Explore every episode of the podcast Our Idol Archives

Bobby Flynn was one of the more eccentric performers Australian Idol saw in its time but was a huge favorite amongst fans. Bobby was wary to go on reality tv and tells us about how the producers on Idol tried to steer him away from taking risks while on the show.  

After Idol, Bobby was in the Aussie independent music scene but eventually decided to go back to Uni. Now working for the Victorian state government, Mark & Bobby bond over their career endeavors outside of music. 

CREDITS: 

Hosts: Katie Holden & Mark Holden

With thanks to our guest: Bobby Flynn

Producer: Katie Holden 

Editor: Katie Holden & Nick Wingate 

You may remember Carl Riseley from his jazz days on the fifth season of Idol but you may not be familiar with his second passion, aviation. Carl tells Mark and Katie about the tough decision to leave the music industry full time when the GFC hit to become a pilot and support his growing family. 

After losing a bet while in the navy, Carl was forced by his navy bandmates to audition for Australian Idol. Having been an instrumentalist, Carl tells Mark and Katie about the challenges he faced with the rigors of singing week after week. After placing third on Idol, Carl recorded two albums as part of a five year deal that was shelved once the GFC hit. With his job as a pilot being put on hold for most of 2020, Carl has started a new music endeavor with his band West Juliet. 

CREDITS: 

Hosts: Katie Holden & Mark Holden

With thanks to our guest: Carl Riseley 

Producer: Katie Holden 

Editor: Katie Holden & Nick Wingate 

Today on the show we have Courtney Murphy who placed third on Idol in 2004. Courtney is the lead vocalist in his family band, Murphy's Lore which has been gigging around WA since 1991. Unlike many other Idol alum, Courtney has been able to support himself as a full time musician in Perth, despite the pressure to move to a bigger city. Mark & Katie chat with Courtney about how reality TV has changed and how Dicko helped him take the power back when being asked about his weight while on the show. 

CREDITS: 

Hosts: Katie Holden & Mark Holden

With thanks to our guest: Courtney Murphy

Producer: Katie Holden 

Editor: Katie Holden & Nick Wingate 

Ben McKenzie placed seventh on Season 5 of Idol in 2007. Ben was 16 years-old when he auditioned for the show and tells Mark and Katie about not feeling comfortable coming out at the time due to a mix of his Christian upbringing along with the hate he received from viewers of the show. 

Ben has had quite a journey of self discovery since leaving the show and 13 years on, he has finally being back to performing and writing music. Ben’s main passion now is making music videos for artists and he prefers being behind the scenes these days. Although Ben says he has tried to block out his time on Idol for the most part, he tells Mark and Katie a shocking never before heard story of when he was beaten up while on the show. 

CREDITS: 

Hosts: Katie Holden & Mark Holden

With thanks to our guest: Ben McKenzie

Producer: Katie Holden 

Editors: Katie Holden & Nick Wingate

Mark and Katie had the pleasure of speaking with Idol’s pot of gold, Damien Leith, winner of Season 4. Since winning Idol, Damien has released nine studio albums, four of which hit the top two of the ARIA charts. 

Upon winning the show, Leith signed a contract with Sony BMG and his debut album The Winner’s Journey broke records, becoming certified platinum four times. However, Damien barely saw a cent from this album as it was completely owned by Fremantle. Damien talks about the anguish he experienced in coming to terms with this. He now lives in the country town of Scone in NSW doing breakfast radio and being a dad. He’s also working on a feature film inspired by living in the Hunter region. 

CREDITS: 

Hosts: Katie Holden & Mark Holden

With thanks to our guest: Damien Leith 

Producer: Katie Holden 

Editors: Katie Holden & Nick Wingate

On this episode of Our Idol Archives, Mark and Katie speak with Cosima de Vito, who placed third in the first season of Idol. Cosima shocked the nation when she left the show early due to nodules. Mark and Katie talk to her about the stigma surrounding nodules at the time and how scared Cosima was of losing her voice permanently. 

At 25-years-old, going on Idol was the first time Cosima left home.  Coming from a  strict Italian family, Cosima had to come out of her shell and she recounts the challenges that came with this new experience.  Since Idol, Cosima has recorded an album of songs written by Diane Warren, who had been a lifelong Idol of hers. She tells Mark & Katie about the challenges that came with publishing this record independently with the help of her family. 

CREDITS: 

Hosts: Katie Holden & Mark Holden

With thanks to our guest: Cosima De Vito 

Producer: Katie Holden 

Editors: Katie Holden & Nick Wingate 

Tarisai Vushe placed 5th on Season 5 Idol in 2007. When she’s not performing to sold out crowds in musicals such as The Lion King, Madiba and being a full-time Christian singer, Tarisai also practices as a certified psychologist. Tarisai was born in Zimbabwe and moved to Australia in her mid-teens. Mark and Katie spoke with her about her experiences with racism on the show and in the Australian music industry. There’s even a heartfelt apology from Mark who went head to head with Tarisai back on the show over her authenticity while performing. Tarisai weighs in on whether she thinks the show was rigged and her disappointment in Matt Corby not winning the season. 

CREDITS: 

Hosts: Katie Holden & Mark Holden

With thanks to our guest: Tarisai Vushe

Producer: Katie Holden 

Editors: Katie Holden & Nick Wingate 

Natalie Gauci was the winner of Season 5 of Idol in 2007. After winning the series she signed a record deal with Sony BMG Australia and released her debut single “Here I am” which reached number two on the charts. Natalie is now a spiritual healer living in QLD with her baby Jedi but she had quite a journey finding herself after winning Idol. 

Unlike other Idol winners, her career went on a downward spiral following her win. She tells Mark & Katie that she wasn't able to get out of the dark place until she went public about being sexually assaulted by her music teacher as a child. Nat went public with her story earlier this year around the same time she went on The Voice. Following going public, a fellow Voice contestant confided in Nat about sexual harassment behind the scenes of The Voice this year. Having won Idol and been on The Voice, Natalie spills all on how manufactured The Voice was compared to Idol. 

CREDITS: 

Hosts: Katie Holden & Mark Holden

With thanks to our guest: Natalie Gauci 

Producer: Katie Holden 

Editors: Katie Holden & Nick Wingate

Axle Whitehead didn’t make it past the second week of semi-finals on the first season of Idol back in 2003. However, he went on to have a huge career after the show as a host on Video Hits and more recently as an actor in Home & Away, Neighbors and the US hit show Shameless. 

You may remember when Axle made headlines after exposing himself at the Arias in 2006. He talks to Katie & Mark about the night it happened and when the phones stopped ringing afterwards. After leaving Home and Away in late 2012, Axle wanted to expand his acting career and made the jump to Los Angeles. He tells Mark & Katie about the grueling audition process and the hustle that is trying to make it in LA. 

CREDITS: 

Hosts: Katie Holden & Mark Holden

With thanks to our guest: Axle Whitehead

Producer: Katie Holden 

Editors: Katie Holden & Nick Wingate 

Anthony Callea was the runner up of Season 2 of Australian Idol in 2004. You may remember his jaw dropping cover of Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli’s The Prayer that went to the top of the charts and became the fastest selling Australian single of all time. Callea has recorded six albums since finishing Idol, starred in many musicals and toured the country. Married to actor and performer Tim Campbell, Anthony and Tim have been lighting up Instagram during Melbourne lockdown for their Instagram series #IsolationSceneStudies. 

On this episode of Our Idol Archives, Anthony discusses his time on the show from how his rendition of The Prayer came to be and having a death threat made against him right before the grand final. Anthony discusses what it was like having to make an official statement about his sexuality to Australia. As one of the most successful Idol alum, Anthony tells Mark and Katie what it takes to have career longevity in the Australian music industry. 

CREDITS: 

Hosts: Mark Holden & Katie Holden

With thanks to our guest: Anthony Callea

Producer: Katie Holden 

Editors: Katie Holden & Nick Wingate