Cal dives into the intersection of kink, fetish, and health promotion within Melbourne’s queer community through The Laird Hotel’s long-standing Northside Bizarre event.

Laird Hotel owner Brett and community legend Tex discuss the evolution of safe sex messaging from early AIDS council campaigns to modern peer-based outreach methods.

We also get into the nitty gritty about how venues like pubs and clubs have historically functioned as informal health education spaces beyond traditional medical settings.

This year’s Northside Bizarre is set to be bigger and better than ever. Learn more and get involved here:

https://www.thorneharbour.org/get-involved/events/northside-bizarre-oct-2026

00:00 – Introduction to Northside Bizarre returning after six year hiatus

02:30 – Early HIV prevention posters in queer venues and saunas

05:30 – The Protection campaign using porn industry images for education

10:00 – Taking over The Laird Hotel

15:00 – Peer outreach volunteers distributing safe sex packs at venues

19:00 – Kink and fetish scene health education and venue partnerships

23:30 – Northside Bizarre auction house and memorable moments

28:00 – Leather and Treasure – second hand gear sale origin story

35:30 – Initiative celebrating female bartenders at The Laird

40:30 – Final year auctioneer announcement

All chapter timecodes are approximate.

Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing at joy.org.au/wellwellwell.

If there’s something you’d like us to explore on the show, send through ideas or questions at [email protected]

Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victoria and South Australia at thorneharbour.org.

Produced by: Caleb Hawk, Jack Crnjanin

We’re joined by Rose, Marc, and Jesse, three Thorne Harbour Health volunteers to hear about the volunteer moments that have stuck with them, from welcoming people newly diagnosed at the Positive Living Centre to running red ribbon stalls and corporate workshops.

We unpack why volunteering at an event can be more rewarding than simply attending one, and how a regular shift can become a fixture you can really miss.

Jack also speaks with them about how the organisation’s history shapes its work today, from its founding as the Victorian AIDS Council to its evolution in a PrEP-era landscape.

If you’re curious about becoming a vollie but unsure how to fit it around work, study, or life, we pull practical advice from their combined decades of experience.

00:00 – Intro

03:30 – Meet the volunteers and their origin stories

07:30 – Roles at the Positive Living Centre and Hoddle Street

12:00 – Event volunteering versus attending as a guest

17:30 – From the Victorian AIDS Council to today

22:30 – How motivations change over time

27:00 – An antidote to disempowerment

31:30 – Corporate volunteers and red ribbon workshops

35:00 – Memorable moments on the volunteer floor

39:00 – Advice for first-time volunteers

All chapter timecodes are approximate.

Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing at joy.org.au/wellwellwell.

If there’s something you’d like us to explore on the show, send through ideas or questions at [email protected]

Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victoria and South Australia at thorneharbour.org.

Produced by: Jack Crnjanin

In this episode of Well Well Well we’re talking about peptides. If you’ve heard the word whispered around the gym, the group chat, or your “For You” page lately, you’re not alone.

We’re joined by Renae Fomiatti and Gemma Nourse from the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society at La Trobe University. To be clear, they are sociologists, not medical doctors.

So this conversation should not be taken as medical advice, and we’re not here to sell you on them or scare you off them. This is a conversation about what peptides are, and why everyone’s suddenly talking about them.

We get into:

We’ll also dig into something bigger: why appearance has quietly folded into “health optimisation,” and what that means for our communities’ relationship with our bodies.

And to be upfront, we’re not talking about the exact legal status of possession, anything on dosing, and clinical specifics, since we simply don’t have a medical expert in the room for that.

If today’s conversation raises questions for you, raise them with your GP. That’s exactly what they’re for.

For more on Performance and Image Enhancing Drugs (PIEDs), head to thejuice.org.au.

00:00 – Welcome and introducing our guests

04:00 – What actually is a peptide

06:30 – Prescription versus illicit access and retatrutide

10:30 – Body image and desirability in queer communities

14:30 – When appearance becomes health optimisation

18:00 – Wellness influencers and pop psychology crossover

22:30 – New digital health infrastructures beyond doctors

26:00 – Cheating accusations and shame around weight loss

30:00 – Unregulated products and online purchasing risks

34:00 – Harm reduction, GPs and trusted resources

All chapter timecodes are approximate.

Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing at joy.org.au/wellwellwell.

If there’s something you’d like us to explore on the show, send through ideas or questions at [email protected]

Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victoria and South Australia at thorneharbour.org.

Produced by: Joel Parker, Jake Neville, Jack Crnjanin, Trinity Trinh

Carolyn Gillespie, CEO of Women’s Health in the North and chair of the Victorian Women’s Health Services Network joins us to discuss women’s health during Women’s Health Week.

We explore why Victoria’s 35-year-old women’s health infrastructure is among the best in Australia, and why gender equality is the most pressing driver of women’s health outcomes.

Jake and Joel also discuss with Carolyn the Victorian parliamentary inquiry into women’s pain, the everyday realities of the gender health gap, and what genuinely inclusive care looks like for queer women and gender diverse people.

Finally, we tackle mental health, social connection, and gender based violence as core public health issues, and share one small step listeners can take for their own wellbeing this Women’s Health Week.

02:20 – Introducing Carolyn and inclusive definitions

06:10 – Most pressing health issues facing women

09:50 – Explaining the gender health gap simply

13:50 – Victorian parliamentary inquiry into women’s pain

17:30 – Socioeconomic and intersectional barriers to care

21:00 – Inclusive care for queer women and gender diverse folk

25:20 – Safety, loneliness and mental health connections

32:00 – Gender based violence as a public health crisis

36:00 – Funding priorities, prevention and Women’s Health Week actions

All chapter timecodes are approximate.

Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing at joy.org.au/wellwellwell.

If there’s something you’d like us to explore on the show, send through ideas or questions at [email protected]

Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victoria and South Australia at thorneharbour.org.

Produced by: Joel Parker, Jake Neville

We dive into why LGBTQIA youth spaces like Wear It Purple Day remain crucial nearly fifteen years after launching, as queer young Australians continue to experience bullying and discrimination.

Reb from Minus18 shares powerful stories from Queer Formal events where isolated young people meet their community for the first time and experience life-changing affirmation.

We discuss how social media bans create additional barriers for regional youth while hate groups continue targeting safe spaces and attempting to sabotage events.

Finally, we offer practical advice for parents, educators, and allies who want to support young people without burdening them with the responsibility of teaching adults.

00:43 – Introducing Wear It Purple Day and its history

02:25 – How bullying and isolation have changed since 2010

04:58 – How Minu18 supports and amplifies Purple Day

06:36 – Ripple effects of visible workplace and school support

10:43 – Powerful Queer Formal personal stories shared

15:44 – Why dedicated youth spaces still matter today

17:56 – Making queer friends without school pride groups

22:31 – Strategies after social media ban removes access

25:12 – Protecting mental health while supporting marginalised communities

31:00 – Advice for parents learning to accept and support

All chapter timecodes are approximate.

Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing at joy.org.au/wellwellwell.

If there’s something you’d like us to explore on the show, send through ideas or questions at [email protected]

Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victoria and South Australia at thorneharbour.org.

Produced by: Jack Crnjanin

Kylie and Gozde from Carer Gateway join us to discuss unpaid caring, and the resulting challenges that our diverse communities sometimes navigate with limited support.

We hear about the free services available through Carer Gateway, including counselling, coaching, and peer support groups.

Kylie also shares details about Rainbow Crew, an online group for LGBTIQA+ carers who need safe, inclusive, and affirming support.

00:00 – Intro

03:50 – What is Carer Gateway and who qualifies

07:40 – Difficulties carers face in daily life

11:30 – Practical self-care strategies for carers

15:15 – Peer support and its impact

19:05 – Hidden carers and barriers to identifying

22:55 – Pathways beyond basic peer support

26:45 – When you can no longer provide care

30:30 – Counselling support for carers explained

34:20 – Financial support and finding Carer Gateway

All chapter timecodes are approximate.

Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing at joy.org.au/wellwellwell.

If there’s something you’d like us to explore on the show, send through ideas or questions at [email protected]

Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victoria and South Australia at thorneharbour.org.

Produced by: Jack Crnjanin

Jack and Rhian are joined by Moe Ari Brown, Hinge’s Love and Connection Expert to dive into queer dating and Hinge’s 2026 LGBTQ+ DATE Report.

Drawing on surveys with over 31,000 LGBTQ+ daters globally, we unpack everything from clarity-building chemistry to the unique pressures queer people face navigating modern dating without traditional relationship blueprints.

Moe goes into detail on must-haves for queer relationships, the shift away from rigid timelines, safety concerns around PDA, and practical advice for ending connections with care rather than ghosting.

02:17 – Unlearning hookup app habits

04:17 – How clarity transforms the dating experience

11:54 – Queer relationships beyond rigid heterosexual timelines

15:03 – Why everyone worries if their date likes them

18:17 – Top non-negotiables for LGBTQ+ daters

20:11 – Why queer daters prioritise values over finances

22:43 – Freedom and exhaustion of lacking relationship blueprints

27:13 – Navigating non-monogamy without existing models or blueprints

31:06 – Why queer daters want actions over words

34:47 – Social media’s impact on queer PDA anxiety

38:05 – Low-stakes gestures to build warmth on dates

42:12 – Distinguishing genuine affection from love bombing behaviour

45:30 – Sentence starters for pace and communication check-ins

48:37 – Origins and evolution of Hinge’s LGBTQ+ reports

52:06 – Breaking the ghosting cycle with honest closure

52:56 – Better texting habits and ending connections gracefully

54:25 – Conversation starters for alignment and pace discussions

56:39 – The single most actionable dating takeaway revealed

All chapter timecodes are approximate.

Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing at joy.org.au/wellwellwell.

If there’s something you’d like us to explore on the show, send through ideas or questions at [email protected]

Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victoria and South Australia at thorneharbour.org.

Produced by: Jack Crnjanin & Rhian Graco-Ilves

We dive into prostate cancer screening, treatment, and lived experience through an LGBTIQA+ lens.

Jack and Rachel speak with Michael Cromer, a urology nurse practitioner at the Australian Prostate Centre, who breaks down what the prostate does, when to start testing, and how treatment side effects can impact continence and sexual function.

We also explore the unique barriers queer people face, from fear of outing to clinicians who don’t understand queer sex lives.

Jaco Erasmus also joins us to share his personal diagnosis story at 48 and discusses founding Prostate Pride, a peer support group for queer men navigating prostate cancer.

00:52 – Why We’re Talking About Prostate Cancer

05:13 – What Is the Prostate and Its Function

06:38 – Average Age for Prostate Issues Arising

07:26 – When Should People Start Getting Tested

09:37 – Treatment Protocols Depending on Prostate State

16:06 – Side Effects on Continence and Sexual Function

21:31 – Barriers to Testing for Queer Communities

28:21 – Prostate Cancer Diagnosis Story

34:53 – Hyper Masculine Awareness Campaigns

40:05 – Starting Prostate Pride Support Group History

All chapter timecodes are approximate.

Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing at joy.org.au/wellwellwell.

If there’s something you’d like us to explore on the show, send through ideas or questions at [email protected]

Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victoria and South Australia at thorneharbour.org.

Produced by: Jack Crnjanin & Rachel Cook

Jack and Cal return to the world of leather, kink, and fetish title competitions through Cal’s journey as Mr. Australian Leather, including his visit to Auckland for the inaugural MX Gear New Zealand title.

We hear from contestants including a 74-year-old trans man finding his second wind in community, a South Island pup advocating for trans rights, and a self-proclaimed “comedy queen” channelling Princess Margaret on their path to the title.

The conversation unpacks how these titles serve as platforms for sexual health advocacy, community building, and solidarity at a time when queer infrastructure is under pressure globally.

00:00 – Intro and Cal’s sash queen revelation

02:02 – Cal’s history in Melbourne leather community

02:55 – Origins of leather title competitions

03:37 – Evolution toward inclusive mixed gear titles

05:08 – Cal wins Mr Australian Leather title

06:21 – Inside look at leather community gatherings

10:53 – Titleholders as advocates and community leaders

13:10 – What judges look for in competitions

20:53 – Luca 74 year old trans man competes

28:44 – Chief represents South Island at competition

34:16 – Robbie Abundance wins inaugural Mix Gear title

44:18 – Producer Sean on launching the event

All chapter timecodes are approximate.

Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing at joy.org.au/wellwellwell.

If there’s something you’d like us to explore on the show, send through ideas or questions at [email protected]

Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victoria and South Australia at thorneharbour.org.

Produced by: Jack Crnjanin & Caleb Hawk

Jenna Love has worked as an independent sex worker for over a decade, and now leads Sex Work Advocacy work as the president of Scarlet Alliance.

In this episode she speaks with Jordan about her experience at the Women Deliver conference in Melbourne to the fight for decriminalisation across so-called Australia.

We explore the long history of peer-to-peer organising in the sex worker community, the contagious spread of the Nordic model, and what genuine allyship looks like.

00:00 — Introduction

05:00 — Meeting incredible overachievers at Women Deliver

10:00 — Creating the sex worker networking zone

15:00 — Emerging Together: Sex Work at End of Empire

20:00 — Global solidarity among sex workers across borders

25:00 — Advice for allies supporting sex worker advocacy

30:00 — The Nordic Model and its harmful impact

35:00 — Queensland’s decriminalisation as best practice model

40:00 — Whore Walk: sex work history walking tours

45:00 — Sex work and digital rights

All chapter timecodes are approximate.

Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing at joy.org.au/wellwellwell.

If there’s something you’d like us to explore on the show, send through ideas or questions at [email protected]

Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victoria and South Australia at thorneharbour.org.

Produced by: Jack Crnjanin & Jordan