The Pay Off with Sylvia Jeffreys

From the high-stakes pressure of Silicon Valley’s dot-com boom to leading one of Australia's largest telecommunications giants through a national crisis, Kelly Bayer Rosmarin has navigated a career defined by massive shifts and "deep end" learning. In this insightful episode, the former Optus CEO joins Sylvia to discuss her new chapter as the head of Australian Unity and the hard-won lessons she’s gathered along the way.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How more Australians can enter into the property market - how they can have dignified, secure housing that delivers good capital growth - is the multi-million dollar question.And it's one that Evan Thornley might have an answer to. In this episode, the tech pioneer, founder of LongView and co-founder of GoodStart, argues that while the system is fundamentally broken, there is a data-driven path to home ownership that is easier to access and better long term than the traditional means of being indebted to a bank.  In this episode, you’ll learn: Why the family home remains the "single best investment in the history of the world" How analyzing 50 years of data across 11 million properties helps identify the specific types of homes that consistently outperform the market The potential held by shared equity and housing funds Evan's personal journey from a single-parent family to Silicon Valley success, why he’s now dedicated to fixing the housing ladder for the next generation and his own biggest lessons See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sylvia sits down with Alice Stoltz from Domain—often called the "walking encyclopedia" of Australian real estate—to cut through the headlines and give you the data-driven truth about what’s happening right now. If you’ve been feeling "handcuffed" by interest rates or worried about the "choppy" nature of recent auctions, this is for you. In this episode: Which segment of the market is feeling the heat and what it signals for the rest of us. Why 1950s brick homes are becoming the gold standard for savvy long-term buyers. Which parts of the country hold the real value lies for families right now. What is affecting consumer confidence and how it's showing up at auctions Is it time to return to the "old fashioned" view of property? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At 15, all Matt Moran knew is that he didn't want to be in school anymore. At 22, he had his first restaurant. And now, he has a name synonymous with success and excellence.  Matt opens up about his humble beginnings, the reality of the high-pressure world of professional kitchens, and just how far a desire to work, to learn, to ask the right questions, to trust the right people - and above all to become obsessed - can take you.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Experts are calling this the worst fuel crisis in history.And despite petrol station closures and record costs to fill the tank, there are some effects that are still yet to be seen. Expert economist Evan Lucas helps break down exactly we could expect - the products we might see disappear from our supermarkets and stores, the downstream effects of $4+ per litre, how it could change policy and behaviour for good, and the situation's spooky similarities to what we saw during COVID. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our teens, most of us are figuring out our laundry. But Andrea Horwood was launching a magazine that would define a generation: Australian Style. And she hasn't stopped since then. Andrea is the ultimate serial entrepreneur: from that legendary magazine to creating the Australian summer staple, Invisible Zinc, and the globally successful wellness brand, WelleCo. Andrea has an insider's perspective on what it takes succeed again and again - using research, finding potential, pioneering impactful new products and doing it all in a way you can be proud of.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amidst the potential for unprecedented prices at the bowser and the checkout and likely increases to interest rates, Nine News Money Editor and consumer champion Effie Zahos tells us everything we need to know to stay financial afloat. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asher Keddie is, without a doubt, one of Australia's most loved actors - a title earned by many relatable and heartfelt roles. But the time in her career that feels most powerful and rewarding is happening now.  In this conversation, she tells Sylvia: How she learned about life on set Pivoting roles, backing yourself and finding a voice Going into a business partnership that is meaningful to her The power of giving back Proving those who doubt wrong  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With actions in the Middle East wiping billions from the market and from super, what are the crucial things we should (or shouldn't) be doing right now? Chris Brycki, founder and CEO of Stockspot breaks it all down, including what is causing the volatility, how long it's likely to last, the biggest mistakes to make sure you avoid, as well as the potential opportunities that exist at this moment. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The panic you feel when checking your bank balance? The cycle of overspending or over-saving? It's not just about numbers—it's about the deep, unconscious money scripts running your life. Dr. Shefali Tsabary, the clinical psychologist, New York Times best-selling author, and revolutionary thinker famously endorsed by Oprah joins The Pay Off to talk about our approach to money.  Dr. Shefali shares how the ego dictates our decisions around debt, spending, and saving, how to conquer the paralysis of financial fear and how the emotional legacies of our childhoods shape our bank accounts today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Melissa Browne, author and financial expert, knows what it takes to build wealth as a woman on her own. But in the process, she encountered some barriers and obstacles that not only took her by surprise, but illuminated an insidious systemic problem faced by nearly all women. Mel not only shares her raw powerful and personal story, but the exact methods and actions she took to rebuild her wealth. She also talks about: why the financial world wasn't built with women in mind how gendered language and ideas still create roadblocks what true wealth really means the unseen costs of menopause a better kind of 'girl math' Find more from Mel, including her new book Dare to be Wealthy, hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you win an Olympic medal when you’re locked in a dark room with a concussion? In this powerful and raw chat, one of our most successful Winter Olympians of all time discusses what it took to reach the summit of her sport, the challenges she overcame, the power of belief, the thing that was even harder than competition (that she’s even more proud of) and a confession of what her own lack of financial literacy cost her.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes the biggest secret to success isn’t a service or product, but about the strength of partnership. Scott and Elle Madden are the dynamic couple behind the fast-growing health and athleisure brand, FWD Form. This isn't your typical success story; it's a testament to resilience forged through fire. In today’s episode, these co-founders share the wild origin story of FWD Form, the financial and emotional challenges of being partners in life and business and why they prioritise consistency over quick-fix trends. They candidly share the impact of unexpectedly losing both their fathers within weeks and the difficult realities of grieving while running a company.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grief isn’t the only cost of loss.  Melissa Reader discovered this hard truth after living through the unimaginable: becoming a full–time caregiver to her husband, Mauro, whilst raising three young children and keeping their co–owned business afloat. This all came crashing down after Mauro passed away. In today’s episode, Melissa is here to confront the financial aftershocks of serious illness and death that most of us are completely unprepared for.  Melissa Reader is the CEO of Violet, a national NFP helping families plan for the later chapters of life, and founder and CEO of Vera, a digital platform supporting families through the ageing journey. Her work sits at the intersection of care, technology and wellbeing, helping people navigate later life with greater clarity, dignity and confidence - long before crisis hits.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’re a full-time working parent who often feels like you just don't have time for this, I implore you to make time for this episode.  Kate Reeves and Gemma Pranita are the powerhouse hosts of the viral podcast We Don’t Have Time For This and are today's guests on The Pay Off. They’re two childhood best friends who turned their time-poor, opinion-rich dynamic into a booming business. We dive deep into the messy, glorious reality of working motherhood. Kate and Gemma share how they protected their friendship while building an empire, why they’re tired of being asked how they ‘juggle it all’ and their metrics for feeling rich in life.  This chat is frighteningly relatable and is sure to give you a full body LOL. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For many of us, crypto still feels like a foreign language — but not for today's guest.  Jason Titman is the CEO of Australia's leading crypto exchange, SwyftX and joins The Pay Off to help demystify the world of digital currency. Jason, whose fascinating career spans from computer auditing and hotels to being a "King of Crypto," explains the tangible assets behind crypto and why the industry is shifting "from hoodies to suits."  From the ‘typical investor’ to the relationship between crypto and traditional banks, Jason shares his two cents on the future of finance. He also discusses his investment mindset, why AI will never override human behaviour in financial markets and his most enduring business lessons. Disclaimer: The information contained in this episode is general in nature and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Therefore, you should consider whether the information is appropriate to your circumstances before acting on it, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a finance professional.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You might feel like a hot mess, but your money habits don’t have to be.  The financial fresh start you need for the new year is here and who better to kick this all off with than Emma Edwards, a certified financial behaviour specialist and founder of BROKE MEDIA.  In this episode, Emma, a self-proclaimed hot mess millennial, breaks down the insights from her best-selling book Good With Money and shares the practical tools from her new journey, The Wardrobe Project.  From better interrupting those automated spending habits to the savings dopamine hack you never thought was possible, you’re bound to walk away from this chat feeling in control of your finances. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to your masterclass for transforming extra income into lasting wealth. This "Best Of" episode is dedicated to unlocking the inside secrets from four incredible guests who successfully scaled their passion projects into full-blown, revenue-generating business empires! We've condensed hours of transformative interviews into a single, high-impact listen, giving you the proven playbooks and mindset shifts to make 2026 the year you become your own boss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ready to make next year your most impactful yet? We've raided the vault for our most inspiring, business-shifting, and life-changing conversations of the year and distilled them into one powerhouse episode! Hear the best advice from Meggie Palmer, Molly Benjamin and Dr Rebecca Ray around talking about money, whether it's with your boss, your best mate or on a first date.  This episode isn't just a look back—it's your clear-cut strategy for leaping forward into 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cashing in is great, but we think banking on yourself is even better.  That terrifying plunge into entrepreneurship is real, but you shouldn’t let the fear of the unknown sideline your ambition. Today’s guest can attest to exactly that. Doone Roisin, founder of The Female Startup Club, is on The Pay Off this week giving a masterclass on being bold, building community, and beating the odds.  In this episode, Doone opens up about her liberating decision to become a full-time entrepreneur, her slightly mischievous tactics for getting a CEO's attention and why she’s spending plenty of her time “talking to smart women”. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We hear it constantly on this podcast: ETFs are the most powerful tool for building wealth today. But what separates a good ETF from a bad one, and how do you even start? Sebastian Mullins is the Head of Multi-Asset and Fixed Income at Schroders Australia and joins The Pay Off to provide the ultimate guide on becoming an investing powerhouse. Sebastian breaks down what an ETF is, how to harness the power of compounding for beginners, and the real cost of "sitting on the sidelines" in today's market. From Active vs. Passive ETFs, why the traditional 60/40 portfolio is broken, and what a truly modern, diversified portfolio looks like now, Sebastian offers practical advice on how to start investing and what excites him most about the near financial future.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you build a billion-dollar beauty empire based on high-end imitation? For our guest today on The Pay Off, Shelley Sullivan, founder of ModelCo and the explosive mass-market brand MCoBeauty, imitation wasn't just flattery—it was a calculated, brilliant, and controversial marketing strategy. Shelley's journey began with an entrepreneurial spark, launching a modelling agency at 21 before spotting a gap and revolutionising the industry with "tan-in-a-can" and the first heated lash curler.  But it was MCoBeauty, launched in 2016 with a "luxe for less" mandate, that became a massive disruptor, recently valued at over $1 billion. In this conversation, Shelley opens up about the strategic genius and the intense pressure of her business model, her decision to sell her remaining stake in the company and the power of intuition. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was a statement that broke the internet—and simultaneously hit the nail on the head. “It is extremely difficult to be a 30-year-old in Australia right now” was the powerful sentiment which sent today’s guest viral online… So let’s talk about it.  Advertising giant, podcaster and media personality, Russel Howcroft, joins The Pay Off today for some real talk. Russel doesn't mince words: he explains exactly why it's never been tougher for young people to get ahead financially right now.  From the clever tactics companies use to get you to spend your cash to how Gruen changed the trajectory of his career, Russel shares the best advice and most engaging anecdotes we could pack into one episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes life can feel picture perfect – until it doesn’t.  In this episode of The Pay Off, Sylvia sits down with financial advisor, professional wealth coach, and author, Gemma Mitchell, to talk about financially rebuilding from the ground up when inevitable curveballs—like divorce or sudden job loss—get thrown our way. Gemma, who built what looked like the 'perfect life'—the job, the house, the investments—only to have it crumble with a sudden divorce at 28, shares her raw, personal journey and how she’s rewriting her money story. Gemma dives into the simple, non-negotiable steps we should all take right now to kick off our own Money Reset, as detailed in her new book, The Money Reset.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With a successful business history like his, you pretty much afford yourself bragging rights for life.  And yet, Adam Schwab is unbelievably humble when it comes to discussing his entrepreneurial journey, crediting compounding luck, an incredible team and a loyal customer base of 8-million people to his ongoing success.  On this episode of The Pay Off, the Luxury Escapes Co-Founder and co-host of the podcast, ‘The Contrarians’, speaks candidly about his journey through business so far. From a sneaky side hustle in Law School, to subleasing backpacker apartments and eventually, scaling to a luxury travel company, it’s clear Adam’s main passion lies in creating value and delivering on happiness, with a side of impressive profit to go with it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On a podcast about money, it’s not uncommon to hear about ‘bonds’. We’re taking a slightly different approach… We’re talking about sisterly bonds.  This week’s guests on The Pay Off are sisters and co-founders, Ali & Gaby Rosenberg, whose strong sisterly bond has allowed them to create the successful Fintech company Blossom.  In this episode, Ali & Gaby share the ups and downs of their journey creating a company, the heartfelt reason behind calling the app ‘Blossom’, how they’re helping both people and the planet as well as their advice to future entrepreneurs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With anxiety at an all time high when it comes to the cost of living, the size of your super, and the money in your bank account, is a stress-free financial future an achievable reality? In this episode of The Pay Off, Sylvia sits down with financial advisor, wealth expert, and author, James Wrigley, to talk about replacing that paralysing financial fear with confident, actionable choices. As laid out in his essential new book, Retire Life Ready, James is helping shift the rhetoric from one of sacrifice to one of real empowerment. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He’s a man who unashamedly loves dragons, wizards and fairies… But it would be the inner demons which would spark the greatest change in his life.  Luke Bateman is the man making SERIOUS noise on social media, sparking an absolute frenzy across BookTok for his authentic and honest passion for fantasy books.  He’s now running his own company, signed a two book deal and has launched his own podcast, In The Good Books.  It didn’t always look like this though - Luke’s battled depression, addiction and a complete loss of identity. His story is an important one to tell, and he’s joining The Pay Off this week to do exactly that. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She went from being a banking executive to a Senator determined to fix the system. But is the political fight worth it? On this episode of The Pay Off, Sylvia is joined by Senator Jane Hume, the former financial sector powerhouse who stepped off the corporate ladder and into the Senate.  Her mission? To correct the systemic failures that are costing Australian families—and particularly women—billions. Senator Hume has made recent headlines with the Tackling the Gender Super Gap Bill, a legislative push designed to empower couples to overcome the 'motherhood penalty' through tax-free super splitting. In this episode, she talks about her leap into politics, the motherhood penalty and the current Australian political climate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Financial freedom is a mindset, not a milestone. Today’s guest is Queenie Tan, the financial guru helping people reframe their relationship with personal finance. Through her platform, ‘Invest with Queenie’ and recently published book ‘The Fun Finance Formula’, Queenie is on a mission to prove your money doesn’t have to be a source of stress or deprivation, and instead, a wealth of opportunity. Growing up, Queenie saw the extremes of both her father's frugality and her mother's belief that money was for enjoying life, which led to a personal struggle with finding balance. Now, her work is guided by the "three Fs"—Foundation, Fun, and Freedom—a framework she uses to help people balance their budgets and lives.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Simple principles to transform your financial habits - that’s what this podcast is all about. It’s also a philosophy our next guest on The Pay Off is sharing with the world. Ben Nash is a financial advisor, best-selling author, and the man behind Pivot Wealth. He’s all about making smart moves with your money, so that you don’t have to sacrifice your lifestyle or give up on your dreams.  In the episode, Ben talks about the 5% rule, investment strategies, the most common questions he receives on social media, the foundations of a good ETF and the risk vs. reward argument around Crypto. Ben’s new book, Virgin Millionaire; the step-by-step guide to your first million and beyond is out now on Amazon|Audiobook. If you want some help with your money and investing, you can book a call with Pivot Wealth here. Disclaimer: The information contained in this episode is general in nature and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Therefore, you should consider whether the information is appropriate to your circumstances before acting on it, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a finance professional.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Retirement isn't an end—it's the start of your most epic chapter. So, forget everything you thought you knew about retirement because Bec Wilson is here to redefine it. In today’s episode, Bec gives a step-by-step guide crafting a retirement which isn't just about ceasing work, but about beginning a new, purpose-filled chapter. Bec also talks about why young Aussies should care more about their Super, how you can plan for an epic post-work life and the question on everyone’s lips: at what age can I actually retire? She also gives an exclusive sneak peek into her latest project, the Epic Retirement Tick.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it take to rebuild your career after navigating one of the toughest storms? This week on The Pay Off, Sylvia sits down with Christine Holgate, the former CEO of Australia Post and Group Executive Chairman of Team Global Express. Christine’s career has been marked by both incredible success and immense public scrutiny. But what many people don’t know is that she went from sitting on the brink of homelessness to becoming one of the most powerful women in business.  In this episode, Christine speaks about life when she didn’t have a dollar to her name, identifying strategic problems within AusPost, the impacts of Cartier-Watch Gate and her advice for people facing setbacks. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You likely know Sam Wood as the handsome bloke from The Bachelor in 2015 or maybe you’ve seen the popularity of his 28 by Sam Wood workouts online…  Today, you’re about to see a new side to Sam.  In this episode, Sam talks about the impact of losing his mum at just 15-years-old, how he fell into the fitness world because he had “no other options”, the genuine ROI by looking after your health, his take on modern masculinity and what’s next for his business.  This chat is way more than a conversation about saunas and ice baths… It’s YOUR reminder that life is short and sometimes you’ve got to take the risk. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Traditional 9-5 jobs are getting the sack. The challenge is no longer just landing a job—it’s staying relevant, employable, and ahead of the curve. How do we future-proof our careers when the rise of AI makes us fear becoming replaceable?   In today’s episode, Sylvia chats to Bianca Hartge-Hazelman, the Co-founder, Editor and CEO of Financy HQ about the gender pay gap, the rise of AI and why you need to start networking. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.