The Hook Up

We’ve all been audiences to celebrity splits where dirty laundry gets aired out through podcast tell-all’s, tiktok sprays and album drops - but what about when it happens closer to home? We explore the aftermath of a break up and hear your stories of when you’ve gone public, from openly grieving to spilling secrets, to when you’ve been put on blast by an ex and had the truth twisted.  DM us your t...

What does the kinda porn you’re into mean? Is it just a fantasy or is it deeper than that? And how do you deal with feelings of shame and guilt if what you like to get off to, doesn’t align with who you are in your everyday life.  In this ep, Dee chats to sexologist Lauren French about what your porn taste says about you.  SHOW NOTES: Lifeline: 13 11 14 1800 RESPECT: 1800 737 732  MensLine Austral...

Sometimes what turns you on can throw you for a loop. Maybe you’re straight but love gay porn? Or maybe you consider yourself a staunch feminist, but you get off watching gangbangs or reading CNC smut books? In this episode we find out all the different types of porn you’re loving, and whether your taste in porn aligns with your sexuality, gender and politics. *Content warning* - In this ep we dis...

Heated Rivalry is one of the hottest, most popular shows right now. So what is it about Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov that's got so many gay men AND women obsessed?  We unpack the Canadian 8 episode HBO series with comedian, and host of The Mitch Churi Show, Mitch Churi - and hear why this series has become a cultural turning point for queer love stories. SHOW NOTES: The Mitch Churi Chat Show:...

It sounds great on paper - a friend who you have no-strings-attached, drama free sex with. But is it really possible, and is it worth trying? We hear your experiences with FWB relationships - from when they’ve worked to when they’ve crashed and burned - and your rules to make a successful friends with benefits. DM us your thoughts, questions, topics, or to just vent at  @triplejthehookup  on IG or...

Is your partner a massive scroller? Always on their phone for work? Obsessed with watching videos? Being on your phone too much in a relationship can massively impact your connection and intimacy.  It’s something professor Dr Michelle Drouin has been studying for years. In this ep, she chats to Dee about her research and how you can chill out on the phone use in your relos.  SHOW NOTES: Dee and Pi...

Nearly 70% of you reckon that phones are causing problems in your relationships. From etiquette and icks in early dating, to feeling distant and causing tension with your long term partners - we explore how they’re impacting our love lives, whether they can create intimacy and your rules to curb your “smartphone addiction” (if that’s even a real thing). SHOW NOTES: Phone Addiction:  https://www.th...

We're back!!! Dee and Pip yap about their summers. Guess who was sick and who partied non stop. They also debrief Heated Rivalry and let you know what's coming up this year with The Hook Up. DM us your thoughts, questions, topics, or to just vent at  @triplejthehookup  on IG or email us: thehookup@abc.net.au The Hook Up is an ABC podcast, produced by triple j. It is recorded on the lands of the Wu...

ICYMI: Whether it’s for friendship, therapy or sexual and romantic relationships, AI companions are becoming way more normalised. So what does this mean for the way we relate and date people irl? We investigate the rise of AI relationships and hear how you’re using it in your own love lives. CW: discussion of mental health and suicide SHOW NOTES: Mental health and AI companions https://www.abc.net...

ICYMI: If you’re not feeling great mentally, or you want to work through some things, or you’ve just gone through a big life event - you might be thinking about getting some professional help.  Starting therapy can feel super overwhelming if you’ve never done it before, so in this ep we chat to clinical psychologist Dr Jarrod White about everything you need to know about going to therapy for the f...

Keen to have a threesome for the first time but duno how to go about it? Dee chats to sexologist Laura Lee about all the different ways you can have a threeway.  SHOW NOTES: How Are You Having Threesomes? VOD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7El-yUPxPMw&t=3s DM us your thoughts, questions, topics, or to just vent at  @triplejthehookup  on IG or email us: thehookup@abc.net.au The Hook Up is an...

So you wanna get back with your ex. It’s a pretty universal experience and you told us heaps of reasons why you tried to rekindle the relationship - whether it’s emotional dependency, needing closure or the whole “it’ll be different this time!”. We hear your stories from when it’s worked, when it hasn’t, and if there’s a formula to getting it right.  SHOW NOTES: Should You Get Back With Your Ex or...

Have you ever dated someone who's family was too involved, or a bit too close? Whether it’s your own or your partners - we hear how families with no boundaries, cultural/religious differences, and mummy’s boys/daddy’s girls have messed with your love life. SHOW NOTES: An Expert’s Advice For Dealing With Toxic Families: https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/the-hook-up/families-no-boundaries-toxi...

We’re coming to the end of a massive year covering all things love, sex, dating and relationships here on The Hook Up. From the male loneliness epidemic and the rise of AI relationships, to the rise of ENM, performative males, fake doms and boyfriends being embarrassing - we recap all the trends in news and pop culture that got you talking, plus hear your fav eps from 2025! SHOW NOTES: Hack story...

If your friend is dating someone that sucks, or is downright toxic - what’s the best way to let them know? In this ep, you’ll hear from psychologist Liz Neal about how to tell someone you love that you don’t like their partner and what to do if your friend pushes you away.   SHOW NOTES: 1800 Respect: 1800 737 732  Liz Neal Website: https://www.elizabethneal.com.au/ DM us your thoughts, questions,...

We’ve all had a friend who’s dated someone you don’t like - but is it ever your place to say something? We find out whether you should tell them (early? When you’re asked? Or not at all??), find the difference between not liking their partner vs they’re bad for your friend and why you reckon it’s important to stick around even if your friend's got rose coloured glasses on. SHOW NOTES: Lifeline: 13...

Sex toys are an amazing way to explore pleasure and discover your sexuality - but there’s still a lot of stigma, especially when bringing them into partnered sex or if you struggle to climax without one. We chat to sex educator Georgia Grace about how to work through any internalised toy shame, and how to introduce them if you (or your partner) feel awkward. Note: we experienced some technical iss...

Sex toys have become more accessible and normalised than ever before, but are they making your love life better? From vibrators, dildos and fleshlights to floggers, whips and gags, we hear how you’re using them with partners, we unpack vibrator shame, and discuss how the sexual wellness trend is packaging products and pleasure. SHOW NOTES: Men are buying more sex toys: https://www.bodyandsoul.com....

Some people say one of the most important decisions you’ll make is the person you choose to marry. So how can you make sure you’re ready to tie the knot, and that they’re the partner for you? We chat to couples therapist Isiah McKimmie to find out the ‘must ask’ questions - you should be asking yourself and each other.  SHOW NOTES: Isiah McKimmie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isiahmckimmie....

It’s been a year of engagements and tying the knot for some of the biggest pop stars in the world, like Charli XCX, Lana Del Ray, Dua Lipa and Taylor Swift. And despite it being one of the oldest and most traditional ways to commit to a partner - research shows young people are more keen on getting wed than the generation before us. We hear how you feel about marriage, and whether it’s something y...

Actor Zoe Terakes (Talk To Me, Nine Perfect Strangers, Marvel’s Ironheart) is reclaiming Ancient Greek mythology in their debut novel Eros: Queer Myths For Lovers. In this episode, Zoe chats with Dee about why so many of the iconic Greek myths - from Zeus and Aphrodite to Icarus and Hermaphroditus - are really stories of queer and trans life, lust, sex, and revenge. And why it’s so important to re...

Have you ever been in a relationship where your partner starts to feel less romantic, more platonic, or even like your flatmate? You might have experienced roommate syndrome. In this episode with special cohost Jordan Barr, we work out the telltale the signs of a roomie phase, unpack the reasons why it happens and debate whether we should be reframing our expectations of long term relationships. S...

We chat to award winning radio journalist and author Stephanie Foo about her memoir What My Bones Know, exploring her diagnosis with C-PTSD – unpacking how and why it manifested for her, understanding intergenerational trauma, and how she’s learning to heal. SHOW NOTES: Lifeline: 13 11 14 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 13 Yarn: 13 92 76 Headspace: https://headspace.org.au/ Cherry Blossom Intergeneratio...

Height is something you (mostly) can’t change, and yet it’s one of the most contentious dating preferences - we’re lying about it on the apps, rejecting lovers if they don’t measure up and even turning it into a full-blown personality trait. In this episode with special cohost Blake Pavey, we’re unpacking how height is affecting your love life, where this tall tale of height superiority is coming...

Do you find sexting, nudes and filming with a partner hot - but don’t know how to initiate, manage consent, deal with body confidence and understand the risks? We get advice and practical tips from sex educator Georgia Grace on how to get intimate online in a safe and sexy way.  SHOW NOTES: Helplines: Lifeline - 13 11 14  1800 RESPECT More information on image-based abuse:  https://www.esafety.gov...