Today we’re joined by one of Australia’s most recognisable tech founders, Matt Barrie!
From breaking the bell on listing day to scaling a platform now home to 85 million users, Matt shares the wild trajectory of building a global marketplace, the reality of disruption, and the brutal highs and lows of founder life. We get into AI agents, the early days of the internet, skiing stories, family, resilience and what it truly takes to build an ASX listed tech company from Australia.
Matt Barrie is the Founder, Chair and CEO of freelancer.com, a global marketplace once dubbed “eBay for jobs” and now one of the world’s largest platforms connecting businesses with skilled talent.
What you’ll learn:
Timestamps
3:10 - The marquee ASX listing
6:02 - Freelancer’s early growth and becoming one of the world’s biggest websites
9:48 - Building during the early internet: Grit, chaos and momentum
12:14 - Family, upbringing and the mindset that shaped his career
18:31 - Disruption in action: “old technology” vs the new wave
23:05 - Scaling to 85 million users: What actually worked
31:42 - AI agents, customer support and the future of productivity
38:27 - Founder highs, lows & crawling through broken glass
44:50 - Rapid fire questions
A high energy founder story packed with lessons on disruption, resilience and the future of work. Follow and rate the show so you never miss an episode and share this one with anyone building, scaling or thinking about the next big idea!
Welcome to Ticker Talk Episode 2!
In this episode, NSX’s Max Cunningham and Matthew Gibbs sit down with leading business commentator Liz Knight to explore four decades of journalism, corporate upheaval and the characters who shaped Australia’s business landscape.
Liz reflects on the stories behind the headlines, what’s changed in media, how billionaires really think, and why old school investigative reporting still matters. We also get a personal look at her day to day rituals, career pivots and the tools she still relies on to uncover the truth.What you’ll learn:
- How business journalism has shifted from deep investigative work to a 24/7 breaking news cycle
- What truly drives billionaires and major CEOs and how power shapes behaviour
- Why access, PR and digital metrics are transforming how stories get told today
Timestamps:
1:12 - Getting into journalism by accident
3:04 - Early AFR years after the ’87 crash
5:00 - Covering collapses & digging through balance sheets
10:12 - How breaking news culture changed reporting
15:40 - Billionaire psychology
17:15 - How leaders evolve with power
18:50 - Life outside the newsroom
21:02 - Moving to the SMH & finding her columnist voice
27:15 - PR, access and managing the message
31:05 - Tools of the trade & memorable CEOsA sharp, insider look at media, markets and the personalities that shape them. Follow and rate the show so you don’t miss new episodes and share this one with someone who loves business storytelling done right.CONNECT WITH US:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TickerTalkPodcast
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nsxa/posts/?feedView=all
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tickertalkpodcast/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tickertalkpodcast
Welcome to Ticker Talk Episode One! We’re kicking off with a very special guest Alex Vynokur from BetaShares.
From Soviet Ukraine to Bondi, Alex shares how grit, naivety and a love of meritocracy shaped his mission to democratise investing. We break down compounding vs timing the market, how tech and behaviour make you a better investor and his work with the United Ukrainian Appeal, plus rapid fire career lessons you can use tomorrow.
What you’ll learn
Timestamps
1:34 - Alexs Childhood in Soviet Ukraine
3:56 - Landing in Bondi with no English (beach vs… “beach”) and culture shock
5:00 - “Abundance” moment & the power of opportunity
9:52 - Mentors & family: grandfather’s “problems are to be overcome” mindset
12:37 - From law to finance: Baker McKenzie to finding a meritocracy
27:31 - Democratising wealth: why ETFs + global access matter for Aussies
34:41 - Founding BetaShares: timing, naivety, and seeing the system differently
38:50 - Behaviour over hype: using tech/AI to reduce mistakes and stay invested
44:22 - United Ukrainian Appeal: rehabilitation & mental health on the ground
50:04 - Rapid fire questionsA founder’s story with practical takeaways, mindset, tools, and simple habits to invest smarter.
Follow and rate the show so you don’t miss new episodes and share this one with a mate who’s serious about building wealth the right way.
CONNECT WITH US:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TickerTalkPodcast
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nsxa/posts/?feedView=all
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tickertalkpodcast/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tickertalkpodcast
The stories behind the people behind the market.
Ticker Talk, sponsored by the NSX and hosted by Matthew Gibbs and Max Cunningham, lifts the lid on motives, mistakes and the moments that move markets, without the jargon but plenty of dry humour. Meet the humans moving money, from traders to founders with hot takes and regulators with cooler heads.
Launching Wednesday 5 November, where all good podcasts are found. Give us a follow to make sure you don’t miss our first drop!