Welcome to the SPFPP Herpes Podcast
Season 1: Herpes Stigma, Disclosure, and Emotional Support
Welcome to Season 1 of the Something Positive for Positive People (SPFPP) podcast. This season began with one mission: to support people navigating life after a herpes diagnosis through real, stigma-free conversations.
Whether you’re newly diagnosed or years into your journey, this archive exists to remind you—you’re not alone, and your story matters.
What You’ll Hear in Season 1:
Personal Stories: Guests share their experiences navigating herpes, dating, disclosure, and identity.
Herpes Disclosure Tips: Learn how to talk about your status with confidence and compassion.
Mental Health & Self-Worth: Explore how a diagnosis impacts your emotional health—and how to rebuild it.
Stigma-Free Language: Hear conversations that model compassionate, affirming ways to talk about STIs.
Expert Insights: Professionals in sexual health and mental health join the conversation to provide context and support.
Topics Covered:
First outbreak and diagnosis stories
Navigating relationships and dating with herpes
Finding identity beyond the stigma
Supporting others with STIs
Yoga therapy, emotional wellness, and herpes
Building community and breaking isolation
This season reflects years of lived experience, listener conversations, and lessons gathered from hundreds of interviews and peer support calls. The goal: to reduce the emotional weight of stigma, one conversation at a time.
Why This Archive Still Matters
While SPFPP is now expanding into broader conversations about emotional wellness and minimizing all forms of stigma, Season 1 will always be the foundation. These stories continue to support thousands of people every year seeking reassurance, healing, and connection.
If you’re here for herpes-specific support, you’re in the right place.
Want more tools and support?
Explore our Herpes Support Call and Yoga Therapy pages for more resources to help you navigate stigma and emotional wellness.
How to Use Our Search Bar
Looking for specific topics? Use our search bar to find episodes that cover the subjects most relevant to you. Simply type in keywords like "disclosure," "self-care," "mental health," or "relationship advice" to access episodes that offer the insights and support you need.
Join Our Community
Our podcast isn't just about listening—it's about connecting. Join our community of listeners who are navigating similar experiences. Share your stories, ask questions, and find the support you need. Join our newsletter below in order to stay up to date for virtual events and in person hangouts to meet others in the SPFPP community.
SPFPP 369 Season 1 Finale: Letting Go of the Herpes and Other Things
This episode closes out Season 1 of the SPFPP podcast, ending our exclusive focus on herpes stigma and stepping into something broader: positivity. I reflect on what I’ve learned from nearly 400 episodes, how grief and growth are intertwined, and what comes next as SPFPP shifts into embracing emotional wellness and stigma reduction more fully.
SPFPP 368: The Eulogy of Ego
In Episode 368 of Something Positive for Positive People, Courtney shares a vulnerable reflection on grief, relationships, and the ego. Through the lens of his recent breakup, he explores the tension between safety and freedom, emotional expression, and reclaiming playfulness. This is not about herpes—this is about healing, identity, and becoming whole.
SPFPP 367: Herpes and Nonmonogamy - Integrated Identities for Vulnerability
Tamar Weir joins me to talk about navigating herpes and non-monogamy—two things that demand a level of vulnerability most folks aren’t prepared for. We talk about how she’s managed disclosure, not just once, but across multiple relationships, how stigma hits different depending on where you are in the world, and why it’s so exhausting being the person who always has to start the hard conversations. Tamar is a storyteller, writer, and future sex and intimacy coach who brings a lot of softness and honesty to this episode.
SPFPP 366: What Herpes Taught Me About Anger
Twelve years into my herpes diagnosis, I’m finding new clarity in an emotion I’ve spent most of my life avoiding—anger. This episode is a raw reflection on my recent breakup, what it means to grieve while showing up for myself and others, and how masking anger with niceness has kept me disconnected from my own needs. I talk about learning to identify and express anger in a way that feels honest and boundaried, and how integrating the parts of myself that seek both freedom and safety is the path forward.
SPFPP 365: Step Back for a Comeback
In this episode of Something Positive for Positive People, I get real about grief, burnout, and why I’m taking a step back. After years of pouring into SPFPP, my personal life, and my work, I hit a wall. This episode is my attempt to process and share what I’ve been learning—about boundaries, healing, and finding balance. If you’ve ever struggled with knowing when to pause and take care of yourself, you’ll probably relate to this one.
SPFPP 364: Minimizing Stigma in Medical Settings
We just wrapped up our first-ever in-person herpes stigma training for clinicians, and the impact was undeniable. This is just the beginning of something big. I want to create a movement where healthcare professionals are better equipped to support people with herpes—without the stigma. If you work in public health, medical care, or sex education, let’s connect and make this training accessible to more people. Tune in to this episode of Something Positive for Positive People to hear how it all came together and what’s next! #HerpesStigma #SPFPP #SexualHealth
SPFPP 363: Transcending the Relationship Spectrum into Softness
In this episode of Something Positive for Positive People, I sit down with Holly Estrada, a sex worker and fierce advocate for destigmatization, to explore the evolution of her relationships—from polyamory to emotional monogamy—and what she's learned about autonomy, vulnerability, and intimacy along the way. We also dig into her experiences navigating stigma in the sex work industry and how those lessons can apply to broader conversations around relationships and emotional growth.
SPFPP 362: Gratitude for Herpes - There is Light in There Too
Yoga Therapy is more than movement—it’s a path to emotional healing. In this episode, Melissa shares how Yoga Therapy helped her release shame and reconnect with her body after a herpes diagnosis. Her journey shows how practices like journaling, breathwork, and exploring the Koshas can create profound emotional shifts.
SPFPP 361: What Are The Herpes Transmission Rates?
People search for herpes transmission rates looking for clarity, but the truth is, those numbers rarely tell the whole story. In this episode, I break down what these stats mean, how to navigate conversations about risk, and why communication matters more than percentages.
SPFPP 360: Something Positive for People In a Relationship or Seeking One
In SPFPP 360, we shift focus from dating with herpes to thriving in relationships. Explore personal growth, shifting priorities, and the evolution of the podcast as Courtney shares his journey and invites your feedback.
SPFPP 359: 23 Years of Grief
In Episode 359, "23 Years of Grief," Courtney Brame opens up about a deeply personal journey of loss, healing, and self-discovery. Through raw vulnerability, he shares his connection to grief, his grandmother's role in his life, and how yoga, therapy, and self-reflection have helped him process these emotions. This powerful episode challenges listeners to explore their own grief and the impact of suppressed emotions.
SPFPP 358: The Power of Disclosing to a Friend
Talking about your status with someone close is powerful—sharing this vulnerability can bring a deep sense of relief and connection. In SPFPP 358, we explore how trusted friends can help validate who we are, beyond our diagnosis.
SPFPP 357: Asexual Insights - De-centering Sex with Pleasure
In this episode, I connect with Aubri Lancaster of Ace Sex Education to discuss the lessons that the herpes community can take from the asexual community. We dive into how expanding our view of pleasure beyond intercourse can open up new ways to experience connection and satisfaction. Aubri helps us understand key concepts like graysexuality, the spectrum of attraction, and how de-centering sex can lead to a more present and fulfilling experience in relationships. Whether or not you're ace, there are valuable insights in this conversation that apply to everyone exploring sexuality.
SPFPP 356: Yoga Therapy for People With Herpes: Navigating Stigma and Emotional Wellness
Yoga Therapy offers an empowering way to address the emotional challenges of living with herpes. By focusing on the mind-body connection, we can reduce emotional stress—one of the primary triggers for outbreaks—and work toward healing through breathwork, mindful movement, and emotional reflection. As someone who's openly shared my herpes diagnosis, I offer a safe, judgment-free space to explore your emotional wellness, with personalized, donation-based sessions. Learn more and schedule a session today at www.spfpp.org/yoga-therapy.
SPFPP 354: Herpes and Suicide - Sexual Health is Mental Health
In this episode, Dr. Drew Rabidoux and I unpack the emotional toll a herpes diagnosis can take, especially when it comes to mental health and suicidality. We explore how the power of choice and strong support systems can help ground those struggling with these heavy emotions.
SPFPP 353: Something Pleasure Positive for Vanilla People
Sol opens up about how growing up in a religious household and navigating herpes stigma led her to vanilla, one-sided sex experiences. This episode uncovers how stepping into the sex-positive community transformed her relationship with consent and pleasure, and how these lessons are relevant for anyone curious about exploring new ways to connect sexually.
SPFPP 352: Something Positive for Black Men with Herpes
In episode 352 of SPFPP, Aaron Thomas shares his journey of living with herpes as a Black man. We discuss the impact of hypermasculinity, his struggles with mental health, and how he’s reclaiming his identity in a culture that often silences these conversations.
SPFPP 351: pleasure positivity - harm reduction at the intersection of safety and pleasure
In this episode of SPFPP, Mel Moseley opens up about her journey with HSV2 and how it led her to redefine sex positivity. We explore how the conversation around sex positivity often misses the mark by focusing too much on intercourse and not enough on communication and emotional safety. Mel shares how polyamory and intentional communication helped her heal from past trauma and find true connection.
SPFPP 350: Nonmonogamous Conversations Monogamous People need to have - part 2
In SPFPP episode 350, our guest shares how her journey through nonmonogamy challenged her understanding of being single and taught her valuable lessons in communication and intentionality. These experiences reshaped her approach to monogamous relationships, highlighting the power of being upfront, emotionally available, and aligned in values. Join us as we discuss how nonmonogamy can provide tools for healthier monogamous relationships
SPFPP 349: Nonmonogamous conversations monogamous people need to have - Part 1
Join us as we explore the hard conversations monogamous people need to have—often taken for granted in non-monogamous relationships. From the fear of disclosure to the impact of stigma on our self-esteem, this episode is all about asking the tough questions and improving communication in our relationships.