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In The Trenches

In The Trenches

Written by: Hanif Ibrahim
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Running a business isn't easy. The late nights, tough decisions, and constant pressure to grow, adapt, and succeed — it's all part of the journey. In the Trenches is a business podcast for entrepreneurs, founders, and operators who know what it's like to be in the thick of it. Each episode dives into real stories from business owners, industry leaders, and experts who have faced challenges head-on, found opportunities in unexpected places, and made the decisions that shaped their success. We're not here for vague theories or feel-good advice. We focus on tangible insights — practical strategies, financial realities, and the lessons that actually make a difference in running a business. Brought to you by The Finance Agency, In the Trenches is about more than just storytelling. It's about equipping business owners with the knowledge, inspiration, and commercial insights they need to navigate their own path. Whether you're scaling up, managing cash flow, or tackling industry shifts, we bring you the voices and experiences that matter — helping you make smarter decisions and move forward with confidence. If you're building something great, if you're making tough calls every day, if you're in the trenches — this is the podcast for you.2025 Economics Leadership Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • S02E14: The Menopause Conversation We Should’ve Had Years Ago | Dr Julia Rawlinson

    S02E14: The Menopause Conversation We Should’ve Had Years Ago | Dr Julia Rawlinson
    Jun 3 2026

    Menopause affects every woman, yet for many people, it’s still a conversation shrouded in confusion, silence, and a lack of information.

    In this episode of In the Trenches, Dr Julia Rawlinson joins the podcast to unpack the realities of perimenopause and menopause, the symptoms many women experience years before diagnosis, and why so many suffer in silence without realising what’s happening.

    Julia explains how menopause impacts far more than just hormones, affecting sleep, mood, cognition, bone health, relationships, confidence, and even women’s ability to stay in the workforce. The conversation also explores hormone replacement therapy (HRT), the misconceptions surrounding it, and the importance of evidence-based care and open discussion.

    What Dr Julia Rawlinson Covers:

    • The difference between perimenopause and menopause

    • Why symptoms can begin years before menopause

    • Brain fog, anxiety, sleep disruption, and mood changes

    • Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) explained

    • The controversy surrounding menopause research and HRT

    • The impact of menopause on work, relationships, and daily life

    • Bone health, exercise, and long-term wellbeing

    • Why better menopause education and awareness is needed

    Dr Julia Rawlinson is a GP, Emergency Medicine Certificate holder, and member of the Australasian Menopause Society. Drawing from both her medical expertise and lived experience as a mother of three, Julia brings a practical, compassionate, and evidence-based perspective to one of the most misunderstood health transitions women face.

    If you or someone close to you has ever wondered whether symptoms like exhaustion, irritability, anxiety, brain fog, or disrupted sleep could be connected to perimenopause or menopause, this conversation is an essential starting point.

    Powered by The Finance Agency — salary-paid finance brokers for forward-thinking Australian business owners. financeagency.com.au
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    33 mins
  • S02E13: What Great Leaders Never Walk Past | Building High-Performance Teams w/Stephen Connell

    S02E13: What Great Leaders Never Walk Past | Building High-Performance Teams w/Stephen Connell
    May 19 2026

    Leadership is tested in the everyday standards we set, the people we hire, and the culture we allow to grow.

    In this episode of In the Trenches, Stephen Connell, CEO of MAD3 Engineering, shares hard-earned lessons on leadership, accountability, workplace culture, and building high-performance teams.

    Stephen unpacks why “what you walk past, you accept” is more than a saying - it’s a leadership standard. From managing employees and hiring for values, to building trust, developing people, and creating a culture where teams take ownership, this conversation is packed with practical insight for leaders at every level.

    What Stephen Covers:

    • Building high-performance teams
    • Hiring for values, not just technical skill
    • Managing toxic employees before they damage culture
    • Leading by example and setting clear standards
    • Creating accountability across a business
    • Developing and retaining good people
    • The link between cash flow, communication, and leadership
    • Client satisfaction and delivering practical results
    • Leading an employee-owned engineering business
    • MAD3 Engineering’s values: Responsive, Reliable, Results

    If you care about leadership, team culture, accountability, business growth, or building a workplace where good people stay and perform, this episode is for you.

    Powered by The Finance Agency — salary-paid finance brokers for forward-thinking Australian business owners. financeagency.com.au

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    🔗https://linktr.ee/In_The_Trenches.pod

    🔗Connect with Hanif Ibrahim:
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanif-ibrahim-18175a9/

    🔗Connect with Stephen Connell:
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-connell-mba-aicd-46954321/
    Website: https://mad3.com.au/
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    1 hr and 22 mins
  • AI Legal Risk & IP in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: What Business Owners Must Know | with Juan Perez

    AI Legal Risk & IP in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: What Business Owners Must Know | with Juan Perez
    May 11 2026
    Artificial intelligence is changing how businesses create, protect, and lose intellectual property. Most business owners are operating blind to the legal risks — and the opportunity — that AI introduces into their operations right now. In this episode of In The Trenches, Hanif Ibrahim welcomes back Juan Perez, IP lawyer and founder of Quest Legal, for a timely and deeply practical conversation about the intersection of AI, intellectual property, and business legal risk in 2026. Juan was on the show earlier to break down IP fundamentals. This time, the conversation goes to the frontier — because the frontier is where most businesses are getting exposed. What Juan covers: - Who owns the IP when your business uses AI to generate content, code, or designs? - What the courts are currently saying about AI-generated work and copyright - How AI tools can inadvertently ingest and reproduce your competitors' protected IP - The contract clauses every business should review if they're using AI tools - How to build an AI usage policy that protects your business and your clients - The specific risks in industries like marketing, legal, finance, and technology - What's coming in AI regulation — and how to position your business ahead of it - Practical steps to audit your AI exposure today The legal landscape around AI is being written right now. This conversation helps you understand what's at stake. Brought to you by The Finance Agency — salary-paid finance brokers helping businesses navigate complexity with the right financial foundation. financeagency.com.au #AILaw #IntellectualProperty #AIForBusiness #BusinessLaw #BusinessPodcast #InTheTrenches #ArtificialIntelligence #IPLaw #TechLaw #Entrepreneurship #BusinessRisk
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    1 hr and 6 mins
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