The HIV Podcast

This week, Sarah and Jess continue their three-part journey through Russia's HIV story. In episode two, they examine the scale of the epidemic, explore HIV prevalence across the country and the challenges faced by those living with HIV in Russia. Support The HIV Podcast Sources HIV/AIDS in Russia - Wikipedia Germ warfare. The spread of chronic diseases in the Russian army is rapidly becoming an ep...

This week Sarah and Jess begin a three-part journey through Russia's HIV story. We travel back to the community where the country's first major HIV outbreak unfolded, exploring the events that changed countless lives and the lasting impact still felt today. TW: This episode contains discussion of suicide and HIV-related stigma, which some listeners may find distressing Support The HIV Podcast Sour...

This week Sarah and Jess head to Mozambique for the latest episode of African Voices, exploring the country's response to HIV stigma and the inspiring work of local LGBTQ+ activists using creativity and visibility to encourage HIV testing and challenge discrimination. As always with African Voices, this episode looks beyond the headlines to celebrate resilience and the people creating real change...

Needle exchanges. A public health success story? A political battleground? Or a bit of both. This week Sarah and Jess are travelling back to the 1980s to explore how a radical idea born during the HIV crisis helped save thousands of lives and shaped the UK's approach to harm reduction. Sources history of needle sharing and the development of needle and syringe programmes Syringe-exchange-has-it-wo...

How did Edinburgh end up being dubbed the "HIV capital of Europe"? In this episode, Sarah and Jess head back to the 1980s to uncover the story behind one of the most surprising chapters in HIV history. We explore how one city found itself at the centre of the epidemic, and helped change the response to HIV forever. Sources 'Patients used to come here to die, now they come to live' - BBC News How E...

This week, the tables have turned! Long-time listener and friend of the podcast Charlotte Leach has taken over hosting duties and put Sarah and Jess firmly in the hot seat, testing their podcast knowledge, revisiting some memorable moments, and chatting all things HIV. A huge thank you to Charlotte for all the thought, planning and preparation that went into the 'Charlotte Leach Takeover'. Sources...

This week Sarah and Jess head to Uganda for the latest episode of African Voices! We hear about the realities of HIV in Uganda, the progress being made, and the challenges that still remain, while spotlighting the incredible work of the Uganda Village Project, a grassroots organisation helping improve access to healthcare, HIV education, testing and support within rural communities. As always with...

This week Sarah and Jess look at how pop culture shapes the way we see HIV and the brilliant campaign from Casey House that recreated a “lost episode” of Friends to help tackle stigma....because sometimes the fastest way to expose stigma, is to place it right in the middle of shows people thought they knew by heart. Sources People living with HIV in Ireland write to their younger selves in heartwa...

This week Sarah Jess talk about a new scientific discovery in the HIV work and what discoveries like this could mean for the future of HIV treatment, cure research, and why every new breakthrough helps us understand the virus just a little bit better. Science is science-ing… and honestly, it’s pretty exciting!  Sources - Queen Mary University of London U=U Quilt – Positive East Mark - PLHIV D...

African Voices lands in Kenya this month, where the rollout of lenacapavir is turning heads and starting big conversations. The HIV prevention injection being dubbed a potential game-changer has arrived… but what does that actually look like on the ground? We’re talking hope, access, reality, and why Kenya is right at the centre of this next chapter in HIV prevention. Sources Kenya - Wikipedia HIV...

This week on The HIV Podcast… we’re going local (and digging deeper). It’s still our 40th anniversary year, and we’re making the most of it. So, we’ve called in a local legend, Lorna McArdle to help fill in the gaps on how the wider LGBTQ+ community were affected during the HIV epidemic! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Jess has a much-needed catch up with Oliver Brown, and a lot has happened since we last spoke. Oliver has since been medically discharged from the Royal Navy, and we’re talking about what that’s been like in reality. We also reflect on the huge changes he helped drive within the armed forces, what’s shifted since, and how he’s navigating what comes next! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr...

This week, Sarah and Jess manage to connect Huggy Bea r to HIV… stick with us. In this episode, we explore the extraordinary life of Elizabeth Glaser, an activist, mother, and pioneer who helped transform the global response to HIV in children. From personal heartbreak to driving real global change, this is the story of how one woman refused to stay silent. Sources Elizabeth Glaser - Wikipedia Sta...

This week, Sarah and Jess head to South Africa for the next episode in our year-long African Voices series. While headlines often focus on funding cuts and system pressures, this episode centres the power of peer support through the Coach Mpilo model, a community-led approach helping men access testing, start treatment, and stay in care. It’s a story of trust, connection, and what happens when sup...

This week, Sarah and Jess glide into the story of John Curry, serving Olympic gold, high drama, and world-class artistry! But behind the perfect routines was a life shaped by being openly gay in a very different era, and later, living with HIV. So get your skates on and tune in! Sources John Curry - Wikipedia BBC ON THIS DAY | 11 | 1976: John Curry skates to Olympic gold Hosted on Acast. See acast...

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. Sources Blue Peter - Wikipedia Michael Sundin - Wikipedia (3) https://instagram.com/p/B0QfpIMpN1Q/ 🇬🇧... - The AIDS Memorial | Facebook...

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 Interruptio...

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. Sources The Silence Of The Lambs Controversy Explained Philadelphia: un-packaging the Hollywood Aids drama | Sight and Sound The Silence of the Lambs (film...

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...

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. Sources HIV HIV/AIDS in China - Wikipedia UNAIDS and China sign two strategic agreements to advance the HIV response | UNAIDS Hosted on Acast. See acast...

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 cu...

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 determina...

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...

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. Sources Cher - Wikipedia Cher, Demi Moore entertain guests at glamorous Cannes fundraiser for AIDS | Reuters CHER | MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy fo...

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-T...