Advertise on podcast: BLXCK INK Podcast

Speak to our friends at Koombana Financial today about your free initial chat to discuss your financial future. www.koombanafinacial.com.au In our six monthly catchup, we chew the fat on local government, public pressure, city growth, online outrage, development projects, parking problems, tourism, events, housing, and what it really takes to make decisions that affect an entire community. This episode goes beyond politics. It’s a dive into leadership, public perception, social media influence, long-term city planning, and the balancing act of trying to improve a regional city while keeping everyone happy at the same time. Jaysen opens up about the realities of council life, why simple solutions usually aren’t simple, the pressure of public criticism, the future of Bunbury’s CBD, major projects currently in motion, and why community engagement matters more than ever.

Speak to our friends at Koombana Financial today about your free initial chat to discuss your financial future. www.koombanafinacial.com.au Eliot talks about growing up around construction through his family business, working massive commercial projects around Bunbury, and eventually finding himself chasing snow seasons across Canada and Japan for years before returning home to build a life and career in WA. We touch on work ethic, delegation, leadership, apprenticeships, pricing pressure in business, dealing with competitors, the evolution of Bunbury, and what actually matters when building a company that lasts. We also unpack the reality of becoming parents, navigating pregnancy, balancing ambition with family life, and how priorities shift as life changes. It’s a grounded, funny, highly relatable conversation full of practical perspective and honest reflections.

Speak to our friends at Koombana Financial today about your free initial chat to discuss your financial future. www.koombanafinacial.com.au Jesse James joins the podcast for a wide-ranging deep dive into modern life, discipline, consciousness, business, religion, addiction, media manipulation, philosophy, masculinity, politics, psychedelics, personal responsibility, and the strange reality of being human in 2026. This episode moves from coffee and caffeine culture into conversations around drugs, addiction, capitalism, religion, conspiracy theories, media influence, psychology, self-awareness, and what it means to build a meaningful life in a world that constantly pulls your attention in every direction.

This episode dives into our journey toward starting a family.  From 12 months of trying, to IVF, to now being 16 weeks into pregnancy. It’s an honest, grounded conversation about fertility, mindset, relationships, and what has proven successful for us in building a life together. We talk about emotional reality behind IVF, the pressure of “doing things the normal way”, and why perspective ultimately shapes the entire experience. We also reflect on our relationship: from living in a run-down caravan to building a business and life we're super proud of today.

Kirstie Hahn (Blue Tongue Screen Printing) talks about a life built around art, resilience, and reinvention. From starting in textiles and screen printing over 20 years ago, to lecturing in visual arts and shaping the creative paths of hundreds of students, Kirstie shares what it actually takes to build a career in art. This episode goes beyond business. We get into creativity as a way of thinking, the importance of stepping outside your comfort zone, and how art can shape identity. Kirstie also opens up about becoming a sole parent after losing her husband, raising two kids while running a business, and the shift that happens when you finally start asking, “what about me?”

Welcome my friend and fellow athlete: Hamish Hall. We cover everything from growing up on farms and riding motorbikes, to transitioning into endurance sport and pushing through the mental battles of long-distance racing. Hamish shares his journey from motocross and downhill racing into triathlon, the mindset shift required to compete in endurance sport, and what really goes on during those long hours when your body starts to break down. Show Sponsor: Koombana Financial Reach out today to book in your free initial chat www.koombanafinancial.com.au

Carmelo Ioppolo, founder of ENM Electrical joins me for a deep 3.5-hour conversation about entrepreneurship, growth, mindset, and building a business at a young age. At just 25 years old, Carmelo is already scaling his electrical business with ambitious plans to grow a serious team and push revenue far beyond what most trades businesses attempt in their early years. The conversation dives into what it actually takes to build something from the ground up, the ego required to start, the humility required to grow, and the mental battles that come with chasing big goals.

Bunbury Turf Club is gearing up for its biggest day of the year and this week’s episode goes right inside the operation. Ahead of this weekend’s Bunbury Cup, I sat down with Kyle Potter to break down what actually goes into running and maintaining a major regional racecourse. From track preparation and horse welfare, to race-day pressure, betting, crowds and the sheer scale of Cup Day. This is a proper behind-the-scenes look at an event most people only experience from the bar. If you’ve ever rocked up to the races without thinking about what’s happening beneath your feet (or behind the scenes), this episode will completely change how you see it.

Gage is back for round seven and like always, it goes everywhere. This episode starts chaotic (nicotine relapses, bad podcasts, Japanese cigars, and marketplace hustles) before slowly evolving into something deeper: addiction cycles, discipline, masculinity, money, ambition, business benchmarks, and what it actually feels like when you start becoming the person you’ve been pretending to be for years. There’s honest talk about substance control, marriage dynamics, business growth, chasing big revenue targets, selling the car to double down on momentum, and the psychology of “I’m him” moments — when the scoreboard finally reflects the work.

Learn more and donate here 👉🏼 https://www.toby.org.au/Ian Meacham shares the deeply personal story of his son Toby’s childhood cancer diagnosis and the emotional journey that followed. From the shock of diagnosis to months spent living near hospital care, Ian opens up about how this experience reshaped his priorities, his family life, and his perspective on success. Alongside this story, Ian discusses building and scaling multiple construction businesses, growing a team to nearly 90 employees, and delivering over $30 million in projects each year. He reflects on leadership under pressure, managing risk in large-scale construction, hiring the right people, and maintaining strong business culture while navigating personal adversity. This episode explores resilience, leadership, entrepreneurship, and how facing life’s hardest moments can redefine ambition, business growth, and what truly matters.

Heres a front-row seat into the mind of Brandon Willington. Australia's top Facebook and Google marketing education agency.  Known for building high-performing ad systems, winning industry recognition for his results, and helping businesses scale with precision. Brandon doesn’t just talk marketing, he lives it. His track record, client wins, and award-level performance have put him in the top tier of Australian marketers. Recorded in his Batcave where everything is engineered for deep focus, high output, and zero distraction. Brandon breaks down his obsession with protecting attention, structuring his days for thinking time, and designing environments that drive performance.

I sit down with David Faulkner, owner of Nixon Electrics, for a raw, operator-to-operator conversation about what it really takes to scale a trade business. Dave breaks down the realities of growing from a single location into a multi-site operation, the pressure that comes with managing people at scale, and why “busy” doesn’t always mean profitable. We talk systems, hiring, leadership, emotional regulation, and why small wins eventually stop registering when your benchmarks keep moving. This is a grounded, honest discussion about growth, responsibility, culture, and the mental load that comes with building something serious over a long period of time.

A solo episode unpacking our IVF journey so far told entirely from my perspective as the partner. This conversation covers the mental and emotional side of IVF, navigating fertility issues, vasectomy reversal, learning how complex conception actually is, and what it’s like supporting someone you love through a process you can’t physically carry for them. This episode is not medical advice, just an honest account of the experience so far. ⚠️ Disclaimer The BLXCK INK Podcast is intended for entertainment purposes only. Views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of affiliated individuals or organisations. Stories shared on this podcast may contain fictional elements or be embellished for creative effect. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental unless explicitly stated. This podcast is not intended to provide professional advice. Listener discretion is advised. Also…I, Jake Kerr, am a creative person who regularly evolves in my thinking and perspective.  At times, I may explore unconventional or even seemingly wild ideas as part of his process to learn, grow, and spark deeper thought. Please leave space for my growth and witness without judgement. Remember, I am a human who willingly explores vulnerability and perspective on camera for entertainment purposes.

Rhys Veen is a Bunbury-based physiotherapist, business owner, husband, and new dad and this conversation goes well beyond injuries and rehab. Rhys shares his journey from uni graduate to clinic owner, how he thinks about money, growth, and hiring, and what changes when you’re responsible for both a business and a family. We also get into entrepreneurship ceilings, value, faith, identity, and the unexpected similarities between starting a business and becoming a parent.

Amy shares the full story of losing her salon in a fire that wasn’t just accidental damage but collateral from criminal activity next door. We unpack the shock of waking up to your entire livelihood gone, the pressure of still showing up for clients and staff, and the mental toll of having to “be strong” when all you really want is a break. This conversation goes far beyond the fire. We talk about community, legacy, faith, burnout, leadership, and what it really means to run a values-driven business in a small town. Amy opens up about honouring $15,000 worth of gift vouchers from another closed business, the guilt of staff losing their tools overnight, and the strange strength that comes from being forced to start again.