Talking Stigma with Gareth Thomas

In this episode of the Tackle HIV Talking Stigma Podcast, Gareth Thomas is joined by TV personality Vicky Pattison for an honest discussion about the stigma surrounding women's health. Vicky, who has evolved from a reality TV star to a vocal advocate for women's health and empowerment, shares her journey living with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), a hormone related condition which causes extreme emotional and physical symptoms.

Vicky’s story emphasises the importance of openness and the need for better understanding and support for women's health issues. Their discussion underscores the role of personal stories in breaking down stigma and promoting a more inclusive approach to healthcare, from PMDD to HIV.

Gareth and Vicky talk about the importance of authenticity and resilience in the face of misunderstanding and stigma, while also highlighting their journey towards self-acceptance and advocacy. For more information on PMDD visit mind.org.uk.

Trigger warning: This episode contains discussion around suicide. 

During National HIV Testing Week 2024, which coincided with the Six Nations, Gareth Thomas took part in powerful panel discussion on the importance of HIV testing and overcoming stigma.

To raise awareness about the importance of HIV testing, Gareth was joined by an inspiring group of people, including Richard Angell, CEO of Terrence Higgins Trust; former England rugby player Nolli Waterman; Dr. Nneka Nwokolo, leading HIV clinician; and Sarah Mulindwa, sexual health nurse and TV presenter.

The panel discussed the challenges and misconceptions surrounding HIV, focusing on how stigma can prevent individuals from seeking testing and treatment. They explored ways we can enhance accessibility and confidentiality in HIV testing, such as home testing kits, as well as discussing what living with HIV is like today. Thanks to the advances in HIV treatment and care, people living with HIV have a normal life expectancy and on effective treatment cannot pass HIV onto sexual partners. The discussion featured personal stories and insights, highlighting how community support, education, and open dialogue are key to changing attitudes toward HIV.

Gareth Thomas is joined by World Champion swimmer Mark Foster. Mark competed at the highest level for Great Britain at five different Olympics, World Championships, and the Commonwealth Games. He now has a very successful career as a commentator, TV personality, public speaker, and charity campaigner. In this episode, we discuss the stigma around homosexuality in sport and society, with Gareth and Mark discussing their experiences and the importance of changing public perceptions to make stigma a thing of the past. Please get in touch with your thoughts, ideas, and feedback. We’d love you to find out more about the Tackle HIV campaign by visiting tacklehiv.org, or checking us out on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Episode 7 - Tackling Stigma with Lina Nielsen

Gareth Thomas is joined by professional athlete Lina Nielsen. Lina competes at the highest level for Great Britain in the 400m hurdles, being the European under 20s champion, and is currently ranked in the world’s top 20, whilst living and competing with relapsing remitting Multiple Sclerosis. In this episode, Lina and Gareth discuss fighting public perceptions of both MS and HIV, the importance of talking openly and of being role models and their shared experiences of stigma.

We hope you enjoy this next episode, the seventh in our series looking at how together we can tackle stigma, misunderstanding & discrimination around vital social issues, including HIV. Please get in touch with your thoughts, ideas, and feedback. We’d love you to find out more about the Tackle HIV campaign by visiting tacklehiv.org, or checking us out on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Episode 6 - Tackling Mental Health stigma with Frank Bruno

Gareth Thomas and Craig Doyle are joined by retired professional boxer and former heavyweight champion Frank Bruno. Throughout his life and career, Frank has faced challenges and fought against stigma surrounding mental health, which led him to start the Frank Bruno Foundation. In this episode, Frank talks about the importance of being respectful, keeping calm and staying in control both inside and outside the ring. Gareth, Frank and Craig discuss the negative perceptions around issues such as mental health, and how Frank manages daily life outside of boxing while dealing with his bipolar disorder.

We hope you enjoy this next episode in our series looking at how together we can tackle stigma, misunderstanding & discrimination around vital social issues, including HIV. Please get in touch with us with your thoughts, ideas and feedback. We’d love you to find out more about the Tackle HIV campaign by visiting tacklehiv.org, or check us out on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Special Episode: Can Sport Help Bring Positive Social Change?

The week before the Lions departure for the 2021 tour, we sat down for a special live edition of the Talking Stigma podcast with Gareth Thomas,  World Cup winners Bryan Habana & Nolli Waterman, Craig Doyle and ViiV Healthcare’s Helen McDowell.

As well as the ultimate rugby challenge, the Lions tour provides an ideal backdrop and opportunity for public education via the power of sport, with the Lions representing one of the ultimate team challenges.

Sport and physical activity have the power to bring about positive social change for individuals and communities. The Tackle HIV campaign, founded by Gareth and ViiV Healthcare, with the Terrence Higgins Trust supporting as the charity partner is an example of where sport can help bring about public education, understanding, and social change. Gareth tells us a bit about the campaign and discusses more broadly with Nolli, Bryan and Craig how sport can help bring about this change.

Feel free to get in touch with us with your thoughts, ideas and feedback. We’d love you to find out more about the Tackle HIV campaign by visiting tacklehiv.org, or check us out on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Episode 5: Tackling Stigma with Katie Piper

Gareth and Craig are joined by best-selling author, inspirational speaker, activist, and television presenter Katie Piper. In 2008, Katie survived an acid attack. 

Since then Katie has produced multiple documentaries, created her own foundation, the “Katie Piper Foundation”, and become a role model and campaigner for acid attack survivors across the country.

Whether it’s her husband being congratulated for marrying her, or the internalised judgment she placed on herself, Katie has faced stigma at every turn and tells us not only about her own experience but what people can do on a daily basis to put a stop to it.

We hope you enjoy this episode, the fifth in our series looking at how we can together tackle stigma, misunderstanding, and discrimination around vital social issues, including HIV.

Feel free to get in touch with us with your thoughts, ideas and feedback. We’d love you to find out more about the Tackle HIV campaign by visiting tacklehiv.org, or check us out on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Episode 4: Tackling Disability Stigma with Hannah Cockcroft

The 2012 Paralympic Games in London were seen as a turning point for disability in the UK. The games broke multiple records and created a huge shift in attitudes and perceptions towards those with disabilities, yet some stigma and discrimination still remain.

One of the athletes from those games, joins Gareth and Craig to talk about stigma. Wheelchair racer Hannah Cockcroft MBE won two Gold Medals at the games in London in T34 100m and 200m races. Since then she’s won three more Gold Medals in Rio alongside her 11 World Championship Golds.

Since losing the ability to walk at an early age, Hannah has faced challenges at many points in her life, between the low funding and treatment of Para Athletes to the lack of accessibility to public places, it’s been a tough journey. Listen as she tells us more about those challenges, the stigma she’s battled and how passionate she is about ensuring anyone with a disability has access to sport.

We hope you enjoy this episode, the fifth in our series looking at how we can together tackle stigma, misunderstanding, and discrimination around vital social issues, including HIV.

Feel free to get in touch with us with your thoughts, ideas and feedback. We’d love you to find out more about the Tackle HIV campaign by visiting tacklehiv.org, or check us out on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

It’s a Sin is one of Channel 4’s most successful shows of all-time. It’s shattered streaming records on the All 4 platform, but most importantly it’s brought HIV/AIDS into mainstream conversation in a very powerful way. 

The worry among many in the HIV community was that the stigma depicted in the show from the early ’80s would resurface. But it’s been quite the opposite.

The show has had an incredible response and impact; It has inspired people to go public with their positive HIV status, 2021 saw a record-breaking HIV testing week, and there have been huge increases in people searching for HIV education.

Nathaniel Hall is one of the stars of It's a Sin, playing Donald Bassett, and is also HIV positive. He's a writer, performer, and producer and his first play in 2018 'First Time' was all about staying positive in a negative world. Nathaniel joins Gareth & Craig to talk about his initial diagnosis, the burden of keeping it a secret and the impact opening up has had on his life.

We hope you enjoy this episode, the fourth in our series looking at how we can together tackle stigma, misunderstanding, and discrimination around vital social issues, including HIV.

Feel free to get in touch with us with your thoughts, ideas and feedback. We’d love you to find out more about the Tackle HIV campaign by visiting tacklehiv.org, or check us out on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.