In this special episode of A Shot in the Arm podcast, hosts Ben Plumley and Yvette Raphael share the exciting news of Yvette receiving the Mani L. Bhaumik Breakthrough Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science. They discuss the significance of African women's involvement in clinical trials, particularly the Global Advisory Board’s active participation in the design of trials of new long acting injectables for HIV prevention - particularly the groundbreaking way pregnant women were, for the first time, able to continue to participate in these studies. They also delve into the current challenges faced by global health initiatives, the impact of private and governmental organizations, and the crucial role of mental health and advocacy in combating HIV. The episode addresses the ongoing impact of US funding cuts on global HIV services and the importance of maintaining global solidarity and support for effective HIV prevention and treatment. Yvette emphasizes the need for accessible, affordable HIV prevention methods and the ongoing advocacy required to ensure these advancements reach those who need them most.

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Episode link on Youtube:

https://youtu.be/xiZpnpVScS4

Ben Plumley is joined by musician, DJ, and influencer Anto NeoSoul to explore the evolving concept of masculinity in the 21st century. Reflecting on their personal experiences and societal observations from Kenya to the UK, Ben and Anton discuss the impacts of traditional gender roles, the rise of toxic masculinity, and the importance of gender equity. The conversation delves into the influences of matriarchal societies, personal stories involving media and cultural icons, and the significance of positive male mentoring. They also touch on sensitive topics such as the relationship with firearms and the role women play in shaping a positive sense of masculinity. This engaging discussion aims to foster a broader understanding and redefine what it means to be a man today.

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Mitchell Warren, AVAC's Executive Director, joins Ben to scope out a forward-looking infectious disease   prevention strategy. It is urgently needed, amidst political and economic turmoil caused by the dismantling of US aid and declines in funding from European donors. With HIV as the poster child of what once was global health solidarity, it is an opportunity for a resurgent and resilient Global South to take the reins and set priorities in how to deploy new biomedical innovations, and protecting the rights of communities affected by HIV and other pandemics. Ben and Mitchell also delve into the various legal actions the public health community is taking against the current US administration's executive orders, asking the question - how to we prep for prevention at home and internationally? 

00:00 Introduction and Current Challenges in Global Health 

01:09 Welcoming Mitchell Warren and AVAC's Mission 

01:43 The Evolution of HIV Prevention and AVAC's Role 

03:17 Current Frustrations and Challenges in HIV Prevention 

05:15 The Promise and Challenges of Lenacapavir 

08:03 The Importance of Choice in HIV Prevention 

10:22 Navigating Funding and Policy Obstacles 

12:43 The Role of Donors and Ministries in HIV Prevention 

14:56 The Urgency of Lenacapavir Approval and Implementation 

20:52 Sustainability and Future Planning in Global Health 

25:44 Legal Battle Against Government Orders 

26:50 Temporary Restraining Order and Its Implications 

27:14 Government's Slow Compliance and Ongoing Legal Struggles 

28:38 Public Record and Whistleblower Revelations 

30:56 Impact on American Influence and Global Health 

33:45 Diplomacy and Foreign Assistance 

35:04 Consequences of Policy Changes 

40:01 Future Strategies and Targets for Global Health 

45:51 Music and Reflections on Democracy 

48:21 Conclusion and Final Thoughts 

Learn more about AVAC

https://avac.org

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In this episode of A Shot in the Arm podcast, Ben Plumley discusses an ongoing potentially highly significant legal challenge to the Affordable Care Act with Eric Waskowicz, Senior Policy Manager at the United States of Care. The case involves a small group of employers in Texas seeking to eliminate mandates for free preventative services, positing both constitutional issues and religious objections. Eric explains the potential widespread impacts on access to healthcare if the Supreme Court rules against the ACA provisions. He emphasizes the importance of no-cost preventative services and the economic and social benefits of maintaining them. The conversation also highlights continued bipartisan support - even from the Trump administration - for these measures and the role of state-level advocacy in preserving access to comprehensive healthcare.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

00:17 The Curious Case of Legal Action in the US

01:04 Introducing Eric Kovi and United States of Care

04:49 Background on the Affordable Care Act and Preventive Services

06:46 The Impact of the Supreme Court Case

15:39 Mobilizing Support and Advocacy

22:49 Eric Kovi's Career Journey

27:22 Call to Action and Conclusion

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Youtube link

https://youtu.be/32VDJese8nY

In this episode of A Shot in the Arm Podcast, Ben Plumley talks with Professor Eyal Zimlichman, Chief Transformation Officer and Chief Innovation Officer for the Sheba Medical Center in Israel. They discuss the transformative role of artificial intelligence in global healthcare, from innovations that reduce mortality rates to AI-driven diagnostic tools. Prof. Zimlichman shares insights on leveraging AI for efficiency, reducing healthcare costs, and driving economic growth by fostering a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation. The conversation also delves into how developing countries can leapfrog traditional healthcare models using AI technology, and the importance of AI governance and validation across different populations.

Join Eric Goosby and Ben Plumley as they delve into the latest global health news coming out of Washington DC, including funding cuts from the US government to key international health programs, whether the administration will abide by the continuing resolution passed by Congress to fund all global health programs approved by Congress for 2025, and the implications for the UN, Gavi and US academic institutions. They also try to make sense of the significant job cuts announced by the administration to the Department of Health and Human Services today , and the continuing outbreak of measles in the US. These are hectic – if not entirely productive – times in the world of global health. But is a Trump administration strategy emerging from the chaos of executive orders, termination notices and the firing of so many key staff?

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

01:04 US Government Funding for International Development

01:49 Impact of Funding Cuts on Health and Human Services

02:12 The Growing Measles Crisis

02:36 Debate on Continuing Resolution and Budget Cuts

09:18 Termination of Funding to Gavi

13:25 Public Health Strategy and Administration Tactics

40:58 The Role of Individual Rights in Public Health

47:59 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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In this episode of A Shot in the Arm Podcast, hosts Yvette Raphael and Ben Plumley discuss the resilience of South Africa's healthcare system amidst U.S. aid cuts, particularly through USAID and PEPFAR. They highlight the devastating impacts on HIV treatment, TB care, and broader healthcare services due to the sudden cessation of funding. But the country is markedly more prepared than critics might have feared, to assume full responsibility for its infectious diseases strategies - including procurement and surveillance strategies that the US maintained control over in exchange for the aid. Their conversation extends to cover issues around mental health, future healthcare innovations like long-acting antiretrovirals, and the broader geopolitical implications of donor aid cuts.

00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene

00:33 Impact of US Aid Cuts on South Africa

03:08 Healthcare Challenges and Government Response

07:04 The Role of Civil Society and Future Preparations

10:21 Consequences of Sudden Aid Withdrawal

14:17 Future of HIV Treatment and Advocacy

16:55 The Threat of Drug-Resistant TB

17:35 Government Investment in Healthcare

19:01 Mental Health Crisis Among Youth

19:41 Impact of USAID Funding Cuts

20:57 Soft Power and International Relations

22:37 South Africa's Self-Reliance

26:43 Addressing Racism and Emigration

32:42 Parting Thoughts and Optimism

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Hosted by

Ben Plumley & Professor Ambassador Eric Goosby

Episode Summary

In this episode of Global Health Diplomats, Ben Plumley and Eric Goosby take a hard look at the state of global health in the wake of major funding shifts and policy changes. With U.S. global health programs facing an uncertain future, can they be salvaged, or are we witnessing the dismantling of decades of progress?

Ben and Eric discuss:

✔️ The impact of U.S. policy changes on PEPFAR, USAID, and global health funding

✔️ The realities of restarting health programs amid political roadblocks

✔️ How countries are shifting towards self-sufficiency in health systems

✔️ Lessons learned from HIV programs pivoting to COVID-19 responses

✔️ The role of European and global players—can they fill the funding gap?

✔️ The future of long-acting HIV treatments and barriers to adoption

✔️ The ethics of global health governance—are programs being abandoned?

✔️ The human cost of these decisions on communities and health professionals

This episode is a must-listen for anyone engaged in global health, policy advocacy, and public health strategy.

Timestamps for Key Moments

00:00 - Welcome & opening remarks: Ben and Eric set the stage for a critical conversation

00:38 - Is global health dead? A frank discussion on where things stand

02:31 - U.S. policy shifts & the fallout for global health programs

07:12 - Can shuttered programs be restarted? The logistical and ethical challenges

13:52 - Global health self-sufficiency: Are countries ready to take control?

17:23 - Can Europe or others step up? The feasibility of alternative funding sources

22:19 - What national programs must prioritize to survive funding cuts

26:29 - Procurement & supply chain challenges—what's at risk?

27:52 - Surveillance & monitoring—a critical piece of the puzzle

29:34 - Long-acting HIV treatments—revolutionary but at risk

32:37 - The politics of health funding—will programs be forced to regress?

36:32 - Clinical guidelines vs. financial and political realities—who decides?

37:55 - Key populations at risk: Why marginalized communities may suffer the most

40:02 - Beyond government funding: Can faith-based organizations & business leaders help?

41:06 - The personal toll on health professionals: How this crisis is affecting those in the field

44:32 - Global solidarity under threat: How shifting geopolitics impact health

47:16 - What happens next? Ben and Eric’s final reflections on the way forward

Join the Conversation

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Hosts: Ben Plumley, Yvette Raphael

Guest: Gregg Gonsalves

Recorded in: Tembisa Mall, Greater Johannesburg, South Africa & New Haven, Connecticut, USA

Welcome to the first A Shot in the Arm podcast of 2025! In this powerful episode, Ben Plumley is joined by co-host Yvette Raphael and Yale professor & activist Gregg Gonsalves to unpack critical global health and equity issues amidst the shifting political landscape.

From the unraveling of public health commitments to rising misinformation, we ask: Are we living in a coup yet? Our guests reflect on the past, draw lessons from the HIV/AIDS movement, and strategize about the road ahead in fighting for public health and human rights.

Key Topics:

 [00:00] Welcome & Introductions

 [00:50] The US’s commitment to global health: Is it unraveling?

 [02:00] Yvette’s 50th birthday & 25 years of living with HIV

 [04:00] Misinformation, stigma, and fear in HIV advocacy today

 [06:45] The US’s attack on LGBTQ+ health and the implications for global funding

 [10:30] RFK Jr. and the growing anti-science movement

 [15:40] Is there a method to this madness? Or just chaos?

 [22:15] Lessons from the HIV/AIDS movement: How activists fought back

 [30:00] The collapse of USAID and its impact on African healthcare

 [38:30] Mobilizing the private sector & faith-based organizations

 [41:00] The power of digital activism: TikTok, Instagram & misinformation

 [45:00] Protest & activism: What tactics work in 2025?

 [50:00] Final thoughts: Solidarity, hope & making “beautiful trouble”

Takeaways:

Join the conversation:

What are your thoughts on the current state of public health?

Subscribe & share this episode to keep the movement strong!

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Global Health Diplomats | Two weeks of Trump: Our Reaction

Welcome to Global Health Diplomats, a special project of A Shot in the Arm Podcast, brought to you with the support of the John Martin Foundation. Host Ben Plumley joins Ambassador Eric Goosby to discuss the shocking recent announcements from the U.S. administration regarding foreign aid, global health funding, and the withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO).

With sweeping stop-work orders on PEPFAR, USAID, and State Department programs, the global health community is in turmoil. How will these changes impact HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, and global health diplomacy? Can we find a path forward, or is this a wholesale dismantling of decades of U.S. leadership in global health?

Ben and Eric also discuss the domestic implications of the administration’s controversial policies, including temporary disruptions in federally funded healthcare programs, attacks on transgender rights, and the controversial nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Episode Highlights & Timestamps

[00:00:15] Introduction from the Mall of Africa, South Africa

[00:01:42] Uncertainty and anxiety over U.S. foreign aid decisions

[00:02:36] The importance of U.S. global health funding—how much influence does it really have?

[00:03:45] Is there a method to the madness, or is this a chaotic approach to policy?

[00:06:40] PEPFAR’s funding threat: How a stop-work order could dismantle 23 years of progress

[00:09:15] The attack on "soft power"—is the U.S. retreating from global leadership?

[00:12:40] Will the Trump administration engage in dialogue, or is this a unilateral shift?

[00:14:55] The devastating consequences of withdrawing from the WHO

[00:19:06] The impact on partner countries—will they be left to pick up the pieces?

[00:22:22] The chaos surrounding U.S. domestic health programs

[00:28:53] The rollback of transgender rights and its broader implications

[00:34:59] HHS nominee RFK Jr.—a deeply controversial choice

[00:41:55] What’s next? A call for pragmatic dialogue and action

The stakes for global health, HIV/AIDS funding, and human rights have never been higher. What can advocates, organizations, and individuals do in the face of these challenges? Listen in as we break it all down.

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🎥 Produced & Directed by Erik Espera of NewsDoc Media

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Imara Jones on MSNBC - https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8YRnAyU

#GlobalHealth #PEPFAR #PublicHealth #HIV #WHO #USPolitics #ForeignAid #TrumpAdministration #LGBTQRights #TransRights #HHS #AIDSPolicy #HealthDiplomacy