We’re smack-bang in the middle of the Melbourne Fringe Festival!

There’s so many things to see, including a bunch of home-grown and international circus shows, playing at the National Institute of Circus Arts in Prahran.

One of these shows is ‘Mister Three’, created by Taiwan’s Formosa Circus Art.

We chat to Melbourne Fringe Festival’s Special Projects Producer, Erica McCalman about what makes this show so special and ask the question, if you quit your job to join the circus what would it be for?

October 11th is also the International Day of the Girl, which is a global platform advocating for the full spectrum of women and girls rights.

And last night the inductees for the Victorian Honour Role of Women, a platform which celebrates the outstanding contributions made by Victorian women, acknowledges the many ways they’ve made lasting contributions to Victoria.

One of the women inducted into the Victorian Honour Role of Women is no stranger to us here at JOY Breakfast, Michelle Shepherd who we all here at JOY know as Mama Mish, and we could not be more proud to share this wonderful Accolade with Michelle on JOY Breakfast.

With World Mental Health Day earlier this week and lots of sad and scary stories in the news it’s important to check in with your mental health and work towards having a more positive mental health relationsip.

We are joined by Cal from Well Well Well who talks about reaching out to your GP for a mental health plan before it gets bad, a great way to stay on top of positive mental health.

It is National Coming Out Day, a day to be proud of who you are and your support for LGBTQ+ equality.

Sharing our authentic selves with others is not always safe or easy, and it is not a one-day event — but when possible, it can be an extraordinarily powerful key to breaking down the barriers we face as LGBTQ+ people.

Our community continues to stay resilient despite living in a State of Emergency. We are still coming together, celebrating ourselves and advocating for our rights.

We check in with Psychologist and Embodiment coach Eloise Tomkins about coming out later in life or as she likes to say “inviting in”

Obie Award-winning composer Matt Ray along with Taylor Mac, a MacArthur Fellow, Ibsen Award winner, and Pulitzer Prize finalist have created the Bark of Millions, A celebration of Queer History and the human condition and are bringing it to the Sydney Opera House to celebrate the monumental 50th birthday.

A show that is Part rock opera and part reimagined pride parade, Bark of Millions brings together a community of groundbreaking artists in a four-hour party-length performance of queer history, resilience, and revelry.

Co-directed by visionaries Niegel Smith and Faye Driscoll, and with the extravagance of longtime Mac collaborator Machine Dazzle’s costume design, this joyous epic is brought to life by an international ensemble of 22 artists, including Australian Mama Alto.

Australian writer, podcaster, presenter and social media consultant Louis Hanson Joins the Brekky crew as a Give Out Day Ambassador, giving us the 411 on just what makes give out day so special. The 19th of October is GiveOUT Day.

On the day, donations to LGBTIQ+ organisations are doubled so it’s the perfect day to donate to your favourite organisations and projects.

We also dive into a big ole’ crush that Wednesday news reader Craig has on Louis and the totally tricky tuesday true or false trivia.

In a joyful, wild and outlandish combination of glitter, glam, and cowboy chic, Jimi The Kween and Y.O.G.A. have collaborated together to release a new song.

Interstellar is the name of the track being released today and it’s certainly a song that’ll have us going “Ra- ta -ta” into summer, however the track has a deeper meaning behind the lyrics making it a very fitting song to be released today on World Mental Health Day.

Queer people have always existed.

In the world.

In stories.

But in one, much more than the other.

These words are at the beginning of the fairytale anthology, Everything Under the Moon, which reimagines classic fairy tales through a queer lens.

For the anthology, non-binary writer, Michael Earp, has collaborated with twelve of the hottest names in the queer, young adult, writing space and today we dive into these modern takes on fairytales we love so dear.

Have you ever wondered what the first time in drag feels like? Rach experimented with her alter-ego Colin Oscopy over the weekend and experienced what can only be described as Drag Euphoria. Dean shares about his first time as Frock Hudson for Midsummer.

On Friday night, the inaugural Western Rainbow Awards took place, celebrating the LGBTIQA+ community in Melbourne’s west.

Recognising individuals, businesses, youth services and more, the awards shone a rainbow light on the diverse, inclusive and intersectional rainbow communities from Brimbank & Hobsons Bay all the way to Moonee Valley & Whyndham.

Mayor of Hobsons Bay Tony Briffa joined Rach and Dean to talk about how special the night was and how good it was to celebrate the pride of Melbournes West.

We also play audio from the winners of the Lifetime Achievement Awards Anastasia Le, and the Leading Change Award, Jacob Tiauli.