Hypothetical Harry – the story behind the story.

Every month I'm reminded what an extraordinary privilege this humble little show is and that people, often complete strangers, trust me with stories they've often never spoken out loud.

For this episode, one man did something incredibly courageous and told his story on global radio. I first met this version of Hypothetical Harry after one of my presentations, when he quietly walked up and said, "Hi... I'm Hypothetical Harry. You just told my story." Choosing to remain anonymous, he joined me to share his experience, not because he wanted people to know who he is, but because he wanted others to know they are not alone.

As we spoke, I was reminded yet again that people rarely break because of one catastrophic event. More often, it's the accumulation of ordinary experiences that quietly become too much to carry.

There were so many moments that stayed with me...

💬 "I've heard FIFO described as 'Fit In Or F** Off.'"*

💬 "If you have a really crappy cook in that camp and the meals are rubbish, that can really make the two weeks quite hard."

💬 "I had the lovely four-bedroom house... the beach shack at Inverloch... but I had a hole in the soul."

💬 "Do we talk about fatigue? Do we talk about impairment? Do we talk about men's health? You won't find that in your glossy binders."

💬 "Safety is what you're doing when no one's watching."

To Harry... thank you for trusting me, for your generosity, and for your willingness to share your story so openly. I have no doubt there will be people listening who hear parts of themselves in your experience, just as you once heard yourself in Hypothetical Harry.

What does it feel like, being you, today?

#WhatDoesItFeelLikeBeingYouToday #MensHealth #PsychosocialSafety #WorkplaceHealth #FIFO #Leadership #3WBC

I recently sat down live in the 3WBC Studios with David Maywald - governance specialist, board director and author of The Relentless War on Masculinity - for a robust and, at times, uncomfortable conversation.

David flew in from Canberra to join me in person, and we covered a lot of ground: fatherhood, policy, education, family law, suicide prevention and the cultural narratives shaping how we see men and boys.

He spoke about what moved him to write his book, particularly the shifting political and cultural landscape overseas, and his concern that many boys and men feel unheard in public debate.

“There’s a wave coming back toward balance. People want to be able to speak without being shut down.”

We explored male suicide, the need for more targeted approaches in prevention, and whether current strategies are genuinely meeting men where they are.

“If we can’t decide our compassion without knowing the sex of the person involved, that tells us something.”

There were moments where we agreed and others where we challenged each other and the conversation stretched both of us, which is part of the beauty of interviews like this ... we can agree to disagree.

One line that stayed with me was this:💙 “Small wins matter - cultural change doesn’t happen in a day.”

Whether you agree with David’s framing or not, the issues we discussed, suicide, family breakdown, boys’ education, institutional design are real and complex.

Conversations like this are not about taking sides.They’re about widening the lens.If you’re working in policy, education, leadership, community health or simply raising sons and daughters, this episode invites reflection.

What does it feel like, being you, today?

www.raebonney.au#MensHealth #PsychosocialSafety #Leadership #SuicidePrevention #GenderResponsiveSystems #PublicPolicy