The Contrarians with Adam and Adir
Business & Finance
About
Get the fearless truth about start-ups and corporate Australia from guys that give you the hard facts, not the company line. Hear Luxury Escapes co-founder Adam Schwab and Catapult Sports Exec Chairman Adir Shiffman provide the inside word on the biggest stories in business with a contrarian take from the guys who sit on both sides of the table. New episodes dropping weekly.
Episodes
- Ask Us Anything: My boss is working from home but we’re in all the office + Dealing with loss and it’s impact on work
Adam and Adir answer listener questions, including one about a boss working from home while the team is in the office. They also discuss dealing with loss and its impact on work and mental well-being. This is a Q&A episode.
- Cochlear Crashes, Firmus IPO Drama, Self Driving vs Flying, Batteries Step Up, Uber x Expedia, Ghost Buses and the Experience Economy
In this episode, Adam and Adir discuss Cochlear's profit downgrade, the Firmus IPO, the future of self-driving versus flying, advancements in battery technology, and the collaboration between Uber and Expedia. They also touch on public tra…
- Ask Us Anything: Trump’s latest assassination attempt + Are classic trades the most reliable career path?
This episode of The Contrarians with Adam and Adir features a Q&A session. Topics include the reliability of classic trades as a career path, taking on more responsibility at work, and a recent incident involving Donald Trump.
- Heidi Health, Canva, Mecca’s Rise and Rise, NDIS Flesh Wound, CTM Disaster Gets Worse, Temple & Webster CEO Shock and Copilot Fail
This episode discusses Heidi Health, Canva, Mecca, the NDIS, CTM, Temple & Webster, and Microsoft Copilot. The hosts provide an in-depth analysis of these subjects.
- Ask Us Anything: AI Effecting Entry Level Jobs + The Value of Personal Brands
This episode of The Contrarians with Adam and Adir addresses listener questions about AI's impact on entry-level jobs and the value of building a personal brand. They also touch on property productivity.
- Shark Tank Star and VC Steve Baxter, Mythos, Will Quantum Kill Encryption, Pope Double Standards, Data Centres, Glydways and Hermes
This episode features Steve Baxter discussing investments and Adir exploring encryption. Other topics include Pope Leo vs Donald Trump, the investability of data centers, the future of trains, and Hermes.
- Ask Us Anything: Researching when investing in public companies + Was the Prime Minister’s Address Necessary!?
In this Q&A episode, Adam and Adir discuss the extent of research needed when investing in public companies and consider what justifies a Prime Minister's public address. They also touch on leaving friends behind in a workplace.
- WFH Blow, SpaceX IPO, Droneshield Deckchair Shuffle, GYG Hits Back and CTM Debacle Continues
Adam and Adir of The Contrarians discuss a tax ruling on WFH, SpaceX IPO, changes at Droneshield, GYG's performance, and CTM's investor relations. They cover various financial and business news topics.
- Ask Us Anything: Finding enough time to do it all + Starting a business in 2026 vs 2006
In this 'Ask Us Anything' episode, Adam and Adir discuss strategies for finding time, the differences between starting a business in 2026 and 2006, and whether to commit to a single AI service. They answer listener questions on these topic…
- CostCo, Kathmandu Deep Dive, Albo makes Petrol Crisis Worse, RBA’s Credit Card Surcharge Disgrace, Waymo Love and Victorian Government Gets Something Right
The Contrarians with Adam and Adir discuss various topics including CostCo, KMD Brands' capital raise, the Australian Government's fuel excise cut, the RBA, Waymo, and a Victorian Government decision. The hosts share their perspectives on…
- Special Bonus: Carma Deep Dive with special guest, Scott Middleton
Adam and Adir are joined by Terem Capital's Scott Middleton to discuss the business model of recently IPO'd Carma. They examine whether the market has accurately valued the company.
- Canva’s Profitless Profit, Smiggle Slumps, Catapult Flying, CGT Debacle, the Incredible Benefits of Autonomous Cars, Firmus and Adam Gets Run over by a Golf Buggy
Adam and Adir discuss several topics including Canva's profit results, Smiggle's slump, Catapult's performance, and CGT. They also cover the benefits of autonomous cars and an incident involving Adam and a golf buggy.
- Ask Us Anything: Should fuel price surges mean people work from home? + What does it mean to be Australian?
This episode of The Contrarians with Adam and Adir is a Q&A. Topics include whether fuel price increases should lead to more working from home and the meaning of being Australian.
- Rich List, Atlassian Crash, Seek Horrors, Operation Epic Fury, Biennial Disgrace, Councils Behaving Badly and Adir’s Great and Terrible Calls
Adam and Adir discuss various topics including the Rich List, Atlassian's performance, the Seek Brothers, Operation Epic Fury, and local council inefficiencies. The episode also touches on the Sydney Biennial and Adir's stock calls.
- Ask Us Anything: Are electric trucks the future? + What if the State of Victoria was a company?
This episode of The Contrarians with Adam and Adir addresses whether Australia should adopt electric trucking, the future of decentralized currency, and how the state of Victoria might function as a company.
- Atlassian Sacks Thousands, Koala to IPO, Grace Tame’s Disgrace, Star Directors Get Off, Best AI Platforms and Biggest EV Adopters
Adam and Adir discuss Atlassian's mass termination event, Koala's IPO, Grace Tame, Michael Lee's Star Casino judgment, the best LLMs, and which countries have the highest EV adoption. They cover multiple business and current events.
- Ask Us Anything: The dwindling radio industry + How did the market get GYG so wrong?
This episode of The Contrarians with Adam and Adir addresses listener questions about the radio industry, contrarian perspectives, and the market's assessment of GYG. The hosts delve into these topics in their "Ask Us Anything" segment.
- Life360 Deep Dive, Dorsey’s Block Shambles, Kyle & Jackie Implode, OpenAI Raise in Doubt, Grand Prix and World’s Most Valuable Sporting Franchises.
This episode of The Contrarians with Adam and Adir covers a deep dive into Life360, Jack Dorsey, OpenAI, the Australian Grand Prix, and the world's most valuable sporting franchises.
- Ask Us Anything: Negative experiences in business deals + Would you rather Human or AI phone agents?
In this "Ask Us Anything" episode, Adam and Adir discuss negative experiences in business deals, SaaS usage at Luxury Escapes, and whether they would prefer human or AI phone agents. They address various listener questions.
- Death of a Tyrant, Eucalyptus Riches, Open AI’s Lofty Valuation, Cettire in Tatters, CTM Clinging On and Jacinda Hates NZ
Adam and Adir discuss global events and financial news, including the death of a brutal murderer in Iran, Eucalyptus founder riches, and OpenAI's valuation. They also analyze companies such as Cettire and CTM, and discuss Jacinda Ardern's…
- Ask Us Anything: Hiding Failures on LinkedIn? + Milking opportunities where your business succeeds publicly!
This episode of The Contrarians with Adam and Adir focuses on answering listener questions. Topics include how to handle AI being blamed for poor results, maximizing opportunities from public business successes, and managing failures on Li…
- Eucalyptus Sale Deep Dive, is Waymo an Uber killer, Winnings’ Winnings, Victoria becomes an official Crime State, Adir Visits Lakemba and special guest business publishing legend, Chris Janz
This episode of The Contrarians with Adam and Adir discusses Eucalyptus' sale to Hims and Hers, Uber's self-driving challenges, Winnings' sale to Ellerston, and issues in Victoria. They also chat with Chris Janz, founder of Capital Brief.
- Ask Us Anything: Is AI changing productivity expectations in business? + Are whole body MRIs getting more popular + Wes Maas investing in AI
This episode of The Contrarians with Adam and Adir addresses listener questions about AI's effect on business productivity, the increasing popularity of whole-body MRIs in preventative health, and Wes Maas's venture into AI investments.
- Special guest Joe Aston joins, Winter Olympics Sexism, the Rise and Fall of Luke Sayers, Corporate Travel Management and Temple & Webster Crash
Joe Aston is a guest on "The Contrarians with Adam and Adir." They discuss the rise and fall of Luke Sayers, Corporate Travel Management, Temple & Webster's performance, Winter Olympics sexism, and council issues.
- Ask Us Anything: Finding balanced views in modern journalism + How AI will impact spreadsheets + Meditation as a tool for success
Adam and Adir answer questions on finding balanced views in modern journalism, the impact of AI on spreadsheets, and the role of meditation in their daily lives. This episode covers various topics in an "Ask Us Anything" format.
- Saas Crash! AI Collapse. Atlassian Hammered. Xero Obliterated. BTC Decimated. CTM Founder Lives Large. Will Canva Take Down Australian VCs.
The hosts discuss market volatility, including declines in SaaS stocks like Atlassian and Xero, the drop in Bitcoin prices, and questions surrounding the valuation of Canva and the activities of CTM's founder.
- Ask Us Anything: Are traditional medical clinics still worth it? + Is Substack undermining traditional media?
This episode of The Contrarians with Adam and Adir addresses listener questions, including the continued value of traditional medical clinics and the influence of Substack on traditional media outlets.
- $16 billion IREN Deep Dive, OnlyFans For Sale, Escalante's Fall, will Moltbook take over the world, Jamie Pherous Cuts and Runs and Aus Open
The Contrarians with Adam and Adir discuss the US$16 billion IREN with Scott Middleton, the sale of OnlyFans, Laurence Escalante's charges, AI, CTM founder's departure, and the Australian Open. They also cover Jamie Pherous and the Austral…
- Ask Us Anything: Should we change the date of Australia Day? + Mark Carney’s DAVOS Speech + How to effectively manage time?
In this episode of The Contrarians with Adam and Adir, the hosts discuss the debate over Australia Day, Mark Carney's speech at Davos, and offer advice on time management and productivity.
- Netflix Dumped, SaaS Meltdown, Koala Deep Dive, Are Private Schools Worth It, Airlines and Goyder’s Parting Disgrace
The hosts discuss current events including Netflix's share price and Warner Bros, the SaaS market, the performance of the brand Koala, the cost of private education, and recent AFL news regarding Goyder.
- Ask Us Anything: How do we prioritise sleep? + Is wearable fitness tech worth it? + Managing a staff member who doesn't gel with your staff
Adam and Adir answer listener questions regarding sleep prioritization, the value of wearable fitness technology, and strategies for managing staff members who do not integrate well with a team.
- Jellycat Deep Dive, Atlassian Share Price Crash, Kings Counsel Ransom, Writers Festival Monstrosity, SXSW Sydney Dies and Adam’s Passport Bliss
In this episode, the hosts discuss the profitability of Jellycat, the decline in Atlassian's share price, and issues surrounding the Adelaide Writers Festival. Additionally, guest Jessy Wu joins to discuss the end of SXSW Sydney, while Ada…
- Ask Us Anything: Working through Christmas + Should high school students get jobs?
In this episode of The Contrarians with Adam and Adir, the hosts answer audience questions regarding working during the Christmas holiday and whether high school students should hold jobs.
- Costco Deepdive, Health Insurance Pricing, Iran on the Edge of Freedom and Albo's Royal Commission Dark Arts
Adam and Adir analyze the Costco business model, health insurance pricing, ongoing protests in Iran, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's approach to the Royal Commission.
- Ask Us Anything: To Gap Year or Not To Gap Year? + Will We Have AI Movies Soon?
In this 'Ask Us Anything' episode of The Contrarians with Adam and Adir, the hosts discuss the decision to take a gap year and explore the future possibility of AI-generated movies.
- 2026 Predictions and What We Got Badly Wrong (and Right) Last Year
Hosts Adam and Adir review their 2025 predictions and discuss their forecasts for 2026. They evaluate their past performance while sharing new predictions for the coming year.
- Ask Us Anything: Australia's Best & Worst PM? + Worst Ever Travel Experiences
Adam and Adir answer listener questions in an 'Ask Us Anything' session, covering their perspectives on Australia's best and worst Prime Ministers and sharing stories about their worst ever travel experiences.
- Hot Doc Sale Bonanza, Corporate Travel Management Survives for Now, Albo Kinda cuts Business Class, Why Consumer Businesses Shouldn’t Shut during Christmas and Busiest Airline Routes
Adam and Adir discuss the sale of HotDoc, the business outlook for Corporate Travel Management, and Prime Minister Albanese’s travel rule changes. The hosts also examine business operations during the holidays and identify the world's busi…
- Ask Us Anything: Does Everyone Need a Side Hustle? + The Biggest Story of 2025?
In this episode of The Contrarians with Adam and Adir, the hosts conduct an Ask Us Anything session, discussing the necessity of side hustles and their predictions for the biggest story of 2025.
- Bondi Massacre Hit Albanese, Taylor Swift’s Riches, ASIC’s Netwealth Fail, PuppyGate, Chemist Warehouse, Shayne Elliott’s $13m Cash Grab and Lululemon Deep Dive
Adam and Adir discuss topics including the Bondi tragedy, Labor's stance on antisemitism, Taylor Swift's finances, ASIC, various corporate news, and Lululemon.
- Ask Us Anything: Silvagni Case and Suppression Orders + Arnott's $45M Debt Facility
In this episode of The Contrarians with Adam and Adir, the hosts answer audience questions regarding the Silvagni case and suppression orders, and discuss the $45 million debt facility for Arnott's.
- The Age of Entitlement in Full Swing, Corporate Travel Deep Dive, Most Valuable Brands, Law Firm Break Up, Maggie Beer, Interest Rates to the Moon and Waymo Flies
Adam and Adir discuss political spending, Corporate Travel Management, global brand valuations, Mallesons, RBA interest rate policies, and Waymo. They also cover the rise of entitlement and current market trends.
- First thoughts of the terror attack at Bondi Beach
Adam and Adir discuss the impact of the antisemitic terror attack at Bondi Beach on the Jewish community and Australia as a nation.
- Ask Us Anything: The growth of women's sports + Is Melbourne's Metro Tunnel POINTLESS?
Adam and Adir host a Q&A session discussing the growth of women's sports and the utility of Melbourne's Metro Tunnel.
- Is OpenAI a Goner? Don’t Miss Adir’s AI Deep Dive, Netflix goes Pacman, Bending Spoons goes Old Skool, Social Media Ban, Amex Kills Points and Pollies Behaving Badly
This episode covers the future of OpenAI, Netflix's potential bid for Warner, Bending Spoons reaching an $11 billion valuation, and Australia's social media ban. Topics also include Amex point changes and a business class travel incident.
- Ask Us Anything: Buying through Ali Express? + Should AirBnB be banned?
Adam and Adir answer audience questions regarding the use of AliExpress and the potential banning of Airbnb.
- Temple & Webster Deep Dive Special Episode
Adam, Adir, and Scott from Terem Capital analyze Temple & Webster following an 18% revenue growth report at the company's AGM. They discuss the recent decline in share price.
- Droneshield Drill Down, Corporate Travel Management Implodes, BOM Laughing Stock, Compaq, Mike's Jet and the Richest New Zealanders
The hosts discuss the performance of Droneshield and Corporate Travel Management, examine technical issues at the Bureau of Meteorology, review the history of Compaq, and profile the wealthiest individuals in New Zealand.
- Ask Us Anything: Is This the End of Country Road? + Flight Centre's New Loyalty Program
In this episode of The Contrarians with Adam and Adir, the hosts answer audience questions regarding the future of Country Road and discuss Flight Centre's new loyalty program.
- Nvidia Worries, Xero Disappoints Again, Droneshield Nightmare Gets Worse, Tesla, Defund the ABC and Adir's Awesome Quiz
Adam and Adir discuss stock market concerns regarding Nvidia and Xero, recent developments at Droneshield, and Tesla news. They also touch on ABC bias and conclude with a quiz.