Silence Is Complicit: Ro Yoon on Recovery, HIV Activism, and Healing in Community

Join host Christopher Archiopoli as he welcomes Ro Yoon, a Korean American trans woman, HIV activist, and community leader to King County Recovery Conversations. Ro’s journey—from overcoming heroin addiction in London to her years advocating for marginalized communities in Seattle—offers a profound look at resilience, service, and the strength of chosen family.

In this episode, Ro shares how her identity and lived experience fueling her passion for HIV prevention, community-based research, and activism. She opens up about the impact of stigma, the importance of empathy, and lessons learned from historic movements like ACT UP and Stonewall. Ro and Christopher explore the complexities of recovery, why silence is complicity, and how every listener plays a role in building a more equitable, caring future.

Tune in for Ro’s candid insights into healing, activism, and the often-unseen labor of LGBTQ+ leaders. Her message: “Your silence is complicit”—now is the time to amplify voices, connect across differences, and support the most vulnerable among us.

Resources from the episode:

• Learn more about the Fred Hutch Vaccine Trials Unit: https://www.fredhutch.org/en/research/divisions/vaccine-and-infectious-disease.html

• For HIV vaccine studies, visit the UW/Fred Hutch Vaccine Trials Unit: https://www.seattlevaccines.org/

• Learn more about King County Recovery Coalition and the work they do ⁠here⁠: https://www.kcrecovery.org/

• The King County Recovery Coalition is a regional coalition of the Washington Recovery Alliance (WRA). Learn more about the WRA and the work they do ⁠here⁠: https://www.washingtonrecoveryalliance.org/

• If you are experiencing substance use disorder, problem gambling, and/or a mental health challenge, please visit the ⁠Washington Recovery Helpline⁠ for resources and a 24-hour helpline: https://www.warecoveryhelpline.org/

King County Recovery Conversations is a podcast on a mission to celebrate recovery and help break the stigma of addiction and mental health. In each episode, policy experts, program professionals, and those with lived experience join host Heather Venegas to share stories of hope, resilience, and healing in our community. Together, we’ll learn about the various pathways to recovery – and the services and support systems available to anyone impacted by addiction and mental health. Whether you're someone seeking recovery, someone in recovery, a family member or friend, or a healthcare professional, this podcast is for you.

Connect with King County Recovery Coalition ⁠online⁠, on Facebook (⁠@KingCountyRecoveryCoalition⁠), or on YouTube (⁠@KingCountyRecoveryCoalition⁠).

If you have feedback or show ideas, contact host Heather Venegas at ⁠heather@kcrecovery.org⁠.

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/king-county-recovery/message