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The Needle and the Narrative

The Needle and the Narrative

Written by: Marc Burrows
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About this listen

 The Needle and the Narrative is produced by Challenges Inc SC; a non profit, drug user health and harm reduction service provider in South Carolina. Interests include drug policy, infectious disease, HIV, HCV, harm reduction, substance use treatment, and drug user activisim. We use stories from lived experience to influence systemic change. Challenging minds; changing hearts. To support our work by becoming a subscription member, visit: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-needle-and-the-narrative--1518412/support
www.challengesinc.orgChallenges Inc SC Economics Hygiene & Healthy Living Management Management & Leadership Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • A Syringe Exchange with Marc Burrows

    A Syringe Exchange with Marc Burrows
    Jan 19 2026
    In this episode Raymond interviews the founder and director of Challenges Inc SC, Marc Burrows. We cover the history of Challenges Inc, the reasons for starting the first syringe service program in South Carolina and learn about parts of the journey since then.
    Special thanks to Counter Narrative Project for their support to lift up this work.
    https://thecounternarrative.org/
    To learn more about harm reduction in South Carolina and to support Challenges Inc, visit:
    www.challengesinc.org
    https://www.facebook.com/ChallengesIncorporated/#
    https://www.instagram.com/challenges_inc

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-needle-and-the-narrative--1518412/support.
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    57 mins
  • Carrying the Story Forward with Raymond Velazquez-Turner

    Carrying the Story Forward with Raymond Velazquez-Turner
    Dec 22 2025
    Episode 4 of the four part series funded by the Counter Narrative Project. Carrying the story forward; lived experience, leadership, and harm reduction. Come along as we discuss idenity, substance use, HIV, sex work, housing, and fighting healthcare stigma.

    Raymond Velazquez-Turner is a public health leader and harm reduction advocate working with the Western North Carolina AIDS Project and Challenges Inc SC. Raymond's work centers on outreach, HIV testing, overdose prevention, and client centered harm reduction strategies that address HIV transmission, stigma, and structural barriers faced by underserved communities.

    This series was supported by the Counter Narrative Project out of Atlanta, Georgia. Learn more about CNP by visiting https://thecounternarrative.org/

    This podcast is hosted by Challenges Inc SC, a syringe services program in South Carolina. Visit https://challengesinc.org/ to learn more about our work.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-needle-and-the-narrative--1518412/support.
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • More Than a Moment: Queer Journeys Through Harm and Healing with Nathaniel Bush

    More Than a Moment: Queer Journeys Through Harm and Healing with Nathaniel Bush
    Dec 1 2025
    The Needle and the Narrative, episode 3 of the new series with support from the Counter Narrative Project. We'll be digging into how substance use, HIV risk, and LGBTQ+ identity intersect, along with the barriers folks face in accessing affirming care and harm reduction services.

    Nathaniel Bush is the author of two books; one of original poetry that addresses themes of sex, love, spirituality, addiction, friendship, harm reduction, and politics, and another that caught the attention of The Advocate Magazine, where he was featured following the tragic Pulse Nightclub Shooting in Orlando, FL.

    We'd like to thank The Counter Narrative Project for their support with making this podcast series. To learn more about CNP visit: https://thecounternarrative.org/

    To learn more about Challenges Inc SC and the harm reduction work happening in South Carolina, visit: https://challengesinc.org/

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-needle-and-the-narrative--1518412/support.
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    48 mins
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