Well, Well, Well

Anal cancer rates are rising worldwide, but particularly among gay and bisexual men and people living with HIV, where incidence is significantly higher.

We’re joined by Dr. Matthew Marino, a general and colorectal surgeon who offers high-resolution anoscopy screening in Melbourne.

He breaks down what anal cancer is, its causes and symptoms, and why certain communities face disproportionate risk.

We explore why screening options remain limited across Australia despite growing evidence and international guidelines supporting broader access.

Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing at...

Many queer people living in suburban and regional Victoria struggle to access mental health care despite growing community needs.

The Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals aim to fill this gap for people aged 26 and up in places like Melton and Dandenong.

But what are some of the considerations when serving diverse populations, managing logistical challenges, and building visibility in peri-urban areas?

Our guest is Rory, an LGBTQIA+ Specialist Mental Health Manager at Thorne Harbour Health.

They speak with Jack and Joel about why social connection matters for mental health outcomes and...

In light of International Women’s Day on March 8, we discuss the unique challenges and triumphs of LBQ+ women navigating cultural expectations.

Rachel and Molly kick off by reflecting on the pride festival season coming to an end, and the lingering comedown you may feel afterwards.

Smaller queer gatherings and creative activities can fill the gap left by large festivals, and we discuss how you can stay connected to your communities through art walks, hikes, book clubs, and more.

Dr Judy Tang also joins us to chat about the mental health impact of juggli...

Meredith from Chillout joins us to discuss Victoria’s longest‑running regional queer festival and teases out its evolution over three decades.

This modest grassroots initiative has grown into a cornerstone event for our diverse LGBTIQA+ communities, and plays a pivotal role in fostering visibility and belonging in rural settings.

Shaped by both tradition and innovation, organising this multi‑day celebration isn’t easy given the limited resources Meredith and the team have to work with.

She speaks with Cal and Jack about how the Chillout team overcome funding constraints, regulatory requirements, and limited...

Director Sophie Hyde and actor Aud-Mason Hyde unpack the new film, Jimpa, tracing the story’s roots to Professor Jim Hyde.

Jim was a pivotal figure in Australia’s response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and we explore how his legacy informs today’s intergenerational queer conversations.

Cal and Jake reflect on the film’s café scenes, the emotional rehearsal process with older gay men, and the challenges of translating lived trauma into drama.

We also discuss the companion project “The Queer Parts of Us,” a digital archive for community storytelling.

Check out our o...

How can we strengthen community ties with a queer Lunar New Year celebration?

James Tapa from Gay Asian Proud (GAP) joins us to discuss the unique challenges faced by multicultural LGBTQ+ people navigating health services, voting, and social belonging in Australia.

He explores with Joel and Jack personal anecdotes about family reunions, lion‑dance performances, and the symbolism behind the zodiac animal of the year.

GAP’s sister group Yellow Kitties is co-hosting the event and we dive into how gender‑specific spaces complement each other.

Whether you’re new to Melbourne’...

We dive into the TV series Heated Rivalry, exploring how the show portrays LGBTQ+ athletes in a mixed‑gender ice‑hockey setting.

Kade and Shell from Southern Lights Hockey join Jack and Jake to discuss their local queer ice-hockey team, the series’ blend of drama and advocacy, and more.

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 wellwellwell@joy.org.au

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Sarah Hiley, Drug Checking Director at The Loop Australia joins Jack to discuss the Victorian Pill Testing Service and its role in harm‑reduction.

The service will be present at Victoria’s Pride Street Party, offering a safe, non‑judgmental space for festival‑goers to have their substances tested.

Sarah walks us through the testing process, from anonymous sample submission to rapid results, and highlights the limits and accuracy of the analyses.

We also delve into the broader impact of the service, including its contributions to public health data, emergency alerts, and connections to furth...

Jack speaks with Julai Diesel ahead of the THH Vogue Night event running during Midsumma and discuss what the ballroom scene looks like in Melbourne, where it serves as a survival‑focused, queer‑affirming community built around competition, performance, and chosen family.

They speak about the House of Diesel’s origins, its partnership with Thorne Harbour Health, and the ways Australian houses stay connected to the historic U.S. scene.

Nick Henderson from the Australian Queer Archives (AQuA) also talks about the archive’s eclectic collections of traditional documents, punk gear, erotic artifacts, and even hair‑clipp...

Wise Words returns this Midsumma to feature a line-up of some of Australia’s most prominent and talented LGBTIQ+ women (trans and non-binary inclusive) for an evening of intergenerational storytelling.

Candy Bowers will MC this year’s edition and we hear about her background in acting, production, writing, and more.

Grab tickets to Wise Words on the Midsumma website: https://www.midsumma.org.au/whats-on/events/wise-words-a-night-of-intergenerational-storytelling/

Scott Walsberger from ACON also joins us to discuss cancer screening activations at the 2026 Midsumma Carnival in Alexandra Gardens.

Check out our other JOY Podc...

Dylan from the City of Yarra and Tex McKenzie speak about the Yarra Queer History Walk, a guided tour that traces Melbourne’s queer‑footprints through Fitzroy, Collingwood and Abbotsford.

Jack is also joined by Rachel Cook and Chiron Hooson from Thorne Harbour to discuss the Community Periodic Surveys, our presence at Carnival, and more.

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 wellwellwell@joy.org.au...

Jack, Jake and Thorne Harbour Health Events Coordinator Chiron Hooson walk through a whirlwind 2025.

We revisit events from Midsumma Festival, murder‑mystery parties and regional pride pop‑ups, to a record‑breaking World AIDS Day Red Ribbon Run and the revival of Northside Bazaar.

Gus from Thorne Harbour’s family violence counselling team adds a quick roundup of the work their team does, 657 client contacts, new funding streams and the award‑winning Refuge to Recovery project.

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

...

Molly Boorman from Thorne Harbour Health unpacks holiday wellbeing for LGBTIQ+ folk, from family driven stress to managing alcohol and other drug use.

Molly shares practical tools like self compassion, safety planning, group peer support and when to access services like Direct Line, Rainbow Door and Lifeline.

She also speaks with Jack and Jake about online intake options and the importance of creating new, affirming traditions when traditional gatherings feel unsafe.

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

If there’s somethi...

Cal talks with South Australian Legislative Council Member Ian Hunter about the murder of George Duncan that ignited South Australia’s push to decriminalise male homosexuality in 1975.

Ian walks us through the behind the scenes lobbying by students, academic, law societies, and politicians that turned this historic event into legislative reform.

He also explains how early AIDS activism blended community organising with direct access to health ministers, shaping a model of cooperative response.

Ian makes a final call for younger generations to stay alert, because rights can be taken away by parliament just as e...

In the final episode of our 16 Days of Activism series, we’re turning to the health and support systems themselves.

We talk about how mainstream family violence services can better support queer clients and what the sector can learn from the community led response with Gus and Vincent from Thorne Harbour Health.

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 wellwellwell@joy.org.au

Fi...

Ending intimate partner and gender violence means supporting those who use harm to change.

In this episode we explore what that looks like in queer relationships with Gus and Vincent from Thorne Harbour Health’s family violence counselling team.

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 wellwellwell@joy.org.au

Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victoria and South Au...

Leaving a violent relationship is just the start.

As we mark the 16 Days of Activism, we’re talking about what it takes to heal and how this journey might be different for queer people.

We’re joined this episode by lived experience expert Alex as well as Gus and Vincent from Thorne Harbour Health to discuss this important topic.

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 i...

Sharna Ciotti and Lili K join us from Adelaide to discuss the recently released South Australian Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Report.

We also discuss Thorne Harbour Health’s new Family and Domestic Violence services which are tailored to our diverse LGBTIA+ communities.

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 wellwellwell@joy.org.au

Find out more about LGBTIQ+...

We’re joined by Bruce Fitzgerald, a proud member of Mob+, a unique group for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living with HIV, supported through the Thorne Harbour Positive Living Centre.

With World AIDS Day just behind us and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander HIV Awareness Week underway, it’s the perfect time to talk about the group.

Bruce is here to help us understand why Mob+ exists, what makes it so important, and what’s happening in the space for First Nations people living with HIV.

To keep up with the group...

Continuing our 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence series, we’re discussing Unseen Abuse.

Joel is joined again by Vincent and Gus from Thorne Harbour Health to learn more about what Unseen Abuse is, how it might look, and how to seek help.

If this episode has raised any issues for you, help is available.

What is Family of Origin Violence and how does it affect our LGBTQIA+ communities?

Joel speaks with Gus and Vincent from Thorne Harbour Health about this issue in light of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign.

If this episode has raised any issues for you, help is available.

A growing body of research shows that lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and other sexuality and gender-diverse (LGBTQ+) people experience disproportionately high levels of sexual violence.

However, there is limited understanding of the characteristics and contexts of those who use sexual violence against LGBTQ+ individuals.

Crossing Lines from the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health, and Society (or ARCSHS) will investigate unwanted sexual behaviours against LGBTQ+ people, aiming to generate actionable knowledge to improve responses to such violence.

It focuses on the social forces, risk factors, and characteristics of those who use sexual...

We discuss the LGBTIQA+ Health, Wellbeing, and Inclusion conference in Adelaide, Better Together and hear from presenters at the show including:

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 ex...

In the final episode of our series reflecting on 20 years and 1000 episodes of Well Well Well, we speak with Jason Asselin previously of the Victorian AIDS Council about the show circa 2010.

Jason walks us through a time before PrEP where social media was in its early days and the innovative work VAC (now Thorne Harbour Health) did in this space.

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...

Show alum Renee Thompson joins us as guest co-host on a walk down memory lane circa 2015, discussing the Marriage Equality debate and Thorne Harbour’s shift from HIV and gay men’s health to the broader LGBTIQA+ communities.

We also hear from outgoing Thorne Harbour Health CEO Simon Ruth about his 12 years at the organisation and the issues affecting our communities during that time.

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...

Continuing our celebration of 20 years of Well Well Well, we’re revisiting a bit closer to home this episode: 2020.

Michael Whelan joins Jack and Cal as guest cohost to discuss sex and intimacy during the COVID lockdown periods, as well as Sextech.

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 wellwellwell@joy.org.au

Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victo...

Well Well Well has been broadcasting for over 20 years and now 1000 episodes!

Jack and Cal are joined by Tex McKenzie and Martin Holt to speak about the health and wellbeing of our communities back in 2005 when the show first began.

We also discuss the impact of another long running project, the GBQ+ (previously just Gay) Community Periodic Survey, which has been running for 30 years.

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 explo...

Rachel is joined by Reah Saunders, the acting President of Dykes on Bikes to talk about the future of Dykes on Bikes, and what International Lesbian Day means to her personally, and to the community she rides with.

Learn more about Dykes on Bikes at their website: https://dykesonbikesmelbourne.org.au/

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 wellwellwell@joy.org.au

Find...

We continue our coverage from the Australasian Society of HIV Medicines (ASHM) Conference with conversations.

Joel speaks with Brooke and Rodrigo from the Burnett Foundation about the criminalisation of HIV in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Leigh Boucher talks about a project from Macquarie University exploring the impact of the first years of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in its Australian epicentre, Darlinghurst in Sydney’s inner east.

We also hear about a study into sexual health education for young LGBTIQA+ people and their parents from Alex from La Trobe University and one of the study’s pa...

We head to Adelaide for the HIV and sexual health conference from the Australasian Society of HIV Medicine or ASHM.

Ella from the Kirby Institute discusses the intersection of HIV with culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

We also hear from Larisa and Carla from UNSW about the Stigma Indicators Monitoring Project for people living with HIV.

Lastly, Dr Rona Carroll from the University Of Otago Wellington speaks about gender affirming care in general practice in New Zealand.

Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing at j...

Each episode, Big Bi+ Questions on JOY tackles topics for the Bi+ community like “Am I still bisexual if I have a preference in gender,” “do I have to come out as bi+,” or “Why can’t we sit on chairs properly,” and answers them over the course of an hour.

Rachel and Jordan are joined in the studio by Tamzyn and Jase to blast through a bunch of Big Bi+ Questions in the limited time they have with these bicons.

Listen to Big Bi+ Questions at joy.org.au/bigbiquestions or wherever you get your podcasts...

We’ve recently seen a wave of targeted attacks where perpetrators used fake profiles to lure people before ambushing them with robbery, assault, and homophobic abuse.

In response, Switchboard Victoria has launched a new dedicated helpline via the Rainbow Door service (details below) to support LGBTIQA+ people who’ve experienced violence linked to dating and meet-up apps.

It’s a serious issue, and in this episode Jack and Cal speak about the helpline and the support it offers with Switchboard CEO, Jenna Tuke.

Mentioned in this episode:

Jordan and Rachel speak with queer sexologist Kendall Buckley about how to navigate sex and relationships. As this is Women’s Health Week, we also look at  some of the issues that affect LGBTIQ+ women in particular and how we can better advocate for our pleasure. We dive into the myths about polyamory, non-monogamy, or kink in LGBTIQ+ circles, and how Kendall’s work challenges heteronormative models of relationships and intimacy.

Kendall Buckley is a sexologist and clinical nurse consultant who works exclusively with LGBTQIA+/FLINTA communities. Drawing on relational therapy and feminist theory, her evidence based perso...

Wear It Purple Day is celebrating 15 years of action and support for young LGBTIQA+ people.

They discussed their personal experiences as young LGBTIQA+ people in highschool, and the generational differences and similarities that remain.

Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on...

SAMESH, the South Australian Mobilisation and Empowerment for Sexual Health is an HIV/STI Prevention and Health Promotion program which recently celebrated ten years since its foundation.

This partnership between Thorne Harbour Health and SHINE SA came about in 2015 after the AIDS Council of South Australia (ACSA) closed a few years prior.

Jack spoke with two people who were instrumental in its formation and ongoing operation:

They discuss how SAMESH was designed...

Trans and gender diverse (TGD) people face significant barriers when accessing alcohol and other drug (AOD) residential services—barriers that are too often overlooked. In this episode, we explore new research unpacking those challenges, and ask: what does inclusive care actually look like?

We’re joined by Nic Robinson Griffith from Thorne Harbour Health, and Annette Peart and Blair Hill from Turning Point. Together, they delve into inconsistent practices across services, gaps in staff training, and the real-world consequences of exclusion—through both professional insights and lived experience.

This is a call to action for policy...

Emen8.com.au is an Australian sexual health and wellbeing platform for gay, bisexual, and queer men.

The site is vital in the HIV prevention space, providing clear information about health, sex, relationships and community.

As the HIV and sexual health landscape evolves, so does Emen8, with a renewed focus on multicultural inclusion and newer prevention tools like Doxy-PEP.

Joining us this episode are Project Lead Chris Williams and Content Writer Oli McAuslan to discuss a wide range of topics including:

We’re diving into two iconic events in Melbourne’s queer community: A Week of Leather (AWOL) and the long-awaited return of Northside Bizarre.

AWOL and Northside Bizarre have long been cornerstones of Melbourne’s queer scene, creating vital spaces for connection, expression, and celebration within leather, fetish, and kink cultures.

We’re joined by Dean Arcuri and Brett Lasham from The Laird Hotel, who run A Week of Leather, and Craig Bascand from Down and Dirty.

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

This week on Well Well Well, we’re joined by Josh Smith from Lifeblood and Professor John Kaldor from the Kirby Institute to unpack the recent changes to plasma donation rules, now allowing thousands more—including gay, bi+ and trans Australians—to donate without a wait period.

We also look ahead to 2026, when gender-neutral rules for blood and platelet donation are set to be introduced.

HIV Futures is the largest and longest-running study of people living with HIV in Australia. Running since 1997, the study undertakes periodic surveys of Australians living with HIV.

Dr Thomas Norman joins us to discuss the study, what it aims to accomplish, some of the findings in previous years, and why people living with HIV should consider taking the survey themselves.

Learn more about HIV Futures 11 at hivfutures.org.

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

If there’s something you’d lik...