Better Than Yesterday with Osher Günsberg

What does it take to stay true to your values in a political system that often rewards compromise?

In this episode, I'm looking back on my interview with Hannah Ferguson, the founder of Cheek Media who recently announces she was running as an independent candidate, challenging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the federal seat of Grayndler. Though this interview was recorded before she announced her political ambitions, this chat offers a fascinating glimpse into the principles that shaped her journey long before she entered the race. But the truth is - I don't want her to be...

What does it really mean to lead with strength?

For decades, we've been taught that great leadership is about being loud, decisive and commanding. But what if the most effective leaders are the ones who listen first, lead with empathy and have the courage to challenge the status quo?

In this episode, Osher Günsberg sits down with former Deputy Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air Force (and first female to be promoted to rank of lieutenant general) Elanor Boekholt-O'Sullivan, whose remarkable career has redefined what leadership can look like. Rising through one of the w...

Two-time world surfing champion Tom Carroll scored back-to-back perfect 10s at Pipeline, one of the deadliest waves on the planet. But behind the world titles and global fame, Tom was fighting a quiet, destructive battle with methamphetamine addiction while raising three daughters.

In this conversation, Tom opens up about the trauma of losing his mother as a child, what actually happens when you stop running from emotional pain, and the split-second decision at a roundabout six months into recovery that saved his life.

Whether you’re in recovery, supporting someone who is, or trying to br...

Content warning: This episode contains discussions of child sexual abuse, domestic violence, mental health and suicide which some listeners may find distressing. Resources can be found below.

In this raw and real conversation, Harrison James joins Osher Gunsberg to tell his remarkable story of surviving years of child sexual abuse at the hands of his stepmother, overcoming unimaginable trauma, and transforming that pain into a mission that's creating lasting change within the justice system.

Harrison speaks candidly about the grooming and abuse he endured as a teenager, including fathering a child at just 15, only to...

Why are we so fascinated by the people on the absolute fringes of society?
When someone adopts a worldview that seems completely detached from consensus reality, what is the sequence of thoughts and experiences that led them there?

In this episode, I’m joined by the legendary journalist, author, and documentary maker Jon Ronson. For twenty-five years, Jon has been doing the hard work of looking directly at human behaviour that most of us would prefer to avoid.  Jon’s career has been defined by his ability to humanise the people we’ve been taught to fear or...

Sam Hughes isn't a name most people are familiar with. Some may know him better by the pseudonym QNTM - a software engineer turned acclaimed science fiction author known for groundbreaking novels including There Is No Antimemetics Division and Ra.

In this fascinating conversation, Osher Günsberg sits down with Sam/qntm to explore the intersection of imagination, mathematics, technology, and what it means to be human. Sam reveals how he transforms complex scientific concepts into gripping stories that challenge the way we think about memory, reality, time, and the future. From his early fascination with mathematics to...

In this episode of Better Than Yesterday, Osher Gunsberg revisits one of his most memorable conversations with YouTuber, author and cook Nat's What I Reckon. Beyond the humour, viral videos and online success, Nat shares the deeply personal journey that shaped his life, including his ongoing mental health battles.

Together, Osher and Nat explore the quiet moments that spark lasting change, discussing how small daily decisions, rather than dramatic rock-bottom moments, can transform your life. They also unpack practical strategies for managing anxiety, the importance of asking for help, building supportive relationships, and developing simple routines that...

Katie Noonan is one of Australia's most acclaimed and celebrated musicians, but behind the awards, sold-out performances and extraordinary vocal talent is a story of resilience, reinvention and unwavering passion for the arts.

Having known each other for some 40 years, Katie sits down for this deeply personal conversation with Osher Günsberg, and opens up about navigating some of the hardest years of her life, including her recent and unexpected divorce. She speaks candidly about her journey with sobriety, her painful journey to an endometriosis diagnosis, navigating motherhood, and the mental and emotional challenges that come with a...

In this episode of Better Than Yesterday, Osher revisits one of his most powerful conversations, with sole survivor of the 1997 Thredbo landslide, Stuart Diver. After 65 hours trapped beneath the rubble and enduring the loss of his wife Sally, Stuart has spent decades learning not just how to survive trauma, but how to build a meaningful life beyond it.

Stuart explores three practical tools he uses to protect his mental health and cultivate ongoing resilience, including exercise, deliberately creating and preserving positive memories before life changes, and why giving yourself permission to move forward isn't a betrayal of...

In this episode of Better Than Yesterday, Osher Günsberg sits down with life coach and author Jaemin Frazer for a thought-provoking conversation about insecurity, self-worth, identity and the stories we tell ourselves that shape our lives.

They explore Jaemin's remarkable journey from church pastor to sought-after coach, including how questioning long-held beliefs transformed the way he understands purpose, responsibility and personal freedom, and ultimately deconstructed everything he knew about his faith.

Jaemin discusses why he believes that insecurity isn't simply a lack of confidence, but the fear that our deepest doubts about ourselves might a...

In this episode of Better Than Yesterday, I'm revisiting a powerful conversation I had with world-renowned psychologist and author Dr Susan David about the science of emotions, resilience, and creating meaningful change.

Susan shares the ideas behind her groundbreaking work on emotional agility - the ability to accept difficult emotions, understand what they’re telling us, and respond in ways that align with our values. We explore why fighting uncomfortable feelings often makes them stronger, how simply naming our emotions can change the way we experience them, and why discomfort is an essential part of living a mean...

In this powerful conversation, Osher Gunsberg sits down with journalist and author Hannah McElhinney to explore the complex world of chronic illness, medical misinformation, and what can happen when people lose trust in the systems designed to help them.

Hannah shares the deeply personal story that inspired her latest book - the loss of her cousin Lauren, and the journey to understand how someone searching for answers to chronic pain and illness could become drawn into alternative treatments, online health communities, and misinformation.

Having had his own experience with chronic pain, Osher and Hannah unpack...

In this powerful conversation from the Better Than Yesterday archives, Michelle Cowan shares the lessons she’s learned from breaking barriers, challenging expectations, and building a career in a space where she was told she didn’t belong.

From writing letters to every AFL club as a teenager to becoming a leader the code, Michelle reveals the mindset that helped her keep going when others doubted her. She shares practical tools for handling criticism, staying confident in difficult environments, navigating challenging conversations, and knowing when it’s time to step away from a place that no longer aligns...

Why does it feel like political conversations have become so hostile? And why are so many Australians losing trust in politicians, the media, and the systems designed to represent them?

In this episode, Osher Günsberg is joined by independent political commentator Konrad Benjamin, better known online as Punter’s Politics. From his beginnings as a high school teacher in Newcastle to building a massive online audience, Konrad has become known for cutting through political spin and explaining Australian political system in plain English. 

Osher and Konrad explore the growing divide in modern political discourse (part...

In this episode, Osher revisits one of the most impactful conversations from the show with productivity expert and bestselling author Ali Abdaal.

Ali breaks down a radically different approach to productivity — one built around enjoyment, play, and designing systems that actually work with your brain instead of against it.

Osher and Ali explore why “enjoyment is efficiency,” how stress quietly sabotages performance, and why procrastination isn’t a character flaw - it’s usually just a systems problem.

Ali also shares practical ways to make even the most mundane tasks more enjoyable, explains the differ...

Is the way we were brought up the best way to raise our kids today?

In this deeply honest and insightful conversation, Osher speaks with family therapist, educator and author Lisa Taylor to explore the emotional patterns that shape family life — often without us even realising it. From childhood “heartprints” and generational conditioning to emotional regulation, repair and connection, Lisa explains why parenting is less about control and more about awareness.

Lisa shares her own journey from overwhelmed young mum to one of Australia’s most trusted parenting voices, opening up about grief, perfectionism, anxiety and the...

What happens when you spend more than 20 years standing at the crossroads between life and death? You learn A LOT.

In this powerful conversation, intensive care doctor and author Dr Matt Morgan shares the lessons he's taken from caring for hundreds of patients who have experienced cardiac arrest, near-death experiences, and life-changing moments in the ICU.

Matt reveals the moments that have reshaped the way he thinks about regret, forgiveness, relationships, and what truly matters when everything else is stripped away.

He also shares practical advice having witnessed people lose everything they thought...

My guest this week is someone many Australians have grown up watching — perhaps on Neighbours, maybe on Dancing With The Stars, perhaps even Strike Back. Now Daniel MacPherson has taken on one of the most physically and emotionally demanding roles of his career for the film Beast.

In this conversation, we go far beyond the world of film and television, delving into identity, fatherhood, mental health, discipline, addiction, physical resilience, reinventing yourself in your 40s, and what it's really like to work with Russell Crowe.

Daniel opens up about the making of his new film Bea...

Watching the Kylie Minogue documentary on Netflix with Audrey the other night, I was so happy to see my friend (and Kylie's sister) Dannii Minogue appear.

There was a time when I thought I knew all about Dannii - that was until I worked with her for the very first time in 2009. I had been called in at the very last minute to work with Dannii to cover a prominent breakfast radio shift, and was immediately blown away at how this incredible woman handled herself just with absolute grace, absolute commitment and focus at all times.

What if the key to a better life isn't avoiding discomfort - but actively seeking it?

In this powerful conversation, Osher sits down with performance psychologist, leadership coach, and world-record holding freediver Ant Williams to explore why some of life's greatest breakthroughs happen when we step into fear rather than run from it.

Drawing on decades of experience helping athletes, leaders, and high performers build their resilience, Ant shares remarkable stories from the extremes of human endurance, including deep ocean freediving, swimming beneath ice, encounters with sharks, and moments where staying calm was the difference b...

In a world where the old 'social contract' has been tossed out the window, where AI is taking over human resources and the 'traditional' path feels more like a dead end - where do you look for the new rules of survival? 

Do you look to the old school executive leaders or do you look to the fringes, the creatives, the disruptors? Perhaps there are still ideas and business models which come from well outside the norm that can offer unconventional ways we could move ahead and possibly even achieve unreasonable results?

In this episode, w...

It was an absolute pleasure to sit down with Brisbane radio veteran Robin Bailey for a deeply honest and emotional conversation about the extraordinary highs and devastating lows of her life behind the microphone.

I first met Robin in the mid-90s at B105 - I was the overnight guy, she was a new breakfast producer. From there, she quickly cemented herself as a staple and a survivor of the brutal commercial radio industry. In Brisbane alone, she's worked across three commercial station, been sacked at least three times (and most recently re-hired after a month thanks...

In this episode, you'll hear the true story of how I met — and nearly didn’t kiss — the woman who would become my wife. This was originally recorded live at Story Club at Sydney’s Factory Theatre, as part of a Valentine’s-themed show.

From terrifying encounters with a woman whose boyfriend worked for Kanye West, to a painfully unromantic first kiss involving vegan Tim Tams, it's a true story of love, vulnerability, and learning how to build a healthy relationship after years of chaos and self-destruction, plus some insights into storytelling, communication, and why true stories have the po...

In this episode, trial lawyer and communication expert Jefferson Fisher explores the real art of communication — from difficult conversations and emotional regulation to ego, relationships and the hidden psychology behind how we speak to one another.

Drawing on his experience as a courtroom advocate and one of the internet’s most trusted voices on communication, Jefferson shares practical insights into staying calm under pressure, handling conflict without escalation, and learning how to truly listen. Together, Jefferson and I unpack why so many of us struggle with communication, how our upbringing shapes the way we argue and connect, and...

In this episode of Better Than Yesterday, we revisit a powerful conversation with Adam Garone, co-founder of Movember, to explore how one of the world’s most successful grassroots movements began not with a strategy or manifesto, but with a simple dare among friends.

What started in a Melbourne backyard as a playful challenge to bring back the moustache quickly evolved into a global campaign for men’s health. Over time, Movember has grown into a worldwide movement spanning more than 20 countries, engaging millions of participants and raising over a billion dollars for prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and...

In this very candid conversation, viral content creator 'Blue-Eyed' Kayla Jade joins me to unpack the realities behind sex work, online fame, motherhood and modern intimacy.

Kayla opens up about growing up in New Zealand, discovering sex work, building her successful OnlyFans page, and the stigma that still surrounds the industry. She shares the challenges of parenting while living publicly online and why she’s chosen to tell her story so openly. We also dive into her ADHD diagnosis and some of the surprising realities behind the world of high-end sex work.

This episode is ill...

Adam Jacobs made a name for himself in the business world as the co-founder of The Iconic. He then launched a venture called Hatch, an online recruitment platform dedicated to matching people with jobs they'd be suited to. 

Having studied Philosophy and Business, and worked around the world as a business consultant in addition to starting his own companies, Adam knows a thing or two about success ... well at least three. In this episode, I take you through three pearls of wisdom about success from my chat with Adam.

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Australia’s outback is world-renowned for it’s beauty, it’s uniqueness and it’s people. But what often isn’t spoken about is the sheer isolation living in these remote communities.

My guest on this episode is a man who has lived at the extremes — physically, mentally, and emotionally. Brendan Cullen has lived his life on the land. He’s navigated childhood trauma, isolation, depression and alcohol dependency - and come out the other side a better person and a better father.

In this conversation, Brendan opens up about the moment things caught up with him - whe...

Mark Wales is a former SAS commander, two-time Survivor competitor, bestselling author, and one of the most quietly compelling guests I’ve ever had around.

If you’ve ever wondered what we actually ask of the men and women we send to war (or to secure more oil), and whether we’re honest enough about the answer, this one’s for you

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One of the hardest parts of parenting is one not many people talk about.

In this episode, we dive into the reality of “mum rage” — the intense, often shame-filled anger that can surface in the daily grind of parenting. Lauren Novak is a journalist, author and mum herself. Her new book 'Melt Down' explores the raw and often unspoken angry emotions that many mothers go through, yet few feel safe admitting. 

This honest and deeply personal conversation explores the gap between what we’re told parenting should feel like, and the pressure-filled reality it often is. We unp...

What if a crisis isn’t just something to endure, but a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rethink everything?

In this episode, I'm unpacking the idea of “crisitunity” (yes, inspired by Homer Simpson!) and exploring how a moment of disruption can become a catalyst for lasting change.

I'm taking you all the way back to 1973, when another global oil crisis brought The Netherlands to a standstill. Instead of waiting and hoping for normalcy to return, they made a bold decision: redesign their cities, prioritise people over cars (even banning them one day a week), and build what would...

What does it mean to be a great leader in 2026?

In age of cost-cutting and focus on the bottom line, it might just mean focussing on the human elements of your business.

In this powerful conversation, former executive, author and founding director of R U OK? Graeme Cowan joins me to unpack the truth about leadership, mental health, and what it takes to build high-performing teams without burning people out.

Graeme knows what he's talking about because he lived through it. He went from leading at the highest levels of global business to...

So, do you really love Animals? Or do you really love to hate people?

It's a question sparked from a recent experience I had on social media after posting a clip from my interview with comedian Daniel Sloss. And let's just say some of the comments really surprised me.

In this episode, I'm delving into human behaviour, especially in the age of online outrage, and whether we are truly driven by our values, or by the emotional payoff of being 'right'? Plus a look at why supposedly 'progressive' movements sometimes push away their own supporters.<...

Natalie Bassingthwaighte is an icon of the Australian entertainment industry. Best known for fronting dance act Rogue Traders (plus her stellar solo career) and playing troublemaker Izzy Hoyland on Neighbours, Natalie also has an extensive musical theatre background. But more recently, it's her personal life that has taken centre stage.

In this deeply honest and wide-ranging conversation, Natalie joins me to unpack the realities behind living life in the spotlight — from rejection and self-doubt to relationships and identity.

Natalie shares what it really takes to survive and stay grounded in an industry where people are ea...

There's no denying that we’re living in a time where misinformation spreads faster than ever, and shared reality is breaking down.

But what if the biggest threat to society isn’t the misinformation, but our relationship with truth itself?

In this powerful conversation, Osher Günsberg sits down with behavioural expert and author Dom Thurbon to unpack why humans lie, how beliefs are formed, and why facts alone rarely change our minds.

From climate anxiety and AI-generated misinformation to vaccine debates and identity-driven beliefs, this episode dives deep into the psychology of truth...

Professor Alistair Sproul has been building solar technology since the 1980s. As head of the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering at UNSW, he's watched Australia lead the world in solar adoption often without realising it. 

As the nation, and indeed the rest of the world, grapples with a mounting energy crisis and growing oil prices, I thought it would be a great time to revisit my chat with Alistair and his insights into Australia's transition towards renewable energy.

That transition isn't coming. It's already here. And it's happening faster than anyone in Canberra is...

What do boy bands, modern dating and unhealthy masculinity have in common?

According to today's guest - comedian, writer and performer Bridie Connell - more than you think.

In this hilarious conversation, Bridie joins me to talk about her wildly original musical F*ccbois: Live In Concert — a sharp, affectionate and very funny satire about a fictional boy band, performed entirely by a female and non-binary cast in drag.

Bridie shares how years of observing modern dating culture, “love bombing”, gaslighting and the strange choreography of bad male behaviour inspired the show. And how wha...

If you've wondered whether electrification is actually feasible, affordable, or secure — this episode answers those questions with data, not hope.

Saul Griffith — MIT engineer, inventor, and author of Electrify: An Optimist's Playbook for Our Clean Energy Future — reveals why Australia is uniquely positioned to lead the world's energy transition, starting with transport. In this Best Of episode focused on energy security and transportation, Saul explains why electric vehicle adoption will happen faster than anyone expects once price parity hits, how EVs actually make the grid more resilient by serving as distributed battery storage, and why hydrogen vehicles are a...

What does it actually mean to live a good life in a world that feels increasingly complex, divided, and emotionally charged? 

In this conversation, I speak with world-renowned moral philosopher and professor of bioethics Peter Singer to unpack some of the hardest questions of our time—from the ethics of global conflict and public discourse, to why we ignore suffering we could prevent, and what we really owe one another. 

We explore the tension between outrage and empathy, the psychology behind why we cling to certain beliefs even when faced with evidence, and how identity can quietly shape...

Rich Roll gets brutally honest about the seven-year financial nightmare that nearly broke him — cars repossessed, dumping rubbish behind grocery stores, racing against house foreclosure while being featured on the cover of Outside Magazine. 

This isn't the polished hero's journey. 

This is the real thing.

Part of a longer conversation form ep 484, today Rich and Osher discuss: 

The dissonance between public success and private collapse

How his wife Julie's "Jedi mindset" became their survival strategy

Why he treated the repo man with dignity instead of resentment

The...