owners are sitting on valuable intellectual property and don't even realise it.   In this episode, IP lawyer Juan Perez breaks down how brands like Apple, Nike and even KFC turn intellectual property into serious enterprise value. From trademarks and patents to trade secrets and brand protection, we unpack how IP isn't just legal protection, it's a growth strategy.   If you run a business, this conversation might completely change how you view your brand.   🔗https://linktr.ee/In_The_Trenches.pod 🔗Connect with Hanif Ibrahim: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanif-ibrahim-18175a9/ 🔗Connect with Juan Perez: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juanperezlink/ Website: https://questlegal.com.au/   If you're building something great—hit follow, share the episode, and leave us a review.     Powered by The Finance Agency: https://financeagency.com.au/ Recorded at Podwave Studios: https://podwavestudios.au/

    44 min
  8. S02E04: AI Is Accelerating. Humanity Has No Experience for What's Coming w/Frank Moscow

    20 FEB

    S02E04: AI Is Accelerating. Humanity Has No Experience for What's Coming w/Frank Moscow

    Frank Moscow was there near the beginning, when Silicon Valley was hardware, software was an afterthought, and computer engineering was conducted with punch cards. Over four decades, he has watched technology evolve from semiconductors and firmware to the internet, venture capital booms, and now artificial intelligence. In this conversation, Frank shares what most people misunderstand about innovation cycles, why 90% of AI startups may fail, why infrastructure and "data plumbing" matter more than hype, and how exponential acceleration is reshaping everything. His central thesis is simple but profound: the rate of change has never accelerated at the pace it is accelerating now and humanity has no experience managing it. We explore what that means for society, business models, venture capital, robotics, customer experience, and even human relationships. We also reference a recent Economist article on ASML the only company in the world capable of producing the extreme ultraviolet lithography machines required to manufacture cutting-edge chips at 7 nanometres and beyond. Read the full article here:  👉https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2025/03/12/the-race-is-on-to-build-the-worlds-most-complex-machine   In Frank's words, the genie is out of the bottle. The real question is: how do we adapt?   🔗https://linktr.ee/In_The_Trenches.pod 🔗Connect with Hanif Ibrahim: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanif-ibrahim-18175a9/   If you're building something great—hit follow, share the episode, and leave us a review.     Powered by The Finance Agency: https://financeagency.com.au/ Recorded at Podwave Studios: https://podwavestudios.au/

    1hr 6min
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About

Running a business isn't easy. The late nights, tough decisions, and constant pressure to grow, adapt, and succeed—it's all part of the journey. In the Trenches is a business podcast created for Perth business owners who know what it's like to be in the thick of it. Each episode dives into real stories from business owners, industry leaders, and experts who have faced challenges head-on, found opportunities in unexpected places, and made the decisions that shaped their success. We're not here for vague theories or feel-good advice. We focus on tangible insights—practical strategies, financial realities, and the lessons that actually make a difference in running a business. Brought to you by The Finance Agency, In the Trenches is about more than just storytelling. It's about equipping business owners with the knowledge, inspiration, and commercial insights they need to navigate their own path. Whether you're scaling up, managing cash flow, or tackling industry shifts, we bring you the voices and experiences that matter—helping you make smarter decisions and move forward with confidence. If you're building something great, if you're making tough calls every day, if you're in the trenches—this is the podcast for you.

Information

  • Creator
    Hanif Ibrahim
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    39
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    In The Trenches