In Episode 277 of Something Positive for Positive People, Courtney Brame reflects on his journey of vulnerability and personal growth. Despite being praised for his openness, Courtney reveals the mask he has hidden behind and the realization that true connection comes from sharing his genuine experiences. This episode is a heartfelt invitation to men, encouraging them to step into a space that desperately needs masculine presence and authenticity. Join Courtney as he navigates the complexities of vulnerability and the importance of male voices in the SPFPP community.

In Episode 276 of Something Positive for Positive People, Courtney Brame and Justine Fonte dive into the importance of intersectional health education. Despite attempting to steer away from herpes, the conversation naturally touches on its relevance within broader health topics. Justine, a math teacher turned sex educator, shares how students' learning is influenced by their understanding of their bodies and relationships. This episode sheds light on the misconceptions surrounding sex education and emphasizes the need for medically accurate information to empower youth. Listen to this insightful discussion to understand why sex education is vital for creating healthy, informed communities.

In Episode 275 of Something Positive for Positive People, our guest, a 34-year-old Puerto Rican woman, opens up about how her herpes diagnosis became a powerful tool for building deeper intimacy in her relationships. Initially shy, she reveals how sharing her status with supportive friends validated her self-worth and reinforced her self-trust. This episode, paired with insights from Episode 274, highlights the impact of cultural upbringing on responses to a herpes diagnosis and the importance of trusting oneself to trust others. Listen to gain valuable perspectives on navigating relationships and intimacy through vulnerability and self-trust.

Invitations for intimacy require vulnerability

In Episode 273 of Something Positive for Positive People, Nina returns to dive into the unexpected connection between herpes disclosure and intimacy. While originally planning to discuss grief, the conversation evolves into an enlightening discussion on how initiating a sexual health conversation is an attempt to foster closeness and combat commitment phobia. This episode also redefines the term "relationship," highlighting how vulnerability can strengthen emotional connections. Nina and I explore the ways we relate to others, the impact of hookup culture on intimacy, and the transformative power of honest communication in relationships. Listen now to gain a fresh perspective on intimacy and disclosure.

In Episode 272 of Something Positive for Positive People, I delve into handling re-triggered emotions by sharing my personal experiences with recent disappointments and relationship transitions. Sponsored by The Love in Action Fund, this episode focuses on identifying the emotion linked to your triggered situation, recognizing the most recent and first instances of feeling that emotion, and understanding the pattern these experiences form. I discuss how to redirect, rather than break, these patterns using insights from my own mommy and daddy issues. Tune in for practical advice on managing re-triggered emotions and improving your emotional responses in relationships.

In Episode 271 of Something Positive for Positive People, Joyce, a 64-year-old Black Lesbian from NYC, shares her invaluable wisdom on navigating life with an HSV diagnosis. Diagnosed in 2014, she offers a unique perspective on dating and relationships, emphasizing the importance of looking beyond appearances and prioritizing personal needs. Joyce discusses the pitfalls of suppressing needs for the sake of others, the impact on relationships, and her approach to meeting people the old-fashioned way—through genuine conversation. Inspired by her advice, I take on the challenge of working out without headphones and engaging in real conversations. Join us for a heartfelt and insightful episode filled with life lessons and practical advice.

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.