Well, Well, Well

Victoria’s mobile pill testing services is off to a successful start with preliminary data and insights from the Beyond the Valley music festival confirming young people are eager for information that could help keep them safe. To discuss what pill testing itself is, Victoria’s pill testing trial, and more, we speak with Sarah Hiley, who is the Drug Checking Director at The Loop. 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 at thorneharbour.org and in South Australia at samesh.org.au.

Joseph and James from Thorne Harbour Health join us to discuss Rewired which is a therapeutic group for Gay, Bi+ and Queer men who want to change their relationship with meth, in addition to Rewired 2.0 which is an ongoing peer support group. 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 at thorneharbour.org and in South Australia at samesh.org.au.

Melbourne's pride festival, Midsumma, is just around the corner! Jack and Cal hear about the Gay, Bisexual, Queer + Community Periodic Survey from its coordinator, Tex McKenzie. Conference and Events Coordinator Chiron Hooson also joins us to discuss Thorne Harbour's presence at the festival this year. 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 at thorneharbour.org and in South Australia at samesh.org.au.

The CADET Trials are investigating whether a commonly prescribed blood pressure medication could provide a much-needed treatment alternative for adults with severe depression. Candesartan is a well-tolerated group of medications widely used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure and could help people with depression in both major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. Researchers are looking for people in Queensland and Victoria to take part in the 16-week trial to see if a daily dose of candesartan, in addition to usual treatment, reduces symptoms of depression and improves general quality of life. To discuss the potential impacts of this study, we speak with Professor Michael Berk, Director of Deakin's Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT) and Research Assistant Paul Cortissos. 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

Chris Williams from Emen8 joins us to discuss some of the biggest stories in LGBTIQA+ sexual health of 2024. He speaks with Jack and Cal about the return of Mpox, the PrEP supply disruption, injectable PrEP, Doxy-PEP, and HIV self-testing. 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 at thorneharbour.org and in South Australia at samesh.org.au.

With 2025 just around the corner, the team are in studio together for their 2024 reflections. Jack, Cal, Rachel, and Joel pick some choice moments from the year to discuss. 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 at thorneharbour.org and in South Australia at samesh.org.au.

Sharna and Matt from Thorne Harbour Health SA join us to speak about how our diverse LGBTIQ+ communities can take care of themselves during the holiday break. They speak with Joel and Jack about how seeing biological families can be problematic for LGBTIQ+ folk, strategies we can employ to look after ourselves, the warning signs to keep an eye out for when turning to alcohol and other drugs, 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 Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victoria at thorneharbour.org and in South Australia at samesh.org.au.

In light of World AIDS Day on December 1, we're talking about Fairfield Hospital 40 years on from the first patient with HIV/AIDS being admitted there. The hospital closed in 1996 but it played a central role in the response to HIV/AIDS in Victoria. In our second of two episodes discussing Fairfield's impact, we're joined by Edwina Wright and David Menadue. 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 at thorneharbour.org and in South Australia at samesh.org.au.

Melanated in Melbourne chronicles the lives of co-hosts Nicole and Ri’chard, two Black Americans living in Australia, as they navigate what it means to be a person of colour in the great Down Unda. Melanated in Melbourne intentionally amplifies the voices of historically disenfranchised individuals by primarily having LGBTIQA+ people of colour, both local and international, come on the show to share their unique stories, with guests ranging from psychologists to drag queens. Nicole and Ri’chard join Jack to discuss why they started the show, some highlights from the first two seasons, and what themes they intend to explore in Season 3 next year. 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 at thorneharbour.org and in South Australia at samesh.org.au.

Podcasts have fast become a part of our everyday media consumption. In fact, the average person spends more than five hours a week listening to them. But could listening to podcasts lead to healthier habits? In the first study of its kind, University of South Australia researchers have explored just this, finding that podcasts can significantly improve health knowledge, increase exercise levels, and boost healthy eating. UniSA researcher Beth Robins joins Jack to discuss the findings, highlighting the potential of podcasts to promote positive health behaviours. 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 at thorneharbour.org and in South Australia at samesh.org.au.

In light of World AIDS Day on December 1, we're talking about Fairfield Hospital 40 years on from the first patient with HIV/AIDS being admitted there. The hospital closed in 1996 but it played a central role in the response to HIV/AIDS in Victoria. In our first of two episodes discussing Fairfield's impact, we're joined by Liz Crock and Bill O’Loughlin. 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 at thorneharbour.org and in South Australia at samesh.org.au.

Jack and Rachel speak to Dr Zarha Stardust about her latest book, Indie Porn - Revolution, Regulation, and Resistance, which takes readers behind the scenes. Stardust finds politicians who watch porn in parliament, protesters leading face-sitting demonstrations, sex workers making COVID-safe pornography, and artists reverse-engineering porn detection software. https://www.dukeupress.edu/indie-porn https://pridecentre.org.au/event/indie-porn-launch/  

In early November, the Style and Spirit Exhibition was opened at the David Roche Gallery to explore the life and design ethos of an important but forgotten style icon while highlighting how HIV stigma contributed to his erasure. Chester Weinberg was the first fashion designer to die of AIDS related illness in 1985. Despite his importance and the prominence of his work, HIV stigma saw Chester literally written out of history books. In this episode of WWW, we’ll head to the exhibition’s opening and hear from co-curators Skye Bartlett and Timothy Roberts. We’ll also hear from Ian Hunter MLC, who helped found the South Australian AIDS Action Committee in the mid 1980s. Ann Maccarrone, Community Engagement and Partnerships Manager at ViiV Healthcare was there and speaks with Jack about the evening. We also hear from community groups at Picnic in the Park, which is part of Feast Festival, Adelaide’s LGBTIQA+ Arts and Cultural Festival. Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing a

Rachel and Joel chat with Sue West from Flourish After 50 about her upcoming workshops for LGBTIQ women and Cal Haek and Chiron Hooson from Thorne Harbour Health join the panel to talk all thinsg World AIDS Day and introduce the innaugural Red Ribbon Run.

Cal and Joel chat to Benjamin Riley from ASHM about his Master's thesis: 'PrEP as a Memory Pill, Gay Men and Generational Imaginaries.' Ben's research focused on how PrEP created sexual freedom for a generation of men who had been living under the threat of HIV. Ben explores the unique perspectives of this group and discusses the differences between gay men who lived pre and post HIV. 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 at thorneharbour.org and in South Australia at samesh.org.au.

Intersex Community Advocate and host of The I In Us on JOY, Paul Byrne-Moroney joins us to speak about his personal experience living with an intersex variation, the advocacy work he does for the community, and more. Toyah from Thorne Harbour Health and Michelle from Mind Australia also join us to speak about the Mental Health Locals in Victoria that aim to address barriers that our LGBTIQ+ communities face when accessing mental health support. 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 at thorneharbour.org and in South Australia at samesh.org.au.

October is time for the Victorian Seniors Festival. Rachel Cook and Peter Waples-Crowe chat to  Pauline Crameri from Val's LGBTI Ageing and Aged Care about what events they have coming up for the festival and the servcies they provide. We also chat with Dr Heather McCormack about a new study which shines a light on the barriers to sexual healthcare for young LGBTIQ+ Aboriginal people and how they can 're-imagine' their future. For more information on Val's click here and here  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 Logo provided by Val's Ageing and Aged Care    

This week Michael chats to Joenas, Mr Vicbears 2024 about the Underwear Charity Auction happening at the Laird Hotel to raise money for Pride Foundation Australia. Supported by Thorne Harbour, the event will see local bear-lebrities strip down to their jocks and auction their garments off to the crowd! Rainbow Connection Coordinator David Kavanagh also tells us about this program that connects older LGBTIQ+ people with younger volunteers for social connection. Resources Check out the event information for the auction here https://vicbears.org.au/event-5847709 Check out the silent auction ahead of the event https://airauctioneer.com/underwear-auction-hosted-by-mr-vicbears-2024 This week's podcast image supplied by Mr Vicbears 2024, Joenas This episode was recorded on the lands of the Yalukut Weelam clan of the Boon Wurrung peoples. We pay our respects to their elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This episode originally aired Thursday, September 12 2024 on

In light of World Mental Health Day on October 10, we're talking all about mental health for our diverse communities. Bron Lawman tells us about the importance of integrating mental health support into other health services, such as HIV and sexual health care. As Thorne Harbour Health's Director of Therapeutic Services in Victoria, Bron has a wealth of experience as a mental health nurse, having worked across several services in both Queensland and Victoria. We also hear from Sharna Ciotti about the positive impact to come from the introduction of Thorne Harbour SA's Specialist LGBTIQA+ Mental Health Service, and the unique challenges our diverse communities face in South Australia. Sharna is the Manager of Therapeutic Services at Thorne Harbour SA and shares advice on other mental health professionals who are looking to work with LGBTIQA+ 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 th

Dr Nneka Nwokolo is an expert in HIV and menopause, women's sexual and reproductive health, contraception, and more. She is the Global Head of Patient Affairs at ViiV Healthcare and is committed to being at the forefront of raising awareness and understanding of little-discussed but important issues, helping people to live their healthiest lives. Jack and Joel speak with Nneka about: What menopause is, the symptoms, and when it happens Treatment options for menopause, and why some are over- or under-prescribed How HIV and menopause change in the presence of the other Some common experiences that women living with HIV face when seeking a diagnosis and treatment for menopause, and more Ann Maccarrone, ViiV Healthcare's Community Engagement & Partnerships Manager also joins us as we discuss the recent ASHM and IUSTI Conferences. 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 throug