As adults, we think we’re too old for fairytales… but they hold such important lessons about strength, transformation and compassion. 

In this episode we listen to modern fairytales… a modern rendition of the ugly duckling, and a transformation in an enchanted forest.

 

Water Off a Swan’s Back by Persephone Waxman

In a modern retelling of an ugly duckling, Persephone reminds us that its all just water off a swans back.

Written & Produced by Persephone Waxman

Sound design and score by Julian Smith Gard

The Voice Actors were Persephone Waxman as Swanathon; Gabrielle Angelone as Sweenie; Sofia Morreale as Diana; Thomas Von Rein as Duckworth; Marceline Di Bartolomeo as Dr Ribbit; Mark Spencer as Geese 1; Alex Clouston and Thomas Khulmann as Geese 2 and 3

This story was produced as part of audio fiction collective Script Roulette, who are based in Naarm and want you to make radio plays with them. Check out https://www.artscentremelbourne.com.au/whats-on/2026/festivals-and-series/play/script-roulette-podcast or their on their insta @scriptroulettepodcast

 

Where The Water Knows Your Name by Luca Gambirasio/Sound Commons Project

A wanderer takes a sip from a magical forest stream and wakes up in someone else’s feathers.

Because we all need to be taken care of sometimes, because really, we are all just reflections of one another. 

That story was produced by the Sounds Common Project  Find more of their work 

Writer, voice over, and composer Charity Rosario 

Producer and composer Luca Gambirasio 

This story was produced as part of All The Best’s 24 Hour Radio Race back in November 2025. 

Check out some previous episodes on the radio race https://allthebestradio.com/featured/617-beneath-the-surface/ ,  https://allthebestradio.com/featured/676-mirrored/  and the second story, Hook, Line & Sinker in https://allthebestradio.com/featured/622-sunburned/ 

 

All The Best Credits

Host: Gabriella Accaria

Kwame Slusher is our Production Manager. 

Catarina Fraga Matos is our Community & Programming Manager

The All The Best Executive Producer is Mel Bakewell. 

Imogen Brosnan is our Digital Media Trainee,

Patrick McKenzie writes our newsletter, and a special shout-out to all our amazing volunteers 

Shining Bird composed our theme music, and Annie Hamilton designed the artwork. 

 

As adults, we think we&rsquo;re too old for fairytales&hellip; but they hold such important lessons about strength, transformation and compassion.&nbsp;
In this episode we listen to modern fairytales&hellip; a modern rendition of the ugly duckling, and a transformation in an enchanted forest.
&nbsp;
Water Off a Swan&rsquo;s Back by Persephone Waxman
In a modern retelling of an ugly duckling, Persephone reminds us that its all just water off a swans back.
Written &amp; Produced by Persephone Waxman
Sound design and score by Julian Smith Gard
The Voice Actors were Persephone Waxman as Swanathon; Gabrielle Angelone as Sweenie; Sofia Morreale as Diana; Thomas Von Rein as Duckworth; Marceline Di Bartolomeo as Dr Ribbit; Mark Spencer as Geese 1; Alex Clouston and Thomas Khulmann as Geese 2 and 3
This story was produced as part of audio fiction collective Script Roulette, who are based in Naarm and want you to make radio plays with them. Check out <a href="https://www.artscentremelbourne.com.au/whats-on/2026/festivals-and-series/play/script-roulette-podcast">https://www.artscentremelbourne.com.au/whats-on/2026/festivals-and-series/play/script-roulette-podcast</a> or their on their insta @scriptroulettepodcast
&nbsp;
Where The Water Knows Your Name by Luca Gambirasio/Sound Commons Project
A wanderer takes a sip from a magical forest stream and wakes up in someone else&rsquo;s feathers.
Because we all need to be taken care of sometimes, because really, we are all just reflections of one another.&nbsp;
That story was produced by the Sounds Common Project&nbsp; Find more of their work&nbsp;
Writer, voice over, and composer Charity Rosario&nbsp;
Producer and composer Luca Gambirasio&nbsp;
This story was produced as part of All The Best&rsquo;s&nbsp;24 Hour Radio Race back in November 2025.&nbsp;
Check out some previous episodes on the radio race <a href="https://allthebestradio.com/featured/617-beneath-the-surface/">https://allthebestradio.com/featured/617-beneath-the-surface/</a> ,&nbsp; <a href="https://allthebestradio.com/featured/676-mirrored/">https://allthebestradio.com/featured/676-mirrored/</a>&nbsp; and the second story, Hook, Line &amp; Sinker in <a href="https://allthebestradio.com/featured/622-sunburned/">https://allthebestradio.com/featured/622-sunburned/</a>&nbsp;
&nbsp;
All The Best Credits
Host: Gabriella Accaria
Kwame Slusher is our Production Manager.&nbsp;
Catarina Fraga Matos is our Community &amp; Programming Manager
The All The Best Executive Producer is Mel Bakewell.&nbsp;
Imogen Brosnan is our Digital Media Trainee,
Patrick McKenzie writes our newsletter, and a special shout-out to all our amazing volunteers&nbsp;
Shining Bird composed our theme music, and Annie Hamilton designed the artwork.&nbsp;
&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.