Let’s unpack romantic love!!!

why do we fall in love? And why only with certain people over others? Is love at first sight real? Can you stay in love your whole life? What’s happening in the brain and body? Is love an addiction? And can you actually die from a broken heart?

Dee chats to the world’s leading romantic love researcher Adam Bode to find out the science of love. 

SHOW NOTES:

Adam Bode's research

DM us your thoughts, questions, topics, or to just vent at @triplejthehookup on IG or email us: [email protected]

The Hook Up is an ABC podcast, produced by triple j. It is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We pay our respects to elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn.

We couldn’t get him on for our live show, so we got him in the studio - content creator, stand up comedian and podcaster Will Gibb chats to us about dating with radical honesty, cooked sex dreams and what it’s actually like to get a circumcision as an adult.  *NB this chat contains descriptive language about surgery so skip that part if you're squeamish

DM us your thoughts, questions, topics, or to just vent at @triplejthehookup on IG or email us: [email protected]

The Hook Up is an ABC podcast, produced by triple j. It is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We pay our respects to elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn.

Nearly 30% of you told us you’ve ended a relationship because of your own family or your partners. So whether it’s parents being manipulative, controlling or having no boundaries, we get some advice from clinical psychologist Dr Lillian Nejad on how to navigate a meddling family. 

DM us your thoughts, questions, topics, or to just vent at @triplejthehookup on IG or email us: [email protected]

The Hook Up is an ABC podcast, produced by triple j. It is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We pay our respects to elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn.

Have you ever dated someone who's family was too involved, or a bit too close? (Anna Paul and Atis???) Whether it’s your own or your partners - we hear how families with no boundaries, cultural/religious differences, and mummy’s boys/daddy’s girls have messed with your love life.

DM us your thoughts, questions, topics, or to just vent at @triplejthehookup on IG or email us: [email protected]

The Hook Up is an ABC podcast, produced by triple j. It is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We pay our respects to elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn.

If you’re looking to read about queer joy, pain, heartbreak, love and hot af sex - A Language Of Limbs is for you. The story follows two lives over three decades as they navigate their queer identities, the beginning of Mardi Gras and the AIDs epidemic. 

Dee chats to author Dylin Hardcastle about the process of writing their novel, portraying queer sex and the importance of trans joy. 

DM us your thoughts, questions, topics, or to just vent at @triplejthehookup on IG or email us: [email protected]

The Hook Up is an ABC podcast, produced by triple j. It is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We pay our respects to elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn.

Everyone’s talking about Netflix’s new crime drama Adolescence atm. The series is about a teenage boy accused of murdering a female classmate and it’s triggered a huge cultural conversation around toxic masculinity, incels and the gender divide. 

Ryder Jack from Tomorrow Man joins Dee and Pip to unpack your thoughts on the series and your experiences as guys dating women.

SHOW NOTES:

Tomorrow Man & Tomorrow Woman: https://www.tomorrowman.com.au/

Research debunking 80/20 theory: https://www.psypost.org/romantic-attraction-and-evolution-new-study-pinpoints-key-traits-in-mate-selection/

DM us your thoughts, questions, topics, or to just vent at @triplejthehookup on IG or email us: [email protected]

The Hook Up is an ABC podcast, produced by triple j. It is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We pay our respects to elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn.

If you’re someone who struggles to talk about sex, or you feel uncomfortable asking for what you want (or don’t want) in the bedroom, this ep is for you!

Psychologist and sexologist Laura Lee has some great tips to get you yapping your way into a hotter sex life. 

SHOW NOTES:

Laura Lee Website Resources

DM us your thoughts, questions, topics, or to just vent at @triplejthehookup on IG or email us: [email protected]

The Hook Up is an ABC podcast, produced by triple j. It is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We pay our respects to elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn.

'Good sex' is one of those things where you kinda just know it when you have it. But how do YOU define it? From communication, safety and enthusiasm to compatibility, dirty talk and aftercare - we hear what you reckon makes someone good in bed.

DM us your thoughts, questions, topics, or to just vent at @triplejthehookup on IG or email us: [email protected]

The Hook Up is an ABC podcast, produced by triple j. It is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We pay our respects to elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn.

A new groundbreaking study has found that the most common vaginal infection bacterial vaginosis (BV) is actually an STI. This is huge news! Especially if you’re someone who keeps getting BV again and again. 

In this ep, Dee chats to the two lead researchers behind the study Professor Cat Bradshaw and Dr Lenka Vodstrcil to find out everything we need to know. 

SHOW NOTES:

Professor Cat and Dr Lenka's study

BV resources 

Study on LGBTQ+ couples

DM us your thoughts, questions, topics, or to just vent at @triplejthehookup on IG or email us: [email protected]

The Hook Up is an ABC podcast, produced by triple j. It is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We pay our respects to elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn.

There’s new research saying that women who use dating apps are more likely to get cosmetic procedures. So how are you feeling about getting work done and dating?? We hear from you about whether it’s affecting your body image, your partners, and your experience on the apps.

SHOW NOTES:

Research on dating apps and cosmetic procedures

https://www.unisa.edu.au/media-centre/Releases/2025/swipe-style-surgery-why-dating-apps-are-fuelling-cosmetic-procedures/

SBS - Sasha Kutabah Sarago chats on Eurocentric beauty standards

https://www.sbs.com.au/audio/podcast-episode/sasha-kutabah-sarago-chats-about-challenging-eurocentric-beauty-standards/u5vrg5m0j

DM us your thoughts, questions, topics, or to just vent at @triplejthehookup on IG or email us: [email protected]

The Hook Up is an ABC podcast, produced by triple j. It is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We pay our respects to elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn.