All The Best

Happy New Year, and here is our second ‘best of’ episode. But this time it’s the All the Best staff picks.

Cockroach by Jin Hien Lau

Kwame’s first pick comes from #659 Extra(ordinary) Tales – Part One.

What begins as a chance encounter with a cockroach on an escalator spirals into a wild story of movie nights, pop culture, and a swarm of roaches bursting out of a DVD case. 

Kwame loves this story for its humour and cockroach-themed 90s nostalgia.

Produced by: Jin Hien Lau 

Sound design by: Gregory Thorsby 

The audio corpse

Cat’s fav was the #641 The audio corpse.

This piece is part of The Exquisite Audio Corpse, an ambitious international collaboration between 75 audio makers from around the globe run by Audio Club, creating a series of seven sonic “corpses” inspired by the surrealist game exquisite corpse.

Cat loved seeing the individual styles of storytelling.

The sample was from M. Cristina Marras and storytellers in that episode were Lezak, Pierre & Florence, Yhane, Ali, Darien, Arielle, Valdez & Hazel, Ellie, Cole &  Claudia.  

The Love Game by Wing Kuang

Mel’s pick was from #661 The Love Game.

Wing Kuang guides us through a love story of two gamers —one in Melbourne and one in Shanghai —navigating the complexities of long-distance relationships and the bureaucracy of Australia’s immigration system. 

This story came from the Jesse Cox Fellowship 2025, and Mel enjoyed seeing Wing explore how to include elements of bilingual storytelling and gamification.

Produced by Wing Kuang 

Supervising Producer: M. Cristina Marras

Window by Danni Stewart

Kwame’s second pick comes from #633 Small Audio Art.

It came from a Small Audio Art challenge, and Danny’s story, The Window, follows a parasocial relationship with a neighbour.

Produced by Danni Stewart

Just Breathe by Ben Haywood

Our final pick is Mel’s second pick. It’s another one from the Jesse Cox Fellowship 2025. This time it’s #662 Just Breathe Man.

Ben suffers from depression after knee surgery. Searching for ways to heal online, he finds himself trapped in toxic ideas of masculinity. It’s only when a friend takes him to his breathwork class that he finally breaks down and begins to heal, learning that recovery can come through friendship, community, and space to breathe.

Mel said  ’This story started out when Ben first pitched to the fellowship as a completely different idea. He had a kind of couple of story false starts in the making of this, and then yeah, sort of turned his audio story in on himself and the time that he was going through.’

Substack 

If you want more of what’s happening at All the Best, check out our Substack! It’s a roundup of all our activities with a little bit of BTS.

All The Best Credits

Program Manager & Host: Kwame Slusher

Executive Producer: Melanie Bakewell

Programming & Community Coordinator:  Catarina Fraga Matos 

Community Coordinator: Patrick McKenzie

Theme Music composed by Shining Bird

Special shout-out to our volunteers.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2025 is almost over, and it’s the time of year when everyone is sharing their ‘best of’s, ‘wrappeds, ‘rewinds’ or recaps of the year.

In this episode, our amazing volunteers at All the Best share the stories that really resonated with them.  

Second Hand Bandit by Ramon Briant 

Episode #640 The Second Hand Bandit was all about community and second-hand op-shops, or in Patrick’s words, it was about those ‘comrad vibes’.  Ramon’s story focuses on how a second-hand shop community came together to solve a string of thefts.  

Produced by Ramon Briant 

 Weaving Ancestral Voices by Shareeka Hellaludin 

Sue chose Weaving Ancestral Voices from #629 Ancestral Voices, and the episode focused on that theme of connection and reconnection. The story is about the Shraeeka’s journey to reconnect the different parts of her identity. For Sue, it was the  delicate panning, whispered textures, and ‘really subtle shifts in tone’ that Shareeka uses in the piece.   

This story was produced by Shareeka Helaluddin. The Supervising Producer was Mell Chun, with support from John Tjhia.

Wanted: Dunnart Alive by Xanthe Smith 

This comes from #660 Wanted: Dunnart Alive. This is one of Jesse Cox Audio Fellowship Stories for 2025.

Lindsey’s choice is all about looking for that elusive thing.  Xanthe revisits her childhood memories of meeting ecologist Sue Churchill, whose stories of the rare marsupial stayed with her for decades. 

She chose this story because  ’…the amount of effort it takes, even finding something so small.’

Produced by Xanthe Smith

Supervising Producer was Karla Arnall

All The Best turned 15 this year! And as part of our b-day party showcased stories from the JCAF fellows. 

Tubig Lang by Merlinda Bobis 

 Ray’s choice is the first story in #653 Tubig Lang (Just Water). This takes us to the Philippines and explores what a typhoon looks like in the eyes of a child.  

He chose this story because  ‘Even though these episodes moved through world typhoons … What stayed with me were the quieter, more personal details that shape how each person makes sense of the chaos’. 

It was originally commissioned by Debris Magazine issue five, Prismatic Joy, and the sound design was by Tala Issaoui. The supervising producer was Phoebe Adler Ryan. 

The Great Dingo Debate by Andrea Dixon 

Our final pick comes from Imogen! And her choice came from the #623 Humanimal.

Andrea shares her love for Taz, a rescued dingo living on her family’s property in Hawkesbury, Darug country.

For Imogen, it represented a perspective she hadn’t heard before.  

The producer was Andrea Dixon.

The Supervising Producer was Thomas Phillips.

All The Best Credits

Program Manager & Host: Kwame Slusher

Executive Producer: Melanie Bakewell

Programming & Community Coordinator:  Catarina Fraga Matos 

Community Coordinator: Patrick McKenzie

Theme Music composed by Shining Bird

Special shout-out to our volunteers.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our Stories Our Flats 

 I've lived in Carlton, in the Carlton Public housing estates for 30-plus years. So I know it like the back of my hand and I've come across very interesting people and I thought it would be important for me to, um, leave a document behind.

Ayan Shirwa 

This episode is all about community—specifically,  the importance of community in public housing. 

Ayan Shirwa from 3CR is a longtime resident of the Carlton Public Housing and, in response to the Victorian government's decision to demolish the flats in 2023, decided to record the stories of residents for future generations.  

This is the first episode of Our Stories, Our Flats, but you can listen to the full series on 3CR. 

Produced and written by Ayan Shirwa

Narrated by Raven 

Substack 

If you want more of what's happening at All the Best, check out our Substack! It's a roundup of all our activities with a little bit of BTS.

All The Best Credits

Program Manager & Host: Kwame Slusher

Executive Producer: Melanie Bakewell

Programming & Community Coordinator:  Catarina Fraga Matos 

Community Coordinator: Patrick McKenzie

Theme Music composed by Shining Bird

Cover Art: Ray Vo

Special shout-out to our volunteers.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Slow Death

Our first story comes from our Westwords and All the Best collaboration. Westwords in the centre for creative writing based in Parramatta, where a small group of writers were paired with producers and sound designers to bring their stories to life. Lee Mckerrecher was one of these writers.  

For our first Westwords episode, you can click here.  

A story that shows what happens when we ignore those who have protected the environment for thousands of years.

Written and Performed by Lee McKerrecher 

Sound Design by Ramon Briant. 

Keep Moving  

We've all faced some form of impostor syndrome. Or maybe struggled to finish something because we felt it could just be a little better than it is. Catarina figures out how to just keep moving. 

Produced by Catarina Fraga Matos 

Teresa 

Sometimes there might be something that slows you down and makes it hard to keep moving. Teresa had a lung transplant, and Beth follows her journey to recovery.  

This story was created as part of an audio storytelling course for regional community radio producers. It was delivered in collaboration with the CMTO, with thanks to the generous support of Creative Australia. 

Produced by Beth Baillie 

Supervising Producer was Maddy Macquine.

Mending More Than Things: The Heart of Ringwood Repair Café 

When was the last time you had something fixed? And have you ever heard of a repair cafe? One Saturday afternoon, Boya Yang takes a trip to the Ringwood Repair Cafe.

Produced by Boya Yang. 

A special thanks to the University of Melbourne, Louisa Lim, Dan Semo and Thomas Phillips. 

If you want more of what's happening at All the Best, check out our Substack! It's a roundup of all our activities with a little bit of BTS.

All The Best Credits

Host: Kwame Slusher

Executive Producer: Melanie Bakewell

Programming & Community Coordinator:  Catarina Fraga Matos 

Community Coordinator: Patrick McKenzie

Theme Music composed by Shining Bird

Cover Art: Ray Vo

Special shout-out to our volunteers.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In many cultures around the world, water is sacred.

In this episode we see bodies of water as conduits for memory, history and, of course, stories.  

Pitjantjatjara and Gurintji man talkin’ stories by the river 

Think of the anatomy of a river. Our first story is the upper course. Caleb and Orlando reflect on history, their own lives and the families while sitting by a river on Gurintji land. 

Produced by Caleb Doolan and Orlando Rubuntja

Supervising Producer: Helene Thomas 

Interview conducted by Brenton Woods

When I Lived

Our next episode meanders into the middle course. Indigenous Papua New Guinean writer and organiser Lungol reflects on a history of colonial violence, and looks forward to a revolutionary future.

Written and Read by Lungol Wekina. You can find more of his work here.  

Sound design and Original Composition by Danni Stewart. 

Bodies of Water

Our final story is the lower course of the river. It's where everything slows down. Campbell recreates what life was like  along the Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River). He demonstrates the way thoughts flow together through time.

This story was initially a comics installation and can read the original comic here.  

Written and performed by Campbell Whyte.  

Sound design by Ryan Pemberton

If you want more of what is happening at All the Best, check out our Substack! It's a roundup of all our activities with a little bit of BTS.

All The Best Credits

Host: Kwame Slusher

Executive Producer: Melanie Bakewell

Programming & Community Coordinator:  Catarina Fraga Matos 

Community Coordinator: Patrick McKenzie

Theme Music composed by Shining Bird

Cover Art: Ray Vo

Special shout-out to our volunteers.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The act of rebellion can take many forms.

Sometimes resistance can be found in the music we listen to and the way we present ourselves to the world.   

The Vanishing Culture of Saigon 

Our first story deals directly with music, censorship and the history of Vietnam. Ray finds a story resistance in the history of 'yellow music'.  

Produced by Ray Vo

Supervising Producer: Thomas Lu 

Pedal to the Metal 

Our next story takes us to Croatia, when it was still part of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. It's a journey including long hair, the love metal, military service, family and immigration to Australia. 

Produced by Allison Chan 

If you want more of what is happening at All the Best, check out Substack! It's a roundup of all our activities with a little bit of BTS.

All The Best Credits

Host: Kwame Slusher

Executive Producer: Melanie Bakewell

Programming & Community Coordinator:  Caterina Fraga Matos 

Community Coordinator: Patrick McKenzie

Theme Music composed by Shining Bird

Cover Art: Ray Vo

Special shout-out to our volunteers.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lagpas Tao by Neen Ramos

When a storm surge swallows a coastal town in the Philippines, a daughter in Sydney receives a shaky phone call from her mother calling from a patchy Wi-Fi. 

The floodwaters would recede, but they can’t take away a daughter’s worry from thousands of kilometres away.

“ I've been so worried about you. I guess what I really want is to be there, even if I don't know how to say it out loud.”

Produced by Aswathi Matthews

Written and performed by Neen Ramos 

Mother voiced by: Liza Caliao

Special thanks to Amanda Caliao, who generously recommended her mom to voice this piece. 

Rapture by Christopher Sammut

After losing his job, a young man in Sydney ends up working at his uncle’s chicken farm, where the daily violence of slaughter and the weight of family expectations trigger a crushing anxiety attack. His only comfort comes from Lorenzo, a Sudanese coworker who offers faith, hope, and an unexpected kind of tenderness in a place built on brutality.

The smell he’s trying to escape isn’t on his clothes - it’s in his bones.

Produced by: Persephone Waxman 

Written and performed by Christopher Sammut 

Sound design by Lana Lusina 

My childhood is split into Inside Outside by Cathy Stirling

What are the small, ordinary moments when you feel safe enough to connect with your body, with others, with place?

Cathay’s childhood is split between two worlds: the fear-soaked “inside,” where her father’s rage fills the air, and the bright “outside,” where magpies call, bare feet hit the grass, and the rhythm of games, laughter, lizards, and sunshine offer a taste of freedom.

And with every step between inside and outside, she begins to realise that light can live in her too.

Production and sound design by Catarina Fraga Matos

Written and Performed by Cathy Stirling 

Mark Williamson voiced ‘Dad’

All The Best Credits

Host: Kwame Slusher

Executive Producer: Melanie Bakewell

Programming & Community Coordinator:  Caterina Fraga Matos 

Community Coordinator: Patrick McKenzie

Theme Music composed by Shining Bird

Cover Art: Ray Vo

Special shout-out to our volunteers:  Sue, Sharon, Lindsey, Andrew, Ash, and Emma.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week’s episode is all about suspending your disbelief! Whether you're dressed for a Renaissance Fair or watching a magician and their assistant on stage.  

A Lady Knight by in Kryal Castle by Persephone Waxman
In our first story, you will follow the Knight, Lady Molly,  into the heat of battle just 10 minutes outside the Ballarat CBD in Victoria. Produced by Persephone Waxman alongside Supervising Producer is Mark Yin.

$5 Magic Show by Mel Bakewell
With just a recorder and $5, Mel Bakewell will not actually pull a rabbit out of a hat, but instead a story of magic in Adelaide. Produced by Mel Bakewell

If you love audio stories, the Jesse Cox Audio Fellowship 2026 is now open until November 18. That's next week! An opportunity to take a deep dive into a story idea you are passionate about for six months, with access to mentors and a range of workshops related to all things audiocraft.   

All The Best Credits:
- Host: Kwame Slusher
- Executive Producer: Melanie Bakewell
- Community Coordinator: Patrick McKenzie
- Theme Music composed by Shining Bird
- Cover Art: Ray Vo
- A Special shout-out to our volunteers:  Sue, Sharon, Lindsey, Andrew, Ash, and Emma.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Has a friend ever told you they think you have ADHD?  

In this episode of Peer Review Diagnosis, host Felicity Weaver explores the humorous yet heartfelt world of “peer-reviewed ADHD”. Through personal stories and insights from psychiatrist Dr. Mohsen Mirzaie, she explores the role casual, “peer-reviewed” observations can play alongside formal diagnosis, and how greater awareness can foster understanding rather than offense.

Sometimes, your friends might spot your ADHD before your doctor does - but no, you still can’t try their meds.

Produced by: Felicity Weaver 

Supervising Producer: Shelby Traynor. 

The other voices that you hear in the story are  Maya, Geronimo and Dr Mohsen Mirzaie.  

Cop A Wist by Evie Hilliar

In this story, what begins as a funny story about worsening eyesight unfolds into a vulnerable exploration of sincerity, shame, and the layers we build to protect ourselves. Both tender and irreverent, it’s a rallying cry to strip away the armor, face your fears, and as the speaker dares - “flash them your truths and tell them to love you.”

Performed by Evie Hillier 

Recorded by Zacha Rosen

The Jesse Cox Audio Fellowship 2026 is open until 18 November. An opportunity to take a deep dive into a story idea you are passionate about for six months and you will have access  to mentors and a range of workshops related to all things audiocraft.  

All The Best Credits

Host: Kwame Slusher

Executive Producer: Melanie Bakewell

Community Coordinator: Patrick McKenzie

Theme Music composed by Shining Bird

Special shout-out to our volunteers: Ray, Sue, Sharon, Lindsay, Andrew, Ash, and Emma.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Halloween. 

A time when many when mischievous spirits are going from door to door saying 'trick or treat?'.

This week is not a trick, but a treat of three haunting audio stories that might just keep you up at night.

Almost A Ghost Story by Yebu ji

There is always good reason to carefully research a place before you there. Our first story, its not just an apartment you have to worry about, but even a blog or a reddit thread can be a haunted space.

That story was produced by Yebu Ji 

Editor was Sayre Quevedo

The Weeping Wall by Mel Bakewell

Our second story definitely falls more into the unexplainable category.  Be wary of those recurring  stains that seem to defy explanation.

Produced by Mel Bakewell

Music by Blue Dot Sessions

Highway to Hell by Felicity Weaver

Driving in big cities can be pain. Sydney is not exception. If you drive, or have driven in Sydney then you can probably relate with having to deal with confusing street signs, or the stress of missing your exit ... but this story takes a bit of a diabolical turn.

Produced by Felicity Weaver 

Music by Blue Dot Sessions 

All The Best Credits

Host: Kwame Slusher

Executive Producer: Melanie Bakewell

Community Coordinator: Patrick McKenzie

Theme Music composed by Shining Bird

Special shout-out to our volunteers: Ray, Sue, Sharon, Lindsay, Andrew, Ash, and Emma.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.