In Episode 270 of Something Positive for Positive People, we hear from Karan, a 23-year-old male who offers a profound and unique perspective on relationships and self-reflection. From the other side of the world, Karan discusses how his second sexual partner’s approach to her body mirrored his internal self-view. His story involves a deceptive herpes disclosure, revealing the complexities of communication and trust in intimate relationships. This episode delves into deeper topics, such as self-relationship and cultural differences, offering valuable insights beyond the usual narratives. Join us for an enriching conversation that transcends the superficial aspects of living with herpes.

In Episode 269 of Something Positive for Positive People, we dive into the notion of being a "high value man" and the dangers of chasing unattainable standards. I share personal insights about my finances, moments of questioning my value, and ultimately discovering where my worth truly lies. This episode offers a raw and honest look at personal value awareness, with a touch of humor from comedian Jason Banks. Join us for an enlightening discussion on recognizing and embracing your unique value.

In Episode 268 of Something Positive for Positive People, I vent and break through my podcaster's writer's block. This isn't a herpes-focused episode, but rather a candid discussion on avoiding topics of racism, the dehumanization of men, the "forward" response, and challenging our triggers with the wisdom of our elders. Join me as I share my true honesty and vulnerability with the SPFPP audience for the first time.

In Episode 267 of Something Positive for Positive People, I reflect on my struggle with fitting in due to social media's influence. By taking a break from the digital world, I reconnected with my true self and began to question where I belong and how to find my community. Join me as I share my journey of realizing that belonging is about creating space where genuine connections and meaningful work can thrive.

In Episode 266 of Something Positive for Positive People, Anthony and I, two Black men close in age, engage in a candid conversation about challenging the status quo. We dive into how sex positivity impacts the creation of strong Black families, the controversy around having preferences, and the lack of accountability within certain communities. No language was softened for comfort—this dialogue is raw and real. Follow Anthony on Instagram @iamcontroversy for more insights.

In Episode 265 of Something Positive for Positive People, we reconnect with Lauren as she shares her journey of surviving abuse in a marriage. This episode delves into themes of loyalty, religious ties, and the struggle of staying in relationships past their expiration date. Despite some background noise, Lauren's powerful story is sure to resonate with those who've tried to fix others or stayed loyal for too long. Join us for this honest and raw conversation.

Join Sarah (@Bloodswanmusic) in Episode 264 of Something Positive for Positive People as she shares her herpes journey and explores deeper themes like co-dependency vs interdependence, love addiction, disclosing celibacy, and the unique challenges of dating men vs women as a bisexual woman. This episode highlights how various life challenges can feel less significant compared to an HSV diagnosis. Tune in for a live podcast recording available on Instagram and gain valuable insights into managing love and relationships beyond the stigma of herpes.

In Episode 263 of the OHA Series on Something Positive for Positive People, 38-year-old Zach shares his story of testing positive for HSV2 in 2017. This episode highlights how communication quality often improves following an STI diagnosis and explores the importance of integrating this into interventions for those dating someone with an STI. Zach delves into the dynamics of kink/BDSM negotiations post-diagnosis and compares his experiences with chlamydia and herpes, offering insights into the challenges and nuances of living with an STI. Join us for an honest and informative discussion that sheds light on the complexities of sexual health and relationships.

In Episode 262 of the OHA Series on Something Positive for Positive People, Elle, a 35-year-old mother, sex worker, and educator, shares her experiences with chlamydia, HPV, and oral HSV. She discusses the biases health care providers may have when dealing with individuals comfortable talking about sex. Drawing a powerful analogy between sports and sex, Elle highlights the lack of proper preparation for both activities. While football players are only advised to wear helmets, and sexual participants are simply told to wear condoms, the potential risks are often not fully explored. Elle eloquently reinforces SPFPP's message that "Sexual health is mental health" and emphasizes the need for better resources to help patients navigate STIs both in and out of the doctor's office.

In Episode 261 of the OHA Series on Something Positive for Positive People, we explore how sex education often fails to teach youth essential skills like boundary setting, consent, and vetting practices. Jade highlights the need to uncouple pleasure from sex and intercourse to fully understand sexuality. She emphasizes that comprehensive sex education can help us become better patients, improving interactions with health care providers. Jade also shares her experience with antistigmatizing health care and how it, combined with coaching and sex positivity, has positively impacted her dating life after her chlamydia diagnosis.

In Episode 260 of the OHA Series on Something Positive for Positive People, Tori, freshly 29 years old, shares her journey through revisiting Planned Parenthood four times to finally receive a herpes diagnosis. She discusses the grief of her old self and how this process can be integrated into our sex avoidant society. Tori emphasizes that the barrier to effective sexual health conversations is the lack of receiving and learning from the experiences of those with an STI. This communication is crucial for prevention efforts and offers a more sex-positive approach beyond the simplistic "use a condom" advice.

In Episode 259 of the OHA Series on Something Positive for Positive People, Ashley (She/Her) shares her journey testing positive for chlamydia, HPV, and HSV1 and 2. This conversation highlights that sex positivity is essentially pleasure positivity, emphasizing acceptance of one's own needs and decisions. Ashley discusses how, despite her efforts to educate herself and her providers about HSV, institutions should partner with social media educators to improve the efficiency of sexual health messaging. Join us to explore the intersection of sex positivity and pleasure positivity in this insightful episode.

In Episode 257 of the OHA Series on Something Positive for Positive People, Zia, a 22-year-old diagnosed with genital herpes during the pandemic, explores how her neutral experience with healthcare providers and Planned Parenthood led her to embrace sex positivity. Our discussion highlights the shortcomings of her sex education, which focused on symptoms and testing rather than communication, frequency of testing, and the broader aspects of sexuality. Zia's story underscores the need for comprehensive sex education that separates intercourse from sex, sex from sexuality, and pleasure from sex to better prepare youth for their sexual experiences. Check out her thesis on herpes for more insights.

In Episode 256 of the OHA Series on Something Positive for Positive People, Dr. Evelin Molina-Dacker joins us to affirm the importance of pleasure positivity in sex education. We explore how healthcare providers' discomfort with discussing sex impacts patient care and the necessity of integrating sexuality and pleasure into medical practice. By learning to take a comprehensive sexual history, we can improve treatment outcomes for patients facing STIs or partners with STIs. It's time to advocate for not just sex-positive but also pleasure-positive healthcare. Connect with Dr. Evelin Molina-Dacker on Instagram @sexmeddoc and visit her website at maketimeforthetalk.com.

In Episode 255 of the OHA Series on Something Positive for Positive People, Erin, a 32-year-old cis-gendered heterosexual female, shares her journey with an HSV-2 diagnosis and how it led her to seek sex-positive communication resources. Through her experiences, we learn that sex-positivity involves more than just sexual interactions; it’s about fostering a healthy relationship with oneself. This episode highlights the importance of self-communication as an anti-stigmatizing approach to relationships. Discover how transitioning into sex-positivity can offer valuable lessons often learned through trial and error.

In Episode 254 of the OHA Series on Something Positive for Positive People, Peyton, a 27-year-old monogamous female involved in kink/BDSM and sex-positivity, shares her experiences with chlamydia, HSV-2, and trichomoniasis. Highlighting the importance of disclosure education, Peyton discusses how comprehensive sex education that includes non-sexual aspects of relationships, abuse navigation, boundaries, and conversations about sex could have significantly altered her relationship trajectory. This episode emphasizes the role of sex-positive communities in destigmatizing STIs and promoting open, informed conversations.

In Episode 253 of the OHA Series on Something Positive for Positive People, Marc, a 31-year-old heterosexual male, shares his journey of being diagnosed with HSV-1 orally and genitally after a one-night stand. As a beginner in the Kink/BDSM community who identifies as sex-positive, Marc discusses the road to embracing sex-positivity through support groups, trial and error in disclosure scenarios, and learning the essential non-sexual components of sexual communication. This episode highlights the importance of education and preparation before navigating sexual relationships.

In Episode 252 of the OHA Series on Something Positive for Positive People, we delve into the journey of people diagnosed with STIs and the lack of useful resources from healthcare providers. Highlighting the disconnect between standard prevention methods and real-life lessons, this episode explores how improved communication and self-education can lead to better STI prevention. Through personal stories and experiences, we uncover the importance of integrating these lessons into existing CDC recommendations to create a more effective approach to sexual health and STI prevention.

In Episode 251 of Something Positive for Positive People, host Courtney Brame draws inspiration from Sean Carter's lyrics, emphasizing the need to set boundaries and live authentically. Courtney shares his journey of transitioning SPFPP into a business with clear boundaries, highlighting the impact of social media on identity and the importance of fostering a respectful community. He reflects on his experiences, the positive shift in his social media interactions, and the ongoing changes within himself and the SPFPP space. For inquiries, contact Courtney directly at Courtney@spfpp.org.