Podcast · 121 episodes
The Contrarians with Adam and Adir, page 4
by Adam Schwab and Adir Shiffman · English
Get the fearless truth about start-ups and corporate Australia from guys that give you the hard facts, not the company line. Hear Luxury Escapes co-founder Adam Schwab and Catapult Sports Exec Chairman Adir Shiffman provide the inside word on the biggest stories in business with a contrarian take from the guys who sit on both sides of the table. New episodes dropping weekly.
All episodes, page 4
Ask Us Anything: Should we change the date of Australia Day? + Mark Carney’s DAVOS Speech + How to effectively manage time?Australia Day date debate; reactions to Mark Carney’s Davos speech; practical time-management for busy people.30 Jan 2026 · 26 min · 6 chapters
Netflix Dumped, SaaS Meltdown, Koala Deep Dive, Are Private Schools Worth It, Airlines and Goyder’s Parting DisgraceEpisode 171 of The Contrarians (Adam Schwab, Adir Shifman) covers: AI’s impact on SaaS and market reaction; airline/brand experiences (Virgin/Velocity points and Qantas brand forgiveness); governance…26 Jan 2026 · 1 h 31 min · 22 chapters
Ask Us Anything: How do we prioritise sleep? + Is wearable fitness tech worth it? + Managing a staff member who doesn't gel with your staffEpisode 170 “Ask Us Anything” covers (1) how to prioritize sleep, (2) whether wearable fitness tech is worth it, and (3) managing a staff member who clashes with others.23 Jan 2026 · 30 min · 6 chapters
Jellycat Deep Dive, Atlassian Share Price Crash, Kings Counsel Ransom, Writers Festival Monstrosity, SXSW Sydney Dies and Adam’s Passport BlissAdam and Adir discuss: (1) Adir’s rod-removal surgery and what it reveals about private hospital efficiency and nurse shortages; (2) a smoother Australian passport renewal process; (3) the…19 Jan 2026 · 1 h 22 min · 24 chapters
Ask Us Anything: Working through Christmas + Should high school students get jobs?Episode 168 (“Ask Us Anything”) covers three listener questions. Topic 1: whether to work through Christmas.16 Jan 2026 · 32 min · 9 chapters
Costco Deepdive, Health Insurance Pricing, Iran on the Edge of Freedom and Albo's Royal Commission Dark ArtsA wide-ranging episode covering Costco “deepdive” (including hot dog pricing), health insurance pricing, Australia’s Royal Commission “dark arts” politics, the Adelaide Writers’ Festival controversy,…12 Jan 2026 · 1 h 39 min · 34 chapters
Ask Us Anything: To Gap Year or Not To Gap Year? + Will We Have AI Movies Soon?Episode 166 “Ask Us Anything” covers (1) 2026 business ambitions and what to change in LE and Catapult, (2) whether AI-generated movies/TV will become mainstream theatrically within 10 years, and (3)…9 Jan 2026 · 35 min · 12 chapters
2026 Predictions and What We Got Badly Wrong (and Right) Last YearThe hosts revisit their 2025 predictions, arguing what they got wrong vs right, then set up 2026 predictions.5 Jan 2026 · 1 h 25 min · 30 chapters
Ask Us Anything: Australia's Best & Worst PM? + Worst Ever Travel ExperiencesQ&A episode covering (1) worst travel experiences, (2) best and worst Australian prime ministers, and (3) whether subscription fatigue is driving a shift back to owning music/video (Spotify backlash,…2 Jan 2026 · 47 min · 22 chapters
Hot Doc Sale Bonanza, Corporate Travel Management Survives for Now, Albo Kinda cuts Business Class, Why Consumer Businesses Shouldn’t Shut during Christmas and Busiest Airline RoutesHoliday trading and airline/consumer behavior during Christmas in Australia; whether Qantas should keep lounges open; brand vs cost tradeoffs; busiest airline routes 2025; global e-commerce traffic;…29 Dec 2025 · 1 h 40 min · 44 chapters
Ask Us Anything: Does Everyone Need a Side Hustle? + The Biggest Story of 2025?Q&A on (1) whether “price gouging” exists and why politicians target certain industries, (2) whether full-time work has stopped providing financial security and whether side hustles are rising, and…26 Dec 2025 · 28 min · 5 chapters
Bondi Massacre Hit Albanese, Taylor Swift’s Riches, ASIC’s Netwealth Fail, PuppyGate, Chemist Warehouse, Shayne Elliott’s $13m Cash Grab and Lululemon Deep DiveEpisode 161 of The Contrarians (Adam Schwab, Adir Shiffman) opens with discussion of the Bondi massacre and the broader rise in anti-Semitism in Australia.22 Dec 2025 · 2 h · 32 chapters
Ask Us Anything: Silvagni Case and Suppression Orders + Arnott's $45M Debt FacilityThe episode covers (1) whether young Australians should buy investment property before a principal residence, (2) the Australian National Reconstruction Fund’s $45m debt facility to Arnott’s (owned…19 Dec 2025 · 34 min · 9 chapters
The Age of Entitlement in Full Swing, Corporate Travel Deep Dive, Most Valuable Brands, Law Firm Break Up, Maggie Beer, Interest Rates to the Moon and Waymo FliesEpisode 159 of The Contrarians (Adam Schwab, Adir Shifman) opens with a note that it was recorded before the Bondi tragedy and doesn’t address it, then moves to politics, business, and brand analysis.15 Dec 2025 · 1 h 51 min · 41 chapters
First thoughts of the terror attack at Bondi BeachImmediate reflections on the Bondi Beach terror attack in Sydney (15 Dec), describing its impact on Australia’s Jewish community and broader national values, plus what should change to prevent future…15 Dec 2025 · 26 min · 10 chapters
Ask Us Anything: The growth of women's sports + Is Melbourne's Metro Tunnel POINTLESS?Episode 158 is an “Ask Us Anything” episode with three listener questions. Topic 1: growth of women’s sports and whether Australian investors should back women’s teams.12 Dec 2025 · 23 min · 9 chapters
Is OpenAI a Goner? Don’t Miss Adir’s AI Deep Dive, Netflix goes Pacman, Bending Spoons goes Old Skool, Social Media Ban, Amex Kills Points and Pollies Behaving BadlyEpisode 157 of The Contrarians (Adam Schwab, Adir Shiffman) is a rapid-fire debate on Australian politics, tech/finance, and travel perks.8 Dec 2025 · 1 h 56 min · 48 chapters
Ask Us Anything: Buying through Ali Express? + Should AirBnB be banned?Buying white-label products via AliExpress (and why it’s uncommon), whether Airbnb should be banned, and a “chicken or fish” ethics/health question.5 Dec 2025 · 27 min · 9 chapters
Temple & Webster Deep Dive Special EpisodeA “deep dive” on Australian retailer Temple & Webster, focusing on why the stock fell after an AGM update (revenue up but profit and growth concerns), and whether the business is fundamentally…3 Dec 2025 · 1 h 6 min · 28 chapters
Droneshield Drill Down, Corporate Travel Management Implodes, BOM Laughing Stock, Compaq, Mike's Jet and the Richest New ZealandersThe hosts debate wealth and time value, then focus on three business controversies: DroneShield’s director performance options and share sell-down after hitting a “cash receipts” hurdle; Australia’s…1 Dec 2025 · 1 h 23 min · 23 chapters
Ask Us Anything: Is This the End of Country Road? + Flight Centre's New Loyalty ProgramFlight Centre launches “World 360” and “World 360 Plus” loyalty programs; discussion of whether loyalty is “peak” and how points value works for low-margin flight sales.28 Nov 2025 · 32 min · 15 chapters
Nvidia Worries, Xero Disappoints Again, Droneshield Nightmare Gets Worse, Tesla, Defund the ABC and Adir's Awesome QuizThe hosts trade contrarian takes on tech and consumer subscriptions (Tesla Full Self-Driving; Oura Ring), airport security process changes in Australia, and Australian media/politics (ABC “defund”…24 Nov 2025 · 1 h 39 min · 45 chapters
Ask Us Anything: The TRUTH of Victoria's Crime Wave!? + Should Australia Go Nuclear?Victoria’s violent crime “truth” and whether Jacinta Allan is scapegoated; plus Australia’s nuclear energy debate.21 Nov 2025 · 27 min · 6 chapters
Drone Shield Cut and Run, Menulog Dies, the World’s Greatest Insider Trader, Open AI, Woke Judges and Airport Security FailThe episode mixes tech and finance (Valve’s new hardware; OpenAI’s “AI bubble”), Australian/Victorian politics and courts (false rape allegation against Geelong player Tanner Bruin; Elise Hodder’s…17 Nov 2025 · 1 h 43 min · 29 chapters