When Robbie Page discovered surfing it consumed him. The former Pipeline Master views the sport as a martial art. It led him on a global adventure, with stopovers in a Japanese prison, the French President’s home, and now he's tracing his Indigenous roots in northern NSW.

The Real Thing - ABC

#28: Bruce Lee of the sea

After cycling the world, Nicolás Marino set off to cross his adopted homeland using pedal power alone. He discovered knowing Australia would require knowing himself. In this last episode of The Real Thing we're on our bikes, as lunch cooks in the deep fry.

#36: Nico's last ride

As a teenager, Lita Lewis was expected to set the example for her siblings. So much so, that she wanted out. In an adult life far from her home and tribe, she’d battle pride and heartbreak alone. By sharing her rebuild of physical and mental health, Lita would have an impact far beyond her two sisters.

#35: Follow the Lita

A school of fish help the Australian netball team win a Commonwealth gold medal. An introduction to Sum Of All Parts - a podcast that shares extraordinary stories from the world of numbers. Subscribe to SOAP: http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/sum-of-all-parts/

#34: Shoal Attack!

For International Women's Day, a story about feeling incomplete. Khadija Gbla’s repressed memory of female genital mutilation would surface during puberty. Being an outsider to a ‘clitero-centric’ culture, was a decision made for her. Khadija is up against her mum, her culture, and the health system, as she breaks the silence around FGM.

#33: Khadija's stolen itch

The Real Thing perform live at Woodfolk Folk Festival, Queensland. In between music and magic tricks, Timothy and Mike risk it all by attempting to tell a story they’ve never heard before - live on stage, with improvised music, script, and sound effects. It’s live and unedited and we have no idea how it will end.

#32: Monkey in Mirani (live from Woodford)

It started as an idea in a Darlinghurst cafe and became the world’s largest short film festival. Tropfest has helped kickstart generations of Australian film careers throughout its 25 year history. While controversy and financial hardship has threatened the event, Tropfest has endured and the picnic continues.

#31: Picnic Tropicana

Miranda Gibson was an unlikely candidate to break the record for Australia’s longest tree-sit. The shy Queenslander had never seen a forest until her early twenties. In 2011 she vowed to live in a tree in the Tyenna Valley until it was protected from logging.

#30: The woman who lived in a tree

Improbable hairdos, gyrating hips, overstretched jumpsuits, way too many rhinestones, and a whole lot of community spirit. You can't help falling in love with the NSW town of Parkes, where Elvis never left the building.

#29: Elvis town

Christmas; family, food, anticipation. The stakes are high. There's extra pressure for the Williams family, who are only able to get together every second year. But when a tradition goes wrong, the best day of the year turns into a horror show.

#27: The nightmare before Christmas

A bike ride and a book inspired Stephanie Lorenzo to cut her corporate career short and start a charity. Her passion to end human trafficking helped change young Australians' view on giving. When a crisis threatens everything she’d been working towards, tough decisions must be made about what's most important.

#26: It's not about Steph

Gary the goat, an internet sensation, and friend of The Real Thing, has died on tour in Queensland. There's a reason Gary's episode is our most downloaded ever. Gary was a uniquely Australian larrikin and his antics made people laugh worldwide. We first met Gary a year ago, when he overcame a rough patch. To celebrate his life we're sharing his story once more.

#10: Freedom is a goat (tribute to Gary)

Ford vs Holden. Blue vs red. Mate vs mate. There's no sitting on the fence when it comes to motoring's great rivalry. But factory closures are forcing fans to rethink a homegrown passion. The Ford-Holden passion is at a crossroads.

#25: Campsite Panorama

Alison and David Homer were ecstatic when they fell pregnant in 2005. "Finally, I feel part of something of consequence," Dave said. But at 32 weeks, Harper's heart unexpectedly stopped. How they coped with the grief that followed changed their lives.

#24: Balloons for Harper

David Ninness is one of the Cronulla Shark's biggest fans, despite living nowhere near Sydney's Sutherland Shire. When the NRL club was in turmoil he volunteered to resurrect their second mascot, MC Hammerhead. But before he could help cheer his team to grand final glory, he'd need to learn to dodge ruthless teenagers. Step inside the head of the NRL's scariest mascot.

#23: Up up MC Hammerhead

The Real Thing celebrates unique Australian characters.