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

🤗 The Male Hug: Creating a Different Way to Reach Men I was joined by Tony Rabah, Founder and CEO of The Male Hug, for two hours talking about men, health, connection and what it takes to reach men earlier. Tony arrived in Australia from Lebanon when he was four, having spent his earliest years with his grandparents while his parents established a life here in Australia. We talked about his father, what he absorbed about being a man, and a message familiar to many boys of his generation: “You don't show weakness. You take in, but you don't let out.” Years later, Tony found himself doing exactly that as his businesses came under enormous pressure during the GFC, his marriage ended and his father was dying from cancer. He still saw himself as the man who could handle everything, until he couldn't. That part of Tony’s story helps make sense of The Male Hug, his commitment to reaching men early and the work now happening through 1800 MY BUDDY, Talktober, the Buddy program, and its network of volunteers, partners and ambassadors. Our conversation also took us into the men who can be “missing in plain sight”, particularly those whose work has become intertwined with identity and purpose, what happens when that disappears, why behaviour can speak before words do, and whether we are creating the conditions for men to engage rather than simply telling them to talk and seek help. There was plenty of laughter too, with football, family, some questionable cryptic song clues and a misunderstanding before we even went to air that became a rather fitting lesson in the value of responding rather than reacting. Thank you Tony for such an open and generous Sunday morning, for everything you continue to give to The Male Hug and the people it reaches. 🎧 Listen to the full conversation: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3nwunw1rki76U3MsKe2Hoh?si=de3f05dd086343d2 | YouTube: @raebonney7846 | Podbean: https://rae6z.podbean.com/ What Does It Feel Like, Being You, Today? www.raebonney.au 94.1FM 3WBC #TheMaleHug #MensHealth #MensMentalHealth #Connection #WhatDoesItFeelLikeBeingYouToday #3WBC