The HIV Podcast

She’s baaaaaack! The wonderful Ita O’Brien returns to The HIV Podcast and this time we’re talking all things intimacy. Ita chats with Sarah and Jess about her brilliant book Intimacy, and what her years spent choreographing some of the most memorable intimate moments on screen have taught her about sex, desire, consent, connection and our relationships with our own bodies and we also get into what all of this means when HIV enters the chat. Expect sex, stigma, awkward bits, fascinating insights and probably far too much oversharing from us. You know the drill!Content note: This episode contains discussions of sex and intimacy; listener discretion is advised.You purchase a copy of intimacy here:UK: Intimacy: A field guide to finding connection and feeling your deep desires – with foreword from Gillian Anderson: Amazon.co.uk: O'Brien, Ita: 9781529954036: BooksUSA: Intimacy by Ita O'Brien: 9780593596623 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: BooksAudio & Source CreditsThis episode includes short excerpts from the following sources:Intimacy: A Field Guide to Finding Connection and Sexual Empowerment — Ita O’Brien. Audiobook excerpt, read by Ita O’Brien.“Channing Tatum Is Struggling To Get In Shape For ‘Magic Mike 3’” — The Kelly Clarkson Show. Interview with Channing Tatum. Clip accessed via the official Kelly Clarkson Show YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmYFHuaxYdwI May Destroy You, Episode 3, “Don’t Forget the Sea” — created and written by Michaela Coel. Originally broadcast by BBC One. Audio excerpt from the programme.

This week, is part 2 of our conversation with the incredible Ita O'Brien, founder of the Intimacy On Set company and author of the groundbreaking Intimacy On Set Guidelines. In the second of this special two-part conversation, we continue our dive into It's A Sin and explore how some of the series' most intimate and emotionally powerful scenes were carefully choreographed and how this intimacy coordination helped bring one of television's most celebrated dramas to life.Content note: This episode contains discussions of sex and intimacy; listener discretion is advised.Ita O’Brien - Dedication for the HIV podcast - 28th July 2026 "I'd like to thank the wonderful Mike Dawson for connecting me with this podcast and for his inspiring support of the HIV and LGBTQ+ communities. I'd also like to dedicate this conversation to the memory of my dear singing teacher, Chris Edwards, who nurtured me as a musical theatre performer in the 1980's. Chris was the first person I knew who contracted HIV and sadly died just 18 months later. His kindness and encouragement have stayed with me ever since."https://www.zeffy.com/en-GB/donation-form/the-hiv-podcast-together-were-changing-the-conversationAudio creditsIt's A Sin – © Channel 4 Television Corporation.

We may not have been sipping caipirinhas on Copacabana Beach, but that didn't stop us from virtually heading to Rio de Janeiro for the International AIDS Conference 2026! In this episode, Sarah and Jess have picked out the biggest news, the most exciting research and the stories that really caught our attention. From potential new HIV prevention options and treatment updates to ageing with HIV and a few moments that made us stop and think.So, grab a cuppa, stick your headphones on, and join us as we unpack the biggest stories from one of the most important events in the HIV calendar, without the 12-hour flight.Big thanks to Dan Hall, Dan Glass and HIV: The Morning After for bringing us insights from Rio. Song: Rethink, Rebuild, Rise (Rio Calling) https://open.spotify.com/album/37bmKKm1NWUy6NdFAZ3DR2?si=GGhrbI-kS7CCgSuxobtrPwSourcesThe US government’s mislabelled map of Africa at a global Aids conference shows again a failure to understand the continent | Kenneth Ngure | The Guardian

This week, Sarah and Jess are thrilled to welcome the incredible Ita O'Brien, founder of the Intimacy On Set company and author of the groundbreaking Intimacy On Set Guidelines. In the first of this special two-part conversation, we dive into It's A Sin and explore how some of the series' most intimate and emotionally powerful scenes were carefully choreographed. Ita shares the thinking behind intimacy coordination, why consent and communication are at the heart of every scene, and how this groundbreaking approach helped bring one of television's most celebrated dramas to life.Content note: This episode contains discussions of sex, intimacy and intimacy coordination in the context of television production.Ita O’Brien - Dedication for the HIV podcast - 28th July 2026 "I'd like to thank the wonderful Mike Dawson for connecting me with this podcast and for his inspiring support of the HIV and LGBTQ+ communities. I'd also like to dedicate this conversation to the memory of my dear singing teacher, Chris Edwards, who nurtured me as a musical theatre performer in the 1980's. Chris was the first person I knew who contracted HIV and sadly died just 18 months later. His kindness and encouragement have stayed with me ever since."https://www.zeffy.com/en-GB/donation-form/the-hiv-podcast-together-were-changing-the-conversationAudio creditsIt's A Sin – © Channel 4 Television Corporation."It's a Sin" – written by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, performed by Pet Shop Boys. Excerpt accessed via YouTube.Boris Johnson COVID-19 address – excerpt from The Guardian YouTube channel."Tombstone" HIV/AIDS public information campaign advertisement – excerpt from YouTube (original UK Government public information campaign).

This week Sarah and Jess travel to Malawi for the latest episode of African Voices, exploring the country's response to HIV and the vital work of the National Association of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Malawi (NAPHAM). As always with African Voices, this episode looks beyond the headlines to celebrate resilience and the people creating real change in their communities.SourcesHome - naphamHIV/AIDS in Malawi - Wikipedia Malawi - WikipediaHIV and TB Overview: Malawi | Global HIV and TB | CDCAfrican 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 2026August 21st - ZambiaSeptember 18th - ZimbabweOctober 23rd - BotswanaNovember 20th - Lesotho & Eswatini

In the third and final episode of our Russia series, Sarah and Jess explore how war is affecting people living with HIV, with a particular focus on reports of the military recruitment of people living with HIV and hepatitis.Support The HIV PodcastSources HIV/AIDS in Russia - WikipediaGerm warfare. The spread of chronic diseases in the Russian army is rapidly becoming an epidemic threatening society as a whole — Novaya Gazeta Europe“A Hero Without Limits”Russia spiralling into an HIV crisisNew soldiers are now being recruited directly from AIDS centres in northern Russia

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 PodcastSourcesHIV/AIDS in Russia - WikipediaGerm warfare. The spread of chronic diseases in the Russian army is rapidly becoming an epidemic threatening society as a whole — Novaya Gazeta Europe“A Hero Without Limits”Russia spiralling into an HIV crisisNew soldiers are now being recruited directly from AIDS centres in northern RussiaLord Guy Black announced as new Chair of Terrence Higgins Trust for ‘final push’ to end new HIV cases in the UK by 2030Holly Johnson Becomes Patron of The Sussex Beacon - The Sussex Beacon

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 distressingSupport The HIV PodcastSources HIV/AIDS in Russia - WikipediaCountry Profile – Positive DestinationsThree decades after ‘Western HIV plague’ hit USSR, this tiny community is still coming to terms with the devastation and lost children | The Independent | The IndependentA11 The 1988 Elista outbreak and the epidemiology of HIV subtype G in Russia - PMCUNAIDS is deeply saddened by the death of Vadim Valentinovich Pokrovsky | UNAIDS

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 in their communities.Sources LAMBDA AssociationLambda (Mozambican organization) - WikipediaAIDSfree: Mozambique’s drag queen battling stigma to encourage HIV testing | The Independent | The IndependentAfrican 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 2026July 24th - MalawiAugust 21st - ZambiaSeptember 18th - ZimbabweOctober 23rd - BotswanaNovember 20th - Lesotho & Eswatini