Well Well Well

We explore gambling harm through an LGBTIQA+ lens, unpacking how minority stress, isolation and belonging shape the way diverse communities experience it. Matt and Tracey from Relationships Australia SA join us to discuss why certain cohorts within our diverse communities face elevated risks and how online wagering and gaming mechanics have transformed the gambling landscape. Jack also speaks with them about the barriers people face seeking support and what genuine inclusivity looks like in mainstream services. Listeners learn practical strategies for harm reduction and where free, confidential support can be accessed. Chapters 00:21 – What is gambling harm and who does it reach 06:08 – Who is most likely to experience it within LGBTIQA+ communities 07:29 – When does recreation tip into harmful behaviour 09:58 – How does this harm look different today compared to twenty years ago 12:38 – Why is it difficult to measure gambling impact in diverse communities 15:25 – Why is gambling harm hard for people to talk about 18:48 – What does seeking help look like 22:28 – The impacts of minority stress 25:55 – Online spaces and gaming 31:27 – Where to start if you experience gambling harm All chapter timecodes are approximate. Want more Well Well Well? 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 Joel discuss the ASHM Conference at Albert Park in Melbourne, where the HIV and sexual health sector gathers each year to compare notes on what’s working. This episode digs into why stigma has lagged behind prevention science, from an on-demand PrEP campaign timed to Mardi Gras to new research showing there’s no shared norm any more about discussing HIV status with casual partners. We also examine who gets imagined as “the community” in ending HIV campaigns, and hear about how turning stigma into a measurable indicator may have detached it from the inequalities that actually produce it. Finally, we sit down with the team behind Australia’s first Bi+ Inclusion Framework to talk erasure, double discrimination, and what genuinely inclusive services look like in practice. Chapters 01:03 – Why hasn’t HIV stigma caught up with prevention? 06:13 – What role does party culture play in health messaging? 09:45 – What has PrEP done to condom use and norms? 13:56 – What does health promotion say with no shared norm? 17:30 – What do you do when U=U knowledge isn’t enough? 21:42 – Is community as technology of government too cynical? 26:35 – How does it feel to have your campaigns studied? 30:12 – Do affirming spaces still exist for young queers? 35:47 – What’s working in the sector and how do we scale it? 40:03 – How does bi+ invisibility make services feel unwelcoming? 44:18 – What feedback have delegates given on the framework? All chapter timecodes are approximate. Want more Well Well Well? 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, Joel Parker

In this episode we’re talking about Before We Begin, a naughty, interactive comedy that mashes up the playful spirit of Taskmaster with the educational heart of Sex Education. Created by theatremaker and performer Hamish Annan, the live show invites audiences to explore consent and queer intimacy through a series of escalating, real-time invitations. It’s a vulnerable, hilarious, and safe space to practice “sexy decision-making” with strangers, proving that doing intimacy better is a team effort. Jack and Joel ask Hamish about creating safe containers for vulnerability, the gaps in queer sex education, and how comedy can be a powerful tool for consent. Chapters 1:00 – What “Before We Begin” is and how much is scripted vs improv 6:25 – How to handle consent from audience participants 10:15 – Other creative inspirations 14:16 – Queer relationships and sex education 17:10 – A non-consensual experience 23:50 – The impact of the show on audiences 28:11 – How to handle someone saying no 35:20 – Balancing education and entertainment 38:10 – How the show has evolved and future plans All chapter timecodes are approximate. Want more Well Well Well? 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, Joel Parker

Luke Miller, Lead Organiser of Melbourne Queer Games Festival joins us to unpack how video games function as both therapeutic escape and powerful tools for identity exploration. Jack and Jake chat with him about the festival’s decade-long journey from a simple “gayest games” list to an internationally recognised showcase of over 1000 submissions from queer creators worldwide. We discuss the unique healing potential of meditative indie games and how digital spaces can serve vulnerable community members who lack physical access to queer venues. Chapters 02:13 – Introducing Luke Miller and Melbourne Queer Games Festival 03:35 – Festival origins from gay game lists to event 04:36 – Standout games that have featured in past festivals 09:01 – The judging and assessment process 11:45 – Current festival format online and in person details 14:51 – Defining what qualifies as a queer game 16:08 – Robert Yang and experimental queer game mechanics 19:44 – Balancing diverse identities and community needs 25:43 – Decline in mainstream discourse around queer games 30:12 – Personal games that shaped coming out experience 32:50 – Feedback from players about game representation impact 40:01 – Getting involved in the festival All chapter timecodes are approximate. Want more Well Well Well? 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, Jake Neville

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 Chapters 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. Want more Well Well Well? 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