October 12, 2024 • 15 mins
Bree Tomasel, the co-host of Celebrity Treasure Island and ZM's afternoon drive show has opened up about the substance behind the banter in her new memoir.
UnApologetically Me reveals Tomasel struggled with ADHD, anxiety, personal discoveries - and survived a traumatic attack as a child.
She says she was inspired to share her story in a bid to help other people process their own personal struggles.
"I thought - if I could help even just one person, then I've done my job."
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudkin
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
EDB, Celebrity Treasure Ireland and z M Drive host Brie Thomas.
Alla is known to us all for her larger than
life personality, but behind the famous Vanda and Witt is
a woman who has struggled with anxiety, with questioning herself
and dealing with the aftermat of a traumatic attack as
a child. For the first time, Brie has shared her story.
(00:32):
Her book was Unapologetically Me, and Brie has come upstairs
to the z B studio. Good morning, Thank you for
your time, Bri morning.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Good to have you with us. So how much fun
is it writing about yourself?
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Not fun at all, to be honest, it was my
worst nightmare all rolled into one. But at the end
of it all, I think it was really cathartic. It
was challenging, for sure, I think that's what I'd say
at the top, but I got so much out of
it in the end.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Why didn't, yes, why did you decide to go here
with it? Because I know that when you first asked,
you were like, I don't think, so this isn't for me? Yes,
And then what changed your mind?
Speaker 3 (01:14):
I think it was the thought of that maybe my
stories or lived experience could help someone, you know, help
some people with their journey or maybe struggles there going through.
And I thought, if I could help even just one person,
then I've done my job.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
And you've also got a great sense of humor and
you write really well. Oh, thank you, congratulations on the book.
So what was it like being Bree growing up?
Speaker 3 (01:41):
It was great. I had a fantastic childhood, Like I
grew up in the country, didn't wear shoes till I
was six years old, you know, on an apple farm, animals,
all kinds of things. And then, you know, something happened
to me when I was nine years old where me,
my mum and my nan got held up in a
home invasion and that kind of it changed a lot
(02:05):
of things for me and put my life on a
bit of a different trajectory. But looking back on it.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Now, like the family that I have, I have the
most amazing family, And I mean there was one blip
in such an amazing childhood, you know, and it was
it was traumatic, wasn't it. I mean, yeah, describe it
in the book, and I can understand how that would
stay with you. So what impact did it have on
you as a nine year old?
Speaker 3 (02:35):
You know, I don't think I really realized obviously at
the time, because I was nine, but even through writing
this book, and I feel like there's a lot of
things I already knew. But throughout the process of writing
this book, I think I've realized how much that traumatic
event has stayed with me throughout my entire life, you know,
(02:55):
in the form of anxiety, which I have suffered with
since that day, sometimes debilitating, sometimes not present at all.
But yeah, it's had lasting effects on.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Me mentally for sure, because you went from, as you say,
the safe, care free childhood. Yeah, suddenly realizing actually bad
things can happen.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
You're exactly just expected. You're so spot on.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
That's a horrible thing for a kid to realize.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
It's a looking back on it now, I get angry,
and I feel like my mum and my nan were
angry as well, because I feel like a part of
my childhood got stolen from me. You know, it got
taken from me, and that does make me angry thinking
back on it now. But you know, it's just one
of those pieces of me that I've learned to live
(03:45):
with and love about myself as well and kind of
manage throughout my life.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
What was high school like for you?
Speaker 3 (03:52):
High school? High school is such a weird one, isn't it.
I feel like there was amazing parts of high school,
but I was the same as most people. I was awkward,
trying to figure out who I was, kind of you know,
stup bling my way through and figuring it out. But
I played so much sport. That's what I really loved
in high school, and I feel like they're some of
(04:15):
my best memories from high school. But I was awkward.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
But high schools is zoos, right, They're all zoos. Everyone
is just fighting to survive, right, And I think the
sooner we are actually honest with kids out there and go, yeah, sorry,
it's tough, the are zoos just you've got to find
a way to survive. The more we're honest with them
about it, the better it is. Otherwise we'll just pretend
to Oh, no, that the best days of your life
and you love it and you're gonna love it, and
(04:39):
you're sitting there holding on for dear life trying to
get through.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
I think that's such a great way to put it.
You know, you put into this situation with this group
of people and you're like be friends with them and
get along with everyone, and you know that's just not
real life. When you leave high school, you're kind of like, oh,
I can choose. You know, who my friends are and
where I want to be.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
We have things in common, we had the same point
of views.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
How awesome is that? It's great.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
So when did you feel like you started to fit
in somewhere?
Speaker 3 (05:08):
Yeah, that's such a good question. I think it took
me a long time. Like I feel like I was
figuring things out for many many years. But as soon
as I walked into my first radio job, I was like,
here we go. I've found my people. Like these people
are all just as weird and a bit batshit as me.
(05:30):
You know, these are my people. And I truly felt
like I'd found my place. And I feel like a
lot of people will maybe never get that moment, but
that was the moment for me.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
And I loved reading about the pranks that you used
to do at high school because that's the first clue
that you go, this woman has made for radio, right,
And they were just funny. They were harmless that were kind,
you know, like you're just laughing along.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
They were very, very good, though you wouldn't believe. I
posted about the book a couple of weeks ago and
my headboarding mistress comments on it.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Yeah, but you do name people. I mean, you talk
quite honest.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
I did go aoulbreez brave.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
She's naming and sort of semi shaming here.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
It's exciting I do, because I feel like it was
important and they're all a big part of the story,
you know. But she she just came out of nowhere.
I haven't talked to her since I was at boarding school.
And she comments, she goes, can't wait to read it.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
I well remember you fondly. Now, yeah, totally until they
read this, I hang on a minute that she wasn't
absolute nightmare. Every queer person has their own story. But
when did you work out that you were queer?
Speaker 3 (06:35):
It's I feel like it was always something that felt
really natural to me, Like it wasn't ever a moment
of oh this is what I am, you know, it
was kind of like a gradual thing, like as soon
as I left high school, and like we're talking about before,
when you're kind of put into the real world and
you're out there talking to different people from different walks
(06:57):
of life. Because I grew up in a really country town,
I didn't even know what a gay person was till
I was, you know, into my teens. So I think
think once I was kind of in that real world,
it all kind of started making sense to me. And
it took me a long time over the next decade
to figure everything out about myself. But it was probably
(07:18):
around when I left high school.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
You told you, mum, when you were twenty one, he
asked her to keep it a secret, and that is
something that you regret. Why is that. I think it's
the biggest regret I have in life, for sure, and
I think, looking back on it now, is because I
asked her to keep it a secret for my dad,
who is a staunch Italian Catholic man, and.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
I didn't know how he would take it. I didn't
know if it would change the way he felt about
me and thought about me, and it terrified me to
disappoint him and to you know, change his love for me.
But I think, looking back on it now, it breed shame.
That secret bred so much shame into my life where
it went on and on and on, and if I
(08:05):
could go back, I would change now.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Your mom gives us a lot of lass just day
to day, but also in the book. But your dad
actually made me cry. He did, and I am talking
about Christmas twenty nineteen.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
I know the exact time you're talking about. I'll get
emotional now. I read and I cried. Yeah, it was beautiful.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
It was one of the most amazing moments in my
whole life.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
And it was so simple, you know, and it seems
so easy. And he pulled me out into the corridor
and said the words that I'd wanted to hear from
him for a decade. I love you. This doesn't change
anything for me. I'm so proud of you. And you know,
I feel like all of us are just trying to
make our parents proud, you know, and we just want
(08:53):
them to love us. And I don't think he ever,
He never didn't love me. I think he was working
through the years of you know, religious beliefs that he
has been taught his entire life, and he was working
through how he felt about it and all the rest
of it. But I'm so so grateful for that moment. Yeah, No,
(09:15):
it was really really special.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
What do you want people. What do you want people
to take from your journey, especially young people.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
Yeah, that's the right question to ask, I think, Francesca,
because the whole point of the book is it's for
the people who haven't found that courage yet to live
authentically as themselves, whatever that may be, and that can be,
that can look like anything, you know, because I think
(09:42):
if once you've read the book in the end, once
I started doing that, everything else fell into place. All
this weight was lifted off my shoulders and I was
truly able to be happy when I was just being me.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
And you know, after that, things take off. I mean,
radio career has taken.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
Off, has yes, and it's going pretty well.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Yep, it's doing okay. Hey, you decided to come to
New Zealand. Are you happy that you made that decision? Now?
Speaker 3 (10:15):
Best decision I've ever made? Like best decision.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Is it true though, that New Zealanders don't really like
Australia's like you were quite taken back when you came here.
I thought it was like what you described, Oh, we're
kind of cousins at the end of the day, we
love each other.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
But you said, actually there is a better angst there
a little bit like not with everyone. I think it's
a small percentage, but I was quite like taken aback
when I'd go out and I'd meet people and they'd
be like, oh, you're that bloody Australian like get out
of here kind of thing. And it took a while
when I think.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
I won people over hopefully, Oh, I think I've absolutely
won people over. What do you love about radio? You
have to give a lot of yourself, But do you
get it not back?
Speaker 3 (10:54):
I think yeah, I mean you would know you do
this all the time. The best thing is connecting with people.
You know, we're not curing cancer or doing amazing work
like my partner, who's a nurse does, but we have
this opportunity to connect with people. And sometimes that might
be over you know, fun and funny entertainment, but there's
(11:18):
other moments throughout my career where I've shared really personal,
deep things and you have that connection with people, and
that's the reason I do this job, is to hopefully
change someone's day, even if it's for five minutes, you know, Like,
I think that's such a privilege to be able to
do that every day.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
Not only do you have a top radio show, but
you're now on Prime TV, which is really exciting.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
How good's that?
Speaker 2 (11:44):
I mean, it looks like you have a blast hosting
celebrity Tature Island.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
I absolutely do. I never thought I would end up
on TV. It was never a goal of mine. I
think probably because I never saw and I talk about
it in the book, I never saw people like me
on TV who are a little bit rough around the
edges I.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
Used to be on TV. Brew They'll probably surprise you, Yeah,
but no, but way before your time, I didn't have
the right hair color either, or the right sort of
facial hair.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Right.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
Yeah, so I hear and look at you now, you
know your hair color is stunning.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Although I would say the one thing that did take
me back was you talk about they send you up
to Fiji, I think for the first series, and you
get there into that humidity, and then they say to you, oh,
you're doing your own hair and makeup.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
Oh lift Please. If anyone's listening, don't watch season one.
It's not a good time for me. I go.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
If they got their cheek these days, they get your
hair and makeup these days.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
After they saw me on season one, they said, I
think we need to splurge on getting bre hair and makeup.
So I've had amazing hair and makeup from season two,
I tell you now. But yeah, it's just it's such
an amazing show, and it's such a rare opportunity. Like
every time I'm there, I'm like, wow, Like this is
so cool. I grew up watching shows like this, and
(12:55):
now I'm here and I get to be a part
of it, and I pinch myself every time.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
You're a natural at both the radio and the TV.
But in the book you talk a lot about self
doubt and anxiety, which I think is really good. Not
that you have both of those things, but then it's
really good to know that sometimes that people look like
they have it all together sometimes don't. And that's okay,
Oh mate, take it too, make whatever you want. You know,
you can still follow your dreams and things like that.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
Oh absolutely, I think underneath it all, I doubt myself constantly,
you know. And imposter syndrome is I think something we
all deal with in the industry, some more than others.
But yeah, it's it's a really hard thing. I feel
like I'm constantly second guessing myself. But then after six seasons,
(13:43):
I have these things where I'm like you've been doing
this for six seasons. You've got this, you know. So
I had both voices in my head kind of going
at once, and most of the time the positive voice wins.
Thank God.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
Now that the hear and makeup has been taken care of,
that's one list thing to worry about that, Oh, Bree,
thanks so much for coming in. Well, okay, so that's
the radio show, that's the TV show, and now the
book tacked off the list. The what next?
Speaker 3 (14:10):
Maybe maybe I'll host my own comedy show. Who knows?
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Do you do stand up comedy?
Speaker 3 (14:14):
I've done a little bit.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
Wasn't good, but it's terrifying as.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
I have such a massive appreciation, Like I couldn't do it.
You don't like it's such an art form, Like it's
incredibly difficult because I mean, the for the radio, we
sit here and we talk behind a mic. We don't
get to see people's reactions, so we're like, they're laughing,
for sure, they're having a good time. In stand up comedy,
they're right in front of you. Yeah, and if it's silence,
(14:41):
it is deafening.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
Yeah. No, a side of the fact that I'm not
a comedian that the second thing is just standing in
front of the group of you know, standing around in
front of people and expecting them to react in a
certain way, and they're not just being mortified.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
It's so mortifying. Do you find public speaking quite difficult?
Speaker 2 (14:57):
A camera and a microphone's absolutely I fine. Put me
in a room with actual people.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
Isn't that funny because people in the corner of the
back me too.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
Isn't that funny?
Speaker 3 (15:05):
People always say to me, They're like, but you're on radio,
You're talking to thousands of people, and I'm like, so different.
We love you all from Afar, very from Afar.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Yes, it's been a delight.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
Thank you so much. It's been an absolute pleasure. Thank
you so much.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
That was CTI and ZB Drive host Brie tomasel her
new book, Unapologetically Meet, zid M sorry z if you
put a zed in it, I'm just gonna say, zed
B will take her. She's fabulous. Her new book, Unapologetically Meet,
is in stores tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (15:35):
For more from the Sunday session with Francesca Rudkin, listen
live to News Talk zed B from nine am Sunday,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudkin
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
EDB, Celebrity Treasure Ireland and z M Drive host Brie Thomas.
Alla is known to us all for her larger than
life personality, but behind the famous Vanda and Witt is
a woman who has struggled with anxiety, with questioning herself
and dealing with the aftermat of a traumatic attack as
a child. For the first time, Brie has shared her story.
(00:32):
Her book was Unapologetically Me, and Brie has come upstairs
to the z B studio. Good morning, Thank you for
your time, Bri morning.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Good to have you with us. So how much fun
is it writing about yourself?
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Not fun at all, to be honest, it was my
worst nightmare all rolled into one. But at the end
of it all, I think it was really cathartic. It
was challenging, for sure, I think that's what I'd say
at the top, but I got so much out of
it in the end.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Why didn't, yes, why did you decide to go here
with it? Because I know that when you first asked,
you were like, I don't think, so this isn't for me? Yes,
And then what changed your mind?
Speaker 3 (01:14):
I think it was the thought of that maybe my
stories or lived experience could help someone, you know, help
some people with their journey or maybe struggles there going through.
And I thought, if I could help even just one person,
then I've done my job.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
And you've also got a great sense of humor and
you write really well. Oh, thank you, congratulations on the book.
So what was it like being Bree growing up?
Speaker 3 (01:41):
It was great. I had a fantastic childhood, Like I
grew up in the country, didn't wear shoes till I
was six years old, you know, on an apple farm, animals,
all kinds of things. And then, you know, something happened
to me when I was nine years old where me,
my mum and my nan got held up in a
home invasion and that kind of it changed a lot
(02:05):
of things for me and put my life on a
bit of a different trajectory. But looking back on it.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Now, like the family that I have, I have the
most amazing family, And I mean there was one blip
in such an amazing childhood, you know, and it was
it was traumatic, wasn't it. I mean, yeah, describe it
in the book, and I can understand how that would
stay with you. So what impact did it have on
you as a nine year old?
Speaker 3 (02:35):
You know, I don't think I really realized obviously at
the time, because I was nine, but even through writing
this book, and I feel like there's a lot of
things I already knew. But throughout the process of writing
this book, I think I've realized how much that traumatic
event has stayed with me throughout my entire life, you know,
(02:55):
in the form of anxiety, which I have suffered with
since that day, sometimes debilitating, sometimes not present at all.
But yeah, it's had lasting effects on.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Me mentally for sure, because you went from, as you say,
the safe, care free childhood. Yeah, suddenly realizing actually bad
things can happen.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
You're exactly just expected. You're so spot on.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
That's a horrible thing for a kid to realize.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
It's a looking back on it now, I get angry,
and I feel like my mum and my nan were
angry as well, because I feel like a part of
my childhood got stolen from me. You know, it got
taken from me, and that does make me angry thinking
back on it now. But you know, it's just one
of those pieces of me that I've learned to live
(03:45):
with and love about myself as well and kind of
manage throughout my life.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
What was high school like for you?
Speaker 3 (03:52):
High school? High school is such a weird one, isn't it.
I feel like there was amazing parts of high school,
but I was the same as most people. I was awkward,
trying to figure out who I was, kind of you know,
stup bling my way through and figuring it out. But
I played so much sport. That's what I really loved
in high school, and I feel like they're some of
(04:15):
my best memories from high school. But I was awkward.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
But high schools is zoos, right, They're all zoos. Everyone
is just fighting to survive, right, And I think the
sooner we are actually honest with kids out there and go, yeah, sorry,
it's tough, the are zoos just you've got to find
a way to survive. The more we're honest with them
about it, the better it is. Otherwise we'll just pretend
to Oh, no, that the best days of your life
and you love it and you're gonna love it, and
(04:39):
you're sitting there holding on for dear life trying to
get through.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
I think that's such a great way to put it.
You know, you put into this situation with this group
of people and you're like be friends with them and
get along with everyone, and you know that's just not
real life. When you leave high school, you're kind of like, oh,
I can choose. You know, who my friends are and
where I want to be.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
We have things in common, we had the same point
of views.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
How awesome is that? It's great.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
So when did you feel like you started to fit
in somewhere?
Speaker 3 (05:08):
Yeah, that's such a good question. I think it took
me a long time. Like I feel like I was
figuring things out for many many years. But as soon
as I walked into my first radio job, I was like,
here we go. I've found my people. Like these people
are all just as weird and a bit batshit as me.
(05:30):
You know, these are my people. And I truly felt
like I'd found my place. And I feel like a
lot of people will maybe never get that moment, but
that was the moment for me.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
And I loved reading about the pranks that you used
to do at high school because that's the first clue
that you go, this woman has made for radio, right,
And they were just funny. They were harmless that were kind,
you know, like you're just laughing along.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
They were very, very good, though you wouldn't believe. I
posted about the book a couple of weeks ago and
my headboarding mistress comments on it.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Yeah, but you do name people. I mean, you talk
quite honest.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
I did go aoulbreez brave.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
She's naming and sort of semi shaming here.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
It's exciting I do, because I feel like it was
important and they're all a big part of the story,
you know. But she she just came out of nowhere.
I haven't talked to her since I was at boarding school.
And she comments, she goes, can't wait to read it.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
I well remember you fondly. Now, yeah, totally until they
read this, I hang on a minute that she wasn't
absolute nightmare. Every queer person has their own story. But
when did you work out that you were queer?
Speaker 3 (06:35):
It's I feel like it was always something that felt
really natural to me, Like it wasn't ever a moment
of oh this is what I am, you know, it
was kind of like a gradual thing, like as soon
as I left high school, and like we're talking about before,
when you're kind of put into the real world and
you're out there talking to different people from different walks
(06:57):
of life. Because I grew up in a really country town,
I didn't even know what a gay person was till
I was, you know, into my teens. So I think
think once I was kind of in that real world,
it all kind of started making sense to me. And
it took me a long time over the next decade
to figure everything out about myself. But it was probably
(07:18):
around when I left high school.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
You told you, mum, when you were twenty one, he
asked her to keep it a secret, and that is
something that you regret. Why is that. I think it's
the biggest regret I have in life, for sure, and
I think, looking back on it now, is because I
asked her to keep it a secret for my dad,
who is a staunch Italian Catholic man, and.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
I didn't know how he would take it. I didn't
know if it would change the way he felt about
me and thought about me, and it terrified me to
disappoint him and to you know, change his love for me.
But I think, looking back on it now, it breed shame.
That secret bred so much shame into my life where
it went on and on and on, and if I
(08:05):
could go back, I would change now.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Your mom gives us a lot of lass just day
to day, but also in the book. But your dad
actually made me cry. He did, and I am talking
about Christmas twenty nineteen.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
I know the exact time you're talking about. I'll get
emotional now. I read and I cried. Yeah, it was beautiful.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
It was one of the most amazing moments in my
whole life.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
And it was so simple, you know, and it seems
so easy. And he pulled me out into the corridor
and said the words that I'd wanted to hear from
him for a decade. I love you. This doesn't change
anything for me. I'm so proud of you. And you know,
I feel like all of us are just trying to
make our parents proud, you know, and we just want
(08:53):
them to love us. And I don't think he ever,
He never didn't love me. I think he was working
through the years of you know, religious beliefs that he
has been taught his entire life, and he was working
through how he felt about it and all the rest
of it. But I'm so so grateful for that moment. Yeah, No,
(09:15):
it was really really special.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
What do you want people. What do you want people
to take from your journey, especially young people.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
Yeah, that's the right question to ask, I think, Francesca,
because the whole point of the book is it's for
the people who haven't found that courage yet to live
authentically as themselves, whatever that may be, and that can be,
that can look like anything, you know, because I think
(09:42):
if once you've read the book in the end, once
I started doing that, everything else fell into place. All
this weight was lifted off my shoulders and I was
truly able to be happy when I was just being me.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
And you know, after that, things take off. I mean,
radio career has taken.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
Off, has yes, and it's going pretty well.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Yep, it's doing okay. Hey, you decided to come to
New Zealand. Are you happy that you made that decision? Now?
Speaker 3 (10:15):
Best decision I've ever made? Like best decision.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Is it true though, that New Zealanders don't really like
Australia's like you were quite taken back when you came here.
I thought it was like what you described, Oh, we're
kind of cousins at the end of the day, we
love each other.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
But you said, actually there is a better angst there
a little bit like not with everyone. I think it's
a small percentage, but I was quite like taken aback
when I'd go out and I'd meet people and they'd
be like, oh, you're that bloody Australian like get out
of here kind of thing. And it took a while
when I think.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
I won people over hopefully, Oh, I think I've absolutely
won people over. What do you love about radio? You
have to give a lot of yourself, But do you
get it not back?
Speaker 3 (10:54):
I think yeah, I mean you would know you do
this all the time. The best thing is connecting with people.
You know, we're not curing cancer or doing amazing work
like my partner, who's a nurse does, but we have
this opportunity to connect with people. And sometimes that might
be over you know, fun and funny entertainment, but there's
(11:18):
other moments throughout my career where I've shared really personal,
deep things and you have that connection with people, and
that's the reason I do this job, is to hopefully
change someone's day, even if it's for five minutes, you know, Like,
I think that's such a privilege to be able to
do that every day.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
Not only do you have a top radio show, but
you're now on Prime TV, which is really exciting.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
How good's that?
Speaker 2 (11:44):
I mean, it looks like you have a blast hosting
celebrity Tature Island.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
I absolutely do. I never thought I would end up
on TV. It was never a goal of mine. I
think probably because I never saw and I talk about
it in the book, I never saw people like me
on TV who are a little bit rough around the
edges I.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
Used to be on TV. Brew They'll probably surprise you, Yeah,
but no, but way before your time, I didn't have
the right hair color either, or the right sort of
facial hair.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Right.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
Yeah, so I hear and look at you now, you
know your hair color is stunning.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Although I would say the one thing that did take
me back was you talk about they send you up
to Fiji, I think for the first series, and you
get there into that humidity, and then they say to you, oh,
you're doing your own hair and makeup.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
Oh lift Please. If anyone's listening, don't watch season one.
It's not a good time for me. I go.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
If they got their cheek these days, they get your
hair and makeup these days.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
After they saw me on season one, they said, I
think we need to splurge on getting bre hair and makeup.
So I've had amazing hair and makeup from season two,
I tell you now. But yeah, it's just it's such
an amazing show, and it's such a rare opportunity. Like
every time I'm there, I'm like, wow, Like this is
so cool. I grew up watching shows like this, and
(12:55):
now I'm here and I get to be a part
of it, and I pinch myself every time.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
You're a natural at both the radio and the TV.
But in the book you talk a lot about self
doubt and anxiety, which I think is really good. Not
that you have both of those things, but then it's
really good to know that sometimes that people look like
they have it all together sometimes don't. And that's okay,
Oh mate, take it too, make whatever you want. You know,
you can still follow your dreams and things like that.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
Oh absolutely, I think underneath it all, I doubt myself constantly,
you know. And imposter syndrome is I think something we
all deal with in the industry, some more than others.
But yeah, it's it's a really hard thing. I feel
like I'm constantly second guessing myself. But then after six seasons,
(13:43):
I have these things where I'm like you've been doing
this for six seasons. You've got this, you know. So
I had both voices in my head kind of going
at once, and most of the time the positive voice wins.
Thank God.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
Now that the hear and makeup has been taken care of,
that's one list thing to worry about that, Oh, Bree,
thanks so much for coming in. Well, okay, so that's
the radio show, that's the TV show, and now the
book tacked off the list. The what next?
Speaker 3 (14:10):
Maybe maybe I'll host my own comedy show. Who knows?
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Do you do stand up comedy?
Speaker 3 (14:14):
I've done a little bit.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
Wasn't good, but it's terrifying as.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
I have such a massive appreciation, Like I couldn't do it.
You don't like it's such an art form, Like it's
incredibly difficult because I mean, the for the radio, we
sit here and we talk behind a mic. We don't
get to see people's reactions, so we're like, they're laughing,
for sure, they're having a good time. In stand up comedy,
they're right in front of you. Yeah, and if it's silence,
(14:41):
it is deafening.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
Yeah. No, a side of the fact that I'm not
a comedian that the second thing is just standing in
front of the group of you know, standing around in
front of people and expecting them to react in a
certain way, and they're not just being mortified.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
It's so mortifying. Do you find public speaking quite difficult?
Speaker 2 (14:57):
A camera and a microphone's absolutely I fine. Put me
in a room with actual people.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
Isn't that funny because people in the corner of the
back me too.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
Isn't that funny?
Speaker 3 (15:05):
People always say to me, They're like, but you're on radio,
You're talking to thousands of people, and I'm like, so different.
We love you all from Afar, very from Afar.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Yes, it's been a delight.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
Thank you so much. It's been an absolute pleasure. Thank
you so much.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
That was CTI and ZB Drive host Brie tomasel her
new book, Unapologetically Meet, zid M sorry z if you
put a zed in it, I'm just gonna say, zed
B will take her. She's fabulous. Her new book, Unapologetically Meet,
is in stores tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (15:35):
For more from the Sunday session with Francesca Rudkin, listen
live to News Talk zed B from nine am Sunday,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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