We speak with Dr Maurice Nagington, a researcher at the University of Manchester in the UK, about his research paper ‘The paradox of chemsex: bringing people together and breaking the gay community apart’. We discuss the cultural representations of sex and drugs as they relate to gay men in film, literature and artwork, and how chemsex impacts on gay capitalism and the gay scene.

Content/ trigger warning: This interview contains discussions and/or descriptions of drug use and/or drug paraphernalia, sex, and strong themes and language, that may be distressing to some listeners. If the content raises questions or causes distress to you, please contact Lifeline (13 11 14),  DirectLine (1800 888 236), or Turning Point National Alcohol and Drug Information Service (1800 250 015).

We speak with Australian musician Julian Wa, about the release of his new single ‘Bloom’, and its b-side ‘Frankensteina’. We discuss Julian’s experimental music influences, his songwriting and creative process and how it relates to his music style.

Download ‘Bloom’ via Bandcamp, and listen to his 2017 self-titled debut EP here.

We speak with Caroline Ridler, coordinator for the QTIPoC Project at Switchboard Victoria, about the program’s professional development and community consultation, the meaning of intersectionality, anti-racism and racial literacy, and the vital role of self-reflexivity on power and inequality for the project.

Switchboard Victoria is a peer-based LGBTIQ phone counselling and referral service. If you need assistance, call 1800 184 527 (3pm - midnight), or via QLife webchat.

The tracks 'Bloom' and 'Frankensteina’, written and performed by Julian Wa, have been used with permission by the artist.