The Real Biz Life Chronicles

Tracy Fryer
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Unedited stories of Business, Branding and Life. Banish boring as Tracy Fryer and her guests take a ride on the rollercoaster of being a business owner - or of simply being human! Get ready to learn exactly what it takes to grow with distinction and show mediocrity the middle finger. In this podcast Tracy interview’s authentic business owners, who share their story of building a successful business, their strategies behind their success and leading the way.  RAW. Honest. Unedited. 

  1. #137 The Business That Only Exists Because Everything Else Fell Apart | Vee Gunasegaran

    4D AGO

    #137 The Business That Only Exists Because Everything Else Fell Apart | Vee Gunasegaran

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sat down with Vee Gunasegaran, co-founder and self-proclaimed Don of Cuppa Cartel, Perth’s premium workplace hospitality company. A former cabin crew member, Vee left Emirates and moved to Perth, stepping straight into what looked like a similar lifestyle. We talked about what it really looks like when a business falls apart, what it costs emotionally, and what it takes to rebuild when you have no safety net and every reason to stop. Vee and his wife Heidi moved to Perth from Dubai with a plan. They were setting up a medicinal cannabis company. They had the apartment in Applecross, the car, the lifestyle. And then it all unravelled. They lost their investment, their cash flow, and the future they had mapped out. Vee couldn't work while waiting for his partner visa.  And that is where this story really begins. This one is a full, honest conversation about what it really takes to build something from the ground up with the person you love. About Vee Gunasegaran Vee is the co-founder and "The Don" of Cuppa Cartel. Alongside his wife and business partner Heidi, he has built a personalised coffee and valet services provider for corporate offices across Perth. Originally from Penang, Malaysia, Vee previously worked in avionics before joining Emirates, where his years as a cabin crew member and in performance management became the foundation for delivering a business class experience in every corporate space Cuppa Cartel serves. Connect with Vee: sales@cuppacartel.com | LinkedIn | Website This episode is proudly sponsored by Cuppa Cartel. To celebrate, our listeners and the Cuppa Familia can enjoy a special rate on all coffee beans using code TRBLC at checkout. Discover your brand's potential with a free Brand Discovery session at https://designstudioperth.com.au/brand-discovery/ About Tracy:  Tracy Fryer is a branding powerhouse, speaker, and founder of Design Studio Perth and Trace Designs Bespoke. She’s dedicated to helping business owners and creatives build brands that truly reflect their values, passions, and long-term vision. As the host of The Real Biz Life Chronicles, Tracy brings raw, insightful conversations that push entrepreneurs to embrace bold growth, develop strategic branding, and lead with unapologetic confidence. Her approach is refreshingly real—blending deep expertise with a passion for authenticity, creative excellence, and business success. Connect with Tracy Fryer: LinkedIn Instagram TikTok The Real Biz Life Chronicles Instagram The Real Biz Life Chronicles Facebook The Real Biz Life Chronicles Spotify Book Your Free Brand Discovery Want to leave a question for our next guest? Share it with us at info@therealbizlifchronicles.com

    1h 52m
  2. #136 Build Your Purpose, Don’t Find It | Vanessa Vershaw

    APR 10

    #136 Build Your Purpose, Don’t Find It | Vanessa Vershaw

    Send us Fan Mail What if everything you have been told about purpose is wrong? I sat down with Vanessa Vershaw, founder and managing director of Vanessa Vershaw Group, and what unfolded was one of the most honest conversations I have had on this show. Vanessa is an award-winning workplace psychologist, strategic advisor and high performance coach with over 20 years inside Fortune 100 companies, ASX-listed boardrooms and founder-led businesses across the world. She is also the author of three books, including Unreasonable Ambition and The Sisterhood Paradox. In this episode we explore what purpose actually is, and why most people never do the work to uncover it. We talk about ambition done consciously versus ambition that quietly destroys. About resilience forged through real experience. And Vanessa shares a story about her great grandmother and a man at a bus stop that I will carry with me for a long time. This one will meet you wherever you are. About Vanessa Vershaw: Vanessa Vershaw is the founder and managing director of Vanessa Vershaw Group, a global practice blending psychology, neuroscience and human performance. She is an award-winning workplace psychologist, strategic advisor and high performance coach with over 20 years of experience working with Fortune 100 companies, ASX-listed boardrooms, government bodies and founder-led businesses worldwide. She is the author of three books and the creator of what she calls bold conscious evolution. Connect with Vanessa: Website: vanessavershaw.com  Instagram: instagram.com/vanessavershaw LinkedIn: au.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-vershaw This episode is proudly brought to you by Cuppa Cartel. To celebrate, our listeners and the Cuppa Familia can enjoy a special rate on all coffee beans using code TRBLC at checkout. Ready to build a brand that actually reflects who you are? Our Season 3 Brand Discovery offer is open now. Head to designstudioperth.com.au/brand-discovery or email info@therealbizlifechronicles.com  About Tracy:  Tracy Fryer is a branding powerhouse, speaker, and founder of Design Studio Perth and Trace Designs Bespoke. She’s dedicated to helping business owners and creatives build brands that truly reflect their values, passions, and long-term vision. As the host of The Real Biz Life Chronicles, Tracy brings raw, insightful conversations that push entrepreneurs to embrace bold growth, develop strategic branding, and lead with unapologetic confidence. Her approach is refreshingly real—blending deep expertise with a passion for authenticity, creative excellence, and business success. Connect with Tracy Fryer: LinkedIn Instagram TikTok The Real Biz Life Chronicles Instagram The Real Biz Life Chronicles Facebook The Real Biz Life Chronicles Spotify Book Your Free Brand Discovery Want to leave a question for our next guest? Share it with us at info@therealbizlifchronicles.com

    1h 5m
  3. #135 Think Cheap Branded Pens Save Money? Matthew Cody Reveals the Truth

    APR 3

    #135 Think Cheap Branded Pens Save Money? Matthew Cody Reveals the Truth

    Send us Fan Mail Why Cheap Branded Pens Cost You More Than You Think Most businesses treat branded merchandise as an afterthought. Matthew Cody has spent nearly 30 years making the case that this is exactly where brands get remembered, or forgotten. Matthew is the owner of Cody Group, a premium branded merchandise company serving businesses across Australia. He grew up in his family's business, Olympia Publishing, founded in 1987, spent his teenage years in the warehouse, and in 2016 made the decision to purchase it himself. A moment he calls both the bravest and the craziest thing he's ever done. In this conversation, Matthew shares why cheap products send a message your business doesn't intend, what it actually takes to create merchandise people keep and use, and how a single quality item can hold your brand in front of someone for years. We also talk about the real cost of building a business, the loneliness of going it alone, and the health shift that changed his clarity in ways he never expected. About Matthew Cody Matthew Cody is the owner of Cody Group, and his journey into business began at Olympia Publishing, the family business founded in 1987, where he learned how products were made, how clients were served, and what it really takes to build something that lasts. In 2016, he made the defining decision to purchase the business himself and reimagined it completely, growing it into Cody Group, a leading force in premium branded merchandise for businesses across Australia. His philosophy is simple: when a product is thoughtful, useful and beautifully made, it becomes more than merchandise. It becomes part of someone's daily life, and that's when a brand is truly remembered. Connect with Matthew Cody: Cody Group — codygroup.com.au  Matthew Cody on LinkedIn — linkedin.com/in/matthew-cody-aus  This episode is proudly brought to you by Cuppa Cartel. To celebrate, our listeners and the Cuppa Familia can enjoy a special rate on all coffee beans using code TRBLC at checkout. Thinking about your own brand? Book a free Brand Discovery session at designstudioperth.com.au/brand-discovery About Tracy:  Tracy Fryer is a branding powerhouse, speaker, and founder of Design Studio Perth and Trace Designs Bespoke. She’s dedicated to helping business owners and creatives build brands that truly reflect their values, passions, and long-term vision. As the host of The Real Biz Life Chronicles, Tracy brings raw, insightful conversations that push entrepreneurs to embrace bold growth, develop strategic branding, and lead with unapologetic confidence. Her approach is refreshingly real—blending deep expertise with a passion for authenticity, creative excellence, and business success. Connect with Tracy Fryer: LinkedIn Instagram TikTok The Real Biz Life Chronicles Instagram The Real Biz Life Chronicles Facebook The Real Biz Life Chronicles Spotify Book Your Free Brand Discovery Want to leave a question for our next guest? Share it with us at info@therealbizlifchronicles.com

    1h 4m
  4. #134 No Support? No Problem - Hamish Tedeschi on Backing Yourself

    MAR 27

    #134 No Support? No Problem - Hamish Tedeschi on Backing Yourself

    Send us Fan Mail Hamish Tedeschi has spent more than 20 years making bets on himself that most people only think about. He is the CEO and founder of Mechanical Rock, a Perth-based tech company that solves hard business problems with software, and a shareholder and advisor across multiple businesses. In this episode we get into the year that nearly broke him, what employee ownership really looks like in practice, why he believes secret job hunting is a form of deceit, and the quiet personal version of success he is still working toward every day. Hamish is refreshingly honest about his own limitations. He talks about imposter syndrome, the struggle to delegate, and what success actually costs. The relationships. The time with your kids. The version of yourself that existed before the business got big. Mentioned In This Episode: 15:52) The real problem underneath every tech problem (20:39) The dream of employee ownership and why it is harder than it sounds (26:18) The moment he genuinely thought it was over (34:43) What 20 years and two countries forced him to unlearn (39:06) What success actually costs that nobody talks about (44:33) The unpopular opinion on secret job hunting Connect with Hamish: Hamish.tedeschi@mechanicalrock.io | www.mechanicalrock.io | https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamishtedeschi/   This episode is proudly brought to you by Cuppa Cartel. To celebrate, our listeners and the Cuppa Familia can enjoy a special rate on all coffee beans using code TRBLC at checkout. Ready to get clear on your brand? The Season 3 offer from Design Studio Perth is still available at designstudioperth.com.au/brand-discovery or reach us at info@therealbizlifechronicles.com. About Tracy:  Tracy Fryer is a branding powerhouse, speaker, and founder of Design Studio Perth and Trace Designs Bespoke. She’s dedicated to helping business owners and creatives build brands that truly reflect their values, passions, and long-term vision. As the host of The Real Biz Life Chronicles, Tracy brings raw, insightful conversations that push entrepreneurs to embrace bold growth, develop strategic branding, and lead with unapologetic confidence. Her approach is refreshingly real—blending deep expertise with a passion for authenticity, creative excellence, and business success. Connect with Tracy Fryer: LinkedIn Instagram TikTok The Real Biz Life Chronicles Instagram The Real Biz Life Chronicles Facebook The Real Biz Life Chronicles Spotify Book Your Free Brand Discovery Want to leave a question for our next guest? Share it with us at info@therealbizlifchronicles.com

    1h 4m
  5. #133: No One Tells You This About Building a Business | Paul Claessen

    MAR 20

    #133: No One Tells You This About Building a Business | Paul Claessen

    Send us Fan Mail What if the person who changed your business was the one who refused to let you stay comfortable? I met Paul in November 2021. I was not in a great place. He saw something in me I could not see in myself, and he has shown up every day since. Running a business is genuinely difficult. But that life you imagined when you backed yourself, the freedom, the fulfillment, living and working on your own terms, it is possible. This episode is for every business owner who has quietly wondered if they are cut out for this. You are. And you do not have to do it alone. In This Episode (16:49) The real process behind seeing potential in people before they see it themselves (24:59) The biggest lie the business world keeps selling and what actually works (31:51) How he grew a business to over 100 contractors in nine months (40:33) What Paul does when it all feels like too much (44:55) What gives him self worth when everything else is stripped away (54:06) Why he seeks suffering over happiness and what stoicism means in practice (1:04:44) The one thing he wants every business owner to take from this conversation Connect: paulclaessen.com.au | LinkedIn Business Page | Personal LinkedIn Page Sponsored by Cuppa Cartel To celebrate, our listeners and the Cuppa Familia can enjoy a special rate on all coffee beans using code TRBLC at checkout. Questions? info@therealbizlifechronicles.com   Free Brand Discovery: designstudioperth.com.au/brand-discovery  About Tracy:  Tracy Fryer is a branding powerhouse, speaker, and founder of Design Studio Perth and Trace Designs Bespoke. She’s dedicated to helping business owners and creatives build brands that truly reflect their values, passions, and long-term vision. As the host of The Real Biz Life Chronicles, Tracy brings raw, insightful conversations that push entrepreneurs to embrace bold growth, develop strategic branding, and lead with unapologetic confidence. Her approach is refreshingly real—blending deep expertise with a passion for authenticity, creative excellence, and business success. Connect with Tracy Fryer: LinkedIn Instagram TikTok The Real Biz Life Chronicles Instagram The Real Biz Life Chronicles Facebook The Real Biz Life Chronicles Spotify Book Your Free Brand Discovery Want to leave a question for our next guest? Share it with us at info@therealbizlifchronicles.com

    1h 14m
  6. #132 Darren Keegan: Why Most Leaders Make the Wrong Decisions

    JAN 29

    #132 Darren Keegan: Why Most Leaders Make the Wrong Decisions

    Send us Fan Mail What if the decisions you trust most are shaped long before logic ever enters the room? I sat down with Dr Darren Keegan, a strategist, decision scientist and AI-native consultant whose work lives at the intersection of intuition, judgement and human behaviour. Darren has spent years designing immersive business simulations for global organisations, helping leaders see how decisions actually unfold, not how we like to imagine they do. This conversation challenged many of the assumptions we make about rational leadership. We explored why intuition is always present, why data can quietly mislead us, and how bias, experience and emotion shape judgement long before a decision is executed. If you’ve ever ignored a gut feeling, over-relied on data, or wondered why “logical” decisions don’t always deliver logical outcomes, this episode is for you. Mentioned In This Episode (12:22) Why intuition is unavoidable in decision-making (14:59) How lived experience shapes judgement before logic kicks in (20:15) When intuition becomes invalid and leads us astray (24:01) Thinking fast vs thinking slow and why we default to shortcuts (27:34) What leadership education gets wrong about silos and systems (37:36) Using AI as a reflective thinking partner (40:37) The difference between judgement and decision (46:20) What simulations reveal about power and organisational culture (50:17) Confirmation bias and how leaders misuse data (1:04:53) The pre-mortem tool for making better decisions About Darren Keegan Darren Keegan is a decision scientist and strategic consultant whose work explores how humans and machines shape judgement. He has designed business simulations and executive education experiences for global organisations and now works at the forefront of AI-native consulting, helping leaders navigate complexity with greater awareness and clarity. Connect with Darren: Website | LinkedIn Sponsor — Cuppa Cartel Fueling real conversations, one cuppa at a time. Season 2 Gift: https://designstudioperth.com.au/brand-discovery Question for guest: Email info@therealbizlifchronicles.com  About Tracy:  Tracy Fryer is a branding powerhouse, speaker, and founder of Design Studio Perth and Trace Designs Bespoke. She’s dedicated to helping business owners and creatives build brands that truly reflect their values, passions, and long-term vision. As the host of The Real Biz Life Chronicles, Tracy brings raw, insightful conversations that push entrepreneurs to embrace bold growth, develop strategic branding, and lead with unapologetic confidence. Her approach is refreshingly real—blending deep expertise with a passion for authenticity, creative excellence, and business success. Connect with Tracy Fryer: LinkedIn Instagram TikTok The Real Biz Life Chronicles Instagram The Real Biz Life Chronicles Facebook The Real Biz Life Chronicles Spotify Book Your Free Brand Discovery Want to leave a question for our next guest? Share it with us at info@therealbizlifchronicles.com

    1h 14m
  7. #131 Kate Molinari: Why People Choose to Follow Some Leaders

    JAN 22

    #131 Kate Molinari: Why People Choose to Follow Some Leaders

    Send us Fan Mail What does leadership look like when it’s stripped of titles, ego, and performative confidence? In this episode, I sit down with Kate Molinari, founder of Striide, to talk about the kind of leadership that people don’t just tolerate but actively choose to follow. Kate has led teams inside some of Australia’s biggest media organisations, including Seven West Media and Nine Entertainment Co. But it wasn’t corporate success alone that shaped her leadership philosophy. Motherhood, IVF, tough feedback early in her career, and stepping away from a role she loved all forced her to rethink what real leadership actually demands. We talk about confidence without control, empathy without losing authority, and why the hardest conversations are often the most important ones. Kate shares practical frameworks for feedback, leadership clarity, and building teams that actually trust one another, not just comply. If you’re building a team, leading people, or questioning the kind of leader you want to become, this episode will land. Mentioned in This Episode: (09:56) How Striide was built organically from lived leadership experience (13:36) What actually makes a great leader in today’s workplace (14:38) The feedback moment that reshaped Kate’s leadership forever (19:30) Why listening is one of the most powerful leadership skills (20:33) How to prepare for difficult conversations with clarity and care (25:31) Leadership habits we need to stop pretending are working (27:00) The essential traits of leaders people trust and follow (40:25) Navigating leadership, ambition, and motherhood through IVF About Kate Molinari Kate Molinari is the founder of Striide, a leadership development business focused on confidence, connection, and impact. With over 15 years’ experience leading high-performing teams, Kate now works with leaders, organisations, and schools to build practical, human leadership capability that actually works in the real world. Connect: LinkedIn | Website Official Sponsor — https://cuppacartel.com/ FREE Brand Discovery: https://designstudioperth.com.au/brand-discovery About Tracy:  Tracy Fryer is a branding powerhouse, speaker, and founder of Design Studio Perth and Trace Designs Bespoke. She’s dedicated to helping business owners and creatives build brands that truly reflect their values, passions, and long-term vision. As the host of The Real Biz Life Chronicles, Tracy brings raw, insightful conversations that push entrepreneurs to embrace bold growth, develop strategic branding, and lead with unapologetic confidence. Her approach is refreshingly real—blending deep expertise with a passion for authenticity, creative excellence, and business success. Connect with Tracy Fryer: LinkedIn Instagram TikTok The Real Biz Life Chronicles Instagram The Real Biz Life Chronicles Facebook The Real Biz Life Chronicles Spotify Book Your Free Brand Discovery Want to leave a question for our next guest? Share it with us at info@therealbizlifchronicles.com

    55 min
  8. #130 Laura McRae: Finding Your Voice When You Don’t Feel Ready

    JAN 15

    #130 Laura McRae: Finding Your Voice When You Don’t Feel Ready

    Send us Fan Mail What if finding your voice isn’t about confidence at all, but about starting before you feel ready? In this episode, I sit down with Laura McRae, founder of Podcast Support Services and host of Podcasting for Business Owners. Laura is thoughtful, grounded, and refreshingly honest about what it really takes to show up when you’re naturally introverted, behind the scenes, and unsure you belong in the spotlight. Podcasting became her bridge. Not a stage for performance, but a place to practise being heard. We talk about finding your voice before confidence shows up, why podcasting is one of the most accessible platforms for business owners, and how imperfect action often creates the clarity we’re waiting for.  If you’ve been sitting on an idea, a message, or a podcast you keep postponing, this conversation is where you get started. In This Episode: (06:05) Finding your voice as an introvert (08:01) Why audio is the safest place to start if visibility feels daunting (10:09) Podcasting as the backbone of your content strategy (11:05) Why most podcasts stop after 10 episodes (14:58) Perfectionism, scripting, and speaking off the cuff (18:30) The unexpected power of podcast connections (25:24) Defining your audience, goals, and podcast mission (37:44) Why even confident speakers feel nervous starting a podcast (44:55) The simplest way to finally get started About Laura McRae Laura McRae is a podcast consultant and manager who helps business owners launch and grow podcasts that support real business goals without the tech stress. Through Podcast Support Services, she combines marketing expertise with practical podcasting support to help clients stay consistent, confident, and heard. Connect with Laura: Website: podcastsupportservices.com.au Instagram: @podcast.support.services LinkedIn: Laura McRae My Dad Wrote a Porno: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1pTV7WTxWRQI5bVeMsWzQf?si=27da01b550f1495e   Laura Mcrae’s Newsletter: https://podcastsupportservices.com.au/thelonggame/  ☕Official Sponsor — https://cuppacartel.com/ 🎁 FREE Brand Discovery: https://designstudioperth.com.au/brand-discovery About Tracy:  Tracy Fryer is a branding powerhouse, speaker, and founder of Design Studio Perth and Trace Designs Bespoke. She’s dedicated to helping business owners and creatives build brands that truly reflect their values, passions, and long-term vision. As the host of The Real Biz Life Chronicles, Tracy brings raw, insightful conversations that push entrepreneurs to embrace bold growth, develop strategic branding, and lead with unapologetic confidence. Her approach is refreshingly real—blending deep expertise with a passion for authenticity, creative excellence, and business success. Connect with Tracy Fryer: LinkedIn Instagram TikTok The Real Biz Life Chronicles Instagram The Real Biz Life Chronicles Facebook The Real Biz Life Chronicles Spotify Book Your Free Brand Discovery Want to leave a question for our next guest? Share it with us at info@therealbizlifchronicles.com

    52 min
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About

Unedited stories of Business, Branding and Life. Banish boring as Tracy Fryer and her guests take a ride on the rollercoaster of being a business owner - or of simply being human! Get ready to learn exactly what it takes to grow with distinction and show mediocrity the middle finger. In this podcast Tracy interview’s authentic business owners, who share their story of building a successful business, their strategies behind their success and leading the way.  RAW. Honest. Unedited. 

Information

  • Creator
    Tracy Fryer
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    138
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Real Biz Life Chronicles
  • Show Website
    The Real Biz Life Chronicles

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