Better Than Yesterday with Osher Günsberg

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 - when the mental load eventually became too heavy to carry alone and he could no longer wear the mask. He talks about the reality of living with depression, the brutal isolation of the rural Australia, and what it took to finally ask for help. He also talks about finally finding purpose, and how he managed to train to swim the English Channel in the middle of the outback. It’s a candid yet important look at mental health, particularly in rural communities where silence and self-reliance are often the status quo. Brendan stands as a beacon of resilience forged the hard way, and proof asking for help can make a real difference. SUPPORT:If this episode raises concerns for yourself or a loved one, help is available: Lifeline - 13 11 14 or https://www.lifeline.org.au/ Beyond Blue - https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ Rural Health Connect - https://ruralhealthconnect.com.au/ LINKS  Brendan's book 'The Desert Swimmer' is available now Read more about Brendan here Follow Brendan on Instagram 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]  LIKE THIS EPISODE? CHECK THESE OUT... The Skills of Being Happier, with Happiness Researcher and Expert Declan Edwards What's Your Why? Unpacking motivation and purpose with Sam Wood Connecting Communities Through Creativity with Diesel (aka Mark Lizotte) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 LINKS  Listen to the full conversation with Mark here Check out Mark's autobiography Survivor and novel Outrider 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]  LIKE THIS EPISODE? CHECK THESE OUT... Resetting Your Idea of Success with Brandon Jack What's Your Why? Unpacking motivation and purpose with Sam Wood The Biggest Lessons on Life from Those Who've Nearly Died with Dr Matt Morgan See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 unpack the invisible mental load, the impact of sleep deprivation, chronic stress, and the relentless demands that can push even the most loving parents to breaking point. You’ll also hear about the anger–guilt cycle, why it happens, and how it can quietly erode wellbeing if left unspoken. If you’ve ever felt overstretched, overstimulated, or just not good enough as a parent, this conversation will feel both validating and illuminating. Because the truth is: you’re not the only one — and talking about it might be the first step to changing it. LINKS  Lauren's book 'Meltdown' is available now Check out Lauren's 'Mum Rage' survey 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]  LIKE THIS EPISODE? CHECK THESE OUT... Effective Discipline, Developing a child’s emotional skills, and setting boundaries as a parent (with Gen Muir) Raising Resilient Kids: 3 Quick Lessons from Dr. Sarah Woodhouse For grown men to ‘do better’ we must all ’do better’ for our young boys (with Maggie Dent) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 become the world’s best cycling infrastructure. Fast forward to 2026, and Australia is facing its own version of that moment—rising fuel prices, fragile supply chains, and a heavy dependence on imported energy. So the question is: will we just ride it out… or capitalise on this opportunity? This episode explores what’s at stake, what’s possible, and why the choices we make right now could shape the future of how we move, live, and build a more resilient country. LINKS  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]  LIKE THIS EPISODE? CHECK THESE OUT... Do You Really Love Animals? Or Do You Really Love To Hate People? The Truth Crisis: Separating Facts from Beliefs, Misinformation and Propaganda with Dom Thurbon Why Winning Doesn’t Always Make You Happy with Ben Crowe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 experiencing a five-year battle with severe depression. Now Graeme is sharing the hard-earned lessons that reshaped his life and his definition of success. Graeme explores how leaders can create cultures of care, why psychological safety drives performance, and the small daily actions that can quite literally change (or even save) a life. SUPPORT:If this episode raises concerns for yourself or a loved one, help is available:Lifeline - 13 11 14 or https://www.lifeline.org.au/Beyond Blue - https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ LINKS  Graeme's book 'Great Leaders Care' is available now Read more about Graeme here Listen to Graeme's podcast The Caring CEO More info on R U OK? 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]  LIKE THIS EPISODE? CHECK THESE OUT... Why Vulnerability, Recovery and Agency Takes Guts, with Melissa Leong The Skills of Being Happier, with Happiness Researcher and Expert Declan Edwards Why Winning Doesn’t Always Make You Happy with Ben Crowe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.