pozcast

For Jamieson Edward, taking PrEP is about taking control of his health. But he didn’t always see it that way. In this episode, host James Watson sits down with Jamieson, an HIV advocate and community worker, to talk about his own journey from questioning PrEP to choosing it for himself. They reflect on his Just Say It! conversation with Harrison Browne, the judgment that can still come with taking PrEP, and why looking after your sexual health shouldn’t need an explanation.

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Dating is complicated enough. HIV can add a whole other layer. 

In this episode, host James Watson sits down with HIV advocate and community leader Muluba Habanyama to talk about dating, disclosure, trust and the realities of dating while living with HIV. Muluba reflects on her Just Say It! conversation with influencer Dom Bouchard, the chemistry they found on set, and why disclosure should not be treated as the responsibility of the person living with HIV alone. It’s a candid conversation about connection, stigma and what can get lost when HIV gets in the way of seeing the person in front of you.

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We know the science behind U=U. But how do we get the message to people who haven't heard it? In this episode, host James Watson sits down with broadcaster and HIV advocate Shaun Proulx to reflect on his Just Say It! conversation with influencer Tychon Carter. They talk about what happens when someone doesn't always see things the same way, the moment Shaun felt the U=U message starting to land, and what the experience taught him about taking conversations about HIV beyond the HIV community.

The conversation around HIV has changed, but many of the assumptions about people living with HIV haven't. In this episode, host James Watson sits down with HIV advocate and educator Tara Jewal to explore how bias continues to shape the lives of people living with HIV. Together, they reflect on Tara's experience taking part in the Just Say It! campaign, what it was like talking openly with influencer Jamie Pandit, and why honest conversations still have the power to change minds.

Just Say It! is a national HIV stigma campaign that pairs mainstream influencers with people living with HIV and community advocates for honest, unscripted conversations about the questions people are often afraid to ask.

In this episode, host James Watson sits down with Vincent Bronner of Clark Influence and media personality Shaun Proulx to go behind the scenes of the campaign. They discuss why this approach works, what makes authentic conversations resonate, and how social media can help challenge HIV stigma.

U=U is backed by clear and overwhelming evidence, yet in Canada, only about half of people living with HIV say they have ever discussed it with their doctor. In this episode, host James Watson is joined by Natasha Lawrence and Bradley Hampton-Wallis for a conversation about the gap between science and lived experience. Together, they explore how trust, communication, healthcare interactions, and personal experience shape what U=U means in everyday life.

U=U is established science, yet many people living with HIV still don't hear the message clearly or consistently from healthcare providers. In this episode, we explore why U=U conversations aren't happening more often in clinical settings, how uncertainty and missed opportunities can affect care, and what role healthcare providers can play in reducing stigma. We also discuss what needs to change to make U=U a routine part of evidence-based HIV care.

To learn more, visit the Positive Effect website to read the blog about this episode and catch up on previous episodes of pozcast.

This episode coincides with the release of the Canadian HIV Stigma Index Country Report, a major national, community-based research study shaped by the voices of more than 1,400 people living with HIV. The Index documents how stigma continues to affect people’s lives in healthcare, relationships, work, and everyday interactions, and where meaningful change is still needed. Host James Watson and his guests reflect on what the Stigma Index has taught us, the impact of the report and what needs to change to reduce HIV stigma in Canada. To learn more, visit the Positive Effect website to read the latest blog about this episode and catch up on previous episodes of pozcast.