OSHER GÜNSBERG UNDERSTANDS ADDICTION

SUBJECT

Osher Günsberg

OCCUPATION

TV Host

INTERVIEWER

Nathan Scolaro

PHOTOGRAPHER

Toby Burrows

LOCATION

Sydney, Australia

DATE

September 2018

ANTIDOTE TO

Isolation

UNEXPECTED

Song and dance number

A couple of years ago, I heard a podcast episode of Osher Günsberg telling a story about the day he went into a deep state of mental unrest, or what he called, “The day I lost my mind.” It was hard to listen to, and yet something I couldn’t not listen to: here was a guy I’d been watching on television since I was a teenager being completely raw with his experiences of mental illness—sharing all of the painful details and frightening inner dialogue in a way that felt completely human. I could see clearly how this could be my story, or the story of someone I love, and found myself terrified, liberated, heartbroken and healed all at once.

Most Australians know Osher as the current host of The Bachelor, or from Australian Idol as Andrew G (he changed his name to Osher in 2010). He’s been a radio and television host since he was 20, and became a household name with Idol when he was just 27. For a long time, being in front of the microphone is where Osher felt most safe and in control, having experienced frequent bouts of anxiety as a child. When fame arrived, he ignored his precarious mental state and lived—as he describes it—with his “ego running the show.” Whenever anxiety kicked in, he’d spend money or reach for another drink.

In his thirties, life became increasingly chaotic for Osher, but there were moments between the tumult when he managed to get some perspective. He started seeing a therapist, got sober and took medication for his depression—all the while dealing with a marriage breakdown and the stresses of contracts ending and looming unemployment. Things got really bad in 2014 when he was living in Los Angeles. He had been off medication for nine months and couldn’t control the build-up of stress in his life. Fortunately, he could see that the thoughts he was having were dangerous, and contacted a mentor for help. He returned to Australia, embarking on a more rigorous care plan that involved therapy, daily medication, regular exercise, solid sleep and a healthy diet.

Central to Osher’s recovery has been his partner, Audrey, who’s helped him to see his perceived struggles in a different light. Osher is quick to note that those struggles aren’t behind him, but in taking ownership of his mental health and how bad things became, a pathway to healing has emerged. Today, Osher is on the board of SANE Australia, and is committed to raising awareness of addiction and mental illness and the importance of talking about these issues—particularly among men. He’s recently written a memoir, Back, After the Break, laying it all out in the witty, unabashed, slightly philosophical way that makes him such an easy guy to love.

“I still remember feeling goosebumps for the first time, which hadn’t happened in 10 years. That was incredible. Those sensory things that remind you you’re alive.”

NATHAN SCOLARO: I’ve been immersed in your interviews and I feel like you’ve been talking about this part of your life But then I was thinking maybe you have a really strong relationship with this experience now. And, you know, that’s the power of telling a story, you get control over it.