Showing support to someone opening up about their positive HSV status is a challenge on both ends. The person who chose to disclose to you feels safe doing so. Many times they may not NEED anything from you but to listen. They just may need to say it out loud. The best thing you can do is allow them to say what they have to say. Be present with them. And as someone disclosing, allow the other person to have their feelings about it as well. Herpes disclosures are awkward on all sides because...

A good scare creates space for empathy. Think of all the times fear drove you to seek knowledge. Fellow HANDS member, Carlee and I discuss her experience after her HSV diagnosis and how she's managed it and been able to be so open about it in order to help others. Rate, review and subscribe to this podcast to show your support and help us get more amazing guests who are open about their diagnosis and help others find the emotional aftercare necessary after a positive diagnosis. Carlee is on...

Erin Devost hosts the Herp A Derp Podcast whose purpose is to empower the community to break the herpes stigma. She shares her experience that led her to openly discussing her experiences after her HSV diagnosis in hopes of assisting others in navigating their own experiences. Having never been in a relationship, now having to disclose gave her less hope of being in one. Here's how she got to where she is now. Listen to Herp A Derp Podcast on YouTube...

*Trigger Warning - We are continuing the discussion with Genie from Part 1 of episode 64, Understanding Abuse. In this episode's conclusion, we see how justice was served for our survivor who used her HSV-2 diagnosis as fuel to get out of a bad situaltion.  Thanks to Sex Positive Families for providing useful resources to help us navigate challenging conversations around sex especially with our families and youth. A useful resource on this...

*Trigger Warning - This interview was bumped up in light of the Surviving R. Kelly documentary. @VRFreeny shouted out the podcast on January 5, 2019 just saying for people to check it out. I haven't watched the documentary nor do I plan to. Genie, (this guest) and I had been talking about setting up a recording for after the pending episodes have been posted, but she and I both felt compelled to get together as soon as possible. Part 1 of this episode helps us understand Genie's abuse. Part 2...

KellyAnne and I recorded this podcast around a time we were both doing some deep healing with traumatic events in our lives and the timing couldn't have been more perfect as we both share how we've been able to work through our healing. I took time to grieve the passing of my grandmother who's funeral was on my 13th birthday. The feelings that continued to emerge around that time of year for me had gone unchecked and I finally took responsibility for how to respond to my emotions. KellyAnne...

Self Love Coach, Danielle Bryan (@Daniellebryanxo on Instagram) shares so many gems from her experience navigating the darkest time of her life and learning the ongoing lessons from that time to apply that to helping others. She remains committed to learning her own magic and guiding women to their own as well. Be sure to call in or DM @Datingpositives to answer this week's question; "What is the most awkward conversation you had about sex?" 833-YAS-LOVE That's 833-927-5683 We're growing...

There is no known cure for herpes at the time of recording of this podcast. This is me sharing my experience in how a sense of community has played a huge role in my own healing process. It hit me when I read Sex At Dawn by Christopher Ryan and Cacilda Jetha. Originally I was seeking it for its content on nonmonogamy and the word community really resonated with me and I realize in hindsight just how useful it was for me to have a community, and how I see it as a tool for healing among so many...

There comes a time where we spend so much time being drained by negative emotions that we just get tired. In that space we begin to discover something inside ourselves, a desire for change. Devin shares just how her being tired led to her discovery of her own power through one of the most uncomfortable things we can do being HSV+ and that's publicly disclose. Devin is on Instagram @lovealwaysdev and is the founder of Love Profound, a resource for women who want to tap into their courage to...

Jenelle Marie Pierce, the Tatted STD Warrior herself, founder of The STD Project and the Herpes Activist Network HANDS is such a wealth of experiences having done so much work in the Sexual Health community. We talk about rejection as an opportunity of reflection, putting ourselves out of jobs by ending the stigma, and what can be learned from the LGBT+ community about advocating for one another even if you aren't in the community.  The shame/stigma is perpetuated by our unwillingness to free...

Functional Medicine Consultant Dr. Lacey Chittle shares information with us to best use our greatest healing tool, our body, to ease the symptoms of illnesses. This does include ways to boost the immune system to combat HSV expressions through the physical body. We're not talking about cures here by any means. We're talking about giving the body the best chance to keep illnesses at bay which happen to include herpes outbreaks. Dr. Lacey names off various supplements to help and those will be...

This episode has two very important parts. Many questions come in about disclosure to a non positive partner and many of us have been depressed or have been depressed about our diagnosis. This episode will definitely assist you in navigating some of those questions from the couple we interview here. I'm on social media @HOnMyChest where you can keep up with the latest updates on the podcast. If you're concerned about the association of the podcast with your followers and think they'll assume...

We live in a world where we can project ourselves to be whoever we want a person to believe we are in order to get what we want. We have to train ourselves to recognize red flags in situations and people while trusting them to be who/what they are and who we believe them to be. Tunnel vision this episode isn't in reference to overlooking those red flags, it's on focusing so heavily on your overall goal, that you completely disregard the other things about a person that make them...

The in person interviews sound and just feel better. Brittany was cool with recording in the grand studio of my closet. This one is very spirituality/emotionally focused and highlights how being in touch with your own intuition guides you to and away from like energies if you listen to it. Keep subscribing and reviewing the podcast. I'm on Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr and Reddit @hOnMyChest! Stay Positive!

December 1st is World AIDS Awareness Day and this special bonus episode features someone with life-long experience with HIV. We touch on HIV education, self-esteem building and the main topic of discussion, open relationships. Lexi Gibson the Founder and HIV Care Specialist of StopHateEducate. She also does photography and life coaching. Connect with Lexi on Instagram @beautythroughmyeyes and [email protected]. Stay Positve!

This is an important episode of Something Positive for Positive People. We talk about not disclosing. In the posts about this episode, there have been mixed responses from anger and rage to understanding. This episodes offers a  a perspective we will never hear about in sex education, we're unlikely to hear from a partner in today's dating culture, and we will probably never hear this side of a story otherwise. Please be respectful in the comments about this episode. I'm not asking you to...

Josh Robbins is a Spokesperson for DatingPositives the recipient of the 2018 National Lesbian & Gay Journalist Association of Excellence in Journalism Award, 2017 GLAAD Media Award Nominee, Publisher of www.imstilljosh.com, TedxNashville speaker and HIV Activist. Josh addresses his experience dating as an HIV+ person, we talk Undetectable Equals Untransmittable, HIV criminalization and what we as allies can do to get involved to at least revise these unjust laws. Josh can be found on all...

Our biggest takeaway is to address the growth point of your permanent limitations here. After a positive HSV diagnosis from a long-term partner who was aware of his status and didn't disclose, Kimberly began the quest of learning this lesson through personal experience. Navigating The Modern World Podcast Host, Kimberly Allyse Johnson is a certified Life and Sex Coach as well as a Meditation Practitioner in Denver, CO. Kimberly believes having peace in ANY relationship is to truly have...

The Unapologetically imperfect LaToya Dawn shares her experience beyond having been diagnosed with HSV-1 and HSV-2 on top of finding out she was pregnant all at the same time. She never showed symptoms, just wanted to know her health status and the results came back positive for HSV. How'd she handle it? Check out this episode of #SPFPP and hear! LaToya can be fund on Instagram @Somethingsabouther. I'm on IG, Twitter, Tumblr and Reddit @HOnMyChest!  If you haven't already, please check out...

Elle Stanger like hanger, AKA @Stripperwriter is a Sex Worker & one half of the Strange Bedfellows Podcast which is a space for understanding the facts about a VERY misunderstood industries and informative about the intersection of sex and politics! I admire Elle for all her activism work, her intelligence, resilience and realness! We talk risk awareness, HPV, oral herpes, and how people who don't think they need to be tested because they're "being safe" don't understand their role in STI...

Lachrista Greco is a curator, educator and maker on top of being a huge blessing as a lighthouse to those who are living with HSV (herpes) as a resource to come to for additional resources and support. This episode is an empowering one for all humans as Lachrista demonstrates what it means to #bethere for others and what showing support looks like for various causes and influencers who push for positive change in the way society does things. Her work can be found on her Instagram page...

Short and to the point. Herpes Awareness Day is Saturday October 13th, 2018. Two hashtags can help inspire action on this day! #whatstigma calls to people who know someone living with herpes and encourages them to share something cool or that they learned from this person that goes against the stigma of a person who is 'gross' or has a lot of sex with a lot of people. You can drop a quote from them or talk about your relationship to that person after they shared their diagnosis with you. This...

This episode is a recording of an online women's support group led by Belize Spivey who encourages women to overcome life's obstacles! The title of her latest book, "Overcoming What Can't be Cured: Living Beyond Herpes" can be found at bit.ly/Overcomingbook. Connect with Belize to join an upcoming women's support group: Website: bit.ly/BelizeSpivey Facebook: Belize Spivey Twitter: @belizeSpivey Instagram: belize.spivey I'm on social media @HOnMyChest please leave a review for this episode for...

Perception is reality. Rich Mancuso, author of "Asking for a Friend", rejoins SPFPP for an overdue discussion about the various perceptions of herpes . . . among people with herpes. Rate, review and share this podcast in order for those who need these resources to be able to access them quickly. I'm on social media @HOnMyChest Stay Positive!

Dr. Laurie Betito sticks around to demonstrate a mock therapy session with me. You can get a glimpse of what a therapy session would look like in this short episode for someone looking to address the trauma of a new STI diagnosis. About Dr. Laurie: Noted broadcaster, author, therapist, speaker and creator of two TEDx Talks, Dr. Laurie Betito has been serving listeners with relationship and life advice for over two decades. She is a syndicated broadcaster, covering all topics related to...