The Other Blue Pill

Have you heard about The Other Blue Pill? No, not the one that makes folks - you know...The other blue pill that revolutionised how people are having sex. The HIV gamechanger. PrEP – Big P, little r, Big E, Big P PrEP or Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis. A way of preventing HIV infection by taking a pill before and after sex. You can now get it for free on the NHS in the UK - well some people can - and it was a fight and a half to get us even that. But just how hard? Did you know about the court cases? How queer groups worked their asses off to get PrEP to people when it wasn’t available from the NHS? Why, even now, it can still be so hard to get hold of? The other blue pill has been an HIV and sex game changer - but its story is far from over. The hidden history of the other blue pill tells a crucial story about the health of the PrEP generation now.There is a whole movement of people taking the other blue pill and taking ownership over their sexual health. So let’s understand the pill’s history, so we can work out - where next? The Other Blue Pill is a limited documentary series by the Love Tank and QueerAF, supported by National Aids Trust. It’s coming to  your favourite podcast apps soon - subscribe now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discover the untold story behind PrEP, the revolutionary pill that's transforming HIV prevention and sexual health.In the first episode of this six-part limited series documentary, we dive into the battle for PrEP access in the UK by not only looking at the court case fought here in England for the drug - but the advent of HIV and AIDS in the 80s.Did you know we knew PrEP was effective from the early 2000s? Why did it take until 2020 to get it on the NHS you ask?Join host Phil Samba as he uncovers the legal struggles, the historic activism, and the groundbreaking moments that made PrEP a reality. From the early days of HIV awareness to the modern fight for equitable healthcare, this is the compelling journey of The Other Blue Pill.This week, we understand the past of this HIV game-changer, so by the end of the series you can understand what's the present, and future of The Other Blue Pill.Hosted by Phil Samba, it is a QueerAF production for The Love Tank, supported by National Aids Trust. Script and show notes: https://www.wearequeeraf.com/2-how-prep-has-changed-the-way-people-have-sex/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This drug literally liberated a whole generation who lived in fear of either direct or inherited trauma from a community ripped apart by the AIDS pandemic.In the second episode of this six-part limited series documentary, about the battle for PrEP access in the UK we ask those who remember a time before the drug, what life was like before and after the drug started to get into the hands of those who needed it.Then we look at the NHS trial that, six years before NHS England agreed to prescribe it found PrEP to be so effective, it was closed early because it was deemed unethical to not protect those on the trial who were on the pacebos.Join host Phil Samba as he uncovers the legal struggles, the historic activism, and the groundbreaking moments that made PrEP a reality. From the early days of HIV awareness to the modern fight for equitable healthcare, this is the compelling journey of The Other Blue Pill.This week, we understand the past of this HIV game-changer, so by the end of the series you can understand the present, and future of The Other Blue Pill.Hosted by Phil Samba, it is a QueerAF production for The Love Tank, supported by National Aids Trust. This week's guests are:Alex Craddock - IWantPrEPNow.com co-founderDeborah Gold - Chief Executive of National Aids TrustFaruq - NHS Administrator Sheena McCormack - Clinical epidemiologist at University College London.Script and show notes: https://www.wearequeeraf.com/2-how-prep-has-changed-the-way-people-have-sex/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PrEP's story is the perfect example of how we can democratise our own health - because when the NHS continued to refuse to provide the drug, grassroots activist groups found ways to get the drugs to those who needed and wanted it.From I Want PrEP Now to PrEPster and Act Up London, a coalition of groups came together with different intersecting approaches to change the future of HIV in the UK.In the third episode of this six-part limited series documentary about the battle for PrEP access in the UK: When the system doesn't provide, queers will. This week, we look at how grassroots groups changed the way the UK tackles HIV transmission forever.This week, we understand the past of this HIV game-changer, so by the end of the series, you can understand the present and future of The Other Blue Pill.Alex Craddock - IWantPrEPNow.com co-founderDani Singer - Act Up London activistMarc Thompson - Co-founder of PrEPster and The Love TankWill Nutland - Co-founder of The Love TankHosted and written by Phil Samba. Produced by Jamie Wareham. A QueerAF Production for the Love Tank, with support from National Aids Trust - Listen ad-free Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you a Truvada Whore? Is that something to be proud of? An article in 2016 changed the way many people saw PrEP for many years. Reflecting on it years later, the writer - spoke about why they'd since started PrEP, but their article put many people off the life saving drug for many years.It highlights an ongoing, albeit diminished, tension between those who fight for HIV provisions and those who are focused on preventing transmission.This week, we understand the past of this HIV game-changer, so by the end of the series, you can understand the present and future of The Other Blue Pill with guests:Deborah Gold - Chief Executive of National Aids TrustAlex Craddock - IWantPrEPNow.com co-founderMarc Thompson - Co-founder of PrEPster and The Love TankWill Nutland - Co-founder of The Love TankHosted and written by Phil Samba. Produced by Jamie Wareham. A QueerAF Production for the Love Tank, with support from National Aids Trust - Listen ad-free Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Other Blue Pill has so far talked a lot about gay and bi men's sexual health, which is for a good reason with how much the HIV pandemic has affected us.But this community isn't the only one who needs access to PrEP; it’s a drug that can protect everyone from HIV. This week, we focus on the nuances and needs of other marginalised groups of people who are also disproportionately affected by HIV and need better access to PrEP.We also explore the wider health inequalities these communities face - and what lessons those fights can learn from PrEP with guests:Deborah Gold - Chief Executive of National Aids TrustMarc Thompson - Co-founder of PrEPster and The Love TankDani Singer - Act Up London activistVanessa Apea - Doctor with expertise in sexual healthTarun Shah - Denied access to PrEP before being diagnosed with HIVLauren Duffey - Head of Services, LGBT FoundationHosted and written by Phil Samba. Produced by Jamie Wareham. A QueerAF Production for the Love Tank, with support from National Aids Trust - Listen ad-freeRead the Bridging Prescription guide co-produced by Dani and the Love Tank here: https://www.queerhealth.info/lbgt/bp Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Other Blue Pill has covered a lot of ground on the history of PrEP and where we're at with it now. But what does its future look like?The hidden history of PrEP shares a lot of lessons on how we can do things differently to ensure all of our sexual health needs are met. This week, we look at the exciting innovations in sexual health provision that are going to further change and revolutionise the sex lives and health of so many people. We also explore the next battle in HIV and sexual health - DoxyPEP, with guests:Deborah Gold - Chief Executive of National Aids TrustWill Nutland - Co-founder of PrEPster and Director of The Love TankDan Ellis - Actor and director, What The Pox? guestBenjamin Weil - Head of Research and Community Knowledge Generation at The Love TankFlorence Eshalomi - MP for Vauxhall in 2019 general electionHosted and written by Phil Samba. Produced by Jamie Wareham. A QueerAF Production for the Love Tank, with support from National Aids Trust - Listen ad-free Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A special 'reunion' style episode of our highly rated 'The Other Blue Pill' podcast on the little-known history of the fight for PrEP on the NHS in England. In front of a live audience at The Common Press book store podcast host Phil Samba discusses what lessons we can learn from the battle for PrEP for emerging queer health fights like gender-affirming care and DoxyPEP with: Lead Commissioner of the London HIV prevention programme Marc ThompsonDoctor in sexual health Vanessa Apea Outgoing CEO of National AIDS Trust Deborah Gold Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.