Hello Tribe and welcome back.

Liz Martin is the author of the critically acclaimed bookStill Standing and our very special guest today.

Born in the Liberties, Dublin in 1967, Liz went to the Holy Faith Convent school in The Coombe. From a very early age she knew the importance of education and was often found tucked away in Kevin Street library with her nose in a book. At age 19, a letter arrived from Mountjoy Prison from Liz’s then boyfriend letting her know he had tested HIV positive. It is a difficult relationship but it was hard to leave. However, in 1991, she found the courage to finally leave Dublin and with the help of Women’s Aid Liz settles down in a house with a barn in a rural part of County Galway. Liz and the children are happy. During winter that year, Liz becomes ill and asks her GP to do a HIV antibody test. The results come back positive. Her world falls apart once more as one by one her children are tested until it comes to her new born baby. The GP calls him a “miracle baby” as he too returns with a negative result.

Liz reaches out toAIDS WEST, a support organisation. She joins a peer support group and finds other positive friends. Liz shares here incredible story of strength, resilience, and triumph in the face of adversity during this episode. 

Love,

Veda and Robbie.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Poz Vibe Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Veda⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Lady and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Robbie Lawlor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ production.Big thanks to ⁠our sponsors ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dublin Pride ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠who make this series possible. We’d also like to thank The Boiler House, Man 2 Man, Gay Health Network and The George for all their help and support.

Episodes are produced by Veda and Robbie with production assistance and editing by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Esther O'Moore Donohoe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Artwork, social media assets and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ all created by the fragrantLavender The Queen.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠

Deck the halls with holly balls, we are back for another pozitive episode for you. 

This week we chatted with season 16 Ru Paul’s Drag Race star Q! Q is also a designer, seamstress and during her time on Drag Race announced that they are living with HIV.

We thank Q for their time and we thank YOU for listening. 

Love,

Veda and Robbie.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Poz Vibe Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Veda⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Lady and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Robbie Lawlor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ production. Big thanks to ⁠our sponsors ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dublin Pride ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠who make this series possible. We’d also like to thank The Boiler House, Man 2 Man, Gay Health Network and The George for all their help and support.

Episodes are produced by Veda and Robbie with production assistance and editing by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Esther O'Moore Donohoe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Artwork, social media assets and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ all created by the fragrant Lavender The Queen.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠

Hello tribe!

Before we tell you about this week's guests, a date for your diaries. Friends Remembering Friends will take place at midday on 28th November in St Andrews, Rialto on South Circular Road, Dublin 8. The event is being organised by the Rialto Community Drug Team and you are all very welcome.

Now, back to the episode...

This week we had some gorgeous conversations with two incredible people. Tony MacCarthaigh is a Community Activist interested in the relationship between spirituality and community development. Terrie Colman-Black co-founded ACET in Ireland in 1992. The group works with people affected and infected by HIV/AIDS.  Terrie also started a quilt group June 1993 as a community response to the many who had lost their lives to HIV and AIDS and t honour them by a permanent memorial.

Thank you so much for listening. We are always here for you.

Love,

Veda and Robbie.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Poz Vibe Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Veda⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Lady and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Robbie Lawlor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ production. Our continuity announcer this season is Anne Doyle. Big thanks to ⁠our sponsors ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dublin Pride ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠who make this series possible.

Episodes are produced by Veda and Robbie with production assistance and editing by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Esther O'Moore Donohoe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Artwork, social media assets and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ all created by the dazzling⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Lavender The Queen.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠

Hello Poz Vibers. 

Our guest this week ‘Prince’ has chosen to stay anonymous in this episode. During our conversation Prince shared his experience of what it’s like living in Ireland as a gay person and also as an asylum seeker. You will hear that some people have not given him or his fellow seekers the ‘hundred thousand welcomes’ or céad míle fáilte’ that this country used to be famous for. 

Love,

Veda and Robbie.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Poz Vibe Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Veda⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Lady and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Robbie Lawlor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ production. Our continuity announcer this season is Anne Doyle. Big thanks to ⁠our sponsors ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dublin Pride ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠who make this series possible.

Episodes are produced by Veda and Robbie with production assistance and editing by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Esther O'Moore Donohoe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Artwork, social media assets and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ all created by the dazzling⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Lavender The Queen.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠

Veda and Robbie are together once again for this episode - hurrah! And their guest this week is Oliver Brown.

In 2019, following a cycling accident in London, Oli found himself in A&E when he received his diagnosis. In July 2021, he delivered a talk to the British Ministry of Defence, telling his story and challenging their foundation on some of their outdated rules.

With the support of the Terrence Higgins Trust, the National AIDS Trust and a network of people, in December 2021, on World AIDS Day, Defence agreed to change its policies and lift all of the restrictions on people living with HIV. This meant those people would be able to join the Armed Forces living with HIV, serve unrestricted if diagnosed and be freely able to take PrEP.

We hope you enjoy Oli's story.

Love,

Veda and Robbie.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Poz Vibe Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Veda⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Lady and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Robbie Lawlor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ production. Our continuity announcer this season is Anne Doyle. ⁠Big thanks to ⁠⁠our sponsors⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dublin Pride ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠who make this series possible.

Episodes are produced by Veda and Robbie with production assistance and editing by⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Esther O'Moore Donohoe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Artwork, social media assets and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ all created by the dazzling⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Lavender The Queen.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠

FYI: The audio in this episode was recorded by Robbie in the airport after his time at the AIDS Conference in Munich recently. You will hear some airport noise in the background as a result.

Our guest this week is Abdul-Fatawu Salifu, a young leader based in Ghana. Abdul is advisory member of the Unitaid Communities Delegation and a project officer at Hope for Future Generations and the National Executive Secretary for Young Health Advocates Ghana. In addition, he is also a technical expert in community advocacy, mentoring emerging leaders as well as consulting on community-led interventions with UNAIDS TSM. Abdul also lives with HIV, TB, and Malaria and is dedicated to global health advocacy.

We have loved our Every Little Cell mini-series within a series but Veda will be back by Robbie’s side from next week.

Love,

Veda and Robbie.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Poz Vibe Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Veda⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Lady and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Robbie Lawlor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ production. Our continuity announcer this season is Anne Doyle. Big thanks to ⁠our sponsors ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dublin Pride ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠who make this series possible.

Episodes are produced by Veda and Robbie with production assistance and editing by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Esther O'Moore Donohoe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Artwork, social media assets and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ all created by the dazzling⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Lavender The Queen.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠

The audio in this episode was recorded by Robbie during his time at the AIDS Conference in Munich recently. Please note that there is some wind interference in this recording but hopefully it won’t affect your enjoyment too much.

This week our special guest is Mario Campos. Mario is a 28-year-old influencer, speaker, and content creator. He is an ambassador for the National Minority AIDS Council and ViiV Health Care and an active member of the International AIDS Society through the CIPHER program. He won the "National Youth Award 2023" and was recognized as a "Young Influencer," awards granted by the Presidency of El Salvador.

Veda will be back by Robbie’s side in future episodes - have no fear!

Love,

Veda and Robbie.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Poz Vibe Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Veda⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Lady and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Robbie Lawlor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ production. Our continuity announcer this season is Anne Doyle. Big thanks to ⁠our sponsors ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dublin Pride ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠who make this series possible.

Episodes are produced by Veda and Robbie with production assistance and editing by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Esther O'Moore Donohoe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Artwork, social media assets and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ all created by the dazzling⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Lavender The Queen.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠

The audio in this episode was recorded by Robbie during his time at the AIDS Conference in Munich recently. You’re going to hear him speak with Vimbainashe Jazi, a young woman passionate about making the world a better place for young people living with HIV. Her mission is to advocate in their best interest and contribute to strengthening the service delivery for them too. She also shares her own experience of living with the virus.

Robbie also met with Nadine Ferris France. Nadine is a global health wellbeing coach and facilitator as well as being a TEDxSpeaker. You can watch her talk The Journey From Self-Stigma to Self-Worth here.

We missed Veda during this episode but loved these conversations. We hope you do too.

Love,

Veda and Robbie.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Poz Vibe Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Veda⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Lady and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Robbie Lawlor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ production. Our continuity announcer is ⁠Tina Burner. Big thanks to ⁠our sponsors ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dublin Pride ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠who make this series possible.

Episodes are produced by Veda and Robbie with production assistance and editing by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Esther O'Moore Donohoe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Artwork, social media assets and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ all created by the dazzling⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Lavender The Queen.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠

Hello Poz Vibe Tribe - we're back!

This week our guest is Ainara a.k.a Ainy who lives in Cork with her husband Peter. Ainy lives with HIV and she is also a campaigner who is fighting to get HIV patients access to IVF treatment. In this episode, she talked to us about the stigma she has faced because of the virus and also how Ireland is seriously behind in offering fertility treatments to people living with HIV. Her husband Peter also joined in the chat.

Love,

Veda and Robbie.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Poz Vibe Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Veda⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Lady and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Robbie Lawlor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ production. Our continuity announcer is ⁠Tina Burner. Big thanks to ⁠our sponsors ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dublin Pride ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠who make this series possible.

Episodes are produced by Veda and Robbie with production assistance and editing by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Esther O'Moore Donohoe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Artwork, social media assets and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ all created by the dazzling⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Lavender The Queen.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠

We've come to the end of another season of Poz Vibe but what a season it's been. We've spoken to some incredible guests yet again and expanded our community even further. We hope you've found it helpful and made you feel part of something bigger. Remember, you are never alone - we are always here for you. Community is everything.

Our final guest for Poz Vibe x Chem Sessions is Maurice Nagington a registered nurse with a PhD from the University of Manchester. His areas of interest include HIV, ageing and gay men's health.

Thank you for joining us again on this journey Pozzers. We love you.

See you soon 9(ish) for season 7!

Love,

Veda and Robbie.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Poz Vibe Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Veda⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Lady and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Robbie Lawlor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ production. Our continuity announcer is ⁠Tina Burner. Big thanks to ⁠our sponsors ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dublin Pride ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠who make this series possible.

Episodes are produced by Veda and Robbie with production assistance and editing by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Esther O'Moore Donohoe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Artwork, social media assets and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ all created by the dazzling⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Lavender The Queen.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠