In the very first episode of “Speaking In First Draft,” host Kathryn Destin interviews Girls Write Now Mentor Martina Clark about the first draft of her memoir and audiobook “My Unexpected Life: an international memoir of two pandemics, HIV and COVID-19.” With 4.6 stars on Amazon from over 3,000 reviews, this deeply personal yet, humorous piece details Martina’s international career and activism as an HIV+ woman and draws parallels to the COVID-19 pandemic. Listen in to hear Kathryn and Martina discuss the emotional labor of memoir writing and activism work, overcoming stigma in public health, and why spaces like Girls Write Now are crucial for representation in storytelling.

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