The B-Side

The Weight of the Armor, Part 2: Defining Toxic Masculinity

In Part 2 of The Weight of the Armor, hosts Ares, Marie, and Slanie continue their powerful conversation with Ashley, moving beyond definitions of toxic masculinity and into the lived realities of navigating masculinity in dating, relationships, and community spaces. Building on the foundations laid in Part 1, this episode dives deeper into how masculine expectations show up in everyday interactions—particularly within bi+ and queer communities. Ashley reflects on how masculinity is perceived by others, how those perceptions influence attraction and intimacy, and the tension between authenticity and the pressure to perform masculinity in certain ways. The discussion explores themes of emotional vulnerability, consent, and hypersexualisation, unpacking how toxic masculinity can persist even in spaces that are meant to feel safe and affirming. The hosts examine how these dynamics affect communication, trust, and connection, and why unlearning harmful norms is essential for healthier relationships. With honesty, humour, and thoughtful reflection, The B-Side creates space for nuance—acknowledging that masculinity is not something to be rejected outright, but something that can be reshaped with care, accountability, and self-awareness. This episode invites listeners to consider what it really means to show up as themselves, to connect without armour, and to imagine masculinity beyond rigid roles and expectations.

The Weight of the Armor, Part 1: Defining Toxic Masculinity

In this enthralling episode of The B-Side, hosts Ares, Marie, and Slanie come together for a thought-provoking conversation with Ashley, exploring masculinity, identity, and sexuality beyond binary norms. Ashley, a bisexual man who grew up surrounded by rugby players and military culture, shares his personal journey of questioning traditional ideas of masculinity and how those experiences shaped his understanding of gender and sexuality—particularly within the context of bisexual and sexually fluid men. Together, the hosts unpack how rigid masculine expectations can limit self-expression and reinforce harmful stereotypes. The discussion draws on sociologist Raewyn Connell’s work on hegemonic masculinity and its global influence, examining how these power structures intersect with queer identity. The conversation also explores the role of drag as a form of resistance and self-expression, as well as the often-overlooked connections between homophobia and misogyny within queer spaces themselves. With thoughtful insights, honest reflection, and collaborative dialogue, Aries, Marie, and Slania guide this rich and timely discussion—offering listeners a deeper understanding of the complexities of masculinity, gender expression, and identity in a world that is slowly learning to move beyond rigid definitions.

Bisexual Representation in the Media

Bisexual representation in film and television has come a long way — but it’s still complicated, inconsistent, and often misunderstood. In this episode of The B-Side, hosts Marie, Bridget and Ares are joined by guest Slaine to unpack how bisexuality is portrayed in the media: when it feels authentic, when it falls into lazy or harmful tropes, and why visibility alone isn’t enough. We explore characters who got it right — from Rosa Diaz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) and David Rose (Schitt’s Creek) to Kalinda Sharma (The Good Wife) — and examine where representation has missed the mark through erasure, stereotyping, and “it’s just a phase” narratives. Along the way, we discuss why hearing the word bisexual on screen matters, why bi men remain underrepresented, and how media portrayals shape real-world experiences for bi+ people. The conversation also touches on broader patterns in television, including over-sexualisation, invisibility, and the tendency to rewrite bisexual characters once they enter relationships with one gender. Through personal reflections and cultural analysis, the episode highlights what meaningful, respectful representation can — and should — look like. You’ll also notice a very special Christmas version of our theme song — stick around to the end of the episode to hear the full version. We hope you enjoy it.

Beyond Binaries: Intersex Identity, Bi+ Belonging & Whole-Person Relationships

What does it mean to live and love beyond binaries? In this episode of The B-Side, hosts Marie, Slaine and Ares are joined by Toby — a bi+, intersex and agender person and relationship counsellor — for a thoughtful conversation about identity, intimacy and connection beyond rigid categories. We explore how being intersex, agender and bi+ intersect in everyday life, shaping self-understanding, relationships and belonging in a world that still prefers simple labels. Toby shares lived experience around language, visibility and navigating both LGBTQIA+ spaces and broader society. The conversation then moves into ethically non-monogamous frameworks and relationship anarchy, unpacking what whole-person-centred relating looks like in practice. We discuss autonomy, care and freedom in relationships, and how intimacy doesn’t have to rely on ownership or hierarchy. We also examine co-dependence and enmeshment — how intensity can be mistaken for intimacy, where closeness becomes constricting, and what healthy independence inside connection really means. A reflective and affirming episode about moving beyond binaries — in identity, in relationships, and in how we connect with one another. Links in show: https://ilink.net.au [https://l.messenger.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Filink.net.au%2F&h=AT30bYHtYoPAtiJP6Aclj-jGRAV1zr43HPyrUcLpFiEzZPuQTh6FxMx13MMDqdiuOjYTzANwVFxcYht2Hzz4LLvcdVTyIlt7uKySRs-4ShzQJHetSQ5kvEihuT59JaLrYMy1tg] http://www.whole-person-relationships.com/ [http://www.whole-person-relationships.com/]

Building a Fairer Future: Dr Misty Farquhar on Bi+ Community, Law Reform & Queer Resistance in WA

This week on The B-Side, Marie, Slaine and Ares are joined by someone who helped shape the very beginnings of our community: Dr Misty Farquhar (they/them), bi+ and non-binary advocate, educator, CEO of Rainbow Futures and founding organiser of Bi+ Community Perth. Together, we journey through Misty’s personal story — from creating spaces for bi+ people a decade ago, to becoming one of WA’s leading voices in LGBTQIA+ human rights. We reflect on the wins since marriage equality, the reforms still unfinished, and what it feels like to carry both the weight and the hope of this work. Misty breaks down the big political changes happening right now in WA, including updates to reproductive rights, surrogacy access, discrimination protections and the continuing push to ban conversion practices. We also talk Walkern Wirin, community power, visibility, and what it means to organise with courage in a shifting political landscape. If you care about queer rights in WA — or you’re simply here for authentic conversations about identity, leadership and belonging — this is an episode you won’t want to miss.