Just Breath Man by Ben Haywood 

This story is a step closer to embracing men’s tears and a step away from toxic masculinity.

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.

Sometimes, not all healing comes with words.

Sometimes it’s in the silence between breaths, in the rise and fall of your chest, as the world eases and the universe reminds you: you’re safe.

 

Produced by: Ben Haywood

Supervising producer: Sam Loy 

Music: Blue Dot Sessions

 

This story was made possible by the Jesse Cox Audio Fellowship.

For over six months, Ben worked with an industry mentor and got access to guest workshops on audio craft. 

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Jesse Cox Audio Fellowship 2025, and a very special thank you to Jesse Cox’s family and friends, and to the incredible legacy he left

A very special thank you to our mentors, Karla Arnall, Sam Loy, Cristina Marras, and Miles Martignoni. 

And thank you to our guest facilitators Belinda Lopez, Jay Gasser, Jesse Lou Lawson, Michelle Macklem, Claudia Taranto, Karishma Luthria, Mike Williams, Dan Semo, Tiffany Dimmack and Cinnamon Nippard. 

Applications to the Jesse Cox Audio Fellowship 2026 are live! Apply here. Applications close November 18.

 

All The Best Credits

Host: Kwame Slusher

Executive Producer: Melanie Bakewell

Events and Partnership Coordinator: Phoebe Adler-Ryan

Community Coordinator: Patrick McKenzie

Theme Music composed by Shining Bird

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

 

Just Breath Man by Ben Haywood&nbsp;
This story is a step closer to embracing men&rsquo;s tears and a step away from toxic masculinity.
Ben suffers from depression after knee surgery. Searching for ways to heal online, he finds himself trapped in toxic ideas of masculinity. It&rsquo;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.
Sometimes, not all healing comes with words.
Sometimes it&rsquo;s in the silence between breaths, in the rise and fall of your chest, as the world eases and the universe reminds you: you&rsquo;re safe.
&nbsp;
Produced by: Ben Haywood
Supervising producer: Sam Loy&nbsp;
Music: Blue Dot Sessions
&nbsp;
This story was made possible by the&nbsp;<a href="https://allthebestradio.com/all-the-best-fbi-radio-present-the-jesse-cox-audio-fellowship/">Jesse Cox Audio Fellowship</a>.
For over six months, Ben worked with an industry mentor and got access to guest workshops on audio craft.&nbsp;
Thank you to everyone who participated in the <a href="https://allthebestradio.com/all-the-best-fbi-radio-present-the-jesse-cox-audio-fellowship/">Jesse Cox Audio Fellowship 2025</a>,&nbsp;and a very special thank you&nbsp;to Jesse Cox&rsquo;s family and friends, and to the incredible legacy he left
A very special thank you to our mentors, Karla Arnall, Sam Loy, Cristina Marras, and Miles Martignoni.&nbsp;
And thank you to our guest facilitators Belinda Lopez, Jay Gasser, Jesse Lou Lawson, Michelle Macklem, Claudia Taranto, Karishma Luthria, Mike Williams, Dan Semo, Tiffany Dimmack and Cinnamon Nippard.&nbsp;
Applications to the Jesse Cox Audio Fellowship 2026 are live! Apply<a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdt9oXzwnYJQDIBpA5Yhbi2r7BNYMwm6P21lEYhw2bEJOYyJg/viewform">&nbsp;here</a>. Applications close November 18.
&nbsp;
All The Best Credits
Host: Kwame Slusher
Executive Producer: Melanie Bakewell
Events and Partnership Coordinator: Phoebe Adler-Ryan
Community Coordinator: Patrick McKenzie
Theme Music composed by Shining Bird
Special shout-out to our volunteers: Ray, Sue, Sharon, Lindsay, Andrew, Ash, Emma and Miles.
&nbsp;

All The Best is for new Australian storytelling. Hear from a Melbourne-based cannibal, how the Australian Wallabies used theatre workshops to improve their game, anxiety attacks in a Tantric sex class, and what the shopping centre Santa Claus is really thinking, all on All The Best. 


We're a weekly radio show and podcast produced at FBi Radio in Sydney in association with SYN and Triple R in Melbourne, and broadcast nationally via the Community Radio Network. We’ve been telling stories in a variety of forms since 2011, picking a theme each week and using short form documentary, personal narrative, interviews, and spoken word to bring you the best from across Australia.

All The Best is for new Australian storytelling. Hear from a Melbourne-based cannibal, how the Australian Wallabies used theatre workshops to improve their game, anxiety attacks in a Tantric sex class, and what the shopping centre Santa Claus is really thinking, all on All The Best. 
 
We're a weekly radio show and podcast produced at FBi Radio in Sydney in association with SYN and Triple R in Melbourne, and broadcast nationally via the Community Radio Network. We’ve been telling stories in a variety of forms since 2011, picking a theme each week and using short form documentary, personal narrative, interviews, and spoken word to bring you the best from across Australia.

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