Pak Chat

Blake Thorn
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Pak Chat is where ambition and real conversation collide. Hosted by Blake Thorn, Pak Chat shares real lessons, mindset shifts, and strategies from Australia’s leading minds in property, business, sport, and beyond. From building wealth to navigating growth, it’s real people, real lessons, and making the complex simple. The conversation starts now!

  1. Jun 1

    #17 - Clay Brodie: 15 Years, Top 1%, and the Next Chapter at WHITEFOX

    Clay Brodie spent 15 years becoming one of the most recognised real estate agents in New South Wales , straight years in Ray White's Chairman's Elite, the top 1% of Australia's biggest network, and director of an office that placed top 10 in the country. Now he's putting all of it behind his boldest move yet: building a new office at WHITEFOX Sydney. At 35, Clay is starting the next chapter from a position of real strength, 15 years of hard-won experience, a personal brand that's outlasted every business card he's printed, and the clarity that comes from doing the work on himself, not just his business. In this conversation, Blake and Clay go deep on what it actually takes to build a long, durable career in sales, not the scripts or the tactics, but the foundation underneath them. They get into why consistency is the only real strategy, why a personal brand compounds for decades, and what it looks like to back yourself completely on something new. What you'll learn: Why your personal brand will always outlast the agency on your business card and how Clay built his before it was obviousWhat 15 years of consistency actually compounds into, and why almost no one stays long enough to find outThe Brodie corner: how he built brand awareness before anyone else had a strategyHow investing in your health and mindset becomes the foundation for your best workWhy the biggest opportunities tend to find you when you're building from a clear, grounded placeWhat's structurally different about WHITEFOX, and why its model changes how agents grow and earnWhat Clay is building in Paddington over the next 12 to 24 monthsAdvice for anyone starting out, or backing themselves on something newChapters: 00:00:00 Introduction and Clay's connection to the Thorns 00:01:39 From rugby to real estate by accident 00:03:42 First years: grinding the phones and building a network 00:08:54 The Brodie corner at East Rugby 00:11:59 Consistency as the foundation of a 15-year career 00:13:42 Building a personal brand before it was obvious 00:16:18 From agent to director: what changes when you lead people 00:20:12 Pressure, mistakes, and learning from both 00:22:59 Mentoring others: what he shares from his own journey 00:24:10 The six-month reset: health, mindset, and a fresh start 00:27:16 How Clay sells now vs. how he sold at 20 00:30:24 Authenticity in sales: connecting before pitching 00:32:30 Recognising when the lifestyle stops serving you 00:34:19 The move to WHITEFOX after 15 years 00:37:43 Ray White vs. WHITEFOX: what's actually different 00:40:31 The collaborative structure that changes how teams earn 00:43:16 Building in Paddington and the next 12–24 months 00:48:22 Passion, legacy, and what he wants his daughters to see 00:50:32 Advice for anyone starting out or backing themselves on something new 00:54:05 How to reach Clay and what's next About Clay Brodie Clay Brodie is Associate Director at WHITEFOX Sydney. A former professional rugby union player who entered real estate in 2009, Clay built a 15-year career at Ray White - top 1% of the network, running an office that consistently placed top 10 nationwide. Find Clay on Instagram @thebrodiegroup and at whitefoxrealestate.com.au.

    55 min

  2. May 25

    #16 - Adrian Bo: $4 Billion in Property, 6,000 Auctions, and the One Trait That Predicts Sales Success

    37 years. $4 billion in property sold. 6,000 auctions called. 27 consecutive years of 100+ transactions. Adrian Bo is one of the most credentialled sales operators in Australia and the coach behind the top agents at McGrath, Ray White, and beyond. He sits down with Blake Thorn on Pak Chat for one of the most direct conversations on selling, process and team-building you'll hear this year. What you'll learn: The accidental pivot from stockbroking to property — and what 35 years of reading rooms actually teaches youHow the internet rewired real estate in real time, and Adrian's honest read on what AI does to the industry nextThe single trait every top performer Adrian has coached shares — it isn't product knowledge, and most agents have it backwardsWhy affability and rapport out-earn technical expertise in almost every client conversationThe surgeon analogy he uses to teach team leaders what to keep, what to delegate, and what to stop doing todayProcess as a competitive advantage — the pilot's checklist mindset behind every listing he winsWhy most client relationships are dead before the first proper meeting — and the structured "expectation meeting" that fixes itPractical advice for self-employed operators in their 20s and 30s on health, process and closing

    1h 15m

  3. May 3

    #18 - Baber Zaka, GM Third Party Banking: What CBA Really Thinks About Brokers

    Mortgage broker market share is pushing 80 per cent in Australia. But the Commonwealth Bank executive who runs the broker channel rarely sits down and says, on the record, what the bank is actually thinking. CBA's Baber Zaka just did. As General Manager of Third Party Banking at Commonwealth Bank, Baber holds one of the most influential roles in the entire Australian mortgage industry, he controls how CBA, the country's largest lender, works with its broker network. And in this conversation, he's candid in a way bank executives almost never are. Blake and Baber go deep on where broking is actually headed: the consolidation coming for a 22,000-broker industry, the value-proposition shift most brokers haven't prepared for, the truth about broker vs. branch channel conflict, and what CBA is building behind the scenes for 2026 and beyond. If you're a broker, this is a rare chance to hear what the other side of the desk is planning. If you're not, it's a masterclass in reading an industry before it changes. What you'll learn: Why the traditional broker value proposition is about to shift and what replaces it when the back end of a loan becomes a five-minute processCBA's real position on broker vs. branch channel conflict, straight from the sourceThe 22,000-broker stat (and the 22 per cent who are inactive): why consolidation is coming, and what it means for youWhat CBA's platinum tier actually looks like from the insideWhy process consistency - not rate - is what CBA believes winsHow a philosophy student became a Morgan Stanley banker, then GM at Australia's biggest bankCareer advice: why you should apply for the things you don't feel qualified forChapters:00:00:00 Introduction and Baber's background00:00:52 From philosophy degree to investment banking00:02:06 The Virgin Money deal: one analyst, 6,000-person acquisition00:07:17 Leadership lessons from the hard years00:13:27 Why CBA's process consistency wins00:26:25 Channel conflict: broker vs. branch, the real picture00:34:17 Broker consolidation: 22,000 brokers, 22 per cent inactive00:35:07 The future value proposition of a broker00:48:49 CBA's strategy for 2026 and beyond00:53:20 Career advice: find what you actually enjoy Subscribe for new episodes every week: [Pak Chat YouTube link]Listen on the go: Spotify [link], Apple Podcasts [link]Watch next: [related Pak Chat episode] About Baber ZakaBaber Zaka is General Manager of Third Party Banking at Commonwealth Bank, where he leads the broker channel for Australia's largest lender. A graduate of the London School of Economics (Economics and Philosophy), he spent two decades in finance across Morgan Stanley, Royal Bank of Canada and Virgin Money before joining CBA, where he held senior roles including Chief Operating Officer of third-party banking. Connect with Baber on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/baber-zaka-b059339/ About Pak ChatPak Chat is hosted by Blake Thorn, Director of Auspak Home Loans - long-form conversations with the founders, agents and operators who've built something. New episodes weekly. If you work in or around the mortgage industry, follow Pak Chat and send this one to a broker who needs to hear it.

    58 min
  4. #13 - Richard Bharata: How He Built a 19-Property Portfolio Starting With $50K in Gambling Debt

    Apr 9

    #13 - Richard Bharata: How He Built a 19-Property Portfolio Starting With $50K in Gambling Debt

    In this episode of Pak Chat, Richard Bharata walks through every step of the journey — from working four jobs post-engineering degree (including getting fired from a sushi restaurant and a kebab shop) to cracking a $150K government role through networking, losing his savings to gaming addiction, and then systematically building a 19-property, 25-tenancy portfolio using low-doc loans, equity recycling, trust structures, and relentless imperfect action. This one is full of real numbers, real mistakes, and real strategy. If you want to know exactly how someone goes from $0 to $14M in Australian property — don't skip this. 0:36 — Sent to Australia alone at 13 with no English 8:06 — Engineering degree, 4 jobs, fired from sushi & kebabs 12:35 — One-way Tiger Air ticket to Sydney with 50 resumes 20:16 — How a high-paying job led to a $50K gaming addiction 26:00 — First property: $1.2M in Sydney, $220K deposit, nearly wiped out 32:16 — The strategy: how he went from property 1 to 19 39:03 — Low-doc loans, equity recycling & the CBA LMI waiver that unlocked everything 54:04 — Launching the buyer's agency: iProperty Finder 1:01:36 — Caught at work, resigned, and went all-in on the business 1:09:06 — $14M portfolio today: cash flow, trust structures & what comes next 1:19:35 — Advice for anyone starting their property journey now

    1h 23m
  5. #12 - Maddy Bockett: Outdoor Passion to Shark Tank - Building a Brand People Believe In

    12/17/2025

    #12 - Maddy Bockett: Outdoor Passion to Shark Tank - Building a Brand People Believe In

    Maddy Bockett didn’t set out to build a brand - she just wanted better outdoor gear for women. What started as a frustration turned into Tilda Outdoors, a women-led outdoor brand built entirely through organic content, with zero paid marketing, and backed by a loyal community of adventurous women. By showing up online as her true self, Maddy has grown both Tilda Outdoors and a powerful personal brand from the ground up. Today, she reaches hundreds of thousands of people across platforms - with over 51,000 followers on Tilda’s Instagram, 26,000 on Tilda’s TikTok, and a personal audience of 149,000 on TikTok and 124,000 on Instagram. Her journey has even taken her to the national stage, featuring on Shark Tank Australia. In this episode of Pak Chat, we dive into how Maddy built a brand and community without ads, and how leaning into who you really are can become your biggest advantage online. If you’re curious about building something real, growing an audience the right way, or backing yourself before anyone else does - this one’s for you.

    1h 18m
  6. #11 - Alex Minter: The Data-Driven Buyers Agent Helping Australians Invest Smarter

    10/07/2025

    #11 - Alex Minter: The Data-Driven Buyers Agent Helping Australians Invest Smarter

    What if you could invest in property with confidence - backed by data, not guesswork? Alex Minter, Founder of Astute Property Network, has helped clients purchase over 1,000 investment properties across Australia. With 15 years in real estate, Alex has built a reputation for uncovering opportunities through geospatial mapping, data analytics and an investment strategy that transcends markets nationwide. In this episode, Alex shares: How to find high-growth suburbs using real data, not online hype Why rentvesting is helping younger buyers enter the market sooner The hidden traps of “cheap” regional investments and inflated insurance costs How to compare established vs new builds and spot real value What to check before investing interstate (and how his team de-risks it) The importance of transparency and how to identify genuine buyers agents This episode breaks down the numbers, tools and strategies that separate educated investors from emotional ones. For anyone building a portfolio or buying their first investment, this episode is a must listen.

    1h 7m
  7. #10 - Jake Moore: $6 Billion Under the Hammer

    08/21/2025

    #10 - Jake Moore: $6 Billion Under the Hammer

    What does it take to call 1,000 auctions a year and move more than $6 billion in property under the hammer? For Cooley Auctions Partner Jake Moore, the answer is momentum, discipline and the ability to turn pressure into profit. In this episode of Pak Chat, Jake shares: Why his first five years nearly broke him The psychology of bidding wars — and how to read people in real time The mistakes vendors make that cost them tens of thousands How a chef’s apprenticeship prepared him for the auction floor Why confidence — not cash — often wins the day Auctions are more than sales events. They’re theatre, strategy and human behaviour on display. This conversation pulls back the curtain on how great auctioneers create great results.

    1h 23m
  8. #9 – Jaya Yoannidis: From Startup to $18M – The Man Cave Brand Taking Over Australia

    08/11/2025

    #9 – Jaya Yoannidis: From Startup to $18M – The Man Cave Brand Taking Over Australia

    In this episode of Pak Chat, we sit down with Jaya Yoannidis — the founder of A Man & His Cave, a brand that’s pulled in over $18 million since launching in 2020. What started as a small online store has grown into Australia’s go-to destination for man cave essentials — from kegerators to arcade machines. But behind the numbers is a story about building trust with overseas suppliers, leveraging AI before it was cool, and assembling a team that runs like clockwork. We get into the real playbook Jaya used to scale fast, the marketing moves that cut through in a crowded e-commerce market, and why he believes investing in yourself and your people is the ultimate growth hack. This conversation isn’t just about e-commerce — it’s about thinking bigger, moving faster, and building something that lasts.

    1h 27m
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About

Pak Chat is where ambition and real conversation collide. Hosted by Blake Thorn, Pak Chat shares real lessons, mindset shifts, and strategies from Australia’s leading minds in property, business, sport, and beyond. From building wealth to navigating growth, it’s real people, real lessons, and making the complex simple. The conversation starts now!

Information

  • Creator
    Blake Thorn
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Blake Thorn
  • Show Website
    Pak Chat