NOVA Entertainment has announced a new partnership with Mentored Studios, the podcast platform founded by leading Australian entrepreneur, Mark Bouris AM.

The partnership reinforces NOVA’s commitment to delivering Australia’s most popular and commercially in-demand podcast content with Mentored Studies, providing listeners with the best insights into career, business, and life.

Mark Bouris is one of Australia’s most respected business leaders, passionate about helping Australians understand money, leadership, and the realities of entrepreneurship.

Over ten years ago, Bouris set out on a mission; to help Australia small business owners cut through the noise and access the information they really needed. That mission became Mentored, which has since evolved into a hub for ambitious minds, and anyone obsessed with leveling up in their career, business and life.

Nova Podcasts have partnered with Mentored Studios on three flagship podcasts: Straight Talk, Project 100, and The Mentor, as well as Property Insights and Off the Record with Buzz and Webby.

NOVA Entertainment’s Chief Growth officer, Adam Johnson, said “We’re proud to welcome Mentored to the Nova Podcast Network. Mark is a powerhouse in the Australian business landscape, and we’re committed to scaling the reach and commercial impact of all the Mentored shows as part of our premium podcast offering.”

Mark Bouris, Mentored founder said, “We’re thrilled to partner with NOVA. We’ve built Mentored to be a trusted voice across all things business, finance, and health, and we’re looking forward to building on that momentum. This is a strategy move that allows us to remain focused on high-impact content while looking at new commercial opportunities.”

In Straight Talk, Mark sits down with people from all walks of life, from athletes and artists to entrepreneurs and politicians, to unpack who they really are, what drives them, the challenges they’ve faced and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.  The podcast delivers raw, honest conversations about the topics that matter. 

Project 100 is a personal project of Mark’s initiated by the thought of what he would do to make it to one hundred years of age. The podcast follows Mark as he speaks with leading health experts to uncover what really moves the needle when it comes to living a longer, healthier life, feature all the facts and science-backed insights.

The Mentor is one of Australia’s leading business podcasts, where for over 10y years, Mark has interviewed business owners, entrepreneurs and thought leaders, exploring what drives them, the obstacles they’ve faced and the lessons they’ve learned. Whether they’re on the rise or at a critical crossroads, Mark shares advise drawn from his own experience to help them grow.

NOVA Entertainment has strengthened its digital leadership line-up by announcing the appointment of Kim Kerton to the newly created role of Head of Podcast Partnerships.

The role has been introduced with NOVA’s branded entertainment division CREATE, responsible for podcast-led content partnerships and show integration.

Kerton rejoins the business having spent the last five years as a senior strategic consultant for brands including Queensland Tourism, Colonial First Slate, Tourism Tasmania and AGL, defining their podcast content, audience and monetization strategies. She is an established podcast creator, producer and host.

Prior to that she was the Head of CREATE Sydney at NOVA, spearheading brand integration solutions for some of the country’s biggest audio advertisers, with over 15 years of sales leadership experience.

Kate Murphy, NOVA’s Director of Commercial Strategy, described Kerton as uniquely qualified for the role.

“When it comes to brand interaction, radio sets the standard for depth of creativity and connection, within audio and beyond. NOVA has been a market leader on that front and Kim’s appointment speaks to our intention to cover customers that same gold standard of access, influence and impact across our podcast content.”

“Kim is a unique talent, an expert in both content and commercial podcasting, alongside significant experience in commercial brand integration. She knows intimately how to maximize the potential that our content, talent and audience represent for advertisers.”

Kerton said of her new role: “It feels like the best of both worlds for me — being back at NOVA and getting to do what I love. As a podcaster, I understand the balancing act between creating conversations that connect with an audience and then building a meaningful role for brands within that.”

“I know there’s greater potential in podcast advertising. And I know I’m in the right business to unlock that.”

Kerton’s appointment coincides with the recent announcement of several key new titles joining the NOVA Podcast network, including Schwartz Media’s 7am, and JOHNS MEDIA’s Backstage with Cooper & Matty Johns and the Johns Family Podcast.

These signings and Kerton’s appointment, further signal commercial confidence in NOVA’s digital transformation, following the appointment of Michelle Golding (Digital Strategy Director) and Rebecca Jeffrey (Business Director, Digital) to the commercial leadership team in 2024, joining from the BBC and Seven Network respectively.