Joe Aston: Inside the Qantas Story, the Dark Side of Power & the Cost of Speaking Out

What happens when powerful people stop hearing the word no?

In this compelling episode of A Life of Greatness, Sarah Grynberg sits down with journalist, author and Rampart founder Joe Aston for a candid conversation about power, ambition, addiction and the stories that have defined his career.

Joe shares his unlikely journey from working inside Qantas PR to becoming one of the journalists most closely associated with scrutinising the airline and its former CEO, Alan Joyce. He reveals the moment he believed something had shifted in Joyce, and what reporting on Australia’s most powerful people taught him about ego and influence.

Joe also opens up about his difficult relationship with alcohol, how drinking became intertwined with his career in journalism, and the frightening point when it began affecting his ability to think, remember words and write.

You’ll learn:

• What Joe believes prolonged power can do to a person
• Why success can sometimes enable destructive behaviour
• What finally forced Joe to confront his relationship with alcohol
• Why he walked away from the Australian Financial Review
• How he deals with criticism after years of criticising others
• The lesson of acceptance that has changed how he approaches life

This conversation will take you behind the headlines to the human cost of power and ambition, and leave you thinking about what it means to succeed, to change, and to build a life around what you love.

This episode of A Life of Greatness is proudly brought to you by Chemist Warehouse.

At A Life of Greatness, we believe living well begins with the choices we make every day. That's why we're proud to partner with Chemist Warehouse, helping Australians access trusted health and wellness products to support a healthier, fuller life.

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