Jonathan Van Ness: Addiction, HIV and the Wake-Up Call That Saved My Life

Jonathan Van Ness is one of the most recognisable and beloved figures in pop culture today - but in this conversation, they open up about the chapters of their life few people truly understand. Jonathan speaks candidly about addiction, relapse, sex addiction, and living with HIV, including the moment they realised contracting HIV ultimately saved their life by forcing them to confront a dangerous relationship with meth. With extraordinary honesty, Jonathan reflects on survival, recovery, shame, joy, and what it really means to heal. We also talk about identity, coming out as non-binary, people-pleasing, impulse behaviour, and why healing isn't a destination — it's a lifelong practice. Alongside the heavy moments, Jonathan brings humour, warmth and deep compassion, sharing how movement, group fitness, love, and chosen family helped them rebuild a life they want to stay in. This is a powerful, vulnerable and deeply human conversation about staying alive, finding joy after trauma, and learning how to come home to yourself. For information about Jonathan's upcoming Hot and Healed Tour head here . THE END BITS: Listen to more No Filter interviews here and

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Jonathan Van Ness: Addiction, HIV and the Wake-Up Call That Saved My Life is an episode from No Filter by Mamamia Podcasts.

This episode is 53:46 long.

This episode was published on Jan 18, 2026.

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