The Contrarians with Adam and Adir
Adam Schwab and Adir Shiffman
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
Mentioned books
Jul 7, 2025 • 1h 53min
Droneshield Flies, Di Pilla Crashes, Dominos Debacle, WFH, Tether’s Money Machine and Adir’s LinkedIn Pet Hate
The hosts dive into the intriguing rise of DroneShield, showcasing its financial growth amidst challenges. They discuss the abrupt end of David Di Pilla’s successful run and Jack Cowin's rescue of Domino's in a shifting food delivery landscape. A humorous take on the loneliness of remote work sparks laughter, while critiques of LinkedIn's insensitivity add a light-hearted touch. The conversation also touches on Tether's controversial financial strategies and the complexities of taxpayer funding in various industries.
Jul 4, 2025 • 29min
Ask Us Anything: Would the guys go on Shark Tank? + Is Kogan a Lottery Business Now!?
00:00 - Would the guys go on Shark Tank?11:30 - JB vs Harvey Norman15.48 - Kogan's New Direction? Today's Sponsors: Mighty: www.mightypartners.com.au/contrarians Thanks for listening! Join us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-contrarians-with-adam-and-adir-podcast Subscribe on YouTube for all our video content: https://https://www.youtube.com/@ContrariansPodcast Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/contrarianspod Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@contrarianspodSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 30, 2025 • 1h 48min
Xero Bets the Business, Woolworths MyDeal Disaster, Moral Hazard on Planes, EV Road Test and Woodfrog
The guys question Xero’s massive $4b bet on Melio, Woolworth’s blows $500m on its MyDeal disaster, how do you reduce moral hazard on planes, Adir test drives an EV and chats the growth of Woodfrog. Today's Sponsors: Netwealth: www.netwealth.com.au/contrarians Vanta: www.vanta.com/contrarians Thanks for listening! Join us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-contrarians-with-adam-and-adir-podcast Subscribe on YouTube for all our video content: https://https://www.youtube.com/@ContrariansPodcast Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/contrarianspod Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@contrarianspodSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 27, 2025 • 30min
Ask Us Anything: Rich People Problems + The Milgram Experiment + LinkedIn
00:00 - What problems do rich people face? 08:15 - The Milgram Experiment in business 17:58 - How much do we use LinkedIn? Today's Sponsors: Mighty: www.mightypartners.com.au/contrarians Thanks for listening! Join us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-contrarians-with-adam-and-adir-podcast Subscribe on YouTube for all our video content: https://https://www.youtube.com/@ContrariansPodcast Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/contrarianspod Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@contrarianspodSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 23, 2025 • 1h 41min
World’s Best Bahn Mi, Adir Sleeps with Obama, Door Dash’s Curious Acquisition, Catapult ‘s Smart Buy, Amazon Prime Ads a Turn Off, Adairs Deep Dive and Adir’s Injury
The guys discuss the world’s best Bahn Mi and can restaurants have process power, Adir’s Five Star Encounter, Door Dash gets smart, analysing Catapult’s recent acquisition, Adir’s anger at Amazon Prime’s ads, Adair’s deep dive and Adir’s sporting injury cripples the man of steel.Todays' Sponsors:Netwealth: www.netwealth.com.au/contrariansVanta: www.vanta.com/contrarians00:00 - Intro: Adir's Injured09:30 - Adir's Quiz: Highest Annual Revenue Per Employee24:00 - Best Banh Mi?32:39 - Adam's Quiz: Most Searches per Platform per Day37:34 - Vow Meat43:06 - Door Dash48:35 - Prime Video Woes57.32 - Catapult's Acquisition1:19:03 - Adair's Trading UpdateAdir's Movie Recommendation:The Man Who Definitely Didn't Steal Hollywood (Directed by John Dower)Thanks for listening!Join us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-contrarians-with-adam-and-adir-podcastSubscribe on YouTube for all our video content: https://https://www.youtube.com/@ContrariansPodcastFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/contrarianspodFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@contrarianspodSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 20, 2025 • 30min
Ask Us Anything: Are Young People Just BAD with Money + How We'd Revolutionise Schooling
00:00 - Are young people bad with money?10:28 - How would we revolutionise the education system?24:57 - What's your most contrarian view?Today's Sponsors:Mighty: www.mightypartners.com.au/contrarians See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 16, 2025 • 1h 29min
Virgin IPO, Immutable Questions, YouTube Goes Too Premium, Adir's US Adventures, Israel's Masterstroke and Adam's Cettire Victory Lap
The guys discuss the winners from the Virgin IPO, questions being raised about crytop Unicorn Immutable, YouTube gets too rich for Adir, Israel's intelligence win in Iran and Cettire's Collapse.This week's sponsors:Netwealth: www.netwealth.com.au/contrariansVanta: www.vanta.com/contrariansTelstra: www.telstra.com.au/tbtc 00:00 - Intro3:55 - Investing in Defence?11:50 - Chick-Fil-A18:30 - Adam's Great Glasses Experience21:30 - YouTube Premium Price Hike30:50 - Another Apple Blunder?40:10 - Concert Etiquette44:50 - Virgin IPO1:11:50 - CettireThanks for listening!Join us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-contrarians-with-adam-and-adir-podcastSubscribe on YouTube for all our video content: https://https://www.youtube.com/@ContrariansPodcastFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/contrarianspodFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@contrarianspodSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 13, 2025 • 30min
Ask Us Anything: Business & politics + What have we changed our minds on?
Today's Sponsors: Safety Nest: www.safetynest.com.auAffix: www.affix.com.au/contrariansMighty: www.mightypartners.com.au/contrariansSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 9, 2025 • 1h 33min
David Jones and Qantas Hook Up, Koala Pulls IPO, Mecca, JB Hi Fi’s Golden Run, Get Swift’s Tale of Destruction, Apple’s Woes and Mike’s Switch 2 Review
The guys chat abouts David Jones’ partnership with loyalty giant, Qantas, Koala withdraws its IPO, Mecca’s belated 2023 results disappoint boys, JB Hi Fi’s incredible legacy of success, Get Swift Founder goes Viral, Apple’s continuing trouble’s and Mike’s hot off the press review of Nintendo’s Switch 2.Today's Sponsors:Netwealth: www.netwealth.com.au Telstra: www.telstra.com.au/tbtcVanta: www.vanta.com/contrarians 00:00 - Adir's in Tel Aviv again.06:04 - Adam's Apple Woes18:30 - Mike's Switch 2 Review24:30 - Property Prices High Again25:30 - Country Road28:06 - Get Swift33:54 - Koala35:20 - David Jones & Qantas41:50 - Brett Blundy and Leays46:10 - Mecca 2023 Financials1:00:48 - JB Hi-FIThanks for listening!Join us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-contrarians-with-adam-and-adir-podcastSubscribe on YouTube for all our video content: https://https://www.youtube.com/@ContrariansPodcastFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/contrarianspodFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@contrarianspodSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 6, 2025 • 28min
Ask Us Anything: What really happens in the Qantas lounge + Angel Investing Tips + Where to stash your emergency $1M!
00:00 - How to set valuation when Angel Investing?14:35 - What really happens in the Qantas lounge?22:00 - Where are you stashing your emergency $1M?Today's Sponsors:Safety Nest: www.safetynest.com.auMighty: www.mightypartners.com.au/contrarians Affix: www.affix.com.au/contrariansThanks for listening!Join us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-contrarians-with-adam-and-adir-podcastSubscribe on YouTube for all our video content: https://https://www.youtube.com/@ContrariansPodcastFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/contrarianspodFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@contrarianspodSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
