Apparently condom use is at its lowest recorded level since 1992 - and it’s causing a national emergency of STI rates. So why are people avoiding the rubber? 

In this ep, you’ll hear about the latest research from sexual health expert Jason Ong and get advice on what to do if someone’s shaming you for wanting to use one.

SHOW NOTES:

Jason Ong - https://www.mshc.org.au/about/our-team

Stay STI Free - https://www.staystifree.org.au/

Sexual Health Victoria - https://www.shvic.org.au/

La Trobe Study - https://www.latrobe.edu.au/arcshs/work/sexual-health/national-survey-of-secondary-students

DM us your thoughts, questions, topics, or to just vent at @triplejthehookup on IG or email us: [email protected]

The Hook Up is an ABC podcast, produced by triple j. It is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We pay our respects to elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn.

We’re on a little break! But we’re dipping into the archive to bring you the best moments provided by some of our favourite guests! From VERY controversial hot takes from comedians Will Gibb and Daniel Foxx, to Angela White’s sex advice on squirting and eating pussy, chatting threesomes with Hunter Smith and unpacking queer female sexuality with Jordan Barr and height in dating with Blake Pavey - we revisit our favourite moments!

DM us your thoughts, questions, topics, or to just vent at @triplejthehookup on IG or email us: [email protected]

The Hook Up is an ABC podcast, produced by triple j. It is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We pay our respects to elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn.

What happens when you don't end up with the life you always dreamt of? For writer Sheree Joseph it was getting married and having kids. But after her long-term relationship ended and an unsuccessful fertility journey, she had to face a future she never expected for herself.

In this chat, Sheree chats to Dee about her journey, the grief she experienced, and what it’s been like to embrace being single and child-free in her early 30s.

SHOW NOTES:

Sheree Joseph Memoir Juicy - https://publishing.hardiegrant.com/en-au/books/juicy-by-sheree-joseph/9780645858136

Sheree Joseph IG - https://www.instagram.com/shereewriter/

DM us your thoughts, questions, topics, or to just vent at @triplejthehookup on IG or email us: [email protected]

The Hook Up is an ABC podcast, produced by triple j. It is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We pay our respects to elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn.

We’re on a little break! But we’re dipping into the archive to bring you the best stories provided by YOU - our extremely sexy smart cool listeners! From cum-piphanies and public break ups, to pleasure dom mommy’s and meeting soulmates in the rideshare - we revisit our favourite and most memorable voice memos sent in by The Hook Up fam.

DM us your thoughts, questions, topics, or to just vent at @triplejthehookup on IG or email us: [email protected]

The Hook Up is an ABC podcast, produced by triple j. It is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We pay our respects to elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn.

After being made redundant from his dream job as an investigative journalist, Bension Siebert turned to sex work to make money and surprised himself by how much he enjoyed it.

In this ep, Bension chats to Dee about ‘coming out’ with his new profession, the reaction online and what he’s learnt about the industry.

SHOW NOTES:

Bension’s Cheek Article - https://cheekmedia.substack.com/p/how-sex-work-saved-my-investigative

Bension’s IG - https://www.instagram.com/bensionfindsout/

DM us your thoughts, questions, topics, or to just vent at @triplejthehookup on IG or email us: [email protected]

The Hook Up is an ABC podcast, produced by triple j. It is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We pay our respects to elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn.

We all know the phrase but does dating someone who’s completely different to you actually work? In this ep, we hear your stories of dating people who are opposite in lifestyle, interests and core values, compared to people who’ve dated similar - and find out if compatibility can work both ways.

SHOW NOTES:

Why Do Opposites Attract?

Global study on opposites do not attract:

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/why-opposites-dont-always-attract-a-global-study-of-41606-people-across-74-countries-found-shared-values-matter-most-while-believing-your-partner-is-kinder-and-more-attractive-predicts-happier-relationships/articleshow/132179722.cms?from=mdr

Perceived similarities in couples:

Effects of similarity of life goals, values, and personality on relationship satisfaction and stability:

DM us your thoughts, questions, topics, or to just vent at @triplejthehookup on IG or email us: [email protected]

The Hook Up is an ABC podcast, produced by triple j. It is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We pay our respects to elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn.

Going through heartbreak can be one of the most painful experiences and sometimes those break up scars don’t leave - when you start dating again. So in this ep, we chat to Dr Marny Lishman about the walls we put up after being hurt, how to heal and trust in love again. 

SHOW NOTES:

Break Up Podcast - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac0wdFkrIUA

Dr Marny Lishman - https://www.marnylishman.com.au/

Only You: The Unexpected Gift Of Being Alone - https://www.marnylishman.com.au/books

DM us your thoughts, questions, topics, or to just vent at @triplejthehookup on IG or email us: [email protected]

The Hook Up is an ABC podcast, produced by triple j. It is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We pay our respects to elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn.

We can all agree that break ups are a universally shit experience, whether it’s a long term relationship or situationship. In this episode we’re unpacking all the challenges and questions you have - should you go no contact? How long should you wait before hooking up with someone new? Are my friends sick of hearing about my heartbreak? And can a break up actually be a good thing for ~personal development~?

SHOW NOTES

Breakup Glowup - https://www.tiktok.com/@yourfree_therapy/video/7534079578067750164

Rebound - https://breeze-wellbeing.com/blog/what-is-a-rebound-relationship/

Marie Claire Glow Up - https://www.marieclaire.co.uk/news/science-behind-glow-ups-669161

DM us your thoughts, questions, topics, or to just vent at @triplejthehookup on IG or email us: [email protected]

The Hook Up is an ABC podcast, produced by triple j. It is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We pay our respects to elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn.

There are millions of posts on TikTok all about ‘spicy books’ and someone who’s become famous for reviewing them is author and content creator Tierney Page.

In this ep, she chats about why she thinks there’s been a massive rise in people reading and posting about romantasy and smut, her fav tropes and genres and her journey to becoming an author. 

SHOW NOTES:

watch our romantasy ep with Esme Louise James here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXKoC94haC4

Tierney Page TikTok here - https://www.tiktok.com/@tierney.reads?lang=en

DM us your thoughts, questions, topics, or to just vent at @triplejthehookup on IG or email us: [email protected]

The Hook Up is an ABC podcast, produced by triple j. It is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We pay our respects to elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn.

Whether you have or haven’t read books like Heated Rivalry, A Court of Thorns and Roses or Fourth Wing, you can’t deny the rise in smutty literature. In 2025 romantasy and sports romance experienced triple-digit growth.

But there’s been some criticism around how DR and romantasy books often glamourise SA and are too accessible for young readers. In today’s episode Dee is joined by guest co-host Esme James, a sex historian and author, to discuss why we’re all so obsessed with fantasy smut. 

SHOW NOTES:

https://lighthouse.mq.edu.au/article/2026/feb-2026/romance-revival-why-we-love-stories-about-love?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Why romance novels thrive on tiktok - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-27/why-romance-and-romantasy-novels-are-so-popular-on-tiktok/103198518?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Esme’s book! https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Esme-Louise-James/244716193

Dr Esme Louise James IG - https://www.instagram.com/esme.louisee/?hl=en

DM us your thoughts, questions, topics, or to just vent at @triplejthehookup on IG or email us: [email protected]

The Hook Up is an ABC podcast, produced by triple j. It is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We pay our respects to elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn.

Whether it’s drugs, alcohol, or gambling - addiction can be one of the hardest things to navigate in a relationship. In this episode we chat to clinical psychologist Donna Stambulich about her experience with amphetamine addiction, the impact it has on relationships and how to best support your partner or loved one. 

SHOW NOTES:

Lifeline - 13 11 14 

Donna Stambulich - https://nppsych.com.au/our-psychologists

Recode Me -  https://recode-me.com.au/

Episode with Luke Bateman on Gambling - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTl8Royc2rU&t=16s

DM us your thoughts, questions, topics, or to just vent at @triplejthehookup on IG or email us: [email protected]

The Hook Up is an ABC podcast, produced by triple j. It is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We pay our respects to elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn.