What does it feel like being you today? With Rae Bonney

15/08/2026

🤗 The Male Hug: Creating Space for Conversations That Matter

This Sunday on 94.1FM 3WBC, I’m joined in the studio by Tony Rabah, Founder and CEO of The Male Hug, for two hours of conversation about men, mental health, connection and the power of talking.

Tony’s own experiences led him to create The Male Hug, providing safe, judgement-free spaces designed for men to connect, talk and feel understood.

Today, The Male Hug’s work includes Talktober, 1800 MY BUDDY, community and education programs, corporate partnerships and a growing network of high-profile ambassadors, including Kevin Sheedy AO, Matthew Richardson, Tim Mannah and Andrew Conway FIPA, helping take conversations about men’s mental health to where men are. https://themalehug.com.au/

Earlier this year, a record 430 people attended its fifth annual Kick a Goal for Mental Health event at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), with ambitions now extending to discussions around a dedicated AFL mental health game at the MCG.

At the heart of Sunday’s conversation is something that matters enormously to both Tony and me. Men do talk, but simply telling them to “talk more” isn’t enough. We need to think about how we design safe spaces for men and listen through different lenses, recognising that often the first indication something is going on, may come through behaviour rather than words.

Tony is also keen to talk about the important role women play, alongside partners, families, mates, workplaces and communities, in recognising and supporting the men.

I’m looking forward to hearing about the work of The Male Hug, where it’s heading and, most importantly, what it feels like being Tony Rabah 🤗.

📻 What Does It Feel Like, Being You, Today?
🗓 Sunday 16 August 2026
🕙 10.00 am - 12.00 pm
📍 stream live https://www.3wbc.org.au/listen/

28/07/2026

💪Janelle Corrigan - Strength, Purpose & Possibility

If you missed my live radio interview with Janelle Corrigan (Janelle Peters) on What Does It Feel Like, Being You, Today? at 94.1FM 3WBC, the full recording is now available. https://open.spotify.com/episode/6cliqgMuaybYyTEotozFUY...

Janelle is someone whose energy is hard to ignore.

She wears many hats - personal trainer, business owner, cake creator, hair and makeup artist, mum, partner and friend.

But behind all of those titles is a person whose journey through grief, addiction and healing has shaped the way she now helps others believe they're capable of more than they ever imagined.

As we spoke, I was reminded that we don't get to choose where our story begins, the families we're born into or many of the experiences that shape our early lives. But we can choose is what happens next.

There were so many moments where Janelle really showed what she's all about:

💬 "Showing up for people when they can't show up for themselves, and letting them see what they don't yet see in themselves."

💬 "I remember writing a letter. It said, 'I feel like inside of me is a puzzle, but there's a piece missing, and I don't know how to find that piece."

💬 "The uncomfortable parts of life. That's where the growth is."

💬 "Seeing someone realise what they're capable of is beautiful."

To Janelle, thank you for trusting me with your story and for speaking so openly about the realities of grief, addiction, recovery and rebuilding a life. Your willingness to share the challenges, hope and inspiration is a true gift.

I have no doubt there will be people listening who recognise parts of themselves in your journey.
🎧 Listen to the show:
📺 YouTube (its original home): https://youtu.be/7ip_l5qXhag?si=vTa1Q2BnSk7Njimp
🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6cliqgMuaybYyTEotozFUY...
🎙️ Or wherever you get your podcasts:
https://rae6z.podbean.com/
What does it feel like, being you, today?
🌐 www.raebonney.au

06/07/2026

Hypothetical Harry - the story behind the story.
The latest episode of What Does It Feel Like, Being You, Today? is out now!

LISTEN HERE: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3j6rqWSiQDTpOqKPTfg9w5...

Every month I'm reminded what an extraordinary privilege it is to host this humble little show. People, often complete strangers, trust me with stories they've sometimes never spoken out loud before.
Last month, one man did something incredibly courageous and told his story on global radio.

I first met "Hypothetical Harry" after one of my presentations, when he quietly walked up from the audience 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 needed people to know who he is, but because he wanted others to feel 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.

🎧 Listen to the show at:
Its original home on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gvVvPRL_7tE?si=WOA92B7epKUy7UpU
or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3j6rqWSiQDTpOqKPTfg9w5...
and wherever you get your podcasts https://rae6z.podbean.com/

What does it feel like, being you, today?
www.raebonney.au

06/06/2026

What Does It Feel Like, Being You, Today?
Rebecca Challoner - Rejection, Regulation, Neurodiversity and the Stories We Tell Ourselves

A few weeks ago I welcomed Rebecca Challoner back to the studios of 94.1FM 3WBC, after more than a decade since she first appeared on the show.

Over those years, I've watched Rebecca become one of Australia's most respected voices in neurodiversity, ADHD, emotional regulation and trauma, supporting countless individuals, families and educators through her advocacy, education and writing.

Our conversation explored the complex relationship between ADHD, rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD), trauma, emotional regulation and the ways behaviours are often misunderstood or judged without understanding what sits beneath them.

A few moments that stayed with me:
💬 "Do you want to create a compliant child or a confident adult?"
💬 "Nobody ever got calmer from being yelled at."
💬 "We're not addressing what's causing the behaviour - we're only trying to change the behaviour."

We also spoke about Rebecca's newly released book, Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria, https://www.rebeccachalloner.com/rejection-sensitive.../ which is already helping people better understand a phenomenon many have experienced but never had the language for.

And as if that wasn't enough, she's already deep into her next project, a book exploring the intersection of ADHD and trauma, an area she believes remains one of the most misunderstood conversations in the neurodiversity space today.

Thank you, Rebecca, for your generosity, wisdom and tireless commitment to helping people feel seen, understood and less alone.

🎧 Listen to the show at:
Its original home on YouTube: or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3nwunw1rki76U3MsKe2Hoh... and wherever you get your podcasts https://rae6z.podbean.com/

What does it feel like, being you, today?
www.raebonney.au

https://youtu.be/H_xCcZy_f2M?si=-tYV3x0P3Py4n2Gb

15/05/2026

Welcoming Rebecca Challoner, back on air 📻📣
REJECTION SENSITIVE DYSPHORIA, ADHD & NEURODIVERSITY

This Sunday on 94.1FM 3WBC, I’m really looking forward to continuing a decade long conversation with Rebecca CJ, on What Does It Feel Like, Being You, Today?

She first appeared on the show 11 years ago, amazing me with her energy and commitment to helping make better lives for people and, since then, has never failed to inspire me with what she’s built and accomplished in such a short time.

Rebecca has become very well known, through her advocacy, education and dedication to supporting neurodivergent individuals and families, including her remarkable work building the National PEKE Centre https://pekecentre.com.au/about/ which provides strength-based support across the lifespan for Autism, ADHD, anxiety, sensory and emotional regulation challenges.

This Sunday we’ll be talking about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD), something many people may never have heard of, despite potentially living with its impacts every day.

We’ll explore what it actually is, why so many people misunderstand themselves, how the overlap between ADHD, trauma and emotional regulation can shape the way people experience the world and relationships around them.

I’m keen to learn from Rebecca about some of the current and emerging research relating to boys, men, ADHD and Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria, particularly around masking, emotional regulation, social expectations and experiences of perceived rejection, and how some of these experiences can result in behaviours that are often misunderstood, misjudged or incorrectly labelled.

And, of course, we'll be celebrating Rebecca’s newly released book about RSD, https://www.rebeccachalloner.com/rejection-sensitive.../ the response it’s receiving, and the next one she’s already writing on ADHD and trauma - another area she believes remains incredibly misunderstood.

If you’re interested in neurodiversity, human behaviour, emotional regulation, ADHD, autism, trauma, or simply better understanding people and difference, I think this will be a really important and fascinating conversation to join us for.

📻 What Does It Feel Like, Being You, Today?
🎙️ Sunday 17 May, 10am–12 noon
📍94.1FM 3WBC
💻 Streaming live via 3wbc.org.au

🎧Miss it live? You can listen later to this show and many more like it on your favourite podcast platform, such as Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3nwunw1rki76U3MsKe2Hoh ...
…or at its original home on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/

What does it feel like, being you, today?

26/02/2026

🎤📻 New Episode Out Now: David Maywald on masculinity, policy & widening the lens

I was recently sat joined in the 94.1FM 3WBC studios by 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, su***de 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 su***de, 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 s*x of the person involved, that tells us something.”

There were times where we agreed, others where we challenged each other, and parts of the conversation that stretched us both - which underpins the beauty of interviews like this. We can sit in difference and still respect each other’s perspective.

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

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

Conversations like this are not about taking sides, but about widening the lens.

If you’re working in policy, education, leadership, community health, or simply raising sons and daughters, this episode invites reflection.

🎧 Listen to the show at:
Its original home on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3nwunw1rki76U3MsKe2Hoh?si=85eabb629dfa485d, and wherever you get your podcasts https://rae6z.podbean.com/

What does it feel like, being you, today?
www.raebonney.au

https://youtu.be/NNX8KiUFDy4?si=qgHbPZBFxcJb4T9S

I recently sat down live in the 3WBC Studios with David Maywald - governance specialist, board director and author of The Relentless War on Masculinity - fo...

14/02/2026

📻 What Does It Feel Like, Being David Maywald?
Author of The Relentless War on Masculinity

Live, Sunday 15 February, 10am–12 noon (AEDT) on Radio 94.1FM 3WBC.

This month on What Does It Feel Like, Being You, Today?, we confront a reality that sits in plain sight, yet is rarely explored through a systems lens - yep, there it is again ... men’s and boys’ health 💙.

David Maywald is travelling all the way from Canberra, our nation’s capital, to be part of this conversation live in the studio 🛬🤩.

Not only is David the author "The Relentless War on Masculinity" he’s a governance specialist and long-time board director working across health, education and community services who, in recent years has focused more attention on advocacy and policy discussions relating to men’s and boys’ health.

Drawing on the book, we’ll step into the broader policy questions it raises, like gender-neutral frameworks that may not land equally, why men’s advocacy struggles to find cohesion, how double standards in public language shape perception, and why bringing women thoughtfully into this conversation matters.

And I’m equally interested in the person behind the pages and what has led David to invest so much time and energy in advocating for men and boys, as we explore some of the specific areas he examines, including:

🔹boys’ experiences in education
🔹fatherhood and family law dynamics
🔹su***de statistics and what sits behind them
🔹the way institutions evolve without always examining their unintended consequences.

Because too often men and boys are discussed as problems to be fixed, rather than individuals moving through systems that influence their choices, opportunities and sense of belonging.

If you care about healthier boy’s and men, stronger families and better designed systems, please do tune in 😊

🎙️ Listen live via 3WBC https://www.3wbc.org.au/live/
🕙 Sunday 15 February, 10am–12 noon (AEDT)
🎧 Miss it live? You can listen later to this show and many more like it on your favourite podcast platform, such as Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3nwunw1rki76U3MsKe2Hoh... or at its original home at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/

What does it feel like, being you, today?
www.raebonney.au

16/01/2026

📻 What Does It Feel Like, Being Shay P Leighton?
Tough Guy Book Club

Live, Sunday 18 January, 10 am-12 noon (AEDT) on Radio 94.1FM 3WBC.

It’s 2026 and I’m back on air, kicking off a new year of What Does It Feel Like, Being You, Today? with a conversation that sits right where I like to work - men, meaning, and connection.

Joining me is Shay P Leighton, founder of Tough Guy Book Club - a global network of men’s book clubs meeting in pubs to read books, ask better questions, and have the kinds of conversations many men were never taught how to have. https://www.toughguybookclub.com/

After 20 years working behind Melbourne bars, Shay reached a point where he realised something wasn’t working. His response wasn’t a rebrand or a burnout post, but instead he headed to community.

Tough Guy Book Club began in 2012, and today, it spans countries, cultures, and thousands of men to address loneliness, literacy, and connection in ways that feel accessible, safe and respectful.

Shay and served briefly together on the board of the Australian Men's Health Forum and the connection made a lasting impression, especially the shared commitment to meeting men where they are.

If you care about the health, safety and wellbeing of men and boys, and want to understand options beyond the 🙄🙄🙄“go and see someone” or “you need to get help” responses, do tune in.

This conversation highlights not only Shay's story and Tough Guy Book Club, but the many other grassroots organisations doing vital work that deserves to be far more visible.

These are spaces that offer real choice, safe connection, and respectful care for the many who urgently need support .... on their own terms.

🎙️ Tune in live:
🕙 Saturday 18 January, 10am–12 noon (AEDT)
📻 94.1FM 3WBC
🌐 Stream via the 3WBC https://www.3wbc.org.au/streaming/

What does it feel like, being you, today?
www.raebonney.au