AI is changing business faster than any technology we've seen before—but are most businesses actually ready?

In Episode 4 of Hatched: Idea to Impact, Dustin and Jenna sit down with AI strategist, entrepreneur and Claude Ambassador Rye Smith to cut through the hype and explore what artificial intelligence really means for Australian businesses.

From building websites at just 12 years old to becoming one of Australia's Claude Ambassadors, Rye shares his entrepreneurial journey, the lessons learned from navigating COVID, and why AI isn't about replacing people—it's about giving them their time back.
Together, they unpack the biggest misconceptions surrounding AI, how small businesses can compete with larger organisations, why Australia is still in the early stages of adoption, and the practical steps every business owner should be taking today.

In this episode:

• How Rye landed one of only three Claude Ambassador roles in Australia
• Why AI is about empowering people—not replacing them
• The biggest opportunities business owners are missing
• Lessons from building, selling and rebuilding businesses
• Recovering from COVID and starting again
• How AI is giving businesses their most valuable asset back—time
• Where AI is heading over the next few years

Whether you're excited by AI or still sceptical, this conversation will challenge the way you think about technology and give you practical insights you can apply to your business today.

What happens when life completely changes your direction?

In this episode of Hatched, Dustin and Jenna sit down with wellbeing expert, academic, speaker, and founder Dr Tiffany de Sousa Machado for a deeply personal conversation about loss, resilience, purpose, and what it really means to live well.

After the sudden loss of her mother, Tiffany made a life-changing decision to walk away from a successful media career and return to university at 30 to pursue the path she'd always dreamed of. What followed was a journey through personal illness, postnatal depression, entrepreneurship, leadership, and ultimately finding purpose through helping others.

This isn't just a conversation about wellbeing. It's about navigating adversity, learning from failure, asking for help, and building a life aligned with your values.

In this episode:
✅ Why Tiffany left a successful career to start over at 30
✅ The personal challenges that shaped her life's work
✅ Lessons from building and closing The Village Foundation
✅ The importance of community and asking for help
✅ Balancing business, motherhood, and wellbeing
✅ Why gratitude is more powerful than most people realise
✅ What success really looks like beyond money and achievement

This episode is filled with practical wisdom, honest reflections, and powerful reminders about what truly matters.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed, stuck, or questioned whether you're on the right path, this conversation is for you.

30 Years in Business: What It Really Takes to Last | Richard Finlayson

What does it actually take to build and sustain a business for over 30 years?

In this episode, we sit down with Richard Finlayson, Director of Quality Group, to unpack a journey that spans continents, industries, and decades of change. From growing up in global hospitality environments to leading one of Australia’s long-standing training organisations, Richard shares the real story behind longevity in business.

We cover the highs, the setbacks, and the moments that tested everything—from navigating COVID in a face-to-face training industry, to making tough calls on failed ventures, and adapting to a rapidly changing landscape driven by AI and shifting markets.

But beyond the business, this is a conversation about people—mentorship, leadership, and the impact of helping others build better futures.

💡 In this episode:

• The reality of running a business for 30+ years
• Lessons from failure (and what most people get wrong)
• How COVID reshaped training and hospitality
• The role of AI in modern business
• Why great businesses always find a way
• The importance of people, culture, and leadership

This is a raw and insightful conversation with someone who’s seen it all—and kept going.

In the first episode of Hatched – Idea to Impact, Dustin McMahon and Jenna Devenport sit down at La Crème Café to talk about their journey into business and the path that led to the creation of The Finance Nest.

This conversation explores where it all started – from early career experiences and the industries they worked in, through to the decision to build a business together. Dustin and Jenna share the realities of the grind involved in starting something from scratch, the lessons learned along the way, and the people and opportunities that helped shape their journey.

Along the way they discuss a number of businesses, communities and sporting organisations that have been part of their story, including RAW Structures, LMG, Lockleys Football Club, Southern Knights Soccer Club, and SA Panthers FC.

Recorded in a relaxed setting at La Crème Café, this episode sets the foundation for the Hatched podcast and gives listeners an insight into the people behind The Finance Nest.