Welcome to FUSE issue 73. June / July 2026. It's another bold, fun and eclectic issue of FUSE Magazine, so grab a cuppa and dive into our eclectic mix of queer life, death and monsters.
FROM THE EDITOR
CONNECTION IS THE FOUNDATION OF LOVE
There is a familiar chill in the air.
As I look out into our sun-filled courtyard, I notice the last of the tomatoes have withered and died, while the spinach seedlings, which I planted a few weeks back, are breaking through the cool, moist soil. The circle of life and death is happening right before me; it’s one of the reasons I love my garden so much.
I used to be fearful of dying, but as I notice the rhythms of life more and more with each passing year, it has become apparent that it’s foolish to waste my life worrying about the inevitability of death. Being at peace with the fact that any moment could be my last has brought me a new appreciation for every breath, every conversation and every small moment that might otherwise have passed unnoticed. It seems that the dread of death causes more suffering than the actual fleeting moment of dying, and that in the state of death itself, fear becomes nonexistent.
What we believe about death can, of course, deeply shape how we feel about it. Whether someone believes in nonexistence, reincarnation, heaven or a continued life in the spirit world, our ideas about what happens after we die are as varied and complex as the universe itself.
When I first met Hayden Crosweller, a yoga teacher, energy healer and medium, I was instantly curious about his thoughts and experience with death. This young gay man tells me he regularly communicates with people in the spirit world, sharing their messages with loved ones. After plying him with a million questions, I was both challenged and intrigued by his experiences, and quickly realised this was a story I wanted to share with our readers. No matter what you may believe, Hayden’s deeply personal story about the spirit world, connection, coming out, and the challenges he has faced along his path is fascinating at the very least, p29.
I seem to be stuck for a segue about next our feature this issue, except noting that stand-up comic Kirsty Webeck can’t talk to dead people — well, not as far as I know, anyhow. If there is a common thread here, it is that she has a strong belief in connection, community and sharing messages of love — she does that through her comedy and charity work.
We sat down with Kirsty and chatted about her new show Lost for Words, and her desire to make people feel good while giving them a nice escape for an hour. We also discussed her mission to raise awareness about our oceans in peril and all the fishie critters that live there, p12. > READ IT HERE! <
You’ll also find vampires lurking in this issue as well — and as the stories go, they’re both living and dead, right? In her first feature article, our new entertainment writer, Daniela Koulikov, explores how monster stories and gothic literature have long offered women a secret space to connect and explore sapphic desire, revealing the queer undertones hidden within the dark and seductive pages of treasured books across the ages, p23.
On a sadder note, in February, we lost a true legend of the Australian drag scene. Maxi Shield spent over 25 years strutting her stuff on stage, making people laugh and bringing community together. She had big hair, bigger tits and an even bigger heart. She’ll be sorely missed; vale Maxi, p18.
Kirsty Webeck, the fish saving, big hearted queer comedian! > Read our interview.
A few more highlights of this issue include a review of the sweet queer short A Friend of Dorothy streaming on Disney+ p17, Scott Malcolm shares some super super moves on p37, and we explore the intricacies of love and money on p41. And, as always, don’t forget to flick to the back and check in with Dear Rose and Stargazer. So grab a cuppa, curl up somewhere cosy, and dive into our eclectic mix of queer life, death and monsters.
Alexander Thatcher — Executive Editor
FUSE73 CONNECTION IS THE FOUNDATION OF LOVE
FUSE MAGAZINE: MADE IN AUSTRALIA
EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Alexander Thatcher
CREATIVE DIRECTOR & ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Christopher Powell
ASSISTANT EDITOR: Maxwell Elliff
FUSE CONTRIBUTORS
- Daniela Koulikov
- Dwayne Lennox
- Rose Pappalardo
- Scott Malcolm
- Hayden Crosweller
- Eric C. Nash
- Jacqui Curtis
PHOTOGRAPHERS
- Douglas J. Robinson
- Jenny Wu
- Chris Hillary
- Oscar Robertson
PUBLISHER
Published + designed by Lithium Innovation Pty Ltd. ISSN 1836-8387
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