Side B is where the spotlight turns to the Mr VicBears 2026 competition — and the humans brave enough to step into it.

In this half of Episode 222, Hide and Seek meets the Class of ’26: Teddy, Justin, Ray, Jake and Craig. It’s a line-up full of history, heart, camp, nerves, confidence, and wildly different journeys into the bear community.

Each competitor shares how they found the bears, what keeps them coming back, and why they’ve decided to run for the sash. We talk community advocacy, representation, confidence-building, favourite ’90s films (yes, Clueless and Serial Mom both feature), and the very real mix of excitement and terror that comes with putting yourself out there.

This isn’t just about abs, beards, or who owns the most outfits with paw prints. It’s about visibility, approachability, and what it means to represent a community built on belonging rather than perfection. From long-time committee members to returning competitors and first-time entrants, the Class of ’26 reflects the diversity and generosity of the bear scene itself.

Side B is funny, warm, occasionally awkward, and deeply sincere — a reminder that while only one person gets the sash, the real win is showing up, being seen, and strengthening the community along the way.

The competitors each highlighted a charity for their runs:

• Teddy spoke about Switchboard
• Justin threw behind the Australian Queer Archives
• Ray highlighted Transgender Victoria
• Jake talked up QLife
• and Craig covered Out of the Closet, Out of Options

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This episode was recorded on the lands of the Yalukut Weelam clan of the Boon Wurrung peoples. We pay our respects to their elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

Find other JOY podcasts at joy.org.au

During Midsumma each year, Victoria doesn’t just come out — it comes out hairy. In Side A of Episode 222, we grin and bear it as Hide and Seek dives into BearFest 2026, the week-long celebration of bears, admirers, community, and controlled chaos that takes over Melbourne every summer.

Jon, Craig and Joenas are joined by Neil of the VicBears committee to unpack what the bear scene actually is (and isn’t), how it grew in Australia, and why it continues to matter far beyond the dance floor. We talk chosen family, intergenerational connection, accessibility, body diversity, and why bear spaces often feel like home for people who never quite fit elsewhere.

Then we take a deep, slightly breathless tour through the week itself: BearWatch Beach Day at Williamstown, Midsumma Carnival, the Teddy Bear Banquet, Bearaoke (where dignity goes to die), Underbear nights, pool parties, dance floors, Pride March prep, and everything in between. Sunscreen, hydration, and sensible footwear are strongly encouraged.

Along the way, we share stories, laughs, and a few “how did we survive that?” moments — because BearFest isn’t just a series of events, it’s a social ecosystem powered by volunteers, community care, and an impressive tolerance for late nights.

Whether you’re a seasoned bear, bear-adjacent, or just wondering why your friends suddenly own harnesses and towels, Side A is your affectionate guide to BearFest — and the people who make it roar.

Love a bear comp? Listen to Who Bears Wins and hear Joenas when he first won his title!

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This episode was recorded on the lands of the Yalukut Weelam clan of the Boon Wurrung peoples. We pay our respects to their elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

Find other JOY podcasts at joy.org.au

New year, new holes in your walls — consensually, of course. So let’s get to the hardware store and get some big tools! In this practical, cheeky episode, Hide and Seek, explores DIY sex and kink projects, from plumbed shower douches to slings, A-frames, and at-home gloryholes.

Jon and Craig walk through what’s genuinely DIY-friendly versus when it’s smarter (and safer) to call a tradie. Installing a douche? Probably doable if you can manage a shower head and thread tape. Ceiling eye-bolts? Get professional help. We talk tools, materials, weight ratings, ergonomics, and the very real importance of testing setups before you put a person in them.

The episode also digs into safety beyond construction: splinters, chafing, privacy, theft risk, and why comfort matters just as much as creativity. Not every fantasy needs to be built — but if you are building it, do it well.

This is a fun, grounded reminder that kink at home can be inventive, accessible, and deeply satisfying — as long as safety, durability, and consent come first.

Don’t remember How to Build a Sex Room? Listen to our episode, Dungeons and Daddies!

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This episode was recorded on the lands of the Yalukut Weelam clan of the Boon Wurrung peoples. We pay our respects to their elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

Find other JOY podcasts at joy.org.au

Call the handyman! Fisting is one of those practices that carries a lot of myth, bravado, and whispered horror stories — and not nearly enough calm, practical conversation. In this episode of Hide and Seek, Jon, Craig and Joenas are joined by Nik to demystify fisting, ground it in lived experience, and focus squarely on harm reduction, communication, and care.

We start where it matters most: real stories. First fists, first surprises, what people wish they’d known earlier, and the myths that fall apart the moment you talk to people who actually do it well. From there, the conversation turns to training — not as a race or a performance, but as a slow, respectful process that prioritises relaxation, trust, and listening to your body.

The episode breaks down positions, lube choices, gloves, nail care, and practical supports without going explicit, while still being genuinely useful. We talk about why “too much lube” is rarely the problem, how different positions affect comfort and control, and when it’s time to pause, stop, or seek medical care — no drama, no shame.

Finally, we look at fisting in public or party settings, sexual-health considerations (including injury, gloves, and infections), and why aftercare and negotiation matter even more outside the home. The takeaway is simple but important: fisting done well isn’t extreme or reckless — it’s careful, communicative, deeply intimate, and never rushed. Also? Puppy pads.

Explore some of our past episodes on fisting:

Episode 6 – A Kiss With A Fist

Episode 83 – Fist and Shout

Episode 123 – My Left Hand

Episode 150 – Fistory Repeating

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This episode was recorded on the lands of the Yalukut Weelam clan of the Boon Wurrung peoples. We pay our respects to their elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

Find other JOY podcasts at joy.org.au

I saw Daddy kissing Santa! Wait — Santa? Yes, Santa. In this festive and surprisingly thoughtful episode, Hide and Seek unwraps the idea of “Santa fetish” and uses it as a gateway into understanding how kinks form, why some trigger moral panic, and why curiosity beats judgement every time.

Jon, Craig and Joenas break down the difference between kink and fetish, explaining why Santa roleplay is usually seasonal, playful, and layered onto existing interests like daddy dynamics, uniforms, ritual, and power — not an exclusive or year-round fixation. We tackle the discomfort head-on: why some cultural symbols feel “off-limits,” and why adult consensual roleplay gets misinterpreted so quickly.

From there, the episode dives into the psychology: authority, generosity, surveillance, warmth, transgression, and humour. Santa emerges not as a shock value joke, but as a symbolic container — a way people eroticise comfort, dominance, or reclaim holidays that may carry trauma.

The closing message lands gently but firmly: you don’t need a label to enjoy playful roleplay, and no one owes an explanation for consensual adult desire. Sometimes kink is serious. Sometimes it’s silly. Both can be valid — and fun.

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This episode was recorded on the lands of the Yalukut Weelam clan of the Boon Wurrung peoples. We pay our respects to their elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

Find other JOY podcasts at joy.org.au

Can we just beat it, but without a problematic popstar? Beats have long been part of queer sexual culture — often misunderstood, rarely discussed openly, and still deeply relevant. In this episode, Hide and Seek takes a practical, non-judgemental look at beat sex: what defines a beat, why people go, and how to navigate them safely.

With lived experience front and centre, Melbourne bear personality Rob joins the panel and explores the appeal of beats — anonymity, spontaneity, connection — alongside the real risks, including legal issues, safety concerns, and recent violence linked to app-based targeting. We talk about how beats function socially, how people learn their rhythms, and how to read the difference between a quiet space and one that’s “on.”

The episode offers grounded advice on cruising etiquette, consent signals, what to avoid, and when to leave. It also covers harm-reduction strategies, reporting options for homophobic behaviour, and how online spaces intersect with physical ones.

Rather than romanticising or condemning, this episode treats beats as they are: part of queer history and present-day reality, shaped by law, culture, and community norms. The message is clear — pleasure and safety aren’t opposites, and knowledge is a form of protection.

Find out more about beats here, with our friends at downandirty

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This episode was recorded on the lands of the Yalukut Weelam clan of the Boon Wurrung peoples. We pay our respects to their elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

Find other JOY podcasts at joy.org.au

What happens when you move from a sexually conservative culture into one of the world’s most visible kink scenes — and realise you’re suddenly “allowed” to explore? In this deeply thoughtful episode, Hide and Seek welcomes Joenas to talk about kink discovery after migration, with a particular focus on CALD experiences. What is it like to explore, in colour?

The conversation traces how shame-based sex education, silence, and religious taboo shape early understanding of sex — and how overwhelming it can feel to arrive in a place where kink is visible, named, and socially organised. We talk about the “kink big bang”: the flood of gear, language, expectations, and assumptions that can make newcomers feel behind, exposed, or pressured to perform.

Importantly, the episode challenges stereotypes — from assumptions about submissiveness to fetishisation of cultural background — and offers clear guidance for non-CALD kinksters on how to be respectful allies. Slowing down, asking instead of assuming, and separating curiosity from entitlement are recurring themes.

This is also a story of growth: finding safety in gear, learning through observation, revisiting consent, and discovering that uncertainty is allowed. The takeaway is powerful and generous — kink exploration is richer when we make space for cultural difference, patience, and trust. It’s not just about what you do with your body, but what you’re finally free to feel.

Follow Tim instagram.com/beatzradio/

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This episode was recorded on the lands of the Yalukut Weelam clan of the Boon Wurrung peoples. We pay our respects to their elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

Find other JOY podcasts at joy.org.au

With modern treatment, PrEP, and U=U, it’s easy to assume HIV is “sorted.” This episode of Hide and Seek explains why that story is incomplete — and why World AIDS Day still matters in 2025.

Jon and Craig step through the history of World AIDS Day, from the height of the epidemic through to today’s elimination targets, honouring the activists, clinicians, and communities who transformed HIV from a death sentence into a manageable condition, and the impact of access schemes for U=U and PrEP. Along the way, we unpack why remembrance isn’t just symbolic — it actively shapes policy, funding, and care.

The discussion tackles ongoing stigma head-on: on dating apps, in clinics, in shared spaces, and in the language people still use (“clean,” “biohazard,” and worse). We explore why stigma remains one of the biggest barriers to testing, disclosure, and wellbeing — even when the science is crystal clear.

From there, the episode looks forward: injectable PrEP, long-acting ART, broadly neutralising antibodies, mRNA research, and what a future cure might realistically look like. Crucially, we centre the role of people living with HIV — whose participation and advocacy underpin every prevention breakthrough we now benefit from.

This is a grounded, respectful, forward-looking episode that connects HIV to broader questions of justice, equity, and community care — and reminds us that ending HIV isn’t just biomedical. It’s social.

Follow Tim instagram.com/beatzradio/

Follow Jon instagram.com/barbarylion/

Follow Craig instagram.com/white.dragon.339/

This episode was recorded on the lands of the Yalukut Weelam clan of the Boon Wurrung peoples. We pay our respects to their elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

Find other JOY podcasts at joy.org.au