Beyond Reality: Reality TV Interviews with Producers, Crew & Talent – Details, episodes & analysis

Ever wonder how hit shows like Alone, Lego Masters, or K-Popped get made? In this special live episode from SXSW Sydney, host Hayley Ferguson sits down with three of Australia's top unscripted television executives to pull back the curtain.

David McDonald (Director of Comedy, Endemol Shine Australia), Keely Sonntag (Head of Unscripted and Development, ITV Studios Australia), and Wes Dening (Head of Global Formats, Eureka Productions) share their incredible origin stories -from actively avoiding the industry to being a Big Brother contestant - and dive deep into the secrets of the trade.

They discuss the critical importance of authenticity, the make-or-break role of casting (and why "getting a bad edit" is a myth), and how they adapted massive global formats for an Australian audience. Plus, they share their best advice for pitching your own TV show idea and predict what's next for the future of reality TV in the age of AI.

LISTEN MORE 

Head of Unscripted & Development, ITV Studios Australia - Keely Sonntag

Head of Global Formats, Eureka Productions - Wes Dening

CREDITS:

Host & Producer - Hayley Ferguson

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☕ SUPPORT THE SHOW

Beyond Reality is an independent podcast. If you’d like to support us, you can make a one-off contribution [HERE] (for the price of a coffee!).
There’s absolutely no obligation — but every little bit helps keep the show going. Thank you for being part of the Beyond Reality community.

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In this episode, I'm joined by Series Producer, Yasmin Kara whose credits include Dancing with the Stars and The Great Australian Bake Off. Yas shares her story of breaking into the UK industry, how building her experience across a diverse range of roles set her up for success in her current role, and why feel-good TV has been at the heart of her career journey. 

⭐️ CREDITS:
Host and Producer: Hayley Ferguson 

Audio Editor: Andrew Soo

LISTEN MORE:
If you enjoyed this episode check out my interviews with:

Creative Director, ITV Studios Australia - Alex Mavroidakis

Head of Unscripted Production, BBC Studios Australia - Arianna Gusi

Head of Global Formats, Eureka Productions - Wes Dening

Support the show

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You can also connect with us here:
📸 Instagram: @beyondrealityau
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📝 Blog: beyondrealityau.com

☕ SUPPORT THE SHOW

Beyond Reality is an independent podcast. If you’d like to support us, you can make a one-off contribution [HERE] (for the price of a coffee!).
There’s absolutely no obligation — but every little bit helps keep the show going. Thank you for being part of the Beyond Reality community.

⭐ SPREAD THE WORD

Enjoyed this episode?
Share it on social media or leave a rating & review in your podcast app — it’s the best way to help others discover Beyond Reality.

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Thinking about launching your own show? Beyond Reality is hosted on Buzzsprout, our favourite platform for podcast hosting, promotion and tracking. Sign up using this link here and get a $20 credit towards your podcast. 

Beyond Reality host Hayley Ferguson has spent the past decade producing Australian Survivor, and now in this special series, she’s taking you Beyond Tribal. She’ll be chatting with players from Survivor: Australia vs The World as they leave the game - unpacking their strategy, their downfall, and their story beyond the vote.

In this episode of Beyond Tribal, Hayley sits down with Tony Vlachos, a two-time winner and legendary Survivor player known for his bold moves and strategic prowess.

Tony reveals: 

✨ The spontaneous chaos of tribal councils and the art of bluffing. 

✨ His motivations for returning to Survivor and the allure of the world crown. 

✨ Insights into his strategic mindset and approach to playing with new and familiar faces.

Plus, Hayley puts Tony through some quick-fire Survivor questions

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📝 Blog: beyondrealityau.com

☕ SUPPORT THE SHOW

Beyond Reality is an independent podcast. If you’d like to support us, you can make a one-off contribution [HERE] (for the price of a coffee!).
There’s absolutely no obligation — but every little bit helps keep the show going. Thank you for being part of the Beyond Reality community.

⭐ SPREAD THE WORD

Enjoyed this episode?
Share it on social media or leave a rating & review in your podcast app — it’s the best way to help others discover Beyond Reality.

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Thinking about launching your own show? Beyond Reality is hosted on Buzzsprout, our favourite platform for podcast hosting, promotion and tracking. Sign up using this link here and get a $20 credit towards your podcast. 

Beyond Reality host Hayley Ferguson has spent the past decade producing Australian Survivor, and now in this special series, she’s taking you Beyond Tribal. She’ll be chatting with players from Survivor: Australia vs The World as they leave the game - unpacking their strategy, their downfall and their story beyond the vote. 

In this episode of Beyond Tribal, Hayley sits down with King George Mladenov, the third player eliminated from Australian Survivor: Australia v The World.

George reveals:

✨ Whether he thinks he could have done anything differently to save himself

✨ His long-term plans for the game and whether he thinks Shonee made the right move by getting her revenge on him

✨Whether he is retiring himself from the game

Plus, Hayley puts George through some quick-fire Survivor questions:

Support the show

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📸 Instagram: @beyondrealityau
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📝 Blog: beyondrealityau.com

☕ SUPPORT THE SHOW

Beyond Reality is an independent podcast. If you’d like to support us, you can make a one-off contribution [HERE] (for the price of a coffee!).
There’s absolutely no obligation — but every little bit helps keep the show going. Thank you for being part of the Beyond Reality community.

⭐ SPREAD THE WORD

Enjoyed this episode?
Share it on social media or leave a rating & review in your podcast app — it’s the best way to help others discover Beyond Reality.

🎙 START YOUR OWN PODCAST

Thinking about launching your own show? Beyond Reality is hosted on Buzzsprout, our favourite platform for podcast hosting, promotion and tracking. Sign up using this link here and get a $20 credit towards your podcast. 

Beyond Reality host Hayley Ferguson has spent the past decade producing Australian Survivor, and now in this special series, she’s taking you Beyond Tribal. She’ll be chatting with players from Survivor: Australia vs The World as they leave the game - unpacking their strategy, their downfall and their story beyond the vote. 

In this episode of Beyond Tribal, Hayley sits down with Rob Bentele, the first player eliminated from Australian Survivor: Australia v The World.

Rob, the winner of Survivor South Africa: Island of Secrets - came into the game swinging, but his bold gameplay and early moves made him a massive target. In this candid exit interview, Rob opens up about:

✨ How it felt watching his short but explosive Survivor journey back on TV.

✨ Why he underestimated Parvati — and how it cost him.

✨ The moment he knew he had to reveal Parvati’s secret 

✨ Why he’s determined to return to Survivor and reclaim his crown.

Plus, Hayley puts Rob through some quick-fire Survivor questions:

If you were sad to see Rob go so early, this chat is your chance to hear the strategy he never got to play out, and why he’s not finished with Survivor just yet.

CREDITS:

Host & Producer: Hayley Ferguson

Support the show

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You can also connect with us here:
📸 Instagram: @beyondrealityau
📘 Facebook: @beyondrealityaus
🐦 X (Twitter): @beyondrealityau
📝 Blog: beyondrealityau.com

☕ SUPPORT THE SHOW

Beyond Reality is an independent podcast. If you’d like to support us, you can make a one-off contribution [HERE] (for the price of a coffee!).
There’s absolutely no obligation — but every little bit helps keep the show going. Thank you for being part of the Beyond Reality community.

⭐ SPREAD THE WORD

Enjoyed this episode?
Share it on social media or leave a rating & review in your podcast app — it’s the best way to help others discover Beyond Reality.

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Thinking about launching your own show? Beyond Reality is hosted on Buzzsprout, our favourite platform for podcast hosting, promotion and tracking. Sign up using this link here and get a $20 credit towards your podcast. 

In this episode, I’m chatting to executive producer Laura Cassidy. Laura has been at the helm of Farmer Wants A Wife for several years now, steering the creative vision on one of Australia’s most loved formats. She’s also worked on shows including Fboy Island, Selling Houses Australia, The Bachelor and The Circle UK. Laura’s experience covers a diverse range of genres from competition reality tv, studio, to lifestyle, but it’s relationship shows that always seem to draw her in. 

⭐️ CREDITS:
Host and Producer: Hayley Ferguson 

Audio Editor: Andrew Soo

LISTEN MORE:
If you enjoyed this episode check out my interview with Creative Director, ITV Studios Australia - Alex Mavroidakis

Support the show

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📸 Instagram: @beyondrealityau
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📝 Blog: beyondrealityau.com

☕ SUPPORT THE SHOW

Beyond Reality is an independent podcast. If you’d like to support us, you can make a one-off contribution [HERE] (for the price of a coffee!).
There’s absolutely no obligation — but every little bit helps keep the show going. Thank you for being part of the Beyond Reality community.

⭐ SPREAD THE WORD

Enjoyed this episode?
Share it on social media or leave a rating & review in your podcast app — it’s the best way to help others discover Beyond Reality.

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Thinking about launching your own show? Beyond Reality is hosted on Buzzsprout, our favourite platform for podcast hosting, promotion and tracking. Sign up using this link here and get a $20 credit towards your podcast. 

In this episode, I’m joined by TV director Richard Franc - better known as Butch -his credits include Aussie staples like MasterChef and Australian Survivor, as well as international hits such as Amazon Prime Video’s Beast Games and NBC’s Deal or No Deal Island.

Over the past 30 years, Butch has carved out an incredible career across a huge range of genres—from live sport and panel shows to game shows and large-scale reality formats.

I find out how he went from directing regional newsroom bulletins to becoming one of the most sought-after directing talents in the industry.

⭐️ CREDITS:
Host and Producer: Hayley Ferguson 

Audio Editor: Andrew Soo

LISTEN MORE:
If you enjoyed this episode check out my interview with Film & TV Director - Hayley Macfarlane

Support the show

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☕ SUPPORT THE SHOW

Beyond Reality is an independent podcast. If you’d like to support us, you can make a one-off contribution [HERE] (for the price of a coffee!).
There’s absolutely no obligation — but every little bit helps keep the show going. Thank you for being part of the Beyond Reality community.

⭐ SPREAD THE WORD

Enjoyed this episode?
Share it on social media or leave a rating & review in your podcast app — it’s the best way to help others discover Beyond Reality.

🎙 START YOUR OWN PODCAST

Thinking about launching your own show? Beyond Reality is hosted on Buzzsprout, our favourite platform for podcast hosting, promotion and tracking. Sign up using this link here and get a $20 credit towards your podcast. 

This is Beyond Reality, the podcast that explores the world of television production by chatting to the people behind the tv shows you love. In this episode, I sit down with Post Executive Producer Sophie Johnston. Sophie’s career began in music television before she moved into unscripted TV, working across field and post-production on hit shows like My Kitchen Rules (MKR), House Rules, and The Great Australian Bake Off. Along the way, she built a wealth of experience in structured reality, playing a key role in shaping shows like Netflix' Byron Baes, Made in Bondi (Australia's answer to Made in Chelsea co-produced by the Seven Network and Channel 4), and most recently, The Real Housewives of London. We chat about Sophie’s star-studded early career, her transition from music TV to reality storytelling and why she feels most at home in the edit. 

⭐️ CREDITS:
Host and Producer: Hayley Ferguson 

Audio Editor: Andrew Soo

🎧 LISTEN MORE: If you liked this episode, check out my chat with Award Winning Editor - Karen Crespo

Support the show

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☕ SUPPORT THE SHOW

Beyond Reality is an independent podcast. If you’d like to support us, you can make a one-off contribution [HERE] (for the price of a coffee!).
There’s absolutely no obligation — but every little bit helps keep the show going. Thank you for being part of the Beyond Reality community.

⭐ SPREAD THE WORD

Enjoyed this episode?
Share it on social media or leave a rating & review in your podcast app — it’s the best way to help others discover Beyond Reality.

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Thinking about launching your own show? Beyond Reality is hosted on Buzzsprout, our favourite platform for podcast hosting, promotion and tracking. Sign up using this link here and get a $20 credit towards your podcast. 

Beyond Reality is the podcast that explores the world of television production by chatting to the people behind the TV shows you love. In this episode, I’m joined by reality TV fan favourite, Luke Toki. Luke first appeared on on Australian Survivor back in 2017, and quickly made his mark as the loveable larrikin with dynamic gameplay. Luke was the first player to return for a second season, now he’s set to take on the game for a third time in the upcoming season Australia vs The World. 

Outside of Survivor, he’s cemented his place in the reality TV landscape, winning Big Brother VIP and showcasing his strong instincts on The Traitors. We talk about his unlikely journey from FIFO worker to reality TV icon. 

⭐️ CREDITS:
Host and Producer: Hayley Ferguson 

Audio Editor: Andrew Soo

🎧 LISTEN MORE: If you liked this episode, check out my chat with TV Personality - George Mladenov

Support the show

🔔 FIND US

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You can also connect with us here:
📸 Instagram: @beyondrealityau
📘 Facebook: @beyondrealityaus
🐦 X (Twitter): @beyondrealityau
📝 Blog: beyondrealityau.com

☕ SUPPORT THE SHOW

Beyond Reality is an independent podcast. If you’d like to support us, you can make a one-off contribution [HERE] (for the price of a coffee!).
There’s absolutely no obligation — but every little bit helps keep the show going. Thank you for being part of the Beyond Reality community.

⭐ SPREAD THE WORD

Enjoyed this episode?
Share it on social media or leave a rating & review in your podcast app — it’s the best way to help others discover Beyond Reality.

🎙 START YOUR OWN PODCAST

Thinking about launching your own show? Beyond Reality is hosted on Buzzsprout, our favourite platform for podcast hosting, promotion and tracking. Sign up using this link here and get a $20 credit towards your podcast. 

In this episode of Beyond Reality, Hayley Ferguson is joined by TV executive and ITV’s Creative Director, Alex Mavroidakis. Alex has played a pivotal role in shaping the Australian versions of some of the most popular global reality formats, including Big Brother, Love Island, and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!

Alex unpacks his remarkable career in unscripted television - from navigating the fast-paced world of 24-hour turnaround TV, to the bold creative choices involved in rebooting iconic formats. Plus, the story behind the time he convinced one of Australia’s most famous celebrities to head into the Jungle.

⭐️ CREDITS:
Host and Producer: Hayley Ferguson

Audio Editor: Andrew Soo

🎧 LISTEN MORE:

If you liked this episode, check out my chat with Head of Unscripted TV, ITV Studios Australia - Keely Sonntag. 

Support the show

🔔 FIND US

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You can also connect with us here:
📸 Instagram: @beyondrealityau
📘 Facebook: @beyondrealityaus
🐦 X (Twitter): @beyondrealityau
📝 Blog: beyondrealityau.com

☕ SUPPORT THE SHOW

Beyond Reality is an independent podcast. If you’d like to support us, you can make a one-off contribution [HERE] (for the price of a coffee!).
There’s absolutely no obligation — but every little bit helps keep the show going. Thank you for being part of the Beyond Reality community.

⭐ SPREAD THE WORD

Enjoyed this episode?
Share it on social media or leave a rating & review in your podcast app — it’s the best way to help others discover Beyond Reality.

🎙 START YOUR OWN PODCAST

Thinking about launching your own show? Beyond Reality is hosted on Buzzsprout, our favourite platform for podcast hosting, promotion and tracking. Sign up using this link here and get a $20 credit towards your podcast.