PODCAST · society
Less Surface Level
by Tessa Lloyd
the podcast for queer women done with small talk.
Episodes
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S05 E10: How to not lose yourself in a relationship and stay connected to your friends
In this episode, I move beyond the “why” and get into the practical side of staying connected to your friends while you’re in a relationship. I talk through the real-life “how tos”, the small, tangible ways you can maintain your friendships even when your relationship feels intense…
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S05 E10 How ChatGPT can damage relationships
Hi my loves! It's the season finale, thank you all for being here! In this episode, I’m talking about the role AI is starting to play in our relationships and how tools like ChatGPT can start to replace the messy, real parts of relationships, like processing emotions together, navigating…
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S05 E09 Don’t lose your people in love, why your Friendships still matter even when you're head over heals in love
In this episode, I talk about why WLW relationships can feel so intense and why it can be so easy to centre your partner, sometimes without even realising what it’s costing you. I explore the emotional depth of queer relationships, where that “they’re my whole world” feeling comes from, and how...
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S05 E08 Queer Faith with Stephanie Cannalonga
Today I’m chatting to Stephanie Cannalonga, exploring what it means to come into your identity as a queer woman, especially when that journey doesn’t fit the expectations you were raised with. This episode gently moves through the coming out experience in the context of religion, the fear, the...
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S05 E07 Empowering your Endo journey
Introduction: In 2026, a major investigation by ABC Four Corners raised concerns about the surgical practices of Melbourne gynaecologist Dr Simon Gordon, a specialist who treated thousands of patients for endometriosis and pelvic pain. The investigation examined allegations that some patients may...
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S05 E06 Ask Tessa; your queer questions answered (part one)
In this episode, I’m answering anonymous instagram questions about coming out, labels, fear, and community. We talk about that strange mix of relief and heaviness after coming out, and whether that feeling ever shifts. I share how living openly felt like putting down a backpack I didn’t realise I...
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S05 E05 Understanding Non Binary with Brihony Dawson
Today I’m joined by Brihony Dawson, a non-binary entertainer, performer, and entrepreneur who’s built a life and career by backing themselves, even when the path wasn’t obvious. We talk about Brihony’s gender journey, their experience of top surgery, and how they went from feeling stuck in jobs...
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S05 E04 Two women in love, one year of travel - with Blue and Kim
In this episode of Less Surface Level, I sit down with Blue and Kim, two lesbians who are on a huge travel year together and sharing their lives online, joining us from Vietnam. We talk about how life has shifted for them over the last few years, including living in Amsterdam and taking a year…
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S05 E03 Loving & feeling deeply, with Thalia Scott
In this episode, I’m chatting with my friend Thalia about her experience of being a lesbian while living with borderline personality disorder and bipolar type 2. Thalia shares what life felt like before she had words for her inner world, what it was like to finally receive her diagnoses, and the...
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S05 E02 Tessa’s stories
I’ve got a change of pace in this ep, the mic gets turned around and my best mate Holly interviews me. We start with a quick fire about guilty pleasures, google searches, and the best advice I’ve ever been given and then get into bigger questions about work, identity, mental health, queerness and...
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S05 E01 Break up Bible
this is basically my mini survival guide for heartbreak, the actually-helpful things that kept me afloat. if you’re freshly going through a break up, need a helping hand or chronically overthinking about the what ifs, hopefully this is an antidote. i love you. it get's easier. T. X
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S04 E10 Dating, love and becoming a Mum with Courtney Gledhill
Today I'm sitting down with my beautiful friend Courtney to explore the parts of her story that often stay unseen, the ones that shaped how she came to understand herself, her sexuality, and the kind of love that comes from realising what you deserve. We talk about dating women for the first…
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S04 E09 Inner child work with Brooke Blurton
Today I’m sitting with Brooke Blurton, Noongar woman, youth worker, author, television figure, and powerful voice in queer and First Nations storytelling; for a conversation that steps beyond the public versions of her life. Together we explore what the last year has looked like for Brooke,...
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S04 E08 Relationship boundaries with Sammy Foster
Sweet Sammy Foster is back on Less Surface Level, and a lot has changed since we recorded an episode a year ago. In this episode, we catch up on everything that’s happened in her world; the heartbreak, the healing, the lessons, and the ways she’s grown into a clearer, stronger version of herself....
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S04 E07 How to know if you're "Queer enough", with Moose from Queer Move
Ever wondered if you're queer enough to be involved in the LGBTQIA+ community? Today we answer this question and so much more. I'm meeting Moose. She is Queer, Polyamorous, and brilliant. Moose is works at Queer Move, a company dedicated to providing a safe and welcoming culture for Queer people…
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S04 E06 Letting go of body hate with Ashlee Thomas
In this episode, Tessa sits down with Ashlee Thomas; Australian lived-experience advocate, speaker, and co-founder of The Secret Burden, a charity leading national change around body image, eating disorders, and women’s mental health. Ashlee opens up about her powerful journey from anorexia to...
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S04 E05 What does heartbreak teach us? With Franks Martin
In this deeply honest conversation, Melbourne-based writer and spoken word artist Franks Martin opens up about the evolution of love; from the tenderness of first infatuations to the ache of heartbreak and the quiet beauty of healing. Together we explore what it means to keep your heart open…
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S04 E04 Coming out twice, with Umbra Moon
Today I sit down with the brilliant queer, non-binary and talented musician, Umbra Moon. We get to hear more of their behind the scenes, including two coming out stories, their run in with acrylic nails, how they got their name, and why masc vs. femme energy gets treated so differently. We talk...
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S04 E03 - How to choose what's good for you, with Natasha Fabrizi
This week's episode is with Tash Fabrizi, our third episode together! We were so excited to dive into what it really means to know yourself and trust your own direction. We unpack how identity forms the foundation for confidence and self-trust, and what happens when parts of us want different...
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S04 E02 Climbing Everest and coming out later in life
We’re kicking off season four with Jane Kanizay. She opens up about what drove her to reach the summit alongside her daughter, and how leaving a relationship reshaped the way she sees herself and her freedom. Jane shares her journey of coming out later in life, navigating those big questions…
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S04 E01 Becoming the person I needed in high school, with Archie Beetle
What does it take to turn teenage pain into purpose that changes lives? In this episode, I sit down with Archie Beetle (they/them); the Founder and CEO of Queer Town, a Melbourne-based organisation reimagining what genuine LGBTIQA+ inclusion looks like across workplaces, schools, and communities....
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Throwback episode: Doing the inner work with Kat John
Have you guys heard of the nine limiting beliefs that hold us back in life? Did you ever learn what yours is? Or the way that it impacts your life? Today's throwback episode is with the beautiful Kat John. Kat share the nine beliefs that will hold you back in life, and reminds us that limiting...
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Throwback episode: Redefining life and love with Sophie Shaw
Today I’m joined by Sophie Shaw. Like me, Soph in her 20s that she was attracted to women, and she’s been brave enough to let that truth completely reshape her life. The way she continues to lean into authenticity is inspires others to do the same. Together we chat about our coming out…
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Throwback episode: Love Lessons with Natasha Fabrizi
Throwback Thursday episode: Your favourite LGBTQIA+ / mental health / anti-diet advocate / MAFS participant Natasha Fabrizi joins us today to chat all things love, life, and moving across the world; offering wisdom not just on relationships, but on carving out a life that feels authentic and…
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S03 - E10 Letting go of Beans Bar, with Beca Pressing
Hi everyone, welcome to final episode of Season 3 (Season 4 coming next) of Less Surface Level. During this episode we revisit the journey of opening, running, and eventually letting go of Beans Bar; a queer, neurodivergent-led community venue that became so much more than a bar. We sit down with...
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S3 - E09 Courage, culture & queerness, with Kirby Bentley
For this fortnight’s episode I’m sitting down with Kirby Bentley, a proud Noongar woman whose influence stretches from sport to TV, advocacy, business, and culture. This conversation goes to heartfelt places that Kirby doesn’t always go to, including her experiences loving women, and the healing...
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S3 - E08 Building Scizza on love, with India king and Kristina Krithararis
In this episode of Less Surface Level, we sit down with India King and Kristina Krithararis, partners in life, love, and the queer-affirming creative business Scizza. Together, they share the behind-the-scenes story of how they built a space that centres safety, expression, and community for...
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S03 - E07 Behind the scenes of Sundaylicious, with Julie McKenzie
In this episode we're joined by Julie, the founder of Sundaylicious Melbourne, a queer women-led event that’s become a cornerstone of community, connection, and celebration in Naarm. We dive into the origins of Sundaylicious, the gaps it set out to fill, and the personal journey that shaped it....
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S03 - E06 Lesbian joy, with Chloe Rebello
In episode I sit down with one of my close friends, Chloe. She's moved through a lot of life with grit, softness, and a whole lot of growth. We go beneath the surface to revisit the early imprints that still live in her body, the quiet rebellions that shaped her spirit, and the ways she has…
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S03 - E05 The Fletcher Fallout, with Holly Pink and Chloe Rebello
In June 2025, queer pop artist Fletcher released her new single “Boy”, a vulnerable ballad about unexpectedly falling for a man. The release, timed during Pride Month, sparked intense debate across the LGBTQIA+ community. Embraced as a WLW icon, Fletcher’s pivot raised complex questions around...
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S03 - E04 Queer health, ancient healing, with Dr Matt Young (Chinese Medicine)
In this episode of Less Surface Level, we sit down with a queer-affirming acupuncturist to explore the powerful intersection of identity, healing, and holistic health. From his personal journey into queerness to professional commitment to inclusive care, this conversation invites us to rethink…
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S03 - E03 When her past includes Women, with Coco Chamoun and Jerome Pageot
In this episode of Less Surface Level, we explore a relationship that challenges expectations and expands our understanding of identity and connection. What happens when a straight man falls in love with a queer woman, someone whose history includes dating women, and whose queerness doesn’t…
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S03 - E02 More than a label, with Holly Pink
In this episode of Less Surface Level, we sit with Holly Pink and explore the layered and often nonlinear journey of queer identity and self-discovery. From the joy and chaos of coming out, to the quiet battles with internalised homophobia, and shifting labels, we open up about what it really…
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S03 - E01 When the lines blur: love, gender & me with Amy King
Amy came out as a lesbian in her early twenties, an identity that felt like finally stepping into the light after years of trying to be someone she wasn’t. Owning her queerness gave her a sense of wholeness and community. She fell in love with a woman for the first time and finally felt like her...
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S02 - E16 When it's time to leave a 12-year relationship, with Julia Gueller
In this conversation, Julia Gueller reflects on the emotional complexity of navigating a long-term relationship with a man while discovering romantic and sexual feelings for a woman. After being in a 12-year relationship, raising three children, and facing personal and family challenges, Julia...
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S02 - E15 Falling in love with your female best friend, with Sianan
Hello honeys. Today, Sianan reflects on her experience of exploring her sexuality during her school years, particularly through a close relationship with a female friend that, in hindsight, she recognise as her first love. We both take some time to reflect on the bravery in young people exploring...
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S02 - E14 "It's okay" with Ariela Jacobs
Ariela, an Artist and Psychotherapist shares her personal journey of self-discovery as a Queer woman living in Melbourne. Ariela speaks about her identity as a Lesbian and her experience with eating disorders, emphasising the importance of who you surround yourself with, and what has contributed…
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S02 - E13 Queer celebration with Sammy Foster
Hello honeys and welcome back to the pod. In this Pride episode with Sammy Foster, we explore the significance of authenticity and self-acceptance as queer women, including the sharing of stories of our own personal growth. Tune in to hear about the highlights as well as the challenges of coming...
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S02 - E12 Surviving and thriving with HIV with Brent Allan
Hey beautiful people. Please join me in welcoming Brent Allan to the podcast. Brent is a queer, neurodivergent, non-binary person who currently occupies several senior advisor positions focusing on sexual health and wellbeing programmes and policy development for global and domestic agencies and...
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S02 - E11 Art as Therapy, with Sandon Gibbs O'Neill
Today we're chatting with Sandon Gibbs O'Neill, a First Nations artist who shares stories and healing through art. His business, Burruguu Art, found on Instagram as @burruguu_art, has allowed him to share parts of himself and his culture that words could not express. We talk about family,...
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S02 - E10 Our ins and outs, with Julia Hogarth
My girl Jules is back on the podcast, sharing with us what she is leaving behind, and asking more of in 2024.
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S02 - E09 The closing of Lunar Label with Jordie Myers
Lunar Label touched the hearts of many, as does the creator and heart behind Lunar, Jordie Myers. Today we talk to Jordie about the closing down of Lunar Label, and the lessons that she learnt along the way.
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S02 - E08 "We're not really strangers" with Tash Fabrizi
My loves, welcome back to the podcast. Thank you for your patience as I went through 1000 changes and transitions that shook up my life and my business in the best way. I've landed in a place with space for creativity and conversation again, and my conversations with you on Surface Level. Please...
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S02 - E07 Religion and queerness with Stacey Cadman
Stacey Cadman is an art therapist living in Geelong, married to her husband Jack. For years Stacey has known she was queer, and had to navigate this whilst detangling herself from the impact her experiences in a Christian church had on her. Stacey's words are brave, bold, and a reminder that it's...
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S02 - E06 Parenting, fiancés and u-hauling with Erica Perry
Welcome to episode 2 of the coming out series! Today we're chatting with my dear friend Erica Perry about parenting, her engagement to her non-binary partner Sari, u-hauling across the country and across the world, and navigating heteronormativity as you become more of your queer self. Enjoy…
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S02 - E05 Coming out and family conflict with Steph Serret
Happy International Pride Day! Today I'll be releasing four new episodes around the "coming out" journey. First up we have Steph, who discusses navigating family relationship break downs, reconciliation, homelessness and staying true to yourself. A big thank you to Steph for her strength in…
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S02 - E04 Starting Beans Bar with Beca Pressing
Today we're joined by Beca Pressing, a queer, neurodivergent woman who has a story to tell. We'll be chatting about ADHD, autism and queerness. Enjoy! x
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S02 - E03 Attraction to men and women with Christine Chamoun
Today's episode is a little different; it's recorded with my best friend Coco (Christine). Coco identifies as a queer woman and has navigated lots of different challenges along her journey. Today we're discussing love, sex, mental health and staying true to yourself. Enjoy x
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S02 E02 Love Ludie with Jenna Hutchinson
Today we chat to Jenna Hutchison, the brilliant creative behind the brand Love Ludie. Jenna speaks openly and honestly about what she's discovered about herself over the last few years, the business hints and tips she's gathered on her journey, how she navigates life and love while living off…
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S01 - E01 Toronto, love and life with Natasha Fabrizi
Your favourite LGBTQIA+ / mental health / anti diet advocate / MAFS participant joins us today to chat all things love, life and moving across the world.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Less Surface Level have?
Less Surface Level currently has 50 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Less Surface Level about?
the podcast for queer women done with small talk.
How often does Less Surface Level release new episodes?
Less Surface Level has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Less Surface Level?
You can listen to Less Surface Level on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Less Surface Level?
Less Surface Level is created and hosted by Tessa Lloyd.
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