🗓 Looking back on another year of All The Best

Heyo!

It’s December. In a couple of weeks it’ll be January and you’ll be able to turn to the person next to you and proudly say “I haven’t brushed my teeth since last year”. How fun is that!

Since that also means it’s the end of the year, we’re inevitably reflecting on the last 12 months. We’ve made Substack our new home, hosted a couple of events, and so much more! Read on for a little section reflecting on this, as well as an opportunity for you to come and give us your feedback on how All The Best is doing (drawcard: free pizza).

We’ve also had a fantastic month of episodes. Think magic, collaboration, ADHD through the lens of “peer-reviewed” diagnosis, and more. There are also some bonus interviews with some of the WestWords episode (#666 - Westwords Takeover), who talk about their experience developing their stories.

Also, if you’ve come across any interesting audio opportunities or resources you think are worth sharing, please don’t hesitate to shoot me an email at patrick@allthebestradio.com, and they can be disseminated widely!

All The Best,
Patrick

This is a pot of what mostly looks like weeds. I planted it circa 18 months ago from a packet of daisy seeds, which promptly got drowned in rain. However, with six-ish seasons having passed since, the weeds have given way to what I am choosing to believe are a couple of violets. I regret nothing.

#664 - Peer Review: 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 offence.

Then, 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.

Listen here

#665 - In the Ring: Suspending your disbelief, whether you’re dressed for a Renaissance Fair or watching a magician and their assistant on stage.

First, follow Lady Molly into the heat of battle just 10 minutes outside the Ballarat CBD. Then, 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.

Listen here

#666 - Westwords Takeover: The result of our collaboration with the Western Sydney Centre for Writing!

First, a storm surge swallows a coastal town in the Philippines, a daughter in Sydney receives a shaky phone call from her mother calling from patchy Wi-Fi. The floodwaters recede, but they can’t take away a daughter’s worry from thousands of kilometres away.

Then, 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. And finally, a look at the small, ordinary moments when you feel safe enough to connect with your body, with others, with place?

Listen here

BONUS: Hear from the WestWords storytellers themselves

At the WestWords and All The Best listening party a few weeks ago, our Host, Kwame, spoke with some of the storytellers who participated in our joint episode about their experience.

Myra

Christopher

Neen

Keep an eye out next year for further collaborative projects next year with WestWords!

#667 - Reactionary: 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.

First, music, censorship, and the history of Vietnam. Ray finds a story of resistance in the history of ‘yellow music’. Then, when Croatia was still part of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, long hair, heavy metal, immigration, and military service find something in common.

Listen here

What a year it’s been!

From monthly audio workshops to two live shows, our 15th birthday and the audio corpse challenge that had over 70 participants, it’s been a huge year for audio events and community!

We started the year by relaunching this newsletter vis-à-vis Substack, and are proud to now be writing to more than 700 of you every month :))

This is all to say, thank you so much for your continued interest in All The Best. Stay tuned next year for more events, opportunities to learn from your fellow audio-makers, and of course newsletters! Plus, keep an eye out in the coming weeks for more reflective writing from our community.

The movie is over, the credits have rolled, and with that comes the post-credits scene! For our final Audio Club meetup of the year, we’re keen to hear what you thought of what we did this year. There will also be pizza.

Did you come to (Extra)ordinary Tales and think of ways it could’ve been a little more extraordinary? Did we not have enough of your favourite limited edition Pepsi Max flavour at an Audio Club session?

Give us your thoughts that could help us improve in 2026, we’re excited to keep things fresh and interesting. Join us either in person at fbi.radio in Sydney or online via Zoom next monday December 15 from 6:30pm.

Register here

Galen Joseph-Hunter, Executive Director of transmission arts organisation Wave Farm (aka WGXC) based in New York, is hosting a potluck tomorrow night. Anyone is welcome to come along! Details are here and below.

You can find out more about Wave Farm’s projects here.

This is happening this Thursday December 11, from 5:30pm at 228 Illawarra Road, Marrickville. Huge thanks to Audio Club member Hethre for sharing this :))

It would take you at least 30 hours to fly from Sydney to Glasgow, but significantly less than that to consider submitting to Radiophrenia, an artist run FM radio station broadcasting in Glasgow and online.

The station is currently seeking sound and radio works for broadcasts beginning in September 2026. The station is seeking soundscapes, spoken word pieces, radio experiments, found sound, innovative approaches to drama and documentary, and radical and challenging new programme ideas.

The submission deadline is February 14, 2026.

More info here