The HIV Podcast

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 African Voices, this episode looks beyond the headlines to focus on people, resilience, and the organisations creating real change on the ground.Sources Uganda Village Project - Uganda Village Project Facilitating Public Health in UgandaUganda - Wikipediahttps://globalfund.finance.go.ug/hiv/https://www.parliament.go.ug/news/4215/aids-related-deaths-drop-64-percent-uachttps://www.unicef.org/uganda/what-we-do/hiv-aidsAfrican 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 2026April 17th - KenyaMay 22nd - UgandaJune 19th - MozambiqueJuly 24th - MalawiAugust 21st - ZambiaSeptember 18th - ZimbabweOctober 23rd - BotswanaNovember 20th - Lesotho & Eswatini

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.SourcesPeople living with HIV in Ireland write to their younger selves in heartwarming campaign • GCNThe HIV+ Episodes - Casey House | Campaigns of the worldWhy a Nonprofit's Edit of Friends Shows Chandler Getting HIVThe One Where a Specialist Hospital Portrayed Famous Sitcom Characters with HIV | LBBOnlineAbout Us | Casey HouseThe restaurant kitchen where everyone has HIV: 'We want to challenge stigma' | Canada | The GuardianBig Fucking Deal. A Short Film by Casey House.

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 LondonU=U Quilt – Positive EastMark - PLHIV Documentary

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 - WikipediaHIV/AIDS in Kenya - WikipediaHardest hit being left behind as Kenya rolls out ‘breakthrough’ HIV prevention jab, charity says | The Independent

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!

This week, Sarah and Jess manage to connect Huggy Bear 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 - WikipediaStarsky & Hutch - WikipediaElizabeth’s Story - Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS FoundationA Timeline of HIV and AIDS | HIV.gov

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 support comes from people who truly understand the journey.A huge thank you to everyone involved in Coach Mpilo who helped us put this episode together!SourcesSouth Africa - WikipediaHIV/AIDS in South Africa - WikipediaAfrican 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 2026April 17th - KenyaMay 22nd - UgandaJune 19th - MozambiqueJuly 24th - MalawiAugust 21st - ZambiaSeptember 18th - ZimbabweOctober 23rd - BotswanaNovember 20th - Lesotho & Eswatini

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!SourcesJohn Curry - WikipediaBBC ON THIS DAY | 11 | 1976: John Curry skates to Olympic gold