• 1 hour 3 minutes
    From Australian Idol to Wicked: The Lessons Rob Mills Learned the Hard Way

    What does it take to build a career in entertainment, overcome self-doubt and learn to back yourself? In this episode of Better Than Yesterday, Osher Günsberg sits down with Rob Mills for an honest, funny and reflective conversation about the lessons he's learned throughout his career, from his early days on Australian Idol to becoming one of Australia's leading musical theatre performers.

    Rob opens up about the fear of not being good enough, how he learned to embrace uncomfortable challenges, and how committing to the work helped him grow into the performer he is today. He shares the story of being cast in the Australian production of Wicked, including the nerve-racking audition that nearly made him walk out, and explains why embracing embarrassment, asking for help and continually developing new skills are essential to personal and professional growth.

    The conversation also explores the realities of working in the performing arts, from the uncertainty of a freelance career to the discipline required to keep improving. Rob also reflects on mental health, the importance of normalising conversations about how we're really feeling, and why men in particular need to become more comfortable opening up and seeking support.

    Beyond the stage, Rob and Osher discuss the changing music industry, the challenges facing live entertainment, and why streaming has made it harder for artists to build sustainable careers. And as he considers the next chapter of his life, Rob also reflects on fatherhood, mentoring younger performers and finding new ways to channel his energy and experience.

    This is a conversation about ambition, vulnerability, creativity and the courage to keep showing up — even when it seems terrifying.

    LINKS 

     

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    20 October 2026, 4:15 pm
  • 22 minutes 38 seconds
    Should a 24yr old living at home pay rent? Q&A Monday

    Should a 24yr old man living at home pay rent?

    How long is too long to hold a door open for someone?

    Why did you take SO LONG to say the names on Idol? 

    These questions and more came in this week - ask yours here: [email protected] 

    This week’s playlist “Do you have to dance like that?”

    Tickets for Dec 6th Story Club show Ft: Clare Cavanagh, Mark Humphries, Gen Fricker, Charlotte Mortlock and Hannah Ferguson are here

    Better Than Yesterday YouTube

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    18 October 2026, 1:05 pm
  • 1 hour 6 minutes
    What Every Parent Needs to Know About Raising Boys in 2026 with Dr Justin Coulson

    What does it really mean to raise good men in today’s world?

    In this important and timely conversation, psychologist, author and parenting expert Dr Justin Coulson joins Osher Günsberg to explore the challenges of raising boys in an age of social media, online influencers and increasingly distorted ideas about masculinity. From the impact of smartphones and the pursuit of online status to the troubling messages boys are exposed to about women, relationships and pornography, Justin explains why parents need to pay closer attention to what their sons are seeing, hearing and learning online — and how those influences can shape their behaviour. 

    Justin also shares practical ways to help boys develop empathy, self-control, confidence and a strong moral compass. He explains why healthy masculinity is about using strength to make others feel safer and stronger, why connection matters more than constant correction, and how parents can create opportunities for meaningful conversations about respect, consent and responsibility. They also explore the importance of positive male role models, helping boys find purpose through meaningful challenges, and preparing teenagers to make better decisions when faced with peer pressure.

    If you’re raising boys, navigating the teenage years or wondering how we can help the next generation of men grow into kind, respectful and capable adults, this is a conversation worth having.

    LINKS 

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    13 October 2026, 4:15 pm
  • 18 minutes 37 seconds
    Can I go to a stranger’s funeral?

    Can I go to a stranger’s funeral? 

    Is it ok to mute the family group chat?

    What’s the protocol with a speakerphone call on the train? 

    Send your questions via email or DM on IG 

    Subscribe to the Youtube

    Tickets to StoryClub’s October 18 show. 

    This week’s playlist 

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    11 October 2026, 1:05 pm
  • 1 hour 1 minute
    Josh Pyke on Panic Attacks, Parenting and the Future of Australian Music

    In this episode of Better Than Yesterday, Osher Gunsberg sits down with acclaimed Australian musician, author and father Josh Pyke for a wide-ranging conversation about anxiety, parenting, creativity, technology and the future of music.

    Josh opens up about his experience with anxiety, including the moment he had to walk off stage in the middle of a panic attack. He shares what he has learned about changing his relationship with anxiety, rather than constantly trying to fight or escape it.

    The conversation also explores raising children in an increasingly overwhelming digital world, and Josh explains why he and his wife have chosen to keep social media out of their children's lives, and why protecting curiosity, imagination and genuine connection matters more than ever.

    As chair of the PPCA, Josh also offers a fascinating perspective on the changing music industry, from streaming and royalties to the rise of AI-generated music. He discusses the importance of ensuring artists are properly compensated and their work is used with consent, while questioning what could happen to Australian music and culture if human creativity becomes harder to discover and support.

    Along the way, Josh reflects on songwriting, children's books, collaboration and the mysterious magic that happens when creativity clicks. It's an honest and thoughtful conversation about anxiety, fatherhood, technology, art and what we might lose if we stop making space for distinctly human creativity.

    LINKS 

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    6 October 2026, 3:20 pm
  • 20 minutes 33 seconds
    Two Easy Ways To Fall Asleep That You Probably Haven't Tried Before

    How do you switch off a busy brain when it’s time to sleep?

    It's not an easy question to answer because there's no one-size-fits-all solution. But if you've had trouble getting a good night's rest, I have two hacks for you to try you may not have heard of before.

    This episode is inspired by my seven-year-old son and the power of asking “why?” five times - a simple technique that can help us get beneath the surface of a problem and understand what’s really going on.

    I share two techniques that I’ve found surprisingly effective: counting backwards to give the brain a sense of certainty, and cognitive shuffling, which uses random words and mental images to stop the brain from trying to solve problems when it should be sleeping.

    This is an episode you can put on as you go to bed, and hopefully I can inspire your brain to relax, allowing you to drift off into a better night's sleep.

    Did it work? Let me know via the links below.

    LINKS

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    4 October 2026, 4:15 pm
  • 59 minutes 39 seconds
    How to Burn Bright Without Burning Out with Nick Petrie

    Is the way we work actually making us less productive, more stressed and increasingly disconnected from ourselves?

    In this episode of Better Than Yesterday, Osher Gunsberg is joined by performance and workplace expert Nick Petrie to explore why burnout, stress and rumination have become such defining features of modern work — and what we can do about them.

    Nick shares insights from his own experience, including being diagnosed with stomach cancer at just 27 while playing professional rugby in Japan, and explains how the experience taught him about the difference between pressure, stress and rumination. He reveals why our brains can become trapped in cycles of thinking about problems rather than solving them, and how learning to recognise those patterns can help us regain control.

    The conversation also explores the changing world of work and the impact of AI. Rather than necessarily giving us more time, Nick argues that new technology can increase expectations and create an even greater need for boundaries, focus and recovery.

    Nick also introduces a different approach to productivity: “pulse more than hustle.” Instead of trying to operate at maximum intensity all day, Nick explains how alternating between different modes of work, protecting periods of deep focus and understanding when your brain performs at its best can lead to more sustainable performance.

    Osher and Nick also discuss career reinvention, the importance of adapting when the skills that once made you successful are no longer enough, and why learning to switch off may be one of the most important skills in the modern workplace.

    It's a practical conversation about burnout, resilience, productivity, AI, overthinking and the future of work — and how to build a career and life that can actually be sustained.

    LINKS 

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    29 September 2026, 5:15 pm
  • 15 minutes 19 seconds
    Four Things You're Not Doing When You're Saying Sorry

    Is there a wrong way to apologise? Well...maybe.

    In this episode, I'm exploring what it really means to say sorry. Drawing on lessons from teaching ethics to my son's school class, plus my experiences with recovery, I'm taking a closer look at why a genuine apology goes far beyond simply saying the words.

    Let me know your thoughts through the links below.

    LINKS

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    27 September 2026, 4:15 pm
  • 47 minutes 12 seconds
    From X Factor Winner To Multi-Platinum Selling Artist: The Struggles Behind Dami Im's Success

    Dami Im one of Australia’s most distinctive and accomplished voices. But there's a deeper story to her success.

    Arriving in Brisbane from South Korea as a nine-year-old, she grew up navigating life between cultures, and eventually went on to win The X Factor Australia and build a hugely successful career as a singer and songwriter. But behind the bright lights and screaming fans was a very human struggle with insecurity, self-doubt and the feeling that perhaps she didn’t quite belong.

    In this conversation, Dami opens up about the people who believed in her when she struggled to believe in herself, including the extraordinary mentorship she received from Dannii Minogue. Dami and Osher discuss about what it means to take ownership of your achievements, the pressure to be perfect, and how the discipline she learned through music has shaped her life.

    Then they go deeper — unpacking growing up as an immigrant in Australia, finding belonging through community and faith, the changing influence of Korean culture around the world, and the lessons Dami wants to pass on to her own children. And perhaps most importantly, they talk about the challenge of building a career and pursuing your passions while also being a mum, and learning that being proud of yourself doesn’t have to mean losing your humility. It’s a really honest conversation about identity, resilience, ambition, family and finding the confidence to say: 'I deserve to be here'.

    Enjoy this chat with Dami Im.

    LINKS 

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    22 September 2026, 4:15 pm
  • 28 minutes 20 seconds
    The Death of the Australian Music Industry: Why It's So Hard for Musicians to Make a Living

    What happened to Australian music — and what does its future look like?

    In this deeply personal episode of Better Than Yesterday, Osher Gunsberg takes a passionate look at the changing economics of the music industry and asks what the decline of the traditional music business has meant for Australian artists, audiences and culture.

    Drawing on his decades working across Australian radio, television, live music and the recording industry, Osher traces the transformation from the era of CDs, radio royalties and record-label development to Napster, digital piracy and today's streaming economy. He explores how the business model that once allowed labels to take risks on emerging artists has been replaced by an environment where algorithms, playlists and streaming revenue can make it increasingly difficult for new Australian musicians to break through.

    Osher also looks at the disappearance of major Australian music festivals and the decline of live music venues, arguing that these spaces were about far more than entertainment — they created shared cultural experiences that brought thousands of strangers together. He questions what happens to Australia's cultural identity when there are fewer opportunities for local musicians to develop, perform and connect with audiences.

    It's an in-depth look at the shifting trends in entertainment over the years, and how the internet and streaming has stripped away the ability for artists to make a viable living doing what they love.

    LINKS 

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    20 September 2026, 5:15 pm
  • 58 minutes 45 seconds
    How Jason Dunn Still Chose Gratitude After Surviving Multiple Near-Death Experiences

    Do you think you could still feel grateful after breaking 10 ribs and fracturing your skull?

    In this powerful conversation, Jason Dunn opens up about the accidents, fears, failures and life experiences that ultimately forced him to ask a bigger question: What am I actually capable of?

    Jason reflects on surviving multiple serious cycling accidents, and explains how gratitude became a conscious choice rather than simply a feeling. He shares the moment he realised he had been living far below his potential — and why discovering your purpose can become the driving force that helps you push through fear, adversity and setbacks.

    Drawing on Stoic philosophy and lessons from remarkable people throughout history, Jason explores self-mastery, discipline, resilience, vulnerability and the importance of stillness. He challenges the idea that simply surviving hardship automatically makes us stronger, instead describing resilience as the ability to stop seeing an obstacle as a wall and start seeing it as a door.

    He also shares the extraordinary story of confronting his lifelong fear of drowning. Unable to swim a single lap, Jason eventually pushed himself into the water, quit smoking, trained for an Ironman and ultimately completed one of the most demanding endurance challenges imaginable.

    From overcoming fear to avoiding regret, Jason explains why planning, purpose and consistent action can transform the way we approach our lives — and why the greatest risk may be reaching the end of your life wishing you had taken the harder, more meaningful path.

    LINKS 

    LIKE THIS EPISODE? CHECK THESE OUT...

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    15 September 2026, 4:15 pm
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