Podcast Season 3 Episode #01
Duration: 18 Minutes
Published: June 9, 2026
In the time since Major Convos last aired, Corey’s beloved Brisbane Broncos finally ended their 19-year premiership drought and RTO operators and tradespeople navigated a full year of regulatory change, funding shifts and real pressure on the ground.
Major Convos is back, in a new studio and with plenty to cover.
While the Broncos memorabilia is no longer the backdrop for these discussions, Major Convos has a new production team ready to unpack the conversations that matter most to the trades and RTO world.
Season three kicks off with hosts Matthew Tenkate and Corey Bowles catching up on everything that’s unfolded since August last year.
It’s an honest, wide-ranging conversation about business expansion, leadership development, the changing perception of trades as a career and the lessons that come with growing fast.
Key Takeaways from the Episode
[00:00:00] The boys are back: After roughly 10 months since the last episode, the hosts reunite in a new studio setup and reflect on how much time has flown.
- [00:00:40] — New studio, new vibe: A nod to how far the show has come from recording in an office with a Broncos jersey as a backdrop and talk of bringing back the memorabilia for old times’ sake.
- [00:01:35] — What the pod is all about: A reminder of the mission: RTOs, trades, industry, real stories. This season’s focus will be on great guests, lived experiences, and learning along the way — the good, the bad, and the indifferent.
- [00:02:06] — New production team: Shoutout to Kenny, Paul, and the crew behind the cameras making it all happen. A new dream team helping raise the bar in Season 3.
- [00:03:01] — A lot has changed: The hosts recap the big shifts over the past year: changes to RTO standards, funding updates, the cost-of-living crisis and more.
- [00:03:18] — AI & its impact on trades and careers: AI has been the constant conversation, in business and in career planning. The discussion touches on how AI is reshaping what young people think about when it comes to their futures and why the trades conversation is louder than ever, even overseas in the US.
- [00:04:00] — Trades as Plan A, not Plan B: A shift in perception is underway. Social media is helping tradies sell what they do and the pathway into a trade is now firmly front and centre not a fallback option.
- [00:06:09] — Churchill Education & RPL: A deep dive into one of the biggest developments in the business: bringing Churchill Education into the group. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is explained, a genuine pathway for people already working in industry to get their experience formally recognised without starting from scratch.
- [00:08:05] — Expansion into New South Wales: Major has expanded into NSW with a new facility in Beresfield, Newcastle, plus the Virginia site in Brisbane to host the Churchill team and grow the schools and trades market. Lots of activity in a short period of time.
- [00:11:10] — Lessons in leadership & growth: The conversation turns to personal development and team growth. The hosts reflect on the importance of never becoming complacent in working on yourself, anything in nature that stops growing, dies.
- [00:15:15] — Coach K’s Leadership Lesson: A standout moment. Legendary basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski (Coach K) on how the players he coached stayed young while he aged and why he had to keep evolving his leadership style or risk becoming irrelevant. A universal lesson for anyone in business.
- [00:16:11] — What’s coming this season: A preview of Season 3: employers, partners, apprentices sharing their stories, RTO industry voices, and more. The goal is real conversations with real people — insights that help others shortcut their own challenges.
