The Message Pod

James MacGregor is one of a trio of co-founders who developed Biteable, an online video-making software, out of Hobart in 2014. In the four years since, Biteable has amassed a staggering 4 million users looking to make eye-catching animated videos without blowing the budget as they would've had to previously. James has been an integral part of a few other startups and businesses - he's a software engineer by trade but is also well versed in both product design and marketing. We chat about how Biteable's vision has evolved with the company, how the software is being used, what he sees for the future, how he's refined his Venture capital pitch and more.

Jed Altschwager is a 33-year-old bloke with a wife, young child and another one on the way. He's the kind of guy who injects positive energy into the room when he walks in. Jed's also an amputee. In 2015, he lost his left leg in an accident at work, and so began the long journey to both mental and physical recovery. Jed speaks of realising, on that hospital bed, that he had a choice: to either fall into drinking, depression and self-pity, or to pick himself up, attack his rehab and be a positive inspiration for himself and those close to him. Three years on, Jed's incredible mindset and determination has him healthier than ever and training to hopefully represent Australia in rowing at the Paralympics in 2020. It comes as no surprise that he's now asked to speak at schools and sporting clubs about mental resilience.

Christine Manfield is a self-taught yet celebrated chef who originally began her career as a teacher. The talented home cook later decided to switch lanes and went on to head up three award-winning restaurants in London and Sydney from 1993. As she confesses to Nicole, however, there's been no 'game plan' involved despite her going from strength to strength in the culinary world. Christine's released a successful spice collection, hosted plenty of gastronomic tours and continues to impart her knowledge on the next generation by mentoring young chefs and industry colleagues. She recently launched an updated version of one of her eight book titles, Tasting India: Heirloom Family Recipes. It's the book that she calls her 'love letter to India', the culinary and cultural destination that she's been frequenting for over two decades. Find out more at https://christinemanfield.com/ Stay up-to-date at https://facebook.com/themessagepod/

Graham Cornes is a household name in Adelaide and the other AFL-obsessed parts of Australia. But despite going on to be a prominent media figure after his decorated playing and coaching careers, not many people know what he's had to deal with on a personal level over the trip. He grew up in a broken family that had next to nothing, lost touch with his mother for 30 years and spent two years in the army in his early 20s, serving a short stint in Vietnam just as his football career was getting started. He's had to come through his fair share of mental battles as a result, and he credits the Glenelg Football Club with helping him stay on the right track upon return. He's been married three times, has seen his two sons become football legends in their own right and is now raising teenage girls while he continues to stay involved in the media with FIVEaa's Conversations with Cornesy. As you'll hear, he wasn't totally sold on the idea of being on the other side of the interview, but he has a story and mindset that deserves to be explored.

Gillian Armstrong is a feature film and documentary director who's been at the forefront of the industry for over three decades. She became a director at age 27 and the first woman to direct an Australian feature film in almost half a century when she made her debut with My Brilliant Career in 1979. Gillian's since been showered with awards, beckoned by Hollywood and an advocate for women's rights within the male-dominated sphere of film. She caught up with Nicole to chat about the exhibition that shares the name of one of her most poignant pieces - Starstruck, as well as the state of Australian film and the strong female protagonists that she's been known for.