prideHealth partners with GOProud Radio to strengthen access to affirming care

Nova Scotia Health’s prideHealth team is partnering with GOProud Radio, a community-driven station based in Lunenburg County, to launch a new podcast focused on 2SLGBTQIA+ health and wellness, with a particular focus on reaching people in rural communities to improve access to care.

Run out of a small space in downtown Lunenburg, GOProud Radio is dedicated to elevating 2SLGBTQIA+ voices across the South Shore, Atlantic Canada and beyond, with a strong focus on building connection and community in the face of ongoing discrimination.

The new podcast series with prideHealth will share reliable health information, raise awareness of prideHealth services, and help connect listeners to supports in their communities. Episodes will cover a range of topics identified through community engagement and ongoing conversations with patients and partners.

“These conversations reflect what community members have been asking for. Clear, trustworthy information on topics like gender-affirming care, access to PrEP and PEP, the history of 2SLGBTQIA+ health, and the realities of queer grief,” said Jared McNeil, prideHealth community liaison. “These topics deserve space, compassion, and visibility, and we’re proud to bring them forward.”

The series is designed to be practical and accessible, helping people better understand how to navigate the health system, what services are available, and how to access care. It also creates space for stories and experiences that are not always visible in traditional health communication channels.

For people living in rural areas, accessing care and reliable health information can come with its own set of unique challenges, like distance, limited local services, and concerns about privacy or stigma. This partnership aims to help address some of those barriers by sharing information in a format that is easy to access and grounded in community.

This partnership grows out of a shared belief in fairness in healthcare and a commitment to communicating in ways that feel welcoming, respectful, and truly reflective of the diverse communities we serve. GOProud Radio is a natural collaborator for prideHealth, a partnership between Nova Scotia Health and IWK Health that works to improve access to safe and culturally appropriate health services for people who are Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual.

“Launching this series with GOProud Radio allows us to meet 2SLGBTQIA+ community members where they are,” said McNeil. “We want listeners to tune in because this isn’t just a podcast, it’s a way to connect people with information, resources and community. Whether someone is looking for support, trying to understand the health system, or simply wanting to hear voices that reflect their experience, this series is for them.”

“We are all so excited to see this partnership turn conversation into action,” said Alison Clements, community engagement lead at GOProud Radio. “Knowledge really is power when it comes to health and partnering with prideHealth allows us to connect our listeners and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community directly to services and care that can make a difference in their lives.”

While the series is focused on the needs and experiences of people in Nova Scotia, its digital format allows it to reach far beyond the province. As a podcast, it creates an opportunity to connect with like-minded listeners across the province who may be looking for similar information, support, and community.

The podcast launches April 3 and will be available online. New episodes will be released on the first Friday of each month. Have a question you’d like answered on the podcast? Submit it through the GOProud Radio Q&A form: https://www.goproud.ca/pridehealth/.

Photo of Jared McNeil.