All The Best

This week on All The Best, stories about weird and wonderful hobbies and what drives us to them.

Hobbies 

In our first story, a university student dissects recent Australian Bureau of Statistics data suggesting a gender gap in time spent on hobbies.

Molly Frew produced the story, which featured postdoctoral research fellow August Harrington, a psychology expert from the University of Melbourne.

Gaming 

In our second story, imagine trying to fit into the online gaming world with angry humanoid figures with scary eyes who may rant about entitled women ruining their hobbies. This piece reveals a female perspective on gender discrimination when gaming.

This story was written and produced and written by Arshia Anand.

Lego 

In our third story, after finding the Lego clubroom, an innkeeper from the club informs that the assortment of coloured bricks “can be used as a tool for mindfulness and relaxation.”

This story was written and produced and written by  Georgie Preston.

Boxing

In our fourth story, “Ding Ding,” boxing training is used to relax and distract some from muscle soreness and a waring body or mind.

This story was written and produced and written by Yuanyuan Zhang.

LARPing

Our final story involves escaping into the narrative of characters dressed up in armoured gear all in the name of Live-Action Role-Playing, also known as LARPing. 

This story was written and produced and written by Olivia Tan.

Today’s stories were produced as part of a collaboration between All The Best, the University of Melbourne and the Science Gallery. Unimelb Masters of journalism students created audio works relating to the theme of ‘distraction’. Special thanks to Louisa Lim, Mell Chun, Dan Semo and Corey Martin and to All The Best mentors Persephone Waxman, Thomas Philips, Lisa Divissi and Melanie Bakewell.

All The Best Credits

Executive Producer: Phoebe Adler-Ryan

Editorial Producer: Melanie Bakewell

Host: Madhuraa Prakash

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on All The Best, beautiful and bilingual stories about family.

Content Warning: These stories contain references to people experiencing cancer, passing away and detailed descriptions of war. They may be considered to be emotionally intense for some. Please listen with care.

Sirius and the Moon

In our first story, While weaving between English and Mandarin, Sharon shares an emotional conversation with her brother about surviving cancer.

This story was Written and Produced by Sharon Wongosari thanks to Lea Redfern.

We Are Gathered Here Today 

In our second story, a young woman Annabella reflects on her relationship with her mother during the Vietnam War. This story is introduced in Vietnamese and then in English. 

This story was written and produced by Annabella Luu in collaboration with sound designer Ramon Briant. The supervising producer was Phoebe Adler-Ryan. 

All The Best Credits

Executive Producer: Phoebe Adler-Ryan

Editorial Producer: Melanie Bakewell

Host: Madhuraa Prakash

Image Credit: Annabella Luu

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on All The Best, apocalyptic audio stories.

Apocalyptic Radio Fiction

In our first story, Producer Phoebe speaks with audio fiction producer Ian Walker about the process of creating new Australian audio fiction.

Produced by Phoebe Adler Ryan in conversation with podcast producer Ian Walker. With special thanks to Bronwyn Mehan.

You can listen to The Next Five Minutes wherever you get your podcasts or visit www.shortaustralianstories.com.au/.

An Alien Sends Home a Status Report from the West

In our second story, an alien returns to his homeland to report what it's found on a postcard containing odd human rituals and habits.

Written and read by Antoinette Luu, with sound design by C.L Hughes & ealing. You can find further work from C.L. Hughes on their Insta page @ealing_ealing, and from Antoinette at @annette_luu_art.

Apocalypse Story

Our third story explores two women on their third date discussing the apocalypse.

Written and performed by Mira Schlosberg. Originally broadcast on FBi's audio fiction program, "Or It Didn't Happen." Mira’s work can be found at miraschlosberg.com or on insta @homotaschen. With special thanks to Zacha Rosen.

The Perfect Human

Our final story explores what it looks like to be born as the perfect human in the modern world.

Written and performed by Niki Bañados, with sound design and composition by Suzanne Derry. The piece was initially performed in the illustrated live storytelling event "Read To Me." Find more of Niki's work at @stickwriter on Instagram.

With sound design and composition by Suzanne Derry. If you're interested in working with Suzanne, you can reach her at: [email protected]

All The Best Credits

Executive Producer: Phoebe Adler-Ryan

Editorial Producer: Melanie Bakewell

Host: Madhuraa Prakash

Image Credit: Niki Bañados

Make your own Audio Fiction!

If you're keen to make some audio fiction of your own, come along to our online Audio Fiction workshop hosted by Script Roulette on September 24th. Reach out to [email protected] or make sure you're subscribed to our monthly newsletter to receive the details: https://allthebestradio.com/

Audio Fiction Recommended Listening

Batman: The Audio Adventures

The Next Five Minutes

Welcome to Nightvale

Soft Voice by QCODE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on All The Best, stories about fighting violence against women. 

Content Warning: These stories  contain references to gendered violence, including those of a domestic, family or sexual nature. Please listen with care.

The Park (4.35)

In our first story, Jasmyn, on a wet rainy night, investigates after hearing someone in distress at a local park. 

Produced by Jasmyn as part of an audio walking tour collaboration between Outloud Arts Bankstown and All The Best.

You can complete the audio walking tour at: https://outloud.org.au/projects/stories-from-here-an-audio-tour-of-bankstown/ 

We Stand Surviving (7.40)

In our second story, Sarah shares a suite of poems about patriarchy and sisterhood.

Content Warning: This work includes references to sexual assault. 

This story was written and read by Sarah Dee with production support from Phoebe Adler-Ryan and sound design by Tala Issaoui.

Find more of Sarah’s writing on instagram where she’s @detailednoodle.

And more of Tala’s sounds, she can be found at @tala.the.creative on instagram.

Helen, and the Spirit of Woman (11.33)

In our third story, Helen Oxenham, speaks about her experience fighting against violence since she was a child. 

Produced by Tiarne Cook with the support of Transom and the Community Media Training Organisation. To learn more about the trailblazing life and work of Helen Oxenham, visit spiritofwoman.com.au/.

If these stories raise any concerns or distress, support is available to you:

• 1800 RESPECT - that’s 1800 737 732. 
• Men’s Referral Service - 1300 766 491
• Kids Helpline - 1800 55 1800
• Lifeline - 131 114
• 13 YARN - 13 92 76 (First Nations  24/7 helpline) 
• Qlife - 1800 184 527 (LGBTQIA+ 24/7 phone line) 

All The Best Credits

Executive Producer: Phoebe Adler-Ryan

Editorial Producer: Melanie Bakewell

Host: Madhuraa Prakash

Image Credit: Sarah Dee

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, stories about connections transcending through our mortal  plane, from the spirit world to our ancestral past.  

To start us off, host Mads takes us to Colombo, Sri Lanka, where her grandmother seeks to impart the wisdom of Hindu astrology.

Ancestral Echoes 

In our second story, Xueyi reconnects to the tradition of ancestor worship that  her family has long upheld. She connects to this on a meaningful level during one of their culture's traditional Spring Festivals.  

Content Warning: Please listen with care. This story contains references to  paranormal phenomena and death that may be distressing for some listeners.  

This story was produced/narrated by Xueyi Zhang and features Shuang  Zhang Shuang, Xueyi Xuejian Xuejian, and Zhengying Zou.  

Mid-autumn Mooncakes 

In our third story, Elieen experiences an incredible connection through food to the people of  her culture and their kin.

Produced by Eileen Chong. This story originally aired on the FBi radio fiction program,  Or It Didn't Happen.  

Pang 

Finally, Claire's questions about her ancestors intertwine with a supernatural event at  her primary school. 

Produced by Sarah Mashman, with contributions from Lea Redfern.  

All The Best Credits 

Executive Producer: Phoebe Adler-Ryan 

Editorial Producer: Melanie Bakewell 

Host: Madhuraa Prakash  

Mixed by Emma Higgins 

Image Credit: Xueyi Zhang 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, stories about how hard it is to stay focused these days.

Dumb Phones by Sam Irvine

Our first story this week follows this line of thinking, with a personal experiment using old technology.

A Close Shave by Jining Wen

Next up, a barber experiences a time crunch.

Cooking as Distraction by Kepuyan Wu

Then, Kepuyan explores cooking as a form of positive procrastination. 

Proustian Memory by Siyi Chen

Next, a story about the power of smell to transport to a different time and place.

Apps That Help You Focus by Yeting Gao

Our final story explores using modern methods to help with focus.

These stories were produced as part of a collaboration between All The Best, the University of Melbourne and the Science Gallery.

University of Melbourne Masters of Journalism students created these audio works relating to the theme of ‘distraction’.

Special thanks to Louisa Lim, Mell Chun, Dan Semo and Corey Martin and to All The Best mentors Persephone Waxman, Thomas Philips, Lisa Divissi and Melanie Bakewell.

All The Best Credits

Executive Producer: Phoebe Adler-Ryan

Editorial Producer: Melanie Bakewell

Host: Madhuraa Prakash

Mixed by Emma Higgins

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, stories about the burden of expectations and the triumph of defying them.

The Burden of Low Expectations

In our first story, Esther navigates different cultural expectations of disability when she migrates to Australia via Uganda and Sudan.

Content Warning: A note that this story contains examples of discriminatory attitudes towards disability.

This story was made by Carey Scheer for the Purple Orange Podcast. Purple Orange is a South Australian organisation that aims to create a fair world for people with disability. Find out more by visiting their website.

Fashion Liberation

In our second story, Zeb moves back to their home state of Tasmania, and wants to find the right clothes. 

Content Warning: Please listen with care as this story contains references gender based violence.

Produced by Sarah Mashman, with contributions from Lea Redfern.

This is an extended version of a story originally produced for the KCRW 24 Hour Radio Race.  

All The Best Credits

Executive Producer: Phoebe Adler-Ryan

Editorial Producer: Melanie Bakewell

Host: Madhuraa Prakash

Mixed by Emma Higgins

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we're bringing you the second half of All The Best's collaboration with Outloud Arts, working with young people in Bankstown to make an audio walking tour about the places that matter to them. 

For those who aren’t familiar with Sydney, Bankstown is a suburb located in the South-West Sydney region. Due to the multicultural immigrant demographic and the presence of housing commission properties, certain people characterise the area as being rough, dangerous and downtrodden.  

But if you live in Bankstown you know that the suburb can’t be reduced to narrow stereotypes. Through these stories, the young people of Bankstown invite you to discover their home in their own words.  

You'll hear stories from Jack Miller, Areebah Armani, Maithly Dhawan, Amy Wong (aka Tofu Pants) and Danielle Lam. 

The participants were mentored by director-dramaturg Finn Ó Branagáin and local author Kavita Bedford. The audio stories were recorded by Phoebe Adler-Ryan and Ramon Briant. Editing and sound design by Thomas Phillips. With support from Outloud Arts Creative Producer Nicole Issa. 

Go to www.outloud.org.au and find the ‘Stories from Here’ page to finish the audio walking tour. You’ll find the full set of stories and a digital walking tour map. 

All The Best Credits

Executive Producer: Phoebe Adler-Ryan

Editorial Producer: Melanie Bakewell

Host: Madhuraa Prakash

Mixed by Emma Higgins

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we’re bringing you more bird stories.

i love birds

First up, Matt Cooper explores his neighbourhood’s relationship to birds and learns a thing or two.

Produced by Matt Cooper, with special thanks to Lea Redfern. 

Mothercluckers

Then, Dione Green investigates the politics of free range chickens. 

This story was produced as part of the 2020 National Features and Documentary Series, with support from the Community Media Training Organisation and the CBAA. The supervising producer was Hamish Sewell. 

All The Best Credits

Executive Producer: Phoebe Adler-Ryan

Editorial Producer: Melanie Bakewell

Host: Madhuraa Prakash

Mixed by Emma Higgins

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The traditional owners of this land, Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people, have a connection to and understanding of country that is thousands of years old.

Right now we’re living in a time of climate change and natural disasters, of warmer winters and colder summers and it often feels like our understanding of mother nature and her seasons falls short. 

And so, it makes sense to turn to insights from First Nations people whose knowledge of the country is deep and all-encompassing. 

In fact, it's essential to listen to First Nations understandings of the land if we want to learn how to live in harmony with country, rather than fight against it. 

Today we’re lucky enough to bring you some of this knowledge.

The Six Seasons

First up, a conversation with Elder Aunty Munya Andrews accompanied by soundscapes, detailing the cyclical patterns of weather, plants and animals from a First Nations perspective.

Produced by Ramon Briant, with Aunty Munya, an Elder from the Kimberley region of Western Australia and author of the new book, Ask Auntie: Seasons - An Introduction to First Nations Seasons.

Find out more about Aunty Munya's work at Evolve Communities website. And find Ramon's work at @therealram0n on instagram or at his website.

The supervising producer was Phoebe Adler-Ryan. 

Noongar Climate Memory

In our next story, we hear about First Nations memory of the last ice age through conversation with Dr Cass Lynch. 

Produced by Danni Stewart.

This story was adapted from an interview Danni originally recorded for Scitech’s Elements podcast.

All The Best Credits

Executive Producer: Phoebe Adler-Ryan

Editorial Producer: Melanie Bakewell

Host: Madhuraa Prakash

Mixed by Emma Higgins

Image Credit: Charmaine Ledden Lewis

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.