The Hook Up

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?https://www.verywellmind.com/is-it-true-that-opposites-attract-in-relationships-5194818Global study on opposites do not attract:https://www.psypost.org/why-opposites-dont-attract-a-global-study-reveals-the-true-rules-of-romantic-compatibility/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=mdrPerceived similarities in couples:https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/02654075251349720?utm_source=chatgpt.comEffects of similarity of life goals, values, and personality on relationship satisfaction and stability:https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1475-6811.2012.01417.x?utm_source=chatgpt.comDM us your thoughts, questions, topics, or to just vent at @triplejthehookup on IG or email us: [email protected] 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 NOTESBreakup Glowup - https://www.tiktok.com/@yourfree_therapy/video/7534079578067750164Rebound - https://breeze-wellbeing.com/blog/what-is-a-rebound-relationship/Marie Claire Glow Up - https://www.marieclaire.co.uk/news/science-behind-glow-ups-669161DM us your thoughts, questions, topics, or to just vent at @triplejthehookup on IG or email us: [email protected] 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.comWhy 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.comEsme’s book! https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Esme-Louise-James/244716193Dr Esme Louise James IG - https://www.instagram.com/esme.louisee/?hl=enDM us your thoughts, questions, topics, or to just vent at @triplejthehookup on IG or email us: [email protected] 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’s the bet you or someone you know has been affected by gambling? Probably pretty high. Around 3 million Australians experience some sort of gambling harm each year. And 1.2 million Australians are affected by someone else's gambling. And it can have a real impact on your dating or love life. In today’s episode we speak with Luke Bateman, ex-NRL star turned author, about his past addiction and tips on reaching the other side. SHOW NOTES:Lifeline - 13 11 14Gambling Helpline - 1800 858 858Gambling Help Online - https://www.gamblinghelponline.org.au/Luke Bateman IG - https://www.instagram.com/lukebateman_/?hl=enLuke Bateman Australian Story - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-27/turning-the-page-luke-bateman/106963436Compulsive Gambling - https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/compulsive-gambling/symptoms-causes/syc-20355178The Psychology of Gambling Addiction: https://equilibriapcs.com/the-psychology-of-gambling-addiction-why-the-brain-craves-the-bet/Gambling Disorder Psychology: https://www.reachlink.com/advice/general/gambling-disorder-psychology/

Have you ever felt pressure to have a certain kind of sex? Sex positivity has been an incredible movement which has normalised and destigmatised adventurous, kinky and casual sex. But has that come at a cost? In this ep, we’re joined by guest co-host psychologist and sexologist Laura Lee to unpack whether sex positivity and hook up culture has created a new type of pressure and expectation to perform.SHOW NOTES:A women’s right to say ‘meh’ - https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/oct/10/sex-positivity-sexuality-ambivalence-feminismHow sex positivity lost its way: https://katemanne.substack.com/p/how-sex-positivity-lost-its-wayHow Sexual information (CONT) : https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9825060/5 ways to have better sex in a relationship - https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/experimentations/201710/5-ways-have-better-sex-in-relationshipCouples’ sexual communication and dimensions of sexual function: A meta-analysis\https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6699928/Fetish 101: Vanilla - https://www.hudapp.com/blog/fetish-101-vanillaHow the sexual revolution changed the world https://youtu.be/VdDERcyouWs?si=9icswXNioUtwZ3g0The canadian journal of human sexuality https://utppublishing.com/doi/full/10.3138/cjhs.2017-0017

If you’re dating, hooking up with, talking to, or seeing someone but you don’t know where things are going and you don’t know how to bring it up… Dating coach and author Erika Ettin has got you!In this ep, she has some tough love for anyone in a situationship, and will help you have the exclusive/relationship chat. SHOW NOTES:Situationship Ep: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17Qr9ovC2N0Erika Ettin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alittlenudge/?hl=enDM us your thoughts, questions, topics, or to just vent at @triplejthehookup on IG or email us: [email protected] 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.

Have you noticed a pattern in your love life of ending things when a relationship starts to get serious? Or maybe you pick a fight, or ghost people or never commit to a second date. In this ep we chat to psychologist Dr Rebecca Ray about why we can sometimes self-sabotage and how to break that cycle.SHOW NOTES:Dr Rebecca Ray - https://rebeccaray.com.au/DM us your thoughts, questions, topics, or to just vent at @triplejthehookup on IG or email us: [email protected] 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.