Melissa Leong is an independent Australian food writer, critique connoisseur, and media personality. 


Driven by curiosity, Melissa has transitioned from writing books to becoming a star on television, marking a successful career journey. From judging on the Masterchef to interviewing UFC fighters, Melissa finds it easy to adapt in the media with her genuine fascination of human being's stories.


Mark asks Melissa about her childhood and how she became such a lover for food. The two engage in a wide-ranging conversation on what makes a good meal, the alchemy in food, Melissa's multi-faceted media career, her randomness and why 2024 is the year of doing off-brand things.


Follow Mark Bouris on Instagram, LinkedIn & YouTube.  

You can subscribe to the newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/e7C8akgj.

Melissa Leong is an independent Australian food writer, critique connoisseur, and media personality.&nbsp; Driven by curiosity, Melissa has transitioned from writing books to becoming a star on television, marking a successful career journey. From judging on the Masterchef to interviewing UFC fighters, Melissa finds it easy to adapt in the media with her genuine fascination of human being's stories. Mark asks Melissa about her childhood and how she became such a lover for food. The two engage in a wide-ranging conversation on what makes a good meal, the alchemy in food, Melissa's multi-faceted media career, her randomness and why 2024 is the year of doing off-brand things. Follow Mark Bouris on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/mark_bouris/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://au.linkedin.com/in/markbouris" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPX01K1JgNS5pyzUtwtCtsQ" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">YouTube.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;You can subscribe to the newsletter here:&nbsp;<a href="https://lnkd.in/e7C8akgj" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://lnkd.in/e7C8akgj</a>.<hr>

Too often, we avoid real conversations. Entrepreneur Mark Bouris sits down and gets to know people, understands what makes them tick, and shares the great and unusual things they’re doing. There’s no sugar coating. There’s no hiding behind fancy marketing slogans. Just an honest conversation.

Too often, we avoid real conversations. Entrepreneur Mark Bouris sits down and gets to know people, understands what makes them tick, and shares the great and unusual things they&rsquo;re doing. There&rsquo;s no sugar coating. There&rsquo;s no hiding behind fancy marketing slogans. Just an honest conversation.

Straight Talk with Mark Bouris

# 117 Melissa Leong: Inside The Mind of a Tasteful Intellect

Leith van Onselen is one of Australia's most credible economists and a straight-talking critic of government policy.

 In this episode, we dissect the Albanese government's latest budget and its real impact on inflation, housing affordability, and living standards. Leith explains why this isn't tax reform but simply a tax grab, how immigration policy is driving the housing crisis, and why Australia's productivity growth ranks among the worst in the OECD. We explore the disconnect between headline GDP figures and per capita reality, the expansion of the government-funded sector, and what this means for future generations.

We get into:

• Why the budget won't help with inflation or interest rates 
• How immigration policy is crush-loading housing and infrastructure 
• The productivity crisis dragging down living standards 
• Government sector expansion crowding out private enterprise 
• Capital gains tax changes that could kill startup innovation 
• Bracket creep silently increasing everyone's tax burden 
• The 30% minimum CGT targeting self-funded retirees

Join my exclusive Mentored+ community: https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/
Subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://mentored.com.au/newsletter

Leith van Onselen is one of Australia's most credible economists and a straight-talking critic of government policy.
&nbsp;In this episode, we dissect the Albanese government's latest budget and its real impact on inflation, housing affordability, and living standards. Leith explains why this isn't tax reform but simply a tax grab, how immigration policy is driving the housing crisis, and why Australia's productivity growth ranks among the worst in the OECD. We explore the disconnect between headline GDP figures and per capita reality, the expansion of the government-funded sector, and what this means for future generations.
We get into:
&bull; Why the budget won't help with inflation or interest rates &bull; How immigration policy is crush-loading housing and infrastructure &bull; The productivity crisis dragging down living standards &bull; Government sector expansion crowding out private enterprise &bull; Capital gains tax changes that could kill startup innovation &bull; Bracket creep silently increasing everyone's tax burden &bull; The 30% minimum CGT targeting self-funded retirees Join my exclusive Mentored+ community:&nbsp;<a href="https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1779175200593000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1uKO9-oiuiGNHvqFpXyASu">https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/</a> Subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here:&nbsp;<a href="https://mentored.com.au/newsletter" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://mentored.com.au/newsletter&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1779175200593000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1dyYpzZzFa-J99dyJaGLcv">https://mentored.com.au/newsletter</a>

The Federal Budget Reality Check with Economist Leith van Onselen

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/0f2baaef-0323-4714-9072-b4500079b0cc/transcript

Cooper Cronk is one of rugby league's most cerebral players and a four-time premiership winner who transformed from a modest rugby union schoolboy into one of the game's greatest halfbacks.

In this conversation, Cronk reveals the mental frameworks that drove his success, from Craig Bellamy's obsession with fundamentals at Melbourne Storm to his legendary 2018 grand final performance with a broken scapula. He discusses the coffee test that Bellamy uses for recruitment, how the spine positions require high football IQ, and why great players have time others don't. Cronk also opens up about his worst career moment in the 2016 grand final and how it taught him the lesson that secured his next three premierships.

• Craig Bellamy's leadership philosophy and the coffee test for recruitment
• Playing the 2018 grand final with a broken shoulder blade
• The 2016 grand final disaster that changed his entire approach
• Why Melbourne Storm's spine trio dominated for over a decade  
• Cameron Smith's unparalleled football intelligence
• The fundamentals that separate elite performers from the rest
• His transition into financial services and property investment

Join my exclusive Mentored+ community: https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/
Subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://mentored.com.au/newsletter

Cooper Cronk is one of rugby league's most cerebral players and a four-time premiership winner who transformed from a modest rugby union schoolboy into one of the game's greatest halfbacks. In this conversation, Cronk reveals the mental frameworks that drove his success, from Craig Bellamy's obsession with fundamentals at Melbourne Storm to his legendary 2018 grand final performance with a broken scapula. He discusses the coffee test that Bellamy uses for recruitment, how the spine positions require high football IQ, and why great players have time others don't. Cronk also opens up about his worst career moment in the 2016 grand final and how it taught him the lesson that secured his next three premierships. &bull; Craig Bellamy's leadership philosophy and the coffee test for recruitment &bull; Playing the 2018 grand final with a broken shoulder blade &bull; The 2016 grand final disaster that changed his entire approach &bull; Why Melbourne Storm's spine trio dominated for over a decade &nbsp; &bull; Cameron Smith's unparalleled football intelligence &bull; The fundamentals that separate elite performers from the rest &bull; His transition into financial services and property investment Join my exclusive Mentored+ community:&nbsp;<a href="https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1779175200593000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1uKO9-oiuiGNHvqFpXyASu">https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/</a> Subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here:&nbsp;<a href="https://mentored.com.au/newsletter" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://mentored.com.au/newsletter&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1779175200593000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1dyYpzZzFa-J99dyJaGLcv">https://mentored.com.au/newsletter</a>

Cooper Cronk on Craig Bellamy, NRL State Of Origin selections & the mindset to be great

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/247f6870-b52e-4985-a8cd-b44e0071027c/transcript

Chris Richardson is one of Australia’s most quoted economists and the founder of Rich Insight, bringing decades of expertise from his time at Deloitte Access Economics to decode complex fiscal policy. 

Chris and I might not agree on every aspect of this budget, but that is what makes this conversation worth having. 

In this analysis of Australia’s latest budget, Richardson reveals why our living standards have barely grown over the past decade while other OECD nations have surged ahead by 17%. He dissects the real economic effects of the budget on inflation, interest rates, and the Reserve Bank’s delicate balancing act. Richardson also exposes the “off-budget” spending that keeps billions in government expenditure hidden from public scrutiny and explains why housing affordability will not be solved by capital gains tax changes alone.

Join my exclusive Mentored+ community: https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/

Subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://the-mentored-platform-pty-ltd.myklpages.com/l/WWJGc5

Chris Richardson is one of Australia&rsquo;s most quoted economists and the founder of Rich Insight, bringing decades of expertise from his time at Deloitte Access Economics to decode complex fiscal policy.&nbsp;
Chris and I might not agree on every aspect of this budget, but that is what makes this conversation worth having.&nbsp;
In this analysis of Australia&rsquo;s latest budget, Richardson reveals why our living standards have barely grown over the past decade while other OECD nations have surged ahead by 17%. He dissects the real economic effects of the budget on inflation, interest rates, and the Reserve Bank&rsquo;s delicate balancing act. Richardson also exposes the &ldquo;off-budget&rdquo; spending that keeps billions in government expenditure hidden from public scrutiny and explains why housing affordability will not be solved by capital gains tax changes alone.
Join my exclusive Mentored+ community:&nbsp;<a href="https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/">https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/</a>
Subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: <a href="https://the-mentored-platform-pty-ltd.myklpages.com/l/WWJGc5">https://the-mentored-platform-pty-ltd.myklpages.com/l/WWJGc5</a>

2026 Federal Budget Reaction with Economist Chris Richardson

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/dd738f3e-0014-4f74-9437-b449009c4c1d/transcript

# 117 Melissa Leong: Inside The Mind of a Tasteful Intellect

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