Something Positive for Positive People

In this heartfelt episode of Something Positive for Positive People (SPFPP), we meet Karly, a 29-year-old advocate who turned her life around following a genital HSV-2 diagnosis in June 2023. Karly's story is one of resilience and hope; from grappling with the end of a relationship and facing suicidal thoughts to finding solace in the support of friends, co-workers, and advocacy work. Join us as Karly recounts her journey, offering a personal insight into living with herpes and how it led her to a path of advocacy. Her experience sheds light on the human aspect of HSV, challenging the stigma and reshaping how we perceive individuals affected by the virus.

In this insightful 30-minute podcast, we explore the dynamics of discordant dating, where one partner has herpes and the other does not. The discussion delves into the advantages and challenges of dating someone who also has herpes, highlighting the importance of focusing on overall compatibility rather than the virus itself. The podcast also addresses the common concern of herpes-positive individuals in discordant relationships, particularly the fear of transmitting the virus to their partner and how this affects their presence and engagement in the relationship. Additionally, the episode touches on the discrimination within the herpes community, where individuals with one type of herpes often stigmatize those with another type. Concluding with a powerful message, the podcast emphasizes the importance of understanding and managing one's emotions regarding herpes stigma to foster healthier, more fulfilling relationships, regardless of a partner's herpes status.

In episode 324 of the Something Positive for Positive People podcast, host Courtney Brame has a candid conversation with Belize Spivey, the founder of Vanquish Care and the STD Life Coach. As a black man and woman living with herpes, they discuss the cultural dynamics and norms within the black community that contribute to the stigma surrounding herpes. They delve into topics such as healthcare access and equity, the importance of community support, and the challenges faced by black individuals who openly advocate for herpes stigma education. They also address the role of religion and spirituality in perpetuating shame and provide insights on how to empower and advocate for better sexual health education and STD prevention in the black community. Don't forget about the SPFPP Virtual Conference coming up May 23, 2024. Register at www.spfpp.org/conferences ASAP to get your tickets! Connect with Belize at Vanquishcare.com and use code spfpp at checkout when you purchase herpes treatment products to save!

There's an accountability in relationships that just doesn't come with dating that allows us to heal things that we never will if we let our fear of rejection for having herpes get in the way. It's not just the rejection that can happen . . . Listen to this one. We touched back into the essence of this podcast that I've gotten away from for a while now. I realized that this morning while recording this.

Thursday May 23, 20224 is the first ever Something Positive for Positive People virtual conference on herpes stigma. The theme is "Sexual Health is Mental Health", and we will analyze the HSV Stigma survey data we've collected from October 2023 at this conference. We invite anyone in the field of sexual health to attend and learn about our STI Minimization program where we train organizations on stigma-free communication with patients. Using the experiences of people navigating herpes stigma, we've been able to address stigma in health care settings, in the field of mental health, and of course in dating. This podcast is a brief verbal expression of the conference without me actually delivering the content of the conference. Visit www.spfpp.org/conferences for more information and to register. I look forward to seeing you there.

Here’s a brief update from the newsletter followed by more of what to expect for 2024. As always, I prioritize being consistent over getting it right, however, I can confidently say, I think we got things right as we head into 2024. We know what we’re doing, we’re doing it, and people are trusting us enough to pay us for it. If you have not already, please subscribe to our email list as this will replace the posting updates on social media, and consistently go out on a monthly basis. Don’t forget to register for the SPFPP virtual conference, take the HSV stigma survey, and join our monthly membership program for those perks (or if you just want to make monthly reoccurring donations). Ya’ll I am RIGHT THERE to being able to do this full-time. Facilitating therapy for people navigating herpes stigma, training sexual health service providers on stigma free care, and coaching folks on communicating about sexual health are all ways in which we serve our community. If you’re on the fence about donating or utilizing our services, please reach out and we’ll be able to choose what your donations go toward directly. Thank you all for another wonderful year of service. We’ve been able to raise $60k+ in 2023, nearly DOUBLING what came in for us in 2022.

I was supposed to be in Sydney right now while a pre-recorded podcast episode automatically uploaded, but due to some necessary circumstances, I couldn't make that trip because my body told me some very important information that needed action taken immediately. This episode is my last bit of personal sharing on the podcasts, and I hope the story I share inspires you to get to the other side of your healing. I had what felt like a herpes scare again, only with a suspicious nodule on my testicles. (I got examined to learn they're not cancerous) During the waiting period I chose to reflect on my life by asking "What the fuck am I doing?", this will be a meditation on the Presence Practice recording session I do next. Here I talk about my intentions and 2 priorities - Courtney Jr and SPFPP and how that looks as I transition into running SPFPP full time taking that leap of faith. I believe for so long, I've been demonstrating healING, but not the other side of that because of a lack of intentionality. This recent health scare gave me that. I always say: Life is about what happens through you, not to you, and the last few weeks I'm sure ya'll saw me sporadically posting and talking about conferences, surveys, events, donations, website updates like a maniac, but it all came together. I just decided to use that energy of looking up things or being stuck and afraid for what I realized means the most to me. That means Courtney Jr. (Nobody's pregnant) and SPFPP (which I really need to ONLY be doing for my work). Also, join us December 20th at 1pm eastern time for a panel discussion about play parties with HSV. Safe Slut is looking to facilitate an event that is centered around stigma free play. So if you're in the lifestyle, join that podcast episode (Free for SPFPP members at $10 tier or more, but donations required for non-members) and you can be in the Q&A. Visit www.spfpp.org/events for more information

I am joined by my friend and "No Shame in this Game" documentary producer, Jolene Jo-Jo Hernandez for a very long overdue podcast episode recording. Jolene put a sign on that says "I have herpes, ask me anything" and wore it at . . . Washington Park, in New York City as part of a documentary she put together just with the intention of healing that thing that needed to be dealt with. In this episode, while you'll hear two people comfortable with their herpes statuses, understand that you are where YOU are in your journey and that is perfectly fine. Our goal here is just to nudge you a little further into the slight discomfort of seeing what you're prioritizing your diagnosis over instead of just living your life. You can connect with Jolene via email at noshameinthisgamefilm@gmail.com or www.noshameinthisgame.com Social Media: @noshameinthisgamefilm

Do you wonder where your donations to SPFPP go? Here's where you can find out! Herpes stigma survey www.spfpp.org/survey and join our newsletter for updates by sending me your email address.

Here's a solo episode where I openly explore learning out loud about what it means to be intentional and my own insecurities. Have you ever met someone like you but on the next level of that? I mean, you're ready for that, but aware enough to use words and identify what insecurities may be bubbling up to the surface around reciprocating. I talk about an experience here where... I met myself through someone and got to see those insecurities come up as pressure. Pressure is something that tends to conflict with presence. Pressure will pull you into past experiences causing a reaction in the now that don't work and imagined outcomes you can perform for that aren't fitting to the present moment. That's probably something to go more into in next week's episode. Anyways, take inventory on what you have and who you have it with and where you get it from. What you'll find is that you're practicing having those things and getting better at accepting them. If you actively choose what's NOT that, then you'll make space for different. I try to explain this here so hopefully it comes across in my rambling.