<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=287969832655622&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">

Real stories and strategies to help you grow in work and life

U Talks is Asuria’s podcast sharing real stories and practical lessons. In this series, 'What I Wish I Knew', features entrepreneurs, founders and small business owners unpacking imposter syndrome, pricing, burnout, and resilience with strategies to grow in work, business and life. New episodes drop every Wednesday.

U Talks - Logo Stroke
U Talks - Spotify Logo
U Talks - Apple Podcasts Logo
U Talks - YouTube Logo

Latest episode

Episode 1-3 - With Names (1x1)

Confidence comes from action: How entrepreneurs beat imposter syndrome with Marc Ryan and Emily Bitkow

Entrepreneurs Marc Ryan and Emily Bitkow know the danger of waiting until you feel ready. In this episode, they share how perfectionism and imposter syndrome nearly stopped them from starting, and how turning hesitation into action became the fastest way to build confidence. It’s a raw and practical conversation for small business owners, freelancers, and entrepreneurs who feel stuck in the planning stage, and the push you need to finally begin.

Listen on Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube + All platforms

Ep 2 - Jason (1x1)

Success takes time: The truth about overnight business myths with Jason Eisner 

Behind every “overnight success” is years of hard work and persistence. In this episode, BrandQuest Co-Founder Jason Eisner shares the setbacks and slow seasons that shaped his approach, and how consistency turned small steps into big results. Learn why defining your point of difference matters more than chasing trends, and how seeing your brand through your customer’s eyes helps you build something that lasts.

Listen on Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube + All platforms

Ep 3 - Shasta & Emily (1x1)

Turning failure into opportunity: Entrepreneurs share how rejection fuels success with Shasta Stevic and Emily Bitkow  

If you’re building a business, rejection is inevitable. In this episode, founders Shasta Stevic and Emily Bitkow share the tough setbacks that almost made them quit, and how failure became fuel for growth. They talk about false starts, pivots and resilience, and the lessons every entrepreneur, freelancer and start-up founder needs to hear when things get hard. It’s a reminder that rejection isn’t the end; it’s where real growth begins.

Listen on Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube + All platforms

Ep 4 - Marc & Josh (1x1)

Boundaries beat burnout: The realities of being your own boss with Marc Ryan and Josh Butt 

Being your own boss can be exciting and exhausting. In this episode, founders Marc Ryan and Josh Butt share the realities of self-employment, from burnout and mental health to finding balance on the road. They discuss when to outsource, how to set boundaries and the importance of rest, family and support networks. If you’re feeling stretched thin, this conversation will help you reset and run your business more sustainably.

Listen on Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube + All platforms

Ep 5 - Jason (1x1)

How to manage your time as your own boss without burning out with Jason Eisner  

One of the biggest challenges of self-employment is managing your time without burning out. In this episode, BrandQuest Co-Founder Jason Eisner shares the pressures of being your own boss and how to balance freedom with structure. He reveals practical ways to set boundaries, protect your energy and avoid overwork. It’s a grounded conversation for freelancers, founders and small business owners who want to stay productive without losing balance.

Listen on Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube + All platforms

Ep 6 - Jason & Shasta (1x1)

Money mindset for entrepreneurs: How to charge what you are worth without guilt with Jason Eisner and Shasta Stevic 

Your mindset about money can make or break your business. In this episode, Jason Eisner and Shasta Stevic share how they overcame guilt around charging and learned to value their work. They talk about early pricing mistakes, limiting beliefs and the turning points that built confidence. It’s a practical conversation for freelancers, founders and small business owners ready to stop undercharging and build a more financially sustainable business.

Listen on Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube + All platforms

Ep 7 - Josh (1x1)

Stop undervaluing yourself: The pricing mistakes that kill small businesses with Josh Butt  

Charging too little might win you work in the short term, but it can cost you in the long run. In this episode, Ampel founder Josh Butt shares the lessons he learned from underpricing his services and how he built the confidence to charge what he’s worth. He offers practical strategies for recognising your value, communicating it to clients and creating a pricing model that supports long-term growth.

Listen on Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube + All platforms

Ep 8 - Emily (1x1)

You don’t have to do it alone: Why mentors and support networks matter most with Emily Bitkow 

Being your own boss can be lonely, but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode, VIVRA Co-Founder and Asuria Business Mentor Emily Bitkow shares how mentors, accountability and support networks transformed her business journey. She explains why seeking help isn’t a weakness but a strength, and how the right people can accelerate your growth, build resilience and make running your business a whole lot less lonely.

Listen on Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube + All platforms

Meet our host

Asuria_StartMeUp-OurHost-Liv

With her trademark energy and warmth, Liv Phyland makes every conversation in 'What I Wish I Knew', a series within U Talks – The Asuria Podcast, feel open, relatable and real. For more than a decade, she has been a familiar face on Australian television, from Network Ten’s Start Me Up to The Loop and ABC3, earning a reputation for connecting with people and drawing out honest, human stories.

In 'What I Wish I Knew', Liv talks with founders, entrepreneurs and small business owners about the lessons they wish they had known through self-employment, sharing the kind of hard-won insights you will not find in textbooks.

Liv's approachable style brings honesty to every conversation and helps listeners uncover practical takeaways they can use in their own business journey.

All episodes

Episode 1-3 - With Names (1x1)

Confidence comes from action: How entrepreneurs beat imposter syndrome with Marc Ryan and Emily Bitkow

The biggest mistake entrepreneurs make is waiting until they feel ready. In this episode, host Liv Phyland talks with two founders, Marc Ryan of Fairy Floss and Chaos and Emily Bitkow of VIVRA, about how perfectionism and imposter syndrome nearly stopped them from starting their businesses. They share how hesitation turned into momentum, and why the fastest way to build confidence is to launch before you feel fully prepared. This is a raw and practical conversation for entrepreneurs, freelancers and small business owners who feel stuck in the planning stage. If you’re still tweaking your idea, waiting for the perfect timing, or convincing yourself you need more confidence, this episode will challenge that belief and give you the motivation to finally begin.

Listen on Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube + All platforms

Ep 2 - Jason (1x1)

Success takes time: The truth about overnight business myths with Jason Eisner 

Behind every story of an overnight success is years of hard work, persistence and patience. In this episode, host Liv Phyland sits down with Jason Eisner, Co-Founder of BrandQuest, to unpack what it actually takes to grow something that lasts. Jason shares the setbacks and slow seasons that shaped his approach, and how staying consistent helped him turn small steps into big results. You’ll learn why defining your point of difference matters more than chasing trends, how to see your brand through your customer’s eyes and why quick fixes rarely stick. Whether you’re starting your own business, or working to grow an existing one, this conversation will give you the tools to stay focused and remind you that persistence pays off. 

Listen on Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube + All platforms

Ep 3 - Shasta & Emily (1x1)

Turning failure into opportunity: Entrepreneurs share how rejection fuels success with Shasta Stevic and Emily Bitkow  

If you’re building a business, you’re going to face rejection. The question isn’t if you fail, but how you respond when it happens. In this episode, host Liv Phyland chats with Shasta Stevic, founder of Montue Restorations and Self-Employment Assistance program participant, and Emily Bitkow, Co-Founder of VIVRA and Asuria Business Mentor – Self-Employment Assistance, about the tough setbacks that almost made them walk away from their businesses. They talk about the false starts and failures that forced them to rethink their approach and keep moving forward. Instead of quitting, they learned how to pivot, adapt and turn failure into fuel for growth. This conversation is packed with lessons for entrepreneurs, start-up founders and freelancers who feel stuck or discouraged. If you’ve ever felt like giving up, this episode will show you how to see rejection as a teacher and use it to build a stronger, more resilient business. 

Listen on Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube + All platforms

Ep 4 - Marc & Josh (1x1)

Boundaries beat burnout: The realities of being your own boss with Marc Ryan and Josh Butt 

Being your own boss can be exciting and exhausting at the same time. In this episode, host Liv Phyland talks with Marc Ryan, founder of Fairy Floss and Chaos and Self-Employment Assistance program participant, and Josh Butt, founder of Ampel, about the real work behind self-employment. They unpack what it means to wear many hats, when to outsource things like accounting and legal, and how to set boundaries so you don’t end up working around the clock. You’ll hear stories about burnout, mental health, long stretches on the road, and the basics that keep you steady such as sleep, food, water and real downtime. Marc and Josh also share practical ways to say no, protect your energy, create sacred time with family and build a support network so you’re not doing it alone. If you’re juggling too much or feeling stretched thin, this conversation will help you reset and run your business more sustainably. 

Listen on Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube + All platforms

Ep 5 - Jason (1x1)

How to manage your time as your own boss without burning out with Jason Eisner 

One of the biggest challenges of self-employment is managing your time without burning out. In this episode, host Liv Phyland speaks with Jason Eisner, Co-Founder of BrandQuest about the real pressures that come with being your own boss and how to balance freedom with structure. Jason shares the mistakes many entrepreneurs make when they blur the line between work and life, and the practical steps he uses to create boundaries, protect his energy, and stay productive without working around the clock. You’ll hear strategies for setting realistic routines, managing competing demands, and avoiding the guilt that comes with taking a break. Whether you’re a freelancer, small business owner or start-up founder, this conversation will help you stop the cycle of overwork and build a healthier approach to time management so you can grow your business and still enjoy your life. 

Listen on Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube + All platforms

Ep 6 - Jason & Shasta (1x1)

Money mindset for entrepreneurs: How to charge what you are worth without guilt with Jason Eisner and Shasta Stevic 

Your mindset about money can make or break your business. In this episode, host Liv Phyland speaks with Jason Eisner, Co-Founder of BrandQuest, and Shasta Stevic, founder of Montue Restorations and Self-Employment Assistance program participant, about how entrepreneurs can overcome guilt around charging and finally recognise their true value. Jason and Shasta share the pricing mistakes they made early on, the beliefs that held them back, and the turning points that helped them build confidence in asking for what they’re worth. You’ll learn how to shift from a scarcity mindset to a growth mindset, stop discounting your services and create a healthier relationship with money. This conversation is full of practical strategies for freelancers, small business owners and start-up founders who undercharge and overwork. This episode will help you reframe the way you think about pricing and give you tools to build a business that’s financially sustainable. 

Listen on Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube + All platforms

Ep 7 - Josh (1x1)

Stop undervaluing yourself: The pricing mistakes that kill small businesses with Josh Butt 

Charging too little might win you work in the short term, but can destroy your business in the long run. In this episode, host Liv Phyland talks with Josh Butt, founder of Ampel, about the hard lessons he learned from underpricing his services. Josh shares how undervaluing his work led to burnout, why so many small business owners and freelancers fall into the same trap, and how he eventually found the confidence to set new prices. You’ll hear practical strategies for recognising your value, communicating it to clients and building a pricing model that supports growth instead of draining your energy. This conversation is essential for start-up founders, consultants and creatives who struggle to put a true price on their work. 

Listen on Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube + All platforms

Ep 8 - Emily (1x1)

You don’t have to do it alone: Why mentors and support networks matter most with Emily Bitkow 

Being your own boss can be lonely, but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode, host Liv Phyland speaks with Emily Bitkow, Co-Founder of VIVRA, former participant in the Self-Employment Assistance program and now an Asuria Business Mentor, about the game-changing role of mentors, accountability and support networks in business. Emily shares her journey of launching and growing a company, the moments when she realised she needed help, and how surrounding herself with the right people made all the difference. From building resilience to making smarter decisions, her story shows why support is not a weakness but a winning strategy. This conversation is essential for small business owners, start-up founders and freelancers who feel stuck or isolated. If you’ve been trying to carry the entire load yourself, this episode will show you how finding the right guidance and community can accelerate your growth and lighten the pressure.

Listen on Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube + All platforms

Don’t miss an episode. Subscribe today on your favourite podcast platform and catch new episodes every week.

All video episodes

Inspired to start your own business?

20250520_UTalks-0343

If our podcast has sparked an idea, we’d love to help you bring it to life. For over 10 years, we’ve supported more than 1,000 people to start or grow small businesses through the Self-Employment Assistance program. Across SA, VIC, QLD, NSW, ACT and TAS, we offer the guidance, tools and flexibility to help you build a business that’s truly yours.

Beyond the podcast

IMG_1712-(1)

Shasta Stevic, Montue Restorations

After years of burnout as a legal professional, Shasta took a bold step to leave her secure career and follow her passion. A weekend furniture restoration course sparked a new path, leading her to apprentice with a master restorer and launch Montue Restorations, her own thriving antique restoration business.

MarcFeaturePhotoBlog1

Marc Ryan, Fairy Floss & Chaos

After facing his own mental health challenges, Marc Ryan found strength in stand-up comedy. Blending humour with heartfelt storytelling, he created Fairy Floss & Chaos, using the stage to spark honest conversations, break stigma and remind people they are not alone in the chaos.

Tarius-Start-Me-Up-BlogFeature

Tarius McArthur, Cherry Pie - American Dessert Pies

Tarius McArthur turned her grandmother’s treasured recipes into Cherry Pie - American Dessert Pies, a thriving dessert business in Melbourne. With no business background but plenty of passion, she shares authentic American flavours while building a brand that celebrates culture, community and following your dreams.

Lydia-Profile-Photo-Blog

Lydia Thomson, Mowing Motivation

Lydia Thomson had no business experience, only a bold idea and a drive to make a difference. That idea grew into Mowing Motivation, an all-female gardening crew in Echuca creating beautiful outdoor spaces while building a business that empowers women.