UCLA Family AIDS Network

11/18/2025

🎙️ Behind the Mic: The People Who Make the Stories Possible 🎙️

Every season of Confessions: HIV Positive Women is a labor of love built through collaboration, trust, and community. Today, we highlight one of the people whose dedication has made some of our most meaningful stories possible.

✨ Meet Juan Conant — advocate, community leader, and bridge-builder from AHF Pharmacy.

Born and raised in Tijuana, México, Juan carries the border in his heart — working tirelessly on both sides through his role at AHF Pharmacy San Ysidro and in his personal commitment to community.

Juan has been a key collaborator in bringing Confessions: HIV Positive Women to life, coordinating both Season 7, which featured trans women’s stories across the border, and Season 9, where we traveled to EUNIME to document the lives of children and young women growing up with HIV. His leadership, compassion, and deep cultural understanding made these cross-border projects possible — turning vision into impact. 🌎

Juan reminds us that HIV work doesn’t stop at a city line or a country border — it lives in the hands and hearts of those who care enough to show up for others. ❤️

Thank you, Juan, for your partnership, heart, and unwavering belief in this work. Your presence continues to build bridges between communities, stories, and hope.

11/17/2025

🎙️ Behind the Mic: The People Who Make the Stories Possible 🎙️

Every season of Confessions: HIV Positive Women is shaped by the people who make storytelling possible — those who open doors, build trust, and help us capture voices that deserve to be heard.

✨ Meet Martha Robles — advocate, leader, and longtime collaborator from Christie’s Place in San Diego. Martha was part of the very first season of Confessions, sharing her own journey with courage and grace. But her impact didn’t stop there.

In Season 7, Martha played a pivotal role in helping us coordinate and bring to life our cross-border storytelling project in Tijuana, México, connecting us with women living with HIV on both sides of the border. Her commitment and relationships made it possible for us to document powerful stories of resilience, migration, and sisterhood that transcended geography. 🌎

Martha embodies the heart of Confessions — the belief that healing happens when we come together, share truth, and see ourselves in one another’s stories. ❤️

Thank you, Martha, for your leadership, compassion, and for helping bridge communities from San Diego to Tijuana. Your legacy is woven into the story of Confessions💞

11/17/2025

🎙️ Behind the Mic: The People Who Make the Stories Possible 🎙️

✨ Meet Citlalin López Torres — social media lead, interviewer, and logistics coordinator for Confessions, who joined our team in Season 4 and has been an integral part of the podcast through Season 9.

Citlalin brings fresh energy and vision to the team, bridging digital storytelling and community connection. From coordinating interviews to capturing behind-the-scenes moments, her creativity has expanded the way Confessions reaches new audiences — especially through her leadership on social media.

🌿 Thank you, Citlalin, for your leadership, creativity, and the joy you bring to this work. Your presence continues to remind us that the future of HIV storytelling is in good hands. ❤️ 🎧

Confessions: HIV Positive Women continues to grow because of dedicated changemakers like you.

11/17/2025

🎙️ Behind the Mic: The People Who Make the Stories Possible 🎙️

✨ Meet Elia Silveyra, MSW — Clinical Social Worker, interviewer, and one of the original voices behind Confessions: HIV Positive Women. From season one, Elia has guided conversations with care, building trust and holding space for stories of love, loss, and resilience.

Originally from Tecalitlán, Jalisco, México, she connects deeply with our Spanish-speaking participants, ensuring they feel seen, heard, and safe to share their truth. Her favorite episode? “La Selva: Un Mundo de Nadie.” 🌿

Elia reminds us that storytelling is more than words — it’s listening with the heart. ❤️

11/17/2025

🎙️ Behind the Mic: The People Who Make the Stories Possible ✨

Meet Natalie Sanchez, MPH — Executive Producer and Creator of Confessions: HIV Positive Women. For nine seasons, Natalie has led with purpose, transforming stories of women, families, and communities impacted by HIV into powerful narratives of truth, resilience, and love. 🌿

Her storytelling bridges both sides of the border — from L.A. to Tijuana — amplifying voices too often left unheard: women living with HIV, family members, and people on PrEP navigating stigma and survival.

🎧 Fun fact: Natalie’s favorite episode is Emilio’s story, “Single, PrEPed, and Immersed in Steam” — a bold, honest look at self-discovery. 💭🔥

Thank you, Natalie, for reminding us that stories told with love and intention can truly change the world. ❤️

11/14/2025

🎙️ Detrás del Micrófono: Las Personas que Hacen Posibles las Historias

Al cerrar la temporada 9 de Confesiones Podcast, queremos reconocer a las personas detrás de escena que han hecho de este podcast algo tan especial.

✨ Conozcan a Francisco Valdés, productor de las temporadas 5 a la 9 de Confesiones.
Francisco aporta más de 30 años de experiencia trabajando en el campo del VIH, combinando su profundo conocimiento comunitario con una gran sensibilidad para contar historias. Antes de unirse a Confesiones, trabajó en producción cinematográfica en Guadalajara, México, donde nació su pasión por el cine y la narración visual. 🎬

A través de su dirección, cuidado y edición, Francisco ayudó a dar forma al corazón y al ritmo del podcast — asegurando que cada episodio reflejara autenticidad, emoción y dignidad. Desde las entrevistas hasta el diseño de sonido, su toque convirtió las historias en momentos de verdad. 💫

Ahora, ya retirado, Francisco sigue recordándonos que el poder de contar historias puede sanar, conectar y preservar nuestra memoria colectiva. Su legado está impreso en cada voz, cada confesión y cada vida tocada por este trabajo. ❤️

Gracias, Francisco, por tu visión, tu dedicación y tu fe inquebrantable en el poder de las historias.

🎧 Confesiones VIH Podcast no sería lo mismo sin ti.

11/03/2025

✨ La temporada 9 de Confesiones: Mujeres Viviendo con VIH llega a su fin.
En este episodio final del 2025, Camila, una adolescente que nació con VIH, comparte su historia de amistad, retos y esperanza. 💪❤️

Gracias a Juan Conant, Christie's Place y Reach LA por su colaboración con UCLA Family AIDS Network
🎧 Escúchalo y visita EUNIME.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/confessions/id1710964720?l=es-MX&i=1000735036230

Episodio de podcast · Confessions · 03/11/2025 · 18 min

10/02/2025

👨🏽‍⚕️✨ This October 1st, we celebrate !
Shoutout to Dr. Jaime Deville, Medical Director of LAFAN 💙👏🏽 Gracias por su liderazgo y compromiso con nuestra comunidad 🙌🏽🌟

Did you know that only 6% of physicians are Latino or Latina in the United States, despite the country being made up of 19% Latino? California has an even higher Latino population reaching 40% with further increases projected to 50% by the year 2050.

10/02/2025

🌹 En este episodio, Rubén comparte cómo el VIH impactó a su hermana, sobrino, y cuñado, y la importancia de hablar con educación y esperanza. 🙏✨ Gracias Rubén y Karla por compartir con nosotros parte de sus vidas.amway

Escucha el resto aquí: https://youtu.be/JLtTcCNQCYY?si=PFFXhHgsjy55Wp_3

09/16/2025

⚡️Cuando la noticia viene de quien menos lo esperas... Magdalena conoció su diagnóstico de VIH por su esposo. Su voz es testimonio de fortaleza y esperanza. 🌹🎧

Escucha el resto aquí: https://youtu.be/Wl01uC9fhvk?si=GTR4qeGl8Ap2L7ci

09/16/2025

Welcome to Season 9 of Confessions, highlighting the experiences of Family Members Affected by HIV ❤️🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒

Listen now to Vanessa's story - a lifelong HIV survivor who beat cancer THREE times!

09/16/2025

✨Celebramos el Mes de la
Herencia Hispana del 15 de sept-15 de oct ✨
Honramos a nuestra gente, culturas y tradiciones. En tiempos difíciles, encontramos fuerza en la unidad y la esperanza ❤️🌎