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:
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 community of second-hand shop owners came together to solve a string of thefts. Produced by Ramon Briant
Weaving Ancestral Voices:
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. Produced by Shareeka Helaluddin. The Supervising Producer was Mell Chun, with support from John Tjhia.
Wanted: Dunnart Alive:
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:
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 through a child's eyes. 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’. 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:
Our final pick comes from Imogen! And her choice came from the #623 Humanimal.Produced by Andrea Dixon, alongside Supervising Producer Thomas Phillips. Produced by Andrea Dixon alongside 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.
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.