Something Positive for Positive People
Hosted by Courtney W. Brame, Something Positive for Positive People is a nonprofit organization that supports people navigating herpes stigma. The podcast offers 1-on-1 support calls, virtual events, and support groups. It features interviews with individuals living with herpes and professionals in sexual health, mental health, and public health to reduce stigma.
Episodes
SPFPP 417: What Are You Made Of?
SPFPP Episode 341 is called Nurture Your Nature already so while this episode really dives into the development of what that is exactly, I couldn't bring myself to do a part 2 necessarily, so we got a different title entirely.Are you unconsciously holding on to "emotional sludge" that's blocking your true identity? This week on Something Positive for Positive People, Courtney Bra
SPFPP 416: The Herpes Community?
Are you burning out from carrying the weight of your herpes diagnosis in isolation? This week on Something Positive for Positive People, Courtney Brame explores the mechanics of burnout, energy management, and emotional capacity through a fascinating lens: the four laws of thermodynamics.Courtney breaks down how our environments and un-metabolized trauma dictate our energy levels, using powerful a
SPFPP 415: I Don't Know a Life Without Herpes
Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of childhood sexual abuse, incest, and suicide attempts. Please take care of yourself while listening.What does it take to survive the darkest of circumstances and still choose to live a life rooted in love and forgiveness? This week, Courtney Brame sits down with Reina, a board member of Herpes Cure Advocacy, for an incredibly raw, unedited, and
SPFPP 414: Stigma Made Simple - The Metaphysics of Identity with Sheikha Sakina M.MSc
When you receive a herpes diagnosis, it is incredibly common to let that one virus overwrite your entire sense of self—disregarding every other amazing aspect of your being. At SPFPP, we define this phenomenon as a "fragmentation of identity."This week, Courtney Brame sits down with Sheikha Sakina to explore this fragmentation through a completely different lens: the metaphysics of ident
SPFPP 413: Saying the Thing Over Saying it Perfectly - with Lena Peak
Are you letting the pressure to say things "perfectly" stop you from experiencing the pleasure you deserve? This week on Something Positive for Positive People, Courtney Brame sits down with Lena Peak of Eros Insight, a queer-owned sexuality education resource.Tying into the core SPFPP theme that "Safe Sex is Communicative Sex," Courtney and Lena explore how perfectionism can p
SPFPP 412: What's the Best That Can Happen
Are you letting the fear of rejection keep you from experiencing genuine connection? Broadcasting from the Black Yoga Teachers Alliance Conference, Courtney Brame takes a moment to celebrate a massive milestone: the 9-year anniversary of the Something Positive for Positive People podcast!In this deeply reflective solo episode, Courtney tackles the intense anxiety surrounding herpes disclosures and
SPFPP 411: Access Points for Exploration - with Kiki Maree
How does our understanding of "cleanliness" perpetuate STI stigma? This week on Something Positive for Positive People, Courtney Brame is joined by Australian sexologist Kiki Maree for a transparent conversation about neutralizing the shame surrounding sexual health.Kiki opens up about her childhood experience of oral herpes being completely normalized within her family, contrasting it w
SPFPP 410: The Undercurrent of Communication - No Means No
SPFPP 410: The Undercurrent of Communication - No Means NoAre you telling yourself "no" before giving anyone else the chance to say yes? This week on Something Positive for Positive People, Courtney Brame is talking about dating, initiation, and overcoming the fear of success.After being called out by the women's support group for avoiding dating initiation, Courtney realized his lac
SPFPP 409: What We Don't Metabolize Will Metastasize
If you don't metabolize your trauma, it will metastasize into your life. This week on Something Positive for Positive People, Courtney Brame returns for a deeply personal, unapologetic solo episode. Reflecting on his own year-and-a-half journey of suppressed grief following the end of a relationship, Courtney explains how the emotions we refuse to process—whether it's heartbreak or the tra
SPFPP 408: Safe Sex is Communicative Sex - with Tamar Weir
SPFPP 408: Safe Sex is Communicative Sex - with Tamar WeirWhat happens when you find out you've been exposed to an STI you've never even heard of? This week on Something Positive for Positive People, Courtney Brame sits down with Tamar Weir (founder of Pomegranate Pleasure) to unpack a real-life scenario: Tamar's recent Ureaplasma diagnosis and how she communicated the exposure to Cour
SPFPP 407: Presence Over Performance
I had a support call go sideways and was hung up on for the first time since I started doing this work in 2017 supporting people living with herpes. I had to learn for myself real quick that my authenticity is more important than anybody else's discomfort. I can't coddle folks into healing.
SPFPP 406: Right Use of Energy - Brahmacharya in Action
Are you bleeding energy into things that don't serve your highest self? This week, Courtney is back with a massive life update and a profound shift in the podcast's direction. Transitioning to a once-a-month format, Courtney dives deep into the yogic principle of Brahmacharya—the right use of energy.Listen in as I share how removing social media distractions and enforcing strict personal b
SPFPP 405: You're Entitled to Compensation
A herpes diagnosis can make you feel taken from, or like God took away your ability to have sex. What exactly was taken from you? Reality is that you are still capable of sex, and nothing was 'taken' necessarily except for the identification we had with ourselves leading up to the diagnosis. If in fact God did take away your ability to have sex, then by God's Law of compensation, you&#
SPFPP 404: How to Communicate an STI Exposure
There's a statement phrase that goes, "Can't do, teach" and I don't know the punctuation exactly, but it means those who don't have the bravery to have the experience become people who just teach because they can't do the thing they teach. Here, you'll hear me share my own personal experience which highlights the importance of why those who do NEED to teach. This
SPFPP 403: Courtney's 13 Year Herpes Anniversary
It was March 23, 2013 I woke up and had my first herpes outbreak. It was a whole 13 years now of living with herpes. The past 9 years of running SPFPP and the podcast, I have hidden behind the experiences of my guests, and now I'm very challenged with what it looks like to maintain this consistency of sharing experiences of people living with herpes and it's become much harder to find gues
SPFPP 402: Herpes is the End of the World
A few times this past week, people on support calls have shared that when they talked to their therapist, a friend, or even the suicide lifeline, that they were met with, "It's not the end of the world". The reality is, it is. And telling someone whose whole world as they know it is being torn apart is invalidating to their experience. We've been learning since 2017 that the cons
SPFPP 401: What Herpes Taught Me About Authenticity - Part 2
What if a herpes diagnosis didn't take away your freedom, but actually freed you from an energetic cage you didn't know you were in? In Part 2 of "What Herpes Taught Me About Authenticity," Courtney Brame drops the standard narrative of "good vs. bad" and dives deep into the quantum physics and spiritual mechanics of an STI diagnosis.We explore how living unconsciously
SPFPP 400: What Herpes Taught Me About Authenticity - Part 1
Finally! We celebrated me closing out the 400th podcast episode it took me damn near 3 months to record, only for me to realize I’m not closing it out after all. My options for getting these resources out there are limited given social media has not been kind to anything I have to talk about, however, the website has been booming given the care and attention I’ve given to it. Last month we had alm
SPFPP 399: What Herpes Taught Me About God
I had every intention of making my last podcast episode being on this topic but I was called to take a different route based on the direction this episode went. I interviewed a member of the Women's Support support group as well as a Yoga Therapy client at the time of this recording. Herpes and Spirituality is one of the main searches that drive people to SPFPP, and many of the people I talk to ha
SPFPP 398: Practicing Perfection
I interview _Laurentellsstories (Instagram page) who reached out to me yesterday. She and I recorded today and spoke about what inspired her to tell her story about dating with herpes. She's been a beast in the dating world, so hearing from her would be inspiring to someone looking to get to the other side of their diagnosis and start dating again. She shares a little about not telling people
SPFPP 397: What Herpes Taught Me About Addiction
I interviewed a man named John who speaks with me about his experience in recovery for sex addiction. We open with me challenging him on how he introduced himself only for him to kick it back to me, which I love! My guy is going to be a public speaker one day and I commend him often throughout the episode for his willingness to share such vulnerable insights as someone who is in recovery. While he
SPFPP 396: What Herpes Taught Me About Sex
Herpes has taught me more about sex than any of my sex education teachers, girlfriends, educators, have. And honestly I can't even say it's sex I've learned, it's intimacy. With four more episodes til retirement of SPFPP's podcast, it felt aligned to talk to ya'll. It's been an interesting day home. I had some aspects of my inner most being reflected back to me and in g
SPFPP 395: Southern Charm
Hailing all the way from Alabama, well, actually Florida, but Alabaman roots, our guest this week. Jade is the founder of Essentially Prepped, integrating essential oils and lifestyle coaching. For those looking for another option for herpes support, listen to this episode and see if she's someone who resonates with you. We talk about stigma in the south and some of how Jade's dating exper
SPFPP 394: Preaching What I Practice
"I really didn't realize how ashamed I was about how happy I am". In this episode I reflect on just how much I've pushed down my happiness both publicly and even privately just to keep other people comfortable especially in a time where there's not much visibility of joy and happiness. Releasing my resistances to joy, happiness, pleasure, and receiving brought up many emotion
SPFPP 393: Herpes Support Groups
In this episode, I talk through what SPFPP support groups are, how they started, and what people can expect when they join. I share how these spaces are less about advice and more about being seen, and why presence matters more than performance. Whether you're new to herpes or just looking for community, this episode breaks down how the groups work and why they matter. Learn more about the her
Spfpp 392: Navigating Rejection With Herpes - Attach And Release
Jealousy, rejection, and other perceived negatives are broken down not as bad things, but as infinite potential. Take something that makes you jealous for instance, you can either be inspired by it to be better, or you can want to corrupt it and make it worse. The intensity of emotion that comes with the label of jealousy is what it is, but we assign a narrative to the label which can create an id
SPFPP 391: Who Helps the Helper?
Our guest is a therapist specializing in DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy), but when she was diagnosed with HSV-2, she found herself in unfamiliar territory, navigating a rare neurological complication, medical dismissal, and the emotional weight of a life-altering diagnosis. In this episode, she and I discuss what it means to be the helper who needs help. We unpack Ellsberg Syndrome, and how the
SPFPP 390: Herpes Changed Me
After a herpes diagnosis, dating can feel daunting, but community can change everything. In this episode, I sit down with Rachel to expand on her experience navigating self-stigma, dating, and disclosure after contracting genital HSV-1. We discuss how therapy, community, and self-reflection helped Rachel reconnect to her voice, reclaim her confidence, and find grounding after emotional turbulence.
SPFPP 389: When the Bold Meets the Brave
The excitement for this one right here is representative of what SPFPP is all about. I've been getting rejected left and right for grants and I THINK after this most recent one, I'm just not supposed to be doing that. The impact of SPFPP isn't contingent on how much money comes in. I've gotten real good at being resourceful and also somehow things just been working out to where we've been able to
SPFPP 388: The More We Do A Thing
Our guest this week shares insights about sharing her diagnosis with her therapist, which led her to SPFPP. This is one of those episodes I would call encouraging, but grounded. Perspective is a mofo. You'll hear the amount of effort someone effort someone can put in only for us to STILL potentially self-reject ourselves. Our guest shares an awesome date story that'll give ya hope or give
SPFPP 387: Herpes Support and Education Platform
Make sure you’re able to watch the video on this if you can. This isn’t an interview or experience episode, it’s a hard launch of the revised and easier to navigate herpes support and education platform, Something Positive for Positive People (SPFPP). I’ve not been very active with the website exactly and that’s because I just got spoiled with Instagram. Lately the visibility of my posts and educa
SPFPP 386: Help!
The title may have been a lil dramatic lol. I’m catching myself get repetitive with these podcasts and I notice guests haven’t been appearing lately. People tired, political state of the US is trash, life is lifing, the algorithm has discouraged me from putting effort into posting and getting engagement like I had before the pandemic, and it’s just a lot of shit presenting challenges to continued
SPFPP 385: In the Thick of it
This one is heavy. We talk about suicide with someone in the Ideation aspect of it. I'm not a mental health professional nor do I have any licenses or anything like that. I will say I am a human who can just ask questions, listen, and be present. Personal takeaways are that really people suffering are often told what to do but not asked what they need. Listen in on our guest's experience a
SPFPP 385: Life is But a Dream
My grandpa had this dream my mom told me about that I was a preacher. As somebody whose spiritual values align WAY off from anything remotely related to religion, I think it speaks to how all this is held together. I align with a lot of Yoga philosophy and I’ve integrated bits and pieces of what points me in the direction of what in Demon Slayer (anime) is referred to as the Transparent World. Wha
SPFPP 384: Can You Be Nonmonogamous if You Have Herpes?
Yes. For those who like the short version of things, you absolutely can be Nonmonogamous if you have herpes. I talk from my own personal experience in this podcast episode and shake the dust off from not talking about my experience for so long, being mindful of those around me so I don’t talk about my partners or offer too much detail there just out of respect to them. When navigating a herpes dia
SPFPP 383: My Story
This episode I wanted to just have something to reference for people who want to know my experience. Usually support calls bring in questions about me and my experience from diagnosis to the point of having created the SPFPP platform. I share my experience with my first symptoms, my diagnosis, the early resources I was provided with, disclosures and dating. This is the story leading n up to the st
SPFPP 382: Closed Mouths Don't Get Fed with Goddess Bats
Closed mouths don’t get fed! SO LADIES AND FEMMES SHOOT YOUR SHOT!In this conversation with Goddess Bats (@actuallybats), we talk about various intersections of identity when navigating herpes, polyamory, sex work, rejection, and identity. Together, we go over:What does it feel like to be blamed for “giving” someone herpes—and how do you advocate for yourself one-on-one?Are statistics useful, or j
SPFPP 381: Herpes and Bipolar - Stigma on Stigma
When I tell you all that this was an unexpected conversation, I cannot tell you how . . . surprised I was. You'll hear it in the interview how shocked I was when the topic came up. I knew we'd talk about herpes, but the Bipolar conversation was something that naturally came up. We go into what bipolar episodes for our guest were like, the hypersexuality that ironically didn't lead to her herpes di
SPFPP 380: Transmuting Stigma into Healing - Lessons from Depression
In this episode, I reflect on what it means to hold my rhythm, even when it’s challenging AF. If you been keeping up, you know I been big on talking about atoms and the microconnection they have to the o macro connectionmacroconnectiof stars lately. I use the metaphor of the sun—a star that doesn’t shift its light or heat just because someone says they’re cold. If it did, the consequences would be
SPFPP 379: Dating with Herpes - Should you Only Date People with the Same Type?
In this vulnerable and insightful episode of Something Positive for Positive People, Courtney Brame speaks with Jhivan, who shares their experience navigating life three months post-herpes diagnosis. The conversation explores the emotional and sexual impact of the diagnosis, the fear of transmission, and the internal debate around only dating people who have the same type of herpes.Together, they
SPFPP 378: Declaration of Remembrance
2025 took me through it. The woman I thought I was building a future with left. I moved in with my grandma, then into my own spot, and just when I started to settle—boom—tornado. Total loss. In every direction of life, I felt resistance. Everything I did to “fix” things only made the weight heavier.That’s when I got the message from what I can only describe as the echo of my nervous system: do not
SPFPP 377: Shades of Nonmonogamy
In this intimate conversation, Melissa LeSane opens up about the messiness of living through transition—stepping away from her role as a therapist, navigating a marriage of over two decades, entering a new relationship, and rediscovering herself as a sensitive, spiritual being.What begins as a discussion on non-monogamy turns into a reflection on how presence—not perfection—is the path back to who
SPFPP 376: I Don't Miss My Ex - The Stigma of Breakups
There's a stigma about breakups that you're only supposed to remember and recall the negative so you stay away, heal, don't go back. Especially for men, we're supposed to get someone younger, hotter, make more money, and get hotter. And to do this, you almost have to over-identify with this smallness of self and lean into that negative state. I choose differently. I don't Miss
SPFPP 375: Queering Masculinity - From Performance to Presence
bell hooks defined "queer" as a way of describing oneself without being confined by fixed definitions or labels. It's about acknowledging one's authenticity and living a life that aligns with that self, even if it doesn't fit neatly into conventional categories like "gay" or "straight." For hooks, being queer also meant being at odds with societal norms an
SPFPP 374: Storytelling for Stigma Minimization - Live from STI Engage 2025
Last time I was at STI Engage it was in 2019 where I submitted an abstract on how people living with herpes could find psycho-social support for their mental health through podcasts. Fast forward 6 years later after hundreds of thousands of podcast listens, tens of thousands of conversations, thousands of survey responses, and hundreds of podcasts, we're back with a lot more clarity and consis
SPFPP 373: Something Smooth About an Orbit
MAN! I forgot what I said the episode title would be but it rhymed and it was cold ya'll! You'll hear it in the episode.In this solo episode, I reflect on what the tornado that hit St. Louis took from me—and, more importantly, what it gave me. I talk about the gift of presence, the importance of environment, and how stigma fragments our sense of self. It’s through presence—being still, ali
SPFPP 372: Shaking the Dust Off
This was quite a conversational car ride with my friend/board member, Dr. Amber Sophus. We were talking about how people with different income levels process their herpes diagnosis differently and access and willingness to seek out resources for support looks different for these groups as well. The conversation led into some discussions about how people (mainly women) talk to themselves, how I nee
SPFPP 371: Presence Over Performance
What does it mean to live in alignment—with your identity, your energy, and your story? In this soulful episode of Something Positive for Positive People, Courtney Brame is joined by astrologer Tasha Beg (aka Agent of Pluto) for a powerful conversation about identity, ego death, and the journey from shame to self-trust. Together, they explore the intersections of presence, stigma, astrology, and a
SPFPP 370: The Spiritual Significance of Stigma Through an Atomic Lens
In this defining solo episode, Courtney Brame shares the atomic model that’s become the foundation of his purpose, presence, and practice. Drawing from physics, yoga philosophy, and personal experience with stigma, he reveals a spiritual framework where the atom becomes a mirror for conscious living.As the neutron, Courtney stabilizes his proton—his purpose to inspire conscious choice through stig
SPFPP Episode 369 Season 1 Finale: Letting Go of the Herpes and Other Things
This episode marks the end of an era. Since 2017, the SPFPP podcast has held space for people navigating herpes stigma—but now, it’s time for a shift. I’m closing out Season 1 with some real talk about why I’m expanding the mission. It’s bigger than herpes. Season 2 will center more broadly around positivity—mental health, emotional healing, identity, and minimizing stigma across the board.I share
SPFPP 368: The Eulogy of the Ego
In this raw and introspective solo episode, Courtney shares a deeply personal reflection on grief, growth, and the identity he's releasing after the end of a relationship. Titled The Eulogy of the Ego, this episode explores the integration of his inner child, the pursuit of emotional freedom, and the letting go of expectations—both from others and of himself. He speaks candidly about the emoti
SPFPP 367: Herpes and Nonmonogamy - Integrated Identities for Vulnerability
This episode features a real, open convo with Tamar Weir—someone I connected with through her honesty about living with herpes and navigating non-monogamy. Tamar shares her story of being diagnosed with HSV-2 in college, the support she had early on, and what it’s been like moving through the world with both herpes and a relationship style that challenges the norm.We talk about disclosure fatigue,
SPFPP 366: What Herpes Taught Me About Anger
I recorded this episode on the 12-year anniversary of my herpes diagnosis. In it, I talk openly about the grief I've been processing following a recent breakup, and how anger—something I’ve long masked with niceness—has been quietly shaping my relationships, my work, and my sense of self. I explore how my childhood experiences, emotional suppression, and fear of being perceived as violent have
SPFPP 365: Step Back for a Comeback
This episode is an unfiltered look at what happens when you hit a wall. I’ve been grieving, burned out, and realizing just how much I’ve neglected my own needs. In this solo episode, I share my journey of recognizing burnout, learning to set boundaries, and making the decision to take a step back to refocus on what really matters.I talk about canceling an event due to low turnout, how that decisio
SPFPP 364: Minimizing Stigma in Medical Settings
Courtney Brame returns to the SPFPP podcast with an exciting update—his first-ever in-person clinician training simulation focused on minimizing herpes stigma in medical settings. He shares behind-the-scenes insights on the simulation’s impact, lessons learned, and his vision for expanding this initiative nationwide. This episode also explores themes of self-expression, boundary-setting, and the i
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 advocate for destigmatization, to explore her journey through relationships and personal growth. Holly shares how she transitioned from polyamory to emotional monogamy, tackled the stigma surrounding herpes in the sex work industry, and learned to embrace true vulnerability in her life.
We di
SPFPP 362: Gratitude for Herpes - There is Light in There Too
In this episode of Something Positive for Positive People, Courtney Brame speaks with Melissa, a Yoga Therapy client, about her journey of emotional and spiritual healing after a herpes diagnosis. Melissa shares how the therapeutic practices of journaling, breathwork, and the Koshas helped her process shame and find peace. Tune in to learn how Yoga Therapy can transform your approach to healing.
SPFPP 361: What Are the Herpes Transmission Rates?
In this episode of Something Positive for Positive People, also known as the herpes podcast, I cut through the noise surrounding herpes transmission rates, particularly female-to-male rates, and get real about what those numbers actually mean to us. Drawing from my experience hosting over 350 in-depth podcast interviews, I share why the stats often miss the bigger picture and why focusing on numbe
SPFPP 360: Something Positive for People In a Relationship or Seeking One
Alright y’all, this episode marks a bit of a shift for SPFPP. For years, we’ve focused on dating with herpes—what it looks like, how to navigate it—but today, we’re stepping into something new: the other side of dating, being in a relationship.
As someone who’s been talking about dating with herpes since 2017, it feels only natural for the podcast to evolve with where I’m at in my own life. Truth
SPFPP 359: 23 Years of Grief
Heads up I talk about abortion from the lens of being a Man. This was supposed to be a 15 minute update, but the way grief works having come up on the anniversary of my grandma's funeral which happens to be my birthday, aside from me apologizing for my inconsistency the last month or two, apparently all this needed to come out as well.
Full blog post: https://spfpp.org/podcast/spfpp-359-23-years-
SPFPP 358: The Power of Disclosing to a Friend
In episode 358, The Power of Disclosing to a Friend, we dive into the evolving mission of Something Positive for Positive People—supporting people with herpes to a place of openness where they can share their status with someone close to them. Courtney unpacks common fears around judgment and stigma and highlights the validation and relief that come from trusted connections. Through personal stori
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 ca
SPFPP 356: Yoga Therapy for People With Herpes: Navigating Stigma and Emotional Wellness
In this episode of Something Positive for Positive People, I get personal about my experience with Yoga Therapy after being diagnosed with herpes. We go into what Yoga Therapy is, how it’s different from traditional therapy, and why it’s such a game-changer for managing the emotional and physical toll that comes with living with herpes. I also talk about the role of emotional wellness, and how yog
SPFPP 355: What Releasing Herpes Stigma Can Do For You
We inherently attach unconsciously to identities and roles we find ourselves in based on our environment. Stigma is one of those environments with various narratives and labels we can attach to. Releasing these attachments frees up the energy that takes form and shapes our core identity as unique expressions of energy. This episode is a reminder of what is possible through that release.
SPFPP 354: Herpes and Suicide - Sexual Health is Mental Health
In episode 354 of SPFPP, I’m sitting down with Drew Rabidoux, a licensed clinical social worker who’s made it her mission to support women living with herpes. We’re diving deep into the heavy stuff today—the intersection of herpes diagnoses and mental health, particularly how it can lead to suicidal thoughts. Drew brings her experience working with clients who feel blindsided by a herpes diagnosis
SPFPP 353: Something Pleasure Positive for Vanilla People
In this episode of Something Positive for Positive People (SPFPP), we dive deep into redefining sex positivity with Sol, a Black woman navigating herpes stigma, casual dating, and sexual exploration. Sol shares her journey of breaking away from vanilla sex expectations, growing up in a religious household, and finally finding her voice in the sex-positive community.
She talks about how past partne
SPFPP 352: Something Positive for Black Men with Herpes
In episode 352 of SPFPP, I sit down with Aaron Thomas, a 26-year-old Black man from Pittsburgh, PA, who shares his powerful journey of navigating life with herpes. Diagnosed five years ago with both HSV1 and HSV2, Aaron dives deep into the complex intersection of race, masculinity, and sexual health in the Black community. From the hypermasculine messages he received growing up to the challenges o
SPFPP 351: Pleasure Positivity - Harm Reduction at the Intersection of Safety and Pleasure
In episode 351 of SPFPP, I’m joined by Mel Moseley, a powerhouse in the world of sex positivity with a mission to reshape how we talk about sexuality. Diagnosed with HSV2 at 18 and navigating the trauma of an assault, Mel’s journey led her to a deeper understanding of what sex positivity really means. We dive into the overlooked aspects of sex positivity—how it’s often mistaken for just intercours
SPFPP 350: Nonmonogamous Conversations Monogamous People Need to Have - Part 2
In this episode of SPFPP, we continue our discussion on what nonmonogamy can teach those practicing monogamy. Our guest reflects on how nonmonogamous relationships gave her permission to explore being single and reshaped her approach to emotional availability and intentionality in her relationships. We also discuss how having clear communication and aligned values became key takeaways that improve
SPFPP 349: Nonmonogamous Conversations Monogamous People Need to Have - Part 1
In this episode, we dive deep into the complexities of relationships, focusing on conversations monogamous people need to be having—conversations often expected in non-monogamous relationships. Joined by a fellow herpes advocate, we explore topics such as ghosting, age differences, manipulation, and the impact of stigma on our self-esteem. We discuss the fear of disclosure, the importance of accou
SPFPP 348: Can You Sue Someone for Giving You Herpes?
The big question is “Can you sue someone for giving you herpes?”. Well, some considerations are first can you prove it? Then was it reckless and knowingly done? Our guest, Puerto Rican New Yorker, Destiny Maria, Author of the memoir, It Started with a Green Dress joins us to share the motivation for taking legal action against someone who knowingly gave her herpes. She shares the story of her herp
SPFPP 347: Who's Rejecting You?
In SPFPP Episode 347: Who's Rejecting You?, we dive into the journey of a 37-year-old woman from Washington, D.C., who shares the emotional parallels between the grief of her marriage's end, the excitement of newfound sexual freedom, and the life-changing moment she was diagnosed with herpes. Together, we explore the complexities of dating with herpes, highlighting how dating itself can be
SPFPP 346: Herpes Support is the Foundation Toward a Cure
In this episode of Something Positive for Positive People (SPFPP), Lauren and I dive into the multifaceted world of herpes support and advocacy. As we share our experiences, we highlight the unique challenges we face, including the disparity in perceived value between paid and free resources. Many people, unfortunately, take out their frustrations on volunteers who provide free support, not realiz
SPFPP 345: I Have Herpes and You Probably Do Too
Sex education vs intercourse education AKA abstinence based sexual education vs. Comprehensive sexual education:What is the real purpose and value of comprehensive sexual education?How does the lack of understanding and access to information aid in the spread of misinformation and stigmatization seen on social media in response to sex/ STI positive content?Sex educator Tara Ransleben (@TR_Sexualit
SPFPP 344: Beyond Herpes - On a Mission to Tradition
Allie runs an organization called Beyond Herpes dedicated to empowering women through the herpes stigma. Allie and Courtney connect and discuss what it’s like to run organizations dedicated to educating, advocating and empowering those diagnosed with herpes and the struggles small organization face trying to bridge large gaps.Allie shares her story of contracting genital HSV during the first month
SPFPP 343: Get Real About Rejection with Dakota
Ya’ll know how much we value consistency at Something Positive for Positive People. My previously recorded podcast for this week want able to be edited in time so Dakota and I, (@getrealwithdakota on Instagram) had a lil’ impromptu recording on the drive to my first beach trip on the East Coast!
Something she and I have overlap on in our work is rejection. Her coaching clients deal with a lot of
SPFPP 342: Herpes Identity Crisis
I often tell people how important it is that we not identify with our herpes diagnosis ONLY for me to look up and realize I've been doing this very thing myself. On today's episode, I speak to changing this, and what it looks like for you to change it as well. If you struggle with herpes stigma and want different for yourself, check out Something Positive for Positive People for resources
SPFPP 341: Nurture your nature
This is such a beautiful full-circle moment. I interview Lindsey, who I met early on after starting the podcast and we talked about an upcoming disclosure she had with someone she liked. We lost contact and then a few years later, I opened my Facebook and saw this person I recognized but wasn't exactly sure how, had just gotten married. I went to our messages and saw our last correspondence was ab
SPFPP 340: Prioritizing Pleasure with Dr. Naz
Join us in this enlightening episode of "Something Positive for Positive People," where we sit down with Dr. Nazanin Moali, renowned clinical psychologist and host of the Sexology Podcast. Dr. Moali brings her deep insights into the mental health challenges and dating dynamics faced by individuals living with herpes. Through her expert lens, we explore the profound effects of STI stigma, offering
SPFPP 339: SPFPP Men's Wellness Symposium
We had a great time! Be on the lookout for upcoming events regarding men's emotional wellness at www.getselfed.org.
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