It’s 2025, and we still don’t talk enough about the mental side of living with HIV. Beyond the facts and treatment, there’s the everyday reality that managing thoughts, emotions, and the impact of stigma.
In this episode, we sit down with our guest living with HIV to talk about what that mental journey looks like from dealing with people’s assumptions to finding ways to stay grounded and hopeful.
We explore how stigma affects mental health, why conversations like this matter, and what support can really look like when we lead with empathy instead of judgment.

This episode unpacks the conversations many of us never had when we needed them most from getting your first period to understanding menstrual hygiene. We talk about the awkward silences, the myths, and what real, supportive education should look like. It’s about creating the open, honest guidance we all deserved growing up.

In this episode periods, pills and pap smears, we take an in-depth look at reproductive health, focusing on the challenges young people face when it comes to understanding their bodies. We discuss common uterine conditions like PCOS, PMDD, and fibroids, exploring how these issues are often misunderstood or misdiagnosed. Listeners will learn how to distinguish between a “normal” period and symptoms that require medical attention, and what steps to take if something feels off.

We also cover sexually transmitted infections (STIs), explaining how they’re transmitted, what symptoms to watch for even when there aren’t any and what the testing and treatment process looks like. The episode emphasizes breaking down stigma, encouraging young people to seek care without shame, and accessing youth-friendly, judgment-free healthcare.