All The Best

For the past seven years, All the Best has collaborated with the University of Melbourne’s Centre for Advancing Journalism and the Science Gallery to mentor students in my Audio Journalism class and to provide audio editorial training. These produced narrative podcasts that have been used in the Science Gallery’s shows and broadcast on All the Best. This collaboration has allowed students to produce work for broadcast for a public audience for the first time.

This year's theme is 'Dark Matter' and All The Best mentors are currently working with students on a brand new batch of stories to fit this theme. You can keep an eye out for those in June, but in the meantime here are some of our favourites from previous years.

You’ll hear the stories as they were first aired, so get keen to hear voices from hosts of All the Bests' past!

Grandpa Delivers The Eulogy At His Funeral by Julia Bergin 2017

Three years prior to his death, Grandpa and father began formal discussions for his funeral. Whilst they disagreed over size and music, there was consensus that Grandpa should speak on the day of his departure. In March this year, the funeral planning committee’s recommendations took effect; Grandpa addressed the congregation from his casket, delivering the eulogy at his own funeral.

Supervising producer: Jordan Fennell.

More Than a Pad by Wing Kuang, Chang He and Inderpreet Kaur 2019

Australians are pretty used to disposable menstrual products. But for Indepreet, growing up in India, cloth pads have always been the norm.

Supervising producer: Eugenia Zoubtchenko.

Brown and Happy by Dilpreet Kaur  2018

“You have dark skin and a fat nose,” said the 60-year-old neighbour to a 12 year-old girl. A whole decade later, this girl is still fighting the stereotype of being a woman of color and the lack of privilege of not being white. Does she give in?

Supervising Producer: Jordan Fennell.

All The Best credits:

Production Manager: Phoebe Adler-Ryan

Editorial Manager: Mell Chun

Episode Mix and Compile: Phoebe Adler-Ryan

Host: Madhuraa Prakash

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on All the best, tales about food-related fumbles. They were originally told at SPUN Stories, a live story-telling night held in Darwin on the land of the Larrakia people.

A Full Belly or Smelly Pits?

First up this week, Clare shares a story about Christmas leftovers filled with excitement, adventure, and some potent olfactory descriptions.

Story by Clare Callaghan.

Rebel without a Wok

In our second story, Ange shares her experience with the challenges and wonders involved when cooking food in a Chinese immigrant household.

Story by Ange Wu.

All The Best credits:

Production Manager: Phoebe Adler-Ryan

Editorial Manager: Mell Chun

Episode Mix and Compile: Phoebe Adler-Ryan

Host: Madhuraa Prakash

Music: Polite Rebellion by Salary

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we’re bringing you stories from our archives about making the best of difficult situations. 

Bike Noir by Cherese Sonkkila 

Cherese Sonkkila was just an ordinary person until the day her bike got stolen. That’s when Chelsea Stone showed up; a hardboiled alter-ego who would stop at nothing until she solved the case. This is a true story infused with film noir fantasy.

Featuring: David Maney, Rosanna Dunlop, Oliver Coleman and Aaron Lam.

Producer: Cherese Sonkkila

Supervising Producers: Max Rowley and Mell Chun 

Milk Bar Dates by Ruth Melville 

Ruth takes us into the confessions booth at a catholic girls school in the 70s.

Ruth’s fiction and non-fiction writing has been published in Island, Tirra Lirra, Meanjin, the Big Issue and The Australian.

This story is from a previous All The Best Live!, a live storytelling event we put on with help from the City Of Sydney. The theme for the night was Secrets and Confessions.

All The Best credits:

Production Manager: Phoebe Adler-Ryan

Editorial Manager: Mell Chun

Episode Mix and Compile: Phoebe Adler-Ryan

Host: Madhuraa Prakash

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wetland Warrior

This week we’re bringing you the story of how Carole went from Social Worker to ‘Wetland Warrior’.

Carole was one of 300 people arrested during the campaign against the Roe 8 extension of Roe Highway in Western Australia. A campaign that was successful in stopping the planned destruction of wetlands in the area. 

Produced by Nicky Page, featuring poetry by Nandi Chinna.

It was originally aired as part of the show ‘packed lunch’ on Radio Adelaide.

All The Best credits:

Production Manager: Phoebe Adler-Ryan

Editorial Manager: Mell Chun

Episode Mix and Compile: Phoebe Adler-Ryan

Host: Madhuraa Prakash

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If laughter is the best medicine, do we all have access to the same medicine cabinet? Yes, this is a terrible joke. Thankfully, this episode features professionals who genuinely make people laugh.

Hear Me Laugh by Lauren Klein

When Lauren Klein started doing stand up comedy, she couldn’t help but notice the lack of gender parity in comedy rooms.

Lauren goes behind the comedy curtain to find out why there aren’t more women doing stand up comedy.

Supervising Producers: Beth Gibson, Selena Shannon and Bec Fary

Music: ‘My Shining Hour’ by John Coltrane, ‘Curiosity’ by Lee Rosevere, ‘All The Colours in the World’ by Podington Bear, ‘Good Times’ by Podington Bear.

This story was first played in May 2017.

Funny Voices by Sarath Chandra

It’s a really interesting time in Australian comedy. Sarath Chandra speaks with two comedians, Lizzy Hoo and Suren Jayemanne, about being the minority and making the majority laugh.

Supervising Producers: Allison Chan and Olivia Rosenman

Many thanks to Neilesh Verma

Music: “Free lunch” – Isaiah Rashad, “Easily” – Bruno Major, “Long as I Live” – Tony Braxton, “ Whistlin” – Mocky, “4 Moms” – A Tribe Called Quest, “Angles” – Mick Jenkins

This story was first played in June 2018.

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All The Best credits:

Executive Producer: Allison Chan

Victorian State Coordinator: Jordan Fennell

Host: Maddy Macquine

Community Coordinator: Chloe Gillespie

SYN Community Coordinator: Erin Dick

Social Media Producer: Matilda Fay

Image: Unsplash CC: Oscar Keys

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ARTEXPRESS

Recently, All the Best Production Manager Phoebe headed to the Art Gallery of New South Wales to interview some of the participants of ARTEXPRESS- the gallery’s exhibition of outstanding artworks from the HSC.

It’s rare that old cultural institutions platform young, diverse and radical voices and that’s why ARTEXPRESS is such a great initiative.

Meet the artists and hear first hand the stories and issues behind their work.

Produced by Phoebe Adler-Ryan

Contributors

Louise Halpin, Education program producer and ARTEXPRESS curator

Sabry Beshir Mohamed - Artist (Art Express 2023)

Mayra Kelly  - Artist (Art Express 2023)

Elli Cox  - Artist (Art Express 2023)

Freda Chiu  - Artist (Art Express 2007)

All The Best credits:

Production Manager: Phoebe Adler-Ryan

Editorial Manager: Mell Chun

Episode Mix and Compile: Phoebe Adler-Ryan

Host: Madhuraa Prakash

Image credit: Freda Chiu

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we’re bringing you stories about the transformative power of something many of us take for granted: the clothes we wear. 

Fashion

In our first story, Tiarne goes behind the scenes at the ABC and explores the amazing wardrobe of fashion designer Oriana Merullo.

This is an edited version of a story that was originally broadcast on Radio Adelaide's 'Background Sound'. Listen to more episodes on Apple Podcasts.

Produced by Tiarne Cook

Suits of My Life

Then, in an intimate reflection, Teddy Dunn recalls the suits of his life.

Teddy first told this story for Queerstories, a national LGBTQI+ storytelling project, curated by Maeve Marsden. To hear more you can search for Queerstories wherever you get your podcasts.  

All The Best credits:

Production Manager: Phoebe Adler-Ryan

Editorial Manager: Mell Chun

Episode Mix and Compile: Phoebe Adler-Ryan

Host: Madhuraa Prakash

Image credit: Tiarne Cook

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Goodbye

This week, the importance of creating accessible spaces for children’s stories.

Picture Book Politics

“Children’s books are permission slips for children to be and imagine themselves and each other and think radically.” - Tess

Up first, All The Best Editorial Manager Mell chats to Tess about her new children's publishing company Slingshot.

Produced by Mell Chun

Interviewee, Tess, Founder of Slingshot Books 

You can follow slingshot on Instagram @slingshotbooks and keep an eye out for their upcoming publications.

All the Libraries in my Life

In our second story, Cristina shares her ode to libraries and reflects on the colorful and constant presence books have had in her life.

Produced by Cristina Marras

You can find more of her work at cristinamarras.com

All The Best credits:

Production Manager: Phoebe Adler-Ryan

Editorial Manager: Mell Chun

Episode Mix and Compile: Phoebe Adler-Ryan

Host: Danni Stewart

Trainee: Madhuraa Prakash

Image credit: Slingshot

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of this country's best qualities is its diverse and beautiful fauna. This week, we meet unknown creatures and learn unknown facts about familiar ones.

Giant Cuttlefish

Fans of the cephalopod, Dan and Indigo, venture to Whyalla to see a Giant Cuttlefish in the flesh.

Producer: Mel Bakewell

This story was originally broadcast on Radio Adelaide's 'Background Sound'.

Rainbow Lorikeets

Rainbow Lorikeets are in distress but the cause of this is a mystery to many. Cody investigates the problem facing these beautiful native birds.

Producer: Cody Giunta

Supervising Producer: Ryan Pemberton

Lorikeet Paralysis Syndrome Project

Mental health resources to assist frontline animal carers.

All The Best credits:

Production Manager: Phoebe Adler-Ryan

Editorial Manager: Mell Chun

Episode Mix and Compile: Phoebe Adler-Ryan

Host: Danni Stewart

Social Media Producer: Timothy Nguyen

Trainee: Madhuraa Prakash

Image credit: Minaliza

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.