The Contrarians with Adam and Adir
Hosted by Adam Schwab & Adir Shiffman · 27 decoded episodes · newest Oct 5, 2026
Get the fearless truth about start-ups and corporate Australia from guys that give you the hard facts, not the company line. Hear Luxury Escapes co-founder Adam Schwab and Catapult Sports Exec Chairman Adir Shiffman provide the inside word on the biggest stories in business with a contrarian take from the guys who sit on both sides of the table. New episodes dropping weekly.
Episodes 27
- Oct 5, 2026 · 1h 33mAustralia’s policy bets collide with markets, technology and growthThe discussion connects surcharge reform, tax policy, weak retail activity and technology valuations to a broader debate over Australia’s economic future.
- Oct 2, 2026 · 45 minRetail weakness tests AI valuations and private equity exitsThe episode connects higher rates and weaker demand across retail, speculative AI infrastructure and private equity’s strained exit model.
- Sep 28, 2026 · 1h 31mAI spending faces a harder test: measurable economic valueThe episode connects AI’s uncertain returns with public-safety regulation, lottery economics and the judgment calls behind venture investing.
- Sep 25, 2026 · 50 minMeta looks cheap as Hello World bets its futureThe episode contrasts a relatively attractive technology giant with a travel company making a poorly disclosed acquisition that could reshape its business.
- Sep 23, 2026 · 37 minTim Slattery finds value in property’s overlooked cornersThe discussion shows how disciplined, bottom-up research can challenge fashionable narratives across industrial, retail, office and healthcare property.
- Sep 21, 2026 · 1h 28mAI valuations collide with founder taxes and Xero’s reckoningThe episode tests whether optimistic AI economics, government investment and founder-tax policy are misallocating capital while Australian technology companies struggle to execute.
- Sep 18, 2026 · 20 minWhy Better Politics Requires More Than Higher PayThe discussion connects political recruitment, productivity reform, and strategic flexibility to the broader question of how Australia makes better decisions.
- Sep 16, 2026 · 48 minInvestors weigh AFG’s yield against housing risk and HMC’s recovery caseThe discussion tests whether cheap valuations and asset discounts can overcome weakening property conditions, credit risks and complexity.
- Sep 14, 2026 · 1h 19mJudd weighs debt risks as AI reshapes investingThe episode connects Australia’s housing strain and Apple’s pricing power to a broader question about debt, inflation, and whether AI infrastructure can earn its enormous investment.
- Sep 11, 2026 · 45 minYochi’s economics test the limits of founder mythologyThe episode connects boardroom governance, AI-driven legal disruption, and consumer-brand growth to a broader question about what really creates durable companies.
- Sep 7, 2026 · 1h 30mExpert360 sale and Corporate Travel Management ASX return signal market shiftsThis episode provides an unvarnished look at the compounding pressures facing modern businesses, from startup exit realities and public market volatility to geopolitical threats and executive turnover.
- Sep 4, 2026 · 35 minAustralian retail squeeze exposes deep cracks as Cettire nears the edgeUnderstanding the structural weaknesses of overleveraged online retailers helps investors spot market bubbles before they burst.