IT is rarely top of the list for small business owners — until something goes wrong.

In this episode of the Buddez podcast, we sit down with Brendan Stenner from Particle IT to unpack the real IT and security risks facing small businesses today, and what you can do to reduce them without becoming an accidental IT manager yourself .

From access control and cyber scams to hardware upgrades, data protection, and AI boundaries, this conversation is a must-listen for any business owner relying on tech to run their day-to-day operations.

In this episode, James shares:

• Why small businesses are not “too small” to be targeted by cyber scams
• The most common IT security gaps he sees in growing businesses
• How poor offboarding and access control can put your IP at risk
• Practical ways to reduce risk without overcomplicating your systems
• What hardware lifecycles business owners should actually be planning for
• How AI tools like Copilot and ChatGPT can help — and where boundaries matter
• Why regular IT audits save money, time, and stress in the long run

👉 Join the Buddez community to access Brendan’s workshop and get the latest insights from real small biz owners doing big things.

CREDITS:

🔗 Guest: Brendan Stenner

🏢 Business: Particle IT

📍 Based in: Australia

🌐 Website: https://particle.au

📧 Email: hey@particle.au

📞 Call: 1300 147 642

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendan-stenner-ba2a76179/

If you’ve ever stared at your phone thinking, “Surely I’ve used every content idea in existence…” this episode is your new creative recharge.

For the first time ever, all three Buddez founders — Sophie, Rosita and Pete — sit down together to share their best real-world strategies for creating content consistently, even when your inspiration tank is empty.

From the power of simple educational snippets, to the magic of trending audio, to Pete’s love affair with that American wood-chopping guy on TikTok… we cover it all.

And yes — here’s the axing guy:

htts://www.tiktok.com/@northernwoodcutter/video/7544863169487916318?_r=1&_t=ZS-91ZxciNucgK

Whether you’re a tradie, an eCommerce brand, a service provider, or just getting your socials off the ground, this episode gives you practical tips you can implement today.

In this episode, the team shares:

✨ Rosita’s 4-part content framework

• Educate
• Sell & promote (with a strong hook)
• Social/behind the scenes
• Nurture (and the secret power of 4.1 – feedback loops)

✨ Sophie’s content strategies

• Why “obvious to you” is gold to your audience
• Why you should look outside your industry
• Clever hooks that stop the scroll
• The easiest content ever: trending audio + a simple clip
• Why storytelling while doing an unrelated action works (makeup… carpentry… smoothies… same same)
  
  
  

✨ Pete’s favourite content ideas

• Ask your customers what made them buy
• Ethically “spying” on competitors
• Origin stories (and why your passion is your best sales tool)
• Collaborating with complementary brands
• Trending topics: what Taylor Swift + Travis Kelce can teach marketers
• Tell people about mistakes — and what you learned
• Bonus tip: Use your comments section as a content generator
  
  
  

✨ Plus, the unexplainable universal appeal of…

• Wood-chopping TikToks
• Time lapses
• Before/after transformations
• Dogs on beach walks
• And why Pete still doesn’t understand makeup tutorials

👉 Join the Buddez community and get the latest insights from real small biz owners doing big things.

CREDITS:

🔗 Guests:

Sophie Siclari – Buddez Co-Founder & Marketing Specialist

Rosita Rose – Buddez Co-Founder & Social Media Specialist

Peter Anthony – Buddez Co-Founder & Executive Coach

🏢 Business: Buddez

📍 Based in: Australia

🌐 Website: www.buddez.com

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/buddezcommunity

▶️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buddez_/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/buddez/

▶️ YouTube: youtube.com/@Buddez

his episode is a beautiful look at what happens when purpose, grit and genuine care collide.

James Clendining, co-founder of Firefly HR, shares how he and his wife Barbi built a niche recruitment and training business in the OSHC and early learning space — one grounded in child-safeguarding, community, and deep sector knowledge.

From Barbi’s personal story that shaped the heart of their mission, to James’ jump from the ASX into the unknown, this conversation covers the pivots, the pressures, and the power of backing yourself even when the path gets messy.

You’ll hear how Firefly HR built authority through webinars and education, what it really costs to build an app (spoiler: a lot), how the pandemic forced a full business reset, and the practical ways James maintains strong relationships with centres and educators.

This episode is especially powerful for founders who are juggling growth, purpose, and burnout — and anyone needing a reminder to trust themselves a little more.

In this episode, James shares:

The childhood event that inspired Barbi to dedicate her life to helping kids feel safe and seen
Why OSHC is one of the most misunderstood (and undervalued) sectors in education
The leap from the ASX into small-business life — and why timing matters less than passion
How COVID completely wiped their revenue and forced a pivot into education and webinars
The real cost (and complexity) of building an app-based recruitment platform
Why reputation and genuine care still matter more than aggressive sales tactics
Practical ways he builds and maintains centre relationships (hint: pick up the phone)
The one piece of advice he wishes he took earlier in his business journey
How to tune out the noise of too many mentors and trust your own expertise

👉 Join the Buddez community to access James’ workshop and get the latest insights from real small biz owners doing big things.


CREDITS:
🔗 Guest: James Clendining
🏢 Business: Firefly HR — Recruitment + Consulting for ECE & OSHC
📍 Based in: Australia
🌐 Website: www.fireflyhr.com.au
👥 Co-founded with wife, Barbi

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fireflyhrOSHC/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fireflyhr
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbq6P2fQ3N8FNXsKA_HTG7w

Mindset — it’s the quiet engine behind every small business owner’s growth (or burnout). In this episode, Pete sits down with psychologist and business mindset coach Kara Lambert to unpack the fears that hold us back, from imposter syndrome to perfectionism, and how to move forward with more confidence and calm.

Kara shares how her background in psychology and business led her to help founders at their “growth edge” — that point where you’re about to hire, expand, or launch something new but feel stuck in stories like “I’m not ready” or “Who am I to do this?”

She and Pete explore practical tools for shifting those thoughts, reframing nerves as excitement, acting from your core values, and finding a mindset that supports real growth (not burnout).

In this episode, Kara shares:

Why mindset becomes the biggest obstacle when you’re ready to scale
The science-backed difference between fear and excitement — and how to use it
How to question self-doubt (“How do you know that?”) to build resilience
The three business areas most impacted by fear — communication, money, and relationships
Why aligning with your core values helps protect your boundaries and decision-making
How to reframe imposter syndrome and stop relying on external validation

Kara’s biggest takeaway: “When you’re behaving in alignment with your core values, you stop ignoring red-flag clients and start building a business that actually feels right.”
👉 Join the Buddez community to access the full episode and get practical workshops, tools, and weekly Q&As designed for growing small businesses.

CREDITS:
🔗 Guest: Kara Lambert
🏢 Business: Kara Lambert
📍 Based in: South Australia
🌐 Website: https://www.karalambert.com
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karalambertcom/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karalambertcom
💼 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/karalambertcom

What if instead of chasing likes, clicks, and expensive ad spends, your business could tap into everyday people to amplify your brand? That’s the premise behind Crowds Now, the platform founded by entrepreneur Adriana Brusi.

From becoming Hong Kong’s youngest director at 16, to working across hospitality, events, and tech, Adriana has always been driven to spot gaps and turn them into opportunities. Today, she’s tackling one of the biggest pain points for small businesses: being seen in crowded markets without wasting thousands on ads that don’t convert.

In this episode, Adriana shares:

Why impressions and follower counts are the wrong metrics to chase.
The difference between attention and intention (and why only one leads to sales).
How Crowds Now uses everyday customers as authentic brand ambassadors.
Why influencer marketing isn’t the silver bullet for small businesses.
How even a $200 marketing budget can create traction when paired with the right crowd.
Why customer experience and emotional buy-in matter more than products alone.

Adriana’s biggest takeaway: “Stop worrying about followers and focus on creating intention. People buy from people they trust – and you don’t need $3,000 a month in ads to make that happen.”

🎧 Want to see how to grow with connection, not clicks? Tune in now.

👉 Join the Buddez community to access Adriana’s workshop and discover how other small business owners are finding smarter ways to get noticed.


CREDITS:
🔗 Guest credits: Adriana Brusi
🏢 Business: Crowds Now
📍Based in: Melbourne, Australia
🌐 Website: https://crowdsnow.com/
🌐 Website: www.eventnegotiators.com
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adrianabrusiofficial/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crowds_now/

At what point should you stop juggling your own marketing and bring in the pros?

That’s the question driving this episode with Rattan Muttoo, Marketing Director at KlewdUp, who’s spent over 20 years helping businesses – from start-ups to enterprise – grow smarter, not just louder.

Rattan dives into what really happens when a business hits that tipping point between DIY marketing and hiring an agency. With experience spanning digital, creative, and strategy, he shares why getting the right help at the right time can completely change your growth trajectory.

In this episode, Rattan shares:

The real signs your business is ready for agency support.
Why “doing it all yourself” can cost more than it saves.
The truth about finding marketing unicorns (and why they don’t exist).
How to choose between hiring in-house or outsourcing.
What questions to ask before signing with an agency.
Why authenticity and brand loyalty matter more than discount codes.
The golden rule: you can’t pay Manila prices and expect Sydney service.

Rattan’s biggest takeaway: “You started your business to do what you’re great at – not to become a marketing expert. The right agency partnership should give you time back, not take more of it.”

🎧 Want to know when it’s time to stop DIY-ing and start scaling? Tune in now.

👉 Join the Buddez community to access the full episode and get practical workshops, tools, and weekly Q&As designed for growing small businesses.


CREDITS:
🔗 Guest: Rattan Muttoo
🏢 Business: KlewdUp
📍 Based in: Sydney, Australia
🌐 Website: www.klewdup.co
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/klewdup/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KlewdUp/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/klewdup/

Posting on social media without a plan might get you likes, but it won’t necessarily get you sales. That’s where content strategy comes in. Instead of winging it post by post, a strong strategy connects the dots between your social media, website, blogs, PR, and customer journey – so every piece of content actually works together.

In this episode, Sophie breaks down the difference between content strategy and content planning, and why skipping the strategy stage can leave small businesses overwhelmed, invisible, or stuck talking to the wrong audience.

In this episode, Sophie also shares:

Why content strategy isn’t just social media – it’s your whole brand voice across every channel.
The key differences between strategy (the thinking) and planning (the doing).
How to map customer journeys so content leads to conversions, not dead ends.
The biggest mistakes small businesses make (like assuming they know their audience).
Why research saves you time later – and how to keep your strategy fresh as platforms and customer behaviour change.
Practical tips for fitting strategy and planning into your already-busy schedule.

Sophie’s advice for business owners: “Don’t just create content for the sake of it. Make sure every piece has a purpose, speaks to your customer, and fits into the bigger picture.”

🎧 Ready to stop guessing and start creating content with intent? Tune in now.

👉 Join the Buddez community to access Sophie’s workshop and see how other small business owners are building strategies that actually work.

CREDITS:
🔗 Guest credits: Sophie Siclari
🏢 Business: Copy By Sophie
📍 Based in: Sydney, Australia
🌐 Website: https://www.copybysophie.com.au/

What do you do when your corporate career comes to an abrupt end? For Aaron Telford, it meant backing a hunch and launching a business from his garage. With no experience in eCommerce or wellness, Aaron co-founded Baxter Blue – the brand best known for pioneering stylish blue light glasses in Australia.

What started with a single product has grown into a wellbeing company spanning sleep masks, posture tools, red light therapy, and circadian lighting. Along the way, Aaron navigated sourcing in China, influencer marketing before it was mainstream, and a tidal wave of growth during COVID lockdowns.

In this episode, Emily shares:

How a pair of glasses spotted in the office sparked a multimillion-dollar idea.
The steepest learning curves in building an online store from scratch.
Why influencer collaborations outperformed paid ads (and landed Baxter Blue on national TV).
How COVID turned their garage operation into a global logistics challenge overnight.
The shift from blue light glasses to a full suite of wellness products, including red light therapy and circadian lighting.
Why writing blogs and educating customers has been core to their brand growth.

Aaron’s biggest takeaway: “Sometimes you’ve just got to trust your gut. The right product, the right timing, and the right partnerships can make all the difference.”

🎧 Want to know how to turn a simple idea into a category-defining brand?

👉 Join the Buddez community to access Aaron’s workshop and get behind-the-scenes insights from real small biz owners doing big things. Check out Buddez.com
CREDITS:

🔗 Guest credits: Aaron Baxter

🏢 Business: Baxter Blue

📍 Based in: Sydney, Australia

🌐 Website: https://www.baxterblue.com.au

🌐 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/baxterblue.com.au

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baxterblue_/

📲 LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/company/baxter-blue