In this episode, Mark Wales sits down with renowned photographer and creative storyteller Jarrad Seng. Known for his iconic work with musicians like Passenger, Matt Corby, Josh Pike and Angus & Julia Stone, Jarrad shares his journey from humble beginnings in Perth to photographing global tours and creating meaningful art projects like The Story of Scars. Mark and Jarrad discuss the grind behind creative success, the importance of documenting the entire journey (even the tough moments), and the value of building meaningful relationships in your career.

Jarrad opens up about how stepping out of his comfort zone and taking on new challenges has helped him grow as a photographer and entrepreneur. Whether you're a creative professional, an aspiring artist, or someone looking for inspiration to take that next big leap, this episode is packed with insights on building a sustainable career while staying true to your craft.

• Jarrad's early days shooting concerts and hustling in Perth's music scene.
• The importance of embracing the grind and stepping outside your comfort zone.
• Lessons learned from touring with artists like Passenger and Angus & Julia Stone.
• How vulnerability and storytelling can create powerful art (e.g., The Story of Scars project).
• Balancing creativity with business and finding your unique value as a professional.
• Why being "nice and hardworking" can take you further than raw talent alone.

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

00:37 Settling in Melbourne

02:43 Journey into Photography

04:17 Touring with Bands

07:22 Documenting the Journey

13:30 Balancing Different Photography Genres

16:12 Advice for Aspiring Photographers

21:02 Self-Taught Skills and Training

24:04 The Importance of Training in Creative Fields

25:11 Cave System Adventure in Thailand

25:26 The Application Process and Fitness Concerns

26:00 Training and Realisations

27:32 Early Photography Career Challenges

28:36 The Importance of the Grind

31:15 Survivor Experience and Lessons Learned

37:13 Life in Melbourne and Future Plans

39:11 Final Advice for Aspiring Photographers

41:22 The Story of Scars Project

• Jarrad Seng’s Instagram: @jarradseng
• The Story of Scars Instagram: @thestoryofscars
• Mark Wales’ Website: www.markwales.com.au

• Instagram: @markwales
• Website: www.markwales.com.au/podcast
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Literary Mastermind and Survivor Extraordinaire Nick Iadanza @nickidanza and I sit down and discuss my debut novel OUTRIDER.

Nick is a Year 12 teacher at a top private school in Adelaide and is a fantastic presenter who had read the book in advance.

In this podcast we break down:

0:01: Nick offers his perspective on OUTRIDER

1:10: Story summary

3:45: Story origins 

5:49: Writing Process

8:15: Tips for writers 

11:00: Fiction writing process, story-telling conventions 

 16:00: Modern Warfare & Technology 

18:15: Themes 

22:25: Characters (Nic referred to ‘Jess’: I had my wires crossed and was describing ‘Constance.’)

32:00: Parallels to deployments and combat

34:45: The Hill: setting of the Dandenong ranges

39:00: Character – Dyson

41:40: Impact on veterans, life after the military

46:00: Details on Survivor – Life in the SAS, a non-fiction memoir

48:30: FURIOSA: A Mad Max Saga. Talks with director George Miller, and auditions

53:00 Survivor: TV Series

55:30: Quick 5 questions: OUTRIDER, Writing & Survivor

OUTRIDER is now available at all good book stores near you. Or, grab your copy at: https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781761264962/ 

No origin story is complete with out hearing about the highs and lows of life and include a few of these in this wrap up. I talk through joining the SAS after reading about hostage rescue missions in the streets of London. I talk about the heartbreak of combat, the thrill of a new career and how exciting it is to start a new family. This is a short intro into my life. 

markwales.com.au 

Elite leadership I define with a few key pillars: Mission – Team – Self mindset, strategic planning principals, and self-care for leaders. I run through a deeper dive on all these topics and elaborate on why I think they are critical to high performing teams and leaders.

markwales.com.au

Welcome to the Mark Wales Podcast! 

After plenty of wins, losses and outright failures - I talk through the threads and principals that run through a life in the military, combat, academia, the startup world, and the reality gameshow Survivor. This is the introduction to Elite Leadership Podcast with Mark Wales.

markwales.com.au