Back From Reality

We’re back with another special re-release of Back From Reality , celebrating the return of the podcast and the launch of The Edit — a brand-new play written and directed by Gabrielle Scawthorn, inspired by the interviews, themes and lived experiences explored across this series. 🎭 The Edit is now in previews at Belvoir St Theatre, Downstairs , and runs until 26 October 2025 . Tickets are selling...

We're back with a new season of Back From Reality ! And to celebrate the upcoming premiere of The Edit — a new play written and directed by Gabrielle Scawthorn , inspired by this very podcast — we’re releasing a mix of previously unreleased interviews, your favourite episodes from season one, and new content from inside the production. 🎭 The Edit runs at Belvoir St Theatre, Downstairs , from 7–26...

We're back with a new season of Back From Reality ! And to celebrate the upcoming premiere of The Edit — a new play written and directed by Gabrielle Scawthorn, inspired by this very podcast — we’re releasing a mix of previously unreleased interviews, your favourite episodes from season one, and new content from inside the production. 🎭 The Edit runs at Belvoir St Theatre, Downstairs, from 7–26 O...

We're back with a new season of Back From Reality ! And to celebrate the upcoming premiere of The Edit — a new play written and directed by Gabrielle Scawthorn, inspired by this very podcast — we’re releasing a mix of previously unreleased interviews, your favourite episodes from season one, and new content from inside the production. 🎭 The Edit runs at Belvoir St Theatre, Downstairs, from 7–26 O...

Season 2 is officially here — and we’re kicking things off with a very special, long-awaited episode. This chat with Janine Allis and Pia Miranda was recorded back in 2021 as part of a never-released second season of Back From Reality . At the time, both women had recently appeared on Australian Survivor: Champions vs Contenders , where they formed one of the most memorable alliances in the show’s...

We’re back, baby! After nearly four years away, Back From Reality returns with a brand-new season. In this welcome-back episode, host Gabrielle Scawthorn shares why the podcast went quiet in 2021 (spoiler: life got very real), what prompted its return, and how the conversations from Season 1 have grown into her brand new play The Edit . Developed from interviews recorded for Back From Reality , Th...

The tables are turned in this special season one finale as guest host Matthew Backer interviews Back From Reality's very own Gabrielle Scawthorn about her experience on Channel V's Fresh Meat ! WARNING: This episode contains references to eating disorders and self harm which may be triggering for some people. Listener discretion is advised.  This podcast was made with the support of the Arts Counc...

Liz Jelléy was a contestant on the 2020 season of Farmer Wants A Wife . Liz got in touch with Gab after listening to her interview with reality TV psychologist Mark Mathieson . Liz was under Mark's care during her time on Farmer Wants A Wife and felt that some of what was said in that interview was misrepresentative of her experience on the show. We invited Liz on to share her perspective. This po...

Gab chats with Teddy Briggs ! Teddy was a contestant on season one of Love Island Australia, entering on day 21 before being dumped from the villa on day 36. In this interview Teddy opens up about his hard partying life post Love Island, and his journey to finding some balance in his life again after the show.  This is also our final episode for 2021, while we take a few weeks off over Christmas....

Gabrielle chats with MasterChef Australia contestant, Reece Hignell . Reece first appeared in season 10 of MasterChef Australia in 2018 finishing in sixth place. Earlier this year, he returned to the MasterChef kitchen, during the height of the COVID-19 lockdown, eventually placing fifth in the all-star season of the toughest cooking show in the country.  This podcast was made with the support of...

Gabrielle chats with Michael Chakraverty from season 10 of The Great British Bake Off. In this wide-ranging conversation, Gab and Michael cover everything from anxiety, gender, the queerness of baking, and online bullying, all the way through to Paul Hollywood manhandling a lemon drizzle.   This podcast was made with the support of the Arts Council England National Lottery Projects Grants. Michael...

Gab chats with Alexander Tomisich from season 6 of Beauty and The Geek , Australia.  This is the classic tale of a young, 18-year-old dungeon master who was flown to Vegas, paired up with a beauty queen, waxed to within an inch of his life, then forced to wear a fishing vest and  bare his manhood in a Vegas showroom alongside an all-male strip group.   This podcast was made with the support of the...

Gab chats with phycologist, Mark Mathieson. If you’ve watched a reality television show in Australia, you’ve probably watched a Mathieson care plan in action. Mark was a Military Psychologist with the Australian Army for over 16 years. He specialises in the application of performance focussed psychological science, with roles taking him from the war-zones of the Middle East, to the war zones of Pe...

In this double episode Gab chats with Cian O'Clery, the director and producer of Love On The Spectrum . This is followed up with a short conversation with Chloe, one of the shows stars. Love On The Spectrum follows seven young adults on the autism spectrum as they explore the unpredictable world of love and relationships.  This podcast was made with the support of the Arts Council England National...

Gabrielle chats with Alex Miller from season 4 of Love Island UK . Alex was in the Love Island villa for just 8 days. He arrived on day 26. Coupled with Megan Barton Hanson on day thirty and was dumped on day 33. But those eight days have had a profound impact on the next few years of Alex’s life. WARNING: Listeners should be aware that this episode contains discussions of suicidal ideation that m...

Gab chats with Karla Hart and Daniella Borg. Karla is the creator, executive producer and director of Family Rules on NITV. Daniella is one of the shows stars. The series follows the lives of the Rule clan, an indigenous family based in Perth. Daniella has raised her nine daughters (now aged 12 to 30) on her own since her partner Kevin died in 2004. Gab, Karla and Daniella chat through how Karla b...

In this weeks episode, Gab has an exclusive tell-all interview with an anonymous insider from the Australian Bachelor franchise who gives the scoop on how things work behind the scenes! So juicy and secretive was it, that they asked us to re-voice the interview with an actor. So the voice you're hearing is none other than Australian stage and TV sensation, and the voice of her generation, Briallen...

In this weeks BUMPER DOUBLE EPISODE, Gab chats with Elora Tahiti and Vanessa Sunshine, who have both competed in The Bachelor and The Bachelor In Paradise . We dive deep into every aspect of the participant experience in the Bachelor franchise ahead of our tell all interview next week with an anonymous Bachelor insider who gives the scoop on how things work behind the scenes! This podcast was made...

Gabrielle chats with Australian Survivor winner, and the first female Australian Sole Survivor, Kristie Bennett! Gab and Kristie unpack the harsh realities of the Survivor experience and how to move forward after achieving your ultimate life goal when you're still in your early twenties.  This podcast was made with the support of the Arts Council England National Lottery Projects Grants. Want to g...

Gabrielle chats with Executive Producer and owner of Bloomtime Media, Yana Groves . Yana has worked as a producer across a range of iconic reality TV formats in both Australia and the UK including Big Brother , Celebrity Apprentice , Farmer Wants a Wife , My Kitchen Rules , Bachelor in Paradise and more. Her company, Bloomtime Media creates, also creates unscripted shows covering Popular factual,...

Gabrielle chats with Married at First Sight season 7 contestant, Mishel Karen. Mishel gives a harrowing and, at times, disturbing account of her time of the show and the struggles she has faced since.  WARNING: Listeners should be advised that this episode contains references to domestic violence, self harm and suicide that may be triggering for some people. Listener discretion is advised. This is...

Gabrielle chats with Australia's Next Top Model cycle 6 winner, Amanda Ware.  Gab and Amanda discuss the infamous Sarah Murdoch moment, what it felt like to be an innocent bystander at the centre of one of the cringiest moments in live television history, and how Amanda shook it off to conquer the world of international modelling.  Gabrielle Scawthorn Instagram Twitter Amanda Ware Instagram Twitte...

Gabrielle chats with Married at First Sight season 3 contestant, Bella Frizza.  Gab and Bella discuss what it's like marrying a stranger with three days notice and not even getting to pick your own wedding dress.  This is the first of two episodes we will be doing on the MAFS series, exploring the ways in which the show has evolved over the years through two very different participant experiences....

Gabrielle chats with therapist, columnist and media commentator, Sally Baker.  Sally is a practicing therapist who regularly writes about human behaviour and therapy insights for a range of different issues, including celebrity culture, mental health, and of course, reality television.   Gab and Sally talk about psych testing, after care and the mental health impacts of the realty TV experience. ...

Gabrielle chats with Mike Goldman. Mike has narrated every episode of the original Big Brother Australia since the series began. He was also the host of Big Brother spin-off shows, Big Brother - Up Late and Friday Night Live .  Gabrielle Scawthorn Instagram Twitter Artwork by Wolfbang Theme music by Robert Tripolino Produced by Hugo Chiarella Unlikely Productions