This week, Sarah and Jess dive into the sticky subject of HIV and shame, where it comes from and most importantly, how we can start to shake it off. Sources How to cope with shame | Psyche Guides Almost half of people living with HIV in the UK feel ashamed | aidsmap Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jun 27, 2025•35 min•Season 3Ep. 175
This week Sarah and Jess take a look over some news stories from the last couple of weeks, as well as coming up with some inventive fundraising initiatives - strawberry laces as HIV awareness ribbons anyone?! Sources Famous Aids quilt put on display in London for first time in 30 years Clients of Wolverhampton aesthetics clinic who had vampire facials urged to get blood tests | City Of Wolverhampton Council Call for tribute to Terrence Higgins in Haverfordwest | Western Telegraph Hosted on Acast...
Jun 20, 2025•24 min•Season 3Ep. 174
A few months ago, Allan started being more open about his HIV status. A huge and courageous step. In this follow-up episode, we catch up to hear what’s happened since, how life has shifted, and what being visible means to him now. Oh, and no big deal… he also just painted a mural for our 40th anniversary (we’re not crying, you’re crying). Still wise, still hilarious, and still not running a cult (but give it time), Allan returns to the mic for more real talk about HIV, creativity, and living out...
Jun 13, 2025•33 min•Season 3Ep. 173
In this episode of The HIV Podcast, Sarah and Jess are joined by Eugene Lynch, Director of Delivery at Terrence Higgins Trust, HIV activist and TikTok truth-teller. Eugene gets real about their journey through addiction, stigma, and the wild world of HIV advocacy, all while fostering dogs and fighting misinformation one reel at a time. It’s heartfelt, it’s hilarious, and yes, there are dogs. Don’t miss this one! Eugene's Tiktok - TikTok - Make Your Day Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for ...
Jun 06, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 172
In this episode of The HIV Podcast, Jess takes us behind the scenes at the launch of HIV Outcomes UK's latest report, "HIV Services at the Crossroads." With a mic in one hand and a croissant in the other, she chats with Grant Sugden, CEO of Waverley Care, and Angelina Namiba from the 4M Network. Expect candid conversations about funding, the power of peer support, and why community voices are more crucial than ever. HIV services at the crossroads - National AIDS Trust Hosted on Acast. See acast....
May 30, 2025•24 min•Season 3Ep. 171
In this episode of The HIV Podcast, we’re joined by James Cole from National AIDS Trust to talk crossroads, community, and the future of HIV services. With the launch of HIV Outcomes UK latest report, we dig into the vital role of the voluntary sector and what communities really need right now. Policy, purpose, and a healthy dose of passion, it's all in here. * HIV Outcomes UK is a coalition of HIV experts working to secure changes to improve the health-related quality of life for people living ...
May 23, 2025•36 min•Season 3Ep. 170
In this episode Sarah and Jess are talking treatment interruptions, what happens when your ART hits an unexpected pause. In today's political climate, some countries are already suffering from a shortage of HIV medication. From med shortages to clinic closures, we unpack the risks, the realities, and how to ride it out safely. A dose of science, a splash of strategy, and zero panic. Sources Stopping ART safely if your clinic is closed or runs out of meds: a practical guide | HTB | HIV i-Base Hel...
May 16, 2025•35 min•Season 3Ep. 169
In this special hour long episode of The HIV Podcast, Sarah sits down with the unstoppable Lisa Power, co-founder of Stonewall, policy powerhouse, and a lifelong thorn in the side of complacency. From the early days of HIV activism to shaping national policy with wit, wisdom, and just the right amount of righteous rage. Lisa brings receipts, resilience, and razor-sharp insight. Buckle up for a history lesson, a call to arms, and a good laugh. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more infor...
May 09, 2025•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 168
This week, Sarah and Jess honour the fearless Joan Baker, the first out HIV positive lesbian in San Francisco. Diagnosed at just 20, Joan shattered silence with truth, activism, and unapologetic visibility. She challenged a system that told her she didn’t exist, and in doing so, changed the narrative for women, lesbians, and anyone pushed to the margins. It's a story of resilience, rebellion, and rewriting the rules. Sources Meet Joan Baker, San Francisco’s first “out” HIV+ lesbian — Lady Scienc...
May 02, 2025•26 min•Season 3Ep. 167
In this episode, Sarah and Jess turn up the heat with the radical brilliance of the Lesbian Avengers. Born out of frustration, in the early '90s, this activist group wasn’t here to fit in. From street protests to visibility campaigns, the Avengers brought unapologetic queer power to the frontlines, including bold action around HIV stigma. It’s a story of protest, pride, and pyrotechnics! Sources Lesbian Avengers - Wikipedia Stories - FAM An Oral History of the Lesbian Avengers and the Dyke March...
Apr 25, 2025•21 min•Season 3Ep. 166
In this episode, Sarah and Jess dive into the incredible, and often forgotten, story of the San Diego Blood Sisters. A grassroots group of lesbian activists who quite literally rolled up their sleeves during the height of the HIV crisis. When blood was needed and stigma was rampant, these incredible women stepped up to donate again and again, breaking barriers and challenging the system with every drop. This is a story of solidarity, sisterhood, and serious guts. Sources San Diego Blood Sisters ...
Apr 18, 2025•24 min•Season 3Ep. 165
Part 3: HIV & Pregnancy – Victoria’s Story You’ve heard the science, now hear the story. In this very special episode, Jess and Sarah are joined by the brilliant Victoria Roscow. Diagnosed with HIV at just 9 weeks pregnant, Victoria didn’t just navigate pregnancy with grace, she turned it into a platform to fight stigma and spread knowledge like wildfire. Victoria shares her personal journey, from diagnosis to delivery, what it’s like raising a happy, healthy HIV-negative toddler, and how he...
Apr 11, 2025•29 min•Season 3Ep. 164
Can you have a baby if you're living with HIV? Spoiler alert: You already know the answer! In Part 2 of our HIV & Pregnancy double bill, Sarah and Jess take you inside the delivery room. What happens during birth when you’re living with HIV? Are there special precautions? Does the birth plan go out the window? They’re breaking it all down, no filter, just real talk (and maybe a little oversharing, as usual). Stopping ART safely if your clinic is closed or runs out of meds: a practical guide ...
Apr 04, 2025•29 min•Season 3Ep. 163
Can you have a baby if you're living with HIV? Spoiler alert: Absolutely! In this first part of our HIV & Pregnancy double bill, Sarah and Jess dive headfirst into what actually happens when you're pregnant and living with HIV. Do you get more tests? Is everything super medical? They're myth-busting, truth-telling, and probably oversharing as usual! Sources HIV and pregnancy | RCOG Screening for hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis - NHS ISOSS HIV report 2023 - GOV.UK Aid cuts predicted to cause 2....
Mar 28, 2025•35 min•Season 3Ep. 162
How is the Trump administration’s policy legacy still shaping the global fight against HIV? This week, Sarah and Jess continue their deep dive into the lasting impact of these decisions on HIV response worldwide. Joining them is Dr. Meg Doherty, Director of the Global HIV, Hepatitis, and STIs Programmes at the World Health Organization (WHO). Tune in as we unpack the challenges, the progress, and what needs to happen next to drive global HIV efforts forward. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privac...
Mar 14, 2025•33 min•Season 3Ep. 161
This week, Sarah and Jess dive into the fallout from the fractured agreement between UNAIDS and the U.S. government. What happened, and what does this mean for the fight against HIV worldwide? We unpack the ripple effects that could reshape global health efforts. Sources Trump administration ends funding for UN program fighting HIV/Aids | Trump administration | The Guardian New report flags severity of US funding cuts to global AIDS response | UN News Comprehensive update on the impact of the U....
Mar 07, 2025•33 min•Season 3Ep. 160
The global HIV landscape has undergone seismic shifts since the Trump administration took office, changes that will shape HIV history and its future. To understand what’s happening and what lies ahead, we turn to those at the heart of global HIV support: UNAIDS. This week, Sarah and Jess sit down with Regan Hofmann, Senior Advisor at the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and a powerful advocate openly living with HIV, for a conversation on the challenges, progress, and where we go from her...
Feb 28, 2025•38 min•Season 3Ep. 159
Ever wondered what an HIV support organisation actually does and why it’s so important? Sarah and Jess have spent decades working at TVPS, supporting people living with HIV—but what does that really look like day to day? In this episode, they pull back the curtain on their work, sharing insights, stories, and the impact of HIV support services. Tune in and find out! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 21, 2025•27 min•Season 3Ep. 158
In our very first podcast series back in 2019—then called HIV, Hope & Charity —we spoke with Allan, one of our service users, about his journey with HIV. Six years later, we’re catching up with him to see how life has changed and what living with HIV looks like for him today. Tune in for an honest and inspiring conversation. 🎙️❤️ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 14, 2025•31 min•Season 3Ep. 157
With so much rapid change in the last 7 days, this week Sarah and Jess take a look at the impact that President Trump's administration continues to have on people living with HIV in America, as well as globally. Sources UNAIDS welcomes US decision to keep funding life-saving HIV treatment | UN News Trump White House Erases, Silences HIV, LGBTQ and Health Content - POZ Concern and confusion as Trump freezes assistance programs | Positively Aware CDC webpages go dark as Trump targets public health...
Feb 07, 2025•34 min•Season 13Ep. 156
This week Sarah and Jess get topical and explore what is happening with the proposed halt of HIV funding, announced in the USA earlier this week, as well as looking at just how much good PEPFAR has previously done in the field of HIV. Sources How will Trump’s presidency impact HIV AIDS funding? | Context 4 key global health decisions expected from Trump : NPR Bleak prospects for HIV response under new US administration - The Lancet HIV Glassman: How Trump can meet his goal of ending AIDS How wil...
Jan 31, 2025•31 min•Season 3Ep. 155
This week Sarah and Jess chat with Nicola May about her brand new book 'How Do I Tell You?', described as 'An uplifting, heartwarming story'. Nicola is a bestselling author with eighteen books to her name and her new book tackles the subject of HIV! Book link amazon.co.uk/How-Tell-You-heartwarming-bestselling/dp/1805089501 News links Brighton: Sussex Beacon inpatient unit to close in restructure - BBC News Gilead Sciences, US government settle patent case over HIV prevention drugs | Reuters Host...
Jan 24, 2025•27 min•Season 3Ep. 154
This is Nneka's second appearance on The HIV Podcast! We talk about HIV and condom use, why white women living with HIV are so marginalised and why we can say "always" and "never" when it comes to the science behind U=U! Grab a cuppa and get listening Nneka Nwokolo is Head of Global Patient Affairs at ViiV Healthcare and an honorary consultant HIV physician at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London. News links https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/our-health-service/making-it-better/new-hse-campaign-...
Jan 17, 2025•41 min•Season 3Ep. 153
Sarah and Jess are back! Kicking off 2025 in style with a whole episode about Lenacapvir, the long-acting HIV prevention medication that could be a huge game-changer for helping reach the target of no new HIV transmissions by 2030. Lenacapavir is listed as a "breakthrough technology" for 2025, so get listening and finding out what it's all about! Sources Twice-yearly HIV injection can effectively prevent infection Anti-HIV drug lenacapavir called 'breakthrough of the year' : Goats and Soda : NPR...
Jan 10, 2025•40 min•Season 3Ep. 152
Our quest to spread the U=U word continues with this special World AIDS Day episode, featuring the incredibly knowledgeable Dr Nneka Nwokolo, a passionate advocate of spreading the message of U=U, Head of Patient Engagement at ViiV Healthcare as well as an Honorary Consultant HIV Physician at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London. Get the U=U digital download here - TVPS Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Nov 29, 2024•31 min•Season 3Ep. 151
We've hit our 150th episode and before we go on a little break, we're indulging Sarah and dedicating an episode to one of her favourite topics......Holly Johnson! Sources Holly Johnson - Wikipedia Holly Johnson 'cancelled' after HIV positive status revealed - BBC News Print advertising—Frankie Goes To Hollywood | Advertising | Zang Tuum Tumb and all that (zttaat.com) Quarter page advert for ‘Relax’ | Advertising | Zang Tuum Tumb and all that (zttaat.com) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy fo...
Oct 25, 2024•31 min•Season 3Ep. 150
This week Sarah and Jess had the pleasure of speaking with CP Robinson. CP is the Co-Chair of Portsmouth Pride and founder of the Intersectional Queer Activism Campaign "Queer.All.Year". We caught up with him to discuss the innovative art initiative 'HIV Positive', a huge mural in Portsmouth that aims to tackle HIV stigma. Useful Info Queer All Year - Helping make Pride #MoreThanOneDay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Oct 18, 2024•36 min•Season 3Ep. 149
This week Sarah and Jess take a look at a horror icon and the man that played Norman Bates! Anthony Perkins was HIV positive and had this to say about living with the virus..."I have learned more about love, selflessness and human understanding from the people I have met in this great adventure in the world of AIDS than I ever did in the cut-throat, competitive world in which I spent my life." Sources Anthony Perkins - Wikipedia Tea and Sympathy (play) - Wikipedia Berry Berenson - Wikipedia Host...
Oct 11, 2024•25 min•Season 3Ep. 148
This week is a special episode where Jess takes us through what attending the British Podcast Awards, as an award nominee, was like! She spill the inside info and celeb gloss from the night! The HIV was nominated for a British Podcast Award 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 04, 2024•27 min•Season 3Ep. 147
This week we were lucky enough to speak to International Porn Star and HIV activist, Hans Berlin, live from his bed…well it was 8am! ! Hans speaks with Sarah and Jess about working in porn and being open about his HIV status, as well as his semi-autobiographical musical and all the other amazing projects he is working on! Useful links Queer Musical Love Story SHOOTING STAR transfers from Off-Broadway to London! (shootingstarmusical.com) A Couple Becomes Obsessed with the Sex Worker Next Door | T...
Sep 27, 2024•40 min•Season 3Ep. 146
