Better Than Yesterday with Osher Günsberg

When we tell ourselves stories about who belongs and who doesn’t: what’s that person doing in my street? How’d a person dressed like that get in here? Who let that guy who works for that politician who says those things into this birthday party? When we really think about it - how often are we wrong? Today’s guest, deals with those judgements all day, and how she handles them is well worth listening to. Let’s test your who belongs and who doesn’t story. My guest today is a stand up comedian, a former stripper, an OnlyFans creator - and a mother. How did you go? Did you check out? Still with me?   Nikki Justice has a story you just have to hear to believe. It’s just your standard story of growing up around addiction, joining the circus when she was still a kid, then making a career as an adult entertainer and a standup comedian. Her life has been interesting to say the least.  In this conversation, we talk about what it really means to be judged - and how much of that judgment actually lives inside us. We also explore motherhood, shame, sex work, comedy, trauma, and the strange ways we all try to fit in, or belong. Nikki is candid and authentic in telling her story, and her perspective may just change your mind about how you look at and judge others. LINKS Follow Nikki on Instagram (@nikkijusticecomedy) Nikki's tour info and updates here Watch episodes of Better Than Yesterday on YouTube Sign up to the Better Than Yesterday newsletter Watch full stories recorded live at Story Club on YouTube Get tickets for our next Story Club show  Get Osher's latest book "So What? Now What?" here Send a pic of what you're looking at to [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As comedian and radio legend Merrick Watts prepares for his Grapes Of Mirth festival in Tasmania, I thought it would be a good time to look back at a couple of interesting things that we learned about Merrick from the times I've spoken with him over the years. You'll hear about his unique approach to resilience, his thoughts on parenting, and the really interesting way that he revived a 2000 year old Roman drink for modern tastes. There is so much more to Merrick than his resume. He's a fascinating man, and I hope you enjoy these highlights from our conversations. LINKS More on Merrick's Grapes Of Mirth More on Posca Listen to past episodes featuring Merrick Watts here and here Sign up to the Better Than Yesterday newsletter Watch episodes of Better Than Yesterday on YouTube Watch full stories recorded live at Story Club on YouTube Get tickets for our next Story Club show  Get Osher's latest book "So What? Now What?" here Send a pic of what you're looking at to [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if I told you that the secret to happiness was to pay more attention to the times when life absolutely sucks? How can that make sense?  Everything I scroll past berates me with a message about finding happiness, treating myself, pushing me to constantly be seek out the good at all costs. While it’s absolutely important to discover and nurture those things that make life pleasurable and even tolerable, my guest today argues that we also need to also sit with and even embrace misery to truly appreciate what makes life great. Eamon Evans is a prolific author, writing 15 books on everything from sport to crime, urban legends and great Aussie scandals. His latest book, The Importance of Being Miserable: A Short History of Human Happiness, and Why Sometimes It's Good to Feel Bad, challenges the notion that life should always be good, happy and sparkly; and suggests that negative emotions have been historically important, and still are.Today, Eamon unpacks the fantasy we’ve been sold over the years - that happiness is something you can achieve, lock in, and never lose, and argues that, ironically, chasing it might actually be what’s making us miserable. Fear not, Eamon is hilarious and delivers his message in a coating of laughter and delicious irony - so he’s able to get the idea across incredibly well. He's even written a book about it, "The Importance of Being Miserable". Now that I think about it, the title of the book might just be the closest thing that's ever got me to understanding why Morrissey exists. LINKS Grab a copy of Eamon's book The Importance of Being Miserable Watch episodes of Better Than Yesterday on YouTube Sign up to the Better Than Yesterday newsletter Watch full stories recorded live at Story Club on YouTube Get tickets for our next Story Club show  Get Osher's latest book "So What? Now What?" here Send a pic of what you're looking at to [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When I open my phone, it explodes in a cascade of fear, fury and furphies. That content does exactly what it is designed to do—leave me spinning in a tizz of powerlessness and desperation.  Besides just turning my phone off, I think I have found something that makes that feeling less intense, and instead gives me the feeling that I am actually doing something that will make a difference. LINKS Watch episodes of Better Than Yesterday on YouTube Sign up to the Better Than Yesterday newsletter Watch full stories recorded live at Story Club on YouTube Get tickets for our next Story Club show  Get Osher's latest book "So What? Now What?" here Send a pic of what you're looking at to [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The man, the music legend - Diesel (aka Mark Lizotte) is my guest the week as he prepares to tour the nation for his By Request tour. It's a wide-ranging conversation about creativity, addiction, community - even sleep hygiene - and why songs become emotional time machines. It's a conversation about music, ageing, purpose, and finding connection in a modern world that keeps pulling us apart. Heads up - if you'd like to skip straight to the Diesel chat, head to 16:07. LINKS Catch Diesel on tour - info and tix @ dieselmusic.com.au Watch episodes of Better Than Yesterday on YouTube Sign up to the Better Than Yesterday newsletter Watch full stories recorded live at Story Club on YouTube Get tickets for our next Story Club show  Get Osher's new book "So What? Now What?" here Send a pic of what you're looking at to [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.