In these politically divisive times, whether we sit on the left or the right, it’s crucial to engage in respectful conversations with one another.


In this week's Straight Talk pod I spoke to founder of Cheek Media Hannah Ferguson about the current state of journalism and Australian politics.


Hannah and I have different perspectives from our life experiences, but I found it very insightful to hear how she views the world.


We spoke about her experience studying law, starting Cheek Media, the importance of having healthy discourse, her thoughts on Rupert Murdoch, running for Prime Minister, the state of Australian politics, her podcast 'Big Small Talk' and much more. Enjoy!


Follow Mark Bouris on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter & YouTube.  

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

In these politically divisive times, whether we sit on the left or the right, it’s crucial to engage in respectful conversations with one another. In this week's Straight Talk pod I spoke to founder of Cheek Media Hannah Ferguson about the current state of journalism and Australian politics. Hannah and I have different perspectives from our life experiences, but I found it very insightful to hear how she views the world. We spoke about her experience studying law, starting Cheek Media, the importance of having healthy discourse, her thoughts on Rupert Murdoch, running for Prime Minister, the state of Australian politics, her podcast 'Big Small Talk' and much more. Enjoy! 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>, <a href="https://twitter.com/markbouris" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Twitter</a> &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

#126 Do you really want to be the Prime Minister?: Hannah Ferguson on healthy discourse, Cheek Media & political aspirations

Mark Wales is a former SAS soldier who served multiple tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, now providing strategic analysis on the unfolding Middle East conflict and Australia's defence vulnerabilities.

Wales breaks down the current Iran operation, explaining how it differs from previous Middle East campaigns and why traditional military technology still requires boots on the ground. He discusses Australia's concerning defence gaps, from our 35-day fuel reserves to our minimal submarine fleet, and explains how geopolitical tensions could cascade into a broader global conflict involving multiple fronts. We get into:
• The strategic differences between Al-Qaeda and Taliban operations in Afghanistan 
• Why Iran's nuclear capabilities represent a regional tipping point 
• How Israel's long-term intelligence operations enabled recent strikes 
• Australia's critical defence vulnerabilities and fuel supply risks 
• The role of robotics and AI in modern warfare 
• China's military capabilities and Pacific theatre implications 
• Why current conflicts could escalate into multi-front warfare

Find out more about Mark Wales here: https://www.markwales.com.au/summary 

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

Mark Wales is a former SAS soldier who served multiple tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, now providing strategic analysis on the unfolding Middle East conflict and Australia's defence vulnerabilities.
Wales breaks down the current Iran operation, explaining how it differs from previous Middle East campaigns and why traditional military technology still requires boots on the ground.&nbsp;He discusses Australia's concerning defence gaps, from our 35-day fuel reserves to our minimal submarine fleet, and explains how geopolitical tensions could cascade into a broader global conflict involving multiple fronts. We get into: &bull; The strategic differences between Al-Qaeda and Taliban operations in Afghanistan &bull; Why Iran's nuclear capabilities represent a regional tipping point&nbsp; &bull; How Israel's long-term intelligence operations enabled recent strikes &bull; Australia's critical defence vulnerabilities and fuel supply risks &bull; The role of robotics and AI in modern warfare &bull; China's military capabilities and Pacific theatre implications &bull; Why current conflicts could escalate into multi-front warfare
Find out more about Mark Wales here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.markwales.com.au/summary" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.markwales.com.au/summary&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1773298095386000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2HcwEe1AbAew4Pab_NpfeD">https://www.markwales.com.au/summary</a>&nbsp; Join my exclusive Mentored+ community: https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/ Subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: <a href="https://mentored.com.au/newsletter">https://mentored.com.au/newsletter</a>

SAS Commander on WW3 Threat Assessment & Australia’s Role in Global Conflict

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/d75019be-efdc-4e82-8392-b40a00749cf4/transcript

Toby Walsh is one of the world's foremost artificial intelligence researchers — a professor at UNSW, author of multiple books on AI, and a regular voice at the United Nations on the governance of autonomous weapons.

In this conversation, Mark Bouris and Walsh cover the full arc of AI: from Alan Turing's original question about machine intelligence, to the way ChatGPT actually works, to the concentration of power in the hands of a handful of Silicon Valley figures. They examine the economics of the AI industry — who is actually making money, and why companies are spending billions they cannot yet recoup. Walsh also addresses the military application of AI in Ukraine and Gaza, the threat of autonomous weapons, and why he believes we may need to see atrocities before the world acts.
How Alan Turing defined artificial intelligence — and why that definition matters now
Why AI hallucinates and what it actually means when a chatbot gives you a wrong answer
The concentration of AI power into a small number of companies and individuals
Autonomous weapons, AI targeting in Gaza, and the coming arms race
The future of work — the four-day week, productivity gains, and what happens to human purpose
Why AI will likely replace human driving — and why that is a good thing
The case for global regulation and what Walsh is telling the United Nations

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

Claim $500 Bitcoin with OKX SMSF. SMSF trustees: Successfully sign-up your SMSF and get
verified for an OKX SMSF trading account. Deposit $5 and receive $500 worth of Bitcoin. Eligibility
requirements and T&amp;Cs apply. Book a 1-1 call with the OKX SMSF team today for guidance. Offer ends 31 March 2026.

Join the Facebook Group.

Toby Walsh is one of the world's foremost artificial intelligence researchers &mdash; a professor at UNSW, author of multiple books on AI, and a regular voice at the United Nations on the governance of autonomous weapons.
In this conversation, Mark Bouris and Walsh cover the full arc of AI: from Alan Turing's original question about machine intelligence, to the way ChatGPT actually works, to the concentration of power in the hands of a handful of Silicon Valley figures. They examine the economics of the AI industry &mdash; who is actually making money, and why companies are spending billions they cannot yet recoup. Walsh also addresses the military application of AI in Ukraine and Gaza, the threat of autonomous weapons, and why he believes we may need to see atrocities before the world acts.
<ul>
<li>How Alan Turing defined artificial intelligence &mdash; and why that definition matters now</li>
<li>Why AI hallucinates and what it actually means when a chatbot gives you a wrong answer</li>
<li>The concentration of AI power into a small number of companies and individuals</li>
<li>Autonomous weapons, AI targeting in Gaza, and the coming arms race</li>
<li>The future of work &mdash; the four-day week, productivity gains, and what happens to human purpose</li>
<li>Why AI will likely replace human driving &mdash; and why that is a good thing</li>
<li>The case for global regulation and what Walsh is telling the United Nations</li>
</ul>
Join my exclusive Mentored+ community: <a href="https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/">https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/</a><a href="https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/">&nbsp;</a>
Claim $500 Bitcoin with OKX SMSF. SMSF trustees: Successfully sign-up your SMSF and get verified for an OKX SMSF trading account. Deposit $5 and receive $500 worth of Bitcoin. Eligibility requirements and T&amp;amp;Cs apply. Book a 1-1 call with the OKX SMSF team today for guidance. Offer&nbsp;ends 31 March 2026.
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/mentormarkbouris/">Join the Facebook Group.</a>

AI Safety Expert: Warfare Will Never Be The Same & Which Jobs Will Go Next

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/0d7d3f0b-3435-44d3-8dc8-b4020074fe49/transcript

Craig Laundy joins me in Las Vegas for a direct conversation on business, politics and legacy, from the Bulldogs’ resurgence to the Laundy family’s investment in 2GB. We unpack the future of Australian politics, the role of AI, economic pressure points and what it takes to build long term impact across generations.

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

Claim $500 Bitcoin with OKX SMSF. SMSF trustees: Successfully sign-up your SMSF and get
verified for an OKX SMSF trading account. Deposit $5 and receive $500 worth of Bitcoin. Eligibility
requirements and T&amp;Cs apply. Book a 1-1 call with the OKX SMSF team today for guidance. Offer ends 31 March 2026.

Join the Facebook Group.

 

Craig Laundy joins me in Las Vegas for a direct conversation on business, politics and legacy, from the Bulldogs&rsquo; resurgence to the Laundy family&rsquo;s investment in 2GB. We unpack the future of Australian politics, the role of AI, economic pressure points and what it takes to build long term impact across generations.
Join my exclusive Mentored+ community:&nbsp;<a href="https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/">https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/</a><a href="https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/">&nbsp;</a>
Claim $500 Bitcoin with OKX SMSF. SMSF trustees: Successfully sign-up your SMSF and get verified for an OKX SMSF trading account. Deposit $5 and receive $500 worth of Bitcoin. Eligibility requirements and T&amp;amp;Cs apply. Book a 1-1 call with the OKX SMSF team today for guidance. Offer&nbsp;ends 31 March 2026.
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/mentormarkbouris/">Join the Facebook Group.</a>
&nbsp;

The problem with Australian politics! Craig Laundy on Energy, AI and Australia’s Next Crisis

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/761faec4-d2d3-4758-aad5-b401003a1a92/transcript

#126 Do you really want to be the Prime Minister?: Hannah Ferguson on healthy discourse, Cheek Media & political aspirations

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