The Hook Up

Do you reckon it’s OK to talk about your ex around your current partner? Exes can be a big part of what makes you who you are. But at what point can you say enough is enough? Psychosexual therapist Jacqueline Hellyet and psychologist and Director of Relationships Australia Elisabeth Shaw join Nat to chat about what's reasonable, what's not, and how to discuss the ex in a new relationship.

It can be really daunting to seek out a sex worker if you’ve never done it before. How do you know who’s going to be right for you? How do you negotiate payment? And is it even legal? It can be really tricky knowing where to start, so to break it all down for you, sex worker Lucie Bee and Scarlett Alliance CEO Jules Kim join Nat in the studio.

We all know festivals are the perfect place to get loose and hook up. But while they're usually amazing experiences, they can also come with risks. Dr Phillip Wadds, Senior Lecturer in Criminology the University of New South Wales, has co-authored a report that investigates Safety, Sexual Harassment and Assault at Australian Music Festivals. Dr Wadds joins Nat to chat about why this is still such...

Splendour in the Grass is just around the corner and let's be real ... everyone knows there’s more to festivals than just the music. But why do we froth over festival hook ups so much? And what's the best way to go about it? Nat chats with a panel of experts - who all met their current partners at festivals - to suss out all the dos and don'ts of festival love.

Do you think smart is sexy? Are you aroused by intelligence? You might be a sapiosexual.

What do you do with your hair down there? Maybe you pluck it, maybe you wax it, maybe you’ve lasered it all off… But why are we so obsessed with removing our pubes, and has it always been this way? Nat tackles those questions and learns how everyone can embrace whatever landscaping they choose … and how to deal if a partner can't get around it.

When it comes to preventing pregnancy, there are plenty of methods to choose from. But if you’re over the pill or contraceptives that involve taking hormones, what are your options? Dr Clare Boerma, Associate Medical Director at Family Planning NSW, joins Nat to lay out all the options, weigh up the pros and cons, and help you decide what's best for you.

Being in a new relationship can make you feel crazy… colours are brighter and you're all "heart-eyes emoji". All. The. Time. But that New Relationship Energy — or NRE — usually won't last, so how do you enjoy it without losing yourself and your perspective? It's a question Nat's been asking herself as she rides that intense "honeymoon phase" buzz of her new relationship, so she's got psychologist...

Around two-thirds of same-sex attracted guys have experienced abuse in a relationship. But most of them aren't reporting it, or even talking about it. That's what the Sorting It Out report, released by ACON and Western Sydney University, has found. Nat examines a culture of silence, a lack of resources and looks at what needs to change.

Do you believe in soulmates? Are you looking for The One? Out of eight billion people, the chances that there's one other person for you are pretty skint. But plenty of millennials are amping up their search for The One. Dr Lauren Rosewarne and psychologist Melanie Khashadorian join Nat to debunk The One, talk soulmates and what the search for your "other half" can do to your relationships and men...

We all get tired of the whole dating game at times, but for people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), it’s a whole different level of exhaustion. CFS/ME can leave a person with a whole bunch of symptoms — physical exhaustion, mental exhaustion and muscle fatigue being just a few. Cat O Dowd, a sex therapist who lives with chronic fatigue syndrome, joins Nat to t...

Have you ever dated someone for the perks? Free gig tickets? A sweet beach house? Maybe even a valid driver licence? Heaps of people do it, so it can be tricky to know if someone’s with you for you — and not the perks. Sexologist Amanda Lambros joins Nat to get right into that, plus why so many of us do it, even though we know it's wrong.

Have you heard of subspace? It's very specific physical feeling — similar to a drug-like high — which you can enter through BDSM play. But it doesn't come without its risks. Pro dominatrix Mistress Tokyo and holistic counsellor Bianca Wolff join Nat to talk all things subspace — what is it, how it works and how to get there safely. CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains stories of pain, violence a...

Getting rejected absolutely sucks. It’s one of our absolute greatest fears when it comes to dating, but it’s also inevitable. Psychologist Stephen Andrew and clinical psychologist Crysta Derham join Nat to talk dealing with rejection, how to dish it out gently and how to take it on the chin and get back in the dating game.

Belgian psychotherapist Esther Perel is a giant in the world of sex and relationships. Her groundbreaking therapy work with couples around the globe, her writing and her unflinching podcast Where Should We Begin? have revealed the conflicts between our expectations and the reality of long-term human relationships and sexuality. While in Australia as part of Vivid Live, Esther joined Nat in the stu...

Does your partner sleep talk? Maybe they hog the covers. Or their snoring means you’re up all night. Whatever it is, it’s stopping you from enjoying some precious shut-eye. In this episode, Sleep Health Foundation's sleep physician Dr David Cunnington and psychotherapist Dr Zoë Krupka join Nat to hear about all your partners' annoying sleep habits, how to work on those issues and why we even feel...

Have you ever had a threesome? They're becoming more and more popular these days. And for a large proportion of heterosexual couples, a bisexual woman is considered the perfect third. Rare. A unicorn, if you will. In this episode, bisexual advocate Ruby Susan and sex and relationships therapist Lisa Torney join Nat to talk about unicorn hunting, why it can be so hurtful for the unicorns and how al...

We all know how great masturbating is when you’re really feelin’ your fine self... but what about when things don’t quite go to plan? You can end up feeling a whole lot more than you bargained for. Whether it’s not cleaning your toys, using the wrong materials for your body, or flat out putting things where they’re not supposed to go, we look at all the things that can go wrong so you can get it r...

Do you know your butt plugs from your dildos? How about your rabbits from your penguins? Today is International Masturbation Day and we're giving you a crash course on everything you need to know about sex toys — the different categories, how to use them on yourself and even how to introduce them into partnered sex.

You know the feeling when you're chatting with someone really cute, maybe you've been on a few dates and everything's going great, but then they just ... disappear? You're left feeling cold and alone, and wondering what happened. Hey, that’s why they call it ghosting! Sexologist Dr Nikki Goldstein joins Nat to chat what you should do if you're being ghosted, why we ghost people and what we should...

It can be pretty easy to get stuck in a rut if you masturbate the same way every time. After all, if it works, it works! But did you know changing up your solo routine can actually make partnered sex better? Sex therapists Tanya Koens and Dr Chris Fox talk fresh approaches, from orgasmic yoga to breathing through your anus — and why it's a good idea for everyone to try shaking it up while shaking...

You've probably heard of a hunger strike, but have you ever heard of a sex strike? Actress Alyssa Milano recently called for all women to go on a #SexStrike in protest against a new abortion law in Georgia in the United States. The idea's had some pretty mixed reactions, but it got us thinking about withholding sex — does it work? Is it a good idea? Is it abuse? Lecturer in Criminology Dr Bianca F...

Fights, arguments, disagreements… they're an inevitable part of most relationships. But did you know it's possible to have a good fight with your partner? That is, one you can both win. Sex therapist Tanya Koens teaches you how to turn your frustrating fights into productive ones, and why all conflicts are valid, no matter how 'dumb' they seem.

Why is it still so taboo to talk about flicking the bean or yanking the chain? Masturbation is one of the best expressions of self-love out there, but there are heaps of people who experience feelings of guilt and shame every time they do it. Lecturer in sexology, Amanda Lambros, and author of Masturbation in Pop Culture, Dr Lauren Rosewarne, join Nat to break down that stigma of masturbation and...

We often hear things like "relationships take work", but how do you know when it's time to stop working at it ... and just walk away? It was a question Nat had to ask herself several times before recently ending her relationship of more than six years. In this episode, psychologists Gemma Cribb and Clinton Power chat about when it's time to call it quits, when you should stick it out, and whether...