How Joe Aston went from the back page to bestseller
Joe Aston transformed the Australian Financial Review's Rear Window from snippets of gossip to a hard-hitting, must-read business column.
Welcome to the final episode of Success and More Interesting Stuff for 2024. In this episode, we’re closing out the year with a guest who knows how to deliver a knockout punch.
Joe Aston spent 12 years as co-writer of the AFR’s Rear Window column, transforming it from a finance industry gossip page into a hard-hitting, no-holds-barred must-read. With a sharp wit and a fearless approach, Aston took on everyone from prime ministers and billionaires to untouchable institutions.
In October 2023, Aston signed off from Rear Window with a bang, exposing Qantas and its CEO Alan Joyce for their conduct during the COVID pandemic. But Aston didn’t stop there. Instead of taking a break, he penned the bestseller The Chairman’s Lounge, a deep dive into how Qantas fell from national sweetheart to corporate villain.
Before journalism, Aston cut his teeth in politics, working with Joe Hockey and Liberal Party icon Bruce Baird. He also spent time inside the walls of Qantas, gaining firsthand insights that would shape his future career.
It’s a conversation you won’t want to miss as we wrap up an incredible year. I hope you enjoy this podcast and I look forward to bringing you more episodes of Success and More Interesting Stuff in 2025.
Click on the player below to listen to the podcast
Related Links
The Chairman's Lounge
Joe Aston's next venture
Listen and follow
Time codes
- 0:00 - Introduction
- 1:35 - Writing The Chairmans Lounge
- 5:23 - Education and early career
- 15:20 - Lessons from a career in politics and airlines
- 22:00 - A move to journalism and the evolution of Rear Window
- 33:20 - Taking on big stories and bigger personalities
- 38:46 - Responses and complaints
- 42:20 - Choosing stories
- 45:36 - Qantas - the gift that keeps on giving
- 55:16 - Buybacks and share sales
- 57:40 - There’s more to come from Joe Aston
More Episodes
Education
The man trusted by Kerry Packer, Solomon Lew and Barbra Streisand (yep, seriously!) for stock market guidance
View
Equities
Inside Barry Irvin's fight for Bega and his life
View
Education
No shortcuts! How Ian Macoun built a $100 billion funds management behemoth
View
Equities
Meet the man who turned Nick Scali into a 10-bagger
View
Never miss an update
Enjoy this wire? Hit the ‘like’ button to let us know.
Stay up to date with my current content by
following me below and you’ll be notified every time I post a wire
Matthew is the Principal and Portfolio Manager at Centennial Asset Management. Prior to this, Matthew was the CIO at Wilson Asset Management between 1998 and 2011, achieving 18% p.a. over the period.
........
Livewire gives readers access to information and educational content provided by financial services professionals and companies ("Livewire Contributors"). Livewire does not operate under an Australian financial services licence and relies on the exemption available under section 911A(2)(eb) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) in respect of any advice given. Any advice on this site is general in nature and does not take into consideration your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making a decision please consider these and any relevant Product Disclosure Statement. Livewire has commercial relationships with some Livewire Contributors.
Never miss an update
Get the latest insights from me in your inbox when they’re published.
1 stock mentioned
Matthew is the Principal and Portfolio Manager at Centennial Asset Management. Prior to this, Matthew was the CIO at Wilson Asset Management between 1998 and 2011, achieving 18% p.a. over the period.
Expertise
Matthew is the Principal and Portfolio Manager at Centennial Asset Management. Prior to this, Matthew was the CIO at Wilson Asset Management between 1998 and 2011, achieving 18% p.a. over the period.
Expertise
Comments
Comments
Sign In or Join Free to comment
most popular
Education
How Joe Aston went from the back page to bestseller
Centennial Asset Management