The John Weeks Show Podcast - 2026-4-27

The John Weeks Show is a two-hour radio program that focusses on social media, science, the environment, self-development, personal achievement, social justice, and other associated areas.

The program addresses these subjects in an honest, sincere and non-sensational way. Each of John’s guests is treated with the utmost respect.

The show features music of many genres (eg ambient, Celtic, electronic, contemporary style of music, 'World', Blues….).

John, a veteran broadcaster on Community radio for 29 years, is a strong supporter of the arts & entertainment scene. Through his radio programs he has promoted established and lesser-known musicians, authors, artists and achievers.

The John Weeks Show is a two-hour radio program that focusses on social media, science, the environment, self-development, personal achievement, social justice, and other associated areas. The program addresses these subjects in an honest, sincere and non-sensational way. Each of John&rsquo;s guests is treated with the utmost respect. The show features music of many genres (eg ambient, Celtic, electronic, contemporary style of music, 'World', Blues&hellip;.). John, a veteran broadcaster on Community radio for 29 years, is a strong supporter of the arts &amp; entertainment scene. Through his radio programs he has promoted established and lesser-known musicians, authors, artists and achievers.

The John Weeks Show

The John Weeks Show Podcast - 2026-4-27

PROGRAM 072 20260713

Interview : Brent Murphy and Kerryn Daniel

Interview by John Weeks

NSW Central Coast country duo Nashdale released their new single, Boots Back On, on June 26, a song about knowing when it's time to walk away and having the confidence to do it.

Written by Brent Murphy and Kerryn Daniel, the song began with lyrics Brent scribbled down in the early hours of the morning after reflecting on a relationship that wasn't working.

"It started at about 2.30 in the morning after way too many Jack Daniels," Brent said.

"It came from one of those emotional push-pull situations where neither person really wanted the other to go, but things just weren't working."

While the original idea sat untouched for several years, the song found its place when Kerryn suggested writing in a particular style and Brent revisited the unfinished lyrics.

"I brought the lyrics to Kerryn and she related," Brent said.

Together, the pair developed the song into an upbeat country track about refusing to sit around feeling sorry for yourself.

In the lyrics, the singer makes it clear that if she's handed her walking shoes, she'll put her boots back on, grab her guitar and get on with life.

"I don't think there's anyone who wouldn't relate to this song," Kerryn said.

"Everyone's been in that push-pull situation where you love someone, but you know you can't keep doing this anymore."

The boots featured in the promotional photos are also part of the song's story.

"They were the actual original boots from when I wrote the song," Brent said.

"They're full of holes, but I've had them forever and they've got character."

As well as releasing new tracks, the duo is keen to play live.

"Live performance is what we do," Kerryn said.

"That's where we're really in our element and where we connect with people."

Boots Back On features Glenn Wilson on drums and Dan Ebbles on guitar, alongside Brent and Kerryn with Brent in the production seat.

MUSIC PLAYLIST

Eric Bibb - Every Wind In The River

Vika Bull and The Essential R&B Band - At last

Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup - Rock Me Mama

Dave Steel and the Welcome Wagon - West Coast Railway

Nashdale -  Boots Back On

Neville Brothers - Brother Jake

Charles Brown - Travelin' Blues

Samuel James - Wooooooo Rosa

Janiva Magness - Less And Less Of You

Mike Freeman - 04 - channels

Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses - Tell My Mother I Miss Her So

Shelby Lynn - Willie And Laura Mae Jones

Jenny Biddle - Wild And Free

 

 

 

 

 

PROGRAM 072 20260713
Interview : Brent Murphy and Kerryn Daniel
Interview by John Weeks
NSW Central Coast country duo Nashdale released their new single, Boots Back On, on June 26, a song about knowing when it's time to walk away and having the confidence to do it.
Written by Brent Murphy and Kerryn Daniel, the song began with lyrics Brent scribbled down in the early hours of the morning after reflecting on a relationship that wasn't working.
"It started at about 2.30 in the morning after way too many Jack Daniels," Brent said.
"It came from one of those emotional push-pull situations where neither person really wanted the other to go, but things just weren't working."
While the original idea sat untouched for several years, the song found its place when Kerryn suggested writing in a particular style and Brent revisited the unfinished lyrics.
"I brought the lyrics to Kerryn and she related," Brent said.
Together, the pair developed the song into an upbeat country track about refusing to sit around feeling sorry for yourself.
In the lyrics, the singer makes it clear that if she's handed her walking shoes, she'll put her boots back on, grab her guitar and get on with life.
"I don't think there's anyone who wouldn't relate to this song," Kerryn said.
"Everyone's been in that push-pull situation where you love someone, but you know you can't keep doing this anymore."
The boots featured in the promotional photos are also part of the song's story.
"They were the actual original boots from when I wrote the song," Brent said.
"They're full of holes, but I've had them forever and they've got character."
As well as releasing new tracks, the duo is keen to play live.
"Live performance is what we do," Kerryn said.
"That's where we're really in our element and where we connect with people."
Boots Back On features Glenn Wilson on drums and Dan Ebbles on guitar, alongside Brent and Kerryn with Brent in the production seat.
MUSIC PLAYLIST
Eric Bibb - Every Wind In The River
Vika Bull and The Essential R&amp;B Band - At last
Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup - Rock Me Mama
Dave Steel and the Welcome Wagon - West Coast Railway
Nashdale -&nbsp; Boots Back On
Neville Brothers - Brother Jake
Charles Brown - Travelin' Blues
Samuel James - Wooooooo Rosa
Janiva Magness - Less And Less Of You
Mike Freeman - 04 - channels
Ryan Bingham &amp; The Dead Horses - Tell My Mother I Miss Her So
Shelby Lynn - Willie And Laura Mae Jones
Jenny Biddle - Wild And Free
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The John Weeks Show Podcast - 2026-7-13

The John Weeks Show Podcast - 2026-7-6

PROGRAM 071 20260706

FEATURE 1

Interview : Svetlana Foox.

Interview by John Weeks

Simply move to the time of 0:22:16 to hear this in-depth conversation..

When Australian entrepreneur and mum Svetlana Foox set out to build her dream business, she thought she had found the perfect web development partner. 

After months of planning, she searched online for a company to build her new membership platform, VainishPerks.com.au. The business promoted itself as a Shopify development partner and appeared professional, experienced and trustworthy. 

Confident she had found the right team, Foox paid the full development fee upfront and then they disappeared.

Svetlana Foox, an Aussie mumpreneur who was scammed out of thousands of dollars by people claiming to be Shopify developers.

"They simply vanished. My calls weren't returned, my emails went unanswered and I realised the money I'd worked so hard to save was gone," Foox said.  

"It was one of the worst experiences of my life.  I am too embarrassed to share how much money I lost but it was in the thousands." 

 

FEATURE 2

Outspoken Jim Penman returns to The John Weeks Show!!!

Topic: The Government takes billions from franchisees, then abandons them: Jim Penman's explosive challenge to Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese!

Jim's Group was founded by Jim Penman in 1989 and now has some 5,700 franchisees in more than 50 divisions. It is the largest franchise chain in the Southern Hemisphere.

Interview by John Weeks

Simply move to the time of 1:05:42 to hear this in-depth conversation.

#jimpenman #jimsgroup #FranchiseeSupport #franchisees 

The Government takes billions from franchisees, then abandons them: Jim Penman's explosive challenge to Anthony Albanese

One of Australia's most outspoken business leaders has launched a scathing attack on the Federal Government, accusing it of happily collecting billions in taxes from hardworking franchisees while failing to provide even the most basic protections against rogue franchisors. 

Topic: Franchise reform, government inaction and the need for stronger protections for franchisees

Talking points:
• The latest 7-Eleven franchise controversy
• Why Jim believes the Franchising Code is 'worse than useless'
• The challenge for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to spend a day working as a franchisee
• Concerns about Australians investing life savings into franchises without adequate protection
• The proposal for an independent national franchisee satisfaction survey
• Government taxation of small businesses and franchisees

Jim's Group founder Jim Penman said the latest allegations surrounding 7-Eleven franchisees should serve as a national wake-up call, describing the current Franchising Code as 'worse than useless' and calling on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to spend a day working as a franchisee before claiming the system works.

"The Government is always first in line when it's time to collect tax from small business. It has just changed the capital gains tax rules for many business owners, meaning countless franchisees now fear they'll hand over even more of the wealth they've spent a lifetime creating," Penman said. 

"They collect GST, income tax, payroll tax and company tax, then take another bite when people sell. But when franchisees are left financially devastated by unfair franchising practices, the Government disappears. It wants the revenue, but it refuses to provide meaningful protection. 

"That is disgusting, it is despicable and it is a complete failure of government." 

Millions invested yet no protection 

Penman said Australians often invest hundreds of thousands, and in many cases more than a million dollars, to buy a franchise because they believe it offers a safer pathway into business ownership. 

"They mortgage their homes, use their life savings and put everything on the line believing the Government has rules in place to protect them. They give up their holidays, family time and even work in ill-health, to keep their business going," Penman said. 

"In far too many cases, they discover those protections are little more than an illusion."

He said recent allegations involving 7-Eleven demonstrate how vulnerable franchisees can be. 

"If reports are accurate, franchisees can potentially lose their businesses while having little practical ability to recover their investment," Penman said. 

"How can that possibly be considered fair?" 

The Franchising Code is a failure 

Penman said Australia's existing Franchising Code has become little more than an expensive paperwork exercise. 

"The disclosure documents are hundreds of pages long, written by lawyers for lawyers." 

"Almost nobody reads them." 

"And those who do often don't understand what they're actually signing." 

He said the system creates the appearance of protection while delivering very little. 

"It adds thousands of dollars in compliance costs but fails to stop bad behaviour." 

"That's not regulation. That's bureaucracy." 

The Prime Minister should spend one day in a franchise. 

Penman challenged the Prime Minister and senior ministers to experience life as a franchisee before making decisions about the industry. 

"I challenge Anthony Albanese to spend one full day working in a franchise," Penman said. 

"Open the doors at dawn, serve customers, pay staff, worry about rent, worry about electricity, worry about interest rates, worry about whether you'll still have a business next year." 

"Walk in a franchisee's shoes before pretending you understand what small business owners actually deal with."
 
The simple solution government refuses to adopt 

Penman said he has repeatedly presented governments with what he believes is a simple solution that would dramatically improve transparency across Australia's franchise sector. 

He wants every franchisor to fund an independent annual survey of current and recently departed franchisees, with the results published publicly on a website for prospective buyers. Every person considering purchasing a franchise should be directed to the website to learn about the brand's survey results. 

"Forget glossy brochures and marketing promises, ask the people who actually own the franchises," Penman said. 

"Are they making money, would they recommend the business, have they been treated fairly. That information would expose bad franchisors overnight and save a lot of people from absolute heart- ache." 

Lead by example 

Penman said Jim's Group has already demonstrated the model works. 

"We commissioned Australia's largest independent franchisee satisfaction survey because we believe prospective franchisees deserve to know the truth," Penman said. 

"If we're prepared to be independently assessed, every franchisor should be. Reputable franchise groups have nothing to fear from greater transparency. 

"The only people who would oppose independent reporting are those with something to hide." 

Small business deserves better 

Penman said franchisees represent thousands of Australia's hardest-working small business owners. 

"They create jobs, they serve local communities, they pay taxes and they drive the economy. The very least they deserve is genuine legal protection."

 
Instead, Penman said governments continue introducing regulations that generate work for lawyers while doing little to improve outcomes for franchisees. 

"We've created a system that protects paperwork better than it protects people," Penman said. 

A call for urgent reform 

"Stop pretending the current system works and stop congratulating yourselves on reforms that achieve almost nothing," Penman said. 

"Stop taking taxes from hardworking franchisees while leaving them exposed. If governments genuinely care about small business, prove it. Give franchisees real protection and future franchisees honest information. 

"Stop allowing multinational franchisors to treat Australian small business owners as disposable." 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The John Weeks Show Podcast - 2026-7-6
PROGRAM 071 20260706
FEATURE 1
Interview : Svetlana Foox.
Interview by John Weeks
Simply move to the time of 0:22:16 to hear this in-depth conversation..
When Australian entrepreneur and mum Svetlana Foox set out to build her dream business, she thought she had found the perfect web development partner.&nbsp;
After months of planning, she searched online for a company to build her new membership platform, VainishPerks.com.au. The business promoted itself as a Shopify development partner and appeared professional, experienced and trustworthy.&nbsp;
Confident she had found the right team, Foox paid the full development fee upfront and then they disappeared.
Svetlana Foox, an Aussie mumpreneur who was scammed out of thousands of dollars by people claiming to be Shopify developers.
"They simply vanished. My calls weren't returned, my emails went unanswered and I realised the money I'd worked so hard to save was gone," Foox said. &nbsp;
"It was one of the worst experiences of my life. &nbsp;I am too embarrassed to share how much money I lost but it was in the thousands."&nbsp;
&nbsp;
FEATURE 2
Outspoken Jim Penman returns to The John Weeks Show!!!
Topic: The Government takes billions from franchisees, then abandons them: Jim Penman's explosive challenge to Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese!
Jim's Group was founded by Jim Penman in 1989 and now has some 5,700 franchisees in more than 50 divisions. It is the largest franchise chain in the Southern Hemisphere.
Interview by John Weeks
Simply move to the time of 1:05:42 to hear this in-depth conversation.
#jimpenman #jimsgroup #FranchiseeSupport #franchisees&nbsp;
The Government takes billions from franchisees, then abandons them: Jim Penman's explosive challenge to Anthony Albanese
One of Australia's most outspoken business leaders has launched a scathing attack on the Federal Government, accusing it of happily collecting billions in taxes from hardworking franchisees while failing to provide even the most basic protections against rogue franchisors.&nbsp;
Topic: Franchise reform, government inaction and the need for stronger protections for franchisees
Talking points: &bull; The latest 7-Eleven franchise controversy &bull; Why Jim believes the Franchising Code is 'worse than useless' &bull; The challenge for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to spend a day working as a franchisee &bull; Concerns about Australians investing life savings into franchises without adequate protection &bull; The proposal for an independent national franchisee satisfaction survey &bull; Government taxation of small businesses and franchisees
Jim's Group founder Jim Penman said the latest allegations surrounding 7-Eleven franchisees should serve as a national wake-up call, describing the current Franchising Code as 'worse than useless' and calling on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to spend a day working as a franchisee before claiming the system works.
"The Government is always first in line when it's time to collect tax from small business. It has just changed the capital gains tax rules for many business owners, meaning countless franchisees now fear they'll hand over even more of the wealth they've spent a lifetime creating," Penman said.&nbsp;
"They collect GST, income tax, payroll tax and company tax, then take another bite when people sell. But when franchisees are left financially devastated by unfair franchising practices, the Government disappears. It wants the revenue, but it refuses to provide meaningful protection.&nbsp;
"That is disgusting, it is despicable and it is a complete failure of government."&nbsp;
Millions invested yet no protection&nbsp;
Penman said Australians often invest hundreds of thousands, and in many cases more than a million dollars, to buy a franchise because they believe it offers a safer pathway into business ownership.&nbsp;
"They mortgage their homes, use their life savings and put everything on the line believing the Government has rules in place to protect them. They give up their holidays, family time and even work in ill-health, to keep their business going," Penman said.&nbsp;
"In far too many cases, they discover those protections are little more than an illusion."
He said recent allegations involving 7-Eleven demonstrate how vulnerable franchisees can be.&nbsp;
"If reports are accurate, franchisees can potentially lose their businesses while having little practical ability to recover their investment," Penman said.&nbsp;
"How can that possibly be considered fair?"&nbsp;
The Franchising Code is a failure&nbsp;
Penman said Australia's existing Franchising Code has become little more than an expensive paperwork exercise.&nbsp;
"The disclosure documents are hundreds of pages long, written by lawyers for lawyers."&nbsp;
"Almost nobody reads them."&nbsp;
"And those who do often don't understand what they're actually signing."&nbsp;
He said the system creates the appearance of protection while delivering very little.&nbsp;
"It adds thousands of dollars in compliance costs but fails to stop bad behaviour."&nbsp;
"That's not regulation. That's bureaucracy."&nbsp;
The Prime Minister should spend one day in a franchise.&nbsp;
Penman challenged the Prime Minister and senior ministers to experience life as a franchisee before making decisions about the industry.&nbsp;
"I challenge Anthony Albanese to spend one full day working in a franchise," Penman said.&nbsp;
"Open the doors at dawn, serve customers, pay staff, worry about rent, worry about electricity, worry about interest rates, worry about whether you'll still have a business next year."&nbsp;
"Walk in a franchisee's shoes before pretending you understand what small business owners actually deal with." &nbsp; The simple solution government refuses to adopt&nbsp;
Penman said he has repeatedly presented governments with what he believes is a simple solution that would dramatically improve transparency across Australia's franchise sector.&nbsp;
He wants every franchisor to fund an independent annual survey of current and recently departed franchisees, with the results published publicly on a website for prospective buyers. Every person considering purchasing a franchise should be directed to the website to learn about the brand's survey results.&nbsp;
"Forget glossy brochures and marketing promises, ask the people who actually own the franchises," Penman said.&nbsp;
"Are they making money, would they recommend the business, have they been treated fairly. That information would expose bad franchisors overnight and save a lot of people from absolute heart- ache."&nbsp;
Lead by example&nbsp;
Penman said Jim's Group has already demonstrated the model works.&nbsp;
"We commissioned Australia's largest independent franchisee satisfaction survey because we believe prospective franchisees deserve to know the truth," Penman said.&nbsp;
"If we're prepared to be independently assessed, every franchisor should be. Reputable franchise groups have nothing to fear from greater transparency.&nbsp;
"The only people who would oppose independent reporting are those with something to hide."&nbsp;
Small business deserves better&nbsp;
Penman said franchisees represent thousands of Australia's hardest-working small business owners.&nbsp;
"They create jobs, they serve local communities, they pay taxes and they drive the economy. The very least they deserve is genuine legal protection."
&nbsp; Instead, Penman said governments continue introducing regulations that generate work for lawyers while doing little to improve outcomes for franchisees.&nbsp;
"We've created a system that protects paperwork better than it protects people," Penman said.&nbsp;
A call for urgent reform&nbsp;
"Stop pretending the current system works and stop congratulating yourselves on reforms that achieve almost nothing," Penman said.&nbsp;
"Stop taking taxes from hardworking franchisees while leaving them exposed. If governments genuinely care about small business, prove it. Give franchisees real protection and future franchisees honest information.&nbsp;
"Stop allowing multinational franchisors to treat Australian small business owners as disposable."&nbsp;
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The John Weeks Show Podcast - 2026-7-6

The John Weeks Show Podcast - 2026-6-29

The John Weeks Show Podcast - 2026-4-27

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