Peter Freedman, Founder & Chairman, RØDE

Peter Freedman AM is the Founder and Chairman of RØDE and The Freedman Group. He received the Order of Australia (AM) in 2016.Founded in 1991 under his family’s business, RØDE is now a global leader in microphones and audio technology. Headquartered in Sydney, it exports to 118 countries.Hosted by Vidit Agarwal, Founder of Curiosity Center and The High Flyers Podcast.It’s now time to explore your curiosity.CLICK the links below to listen and enjoy now!

Published 5th February, 2025.

Our guest this week in episode #192 is Peter Freedman, the Founder and Chairman of RØDE, the Australian microphone company that has become a global leader in audio—you’ve likely seen RØDE microphones everywhere. They manufacture in Sydney, exporting to 118 countries. But Peter’s journey to success was anything but smooth.

Born in Sweden, Peter moved to Australia at seven, losing his Swedish language after being bullied for being different. His father, a self-taught electronics expert, and his mother, the driving force of the family, shaped his determination from an early age. 

His reflections on learning difficulties—and, as he puts it, "being invited to leave high school” without graduating—are fascinating, especially in light of his later success.

Peter and our host Vidit unpack how, at 16, he took over the family business when his father fell ill. In his early 20s, he was running a nightclub, making more in a night than most did in a year—until he was forced to walk away at gunpoint. Then came the 1987 crash, leaving him in over a million dollars of debt. He sold everything just to survive.

From that low point, Peter built RØDE from the ground up. He started selling mics with no formal training, no money, and no real plan—just relentless effort. He walked the streets of LA, pitching studios with a mic in his pocket, and landed a game-changing order of 100 units. That was the turning point.

In this episode, they also dive into:

• What it’s like growing up as an outsider and how it shaped his drive.
• How he climbed out of debt to build a global company—without outside investors.
• Why he still hates weekends and holidays and never switches off.
• Being a parent, and how he thinks about passing on his wealth to his kids.
• Challenges with transactional relationships.
• How he kept manufacturing in Sydney while competing with global giants.

Peter doesn’t sugarcoat anything. His story is raw, surprising, and full of lessons.

Vidit first met Peter backstage when they were both speaking at a Forbes event, and this was an interview he knew he had to do—given the global impact RØDE continues to have.

It’s time to explore your curiosity. Please enjoy!

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If you're keen to discuss sponsorship and partnering with us, email us at vidit@thehighflyerspodcast.com today! 

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The High Flyers Podcast is a "meticulously researched audio biography" that uncovers the untold stories of remarkable people and companies—redefining what it means to be a high flyer. Launched in 2020, it has ranked in the global top ten for past two years, with listeners in 27 countries and over 200 episodes released. A flagship product of the Curiosity Center, it has been featured in Forbes, Daily Telegraph, and at SXSW, offering raw, relatable insights from childhood to career, helping listeners become 1% better every day.

200+ guests have joined Vidit Agarwal on the show from 15+ countries, including The CEO's of multi-billion dollar companies like Bunnings, Australia Post, Woolworths; Board Members at Macquarie Bank, ANZ, Reserve Bank; Former Prime Minister of Australia; Globally renowned tech leaders from Google, Microsoft, Xero; Successful Venture Capital and Family Office Investors; CIO's at the world's biggest superannuation funds; Leading Entertainers; Olympic Gold Medal Winning Athletes and interesting minds you wouldn't have heard of that are changing the world.

Our parent company, Curiosity Centre is your on-demand intelligence hub for knowledge, connections and growth to achieve your potential, everyday. Join 200,000+ Investors, Founders, Functional Leaders, CEOs and Emerging Leaders. Learn with the world's best and be 1% better everyday at https://curiositycentre.com