pozcast
James Watson
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Based in Toronto but global in outlook, pozcast challenges the status quo and celebrates people living and thriving with HIV. Host James Watson and his guests explore what it means to be poz and share stories of resilience, courage and resolve. Pozcast gets upfront and personal on issues that matter to the HIV community through candid conversations about health, work, love and life.
Available episodes
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Oct 28, 2022
SE2 EP22 Reframing the narrative: Indigenous men using culture as medicine
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Sep 29, 2022
SE2 EP21 HQ Health Hub: A 2SLGBTQ+ community game-changer
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Aug 26, 2022
SE2 EP20 ENCORE - Lust, men and meth: a gay man’s guide to sex and recovery
In this encore presentation of the first episode of a three-part series on gay men using methamphetamine, host James Watson interviews Dr. David Fawcett, a psychotherapist, sex therapist and author of the book, Lust, Men and Meth: A Gay Man’s Guide to Sex and Recovery. Mark S. King, writer, activist and award-winning blogger of My Fabulous Disease, also joins the conversation and adds his personal reflections as an HIV-positive gay man in recovery from meth addiction.
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Jul 28, 2022
SE2 EP19 Resiliency. Courage. Community. Ken Monteith's perfect storm for change at the dawn of AIDS 2022.
Host James Watson explores a wide range of issues and topics with the ever engaging, Ken Monteith, Executive Director of COCQ-SIDA (Coalition of Quebec Community Organizations in the Fight Against AIDS), the main organizational partner for AIDS 2022, the 24th International AIDS conference in Montreal.
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Jun 30, 2022
SE2EP18 Reflections of award-winning HIV activist, Bob Leahy. U=U guru. Change-maker. All round rabble-rouser.
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May 25, 2022
SE2EP17 Reconstructing the home fire
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Apr 27, 2022
SE2EP16 From disclosure and stigma to enlightening others… a love story of kindness, courage and trust
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Mar 30, 2022
SE2EP15 Peer Research across the pond: a fascinating UK study exposes barriers and bias bolstered by the pandemic
James Watson chats with two fab guests from the UK. Vas Papageorgiou is a PhD student at the Patient Experience Research Centre in School of Public Health at the Imperial College London, England. Husseina Hamza is a peer researcher, community advocate, and the co-founder and director of Red Ribbon Living Well, a volunteer-led community organization for people living with and affected by HIV.
We explore experiences of peer research in the UK and Canada and discuss the findings of a fascinating qualitative study looking at the impact of COVID-19 on people living with HIV. Not surprisingly, Canada and UK share similar challenges, barriers and biases… but also the resilience and optimism for living well!
Full episode details
Visit the pozcast episode page on The Positive Effect website for full episode details and to learn more about the guests featured on the show. Click here for the full audio transcript.
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Feb 23, 2022
SE2EP14 Black Excellence in Community-Based Research: The A/C Study
The A/C study is a comprehensive mixed methods project developed by a team of mostly black researchers and service providers. As part of the team’s core values they made certain that people from ACB communities played leading roles in all aspects of the project. It was clear to the team that there was a lack of reliable data about race and ethnicity to fully understand the prevalence of HIV in African Caribbean communities in Ontario. The A/C study now has the foundational evidence to fill this gap and speak to the root causes of HIV vulnerability. Host James Watson sits down with two key members of the research team Fanta Ongoiba and Pascal Djiadeu to discuss the issues and impacts.
* Fanta Ongoiba is the Executive Director of Africans in Partnership Against AIDS (APAA), and a leader in the African community. She has worked in a number of capacities related to human rights and humanitarian causes, including treatment information exchange counselor at CATIE (Canada’s source for information about HIV and hepatitis C) and as a community health promotion worker at the francophone center of Toronto.
* Pascal is a part-time assistant professor at McMaster University, in the department of health research methods evidence and impact, and a lecturer at Humber College/University of Guelph Humber. Pascal is also a research analyst and methodologist consultant at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. He teaches Applied Epidemiology in the BHSc program in the faculty of health sciences and wellness at Humber College. His research focuses on HIV implementation sciences and, health inequities and disparities.
Full episode details
Visit the pozcast episode page on The Positive Effect website for full episode details and to learn more about the guests featured on the show. Click here for the full audio transcript.
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Jan 26, 2022
SE2EP13 ACB immigrant women living with HIV: creatively mobilizing to educate and excite...
February is Black History month, a time to a time to celebrate the many ways Black Canadians have contributed to Canada's history and culture. In this episode we pay homage to the Because She Cares study and revisit Season 1, Episode 4. But first host James Watson catches up with pozcast regular Lori Chambers the founder of the Becasue She Cares Collaborative, one of the producers of the play and film 'Because She Cares: A Critical Poetic Retelling and the editor and co-author of its poetry anthology.
* Lori Chambers is a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto
Full episode details
Visit the pozcast episode page on The Positive Effect website for full episode details and to learn more about the guests featured on the show. Click here for the full audio transcript.
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Dec 1, 2021
SE2EP12: Undetectable: A critique on the gatekeepers that have stopped the world from becoming HIV/AIDS free
The TELUS Original documentary, Undetectable looks at the early history of HIV/AIDS in North America, the roadblocks along the way, and critiques the gatekeepers that have stopped the world from becoming HIV/AIDS free. It also includes a sharp analysis of the hysteria, misinformation and stigma that has surrounded HIV since it was identified—and initially associated with gay men—in the early 80s. Host James Watson discusses the film and the issues with director and producer Laura O’Grady and cast members Tiko Kerr, Mark Randall and Dr. Julio Montaner.
* Laura O’Grady has produced, coordinated, written or directed hundreds of hours of content, and 2021 marks the release of Undetectable, a project three years in the making.
* Tiko Kerr joined the Undetectable team in 2019 as Art Director, contributing style frames, composites, original pieces and overall visual direction to further the film’s animation sequences. His artistic practice explores painting, collage, murals,…
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Oct 28, 2021
SE2 EP11: The CHIWOS Movement: A decade of ground-breaking change for women living with HIV
Trailblazing. Ground-breaking. Life-enhancing. The 10-year anniversary of the Canadian HIV Women’s Sexual & Reproductive Health Cohort Study (CHIWOS) is reason to celebrate! Women-centered HIV care takes the spotlight as host James Watson examines all things CHIWOS with his two guests, Breklyn Bertozzi and Mina Kazemi.
Brekly Bertozzi is an HIV-positive mother of two and a Peer Research Assistant with CHIWOS. She is also a focus group facilitator and a peer engagement coordinator on two other large-scale studies, and has contributed her knowledge and voice to many great initiatives, including CATIE’s Can’t Pass It On campaign and Envisioning Women-Centered HIV Care.
Mina Kazemi is a research coordinator with the Women and HIV Research Program at Women’s College Research Institute and is the provincial coordinator for CHIWOS. Recognizing that solutions and capacity lie within communities, Mina is committed to community-driven and social justice approaches to research and knowl…
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Sep 30, 2021
SE2 EP10: Peer Researchers: Let's get real (Part 2)
Host James Watson continues his exploration of the peer researcher role and the impact of engaging people living with HIV in research. If you haven't had the chance to listen to part one, we highly recommend a listen.
Working with peer researchers in HIV community-based research (CBR) is a complex undertaking. It requires self-reflection, empathy, and a commitment to GIPA/MIPA and social justice principles. The dynamics of the work are as ever-changing as frameworks that guide its principled practice; with no one-size-fits-all approach. In this episode, host James Watson has a lively conversation with Lori A. Chambers and Zack Marshall, both accomplished social workers, social justice advocates and community-engaged researchers, about their experiences in working with peer researchers and engaging communities in research.
Lori Ann Chambers, Ph.D., is a social worker and researcher who uses storytelling methods to generate and share knowledge from communities living with or impacted b…
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Aug 26, 2021
SE2 EP9: Peer Researchers: Let's get real (Part 1)
In this first episode of a two-part series on pozcast, host James Watson sits down to talk with Tim Wesseling and Lynne, two well-respected peer researchers, about their inspiration, employment realities, and using identity and their lived experiences as commodities in community-based work.
Tim is a Peer Research Associate (PRA) at the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS with over 29 years of experience living with HIV. Lynne lives in Ottawa and has been a PRA for over 10 years, predominately working on studies that look at the impact of the social determinants of health on people living with HIV. She is currently part of the Ontario team that is working on the HIV Stigma Index with REACH Nexus at the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto.
In addition to our episode guests, we also hear from several PRAs across Canada about their experiences in research and how they see these participatory, community-based processes evolving over…
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Jul 29, 2021
SE2 EP8 [Encore broadcast]: HIV, Fatherhood & Fertility
For many years, becoming a father was out of the question for many men living with HIV. But times have changed and condomless sex and parenthood are now realities, thanks to advances in treatment and the evidence-based, stigma-busting messaging around Undetectable=Untransmittable, or U=U.
Tune in to hear Dr. Mark Yudin from the University of Toronto and Logan Kennedy from Women’s College Hospital talk about their research on men’s fertility desires and fatherhood, stigma-free parenting environments and the reasons why fertility researchers are turning their attention to men.
You will also get the chance to hear from Charlie, a Peer Researcher with the men’s fertility study led by Mark and Logan, who chose to remain anonymous for the interview. He speaks about how inspiring it was to interview other men and hear stories about their families and their desires to become parents, and later in the episode claims: “I believe that becoming a good father is one of the greatest endeav…
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Jun 24, 2021
SE2 EP7: Reconstructing the Home-fire
June is a special month as it’s a time in which we celebrate National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day.
It’s also a time in which we share stories, teachings and traditions, and take action toward Truth and Reconciliation. With this in mind, we are excited to have guest host Doris Peltier take us through this month’s episode as she and two special guests, Elder Albert McLeod and Dr. Randy Jackson with the Feast Centre for Indigenous STBBI Research, explore key inflection points of the Indigenous HIV movement in Canada.
The response to HIV/AIDS in Indigenous communities
The historical narrative of the Indigenous HIV movement in Canada has not been told in a true historical sense with Indigenous peoples as the narrators of their own HIV history. The story of disease and the pathologizing of Indigenous peoples predate HIV and this pathogenic narrative is what mainstream Canada has gotten used to hearing and reading about when it comes to Indigenous peo…
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May 27, 2021
SE2 EP6: Surviving and Thriving: Let's Talk
Each year June 5th is set aside to celebrate long-term survivors of HIV and on this month’s pozcast episode, we honour these histories and stories.
Host James Watson hands over the mic to two special guests, Adrian Betts, the Executive Director of the AIDS Committee of Durham Region, and Ashley Murphy, an actor, an AIDS Activist and 23-year-old who’s been living with HIV since birth (see Ashley's Ted Talk).
With vastly different journeys, we will hear about our guests’ unique but shared experiences, as well as their challenges, triumphs and lessons learned along the way. Host James Watson gets them started with a debate on the use of the term “hero” to describe their role in community, and the two discuss what it means to be a long-term survivor of HIV, the dating world, the importance of education and the empowering experience of sharing your story.
Both long-term survivors, both inspirational leaders in the community—let’s listen in.
Full episode details
For full e…
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Apr 29, 2021
SE2 EP5: Good Grief
Many of us know the loss of a friend, a co-worker, or even a sense of routine and purpose during a global pandemic. But we may not always recognize the toll these gradual or multiple losses take, or what we can do to make the situation better. That’s what this pozcast episode is all about as host James Watson sits down with Thomas Egdorf, the Director of the AIDS Bereavement & Resiliency Program of Ontario (ABRPO).
ABRPO provides a compassionate presence and educational support to mitigate the impacts of HIV/AIDS related loss and grief on diverse communities across Ontario. In line with their focus on creating educational tools and interventions that acknowledge and address the impact of peoples’ grief experiences, ABRPO has moved many of its resources online to be accessed by individuals, workplaces and communities—wherever they are.
Team check-ins and debriefs can now be guided by ABRPO’s new online Holistic Check-in tool, a 15-minute module has a little something for every…
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Mar 25, 2021
SE2 EP4: The Accidental Activist
In this month’s pozcast episode, host James Watson continues his exploration of leadership and HIV activism from past episodes in an effort to understand more about the activist journey. How do you go from walking along quietly in your life, to finding that power in your voice and stepping up to try to make a difference in your world? Where's that change moment? What's the trigger? To discuss all of this and more, James speaks with “The HIV Accidental Activist” himself, Randy Davis.
Over the course of this leadership dialogue, we have heard words like leader and ally, advocate and activist come to the surface. Each role is different, but each role is also uniquely pivotal in our collective efforts to raise awareness of the medical and research advances for HIV—like Treatment As Prevention and U=U—while continuing to champion equitable access to HIV testing, treatment and care.
“To be an activist is to speak. To be an advocate is to listen. Society can’t move forward wit…
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Feb 24, 2021
SE2 EP3: Positive Leadership: Leaders are learners
It is without question that our response to the HIV epidemic would not be nearly as successful without effective leadership.
Host James Watson chats with his guests Tara Jewal and Marc Seguin, both provincial managers of the Positive Leadership Development Institute (PLDI), about their approach to leadership and the exciting work they do. PLDI is a program that aims to support people living with HIV to realize their leadership potential and increase their capacity to participate meaningfully in community life. We can all be leaders, because as our guests point out, leaders are learners!
Tara offers over a decade of professional expertise gained through national and international work, and volunteer roles. She has worked with the federal government, the Toronto People with AIDS Foundation, The Teresa Group, and currently manages the Positive Leadership Development Institute on behalf of the Ontario AIDS Network.
Similar to his counterpart, Marc began his work in the HIV community as…
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Jan 21, 2021
SE2 EP2: Art & HIV Activism
In this episode we take a journey into the world of art and HIV activism through a lively conversation between host James Watson and performance and video artist, and self-described “harm reductionista,” Mikiki. Art has a long-standing presence in the HIV/AIDS movement, evoking strong reactions and delivering powerful messages, and the work of Mikiki is no different. Over the course of this episode they reflect on their work in the HIV response and the impact that living with HIV has had on their art making, and define what it means to be a “body autonomy activist” and a “cheerful nihilist.” From drag to blood draws, Mikiki’s work is never timid—it’s political and it’s personal. Do we need to be in pain to create meaningful or beautiful art? Let’s find out.
For full episode details and more about Mikiki, visit the episode page on The Positive Effect website. Subscribe to pozcast on your favourite podcast streaming service to ensure you’re notified when new epis…
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Dec 21, 2020
SE2 EP1: Story
As HIV-positive people we are often asked to share our lived experiences to educate, inspire and advocate. Speaking truth through story can be an empowering release, but there are lessons to be learned and pitfalls to avoid. Our host James Watson sits down with Doris Peltier to learn more as she reflects on the power of story's impact on people living with HIV and its place in Indigenous culture and her family.
Doris is a gifted storyteller and performer, and is currently working as a Community Engagement Coordinator with the Feast Centre for Indigenous STBBI Research. She has been involved in Indigenous community-based research for around a decade, and is fluent in her Indigenous language, which frames her worldview and approach to Indigenous research.
Creating safe spaces that allow for empowering and thoughtful conversations about HIV are important for engaging with Indigenous communities, and Doris points to a facilitation guide created for the CAAN and CATIE production titled St…
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Nov 5, 2019
SE1 EP9: Laughing Matters
Is laughter the best medicine? In this episode we explore the power of stand-up comedy in fighting HIV stigma and explore its potential benefits as a therapeutic tool. Host James Watson first chats with James Tison, a queer, HIV-positive, gender nonbinary stand-up comic and actor from New York City, and then reaches out across sectors to speak with David Granirer. David is a stand-up comic, counsellor, author and founder of Stand Up For Mental Health (SMH), a program that teaches stand-up comedy to people experiencing mental health issues.
With a TikTok following of over 20,000 people, James Tison has found a large audience and a great way to share jokes during the pandemic. With the tag line, “such nice skin…” their website is a great spot for a number of acting and stand-up videos, and for insights into what is meant by “gender non-binary.”
On the later part of the show, David tells us more about the Stand Up For Mental Health program and how it’s been used to ease inte…
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Jun 6, 2019
SE1 EP8: Gay Men Using Meth (Part 3) – A Harm Reduction Approach
In this third episode of a three-part series on gay men using methamphetamine host James Watson interviews Nick Boyce and Colin Johnson about harm reduction as an approach to safer drug use. Nick is the Director of the Ontario Harm Reduction Network and has been working in the movement for almost 20 years. Colin is a gay rights activist and harm reduction peer educator. He also discloses his use of injection drugs, with crystal meth being Colin’s drug of choice.
Nick defines Harm Reduction as a philosophical approach to understanding drug use and working with people who use drugs. He points out that it’s a health and social issue, rather than a criminal or moral one.
Both guests discuss the importance of language, the power of lived experience, and wrap up with advice on what to do if a person is struggling with their meth use and is seeking advice.
Visit the episode page on The Positive Effect website for full episode details and to learn more about this episode’s guest.
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May 1, 2019
SE1 EP7: Gay Men Using Meth (Part 2) – Crystal Meth Anonymous: A 12-Step Recovery Program
In this second episode of a three-part series on gay men using methamphetamine, host James Watson interviews a former crystal meth user living with HIV, who has been free from all substances for over five years. The episode delves deep into his experiences of hard use and the challenges and triumphs of recovery through the fellowships of the 12-Step Program, specifically Crystal Meth Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous.
Our guest’s passion and knowledge for the program is apparent. He gives us an overview of the 12-Steps and highlights Step 1 as the step members must be completely committed to:
Step 1: We admitted that we were powerless over crystal meth and our lives had become unmanageable.
For those who may be interested in learning more about Crystal Meth Anonymous or attending a meeting, please review the CMA worldwide meeting directory page.
Visit the episode page on The Positive Effect website for full episode details and to learn more about this episode’s guest.
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Apr 1, 2019
SE1 EP6: Gay Men Using Meth (Part 1) – Lust, Men and Meth: A Gay Man’s Guide to Sex and Recovery
In this first episode of a three-part series on gay men using methamphetamine, host James Watson interviews Dr. David Fawcett, a psychotherapist, sex therapist and author of the book, Lust, Men and Meth: A Gay Man’s Guide to Sex and Recovery. Mark S. King, writer, activist and award-winning blogger of My Fabulous Disease, also joins the conversation and adds his personal reflections as an HIV-positive gay man in recovery from meth addiction.
Visit the episode page on The Positive Effect website for full episode details and to learn more about episode guests.
Subscribe to pozcast on your favourite podcast streaming service to ensure you’re notified when new episodes are released each month and never miss an episode!
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Oct 17, 2018
SE1 EP5: Stigma Stings!
HIV stigma can be more harmful than the disease itself. Is it possible to eradicate this social menace or is it here to stay? Tune in to find out as host James Watson chats with his guests about the impact of HIV stigma and how community-based research is making strides to weaken its grip.
First up, James chats with Dr. Sean Rourke, a Clinical Neuropsychologist and Scientist with the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, about Canada’s implementation of the HIV Stigma Index research study.
Acknowledging the power of personal stories of HIV stigma and resiliency in the fight against HIV, Sean seeks to bring stories together with data from the HIV Stigma Index study. This work is taking shape on The Positive Effect website.
James is later joined by Brittany Cameron, a powerful champion in the fight against HIV stigma. Brittany is an HIV-positive mother of three, an LGBTQ ally, and human rights activist. As a person in a serodiscordant relation…
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Oct 11, 2017
SE1 EP4: Poetic Justice: A Collaborative Retelling
In this episode, host James Watson chats with Lori Chambers about her unique research initiative, “Because She Cares.” With this collaborative project, Lori uses poetry to share the experiences of African women employed in the response to HIV. While the experiences described are specific to African women, they will no doubt ring true for a lot of us who work in the HIV sector and live with HIV. Their discussion focuses on the impact of using the arts-based method of poetic narrative inquiry and is highlighted by the retelling of a choral poem by the Because She Cares Collaborative.
For more information about storytelling, knowledge mobilization and social change, Lori recommends 7.10 stories.
Visit the episode page on The Positive Effect website for full episode details, and to learn more about Lori and her work.
Subscribe to pozcast on your favourite podcast streaming service to ensure you’re notified when new episodes are released each month and never miss an episode!
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Aug 8, 2017
SE1 EP3: GIPA in the Workplace
The Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV (GIPA) is a set of principles that highlight engagement, equity and social justice, and place people living with HIV at the center of the HIV movement. However, implementing GIPA in the workplace can be challenging. Is it doable? Are the principles still relevant in today’s work environment?
Wanting to learn more, host James Watson talks with two people living with HIV who work in the sector: Marvelous Muchenje, a Program Coordinator at the Women’s Health in Women’s Hands Community Health Centre, and Andre Ceranto, Manager of Community Programs, Volunteers & Peers at Fife House in Toronto.
Visit the episode page on The Positive Effect website for full episode details and to learn more about guests Marvelous and Andre.
Subscribe to pozcast on your favourite podcast streaming service to ensure you’re notified when new episodes are released each month and never miss an episode!
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Jun 9, 2017
SE1 EP2: HIV, Fatherhood & Fertility
Tune in to hear how HIV-positive men and their healthcare providers are talking about fatherhood, and why some men are rethinking their decisions around parenting. James Watson talks to Dr. Mark Yudin from the University of Toronto and Logan Kennedy from Women’s College Hospital about their latest research, new fertility options, stigma-free parenting environments, and the reasons why fertility researchers are turning their attention to men. James also talks with Charlie, a Peer Research Associate, who opens up about how his HIV diagnosis impacted his dreams of becoming a father.
Visit the episode page on The Positive Effect website for full episode details and to learn more about guests Mark, Logan and Charlie. Click here for the full audio transcript.
Subscribe to pozcast on your favourite podcast streaming service to ensure you’re notified when new episodes are released each month and never miss an episode!
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May 16, 2017
SE1 EP1: Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U)
A person living with HIV who, has an undetectable viral load, cannot transmit the virus to their sexual partners. To discuss this significant advance in science and its impact, James Watson talks to two people passionate about the topic and the messaging, Laurie Edmiston, the Executive Director of the Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange (CATIE), and Adrian Betts, an HIV-positive activist and the Executive Director of the AIDS Committee of Durham Region.
U=U was first coined by the Prevention Access Campaign and an international Consensus Statement was developed endorsed by over 100 countries.
In the episode Laurie discusses some of the skepticism that surrounds both the statement and the science, but how that became reduced as national agencies like CATIE and the Government of Canada publically endorsed U=U.
For further reading, check out the Blog section of The Positive Effect for a couple of new posts exploring current understandings and implications of the U=U message.…
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