A Positive Life: HIV from Terrence Higgins to Today
Claim This Podcastby BBC Radio Wales
Podcast Overview
<p>Sam Smith presents stories of HIV in the UK over the last 40 years; beginning with the life of Terrence Higgins, one of the first British people to die of an AIDS-related illness.</p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
6/24/2022
1 verified contact email on file for A Positive Life: HIV from Terrence Higgins to Today
Pitch yourself as a guest, propose sponsorships, or reach out directly to the host.
Recent Episodes
August 19, 2022
8. Born this Way
<p>In the final episode of A Positive Life, Sam Smith explores the experiences of young people in the UK who were born with HIV, and looks at what's next in the ongoing fight to end the HIV epidemic.</p><p>When we think about people who have lived with HIV for a long time, we often think about older people who lived through the AIDS crisis of the 1980s and 90s. People who remember the days before effective HIV treatments were discovered, and how the world changed when they finally arrived in 1996. But there's a whole generation of young people in the UK who have had HIV from birth. Many of them have lived with the virus for the same amount of time as much older people who we'd now consider long term survivors of the epidemic.</p><p>In this episode, we hear from Mercy Shibemba. She's 23 years old and has lived with HIV her entire life. She was born in the time after life saving HIV treatments had been discovered, which means she's always had access to medication that makes HIV a completely manageable health condition. So HIV shouldn't have a big impact on her life. But when she was told about her HIV status as a teenager, she discovered that her life was going to be deeply impacted anyway - because of the stigma that still persists around this virus.</p><p>Mercy shares how stigma around HIV forced her to live a double life, like a "really unglamorous Hannah Montana", and put emotional barriers between her and many of the people she was closest to in her life. She explains how the experiences of young people differ from those who acquire HIV later in life. And she shares how she's working to resist the impact of stigma in her life, and the lives of everyone living with HIV today.</p><p>As this series draws to a close, we hear from people we've met throughout the series, reflecting on what still needs to be done as we work to end the HIV epidemic once and for all. How do we make sure no one is left behind as we make progress towards that goal, no matter how marginalised they may be, or where in the world they live?</p><p>In "A Positive Life", singer Sam Smith presents stories of HIV in the UK over the last forty years. They hear from people who remember the earliest years of the AIDS crisis; the grassroots activists and marginalised communities who came together to fight stigma and raise public awareness; and a new generation living with effective treatments for HIV in a radically-changed world.</p><p>An Overcoat Media production for BBC Sounds</p><p>Producer: Arlie Adlington Assistant Producer: Emma Goswell Executive Producer: Steven Rajam Sound Mixing: Mike Woolley</p>
August 12, 2022
7. Some Things Stay The Same
<p>Sam Smith explores HIV stigma and misinformation in the Noughties, and how people from marginalised communities are still being left behind today, even as huge strides are made against the virus.</p><p>In the early 2010s, nearly three decades after the first cases of HIV in the UK, we had life saving treatments for people being newly diagnosed, and medicines like PEP - and later PrEP - that meant that people could have sex with almost no risk of acquiring HIV. But even with all the information and treatments available - even up to today - there are still people in the UK being left behind. </p><p>In this episode, we hear from Sham Waraich, who grew up in a Muslim family in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. Sham talks about his own multiple, overlapping identities as a queer, South Asian man, living with HIV. </p><p>Both Sham and Sam share how a fear of HIV runs deeply through the queer community. And we learn how on-going misinformation and stigma - even among communities with the most experience of HIV - means a diagnosis can still be a frightening and isolating experience. But it doesn't have to be that way. </p><p>And, as we step back and appreciate just how much progress has been made in the fight against HIV, we also consider which groups are benefiting most from the successes of recent years - and explore why it is that people from marginalised groups are less likely to see rates of new HIV transmissions going down, and less likely to be able to stay on treatment after they're diagnosed. </p><p>In "A Positive Life", singer Sam Smith presents stories of HIV in the UK over the last forty years. They hear from people who remember the earliest years of the AIDS crisis; the grassroots activists and marginalised communities who came together to fight stigma and raise public awareness; and a new generation living with effective treatments for HIV in a radically-changed world.</p><p>An Overcoat Media production for BBC Sounds</p><p>Producer: Arlie Adlington Assistant Producer: Emma Goswell Executive Producer: Steven Rajam Sound Mixing: Mike Woolley</p>
August 5, 2022
6. Baby Love
<p>Sam Smith explores the ways HIV affects women and child-bearing parents, and the ongoing fight to end gender inequality and stigma within the fight for greater AIDS awareness.</p><p>By the late 1990s, new, effective treatments had dramatically changed the implications of a positive HIV diagnosis. But that remarkable news was still taking time to filter through - both to the general public and even to some healthcare professionals - and people with HIV were still regularly subject to misinformation and stigma.</p><p>Susan Cole was a mother of two when she received the news she was HIV positive almost by accident - after a routine immigration medical check at the time of her moving to the USA. It was only after spending weeks researching new advances that she realised she could be alive to see her children grow old.</p><p>Sam hears the story of how Susan has gone on to live - in her words - a “full and fabulous life”: helping to spread independent, accurate and accessible information about HIV and AIDS. We also find out about how Susan has gone on to have a third child - and from health researcher Bakita Kasadha about the huge advances regarding pregnancy and breastfeeding / chestfeeding for women and other parents with HIV.</p><p>Bakita also unravels the specific implications of an HIV-positive diagnosis for women, and the ongoing challenge to end gender inequality within the fight for greater HIV awareness and against stigma.</p><p>In “A Positive Life”, singer Sam Smith presents stories of HIV in the UK over the last forty years. They hear from people who remember the earliest years of the AIDS crisis; the grassroots activists and marginalised communities who came together to fight stigma and raise public awareness; and a new generation living with effective treatments for HIV in a radically-changed world.</p><p>An Overcoat Media production for BBC Sounds</p><p>Producer: Arlie Adlington Assistant Producer: Emma Goswell Executive Producer: Steven Rajam Sound Mixing: Mike Woolley Additional sound design: Emma Barnaby</p>
10 total episodes available
Deep-dive analytics for A Positive Life: HIV from Terrence Higgins to Today
Frequently asked questions
Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
- What is A Positive Life: HIV from Terrence Higgins to Today?
<p>Sam Smith presents stories of HIV in the UK over the last 40 years; beginning with the life of Terrence Higgins, one of the first British people to die of an AIDS-related illness.</p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates inactive.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 2 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
Legal Disclaimer
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.