It’s the final MAD Wednesday as JOY heads in a new Drive direction, so Rach and Dean opened up the phone lines to have you, the listeners be their guests for their final show. There are laughs, tears, memories and madness with a host of special guests. We always said it was your voice, your radio station – and we thank you for welcoming us into your lives every hump day.

Adam Bold from Points of Difference Touring and Events joined Rach and Dean for their final MAD Wednesday to talk about Gay Ski Week Australia, coming to Falls Creek in September. With people concerned about the Covid Restrictions, Adam was happy to talk about how the event would move forward allowing people to hit the slopes and paint the mountain rainbow. Everyone is welcome to Gay Ski Week Australia, join the fun at Falls Creek 4th- 13th September. Find out more about Gay Ski Week...

Damien Stevens-Todd joined Rachel and Dean for one last time on MAD Wednesday for Country Cousins, taking us through some of the amazing regional events for Victoria’s LGBTIQA+ communities. One of those exciting events is Pride-solation, and we were joined by Claudia from Throne Harbour Country to find out all about it. Pride-Solation is an Australian first. COVID-19 isolation has inspired 15 regional LGBTIQA_ organisations and community groups to come together online to celebrate their...

Vika & Linda Bull joined Dean for the final MAD Wednesday to talk about their first best of album, ‘Akilotoa’ – an anthology looking back at more than 30 years in their careers. They both have such a strong and distinctive sound that travels across the landscape of Australian music and it was a joy to have them join us on the show. Hear and download their album here. 

Art Simone chatted to Dean and Rach on MAD Wednesdays about what he COVID shutdown has been like for a busy drag entertainer like her. On her way to Piano Bar Geelong, we find out how strange it is to go from lockdown to audiences again.

Are wanting to learn more about making rainbow families for lesbian, gay, bi+, intersex, trans and gender diverse folks but don’t know where to start? Amelia joined Rach & Dean on MAD Wednesday to talk about a fertility webinar and Q&A she is hosting with Monash IVF on Tuesday 16th June. Their fertility specialists will explain the fertility treatment options available for LGBTIQ+ people, and answer any questions you may have in a space that understands the diverse needs of our...

Spiro from MQFF joined Rach and Dean to talk about the festival winning a Time Out Melbourne’s Time In Award for Favourite Virtual Event for their Virtual Film Night. And they are celebrating with another one,  combined with it being Pride Month, with a Netflix Party screening of Pride on Saturday 13th June. Join MQFF from 7pm, (link will be posted on their Facebook page) and the film will be paused  until 7:10pm, before pressing play to allow for others to join – get all the details...

Ben Norris & Alana McLean from the new streaming morning show Ticker Jumpstart joined Rach & Dean on MAD Wednesday for a fun chat about their early morning shenanigans. How early do they have to get up to look so good? Plus, with Big Brother Australia hitting our free to air screens we get previous winner Bens take on the new format.

Damien Stevens-Todd joins Dean & Rach on MAD Wednesday to let them know what events are happening in regional Victoria for our LGBTIQA+ communities.

In this episode of MAD Wednesday, Dean and Rach hand over the mics to queer people of colour to share whatever they would like to on the JOY Drive airwaves. Racism and injustice aren’t just happening in America, but in our own country as well. They acknowledge their privilege and are using their platform to listen and learn. Black Lives Matter.

Round Mountain Girls have come around the mountain at the perfect time with a brand new single ‘First To LetGo’ amidst lockdown and COVID, and they speak to Rach and Dean on MAD Wednesday all about it.

Cal Hawk from Thorne Harbour Health joined Rach and Dean to talk about Northside Bizarre this year, which has been moved to November due to COVID. Northside Bizarre is a fabulous annual fundraiser at The Laird and its surrounding area for JOY 94.9 and Thorne Harbour Healths David Williams Fund, and we are always looking for donated items for the Leather & Treasure and Auction House. So why wait till later in the year? Clear out the clutter today, you never know gems you might discover....

Thursday 28th May is the first LGBTI Domestic Violence Awareness Day, and Rach and Dean spoke to LGBTI Domestic Violence advocate Ben Bjarnesen about why he advocated for this day, and why we need not stick our heads in the clouds when it comes to violence in our communities.   Recent studies have demonstrated that up to 62% of LGBTIQ+ people have experienced DV in their relationships, yet awareness of the issue and reporting rates are still incredibly low. The “Sorting it Out”...

Damien Stevens-Todd joins Dean & Rach on MAD Wednesday to let them know what events are happening in regional Victoria for our LGBTIQA+ communities.

Brendan from The Teskey Brothers joined Dean on MAD Wednesday to talk about the bands latest album, The Teskey Brothers Live at the Forum, in which they recorded (to tape) four nights of their sold out concert at The forum last year.  

Singer Silvie Paladin spoke to Rach and Dean ahead of joining John Foreman in Arts Centre Melbourne’s Big Night in on Wednesday 20th May and they spoke about art, COVID and more. Arts Centre Melbourne announced on 15 March the cancellation of all scheduled performances and events and temporary closure of its buildings to the public due to COVID-19. Now Arts Centre Melbourne is focussed on finding new ways to engage with audiences, including the digital online hub – Together with...

Sydney singer/songwriter Blake Dantier joined Rach and Dean on MAD Wednesday to talk about how new song Ash & Dust, his love of country music, and how it hasn’t just taken home isolation for him to appreciate all that he has. Listen to his new track here.

Every dark cloud has a silver lining, and with restrictions starting to ease who knows what will go up or down amidst the worldwide pandemic that is COVID 19 – still it’s not all just doom and gloom. Dean has never been more productive and has achieved things he never would have had he not been stuck indoors, what are you positives?

In what is one of the weirdest yet most natural Segways MAD Wednesdays has ever had, we talk Chocolate Ripple Cakes and Eurovison, in the weirdest on air comp ever cobbled together. This is what happens when Gary makes food, anarchy ensures. Also can you guess these Eurovision hits?

Miller from Minus18 joined Rach and Dean on MAD Wednesday to tell them about all the exciting things this fantastic LGBTIQA+ youth organisation are doing this weekend for IDAHOBIT. They have a lot happening with: Friday at 11am they team up with our friends at RMIT University to chat about the importance of IDAHOBIT for young people. Join three Minus18 crew members (and RMIT students!) for a great convo via Zoom. https://bit.ly/3fmY6pd Then at 1pm the Minus18 Education Team go live for a...

Joe Ball from Switchboard Victoria joined Rach & Dean on MAD Wednesday to tell them all about their virtual IDAHOBIT event Staying Well Together. With esteemed guest Dr. Ilan Meyer, this will be a lunch time discussion on Friday 15th May from 12pm about how the LGBTIQ+ community is dealing with isolation while continuing to promote strong mental health and community resilience during COVID19. How do we Stay Well Together? Reserve your free spot here.

Scout from Tilde Melbourne, the transgender and gender diverse film festival, joined Rachel & Dean on MAD Wednesday to tell them about the virtual pyjama party they are hosting, screening three short Australian films and a selection of tele-documentaries from previous tilde festivals. Friday 15th May join Tilde via Metastream with TRANSPIRATION, ENBY ENTERRUPTED, KIDS ON FIREand UNBOXED. Find out more here.

The time has come for Rach and Dean to fulfil their JOY Radiothon pledges live on the airwaves. If we reached 50 or more memberships during our radiothon shows, Dean would wax his butthole, and Rach would get a face tattoo with henna, so they gloved up and got to work for all of your joy and humiliation. Thanks for all of your support during Radiothon – helping to keep us out, loud and proud.

Rach & Dean from MAD Wednesday chatted to recording artist Jess Glynn from her home isolation in London about the resurgence of her 2015 hit ‘Hold my Hand’ to the carts after a families video dancing to it went viral.