Why do we celebrate Pride Month? Where did Pride begin? And how did a protest become one of the world's biggest celebrations of LGBTQ+ identity and culture?

In this special Pride Month episode of The StickyBeak, Monika explores the fascinating history of Pride, from the pivotal events that sparked the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement to the colourful traditions and symbols that have become part of queer culture today.

Along the way, you'll discover surprising stories, lesser-known moments from LGBTQ+ history, and hear from some absolute legends whose lives and experiences help bring the story of Pride to life.

Whether you're part of the LGBTQ+ community or simply curious about the history behind Pride parades, rainbow flags, and the fight for equality, this episode is a celebration of resilience, visibility, community, and the people who helped change the world.

Here’s a list of support organisations and resources for the LGBTQIA+ community and allies in Australia:

QLife

   - Website: (https://www.qlife.org.au/)

   - Description: Provides anonymous and free LGBTQIA+ peer support and referral via phone and web chat.

   - Phone: 1800 184 527

Minus18

   - Website: (https://www.minus18.org.au/)

   - Description: Youth-led organization focused on improving the lives of LGBTQIA+ youth through education, events, and resources.

Black Rainbow

   - Website:(https://www.blackrainbow.org.au/)

   - Description: An advocacy platform and support network for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQIA+ people.

Queer Organizations for Being a Good Ally (Australia-Wide)

PFLAG Australia

   - Website: [pflag.org.au](https://www.pflag.org.au/)

   - Description: A support network for parents, families, and friends of LGBTQIA+ people.

The Equality Project

   - Website: [theequalityproject.org.au](https://www.theequalityproject.org.au/)

   - Description: Focuses on creating a more inclusive and equal Australia through education, training, and advocacy.

Queer Organizations for Educational Resources (Australia-Wide)

The Pinnacle Foundation

   - Website: (https://thepinnaclefoundation.org/)

Twenty10

   - Website: (https://www.twenty10.org.au/)

   - Description: Provides support services, including housing, mental health, and social support for LGBTQIA+ young people.

This episode was brought to you by Tüt, toilet lid stickers to zhuzh up your toot. Because every throne needs a crown.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/tutdeco/

🎉 Big news! The StickyBeak is about to go to two episodes a week

• Wednesdays: Your regular deep dive into the weird, wonderful, and wonderfully strange stories from around the world.
• Mondays: A brand-new episode all about YOUR stories — the wild, funny, and outrageous confessions you send in.

Got a story to share? Be a StickyBeak and submit it here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK_D0b6Cp7WAKDq4thfd4EZNrXJPba1C2r9VZkxptxbYmJtA/viewform! 🦜

Got an Idea for the Podcast?

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EMAIL: [email protected]

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Before the sashes, strippers, and wild party antics, hens nights had deep cultural and historical roots. In this episode of The StickyBeak, Monika O’Hanlon explores the fascinating history of hens nights — from ancient Greek rituals and goddess worship to today’s modern bachelorette parties.

Discover how pre-wedding traditions have evolved across cultures, including sacred dances, symbolic hair offerings, and community celebrations leading up to marriage. We dive into how hens nights became what they are today — from meaningful rituals to karaoke-fuelled chaos.

This episode also explores feminist perspectives on hens parties, the rise of alternative and inclusive celebrations, and how queer communities are redefining what a hens night can look like in 2026.

If you’ve ever wondered where hens nights came from, how they changed over time, or what they say about modern relationships and identity, this episode is for you.

Heartfelt, funny, and occasionally a little bit cheeky (yes, there are penis-shaped props involved).

This episode was brought to you by Tüt, toilet lid stickers to zhuzh up your toot. Because every throne needs a crown.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/tutdeco/

🎉 Big news! The StickyBeak is about to go to two episodes a week!

• Wednesdays: Your regular deep dive into the weird, wonderful, and wonderfully strange stories from around the world.
• Mondays: A brand-new episode all about YOUR stories — the wild, funny, and outrageous confessions you send in.

Got a story to share? Be a StickyBeak and submit it here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK_D0b6Cp7WAKDq4thfd4EZNrXJPba1C2r9VZkxptxbYmJtA/viewform! 🦜

Got an Idea for the Podcast?

I’d love to hear from you! If there’s a topic you’d like me to explore or someone you think would make a great guest, flick me a message.

EMAIL: [email protected]

INSTAGRAM: @thestickybeakpodcast

TIKTOK: @thestickybeakpodcast

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/listen.with.mon

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Drag queens have long dominated mainstream drag culture — from RuPaul’s Drag Race to club nights, brunches, and bingo shows. But Drag Kings have always been part of drag history too… they’ve just rarely been given the spotlight.

In this episode of The StickyBeak, Monika explores the hidden history and modern resurgence of Drag Kings — performers who have been challenging gender norms and shaping queer performance culture since the 1800s.

From vaudeville stages and underground cabaret to punk shows and queer club nights, Drag Kings have been here all along.

Monika speaks with three incredible Drag Kings from the US about their artistry, their journeys, and what it means to build visibility in a drag scene that has historically centred drag queens.

This episode explores Drag Kings, drag history, queer culture, gender performance, and the evolution of drag as an art form.

HUGE thank you to...

Buck Wylde : IG @buckwylde_dragking

Hannibal Lickher : IG @hannibal.lickher

Prinze Valentino : IG @ Prinze_valentino

This episode was brought to you by Tüt, toilet lid stickers to zhuzh up your toot. Because every throne needs a crown.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/tutdeco/

🎉 Big news! The StickyBeak is about to go to two episodes a week!

• Wednesdays: Your regular deep dive into the weird, wonderful, and wonderfully strange stories from around the world.
• Mondays: A brand-new episode all about YOUR stories — the wild, funny, and outrageous confessions you send in.

Got a story to share? Be a StickyBeak and submit it here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK_D0b6Cp7WAKDq4thfd4EZNrXJPba1C2r9VZkxptxbYmJtA/viewform! 🦜

Got an Idea for the Podcast?

I’d love to hear from you! If there’s a topic you’d like me to explore or someone you think would make a great guest, flick me a message.

EMAIL: [email protected]

INSTAGRAM: @thestickybeakpodcast

TIKTOK: @thestickybeakpodcast

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/listen.with.mon

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This week on The StickyBeak, we dive into the shocking history of the guillotine — one of the most infamous execution machines ever created.

Born out of the chaos of the French Revolution, the guillotine was designed as a “humane” method of execution. But what followed was anything but simple. It quickly became a symbol of terror, justice, and mass public spectacle, used to carry out executions on an unprecedented scale.

In this episode, we explore how and why the guillotine was invented, how it became central to revolutionary France, and why it still fascinates (and horrifies) us today. From its surprisingly bureaucratic origins to its brutal legacy, this is the story of how a machine changed the meaning of death itself.

If you’re interested in dark history, true crime, or the strange inventions that shaped the world, this episode is for you.

🎉 Big news! The StickyBeak will be returning to two episodes a week!

• Wednesdays: Your regular deep dive into the weird, wonderful, and wonderfully strange stories from around the world.
• Mondays: A brand-new episode all about YOUR stories — the wild, funny, and outrageous confessions you send in.

Got a story to share? Be a StickyBeak and submit it here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK_D0b6Cp7WAKDq4thfd4EZNrXJPba1C2r9VZkxptxbYmJtA/viewform! 🦜

Got an Idea for the Podcast?

I’d love to hear from you! If there’s a topic you’d like me to explore or someone you think would make a great guest, flick me a message.

EMAIL: [email protected]

INSTAGRAM: @thestickybeakpodcast

TIKTOK: @thestickybeakpodcast

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/listen.with.mon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever wondered if animals can really communicate with humans on a psychic level? In this fascinating episode of The StickyBeak, Mon sits down with Cynthia, a professional pet psychic and animal communicator, to explore the strange world of pet telepathy, energy reading, and the hidden thoughts of our furry companions.

Can pet psychics really read your pet’s mind? Are animals trying to tell us something? And why do so many people swear these readings changed their lives? Whether you’re a skeptic, believer, or simply curious, this episode is packed with surprising stories and thought-provoking insights.

Thank you to Cynthia for coming on the pod!

You can follow her here:

Instagram:

TikTok: @lilmisspetpsychic

Instagram: @lilmisspetpsychic @nydognanny

This episode was brought to you by Tüt, toilet lid stickers to zhuzh up your toot. Because every throne needs a crown.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/tutdeco/

Got an Idea for the Podcast?

I’d love to hear from you! If there’s a topic you’d like me to explore or someone you think would make a great guest, flick me a message.

EMAIL: [email protected]

INSTAGRAM: @thestickybeakpodcast

TIKTOK: @thestickybeakpodcast

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/listen.with.mon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The StickyBeak, Monika O’Hanlon sits down with Sunny Jayne — a BBW (Big Beautiful Woman) adult content creator — to talk about body confidence, beauty standards, sexuality, and the reality of working in the adult industry.

From empowerment and objectification to stigma, self-image, and online audiences, this is an honest and eye-opening conversation about the parts of the adult industry most people never hear about.

Thank you so much to Sunny Jayne for sharing her experiences.

Www.sunnyjayne.com

Instagram: Sunnyjayne.au

Mentioned creators:

Fat Megan Fox 

Instagram: thefatmeganfox

BBW Layla 

Instagram: bbw_layla

Billie Taylor 

Instagram: itsbillietaylor

Hayley Carter

Instagram: Hayleycarter_94

🎉 Big news! The StickyBeak will be returning to two episodes a week!

• Wednesdays: Your regular deep dive into the weird, wonderful, and wonderfully strange stories from around the world.
• Mondays: A brand-new episode all about YOUR stories — the wild, funny, and outrageous confessions you send in.

Got a story to share? Be a StickyBeak and submit it here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK_D0b6Cp7WAKDq4thfd4EZNrXJPba1C2r9VZkxptxbYmJtA/viewform! 🦜

Got an Idea for the Podcast?

I’d love to hear from you! If there’s a topic you’d like me to explore or someone you think would make a great guest, flick me a message.

EMAIL: [email protected]

INSTAGRAM: @thestickybeakpodcast

TIKTOK: @thestickybeakpodcast

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/listen.with.mon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we're looking back at an episode from a few years ago.

Ever wondered how animals end up on your favourite movies and TV shows — safely and professionally? From blockbuster films like Avatar to the smallest background animals, there’s always at least one animal trainer on set to ensure the stars behave and stay happy.

In this episode of The StickyBeak, I speak with Jet Shaw, an internationally acclaimed animal behaviourist, educator, and animal trainer with a career spanning over three decades. Jet has worked on some of the biggest films in history, training animals for both leading roles and background scenes — all while prioritising their welfare.

Jet’s passion for animals is undeniable, and her dedication to keeping them safe, happy, and well-trained shines through in every story she shares. This conversation is both fascinating and surprisingly funny — a rare glimpse into the world of animal trainers in showbiz.

Whether you’re curious about how animals perform on camera, the ethics behind animal work in entertainment, or just love behind-the-scenes movie stories, this episode is for you.

🎉 Big news! The StickyBeak will be returning to two episodes a week!

• Wednesdays: Your regular deep dive into the weird, wonderful, and wonderfully strange stories from around the world.
• Mondays: A brand-new episode all about YOUR stories — the wild, funny, and outrageous confessions you send in.

Got a story to share? Be a StickyBeak and submit it here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK_D0b6Cp7WAKDq4thfd4EZNrXJPba1C2r9VZkxptxbYmJtA/viewform! 🦜

Got an Idea for the Podcast?

I’d love to hear from you! If there’s a topic you’d like me to explore or someone you think would make a great guest, flick me a message.

EMAIL: [email protected]

INSTAGRAM: @thestickybeakpodcast

TIKTOK: @thestickybeakpodcast

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/listen.with.mon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens after we die? In this episode of The StickyBeak, we explore unconventional approaches to death, legacy, and memorials — beyond the traditional coffin or cremation.

I speak with pioneers who are reimagining the end of life in ways that are surprising, thought-provoking, and sometimes beautiful:

• The People’s Pyramid – a long-term art project and collective memorial founded by The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu (The KLF), turning death into living art.
• Return Home – a Washington-based funeral home offering natural organic reduction, also known as human composting, a sustainable alternative to cremation.
• Southern Cryonics – Australia’s first and only cryonics facility, preserving bodies in Holbrook, NSW for future revival.

From human composting to cryonics to collective art memorials, this episode is a curious, reflective, and sometimes surprising look at how humans are redefining death, remembrance, and legacy.

If you’ve ever wondered about alternative funerals, futuristic memorials, or the ethics of preserving life beyond death, this episode offers a thoughtful exploration that will challenge the way you think about the end of life.

A HUGE thank you to these legends for getting involved...

Ru Callender

Founder of Green Funeral Company,

One of the two official undertakers for The Pyramid People's Pyramid.

WEBSITE: https://www.thepeoplespyramid.org

Brienna Smith 

Funeral Director at Return Home

INSTAGRAM: @returnhomenor

WEBSITE: https://returnhome.com/

Peter Tsolakides

Founder of Southern Cryonics

WEBSITE: https://www.sandbox.southerncryonics.com/

🎉 Big news! The StickyBeak will be returning to two episodes a week!

• Wednesdays: Your regular deep dive into the weird, wonderful, and wonderfully strange stories from around the world.
• Mondays: A brand-new episode all about YOUR stories — the wild, funny, and outrageous confessions you send in.

Got a story to share? Be a StickyBeak and submit it here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK_D0b6Cp7WAKDq4thfd4EZNrXJPba1C2r9VZkxptxbYmJtA/viewform! 🦜

Got an Idea for the Podcast?

I’d love to hear from you! If there’s a topic you’d like me to explore or someone you think would make a great guest, flick me a message.

EMAIL: [email protected]

INSTAGRAM: @thestickybeakpodcast

TIKTOK: @thestickybeakpodcast

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/listen.with.mon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is a furry — really?

In this episode of The StickyBeak, we dive inside the furry fandom, one of the internet’s most misunderstood subcultures.

Originally recorded for my Living with Mon series on alternative lifestyles, this conversation features Haruka (Haru), a member of the furry community who shares what being a furry actually means — beyond the stereotypes. We talk about identity, creativity, community, and why so many assumptions about furries simply aren’t true.

Because there’s a lot to unpack, I also recorded a second interview (linked in the show notes) with Rune, a self-described “Scalie” — a member of the furry fandom whose character is reptilian. In that conversation, we explore the more adult side of the community and how it differs from mainstream furry culture.

If you’ve ever Googled “what is a furry?” or wondered what really happens inside the furry community, this episode offers a thoughtful and open-minded look at a world that’s often judged before it’s understood.

As always, go in curious.

🎉 Big news! The StickyBeak will be returning to two episodes a week!

• Wednesdays: Your regular deep dive into the weird, wonderful, and wonderfully strange stories from around the world.
• Mondays: A brand-new episode all about YOUR stories — the wild, funny, and outrageous confessions you send in.

Got a story to share? Be a StickyBeak and submit it here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK_D0b6Cp7WAKDq4thfd4EZNrXJPba1C2r9VZkxptxbYmJtA/viewform! 🦜

Got an Idea for the Podcast?

I’d love to hear from you! If there’s a topic you’d like me to explore or someone you think would make a great guest, flick me a message.

EMAIL: [email protected]

INSTAGRAM: @thestickybeakpodcast

TIKTOK: @thestickybeakpodcast

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/listen.with.mon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

By listener request, we’re diving into the mysterious world of the occult — and uncovering what that word actually means.

In this episode of The StickyBeak, we explore Asetianism, a secretive spiritual path rooted in ancient Egyptian mysticism and devotion to the goddess Aset (Isis). Often misunderstood and confused with vampire roleplay or gothic subculture, Asetianism is a disciplined esoteric tradition focused on sacred knowledge, spiritual lineage, divine feminine energy, and personal transformation.

I speak with Sarah, a dedicated Asetian practitioner, about what it truly means to walk this path. We unpack the real meaning of the occult, the difference between modern vampire culture and Asetian spirituality, and why secrecy plays such a central role in esoteric traditions.

If you’ve ever searched for the meaning of the occult, wondered whether modern vampires are real, or been curious about hidden spiritual traditions rooted in ancient Egypt, this episode offers a rare and thoughtful insight into a path few people truly understand.

And if you’re still intrigued by the vampire subculture, you can also listen to my previous conversation with Madame X (Episode 41).

🎉 Big news! The StickyBeak will be returning to two episodes a week!

• Wednesdays: Your regular deep dive into the weird, wonderful, and wonderfully strange stories from around the world.
• Mondays: A brand-new episode all about YOUR stories — the wild, funny, and outrageous confessions you send in.

Got a story to share? Be a StickyBeak and submit it here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK_D0b6Cp7WAKDq4thfd4EZNrXJPba1C2r9VZkxptxbYmJtA/viewform! 🦜

Got an Idea for the Podcast?

I’d love to hear from you! If there’s a topic you’d like me to explore or someone you think would make a great guest, flick me a message.

EMAIL: [email protected]

INSTAGRAM: @thestickybeakpodcast

TIKTOK: @thestickybeakpodcast

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/listen.with.mon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.