In episode 37 of A Girl Like Me LIVE, we emphasize the significance of being proactive in healthcare encounters. Cohosts Ciarra "Ci Ci" Covin, MS, HS – BCP and Bridgette Picou, LVN, ACLPN discuss preventative screenings and the importance of self-advocacy for women living with HIV. The conversation includes vital discussions around comorbidities like heart disease, diabetes, and bone health, equipping you with the tools to prioritize your well-being. We also introduce useful resources designed to help women living with HIV to navigate their health needs and encourage open conversations with their medical team. Whether you're living with HIV or advocating for someone who is, this episode is filled with practical insights and empowering strategies to ensure comprehensive care.

The words people use to talk about HIV can affect the way people living with HIV feel about themselves. These words can also have an impact on how others view people living with HIV. In episode 36 of A Girl Like Me LIVE we explore the profound impact that language has on the wellness and overall health of women living with HIV. Co-hosts Ciarra "Ci Ci" Covin and Aryah Lester delve into the critical role that words play in shaping our identities and fostering connections within both personal and community contexts. We reference our current survey, "Words Matter: Experiences of Stigmatizing Language Among Women Living with HIV" which seeks to illuminate how the language used in healthcare settings can significantly influence the lives and care experiences of women living with HIV. Watch as we highlight the evolution of language in our communities and discuss how choosing the right words can enhance women's healthcare experiences and empower them as they navigate lives with HIV. Whether you are a provider, advocate, or simply passionate about inclusive language, this episode is for you! Don't miss this important conversation on the importance of language and its impact on the wellness of women living with HIV.

Bringing a new baby home can be a beautiful time – and an overwhelming one. The postpartum period often leaves women feeling unsupported and uncared for as they adjust to massive changes in their lives, relationships, and bodies. The "baby blues" and other intense feelings can be particularly impactful for women living with HIV, as remaining in care and on their treatment routine is vital for their own and their babies' health. Check out this episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE, held on September 25, 2025, as cohosts and mothers Ciarra "Ci Ci" Covin and Ashley Cason dive into a discussion about the challenges many parents face during the postpartum period, explore valuable resources, and discuss practical strategies to navigate this unique journey. Whether you're a caregiver, mother, or simply want to support one as she experiences the postpartum period, this conversation is for you!

There are many ways in which physical activity can improve your health – it can build and maintain muscle, increase your endurance, and strengthen your heart. For people living with HIV, those benefits may improve overall quality of life. On Thursday, August 28, 2025, we held another enlightening episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE. The cohosts of this episode, Ciarra "Ci Ci" Covin and Kim Canady, led a discussion around the vital role of physical activity and exercise in our lives, highlighting how motivation from peers can make all the difference. Regular physical activity may not only enhance your appearance but also significantly boost mental well-being. Whether you're a fitness enthusiast or just starting your journey, this discussion will inspire you to prioritize your health and happiness.

On Thursday July 31, 2025, 12pm ET / 9am PT, The Well Project hosted another powerful episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE as we discussed the importance of community for mothers living with HIV as they advocate for their children - and for themselves. Co-hosted by Ciarra "Ci Ci" Covin, Alyssa Crawford, and Heather O'Connor, this episode explores the value of building supportive networks, the role of advocacy in day-to-day life, and much more! From creating supportive environments for our children to self-care routines that empower us, you're not going to want to miss this conversation with these phenomenal mothers. 

The journey towards prioritizing self-care and self-love is an important one for all women. As we work together to destigmatize HIV and address health disparities for women living with the virus, a sense of peace with who we are becomes especially important as it can have a vital role in overall well-being. On Thursday June 26, 2025, we held episode 32 of A Girl Like Me LIVE. Cohosts Ciarra "Ci Ci" Covin, MS, HS – BCP and Bridgette Picou, LVN, ACLPN led an empowering discussion exploring their own personal stories and insights, the essential themes of self-love and self-care, and offered practical techniques for prioritizing your mental and emotional health amidst the challenges life brings.

Each year, National HIV Testing Day (#NHTD) is observed on June 27 to bring awareness to the importance of getting tested for HIV. The Well Project held a very special episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in commemoration of National HIV Testing Day, which delved into the diverse narratives and experiences of women living with and vulnerable to HIV. Co-hosts Ciarra "Ci Ci" Covin, Bre Azanedo, Ashley Cason, and Heather O'Connor brought a wealth of perspectives, each offering unique insights and empowering stories that shed light on the importance of HIV testing. Together, the co-hosts engaged in heartfelt discussions, shared personal anecdotes, and offered invaluable advice on navigating healthcare and advocacy within the context of HIV. 

There are several terms with similar meanings that are used to describe HIV transmission at birth or early in life, and those who acquired HIV this way. Some terms come from the community itself, while others are more clinical – and some may be considered stigmatizing. It may be confusing for those who do not share this experience to know what term they ought to use. Many who were in attendance at the 2023 US Conference on HIV/AIDS were able to witness a historical moment where the community itself identified that they are to be referred to as “Lifetime Survivors” and/or “Dandelions”. More listening, more opportunities and spaces for women who acquired HIV early to connect – and more following the lead of women who have spent a lifetime figuring out, with few models is essential. Join The Well Project for a very special episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE where Ci Ci is joined by three dynamic women: Kim Canady and Dandelions, Inc. Co-Executive Directors Antoinette Jones and Derinthia Williams to discuss the importance of identity, language, The Dandelions Movement, the US Conference on HIV/AIDS recap, and more! This episode is going to be a great one! We can’t wait to see you there!

Human sexuality exists on a dazzling spectrum. There are many ways that individuals express, and describe, their romantic, physical, and/or emotional attractions to other people. While everyone is unique in the way they experience (or do not experience) attraction, there are groupings within the spectrum of sexuality that people may use to label that aspect of their identity. Labels can be awkward – though they can also help people find others who identify in similar ways, to find community or intimate partnership. The Well Project invites you to join us for the 29th episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE for a discussion on women, sexuality, and HIV co-hosted by Ciarra "Ci Ci" Covin and community advisory board member Marnina Miller. These two powerful advocates engaged in a lively discussion on points related to how sexuality is defined sexuality and stigma, steps that one can take to find a community of support, and so much more! You are not going to want to miss this powerful discussion as The Well Project celebrates Pride Month!

Research shows that loneliness is a factor in how well people age. When you add the feelings of stigma and shame that sometimes accompany life with HIV, these feelings can be magnified and may also bring a sense of isolation. Quality of life and the desire to engage in care may be negatively impacted when one is experiencing loneliness related to their HIV diagnosis. On Thursday, April 27th at 12pm ET, The Well Project streamed the first Women Like Us - Aging Positively episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE where The Well Project’s stakeholder liaison, Bridgette Picou, LVN, ACLPN was joined by long-time The Well Project collaborator and fierce advocate, Gina Brown, RSW as they discussed the different types of loneliness, factors unique to women that can increase these feelings, and the importance of building community as we age with HIV. This interactive discussion explores what contributes to loneliness, how women’s experiences of living with HIV can compound the problem, and what women can do to balance these feelings and learn to age positively! The dynamic conversation between these two advocates is one you won’t want to miss.

On Wednesday, March 29th, 12pm ET The Well Project hosted the 27th episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE where Ciarra "Ci Ci" Covin was joined by community advisory board member Kim Canady to discuss the topic of HIV, women, and sexual pleasure. The discussion includes highlights from The Well Project's poster presentation "Facilitating Engagement about Sex and Pleasure Between Providers and Women Living With HIV" at the 2023 International workshop on HIV and Women in Seattle, Washington, as well as presentations at USCHA and SisterSong's "Let’s Talk About Sex" conferences in 2022. Ci Ci and Kim discussed some key takeaways from the presentations, reactions from health care providers and community members, and some of The Well Project's SHE/HER/THEY educational resources. Don't miss this interactive and candid conversation as we continue to advocate for advancing HIV programming and care that is inclusive of the "whole woman".

The fourth session of Leadership Exchange LIVE (BEEEBAH Edition) features Ciarra “Ci Ci” Covin (The Well Project) and Lealah Pollock, MD, MS (University of California, San Francisco). Join this powerful discussion as they discuss recent updates to the Perinatal HIV Clinical Guidelines. Updates to the section Infant Feeding for Individuals with HIV in the United States now assert the need for shared decision-making between providers and parents living with HIV and increased support from providers for parents' infant-feeding choices. This is big news! Join this discussion to learn about these updates; hear Ci Ci relate her own experiences and describe what these changes can mean for women and other birthing people living with HIV; and listen as Lealah shares what this means more broadly for the landscape of breast/chestfeeding and HIV. The Well Project's Leadership Exchange LIVE (BEEEBAH Editions) is a series of exchanges with thoughtleaders on breast/chestfeeding and HIV, a program that has been essential to our efforts to raise awareness, inspire action, and ensure that women living with HIV can experience their fundamental right to make informed, uncoerced infant-feeding decisions.

Historically, women across the gender spectrum have been insufficiently included and involved in HIV research. Such exclusion has resulted in limited knowledge about important aspects of women’s experiences of HIV that would inform their active participation in decision-making about their health and well-being. Join us for a special A Girl Like Me LIVE where Ci Ci is joined by Women’s Research Initiative on HIV/AIDS member Tonia Poteat, PhD, MPH, PA-C to discuss the importance of including all women in HIV research. This interactive discussion explores what contributes to the little knowledge about women’s experiences of living with HIV, how women can get involved in clinical trials or research development, and the importance of community engagement in advancing the meaningful inclusion of all women in HIV research, and more! This episode will be one that you don’t want to miss!

While the reasons are unclear, studies have shown that, in the general population, women are two times more likely to experience depression than men. Women living with HIV across the gender spectrum are even more likely than women in the general population to experience mental health challenges. The holiday season can be a tough time for many individuals, for many reasons, and having a community of support may prove to help cope with feelings of loneliness, isolation, and sadness. On Thursday December 15, 2022 The Well Project streamed its 25th episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE co-hosted by Ci Ci Covin and community advisory board members Heather O'Connor and Masonia Traylor as they explored ways to cope with mental health around the holidays. You're not going to want to miss this amazing discussion with these amazing women!

Talking with adolescents and teens about sex and HIV can be anxiety provoking, but these conversations are so important as we seek to ensure that they are equipped with accurate and up-to-date information about HIV prevention and awareness. It may not be the easiest conversation to have, but there are ways that you can educate yourself and resources to help you! On October 26th at 12:00 pm ET, Ci Ci was joined by Kimberly Canady and Ieshia Scott, two long-time community advisory board members, for the 24th episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE. You're not going to want to miss the chance to learn from these advocates about how they have initiated the conversation about HIV prevention and awareness with youth in their communities, tips for when to begin talking with children, and what you can do to create a supportive and loving environment in which adolescents and teens will feel comfortable asking questions and empowered to make healthy life choices. This episode is sponsored by Theratechnologies. Visit https://cdn.fs.pathlms.com/4oiXe0vRdGQpqWg8RqwQ to view their Screening Guide for Lifestyle Diseases

September is recognized as Healthy Aging Month. Join for a special A Girl Like Me LIVE in honor of National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day (#NHAAD). In the US, the first cases of HIV emerged among young men, but today we know that the epidemic affects both women and men of all ages, including older women. Despite the tremendous improvements in HIV drugs that now enable many people to live long and healthy lives with HIV, there are ways that living and aging with HIV is different from aging while HIV-negative. In the 23rd episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE, Ciarra “Ci Ci” Covin was joined by The Well Project founder Dawn Averitt for a powerful discussion about aging and HIV. Dawn, who was diagnosed with HIV in 1988, shared her experience as a woman who is aging while living HIV/AIDS, the importance of taking care of oneself, the need for research in women who are aging with HIV, and much more! This episode is sponsored by Theratechnologies. Visit https://cdn.fs.pathlms.com/4oiXe0vRdGQpqWg8RqwQ to view their Screening Guide for Lifestyle Diseases

The patient-provider relationship is established when a provider attends to the medical needs of a patient. Depending on a number of factors, this dynamic can have both positive and negative effects on the person receiving care. Strong patient-provider relationships established on trust, shared-decision making, and effective communication can have a positive impact on people living with HIV and these relationships often prove to have an impact on their overall health outcomes. On Wednesday August 31, 2022, 12pm EST, Ciarra “Ci Ci” Covin was joined by The Well Project Medical Editor, Theresa Mack, MD, MPH as they had an insightful conversation on the importance of patient-provider relationships for women living with HIV, share suggestions for overcoming barriers that may exist in this context, and much, much more! This episode is sponsored by Theratechnologies. Visit https://cdn.fs.pathlms.com/4oiXe0vRdGQpqWg8RqwQ to view their Screening Guide for Lifestyle Diseases

Health disparities are differences in health that are linked to unjust social conditions (income inequality, racism, gender bias, and many more). A health disparity can be a higher rate of a disease among certain groups than others – even, in many cases, despite ongoing prevention efforts. HIV is just one example of an epidemic that is made worse by health disparities. In the 21st episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE, Ci Ci was be joined by author, community advocate, and transformational speaker Connie L. Johnson. Connie and Ci Ci discussed health inequities and health disparities faced by Black women and others who are living with HIV. Come take part in this interactive discussion to explore the root of these disparities and how they impact the daily lives of women living with HIV. This episode is sponsored by Theratechnologies. Visit https://cdn.fs.pathlms.com/4oiXe0vRdGQpqWg8RqwQ to view their Screening Guide for Lifestyle Diseases.

Women living with HIV across the gender spectrum are more likely than women in the general population to experience challenges to their mental health. Among many people, accessing mental health care can carry stigma, and can even be discouraged by some family members and friends. Additionally, women, often primary caregivers, will care for others before caring for themselves. In the 20th episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE, Ci Ci is joined by Raenisha Love, LCSW as they discuss mental health care from both the perspective of a therapist who offers non-judgmental, empathic services to individuals across the gender spectrum and a woman living with HIV who sought out mental health care. You’re not going to want to miss this dynamic conversation between two powerful women as it relates to the importance of mental health care (in addition to HIV treatment) for overall well-being for women living with HIV.  This episode is sponsored by Theratechnologies. Visit https://cdn.fs.pathlms.com/4oiXe0vRdGQpqWg8RqwQ to view their Screening Guide for Lifestyle Diseases  

Telling someone you love that you are living with HIV can be really hard. Living with HIV can often impact not just the person who received the diagnosis, but also those around them - including family, friends, and other people they are close with. During the month of May, and beyond, we celebrate the special dynamic of motherhood as it relates to HIV. In the 19th episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE, Ci Ci is joined by her own mother, Carol Coleman; Lynette Trawick and her mother-in-law Karen Trawick; and mother-daughter duo Michelle and Raven Lopez in a heartfelt conversation meant to shed light on these multiple, diverse perspectives of motherhood and HIV. Tune into this enlightening, powerful discussion among women living with HIV and their mothers!