At the end of 2021, triple j is saying a heartfelt goodbye to three presenters.
Hack host Avani Dias will follow some of Australia’s best journalists as she takes over as ABC’s South Asia correspondent. The new gig will take her to an overseas posting in New Delhi, India.
In two years as Hack host, Dias has kept listeners informed day-in-day-out during a global pandemic, and championed investigations like ‘Tinder: A Predators’ Playground’ and ‘TikTok: Data mining, discrimination and dangerous content’. Her five Walkley nominations including a 2021 nomination for Public Service Journalism, is proof in the pudding.
Avani Dias says, “Hack has been with me through so much of my life. From listening as a teenager in my bedroom, to the last five years as my dream job – I’m so proud of everything our show does. Thank you to every young person who has spoken to me, often in their darkest moments let down by broken systems. I will always be grateful for your trust. To my brilliant colleagues, family, and friends, I’d be nowhere without you and your support of me every single day.”
triple j’s Dave Marchese will take over as Hack host in 2022. He is already trusted by the nation for dissecting breaking news from around the world on triple J Breakfast.
Dave Marchese and Avani Dias
Dave Marchese says, “It’s been a huge privilege bringing triple j listeners the news headlines over the past few years and we’ve seen a lot together; the same sex marriage debate, drought, bushfires and of course Covid-19. I’m so excited to join the Hack team and get the chance to dig down deeper into the big issues. There’s no better team out there and Avani is leaving behind a huge legacy of important storytelling and investigations. I’m stoked about the sleep in too!”
The station will also bid farewell to the host of triple j’s sex and relationships show, The Hook Up. After four years, Nat Tencic is stepping down from hosting duties to work on consent education resources and pursue other opportunities in podcasting. During her time, Tencic has smashed taboos, helped triple j listeners find love, embrace their sexuality, have amazing orgasms and feel seen, heard and less alone.
Nat Tencic says, “Getting to talk about sex on the air (and too loudly in the office) has been the most fun I could imagine having while getting a paid. I got to visit sex dungeons, get naked for art, watch a dominatrix tackle her sub in the ABC auditorium, make my own lube, and make Richard Kingsmill say ‘anal beads’. Sex is weird for everyone, but it’s weird in a good way when you know you’re not the only one going through it. I’m proud to have brought that to people who needed it, and I know the next Hook Up host will keep bringing you a warm, understanding embrace week in and out.”
In 2022, Dee Salmin will be the new host of triple j Hook Up. Hailing from Perth, Salmin studied at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, and cut her teeth producing and presenting her own podcast and meme page The No Chill Girl. She’s produced The Hook Up for the last 18 months, reported for triple j Hack, and was previously at ABC South West WA.
Dee Salmin
Salmin says, “It’s been so incredible seeing The Hook Up grow over the past few years and I can’t wait to keep hearing about your love lives in 2022. I’ve been so lucky to learn from a pro like Nat, and I’m so excited to be the custodian of a show that tackles so many important issues. We’ll also vent together about dating and share spicy stories about things like crystal dildos!”
After 8 years on air, triple j’s Something More program will conclude at the end of the year. For the duration of the show, Tim Shiel has been the host and cheat sheet to the future of music, digging up fresh future pop and cult electronic sounds.
Tim Shiel says, “Being an artist is hard and it’s even harder if you’re doing something a little different. It’s been my honour to champion the music of thousands of uncompromising artists on Something More. I believe we need these kinds of artists the most right now – artists brave enough to inspire change and meet the planet’s hardest challenges head-on. I hope the work I’ve done has helped some of them to feel supported and seen.”
Shiel won’t be far as he continues to bring great music and boundless enthusiasm on Double J Arvos.
Finally, Friday night is getting more party tunes in 2022. DJ king Shantan Wantan Ichiban will move on from The Kick On and host a new Friday night edition of triple j’s House Party in 2022.
Shantan Wantan Ichiban
Shantan says, “I’m so excited to be the bringer of the weekend with our new Friday House Party! It has been a lot of fun presenting The Kick On and I’ve loved sharing music and banter with you on the shabby end of your Saturday night. I’ll be bringing this same energy at a new time, when you are just warming up for your two days of hedonism.”