Technology reporter Amelia McGuire and Chanticleer columnist Anthony Macdonald on whether Curtis' AI start-up Firmus can live up to the hype.

This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband

Further reading:
Firmus lands $600m-plus annual tech giant deal as it eyes ASX float
The artificial intelligence start-up has already announced a $70 billion plan to work with Nvidia and CDC Data Centres on facilities across the country.
Firmus plans mid-year IPO after sealing $14b Blackstone deal
The AI data centre provider co-founded by Oliver Curtis has secured the huge debt facility to build its so-called AI factories across Australia.
The new iron ore: Can AI ‘tokens’ become Australia’s next great export?
Having exhausted excess power in the US, the tech giants want to have AI factories in Australia. Are we the lucky country again, or is it all a trick?

Technology reporter Amelia McGuire and Chanticleer columnist Anthony Macdonald on whether Curtis' AI start-up Firmus can live up to the hype.
This podcast is sponsored by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aussiebroadband.com.au/">Aussie Broadband</a>
Further reading: <a href="https://www.afr.com/technology/firmus-lands-600m-plus-tech-giant-deal-as-it-eyes-asx-float-20260301-p5o6f5">Firmus lands $600m-plus annual tech giant deal as it eyes ASX float</a> The artificial intelligence start-up has already announced a $70 billion plan to work with Nvidia and CDC Data Centres on facilities across the country. <a href="https://www.afr.com/technology/firmus-seals-us10bn-blackstone-deal-to-fund-australian-ai-factories-20260209-p5o0o4">Firmus plans mid-year IPO after sealing $14b Blackstone deal</a> The AI data centre provider co-founded by Oliver Curtis has secured the huge debt facility to build its so-called AI factories across Australia. <a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/infrastructure/silicon-valley-wants-australia-for-data-centres-but-canberra-is-afraid-of-the-dark-20251212-p5nn6l">The new iron ore: Can AI &lsquo;tokens&rsquo; become Australia&rsquo;s next great export?</a> Having exhausted excess power in the US, the tech giants want to have AI factories in Australia. Are we the lucky country again, or is it all a trick?

A weekly podcast from The Australian Financial Review that examines the biggest stories in business, markets and politics, and why they matter, explained by the best financial journalists in the country.

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A weekly podcast from The Australian Financial Review that examines the biggest stories in business, markets and politics, and why they matter, explained by the best financial journalists in the country.
Search The Fin and follow us wherever you get your podcasts.

A weekly podcast that examines the biggest stories in business, markets and politics, and why they matter.

The Fin

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Oliver Curtis on Firmus: From prison barber to AI billionaire

This week, media reporter Sam Buckingham-Jones on the radio stars' falling out and whether ARN can use it to exit one of the worst deals in Australian media history.

This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband

Further reading:
Kyle Sandilands fires back at ARN: ‘I am not in breach’
The high-profile radio personality says his employer denied him due process after it accused him of serious misconduct and cut up a $200 million contract.
Jackie O declares: ‘I did not quit’ radio show
In a statement on Friday Jackie Henderson said she was “deeply saddened by the events of the past week” after her radio partnership with Kyle Sandilands ended.
Kyle and Jackie O’s radio rift was about more than star power
The pair’s two-decade run atop broadcasting with the most expensive show of its kind has come to a sudden and acrimonious end. We look inside the implosion.                                                                ‘There is no line’: how Kyle Sandilands thrives in the cancel culture era The radio host on his record-breaking contract, expanding business empire and what the PM did at his wedding.

This week, media reporter Sam Buckingham-Jones on the radio stars' falling out and whether ARN can use it to exit one of the worst deals in Australian media history. This podcast is sponsored by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aussiebroadband.com.au/">Aussie Broadband</a> Further reading: <a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/media-and-marketing/kyle-sandilands-fires-back-at-arn-i-am-not-in-breach-20260310-p5o94r">Kyle Sandilands fires back at ARN: &lsquo;I am not in breach&rsquo; </a>The high-profile radio personality says his employer denied him due process after it accused him of serious misconduct and cut up a $200 million contract. <a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/media-and-marketing/kyle-sandilands-barred-from-contacting-jackie-o-as-legal-challenge-looms-20260306-p5o85h">Jackie O declares: &lsquo;I did not quit&rsquo; radio show </a>In a statement on Friday Jackie Henderson said she was &ldquo;deeply saddened by the events of the past week&rdquo; after her radio partnership with Kyle Sandilands ended. <a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/media-and-marketing/inside-the-implosion-of-australia-s-biggest-most-expensive-radio-show-20260304-p5o7gd">Kyle and Jackie O&rsquo;s radio rift was about more than star power </a>The pair&rsquo;s two-decade run atop broadcasting with the most expensive show of its kind has come to a sudden and acrimonious end. We look inside the implosion.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <a href="https://www.afr.com/wealth/people/there-is-no-line-how-kyle-sandilands-thrives-in-the-cancel-culture-era-20230829-p5e0bd">&lsquo;There is no line&rsquo;: how Kyle Sandilands thrives in the cancel culture era</a> The radio host on his record-breaking contract, expanding business empire and what the PM did at his wedding.

Kyle and Jackie O: Inside media's biggest split

This week, resources reporter Peter Ker on the challenges ahead for Australia’s iron ore industry, why copper is booming and what miners are doing to ensure the country remains a resources powerhouse.

This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband

Further reading:
Iron ore giants face billion-dollar hit from China-backed price switch
A new index for the country’s most lucrative export has been lower than the long-time benchmark for the vast majority of days since it was launched this year.
Size counts in mining’s game of relevance, but not that much Glencore
BHP and Rio shares are at record highs and their bosses are being courted at the White House. So how can Glencore boss Gary Nagle say they’re irrelevant?
Copper displaces iron ore as BHP’s best earner, supercharging profits
The Big Australian, like its rivals, pivoted towards commodities critical to the energy transition, with production of the red metal to grow 25 per cent by 2035.

This week, resources reporter Peter Ker on the challenges ahead for Australia&rsquo;s iron ore industry, why copper is booming and what miners are doing to ensure the country remains a resources powerhouse.
This podcast is sponsored by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aussiebroadband.com.au/">Aussie Broadband</a>
Further reading: <a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/mining/iron-ore-giants-face-billion-dollar-hit-from-china-backed-price-switch-20260221-p5o4ai">Iron ore giants face billion-dollar hit from China-backed price switch</a> A new index for the country&rsquo;s most lucrative export has been lower than the long-time benchmark for the vast majority of days since it was launched this year. <a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/mining/size-counts-in-mining-s-game-of-relevance-but-not-that-much-glencore-20260220-p5o47c">Size counts in mining&rsquo;s game of relevance, but not that much Glencore</a> BHP and Rio shares are at record highs and their bosses are being courted at the White House. So how can Glencore boss Gary Nagle say they&rsquo;re irrelevant? <a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/mining/bhp-boosts-dividends-on-6b-silver-sale-20260216-p5o2oy">Copper displaces iron ore as BHP&rsquo;s best earner, supercharging profits</a> The Big Australian, like its rivals, pivoted towards commodities critical to the energy transition, with production of the red metal to grow 25 per cent by 2035.

The copper pivot: BHP looks beyond the Iron Age

This week Technology editor Paul Smith and Chanticleer columnist James Thomson on why financial markets are suddenly spooked, which businesses are most at risk from AI disruption and whether the concern is overblown.

This podcast is sponsored by Vanta

Further reading:
WiseTech drops Australia’s first AI jobs bomb
Rapid, large-scale deployment of artificial intelligence is happening, with the companies most at risk of disruption leading the charge.
AI comes for the software giants, and Australia is no safe haven
One venture capitalist warns there will be “roadkill”. Another says the market is “schizoid”. Artificial intelligence is making tech increasingly turbulent.
Anthropic co-founder Dario Amodei warns AI has the potential to tear society apart
Dario Amodei’s Anthropic is behind the most popular AI platform for businesses worldwide, but he has serious worries about the technology tearing society apart.

This week Technology editor Paul Smith and Chanticleer columnist James Thomson on why financial markets are suddenly spooked, which businesses are most at risk from AI disruption and whether the concern is overblown.
This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://www.vanta.com/">Vanta</a>
Further reading: <a href="https://www.afr.com/chanticleer/wisetech-drops-australia-s-first-ai-jobs-bomb-20260225-p5o5c5">WiseTech drops Australia&rsquo;s first AI jobs bomb</a> Rapid, large-scale deployment of artificial intelligence is happening, with the companies most at risk of disruption leading the charge. <a href="https://www.afr.com/technology/ai-comes-for-the-software-giants-and-australia-is-no-safe-haven-20260204-p5nzfw">AI comes for the software giants, and Australia is no safe haven</a> One venture capitalist warns there will be &ldquo;roadkill&rdquo;. Another says the market is &ldquo;schizoid&rdquo;. Artificial intelligence is making tech increasingly turbulent. <a href="https://www.afr.com/technology/ai-giant-anthropic-s-boss-gets-honest-about-the-chaos-to-come-20260127-p5nxbb">Anthropic co-founder Dario Amodei warns AI has the potential to tear society apart</a> Dario Amodei&rsquo;s Anthropic is behind the most popular AI platform for businesses worldwide, but he has serious worries about the technology tearing society apart.

Oliver Curtis on Firmus: From prison barber to AI billionaire

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