Better Than Yesterday with Osher Günsberg

Alicia Malone is an author, film critic and friend who lives in Los Angeles California. She and I crossed paths a few times in our careers and grew to become quite close during my time in L.A. Difference is, she managed to stay afloat while I had to come back to Sydney.Alicia’s career path reads like a blueprint for success.When people ask me about getting into the industry, Alicia’s tireless work ethic, undeniable drive and creative creation of her own work is an example to follow.Alicia’s latest book, “Backwards and in Heels” chronicling the path of women in film is out now on Amazon and wherever you buy books.You can follow her online @aliciamalone wherever such handles occur.It’s not often I interview my close friends on this show, but I’m so happy that I can have this chat with Alicia now - because her story is a story that reads like a how-to in creating the life you love to live.Enjoy the show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Benjamin Law is an Australian journalist, author, screenwriter, activist and speaker. He shot to fame when the semi-autobiographical TV series based on his best-selling book “The Family Law” became a massive hit. He’s recently written the latest “Quarterly Essay” which addresses the “Safe Schools” education debate in Australia and is an active campaigner for equality in Australia. Benjamin is a wonderfully smart and charming man, who brings a kind grace to the topic of a demographically changing face of Australia. When he speaks, people can be very reactionary - because the facts he speaks from can be uncomfortable to hear if you’ve never been challenged in your ways of thinking. Many people have a foregone conclusion as to the kind of man Benjamin Law is, but I’d invite them to look beyond the bile-filled Op-Ed articles of the conservative press and listen instead to the kind of man that Ben is. If you like this conversation, find him on twitter and tell him - he’s @mrbenjaminlawEnjoy the show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Easkey Britton is a passionate ocean advocate from Donegal in the rugged North-West of Ireland.  Find her on Instagram at @easkeysurf, where you can follow her adventures around the world.She and I met in Amsterdam when I attended the THNK school of creative leadership.Easkey is the co-founder of Waves Of Freedom - which uses surfing as a creative medium for social change.Last time she was on this podcast she described in incredible detail her joy of teaching women and girls in Iran to surf on the Caspian Sea.Easkey is an inspirational public speaker, and her TED Talk “Just Add Surf” is a must-see.Easkey is a fascinating woman, who’s passion for the ocean and protecting the oceans and therefore all life on earth is something to behold.She’s just become a founding member of Ocean Collectiv - dedicated to building a model for sustainable ocean management around the world.Glad I’ve got Easkey on the show today and I really want you to hear this one because she’s doing some incredible work at the moment in the space of how contact with nature influences wellness.I’ll let her explain it more, but she’s got some important stuff to say about getting out of the house, putting the phone down and really looking at the world - as a way of making you feel better.I hope you enjoy this conversation I had over skype with Easkey Britton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sam Dastyari (@samdastyari) is an Australian Politician, he represents NSW in the Senate - and he’s a part of the Labor Party. He was only 30 when he won the seat and has made quite a name for himself in the four years that he’s been in office. A non-practicing muslim, Sam has drawn a lot of scrutiny from some people who can’t quite conceive of there actually being such a thing. I’ll let him explain it. Sam has quite a story, and in the comfort of my kitchen over a cup of tea he and I were able to talk at length. Now, politicians can talk - we all know that. But you’re going to hear the full flow of a very learned man as he verbosely crafts his points of view and outlooks on the world. This is less a string of soundbites put together and more like that Mars Volta album, the one with only one 45 minute track. Sam came around on a weekday afternoon in school holidays with his assistant, and his six-year old daughter on school holidays. Occasionally you’ll hear both either chime in, or us referring to both of them - but I think Andy my producer will cut most of that out. Sam came across to me as a straight up guy who genuinely cares about people, and genuinely cares about other humans. I hope you enjoy this florid conversation with Sam Dastyari. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maz Compton is a well-known broadcaster from Sydney who for years was all over the TV when she worked on MTV, and later all over the radio, culminating in her stint on the high-profile breakfast shift on 2Day FM in Sydney.  That life is mostly behind her now, however she did write a book about her experiences which we talk about here - but we also talk about what it was to have worked so hard to get the dream job and then have the dream job go away. You can find her book at mazcompton.net or on Amazon. Maz is a great chat, an inspiring woman, and I’m so grateful she came by the apartment to chat on a lovely Sydney afternoon. Ladies and gentlemen, Maz Compton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fiona O’Loughlin is an Australian stand-up comedian and Author, find her on twitter @FionaOLoughlin_She came to my house one afternoon last week, with a documentary crew in tow - as she’s been filming the last few years of her life’s journey which will become a film before too long.Fiona has an incredible story. I will let her tell most of it, however it’s important to know how incredible her Comedy Career is, and what it means for someone of her profile to talk openly about the struggles she’s faced.In this conversation, Fiona and I talk really openly about sobriety, addiction, recovery and hope.If there’s anything in this chat that strikes a chord with you, don’t forget that there’s a lot of help right around the corner. In fact unless you’re in super-outback Australia, I’d hedge a bet that you can find a group of like-minded people who are willing and ready to help you in your very own suburb.I know this because I am someone who is in recovery who’s found help through a community of people that offered the help when I asked for it, and you don’t have to look very far to find that help when you’re ready to stop living the same day again and again.I can’t thank Fiona enough for coming on the show, and she’s the perfect guest for this, the 200th episode of the show.If you like what you hear, please let her know on twitter @fionaoloughlin_ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adele Vuko is one-third of the Australian all-female comedy team Skit Box.Find her on Instagram @adele_vukoShe’s one of the brilliant women behind the viral explosion that was “Activewear” and part of a growing scene of successful online film makers that are finding a way to pay their bills and feed their kids through creating what they’re passionate about.Skit Box have recently finished working on incredibly funny sketch  show available on Abc iView “Wham bam thank you ma’am”In this conversation we talk about her path into comedy, what it means to set and stick to a deadline, and the importance of surrounding yourself with people who are moving in the same direction you are.Adele is mother to two kids, and her partner is Christian Van Vuuren, otherwise known as the bloke from Bondi Hipsters who doesn’t wear the glasses.They’re a power couple who are set to take over the comedy scene in Australia, and her particular story is an inspiration - particularly if you’re doing something with your day that doesn’t just make you want to leap out of bed with joy. Adele is here to fire you up with her story of how she changed her career and changed her life.If you like what you hear you can search Skit Box on YouTube or find them on Instagram @skit_box Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kim Portrate is the CEO of Think TV, an industry-led group promoting the use of television advertising in the marketing community. Find her on twitter @KimPortrateShe and I worked together recently at a conference, doing a keynote on a bubble that many marketers live in.But Kim is so much more than that, she is a smart and funny person who has lived through the darker times of our industry with regards to equality, she even had a ‘hidden figures’ moment when it came to bathrooms at one of her workplaces.Kim’s story is for anyone struggling to achieve in a corporate environment, it's a story of triumph, of balancing a career and family, and living a life passionately in the direction of your choice.I sure hope you enjoy this conversation with Kim Portrate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sage Greenwood is the Managing Director of Wink Models, one of the biggest commercial and editorial modelling agencies in Australia. She has a very interesting story which I can’t wait for you to hear - it’s one you’ve heard before, especially when it comes to the behaviour of models living in cramped accommodation in Milan starving themselves for Fashion Week. However you may not have heard the one about the model with a double degree who goes on to pitch her dream gig at the CEO and finds her own career path in a life after modelling.It’s an inspiring story of creating your own luck and the value of connections, persistence and professionalism.Hold on, she’s a bundle of energy and has an infectious enthusiasm - which I hope rubs off on you as it rubbed off on me. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brandon Webb is a former SEAL Sniper, who served with the US Navy Seals in Seal Team Three. He’s now a NY Times Best-Selling author, independent digital media mogul, dad, experimental aircraft pilot, and all-around interesting and inspiring man to speak to. You can find him on twitter at @BrandonTWebb .Brandon is no stranger to this podcast. He was a part of an epic two-parter back in episode 61&62. I highly recommend going back and listening to his story.To catch you up to speed, Brandon grew up in California and learned to love the water very early on. When school didn’t really work out for him, Brandon got a job on a dive boat, getting paid to lead scuba diving groups while he was still a teenager.Soon after, he found his way into the US Navy, and quickly became a highly skilled operator. Setting his sights on becoming a US Navy Seal, Brandon faced a lot of adversity as his skill level made him invaluable to have around, and his Commanding Officers reluctant to release him to try out for the SEAL program.Eventually, he made it - and out of a starting class of 200 was one of only 23 to graduate.Quickly finding his place as a sniper, Brandon served all over the world - including in Afghanistan in the very early weeks after 9/11, as part of the military force hunting Bin Laden.Brandon also redeveloped the sniper training program to enormous success, and worked hard to create a learning environment that taught more trainees more successfully than ever before.If you want the long version of that journey, with loads of excellent story telling from Brandon - start by listening to the earlier podcast he and I did, and then perhaps open up some of his excellent books - The Red Circle, Among Heroes, The Power of Thought, The Killing School & his latest book - Total Focus: How to make better decisions under pressure.His books are great reads - clearly written by a man who understands effective teaching techniques, and the power of a great story.Brandon is a gifted writer, and superb story teller - and I couldn’t be more grateful that he gave up an evening out in NY where he lives to spend an hour on a Skype call with me back in Sydney.If you like what you hear - follow Brandon on twitter @BrandonTWebb  and let him know you heard him here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.