Australian Investors Podcast

The Australian Investors Podcast is a twice weekly podcast (Wednesday & Saturday), featuring laid back but intelligent short- and long-form conversations about markets, business, psychology, lessons learned and investment process. At Rask, our goal is to bring you the best insights, information and proven strategies to help you invest your time and money. SHOW NOTES: https://www.raskmedia.com.au/podcasts/australian-investors-podcast

  1. 5 ETFs for passive income and the 3 mistakes investors make

    18h ago

    5 ETFs for passive income and the 3 mistakes investors make

    Passive income sounds easy in theory: buy a few ETFs, collect the distributions, and let the portfolio do the heavy lifting. In practice, the details matter. In this Australian Investors Podcast episode, Owen Rask sits down with Global X's Marc Jocum to explain how ETF income is actually generated, what investors should look for, and where people can go wrong when they chase yield without understanding the trade-offs. Marc walks through five ETFs worth researching for income-focused investors, including Australian dividend exposure, bank credit, covered calls, and US fixed income. Along the way, he explains why franking credits still matter, why a total-return mindset can be more useful than staring at the biggest yield on the screen, and why diversification across income sources matters more in a higher-rate environment. The conversation also zeroes in on three common mistakes: chasing headline yield, concentrating too heavily in one part of the market, and forgetting that so-called passive income still needs an active portfolio decision upfront. If you want a better framework for building passive income with ETFs in 2026, this episode is a strong place to start. Episode resources – Speak with the Rask Advice team – Ask a question (select the Investors podcast) Show partner resources – ETF investor? Go beyond ordinary with Global X: View all funds – Visit TermPlus to learn more – Have the chance to win a 5k travel voucher. Take the TermPlus survey here (last entry 31st of May) Rask Resources – All services – Financial Planning – Invest with us – Access Show Notes – Ask a question – We love feedback! Follow us on social media – Instagram: @rask.invest – TikTok: @rask.invest DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    53 min
  2. ASX small caps: Seneca’s playbook for finding alpha

    2d ago

    ASX small caps: Seneca’s playbook for finding alpha

    In this first Small Cap Playbook episode, Owen Rask sits down with Luke Laretive and Ben Richards from Seneca Financial Solutions to unpack how professional investors think about ASX small caps when the market is noisy, ETF flows dominate and AI tools promise easy answers. The pair argue that volatility is not the same as business risk, that so-called blue chips are not automatically safer, and that smaller companies can offer genuine opportunities when pricing is inefficient and research is thin. The bigger lesson is process. Luke and Ben explain why there is no money in consensus, why AI can help with synthesis but not conviction, and why a repeatable edge still comes from hard work: reading announcements, tracking management behaviour, weighing probabilities and building a portfolio one decision at a time. They also unpack why good small-cap managers can persistently outperform, how they separate speculation from real business quality, and what listeners should watch for when a stock looks cheap for the wrong reasons. If you want a grounded framework for researching ASX small caps without falling for hype, false precision or shortcut thinking, this episode is a sharp place to start. It is the first of a four-part series with Seneca and Good Research, and it also offers a rare look at what professional investors actually do each day, from scanning overnight moves and broker notes to reading ASX announcements line by line before a capital raise ever lands in the inbox. Episode resources – Speak with the Rask Advice team – Ask a question (select the Investors podcast) Show partner resources – ETF investor? Go beyond ordinary with Global X: View all funds – Visit TermPlus to learn more Rask Resources – All services – Financial Planning – Invest with us – Access Show Notes – Ask a question – We love feedback! Follow us on social media – Instagram: @rask.invest – TikTok: @rask.invest DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    51 min
  3. Senator Andrew Bragg on housing, tax and Australia’s productivity problem

    5d ago

    Senator Andrew Bragg on housing, tax and Australia’s productivity problem

    In this Australian Investors Podcast episode, Owen Rask sits down with Senator Andrew Bragg for a wide-ranging conversation about the Federal Budget, housing supply, tax, productivity and why so many Australians feel the country has become harder to get ahead in. Rather than getting stuck in party talking points, they focus on the practical questions investors, business owners and workers are asking right now: what happens when policy makes it harder to build homes, why does productivity matter so much for living standards, and how do taxes, regulation and incentives shape whether Australia creates more wealth or simply fights over what already exists? Andrew explains why he believes cutting housing supply is one of the worst policy choices Australia can make, how rising rents, higher rates and broader cost-of-living pressure are changing the national mood, and why small business, private investment and simpler rules still matter if Australia wants to stay competitive. The conversation also touches on super, the role of large institutions, and why clearer economic thinking matters more when confidence is low. Owen pushes on the bigger picture too: whether Australia has lost ambition, why the policy debate feels less honest than it should, and what needs to change if Australians want better opportunities over the next decade. If you want a plain-English discussion about housing, tax, productivity, competitiveness and the long-run direction of Australia, this is a timely episode to queue next. Episode resources – Speak with the Rask Advice team – Ask a question (select the Investors podcast) Show partner resources – ETF investor? Go beyond ordinary with Global X: View all funds – Visit TermPlus to learn more – Have the chance to win a 5k travel voucher. Take the TermPlus survey here (last entry 31st of May) Rask Resources – All services – Financial Planning – Invest with us – Access Show Notes – Ask a question – We love feedback! Follow us on social media – Instagram: @rask.invest – TikTok: @rask.invest DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 1m
  4. Mark Ambrose on deep value investing, airplane leases and asymmetric returns

    May 26

    Mark Ambrose on deep value investing, airplane leases and asymmetric returns

    In this Australian Investors Podcast episode, Mitchell Sneddon sits down with Mark Ambrose from Global Value Fund to unpack one of the more unusual deep value trades of the COVID era: buying into airplane leases when the aviation market looked uninvestable. Mark explains why GVF was drawn to the setup. The fund was not trying to make a heroic prediction about airlines bouncing back overnight. Instead, the team focused on asymmetry, cash on the balance sheet, the behaviour of forced sellers and the gap between a panic price and a conservative base case. It is a practical look at how deep value investing works when uncertainty is extreme. Mitch and Mark walk through Amadeo Air 4 Plus, how listed aircraft leasing funds were structured, why certain A380 sales mattered so much, and how bespoke valuation work helped frame the risk. They also discuss downside protection, why edge matters more than simply sounding smart, and how shareholder engagement and later takeover interest helped unlock value over time. If you like contrarian investing, fund-manager process and real examples of asymmetric opportunities, this conversation is well worth your time. Episode resources – Speak with the Rask Advice team – Ask a question (select the Investors podcast) Show partner resources – ETF investor? Go beyond ordinary with Global X: View all funds – Visit TermPlus to learn more – Have the chance to win a 5k travel voucher. Take the TermPlus survey here (last entry 31st of May) Rask Resources – All services – Financial Planning – Invest with us – Access Show Notes – Ask a question – We love feedback! Follow us on social media – Instagram: @rask.invest – TikTok: @rask.invest DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    39 min
  5. Budget backlash? Temple & Webster, Brambles and your investing questions

    May 22

    Budget backlash? Temple & Webster, Brambles and your investing questions

    In this week’s 2 Sense episode of the Australian Investors Podcast, Owen Rask and Drew Meredith unpack the messy collision of budget politics, company results and AI hype shaping markets right now. They look at the latest tax chatter, the debate over whether Australia is getting better at redistributing wealth than creating it, and why policy headlines can shift investor behaviour long before the real-world outcomes are clear. They also run through a broad batch of company updates, including Temple & Webster, Brambles, Commonwealth Bank and BHP, asking what actually matters and what is just noise during another busy stretch of reporting season. Along the way, they test the limits of tools like Claude and ChatGPT, debate whether AI can genuinely help investors think better, and explore where these tools still risk encouraging lazy decision-making or false confidence. The episode finishes with practical listener questions on investment bonds, how to invest in your 20s versus your 60s, and how to balance growth, income and simplicity when markets feel messy. If you want a grounded Australian take on the budget, ASX results, AI and the real questions investors are asking in 2026, this is a strong episode to queue next, especially if you want a clearer framework for handling uncertainty. Episode resources – Speak with the Rask Advice team – Ask a question (select the Investors podcast) Show partner resources – ETF investor? Go beyond ordinary with Global X: View all funds – Visit TermPlus to learn more – Have the chance to win a 5k travel voucher. Take the TermPlus survey here (last entry 31st of May) Rask Resources – All services – Financial Planning – Invest with us – Access Show Notes – Ask a question – We love feedback! Follow us on social media – Instagram: @rask.invest – TikTok: @rask.invest DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 8m
  6. Like design? Why AI makes human judgment more valuable, ft. Andrew Hogan

    May 19

    Like design? Why AI makes human judgment more valuable, ft. Andrew Hogan

    AI can now generate prototypes, content and product ideas at speed — but Figma’s Andrew Hogan says the real edge is still human judgment. In this episode, Owen Rask chats with Andrew about what AI is changing inside teams, why design is becoming more valuable, and how leaders are using better tools to communicate ideas with more clarity. They explore why senior designers may be worth more than ever, how non-designers are increasingly doing design work, and why businesses are taking on bigger projects because AI expands what feels possible. If you want to understand where AI is creating value, how creativity is changing, and what this means for product teams, founders and investors, this is a sharp and practical conversation. Resources for this episode ⁠Buy Gemma’s book “The Money Reset”⁠ ⁠Speak with the Rask Advice team⁠ ⁠Ask a question (select the Finance podcast)⁠ Show partner resources ⁠Join Pearler using code “RASK” for $15 of Pearler Credit⁠ ⁠Get 50% off your first two months using PocketSmith⁠ ⁠View Betashares range of funds⁠ Rask resources – ⁠All services⁠ – ⁠Financial Planning⁠ – ⁠Invest with us⁠ ⁠Access Show Notes⁠ ⁠Ask a question⁠ ⁠We love feedback!⁠ Follow us on social media: Instagram: ⁠@rask.invest⁠ TikTok: ⁠@rask.invest⁠ DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): ⁠https://www.rask.com.au/fsg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    48 min
  7. Is Australia doomed? Plus, CSL is close to a buy

    May 15

    Is Australia doomed? Plus, CSL is close to a buy

    In this week’s 2 Sense, Owen and Drew tackle a bigger question than one stock or one budget line item: is Australia getting worse at creating wealth? Rask Wealth Checker: https://rask.au/wealth-checker That opens a sharp conversation about tax chatter, policy drift and why uncertainty can make it harder for founders, investors and workers to build long-term value. The episode also revisits CSL, touches on private credit noise, and asks what matters when headlines get louder than fundamentals. It is a useful reminder that great businesses can still be overhyped, and that policy settings can shape how willing people are to build, invest and take risk. The listener question is a beauty: how do you value a private business? Owen and Drew explain why valuation is part maths, part judgement. They unpack EBITDA multiples, growth, repeatability, owner dependence and why what a business is worth to you can differ from what a buyer will pay. If you want practical market commentary with a founder’s lens, this one delivers. Episode resources Speak with the Rask Advice team Ask a question (select the Investors podcast) Show partner resources ETF investor? Go beyond ordinary with Global X: View all funds Visit TermPlus to learn more Have the chance to win a 5k travel voucher. Take the TermPlus survey here (last entry 31st of May) Rask Resources All services Financial Planning Invest with us Access Show Notes Ask a question We love feedback! Follow us on social media Instagram: @rask.invest TikTok: @rask.invest DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 5m
  8. Nick Sladen on why Cogstate could be one of the ASX's best healthcare stocks

    May 12

    Nick Sladen on why Cogstate could be one of the ASX's best healthcare stocks

    In this Australian Investors Podcast episode, Mitch sits down with Nick Sladen for a deep dive into Cogstate and why it may be one of the more compelling ASX healthcare names right now. Alzheimer's and broader central nervous system diseases are becoming more important as populations age, and Nick explains why that matters for Cogstate. The company plays a small but critical role in clinical trials, helping large pharmaceutical groups run cognitive testing with higher accuracy, cleaner data and stronger regulatory confidence. With more than 20 years of accumulated testing data, Cogstate has built an edge that is hard to replicate quickly. Mitch and Nick also unpack the numbers behind the bull case. They discuss strong margins, net cash, a share buyback, dividend flexibility and why AI could improve throughput rather than undermine the business model. The conversation also goes beyond Alzheimer's into rare disease, depression, schizophrenia and sleep trials, plus the role partnerships like Medidata could play in widening the opportunity set. They finish by testing the risks, including pharma spending cycles, execution, competition and the possibility that AI changes parts of the workflow over time. If you want a practical breakdown of a high-quality small-cap healthcare business with structural tailwinds, this episode is well worth your time. Episode resources Speak with the Rask Advice team Ask a question (select the Investors podcast) Show partner resources ETF investor? Go beyond ordinary with Global X: View all funds Visit TermPlus to learn more Have the chance to win a 5k travel voucher. Take the TermPlus survey here (last entry 31st of May) Rask Resources All services Financial Planning Invest with us Access Show Notes Ask a question We love feedback! Follow us on social media: Instagram: @rask.invest TikTok: @rask.invest DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    33 min

About

The Australian Investors Podcast is a twice weekly podcast (Wednesday & Saturday), featuring laid back but intelligent short- and long-form conversations about markets, business, psychology, lessons learned and investment process. At Rask, our goal is to bring you the best insights, information and proven strategies to help you invest your time and money. SHOW NOTES: https://www.raskmedia.com.au/podcasts/australian-investors-podcast

More From Rask

You Might Also Like