There are many things that could rightly make Shane Jenek furious - from social media algorithms platforming 'right wing talking points' intended to divide, to the continuing moral panic around drag queen story time, strait of hormuz negotiations to outright personal attacks on his character. But instead, Shane is choosing a different response - namely, one of kindness and storytelling. He tells Osher why he believes this is actually the most effective course, along with:
▪️ How his relationship to his alter ego Courtney Act has changed over the years
▪️ How gender has always been a spectrum, and why that's liberating
▪️ Why he chose to write a children's book
*Links:*
▪️ Check out Shane's book Confetti and the Rainbow Garden:
▪️ Follow Shane/Courtney on Instagram:
▪️ Catch Courtney Act hosting SBS coverage of Eurovision 2026:
*More from Osher:*
🎙 Better Than Yesterday podcast:
📬 Sign up to the Better Than Yesterday newsletter:
📸 Instagram:
📖 Books:
📺 Story Time on YouTube:
🎟️ Story Time tickets:
00:00:00 – Introduction
00:01:45 – The Power of Children’s Literature and Reading Habits
00:03:32 – Impactful Teachers and Being Immersed in Novels
00:05:54 – Roald Dahl: Addressing the "Gnarly" Reality of Classic Children’s Books
00:06:58 – Navigating the Release sebastian ofner of a New Children’s Book
00:07:27 – Legal Precedents: Defamation and Standing Up for Identity
00:09:41 – The "Moral Panic" Around Drag Queen Story Time
00:12:19 – The Male Gaze and the Transgression of Gender
00:13:58 – Early Memories: The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Childhood Fantasy
00:16:35 – The Politicisation of Courtney Act and Post-Idol Success
00:18:43 – Social Media Algorithms and the "Shallot" Outrage
00:20:35 nbc – Rage Baiting and the Evolution of the "Humble Commenter"
00:22:00 – Tribalism vs. Reality: Why the Internet Feels Like a Cage
00:24:35 – Shane vs. Courtney: Managing Public Identity and Anonymity
00:26:34 – From Shame to Acceptance: Accepting Femininity as a Boy
00:30:45 – Evolution of Queer Community Support and PFLAG
00:34:56 – Persistent Bullying and Misogyny in Schools
00:37:27 – Gender as a Spectrum: From Katherine Hepburn to Now
00:39:46 – The "Cages" of Archetypical Masculinity
00:41:44 – The Loneliness of Non-Conformity
00:43:46 – Being an "Empty Vessel": Dealing with Public Assumptions
00:45:15 – Effective Advocacy vs. Shaming: Finding Common Ground
00:47:20 – Addressing the "Grooming" Narrative and Political Tactics
00:49:50 – Handling Online Criticism and "Call-Out" Culture
00:51:25 – The Evolution of Language: Terms and Definitions in the Queer Community
00:53:10 – Generational Divides: How Younger People View Identity
00:55:05 – Resilience and Self-Care While Living in the Public Eye
00:57:30 – The Power of Storytelling: Why Personal Narratives Matter
00:59:45 – Reflecting on Career Milestones: From Idol to Big Brother
01:02:15 – The Future of Courtney Act
01:04:40 – Advice for the Next Generation
01:06:55 – Conclusion
#betterthanyesterday #oshergünsberg #podcast #courtneyact #eurovision #lgbtq
