Fifteen years ago Stephen was drugged and raped by a stranger. Six months later he was diagnosed with HIV. It took him two years to start wanting to live again but today Stephen is a YouTuber and actor with a successful one-man off-Broadway show on his resume, called Shadowed Dreamer.

In this interview Stephen and I discuss where to find the strength to keep going when the cards are stacked against you, the misinformation surrounding HIV, its treatment and life expectancy, and why HIV has gone out of fashion with the media. 

Follow Stephen on Instagram @harttalks2016 and check out his Youtube channel Hart Talks

The book: Timothy Conigrave's Holding the Man

If you or someone you know is struggling to cope with a positive diagnosis or a potential positive diagnosis, you can find more information on the Terrence Higgins Trust website: www.tht.org.uk

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This episode was edited by Bartosz “Waskii” Tylczynski