Something Positive for Positive People

28 year old Luna is an herbalist, blogger, ethical slut, intersectional feminist, spoonie who FINALLY gave in and made an FB account sharing her amazing work! You should listen to this episode if you're nervous about disclosing. Luna gave me confidence to share my story with those close to me. If she didn't, not near as many people would know about this podcast so I know she'd be encouraging to you. I had the pleasure of getting Luna AKA @Herbslut to meet with me again to redo our episode together. She and I can talk for hours and hours so I did my best to limit it to under 1. We stayed on topic . . . for the most part. She even did a great job covering for me while I jumped up to get the door to give my Granny the keys to my car. Just a disclaimer, she was laughing at that around the time of the knocking lol.  This woman's bravery inspired me to share the podcast with my community and then be open about my condition to those around me. Not that I run around saying I have herpes or anything like that, I just don't avoid the topic altogether anymore.  We also discuss having the conversation about stds with potential partners. Being polyamorous, Luna shares her template for disclosing to potential partners.  We touch on the sex education and how sex is portrayed in media using Wonder Woman as an example. Enjoy. Luna can be found @Herbslut on Instagram or www.herbslut.com. Twitter: @Herb_Slut Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/herbslut Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herbslut/ Thank her via Twitter and/or by leaving a review of this episode on your podcast player so more people can find this podcast. I'm @CourtneyBrame on Instagram! Stay Positive.

"What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, except herpes, that happens everywhere". - Christine Seyk AKA RunnerGirl Advocate for HSV and HPV. I think it's important to share the stories of individuals who are more open about their sexual health. Not saying anyone has to rock a herpes shirt by any means, but I want more people to understand what self-harm you do to yourself emotionally by shaming yourself into loneliness.  You should listen to this if you feel like people knowing your status is going to affect how you're treated.  Without giving too much away, I'll let my girl Christine take it from here. Runnergirl can be found: (Below Links) https://www.facebook.com/cdseyk http://www.iamrunnergirl.com/iamrunnergirl-home/about/  Thank you for subscribing, rating and reviewing Something Positive for Positive People! I can be found @CourtneyBrame on Instagram. Stay Positive!

So we've decided to refer to herpes as an STS(v) Skin to skin Virus rather than an std since the herpes virus is transmitted through more means than just sexual contact. Angela Johnson of www.projectaccept.org shares with us her experience with cold sores since she was 10 years old. Now 51 years of age (and wine fine), she takes every opportunity to educate others about cold sores (which are herpes) whenever she has an outbreak. Angela has no shame... (except for what we discuss in the opening of part 2 of this episode) about her herpes. She wears it proud and does all she can to combat the stigma behind it, especially for those who contracted it by means other than sexual contact. Tune in to this episode for inspiration to shift your perspective of this STS(v) and open yourself up to the idea of becoming a lighthouse to someone by educating them about our condition and YOUR experience. Please rate and review this podcast. Subscribe as well please! I can be found on Instagram @CourtneyBrame Stay Positive

The most important takeaway from this episode depends on your own personal experiences and how you can relate. Kim shares her story having an 11 month marriage with a man who had lived with HIV for more than 8 years. Kim found out about his diagnosis when her late husband was literally on his death bed. After going through his medical history and journals, she found that Brandon, her late husband, had sought out spiritual counseling and the guidance he had received was to NOT treat himself and that his faith should lead him through his condition. Spiritual leaders and other people in positions of influence are going to give their opinion when consulted on topics based on their knowledge on the subject, even if that knowledge is minimal. We cannot stop them from doing that. What we CAN do is seek medical advice from qualified medical professionals when it comes to our health. Here's Kim's story! About the guest: Kimberly M. Knight is a native of Raleigh, North Carolina. She graduated from North Carolina Central University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Family & Consumer Sciences concentrating in Family &Community Services and is currently pursuing her Masters Degree in Social Work . She served as anAmbassador of the North Carolina AIDS Action Network Women’s Empowered Team which worksdirectly with the Greater Than AIDS program for Alicia Key’s Empowered Initiative and has volunteeredat the Alliance of AIDS Services-Carolinas since 2013. Her personal interest include her lifestyle blog,The Lux Blog™ , that discusses art, culture, entertainment, and style for North Carolina. She's anManaging Online Content Editor and Contributing Writer for Sheen Magazine​. She’s covered red carpetevents at the 2016 Black Girls Rock Awards, Sheen Magazine’s Legendary Weekend, and the LamplightAwards. Currently, she’s a Graduate Research Assistant with UNC’s 2BeatHIV Project for the GlobalHealth Infectious Disease Institute. Please rate and review this episode if you haven't already via your podcast player! Follow the show on Instagram: @CourtneyBrame

49 year old Soiesette is HSV2 positive. Our conversation more so focuses on her willingness to continue a marriage with her husband who found out he was HIV positive after going to the doctor for a foot problem he was having that didn't appear to go away. Soiesette spent the next year going to get tested every three months and by the end was negative for HIV. She accepted her husband's diagnosis and trusted in the vow she made both to the man she married and God. They went through counseling together in order to continue the marriage. With medication and research showing the reduction of risk of transmission, she was willing to go through the process for the sake of her marriage. The one thing that held them back was her husband's mindset of "If I have sex with my wife, I will kill her". For that reason, they parted ways and my homegirl Soiesette is on the market ya'll! They still have a positive relationship with one another. What I want to highlight here is her husband's mindset about killing his wife if they have sex. This is a normal fear to have. Nobody wants an STI. Nobody wants to pass on an STI to a loved one. We often block our own blessings due to our own stubbornness and we punish ourselves with exile and isolation to a degree even when we don't HAVE to do that. Love is unconditional, we shouldn't block ourselves from this type of loving energy by shutting off to those willing to take the risk with us because we are in fact worth it! I do not know what I'd do in this particular situation even given the knowledge we have now or the medication that reduces the risk. I don't think any of us can say unless we are in this situation. Soiesette obviously felt this man was worth the risk, even though her HSV-2 increased her risk of contracting HIV.  For more information on Soiesette and her involvement in the community, visit: www.agiftofpurpose.com Follow Something Positive for Positive People on Instagram @CourtneyBrame Please rate and review the show on your podcast player. Stay Positive.

Short version, we talk about HPV and the sexual assault that surrounded Chrissy contracting it. Viewer discretion advised. The number 1 takeaway here is more of a societal issue than anything. The oppositie of love is indifference! That's the word I couldn't think of in this episode when I hit that stumble point! Indifference enables nonloving situations to take place. Don't be indifferent. This episode highlights 31 year old Chrissy who was diagnosed with cancerous HPV she contracted at age 16 after a series of sexual assaults. Growing up in foster care, Chrissy had to un-learn what she thought love was from her foster family. After finding her mom, Chrissy tried to build a relationship with her. This ended when her mom chose her then boyfriend over her own daughter. The creation of Love Out Loud was brought about once Chrissy learned she needed to love herself. Once that realization was made, she was able to not only love others, but teach them to do the same. https://www.loveoutloudshow.com/ LoveOUTLoud is designed to promote self confidence, self love, while not changing who you are. Speaking at rehabs and group homes, I have a chance to relate to those who have had a rough life and want to better themselves. I have found through speaking, and telling my story, I have helped people gain the self confidence and self love they have missed out on for so long. Instagram: LoveOutLoudShow   Please rate and review on your favorite podcast player. Follow me on Instagram @CourtneyBrame

Meet 40 year old Emma in the Bay area! 9 months diagnosed with HSV1 & HPV, open-minded Emma did NOT fit the mold of the kind of person she considered to have any stds. Mindfulness and self-awareness were key to Emma's bounce back from feeling like shit to the knowing that she is the shit.... as should you.  You should listen to this episode if you're struggling to tell people close to you. Allow yourself to open up to the world around you, especially those most important to you that you feel compelled to tell. The episode title says it all. You get tested and have your perception of yourself challenged. Once you realize you're THE shit, you stop feeling that way. Personally, I came to like myself more around the people who knew I had herpes than I did around those who didn't know. There was no more hiding or shame, there was only awareness of inconsistency of my behaviors. I opened up to one friend, then another, then family members, and now anyone who listens to this or goes to my Instagram knows. And you know what? Most people really don't give a shit because it doesn't affect them. In dating, you have to realize who you are and your self worth.  We often question whether or not a person will accept us for our condition, when in reality, you should ask if you accept them as a fit for your life.  For updates on the podcast, check out @CourtneyBrame on Instagram. Please Rate and Review the podcast on your podcast player. Stay Positive

41 year old entrepreneur, Marie shares her 20 years of experience living with HSV (Herpes Simplex Virus). In her experience, dating with herpes is just like dating in general... people suck lol. "It's 100 times harder to find someone who's a match for you than it is to find someone who accepts you for H." - Marie. I'm sure not everyone will agree with that statement right away, but it's a truth I can personally relate to. Once you get past the point of hyping up your condition to be this thing that makes you unwantable, you find that more people you allow into your life aren't the right ones for you. Nothing is wrong with being picky at all. And if you're reading this and are at a place where you find it challenging to find someone who accepts you for your condition, then I challenge you to ask yourself if YOU accept yourself as a whole first. Sounds like BS but it's so very true. Taking a look back from her experience, historically there's just been misinformation shared. Science and research have never really appealed to me. I learned that you can spend so much time studying and reading and preparing and planning . . . . only to realize when the situation you planned for arises, you have a different situation. Now what? Now you've put all this time into creating a plan that doesn't get to be executed. That's why I highly value the experience of the guests who come on and share their stories and experience with their conditions. No one has all the right answers, but my goal is for you to use this podcast to guide you to the right answer for YOU. Stay Positive. Rate and review on your podcast platform. Follow the podcast on Instagram @CourtneyBrame

Matthew just recently hit his 10 year mark having HIV. He had gone to the doctor for Mono treatment at 17 to find out he was HIV positive. Matthew shares his experience testing positive, what he went through upon diagnosis and how life has been since then for him.  Follow us on Instagram @CourtneyBrame Stay Positive!

Never settle in a relationship. Despite being diagnosed with herpes, you shouldn’t make yourself be somewhere you don’t want to be. You don’t have to stay because of feelings of unworthiness.