Em Rusciano grills ‘straight white guy’ Rob Mills for writing a memoir

Em Rusciano and Rob Mills have a close friendship that dates back nearly two decades.

But Em has admitted that her initial reaction when she found out Rob had written an autobiography about modern masculinity was not a positive one.

The 43-year-old made the candid confession in an Instagram post promoting an interview she did with Rob for her podcast.

“When Rob initially told me he was writing this book, I didn’t understand why we needed this,” she explains.

“Why did we need to hear from another straight white man about modern masculinity? We just need cisgender heterosexual men to get well,” she continued.

But despite her trepidation, Em said the book, titled Putting on a Show: Manhood, Mates, and Mental Health, actually turned out to be “great.”

Em also emphasized the point on her podcast, insisting that she supported Rob and his book, despite seriously putting him to the test during their interview.

“Why did we need to hear from another straight white man about modern masculinity? We just need cisgender heterosexual men to get well,” Em said of Rob

At one point she became outraged when Rob said it’s important that “boys have a safe place” and that “women don’t quite understand that.”

“We need this safe space for gossip and stupid things,” he insisted, before admitting, “It’s misogynistic, sexist at times. But it is also a space to get it wrong, to fail. It’s not really how we feel.’

Em shot back and said, ‘No, Rob! Because THESE are the environments where the changes have to take place and if you’re all in an echo chamber hitting each other in the butt for having to go Robbo, that’s a bit sexist, mate.’

Despite her trepidation, Em said that Rob’s book, titled Putting on a Show: Manhood, Mates, and Mental Health, actually turned out to be “great.”

She also said it was important for men to discuss “misogyny and consent and equality” in their “holy men’s circles.”

“In these rooms, are you teaching each other, or are you just rude?” she asked.

Em also insisted she’s not a man-hater, insisting that she really “damn loves them.”

“But I’m worried about them,” she added. “I’m tired of making excuses for them too. So it’s up to men to improve men.’

Rob’s book has made headlines since its release, largely in part due to some of the tacky stories mixed in with the self-help advice and mental health content

Em previously revealed that Millsy once loaned her $30,000 to get out of debt after she had a shock with her husband, Scott Barrow, several years ago.

During a joint appearance on Hughesy’s We Have a Problem in 2020, Em recalled the time when the Australian Idol star paid all her delinquent bills after finding her on the floor in front of his house, collapsed and crying.

‘I cried, he found me, he carried me in. He let me open my accounts and he paid them all,” she explained to presenter Dave Hughes.

‘I had no job, my marriage was over, I lived with my parents’.

Rob revealed in his book that he once had a threesome with drag queen Courtney Act (pictured)

Em said she believes Rob was the reason she was able to get her life back on track during her tough time.

Meanwhile, Rob’s book has been making headlines since its release, largely for some of the lecherous stories mixed in with the self-help advice and mental health content.

In one chapter, Millsy admits to having had a bisexual threesome with a woman and drag queen Courtney Act.

Em previously revealed that Millsy once loaned her $30,000 to get out of debt after she had a shock with her husband, Scott Barrow several years ago.

He also talks about his affair with Paris Hilton, which made headlines across Australia in 2003.

Known for her socially progressive views, Em has been an outspoken advocate for feminism and the neurodivergent community.

The former radio host has ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and rejection sensitivity dysphoria and currently identifies as autistic.

Rusciano has also revealed that she was diagnosed with postpartum depression after giving birth to her daughter Odette in 2007.

Odette, now 14, has also since been diagnosed with ADHD, while the podcaster’s son, Elio, three, is autistic.

Rusciano wrote her own book, titled Try Hard, in 2016. According to Booktopia, the memoir was a bestseller