The HIV Podcast

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. SourcesUNAIDS welcomes US decision to keep funding life-saving HIV treatment | UN NewsTrump White House Erases, Silences HIV, LGBTQ and Health Content - POZConcern and confusion as Trump freezes assistance programs | Positively AwareCDC webpages go dark as Trump targets public health information | Trump administration | The GuardianFederal grant freeze: Trump White House rescinds order | AP Newshttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/05/health/trump-usaid-pepfar.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Sarah and Jess remember Michael Sundin, dancer, performer, and familiar face from Blue Peter! Behind the bright TV appearances was a talented creative whose life was tragically cut short. We take a look at his career and we what happened post-Blue Peter. SourcesBlue Peter - WikipediaMichael Sundin - Wikipedia(3) https://instagram.com/p/B0QfpIMpN1Q/ 🇬🇧... - The AIDS Memorial | Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of our year-long African Voices series, we turn our attention to Tanzania. While global conversations about HIV often centre funding pressures and programme sustainability, this episode focuses on the realities experienced by people and communities living with HIV and a fantastic project breaking down barriers to HIV testing.Navigating ART Interruptions: Navigating ART Interruptions - The HIV Podcast | AcastSourceshttps://www.cdc.gov/global-hiv-tb/php/success-stories/hiv-results-in-tanzania.htmlOn the Brink of Catastrophe: U.S. Foreign Aid Disruption to HIV Services in Tanzania and Uganda - PHRUnited Republic of Tanzania | UNAIDSPrevalence of HIV, total (% of population ages 15-49) - Tanzania | DataRelease of Tanzania Population-based HIV Impact Assessment Data Shows Notable Progress, and Identifies Gaps that Stand in the Way of Epidemic Control - PHIA Projecthttps://hivpreventioncoalition.unaids.org/en/resources/tanzania-national-guidelines-management-hiv-and-aids-7th-editionhttps://sustainability.unaids.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Tanzania_SMR_A-.pdfhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5602645/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_rights_in_TanzaniaAfrican Voices is a year-long series from The HIV Podcast, sharing perspectives from across the African continent.How to get involved:We’re inviting people living with or affected by HIV to share short voice notes about what’s happening in their country, what the world needs to understand, and what education they want to share. These voice notes may be played on the podcast as part of the series.Episodes will be released monthly, on the last Friday of each monthVoice notes may be played on the podcastSend a voice note (max 5 minutes, no minimum) to: 07727 666791Each country has a submission deadline, see image for detailsIf you’re from one of the 12 countries featured, we’d love to hear from you.How to take partPlease send us a voice note (maximum 5 minutes, no minimum) to:07727 666791In your recording, please include:• Your name (or a preferred name if you would like to remain anonymous)• Your connection to HIV (for example: person living with HIV, peer educator, counsellor, activist, doctor, community worker, volunteer)• The country you are inThen tell us:What do you want the world to know about HIV in your country?This could include access to care, stigma, funding cuts, community realities, or anything you feel the world should understand.What education would you like to share?A myth to bust, a message for others, or knowledge that could help support your community.For more information, please contact:office@tvps.org.ukDeadlines for submissions by country 2026March 19th - South AfricaApril 17th - KenyaMay 22nd - UgandaJune 19th - MozambiqueJuly 24th - MalawiAugust 21st - ZambiaSeptember 18th - ZimbabweOctober 23rd - BotswanaNovember 20th - Lesotho & Eswatini Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello, Clarice.The link you never thought possible…This week Sarah and Jess look at how The Silence of the Lambs influenced director Jonathan Demme's next creative choice and how that creative shift connects, unexpectedly, to HIV storytelling.SourcesThe Silence Of The Lambs Controversy ExplainedPhiladelphia: un-packaging the Hollywood Aids drama | Sight and SoundThe Silence of the Lambs (film) - WikipediaPhiladelphia (film) - Wikipedia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Sarah and Jess are celebrating The HIV Podcast’s 200th episode! Two hundred episodes of HIV chat, chaos, and the occasional overshare, and we’re marking this milestone with the story of the incredible Gao Yaojie. The Chinese doctor and activist who refused to stay quiet as an HIV crisis unfolded around her. We explore how one woman’s refusal to be silent helped bring global attention to a hidden epidemic.Sources Gao Yaojie - Wikipedia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Sarah and Jess head to China to explore the complex, often hidden story of HIV. Along the way, we unpack the devastating bloodhead scandal of the 1990s, when unsafe blood-selling schemes led to entire rural communities becoming infected. SourcesHIVHIV/AIDS in China - WikipediaUNAIDS and China sign two strategic agreements to advance the HIV response | UNAIDS Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HIV… The Wizard of Oz… The Sound of Music… Ghost.......Stick with us!This week Sarah and Jess continue their quest to show that HIV is connected to everything, even the places you’d least expect. If you’ve ever felt there are no connections to HIV in your life, this episode is an invitation to see some of the links hiding in plain sight, through films, culture, and a bit of classic HIV Podcast curiosity!SourcesRuby Slippers Wizard of Oz - History, Pairs & Ownership | MuseumKent Warner - Wikipedia10 facts you might not know about Ghost starring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore - SmoothRick Aviles - Wikipedia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this opening episode of our year long African Voices series, we look at Nigeria, beyond the funding cuts that so often dominate global headlines. While international reporting focuses on donor decisions and political shifts, this conversation centres what’s happening on the ground, the people, the initiatives, and the communities continuing to respond to HIV with creativity, care, and determination.Through lived experience of both a beneficiary and health care worker, we explore both the challenges being faced and the progress being made, highlighting what’s working, what’s changing, and what deserves far more attention than it usually gets.A huge thank you to Project HOPE for helping connect us, so these stories can be shared authentically, directly from the people living and working within them.Project HOPE | Advancing Global Health & Saving LivesAfrican Voices is a year-long series from The HIV Podcast, sharing perspectives from across the African continent.How to get involved:We’re inviting people living with or affected by HIV to share short voice notes about what’s happening in their country, what the world needs to understand, and what education they want to share. These voice notes may be played on the podcast as part of the series.Episodes will be released monthly, on the last Friday of each monthVoice notes may be played on the podcastSend a voice note (max 5 minutes, no minimum) to: 07727 666791Each country has a submission deadline, see image for detailsIf you’re from one of the 12 countries featured, we’d love to hear from you.How to take partPlease send us a voice note (maximum 5 minutes, no minimum) to:07727 666791In your recording, please include:• Your name (or a preferred name if you would like to remain anonymous)• Your connection to HIV (for example: person living with HIV, peer educator, counsellor, activist, doctor, community worker, volunteer)• The country you are inThen tell us:What do you want the world to know about HIV in your country?This could include access to care, stigma, funding cuts, community realities, or anything you feel the world should understand.What education would you like to share?A myth to bust, a message for others, or knowledge that could help support your community.For more information, please contact:office@tvps.org.ukDeadlines for submissions by country 2026January 22nd - NigeriaFebruary 19th- TanzaniaMarch 19th - South AfricaApril 17th - KenyaMay 22nd - UgandaJune 19th - MozambiqueJuly 24th - MalawiAugust 21st - ZambiaSeptember 18th - ZimbabweOctober 23rd - BotswanaNovember 20th - Lesotho & EswatiniSources https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/nigeria/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeria https://www.beintheknow.org/understanding-hiv-epidemic/data/glance-hiv-nigeria https://www.phis3project.org.ng/phis3-resources/ https://www.severemalaria.org/countries/nigeria/nigeria-health-systemhttps://nphcda.gov.ng/bhcpf/ https://naca.gov.ng/ https://data.theglobalfund.org/location/NGA/access-to-funding https://nepwhan.org/our-history/ https://www.theglobalfund.org/en/updates/2024/2024-02-05-nigeria-global-fund-launch-new-grants-reinforce-progress-against-hiv-tb-malaria/ https://naca.gov.ng/sustainability/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Sarah and Jess take a look at one of the greats...and Elton John’s greatest legacy might not be musical. This episode explores the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) and how it has shaped the HIV response for over 30 years, funding services, fighting stigma and supporting communities worldwide!Sources Elton John at Aids conference: 'I should be dead. I nearly died' | Sexual health | The GuardianElton John AIDS Foundation - WikipediaElton-John-AIDS-Foundation_Annual-Report_2024-Digital.pdf Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The HIV Podcast is back for 2026! This week's episode takes a look at the amazing work Cher has done for the HIV community and then we look at the CHER clinical study, so this week really is all about Cher-ing.SourcesCher - WikipediaCher, Demi Moore entertain guests at glamorous Cannes fundraiser for AIDS | ReutersCHER | MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Sarah sits down with the brilliant Garry Brough, HIV advocate and Programme Manager for Fast-Track Cities London. Together they unpack what peer support actually is and why it's such a game-changer: empowering, grounding...a reminder that sometimes what we really need is a conversation with someone who gets it.From Isolation to Empowerment: The Power of Peer Support in HIV Care - Fast-Track Cities London Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Sarah and Jess are diving into the history of STIs! We take you on a whistle-stop tour of humanity’s long, complicated, and occasionally ridiculous relationship with sexually transmitted infections. Expect myths, medicine, and a few moments that will make you grateful for antibiotics.Sources‘Groundbreaking’ HIV prevention programme aims to end transmissions by 2030 | The IndependentSTIs through the centuries – UK Health Security Agency The History of STIs - Broadgate GPSexually transmitted infection - Wikipedia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Sarah and Jess celebrate World AIDS Day by talking about the need, and break down why support still matters, bust a few myths, and remind everyone that HIV isn’t “sorted” just because the meds are brilliant.Donate now Donate — TVPS Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Sarah and Jess go back to where it all began, uncovering the story of Nora Wattie, the woman who pioneered the foundations of modern contact tracing. They explore how her work shaped public health and also take a diversion into 'period chat'.....enjoy!SourcesNora Wattie - WikipediaFirst doses of HIV prevention drug lenacapavir delivered to Zambia, Eswatini | Reuters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Chantelle joins Jess to talk about cabotegravir, the long-acting injectable PrEP that’s changing how people can protect themselves from HIV! And there is also come 'C' word chat, so avoid this episode if it's too soon for festive cheer!Sourceshttps://www.england.nhs.uk/2025/10/nhs-to-roll-out-first-long-acting-injection-to-prevent-hiv/https://www.nice.org.uk/news/articles/first-hiv-prevention-injection-for-people-unable-to-have-daily-prep-recommendedhttps://www.who.int/news/item/14-07-2025-who-recommends-injectable-lenacapavir-for-hiv-preventionhttps://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/sep/24/hiv-prevention-jab-pre-exposure-prophylaxis-prep-lenacapavir-120-poorer-countries-2027https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenacapavir Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Sarah and Jess get into the fascinating world of contact tracing, how it works, why it matters, and what really happens. Oh, and since it’s Halloween, there’s also a quick detour into scary movies and a bit of hot air balloon chat!Sources What is partner notification or contact tracing? • SHL.UK Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Sarah and Jess take a curious wander through the origins of sexual health clinics, from the hush-hush beginnings to the open, empowering spaces we know today. Expect all the usual side-chat like why Jess hates collecting prescriptions and what happens when Sarah takes her husband to weddings. Never a dull moment when you're learning about sexual health history with these two!Sources The history of sexual health | ADPHChancroid - Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment | BMJ Best PracticeOur Story - MSI Reproductive Choices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part 2, Sarah and Jess slip into their metaphorical lab coats (don’t worry, no Bunsen burners involved) to find out exactly how PrEP works in the body. Spoiler: it’s less “magic pill” and more “tiny molecular bodyguard” that blocks HIV from setting up shop. Expect easy science, bad analogies, and at least one “ohhhh, that’s clever” moment. If you’ve ever wondered what PrEP actually does after you swallow it, this is the episode that finally explains it, minus the biology degree.Sources What’s the difference between PrEP and PEP for HIV prevention? | aidsmapAbout Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) - NHSHow and when to take Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) - NHS Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first of two episodes, Sarah and Jess are diving into the world of HIV prevention, and trust us, it’s not as confusing as it sounds once you know your PEP from your PrEP! We’ll be breaking down what each one does, when they’re used, and why DoxyPEP is the newest buzzword in sexual health circles.Sources Dick Donato - WikipediaWhat’s the difference between PrEP and PEP for HIV prevention? | aidsmapDoxyPEP — QueerHealthAbout Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) - NHSHow and when to take Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) - NHSFirst clinical guidelines published on the use of DoxyPEP | Terrence Higgins TrustDoxyPEP & Bexsero - 56 Dean Street - Sexual Health Clinic LondonDoxy-PEP | CNWL Sexual Health ServicesSyphilis cases at highest level for 75 years in England last year | Sexual health | The Guardian Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Sarah and Jess are exploring what it means to grow older with HIV. From the insights of Sarah’s surprise client survey to discovering who holds the title of the oldest person living with HIV! We would also like to dedicate this episode to Dr Steve Dawson, a remarkable HIV consultant and an even more remarkable person. His work and kindness touched countless lives and he will be missed.HIV The Naked Truth - AboutSourceshttps://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgmzn8802d7oHIV charity hosts nude photography exhibit for World AIDS Day - AttitudeThe Lisbon patient: exceptional longevity with HIV suggests healthy aging as an ultimate goal for HIV care | BMC Infectious Diseases | Full TextA 100-year-old man living with HIV shares his secret to a long life Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.