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

In this episode I’m joined by the king of reality TV podcasting and founder behind Rob Has A Podcast - Rob Cesternino. Rob may have first drawn attention for his memorable appearance on Survivor Amazon as a wisecracking self-deprecating 24 year old back in 2003 but in the last 15 years, he’s emerged as one of the most influential voices in reality TV coverage. Rob shares his story of how he turned his passion for television and broadcasting into an award winning podcast network with a highly engaged community of TV fans and how he stays motivated all these years on.

CONNECT:
You can find Rob through the following links -
Rob Has A Podcast
X: @robcesternino
Instagram: @robcesternino / @rhapgrams

LISTEN MORE:
If you enjoyed this episode, you might like to listen to the following episode:
TV Personality - George Mladenov, Australian Survivor, The Amazing Race Australia: Celebrity Edition
Executive Producer - David Forster, Australian Survivor, Masterchef Australia

CREDITS:
Host and Producer: Hayley Ferguson
Co-Producer: Brianna La Rance

Support the show

🔔 FIND US

Never miss an episode — hit follow on your favourite podcast app.
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 I sit down with Arianna Gusi, Head of Unscripted Production at BBC Studios Australia. We unpack her impressive career journey, from her early years learning the ropes and climbing the ranks of the industry in the UK, to leading production on TV’s biggest shows back in Australia including The Voice, The Bachelor, Dancing with the Stars and Top Gear. Ari shares her valuable insights from the last 30 years, plus her take on the misconceptions people often have about the production side TV.

LISTEN MORE:
If you enjoyed this episode, you might like to listen to the following episode:
Head of Unscripted Television, ITV Studios Australia. Keely Sonntag

CREDITS:
Host and Producer: Hayley Ferguson
Co-Producer: Brianna La Rance

Support the show

🔔 FIND US

Never miss an episode — hit follow on your favourite podcast app.
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.

Just like a great reality TV twist, this episode is a little bit different. I chat with TV personality George Mladenov or as he’s more commonly known by Survivor fans, King George.

I find out how George went from a bold and sometimes brash political operative to a two-time Australian Survivor player who cemented themselves as one of the most strategic players the game has ever seen.

LISTEN MORE:
If you enjoyed this chat, you might like to listen to a recent episode recorded with David Forster. Dave is an executive producer for Australian Survivor with a surprising start to his career in reality TV.

CREDITS:
Host and Producer: Hayley Ferguson
Co-Producer: Bri La Rance

Support the show

🔔 FIND US

Never miss an episode — hit follow on your favourite podcast app.
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, I’m joined by Supervising Post Producer and Writer, Bri La Rance. Bri’s drive and determination to learn new skills led her to explore a diverse range of film and TV roles before more recently forging a path in post production, but as I find out, it’s her passion for storytelling that underpins everything she does.

Over the course of Bri's impressive career, she has worked in the writers room on Australian drama shows including Neighbours and Bite Club. More recently, her work in post production has included shows such as Australian Survivor, The Traitors, Married at First Sight and Big Brother.

LISTEN MORE:
If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more about the world of post production, you can listen to my chat with award-winning editor, Karen Crespo here.

CREDITS:
Host and Producer: Hayley Ferguson

Support the show

🔔 FIND US

Never miss an episode — hit follow on your favourite podcast app.
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, I’m joined by TV presenter and two-time reality TV show winner (The Mole and Livingstone Botswana), Liz Cantor as she shares her unique insights from an enduring career in front of the camera. Whether she’s delivering the winning lotto numbers, fronting stories on the best travel and adventure spots or dominating any reality competition she enters, Liz’s passion and enthusiasm for her work always shines through.

Support the show

🔔 FIND US

Never miss an episode — hit follow on your favourite podcast app.
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, I’m joined by Leroux Botha, the Creative Producer for Cape Town based production company AfrOkaans and Executive Producer for Survivor South Africa. 

Leroux shares his incredible journey in television from his early years working on soap operas, to becoming the instrumental force in returning Survivor South Africa to our screens in recent years. 

Support the show

🔔 FIND US

Never miss an episode — hit follow on your favourite podcast app.
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, I catch up with Natasha Pizzica, a series producer who’s worked across a range of genres from primetime entertainment shows like Big Brother and Gogglebox to iconic kids television such as Playschool and Teletubbies, and even though-provoking docuseries like Limitless with Chris Hemsworth. I find out how Tash’s theatre background set her up for a career of creativity, how she navigates the busy world of tv production as a working mum and why her son is her biggest inspiration. 

You can access Natasha's series she developed for the ABC here: https://iview.abc.net.au/show/moodies 

Support the show

🔔 FIND US

Never miss an episode — hit follow on your favourite podcast app.
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, I chat with award-winning editor, Karen Crespo, who has been responsible crafting some of the most memorable moments on our favourite shows such as Masterchef, Australian Survivor and Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds. 

I find out about Karen’s early beginnings in TV and how her creative style and ability to carve out emotional moments became renowned in the industry. 

Support the show

🔔 FIND US

Never miss an episode — hit follow on your favourite podcast app.
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, I sit down with Executive Producer, David Forster. David’s first taste of reality TV is not what you’d expect, he tells me all about his unconventional introduction to the industry, how he later honed his skills on set as a writer and the key moments along the way that ultimately led to his rise to the top job on Masterchef and Australian Survivor. 

If you enjoyed this podcast and want to stay up to date with the latest episodes then click 'Subscribe' on Apple Podcasts or 'Follow' on Spotify. You can also find us on social media:
Instagram: @beyondrealityau
Facebook: @beyondrealityaus
Twitter: @beyondrealityau

If you're just starting out in TV and are looking for tips and information about the industry then check out theBeyond Reality Blog at https://beyondrealityau.com.

Beyond Reality is an independent podcast, if you'd like to support the show, you can make a one-off contribution HERE (for the cost of a coffee). There’s no obligation to give and any contribution will go towards keeping the podcast available. Thank you for checking out Beyond Reality!

Support the show

🔔 FIND US

Never miss an episode — hit follow on your favourite podcast app.
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 bonus episode, I share a recent collaboration with The Production Portal where I joined Emma Ritchie along with Bloomtime Media’s, Yana Groves and Laura Young from Coordimate for a panel discussion about Industry Mentoring Initiatives in television. I hope you enjoy this special edition of the podcast.

If you want to find out more about The Production Portal and the other guests from this panel. You can find them on Instagram:
@theproductionportal
@cordimatetv
@bloomtime_media

Support the show

🔔 FIND US

Never miss an episode — hit follow on your favourite podcast app.
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.