POZ I AM Radio

Robert & Brady are thrilled to be speaking with Jason Alvin about his diagnosis and his daily FB LIVE show which captures him taking his HIV medication. About Jason: My name is Jason Alvin, and since my diagnosis with HIV in 2015, I have become a vocal advocate spreading the good news about recent HIV developments such as #PrEP and #UequalsU to friends family and strangers through facebook.  I have been taking my HIV medication live on facebook every day for over 2 years.  The community that has grown  around the show has been a tremendous source of support through what for me has been a really difficult diagnosis.  I am a registered nurse and worked on an inpatient psychiatric unit for 12 years.  I am a mental health professional, but I am also a patient.  I am married and have 2 sons that are 8 and 7 years old. Watch Jason is a Social Scientist

Join Robert Breining , Brady Dale Morris and Josh Robbins as they recap the guests and the HIVScoops of 2018. http://tobtr.com/s/11116771

Positively Fearless is a campaign brought to you by the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson – that’s s redefining what it means to live with HIV and showing those living with HIV what is possible when you live “Positively Fearless”. Join me and the other Positively Fearless ambassadors as we reflect on the resilience, strength and fearlessness of the HIV community. Join the community on Instagram @PositivelyFearless and visit PositivelyFearless.com to learn more about how you can live Positively Fearless.

HENRY GOLDRING is a product of the Midwest/Orrville, Ohio, and has lived for 25 years between New York City and Los Angeles. He studied piano & music at The College of Wooster in Ohio and The School of Music at Indiana University in Bloomington, and theatre at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Pasadena, California and with actress Ellen Burstyn in Los Angeles. He has appeared in theatre, on Norman Lear TV sitcoms with Bea Arthur and Bonnie Franklin and sung in night-clubs on both coasts. Henry has opened for comedienne Joan Rivers and his accompanist in New York was Arsenio Hall’s Band Leader, Jazz Pianist Michael Wolf. Although MR. GOLDRING shies away from labels, he is most proud of his personal journey as an HIV+ person navigating prejudice and misconceptions through writing (two theatrical productions and a memoir) and sharing his story on College Campuses, Podcasts/Radio and Book Fairs. Henry recently returned from West Chester University in Pennsylvania on a panel examining “LGBTQ Jews In the US and the UK” alongside British trans activist Shaan Surat Knan.

Join Robert & Brady live Sunday Dec 2nd at 2pm EST when they sit down with the Zee Strong. Zee runs 3 HIV\AIDS related Facebook groups but you may recognize the name Zee Strong from the countless frames he has created across social medi. these frames were created  in hopes of destroying the stigma associated with the disease and have been used by 1000's. Call the show (929) 477-3572 with your questions, comments.

During this live broadcast the Robert and Brady will be taking your calls about a range of hot topics related to living with HIV. Some topics that will be dicussed are depression,stigma,disclosure, finding a doctor etc.. Call the hosts live at  (929) 477-3572 with your questions or comments.

Janine Brignola, the chick once known as HIVchick on YouTube returns to POZ I AM Radio. For the last 12 years since finding out I was HIV positive I have ran the spectrum from behind the scenes to big mouth, loud activist to putting on that blazer and sitting quietly and politely while fitting more into my societal standard gender role and what’s socially acceptable. I have graduated from a private college, secured a pretty cool big opportunity career then left the corporate man gig, got sober from alcohol (even with some relapses), lost over 120+ lbs, raised a pretty cool kid, and finally realized that my biggest success in life had been realizing that happiness is what we all want and happiness comes when you realize that success is living your life according to your standards and what is right for you; not the man, not society, not anyone else. My hope to accomplish with activism is awareness and prevention. Enlightenment and understanding. For myself and others. I want to show people that HIV doesn’t define a person and they can still do anything they want; as I have and am. That we can choose our path and not sometimes but every time. No matter the obstacles, no matter the setbacks and no matter others negative and ignorant opinions on it. So yeah, this is my bio and I wrote it, in first person, and this my friends is what HIV looks like and what it looks like to have HIV and rock the hell out of it. So take whatever “bad” you’re given and create the life you want! I did and I have barely gotten started.

Billy Eugene Willis III is a activist based out of Central North Carolina. He has been living with HIV for 5 years, and advocating for HIV rights for the past 4. Billy was on the task force of people living with HIV and HIV professionals that helped modernize The NC Health Department’s HIV Control Measure. He has had many roles in his advocacy career, but his favorite is being a Youth Ambassador at Youth Across Borders (YAB). He visited Honduras this year with YAB to connect with youth PLWHIV. This activist’s next big projects are aimed at using art and entertainment to help fight against HIV stigma in his state.

Katie Willingham is a woman of transgender experience in rural north Alabama, diagnosed in June of 2000 but didn’t step into advocacy until January 2017, she now serves as Chair of Prevention for Thrive Alabama’s Community Advisory Board, sits on the HIV Prevention and Care Planning Group of the Alabama Department of Public Health, Policy Fellow and Alabama State Lead with the Positive Women’s Network, blogger for The Well Project’s A Girl Like Me blogging forum, and proud U=U minion. She also runs 3 Facebook groups: Alabama Poz Life, Alabama Transgender Coalition and PWN Alabama members and allies.

"Award-winning writer and activist Mark S. King is the force behind the blog My Fabulous Disease. He has been speaking out on behalf of people living with HIV since testing HIV positive in 1985. His blog has been nominated for a GLAAD Media Award three times and won the Nat'l Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association award twice. He was named "One of 13 Legendary AIDS Activists" by HIV Equal, and he tries not to let any of this make him feel old."

Davina Conner (Dee) was diagnosed with HIV 21 years ago. She’s an advocate, radio host,speaker,   a   founding   steering   committee   member   of   Prevention   access   campaign(UequalsU), Co-Chair of PWN Colorado and a member of the Denver HIV Planning Council,  Dee   obtained   her   Associates   Degree  in Public Health in  2018  and  is   now working towards her Bachelor’s Degree. She started a non-profit organization called PozHaven Foundation that started out as grassroots advocacy Dee mentors those newly diagnosed and individuals who are struggling mentally by way of telephone or in-home mentoring. She’s one of 4 advocates that is in the first UequalsU campaign in the United States called Positive Series. Davina started advocating because of the stigma that many go through being diagnosed with HIV and is determined to work hard for women of color, trans women and all women with HIV. Davina’s podcast Pozitively Dee Discussion has been running for 4 years and Dee uses her show as a platform to educate individuals who are HIV positive and HIV negative. Dee feels that reaching everyone on all levels in all   states   will   show  others  that   HIV  is  not  a  death  sentence   at   all   and   is   very manageable. Standing for the rights of everyone no matter how they choose to live. We have one life to live and Dee wants people to know that they can live their best life regardless of what they feel has hindered them. Dee works to inspire, encourage and motivate others to live their best life and says once you change your way of thinking it gives you a different perspective in life and God then leads you in the way you should go.

My name is Sanjay Johnson and I currently live in Little Rock, Arkansas. I am a 25-year-old Black Gay man that works two jobs, seeks to use my creative outlets in the arts, and contribute to my community as I can. Unfortunately, in August 2017, my life was interrupted by the biggest challenge and ongoing nightmare that I couldn’t have imagined nor would wish upon anyone else. As a single young man, I chose to explore the world of meeting other like-minded individuals in an online format which resulted in myself meeting an individual for a consensual encounter. One day I was confronted at my front door by police with a complaint citing myself as “knowing and willfully exposing another to HIV.” I was immediately arrested and spent over a week in jail hoping that someone cared enough and would come to my rescue. Ultimately I must now prepare for a trial where an Arkansas jury will decide my fate based on their understanding or lack of knowledge about HIV or how far we’ve advanced in this health dilemma.  Please consider donating to Snajays Defense Fund

Robert and Brady will be recapping their experience at Positive Living 21. If you attended the conference this year in Fort Walton Beach Florida and would like to share your experience call the show live and speak to the hosts,

Join us live for a special live show at 12pm EST.  Brady will be joining Robert live from USCA in Orlando Florida to talk about his expereince there as a panelist and attendee.

Robert and Brady will be joined by Butch Mckay of   Okaloosa AIDS Support & Informational Service (OASIS) will be joining. Butch and the Positive Living Conference will be celebrating 21 years in Ft. Walton Beach Florida - Sept. 14th-16th. Learn more at www.oasisflorida.org

During this live broadcast Robert & Brady will be taking your calls and questions during our Hot Topic LIVE broadcast. Call the show at (929) 477-3572

Bruce Richman returns to the show to give Robert an update on the U=U campaign and  to share about his time at the International AIDS confrence in Amsterdam. Bruce is the Founding Executive Director of PAC and the "Undetectable = Untransmittable  (U=U)"campaign (#UequalsU). Bruce was honored for his work with U=U as Healthline's HIV influencers"2017 Person of the Year"and named Plus Magazine "#1 Most Amazing HIV + People of 2018", and he received the 2017 Partnership Award from the National Association of State and Territorial AIDS Directors. Diagnosed with HIV in 2003, Bruce learned in 2012 that his undetectable viral load meant he could not transmit HIV. He committed to sharing this life-changing information in the hope that people with HIV and their partners will live healthy sexual and reproductive lives free of fear and stigma.

Jesus Guillen, is an immigrant, Latino, Gay, Single, 32 years HIV Long Term Survivor, who at the end, even if it sounds corny, is simply a human being who wants to help others, Jesus is one of the founders of one of the older GAY LATINO groups in SF: "AGUILAS"; he is also the founder and administrator of the incredibly diverse HIV LONG TERM SURVIVORS group in social media, with close to 5000 members. At the local level, he is the co-chair of the HIV and AGING workgroup in SF; member of the LTCCC- Long Term Care Coordinating Council- in SF as well. Jesus Guillen is honored to be the "poster boy" for the Emmy awarded documentary "LAST MEN STANDING", first and only documentary from the San Francisco Chronicle. Jesus is an independent HIV and Aging consultant who works with agencies, organizations, politicians, pharmaceuticals and anyone who wants to work in the common goal of helping our community, because he believes deeply in "WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER". Please watch the documentary "LAST MEN STANDING" following this link for free streaming : AIDS survivors live out lives they never expected to have

Recently named on the 2017 Healthline HIV Influence Honors List for "Best Advocate for Female HIV Health", Kamaria Laffrey continues to serve as an international HIV advocate, speaker and consultant working on HIV decriminalization, treatment adherence, as well as women and girl's empowerment of health. Since her diagnosis in 2003, Kamaria has worked to empower others at risk for HIV and living with the virus to live beyond the societal and self-induced stigma of HIV through sharing her personal journey. Since 2007, she has used news and print media, social networks, conferences, blogs, and various campaigns as a platform to examine and speak on issues she identifies as hindering empowerment such as self-esteem, abandonment, distrust and other barriers. Her personal goal is to work through her developing community based organization, emPOWERed Legacies and provide tools that will help her community towards embracing healing, giving inspiration and living victorious with HIV. Through her public speaking, one on one peer counseling, workshop development, social media outreach, and program consulting, Kamaria emphasizes empowerment, sexual responsibility, and development of spiritual principles for individuals all over the world.

Brotherhood Retreat is a 3-day retreat is an international gathering of gay and bisexual men who seek to enrich their lives through deeper insights, awareness and connections to both the community and oneself. We will be learning about physiological, psychological and spiritual tools to help create healthier and more fulfilling lives while forging bonds and friendships with other men from different parts of the world. The program will include informational and instructional sessions as well as exercises and participation by all the attendees with attention given to the full body-mind-spirit connection. We will also have plenty of time for social activities and relaxation. There are a variety of different techniques used at the retreat including meditation, transformational breath work, healing touch and much, much more. The retreat was originally created to help support those who are living with HIV, but over the years it has evolved to a spiritual retreat that is open to all men who are attracted to other men. As modern medicine is making serious advances, the gay community is finally beginning to heal the split between HIV-positive and negative men. We are thrilled be a part of that healing in whatever way we can support it. We all need each other to be strong, healthy and happy. Learn more

Join Robert as he returns live with Larry Frampton, Brady Dale Morris and Mark Grantham. These 3Tennessee HIV activists are on a road trip together driving to the HIV Is Not a Crime National Training Academy. They will be sharing their thoughts on HIV criminalization and what thay are hoping to get out attending the #HINAC3 Traning Academy.

Shane, 33, from Mountain View, Missouri was diagnosed with HIV when he was 26 years old.  Shane grew up in a physically, and emotionally abusive household that was not accepting of his sexuality when he came out as gay at the age of 18. He was the first openly gay person in Mountain View where being gay was not a social norm. When Shane first found out he was positive, He thought his life was over, but little did he know, Shane was given a reason to live. Just this past week Shane accepted a position at the World AIDS Museum & Educational Center. In this role He’ll be going into schools throughout Broward County in South Florida educating students about HIV, and dispelling the many stigmas often associated with it.

Donning his running shoes, Jamil Eric Wilkins triumphantly races for his life against HIV. Athleticism has become the hallmark by which he thrives over his condition and the stigma associated with living with HIV. ? He often thinks back to his  first week on the track team when his knees gave out and he chose to continue his pursuit anyway. That same strength presented itself years later when he was on the cusp of advancing from HIV to AIDS. "My emotions had more calluses than my feet, but I refused to give up on myself, as I didn’t in the beginning," he said. Along with running being an outlet to earn his right to live, Jamil feels that his running mastery gives him the authority over his condition to make it happen. "We run races counterclockwise on a track, which meant that each time I placed one foot in front of the other I felt I was turning back the clock just enough to reclaim the power over my life," Jamil says. Jamil feels that the moment we are presented with a life-changer and we make the choice to rise above it, we are setting the tone for what’s to come. His athleticism led him to the Braking AIDS Ride and the Positive Pedalers, whose mission is to eliminate the stigma behind HIV by being a positive public example. After 14 years of running, Jamil gets to take on new, hopeful challenges and show others what living with HIV can look like.

Kevin Maloney, the founder of Rise Up To HIV will return live with Robert this Sunday. Call the show live with your comments and questions (929) 477-3572 The “No Shame About Being HIV+"” campaign was inspired by an image of Chelsea Clinton holding a sign for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. My vision for this campaign is to mobilize people across the United States and the world who are willing to stand up in an effort to reduce HIV stigma. Participants are empowered by the act of pairing a simple statement with their personal story and photo. There is no greater feeling or power than being able to stand up to your fears, not being held hostage by your diagnosis, being amongst people who understand and being knowledgeable or gaining greater understanding of something you may have thought you had no control over but actually do. Rise up to HIV and help end the stigma! Be part of #TeamNoShame. ?

Known for his deeply Southern accent, Brady Dale Morris is a national HIV advocate and public speaker living in Nashville, Tennessee.  After receiving an AIDS diagnosis in July 2009, Brady began a downward spiral into drugs, alcohol, and depression that led him down a path that ended in several suicide attempts. While recovering from his last attempt, an acquaintance approached him and told Brady he too had recently been diagnosed and needed help in what steps he should take next. That was Brady’s “light bulb” moment and from that day he has dedicated himself to helping those newly diagnosed with HIV and combating the stigma directly felt by others living with HIV.  As an independent advocate, he uses his online reach to promote factual and accurate health information about UequalsU and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP.)  Additionally, Brady works in several large capacities with big organizations including: Tennessee AIDS Advocacy Network (TAAN,) Tennessee Association of People With AIDS (TAPWA,) Community HIV AIDS Partnership (C.H.A.P.,), is a founding member of the National Steering Committee for Prevention Access Campaign’s #UequalsU message, and has served as the Co-Chairman of the Nashville Regional HIV Planning Council for the past two years.

I'm a 47 year old single mother of 3 kids (17, 14 and 10). I've been working as a substitute teacher for 10 years and take jobs for any subject and any grade (kinder through senior year). In the last 18 months, I have been taking many jobs with the special needs kids and find these to be my most rewarding of days. In my free time, I'm an avid skater (skateboarding), surfer and now HIV Advocate/Activist. On 2/15/16, I was diagnosed with HIV, about a week later, I was told I had AIDS. My life changed in a split second. I decided to share my diagnosis with my Facebook family as many knew I had been very sick. It was met with immense support. During the next 5 months, I struggled with not knowing one other soul with HIV. The support I received from my Facebook announcement along with this need to connect with another woman like myself, gave me the courage to make my first YouTube video in August of 2016. I told my story to let people know that HIV could reach anyone, that you could lead a normal life with the virus today and I hoped to find some connections along the way. Boy did I! My video went viral (lol, that has always been a funny joke). Within months, I had almost 1000 subscribers, tons of new connections and a new voice I never imagined in the world of HIV. Today, I run a private page through Facebook for HIV+ women. I started it a year ago with roughly 15 women and we are 94 strong today. I blog for The Well Project's, A Girl Like Me website. I attended USCA in September of 2017 and began my U=U activism

Stephen Bloodworth is the founder and president of Team Friendly Tennessee, a nonprofit organization serving Tennessee since 2013, an extension of the Mr. Friendly campaign. Locally, Stephen’s HIV education and advocacy work led him to serve at the request of the mayor as board member of the Nashville Regional HIV Planning Council. He also lobbied state legislators during HIV Day on the Hill. Nationally, Stephen attended AIDS Watch in Washington, D.C., where he met with members of Congress to educate them about the important issues facing people living with HIV/AIDS. Stephen lives north of Nashville, Tennessee, where he enjoys spending time with his dog, Russell.

Michael Hager was diagnosed with HIV in November 2002 when he was just 22 years old. Already grappling with Crohn's Disease at the time, Michael was completely unprepared to handle HIV and finish his coursework and forge ahead to medical school. He decided to lean into HIV and started working for the Boston Public Health Commission AIDS Program to learn more about his circumstances and others in similar situations. He was there for five years in multiple capacities from managing Ryan White Part A primary care, mental health, and transportation contracts to helping to manage the Boston HIV Services Planning Council. After completing his public health degree, he briefly worked in India on several projects, including Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria Round 8 proposal writing. In a whirlwind.  Michael has been with the NY AIDS Institute National Quality Center where he has led several national campaigns, including the in+care Campaign and end+disparities Learning Exchange in addition to key multi-state learning collaboratives, including the HIV Cross-Part Care Continuum Collaborative (H4C). In his spare time, he has been building a charitable social community of gay men living with HIV in New York called, impac+NYC and overseen its transformation from a weekly happy hour into a formal 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with multiple community activities and social outlets. In addition, he has been ramping up his own private consultancy to launch on September 1, 2017, which will focus on domestic and international peer learning around HIV and quality of care.  Michael is the President and CEO of Hager Health, LLC and the Executive Director of impac+NYC and is based in New York, NY. He has a master of public health degree in epidemiology and a master of arts degree in comparative public health policy.

Mary Bowman is an internationally recognized motivational speaker, singer, and poet native to the Washington, DC area. Drawing from personal experience, both transparent and vulnerable whether, in poetry or song, her words allow her access to spaces that aren’t traditionally artistic. From local open mic nights to international conferences and beyond, Mary shares herself openly and proudly.   Mary’s life and work have been featured in various mediums; print publications, as well as broadcast television and radio networks. Her powerful performance caught the attention of the editors of A&U Magazine and led them to invite Mary to grace the cover of the August 2016 issue.   Mary is humbly continuing to carry out her vision to inspire people to find their own personal empowerment and freedom through her art. Mary has three projects available for purchase, ‘LOTUS’ the 2010 collection of poetry, LOVE B.O.A.T.S. the ep, released in 2014, and EMERGE the 2017 collection of poetry. Book Description: Emerge is a front row seat to the last 28 years of Mary Bowman’s journey through life, exploring her relationship with love, pain, and triumph. It is an honest and raw, first-hand poetic account of what it means to Emerge; To rise from an inevitable death in order to freely live. Sort of how a caterpillar dies intentionally to both its title and cocoon, emerging the butterfly that always was, always is, and always will be.

Kalvin Pugh is a social media advocate and HIV Peer Educator in Kansas City Missouri. After being diagnosed HIV+ in 2016 he began sharing his relatively short journey with friends and family on Facebook. After receiving support for his brave honesty he decided to dedicate his focus on social media to show support and demonstrate hope to others living with HIV around the globe as Positively Kalvin. On social media he shares an unapologetic view of living well, and defying stigma with the hopes that it will change others viewpoint on living with HIV.    After 10 years in the beauty industry he felt the need to translate Positively Kalvin into a real life setting and took a position as HIV Peer Educator at the Kansas City Care Clinic. He daily works with patients newly diagnosed and those whom find difficulty being adherent to their medications and staying in care. In 2017 he was a finalist in the Andrew Christian Trophy Boy model search, has appeared in articles, social media campaigns, and a documentary film discussing the stigma of living with HIV

Guy Anthony is a well-respected HIV/AIDS activist, community leader and author. Diagnosed with HIV as a teen, Guy has dedicated his adult life to the pursuit of neutralizing global HIV/Aids-related stigmas. He released Pos(+)tively Beautiful: Affirmations, Advocacy & Advice on World AIDS Day in 2012. This collection of inspiring narratives, raw imagery, and affirming anecdotes has earned Guy much acclaim, including being named one of the top 100 HIV prevention leaders under 30 by POZ Magazine and as one of the top 100 Black LGBTQ/SGL Emerging Leaders to Watch by National Black Justice Coalition. Guy served as a Program Manager/Coordinator for the Treatment Adherence program at Us Helping Us, a local AIDS service organization serving Black communities in the Washington, DC area for two years. In his role at US Helping Us, Guy worked with newly diagnosed Black gay men to help them come to terms with their status, navigate the complex health care system so they can access care, and develop plans for them to adhere to their treatment regimen and achieve viral suppression. Guy also serves on Washington, DC’s Ryan White Planning Council, overseeing millions of dollars in HIV funding for the city and is a regular contributor to AIDS.gov and POZ.com. Guy serves as a brand ambassador to ViiV Healthcare, one of the country’s largest pharmaceutical companies. He is the President/CEO the Black, Gifted & Whole Foundation, a two-fold intermediary organization that provides scholarships to Black gay men attending Historically Black Colleges & Universities. Guy is currently focused on mobilizing HIV-positive Black gay men. He hosts POZ-ONLY advocates dinners quarterly, and facilitates a summit entitled “#POZTALK”, which is an intergenerational conversation that transcends age and socio-economic status. He is currently pitching these #POZTALKS to Black Gay Pride Celebrations around the Country.

As a local Foster Youth, LGBTQIA, and HIV/AIDS activist, Prizila Vidal continues to advocate for foster youth both working with youth during the coming out process, and during the transitional age of 18-24, linking young adults to housing, education and employment resources. Her  journey with HIV brought her to the Mother, Child and Adolescent Program (MCAP) at UC San Diego, where she continues to volunteer her time and story as a speaker for events and workshops. At the age of 24 she had aged out of the program and decided to continue advocating for HIV/AIDS Positive individuals but more so for anyone interested in their health and getting some support. She knows that the primary source to one’s health is having support. She unfortunately  did not have that support . Before she was even diagnosed she did not know anything about HIV/AIDS, nor how risky it can be and easy it is to contract it, although she got the disease by being raped. After knowing how easy it easy to contract it and share it she knew that she had to do something. She decided to bring up the so controversial topic to anyone and everyone that she could. These days besides her regular job she is an Educator on HIV/AIDS as well as many other topics I educate on. Furthermore, she  would like to encourage all of you out there that are newly or already diagnosed to find that Support and get your health if not Good then Better!!

I was born in Venezuela in 1964, I was diagnosed with HIV on June 24, 1986 at 22 years old and have lived with this guest in my body for 31 years or more.  Four years earlier in 1982 I had Hodgkin’s disease which was an experience that taught me how to navigate life altering experiences like HIV; I never really thought that I would die, but all the news when I was diagnosed said the longest prognosis was one year or maybe two. I never thought I’d live this long. In March I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and I’m now at the tail end of this Chemotherapy treatment. This kind of Lymphoma is common amongst long time survivors of HIV who’ve been taking HIV medications for a long time.I feel this time the Lymphoma has brought a purpose to my life I hadn’t realized, I’m documenting this process and doing my best to get money out of the medical establishment because then the patient takes a back seat.  I’m not sad or bitter about these experiences, they’ve shaped who I am today and have brought into my life a Massage/Bodywork, Breathwork and Spiritual Coaching practice that supports me and those I serve. Tune in live Sunday August 20th at 2pm EST to hear Juans whole story.

This Sunday, August 13th at 2pm EST, Robert will have the pleasure of speaking with Butch Mckay the Founder of the Positive Living conferences that take place each year in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida. This September 15th-17th Butch and the OASIS family will be celebrating the 20th year Anniversary of Positive Living. Butch Mckay is currently Executive Director of Okaloosa AIDS Support and Informational Services, Inc. (OASIS), a position he has held since 1996. He founded the Positive Living Conference Series in 1997. We will also be joined by Cathy Robinson-Pickett who will be sharing about her experience as a attendee and presenter at Positive Living.

Jack Mackenroth is most widely known for his participation as a fashion designer on season 4 of Project Runway. He became one of the nations most visible HIV activists when he disclosed his positive HIV status on the show. It was the first public television disclosure since Pedro Zamora in 1994. Jack currently works as a media strategist for Housing Works in New York. There he art directed the New York based #PrEPheroes campaign to promote PrEP and he is currently promoting the Housing Works fundraiser, Braking AIDS Ride. He also plans to personally raise $75,000 and participate in the 300 mile bike ride in September. (He raised $56,000 in 2014) In 2013 he was the creator of the multi-media anti-stigma and HIV testing initiative, “HIV Equal”. On World AIDS Day 2014, he conceptualized and launched the HIV Shower Selfie Challenge with the hashtag #weareALLclean, which went globally viral in multiple countries with over 26 million social media impressions and translations in over 10 languages. From 2014 to 2016, Jack was the Senior Communications Officer of MSMGF—The Global Forum On MSM and HIV.Jack has two bachelor’s degrees from the University of California at Berkeley and one from Parson School of Design. He has been HIV positive for 28 years, since the age of 20.

Hank is a 64-year-old Gay man, a 37-year resident of San Francisco, a 28-year Long-Term HIV/AIDS Survivor (diagnosed in 1989), a writer and occasional editor.  In the early 1980s, He wrote a lot of fiction and edited Drummer, Malebox, and Folsom Magazines.  Then AIDS hit, and suddenly the act of writing fiction seemed frivolous, almost disrespectful, and so Hank stopped writing.  For more than thirty years, He stopped writing -- the things that He knew He needed to write about were simply too painful even to contemplate, let alone write about.  Then, finally, in 2015 his fiance Rick convinced him, that it was time to push through that pain and get back to writing.  His "second act" began with the publication of his poem "Tornado" in A&U: America's AIDS Magazine, where he has published since January 2016 and have recently been named an Editor-at-Large. His bi-monthly column in A&U, "For the Long Run," addresses issues we Long-Term HIV/AIDS Survivors face.

On Sunday July 9th we have the pleasure of speaking our friend the amazing Jamar Rogers. Most of you will recognize Jamar from his time as a contestant on The Voice a few years ago. Jamar first shared his story with us when he appeared on The Voice and then again after he was eliminated from the show. After being a semi-finalist on The Voice, he appeared on The Ellen Show, and was also seen on a host of TV shows and media outlets such as E! Entertainment News, The Today Show, Rolling Stone Online, USA Today, US Weekly, People Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter, The Huffington Post, CNN, HLN’s Showbiz Tonight, Billboard, POZ I AM Radio, POZ Magazine, MTV News, Popcrush, Sway In The Morning, BET, The Root Top 100, Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show and many more social projects such as the World AIDS Conference and The Clinton Global Initiative. He is signed to Tommy Boy Entertainment and has announced a July 2017 release for his debut album "Lazarus".

Connie Rose, a long term survivor since 1996, lives in Las Vegas with her daughter, grandson and best fur buddy, Sugar Bear. She is the founder of Livingapozlife on WordPress, trying to change the world one blog at a time. You can follow her on Twitter @Cricketlv and other social media sites.

Danny was born in Watertown, NY, lived there until he moved to SW Florida where he still resides.While Danny was in treatment for substance abuse he was asked to speak about living with HIV, and that he did. He continues to speak publicly and is very humble when he receives praise for his story. Danny lives in Orlando, Fl with his husband. In the past, he has been involved with the Ryan White planning council serving as the PWLH/A representative. Additionally,  he has acted as the chair for the Orange County health department's consumer advisory board. In December of 2016, Danny was awarded POZ magazine's top 100 for the southern region.

Rob Olver is the editor of PositiveLite.com, Canada’s online HIV magazine, run by and for people living with HIV. “Pre-diagnosis, I was an education worker with an alternative life in experimental music.” he says. “I was diagnosed in 2014, just after my birthday and only a few days before I was to retire. It felt overwhelming initially but there’s nothing like a crisis to help you sort out what’s important. Certainly I found myself needing to revise some of my plans. But I’ve been helped and inspired by some great mentors along the way and they really helped me to hit the ground running once I was diagnosed and go straight into advocacy work, mostly via Positivelite.com exemplifies these values and is entirely run by and for people living with HIV. I love the level of commitment and passion of the people I’m working with and it’s been a huge honor for me to take over the reins as editor of PositiveLite.com. “So now that I’m retired, I’m busier than ever. It may sound crazy, but I celebrate my diagnosis each year, just like my birthday and I like my life better post-diagnosis than I did before.”

Larry Frampton aka Cowboy Larry is a long term survivor of HIV/AIDS and longtime advocate. He is currently employed as the Public Policy Director of Nashville CARES and Director of Tennessee AIDS Advocacy Network and serves as Co-Chair of the Nashville Regional Ryan White Planning Council. Tennessee just made needle exchange legal and Frampton was the leader of that effort and intends on modernizing the TN HIV Criminalization Laws next.

Dorian-Gray Alexander has been living with HIV/AIDS since 2006. He embraces life as much as possible. He's committed to public service and social justice serving on many community boards. Dorian networks and advocates via the airwaves by hosting a radio show, "Proof Positive " on WHIV 102.3 FM in New Orleans. He can be seen hitting the streets as a 610 Stomper or at a local bar.  Dorian values his participation in advocacy, training and education regarding HIV at events, forums, and conferences by sharing ideas for treatment, linkage to care and retention in care for HIV.  Other than that some say he's a pretty cool cat.

16 years AIDS survivor, started volunteering shortly after being diagnosed, sharing his story at schools to students interested in health and social services. Over the years he has taught to about 2500 - 3000 students a year. From the Texas Valley, Houston to Orange County.  Personally dealing with drugs & alcohol, now clean & sober for about 10 years. Anal cancer survivor for about 2 years and living with a colostomy, he continues to educate students in high school, junior colleges and university about; HIV prevention, cancer, colostomies, depression, PTSD, while fighting stigma and the taboos in the Latino community.  In 2016 he became a California certified HIV tester and counselor, he also works with rehabilitation programs in the Orange County area offering education to both staff and residents. As well as leading the Laguna Beach HIV Advisory Committee as chair for the third year.  He hopes to one day be allowed to stand in a national stage and share with a larger Latino audience and open their minds and instigate an open conversation about sex, sexuality, and prevention.

Join us this Sunday May 14th at 2pm EST for our Mother's Day broadcast. Robert Breining & Aaron Laxton will be speaking with with HIV+ mother, activist, radio host Davina Conner aka Pozitively Dee. Dee has been HIV+ for 20 years and will be sharing her story with our audience for the first time.  . Dee was diagnosed with HIV 20 years ago she contracted HIV from a 10 year relationship that  she thought was monogamous. Dee then married a man two years later who was HIV negative and had a beautiful daughter who was born negative.  Dee has not let HIV take control of who she is. She  loves life and  thrives to be happy. She wants to help educate the community about the virus  and on other health conditions to the best of her ability. Her radio show discusses various topics such as HIV, love, relationships, the church, stigma, mental health, self-care along with many other issues we face today. Her motto is - If we advocate for change, then we must advocate for all. Dee hosts the show and advocates to end the stigma that surrounds HIV/AIDS.

Join us this Sunday May 7th at 2pm EST. Our hosts Robert Breining and Aaron Laxton will be speaking with Oregon activist Michael Lee Howard. Michael first sat down and shared his story with us in 2010. Michael Lee Howard was diagnosed with HIV in 2005. Upon his diagnosis he decided to dedicate his life to educating people about HIV, sex positivity, and hopefully be a role model. Michael is also dedicated to reducing stigma surrounding sexual health and HIV. "I believe that by being transparent with my story I can teach others that it is healthy to speak openly about your life and all aspects of it".  Michael has had the honor of being featured for the the 2014 re-launch of The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS foundation, as well as a CNN news piece on HIV and tattoos.He works at a local ASO that is opening Oregon's first LGBTQ+ Health Center. He is committed to teaching prevention strategies and helping erase stigma.

sunday April 30th we will be speaking with CJ Stobinski , an activist and runner out of Ohio. CJ Stobinski began his advocacy in February '15 after facing stigma and discrimination over his HIV status. Serving as Ohio Ambassador for the Positive Young People's Foundation, CJ worked on their HIV Ends With Me Because... social media campaign. Soon after, CJ announced a 5K HIV Awareness campaign live on Toledo local news the day after going public about his status on Facebook, and won his first two races a day apart. He has since competed in about 30 events wearing HIV awareness shirts, mainly No Shame About Being HIV+, and has also written for HIVHereAndNow.com.Last fall, CJ presented about person first language and Prevention Access Campaign's U=U message in Columbus with Equitas Health, and has trained community workers as an OH Department of Health HIV Education Trainer. In January '17, CJ traveled with Columbus based Youth Across Borders to Montaña de Luz, a home for children living with and affected by HIV in Honduras, and serves as their Youth Ambassador. As Rise Up To HIV's new Youth Ambassador, CJ strives to continue the mission of PYPF that originally drew him to advocacy, "To change the way people think, and talk about HIV." By day, CJ works as a Community Health Worker and Referral Assistant for a non-profit reducing infant mortality in NW Ohio. He enjoys cooking, yoga, and playing with his two fluffy cats.

Andrew grew up in Kentucky and is a former National Champion Cheerleader featured twice on ESPN. Later, Andrew appeared on the Emmy Winning seriesThe Amazing Race on CBS and several independent films and stage plays. Andrew has appeared in many national magazines and spoken at events such as New York City Pride. Andrew now works in social services at Cascade AIDS Project planning events that has raised over 6 million dollars for non-profit organizations. Currently, Andrew can be heard around Oregon and online through his radio segment and podcast. His first comic book series, he wrote and created, is available called Monsters Among Us.

This Sunday April 2,  Robert and Aaron will be speaking with activist Joshua Middleton . Josh has sat down with us before in 201.  A lot has happened in 3 years and Joshua has been making big waves in the HIV community,  So we invited him back to hear what all the fuss is about.    Here is a little about Joshua in his own words.    When I heard the words “You are HIV Positive,” in June of 2012, time itself seemed to have stopped. It was as if I was seeing my whole life flash before my eyes and I was a simple bystander on the sidelines left with no control of the situation but to watch. My mind and body wanted to stay strong, but how can one expect to do so when receiving such news ? To call it a traumatic experience would be an understatement, it was a diagnosis that would forever change my life.   As someone who is a heterosexual male that wasn’t in what is considered a “high risk” group, it seemed as if contracting HIV would be the least of my worries. After all, HIV wasn’t something that happened to someone like me but to someone else, I told myself, right? I mean, I was getting tested on a regular basis just as a precaution so in my mind testing was prevention, however, I failed to realize I wasn’t doing anything to change my risk level when having sex. Join us live at 2pm EST to hear all of Joshua's story.

Bob Leahy is the long-time editor of PositiveLite.com, Canada's online HIV magazine. He was diagnosed in 1993. He left a career in corporate banking to embark on a long volunteer career of HIV advocacy at the local, national and international levels. Most recently he has been the lead organizer for the U = U campaign in Canada but he has a particular interest in HIV and Aging and the issues of long term survivors.

Cathy Robinson Pickett is an internationally recognized motivational and inspirational educator. She has been named a National Point of Light, by President George Bush and recognized by countless organizations and media outlets including PEOPLE Magazine for her work in HIV, Domestic Violence, victims’ rights, sexual responsibility and patient advocacy. Cathy’s legislative activism on a local, state and Federal level began in 1992 and has continued to evolve across the intersections of victims and patients’ rights for sexual assault, domestic violence and HIV.  Her work initially focused on victims’ rights in assault cases and evolved into work around HIV testing for pregnant women and the availability of comprehensive reproductive health education for school aged young adults. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Friends-Together, a NGO that works with families infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. Cathy is a native Floridian and daughter of a well-known Methodist Minister and college professor. Her southern roots shape her unique spirit and come through with her great passion and carrying for those she works with. Cathy’sprofessional career has included many years of working in higher education. Cathy has an extensive resume of accomplishments but if you were to ask her the most important thing she has accomplished it would be that her children Lyndsy and Garrett have grown into amazing young adults with hearts for activism and service.

This Sunday March 12th at 2pm EST, we will have the pleasure of speaking the hilarious, informative and handsome Mark S. King.  Mark has spoke with us before and has even co-hosted an episode with Robert. Mark S. King is the award-winning writer and HIV activist behind the blog My Fabulous Disease. He has been writing and speaking out about living with HIV since testing positive on March 15, 1985, only days after the test became publicly available. His writing has been featured in The Advocate, Newsweek, The Washington Blade, and on TheBody.com web site. In 2011, Mark was honored to be included among the “POZ 100,”. In November of 2012, Instinct Magazine named Mark one of their “Leading Men of 2012” for his HIV/AIDS advocacy and writing. Mark made the cover of the June 2013 issue of POZ Magazine, which included his essay, “The Sound of Stigma.” He was also honored to be among the Grand Marshals of the 2013 Atlanta Pride parade. His blog was a GLAAD Award nominee in 2015 and again this year, and he is among the most widely read HIV positive writers in the world.

This Sunday March 5th at 2pm EST Robert and Aaron will be speaking with Claes Lilja. - listen here.  Claes is the creator of Brotherhood Retreats, a program which has deeply impacted many lives through its multi-pronged, life-changing inner work process. Brotherhood Retreats is a 3-day retreat is an international gathering of gay and bisexual men who seek to enrich their lives through deeper insights, awareness and connections to both the community and oneself. We will be learning about physiological, psychological and spiritual tools to help create healthier and more fulfilling lives while forging bonds and friendships with other men from different parts of the world.   The program will include informational and instructional sessions as well as exercises and participation by all the attendees with attention given to the full body-mind-spirit connection. We will also have plenty of time for social activities and relaxation. There are a variety of different techniques used at the retreat including meditation, transformational breath work, healing touch and much, much more.   The retreat was originally created to help support those who are living with HIV, but over the years it has evolved to a spiritual retreat that is open to all men who are attracted to other men. As modern medicine is making serious advances, the gay community is finally beginning to heal the split between HIV-positive and negative men. We are thrilled be a part of that healing in whatever way we can support it. We all need each other to be strong, healthy and happy.

Join Robert And arron in this 30 min hot topic show

Bob was diagnosed with AIDS on June 26th of 2000 which was his 50th birthday. Soon after that he moved from the east coast to Oregon, where he found Valley AIDS Information Network (VAIN) as a source of information that he needed so he could learn about this disease that he will most likely live with for the rest of his life. Bob first became a volunteer at VAIN, then he was asked to be a board member.  He has since been the President/CEO now for the last 10 years. Bob was also the Community Co-chair for the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) HIV/AIDS Statewide Planning Group for over 3 years. He is also an avid national HIV/AIDS Educational Speaker, last year alone Bob reached over 2,700+ students of all ages in local schools and universities. Bob also is a Master Trainer through Stanford’s Positive Self-Management Program, also known as Living a Healthy Life with HIV. He is also the On-Site Dean for Strength for the Journey which is an HIV/AIDS Retreat for up to 80 HIV Positive attendees, that is held every year in the beautiful mountains of Oregon. Anytime Bob has the opportunity he is educating the community and putting a face to this disease. Bob always thanks whatever group or individual he is talking to and tells them that since they have taken the time to listen to him and ask questions, they have just become advocates and that he hopes that all will share this information they have just received, to their peers, family and friends. He always asks them to please tell people that HIV/AIDS is not over yet and to know their status.  Yes, we have made some incredible steps in seeing the end of this disease, but we still have a long way to go. Bob witnessed the beginning of this disease, and his dream is to see the end of HIV and AIDS.

Michelle Anderson-Morrison, Ms. Plus America 2011, is first openly HIV positive woman to everrun for and win a national pageant title. Currently she resides in Dallas, Texas and is the CEO/Founder of Metamorphic Empowerment Center, a multifaceted prevention organization that empowers women to regain control of their lives through addressing issues that create vulnerabilities and risk for an HIV diagnosis. She is also a CAB member for The Well Project, Blogger for A Girl Like Me and Treasurer/Board Member for ADAP Advocacy Association, and anational ambassador for Greater Than AIDS Empowered Campaign. Michelle continues to use her story to eradicate stigma, shame and blame of those living and surviving with HIV. Michelle was nominated by her peers to sit on the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) in 2011. She was also bestowed the honor of receiving the Positive Leadership Award by The National Association of People with AIDS recognizing the use of her "Bully Pulpit" to raise awareness, and inducted into the SisterLove’s 2013 2020 Leading Women’s Society

As founder of Prevention Access Campaign, Bruce Richman launched the Undetectable = Untransmittable (#UequalsU)campaign with a group of HIV activists and the world's leading scientists to ensure the most groundbreaking development in the past twenty years of the epidemic is communicated accurately and meaningfully: people living with HIV who are on treatment and undetectable cannot transmit the virus to others. Undetectable = Untransmittable - the evolution of communications about people living with HIV. Evolving science and empirical evidence since the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy shows that people living with HIV who are on treatment and undetectable do not transmit HIV to sexual partners. However, this groundbreaking news has been the "big secret" in HIV. Outdated, fear-based, stigmatizing messaging is wasting opportunities to improve the lives of people living with HIV, dismantle HIV stigma, and prevent new transmissions. The large majority of people living with HIV believe they will be "infectious" for the rest of their lives or until there is a cure. A team of HIV activists set out to change that. Working with the lead scientists from the major studies on HIV transmission risk, they created the first global consensus on transmission risk and leveraged that document to secure endorsements and to modernize how risk is communicated by public health departments and major AIDS organizations. The campaign's extensive niche and mainstream media coverage is dismantling HIV stigma by educating the public about #UequalsU. Now the word is getting out, but there is still far more work to be done to ensure equal access to this game-changing information, treatment, and care

Robert and Aaron will be speaking with 2 amazing Mothers this evening.  Jane is a mother, college student, public speaker, HIV activist and advocate, and she is herself positive. Jane has spent the last four plus years since she was diagnosed learning what she could about HIV itself, the stigma attached the disease. Jane enjoys to spend as much time possible just being mommy to her four year old son and she believes that it is her privilege and honor to be his mother and to be the activist she has became. Later we will be joined by Chelsea Gulden White. Chelsea was diagnosed HIV positive at 21 years old between her junior and senior year In college. She was also told she was 10 weeks pregnant. HIV catapulted Chelsea into a career working with other HIV positive adolescents. She developed and implemented the first and only HIV program for youth ages 12-24. The program has yielded excellent results serving 81 youth in 2013 with 35.8% achieving am undetectable viral load when the national average for everyone in care is only 25%. Chelsea has since completed her Master's in Social Work, gotten married, & had two more children. Chelsea is very proud of her accomplishments but her 3 beautiful HIV negative boys bring her the most pride and joy.

Jane  is a twenty nine year old woman, mother, college student, HIV activist and advocate, and she is herself positive. Jane has spent the last five years years since she was diagnosed learning what she could about HIV itself, the stigma attached to HIV, and how HIV affects the lives of those living withthe disease in America as well as abroad. After attending her first conference she decided to dedicate as much of her time and energy as possible to being a part of the solution. She has done advocacy campaigning both on the local, state level as well as the national level. Jane is an activist who speaks to educate, as well as by blogging both with written word and with video blogging, utilizing youtube with blogs on several sites including MTV Staying Alive, she participated in an anti-stigma campaign, by being in commercials and on billboards.She currently is employed at Hope's Voice as a speaker for the Does HIV Look Like Me lecture series and she sits on the board for The ADAP Advocacy Association. Janine enjoys to spend as much time possible just being mommy to her four year old son and she believes that it is her privilege and honor to be his mother and to be the activist she has became.

Jane is a twenty eight year old, HIV postive woman who lives in NY in a community that is still very uneducated and unaware of HIV and the reality that HIV does not stereotype, she uses her story and voice to educate people trying to dispell certain stigma's still attached to HIV/Aids. Jane is an HIV activist and advocate, a single mother to an amazing son, a college student working on her bachelors in clinical laboratory science and planning to get her PhD in bio-engineering to do HIV/Aids research, she is a Dab the Aids Bear Ambassador of Hope, she is a member of the anti stigma committee started by the Nebraska Aids Project as well as a participant of the campaign, and a blogger who's articles are being used by MTV Staying Alive for their World AIDS Day campaign. Jane is currently working on her autobiography, and the launch of S.P.E.A.K. a non-profit project aimed at helping to raise awareness.

This Sunday January 29th at 2pm EST we will be speaking with Diane Reeve the Author of Standing Strong. Diane first shared her story with us 7 years ago. We are excited to reconnect with her and see what she has been up to.    Divorced after 18 years of marriage, Diane Reeve thought she had finally found the last love of her life. The charming and handsome Frenchman she met almost was – but not in the way she expected. After dating 4 1/2 years with plans to move in together, Diane was devastated to learn that he had been cheating. Worse, she also found out that he had knowingly transmitted HIV to her.   Undaunted, she risked her life to find other survivors. There were more than 50! In a landmark court case, he was convicted and sentenced to 45 years in prison. Her story is one of hope, inspiration, courage and the power of women supporting women. Diane's story was viewed by millions on 20/20 and Oprah and has been the subject of various magazine and newspaper articles worldwide.   She received the Paul S. Chapman award from the Foundation for the Improvement of Justice for her significant contribution to justice in America. She will be featured this fall on Oprah’s "Where Are They Now". As a 7th° black belt she embodies female empowerment and is a popular motivational speaker on overcoming obstacles. Her website  www.datestronger.com, is dedicated to empowering women to protect themselves physically, emotionally and sexually in the dating world. Her advocacy work emphasizes eliminating stigma and victim blaming. Diane's book Standing Strong ,the inspiring story of an unlikely sisterhood and the court case that made history was released in April of 2016

Joseph Gray is a 24 year old who lives in California. Joseph is a recovering addict turned activist. Here is a little about Joseph in his own words. I will never forget the day I was diagnosed with an HIV positive status. I went to ER & they didn't know what was wrong. So I waited and got tested again. They called me into the community health clinic, where the dr said we are going to start you on meds but no one had yet told me the news. I was was indeed positive; It hit me like a truck. I remember breaking down, in her office that day. Not because I wasn't shock given my history. At the time my knowledge of HIV and AIDS was little to non. I felt like my life was over. Fearing how I would overcome the stigma? How would this affect my career? How would this affect my life? These are some of the questions that ran through my mind. I said f*#k it and my using would progressively get worse and I hit many bottoms. I did the geographical changes but nothing changed. I took myself with me where ever I moved. At the end of the road I knew if I continued only death would await me. I moved back home to Sacramento where I pick up substances once more. I was homeless, hopeless, and desperate. I realized I was trying to commit suicide on a installment plan.  Between Staying with friends trying to make things work or sleeping in my car.  I got in touch with a Counselor I took her suggestions. I finally put myself into therapy, substance counseling, and became apart of a youth living with HIV/AIDS program there at CARES Community Health. I found my path to recovery.  My clean date is 04-10-15. Today I know that an end is often a beginning, and a beginning can be the means to an end. HIV and my recovery have taught me this, my life didn't end that day with a diagnosis, is was just beginning a new chapter. Once I put down the substances, I picked up life. I am grateful that I get to live a life that is worth living.

Robert Suttle was convicted under Louisiana’s HIV-specific criminal statute after accepting a plea bargain and served six months in a Louisiana prison for HIV non-disclosure to a former partner, with whom he had a contentious relationship. Upon his release in January 2011, he has become engaged in anti-criminalization advocacy work. Today he is now assistant director of The SERO Project, a network of people living with HIV and allies fighting for freedom from stigma and injustice. He oversees the community outreach and education and coordinates Sero’s HIV Criminalization Survivors Network.  Prior to joining, SERO in March 2012, Suttle was a case manager and prevention specialist at the Philadelphia Center, a local AIDS service organization in Shreveport, Louisiana, working with other positive young African American men who have sex with men. Robert is also featured in the documentary film HIV is Not A Crime, has traveled abroad to Geneva, Switzerland to speak at the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board’s meeting in December, 2011, and Oslo, Norway for UNAIDS High Level Consultation on HIV criminalization in February, 2012, sharing his story. Robert is active with the Positive Justice Project and the HIV Justice Network.

This Sunday January 8th at 2pm EST, Robert & Aaron return live for the first POZ I AM Radio show of 2017. In this 30 min special Robert and Aaron will be taking your calls all hour at (929) 477-3572

James Breinig has been living with HIV for six years. His diagnosis certainly wasn't easy in the beginning, but with the help of supportive friends and family he was able to turn a diagnosis usually marked as something dark and scary into something - for a lack of a better word - positive. For the last three years he has done outreach on numerous gay dating apps where he provided information to hundreds of gay men about HIV or where to get tested. Recently, he accepted a position with the Northeast/Caribbean AETC where he assists in building clinician capacity and expertise along the HIV care continuum.  Tearing down the walls of stigma surrounding HIV has become his passion and he couldn't imagine doing anything else

Derek Canas (AKA D-REK), born a sweet, cute, seemingly healthy baby, had everything going for him until the age of 3 months, when he was surrounded by many doctors talking about transposition of the great arteries, pacemakers, and blood transfusions.  His parents now had, what they called a “battery operated son”. This was a scary scenario for his parents with so many touch-and-go moments.  16-years later another illness that Derek had been living with started to show symptoms: HIV.  This only brought on a more terrifying roller-coaster ride.  With courage, unconditional love and sheer determination, Derek was not going to let any one of his health issues get in the way of his dream of becoming a DJ! Spinning music is the passion of his soul.  Today, taking his fight against HIV to new hope, he serves as the Social Ambassador for Yes Get Tested Coachella Valley and BeeSafe Condoms. A survivor of both open heart surgery and HIV,  his doctors refer to him as "The Terminator." And that he is!! He is also the creator of the #EndTheStigma Campaign and D-REK's Angels and Warriors. On the weekends he turns into the crazy Emulator DJ – living his dreams!!

Wanda Brendle-Moss was diagnosed with HIV in July 2002 at the end of a relationship that had turned deadly violent. A relationship in which the man had failed to tell her that he had previously been involved with an HIV+ girl. Wanda has always been open about her Positivity...except in the early years because of a part time employer(after her 20 years as an RN) threatened to fire her if she discussed her HIV status in any way. Wanda has had 2 long term relationships with non HIV+ men since her diagnosis. The last one, began in 2004...and by 2007 began showing signs of strain...even so, Wanda tried to hold on to the relationship.  But she became increasingly depressed...resulting in her stopping her medications. As a result, Wanda was hospitalized in 2008 with Trigeminal Shingles.  She was then diagnosed with AIDS. Wanda resumed all her HIV care, resumed her medications...and her Viral Load quickly returned to undetectable...yet to this day...her cd4 count has not gone above 225.  Wanda has been featured in magazines,blogs and websites all over the world. She now will sit down with POZ I AM Radio and tell all. You wont want to miss this episode.

Philip Christopher Baldwin is a 31-year-old LGBT rights and HIV awareness activist. He was diagnosed as HIV positive in 2010, when he was 24-years-old. Philip went through an empowering process of acceptance surrounding his HIV. He we has columns in Gay Times and the Huffington Post and am a Stonewall Role Model. He has recently contributed to a book called The Power of my Faith and is working on a semi-autobiographical book on stigma, called Positive Damage. Themes which are central to his activism include: HIV awareness, Hep C, LGBT bullying in schools and Christianity for LGBT people. Philip says and we quote "I am happy, healthy and POSITIVE."

After watching his partner become diagnosed with HIV and after noticing an absence of HIV negative young people (specifically gay & young people of color) advocating about social issues Benjamin Di'Costa decided to dedicate his life to being involved in the LGBTQ community on issues surrounding social justice and health education. Benjamin currently promotes HIV testing/education, PrEP, and Transgender health equality. He also spends his time advocating for expanded services for HIV prevention & treatment with other community members.

Josh Robbins started blogging weeks after learning his was living with HIV in Nashville; actually releasing his first blog post on Facebook to his personal friends. I'm Still Josh (ISJ) is an award-winning blog and online personality & journey of Josh Robbins, a recognized HIV-positive activist and quickly being recognized as the new "HIV-positive Encourager". The #HIVScoop formerly the HIV Video Minute,is the top buzz worthy HIV related info update videos by HIV blogger and activist, Josh Robbins ofimstilljosh.com. ?Josh contributes an exclusive weekly #HIVScoop for POZ I AM Radio.

Robert Breining & Aaron Laxton return to the airwaves for the much anticipated return of POZ I AM Radio. Kevin Maloney stops by to talk about his "What's your positive message" campaign.

My name is Joshua Middleton and I was diagnosed HIV positive on June 5, 2012. I had survived death twice already from Necrotizing Fasciitis and Septic shock while being hospitalized over 30 + times in a two year period. I was diagnosed when I was already in a very stressful moment of my life. I was in a relationship with a girl in Tijuana Mexico that I thought would eventually end in the perfect white picket fence life, including marriage and a baby. I was wrong… She cheated on me twice while we were attempting to have a baby together. Not knowing how to deal with the relationship breakup I started to seek out love in all the wrong places including having multiple one night stands unprotected and even visiting brothels in Northern Tijuana in an effort to want to feel what it was like to have a woman's touch again. I had put myself in many high risk situations, I wasn't sure if my ex had used protection, and we had both gotten tattoos just month prior. I got tested as I normally did out of routine after getting symptoms of pink eye. I expected a negative result as I always had received but this time it was not so good news , I came out positive. I was forced to make the decision of where my life would go from there on out. After being inspired by several HIV activist who have now become good friends, I was determined to not let this virus defeat me. I started on treatment a week after being diagnosed and decided to take the optimistic route to this virus. I became an HIV activist, letting everyone know about my story, assuring people this is certainly not just a gay mans disease. I am more than a virus and have big dreams/goals for my life that this virus will not stop me from accomplishing. This is my story a California boy who does not fall into the average "stigmatized statistic" that people think of when it comes to HIV however this is my life, I am HIV + and there is no shame in me knowing my status.ory. An average Southern

Robert and Aaron will be speaking with the Founder of Rise Above HIV Jeremy Scott Hobbs. Call us with questions and comments at 347-215-9442 RISE ABOVE HIV is a CVBWF Inc. organization for people who are affected or infected by HIV/AIDS. This Organization is a Place for us to Realize we are more than a disease. We define Our Lives....Not the Disease. This is a page for support, love and understanding and we are working to help lift the veil of shame for 34 million people living with AIDS who have endured stigma and discrimination. RISE ABOVE HIV! Invite everyone you know who has been infected or affected by HIV. We will Rise ABOVE HIV and show the world we are more than a disease. We define our destiny...Not a disease.

Rob Quinn is an openly gay HIV-positive activist and blogger. After hitting his rock bottom in 2007, resulting from an HIV diagnosis in 1993, an AIDS diagnosis in 1999, and the need to take an extended medical leave of absence from his child life career in NYC, Rob has since reinvented himself and in 2012 launched the blog www.OpenlyPoz.com to empower and support his peers who are living positive. As of September 2013, Rob was appointed to a three-year term on the Statewide Consumer Advisory Board of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Office of HIV/AIDS. Prior to that, Rob served on the Board of Trustees at the AIDS Foundation of Western Massachusetts (AFWM). He first became involved with AFWM in 2008 as a recipient of their emergency financial assistance program. Rob has since received AFWM’s Community Activist Recognition Award, and co-facilitates Living Positive, the area’s only peer-led support for men living with HIV/AIDS. Rob believes that by putting a face to HIV and talking about in open forums, we can lessen stigma and make sure silent voices are heard. Whether or not you have been directly impacted, we are all affected by HIV/AIDS.

Robert & Aaron spend 60 minutes talking all things HIV.

Mark S. King produces the funny and often controversial blog, My Fabulous Disease. He has been writing and speaking about HIV since he tested HIV positive in 1985, including the widely circulated POZ Magazine cover essay this year, "The Sound of Stigma."

Tonight Robert & Aaron will be speaking with 3 young men in their 20's who are living with HIV and how they have found support in eachother. The three men were recently featured in an A&U Magazine article. AdamStraga is 25 year old single gay male living in New Jersey. Who was diagnosed with HIV a few years ago and has been in an up and down battle dealing with the stigma. Amir Simon is 22 years old and was born and raised in Philadelphia. He has been HIV positive for about 2 years now and feel that his diagnoses has made him a more positive person. Ryan Hunter Ruggiero currently lives in the city of Philadelphia and is a full time Design Assistant at Ethan Allen and a part time flight attendant. He found out he was HIV positive 2 years ago. The support from his friends and family have been a great help in him accepting his status.

Damon L. Jacobs is a Licensed Psychotherapist in New York State, and has worked in HIV Treatment and Prevention for most of the past 22 years.  His 2008 book, "Absolutely Should-less" criticizes traditional HIV prevention strategies that fail to  effectively impact and change high-risk sexual behaviors.   He has been publicly speaking out in favor of information, education, and accessibility regarding PrEP for the past 12 months.  He frequently offers talks throughout New York City on subjects related to healthy living, joyful relationships, and rejecting stigma.   For more information, please email him at Shouldless@gmail.com or call 347-227-7707.

Scott A. Kramer, LCSW, ACSW, is a psychotherapist in private practice working with the LGBTQ community in New York City. in 2007, Scott graduated SUNY Stony Brook, School of Social Welfare and started work as the Prevention Social Worker in the Youth Enrichment Services program at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center in Manhattan. In 2009, he accepted the Supervising Counselor position at the Hetrick-Martin Institute and in 2010 received his SIFI certification from Columbia University School of Social Work. One of Scott's main goals as a social worker is to help empower people living with HIV/AIDS to lead a fulfilling life, free from stigma and fear. He accomplishes this by being a social worker who is open to both clients and colleagues about being a gay man and living with AIDS since 1995. In August 2010 Scott developed "Hi-fIVe - A Support Group for Gay Men Living with HIV/AIDS in New York City" a low-cost, weekly support group for adult gay men living with HIV/AIDS. "Hi-fIVe" has a monthly topic and is continually well attended. Scott is a 2010 recipient of the NASW-NYC Social Work Emerging Leader Award, and has presented at the Boston College National Conference on Social Work and HIV/AIDS each year since 2010. He has been involved with Cycle for the Cause, a 275 mile bike ride fundraiser for the LGBT Center of Manhattan's HIV/AIDS services, as a pos-ped crew member since 2009. For more information about Scott A. Kramer, LCSW, ACSW and his work, please visit his website at www.scottakramer.com

Peter Staley has been a long-term AIDS and gay rights activist, first as a member of ACT UP New York, then as the founding director of TAG, the Treatment Action Group. He served on the board of the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) for 13 years and then founded AIDSmeds.com, an educational website for people living with HIV. Staley is a leading subject in the Oscar-nominated documentary How to Survive a Plague.

What began as a grassroots effort to fight stigma of HIV have been developed into a campaign with a full Mission Statement and has achieved recognition of 501c3 nonprofit status through the CARES organization. Mr Friendly has received so many amazing questions. We want to share these questions with you through the Frequently Asked Questions link, on this page. I encourage you to keep asking question by sending them to the creator of Mr Friendly, Dave Watt. Please feel free to e-mail Dave at DWatt@CARESSswm.org. We will strive to add your question for others to learn more about Mr Friendly. Mr Friendly began as a picture on a clipboard in September 2008. People loved the symbol, as a visual expression of how so many of us feel – to end the stigma of HIV. Check out the full History of Mr Friendly here. Mr Friendly has already touched many people’s lives in a variety of ways. Helping to initiate conversations about HIV, proven to be an effective fundraising tool and being a fun symbol to wear are just a few. See what a few celebrities and activists have to say in the High Five section.

Tonight Robert & Jeromy will be discussing HIV Criminalization with Robert Suttle and Tami Haught Robert Suttle was convicted under Louisiana’s HIV-specific criminal statute after accepting a plea bargain and served six months in a Louisiana prison for HIV non-disclosure to a former partner, with whom he had a contentious relationship. Upon his release in January 2011, he has become engaged in anti-criminalization advocacy work.Today he is now assistant director of The SERO Project, a new nonprofit initiative combating HIV criminalization, stigma, and discrimination, promoting the empowerment of people with HIV, providing support to those charged or at risk of being prosecuted. Tami Haught is the Community Organizer for Community HIV/Hepatitis Advocates of Iowa Network (CHAIN) the lead advocacy group in Iowa working to modernize Iowa's HIV specific criminalization law.  Tami is also President of Positive Iowans Taking Charge, the lead educational, emotional and social support group for Iowans living with HIV/AIDS.  She is on several other boards including the SERO Project Board of Directors and USPLHIV Caucus.

This Sunday Robert Breining and Aaron Laxton will be speaking witht he founder of Dab the AIDS Bear Project. Back in 1981 when Dab 1st had friends starting to die from AIDS, the hospitals wouldn't allow visitors into the patient's room unless you wore protective garments (gowns, masks etc.) because they were afraid of this new disease and were not sure how the virus was passed. Because of this, people were usually close to death and had at least one opportunistic infection when they were diagnosed and hospitalized. You could see even seasoned health care professional recoil in fear and not wanting to touch the patients. Even close friends were hesitant or scared to visit their friends in the hospital. Dab started buying Gund teddy bears and giving them to friends so they wouldn't have to feel so alone, abandoned and afraid. That is how Dab the AIDS Bear Project began, Learn more at www.dabtheaidsbearproject.com

Join Robert and his new cohost for the 5th season premiere of POZ I AM Radio. They will be recapping the Positive Living 16 Conference and talking with the man behind Positive Living Butch Mckay. They will also be joined by Rick Vitale this years recipient of the Martin Delany Power of One Award. Feel free to call into the show and share  what your experience at the conference was like . 347-215-9442.

Butch Mckay is currently Executive Director of Okaloosa AIDS Support and Informational Services, Inc. (OASIS), a position he has held since 1996. He founded the Positive Living Conference Series in 1997. Butch has been involved in the AIDS arena for 24 years, starting his career as a volunteer with Birmingham AIDS Outreach and UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) AIDS Clinic and Research Center. He assisted BASIC in Panama City with initial trainings when they became an AIDS Service Organization in the late 80’s and later served as a case manager, case manager supervisor , and director of education for BASIC for a collective total of 5 years. He served on the planning committee for the White House Summit on HIV and Aging and attended the Presidential Reception for the National AIDS Strategy. He directs the Activate! U Advocacy Academy program that was awarded the ADAP Grassroots Advocacy Campaign of the Year Award by aaa+. Butch was awarded the Florida HIV/AIDS Red Ribbon Excellence Award for Highest Achievement, and under his direction was awarded the one of the Sapphire Awards of Distinction for Community Health Excellence by Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Florida. But the award he values the most was perhaps the most unique, attendees of one of the Positive Living Conferences all signed personal messages on his office door thanking him for opening doors to so many.

Join us as we sadly say farewell to the fabulous Jeromy Dunn, Jeromy has been co hosting the show with Robert since its inception. They will be sharing memories about past guests and shows. Call into the show and show some love to Jeromy 347-215-9442

Fellow Blogger & Activist Aaron Laxton sits with Robert and Jeromy for a hour of Hot Topics. Call us with your thoughts at 347-215-9442

Robert and Mark S. King will be discussing news headlines and hot topics in the HIV/AIDS community.

Tune in for our special 1 hour Mother's Day Show. We will be speaking with 3 HIV positive mothers. They will share how they shared their diagnosis with their children and how HIV has played a role in their role as a mother.

This Pretty Boy with HIV name is B. Styliz Ortiz. B. Styliz is a twenty-three year old Homosexual Brooklyn Native. Ortiz is also an Author (Pretty Boy with the House In Virginia), Motivational Speaker, Activist for HIV. Author B. Styliz Ortiz expresses his passion to speak out on HIV and its Stigma because he too is HIV POSITIVE. Mr. Ortiz book "Pretty Boy with the House In Virginia" discloses all the juicy, raw, real, and most in importantly the awareness of the risk that those who live a promiscuous lifestyle put themselves in. Which he speaks from experiences, after many tragic death he became numb, exploring the world with no care. When he contracted the virus in 2010 by his secretive ex boyfriend. Beside the book B. Styliz is a motivational speaker who has spoken at "El Puente for the Youth" for Latino AIDS Day 2012, also a Book Signing at Howard University in Washington D.C. (December 2012) B. Styliz also Hosted a HIV/AIDS Charity Event Fabulous Faces Foto Shoot (October 2012), he plans on spreading the word personally. B. Styliz has also addressed the Thomas Jefferson High School located in Brooklyn, NY about SAFE SEX, and the Stigma of HIV, living promiscuous lifestyle. Wanting all to get personal and become aware. When B. Styliz isn't spreading the word he is into Fashion Designing and Event Planning. *To purchase the book please visit: www.talkdatishbooks.com, www.bstylizortiz.com or you may download it via Barnes & Nobles | NOOK | Amazon | Kindle. **For Booking Contact: info@talkdatishbooks.com or info.hivbook@gmail.com ***Social Media Contact: Facebook Author B Styliz Ortiz Twitter/Instagram: @bstylizortiz @talkdatishbooks

JZ was born in raised in Georgia by his mother. He grew up poor and didn’t have very man friends. This really messed with his self-esteem. He was always picked to play last when it came to sports. At 19 he left home, because living in the conservative south was too hard for him. At 24 he found out he was HIV+. He thought his life was over. Within the last eleven years, he has realized that life continues and is better than he ever thought it could ever be. He now plays softball, flag football, and basketball. In basketball, the sport he remembers being the most unfriendly as a kid, he recently won the coaches award.

Kristopher Sharp, an openly gay student running for student body vice-president at University of Houston–Downtown, was the target of a horrific smear campaign last week when a flyer with Sharp's photo and the headline "WANT AIDS?" circulated around campus. Accusing Sharp of having a "homosexual agenda," the flyer's creator reached a new level of awful by also printing a copy of Sharp's confidential medical records containing his HIV-positive status on the back. Though he initially considered transferring schools, thanks to the support of his friends and the university, Sharp has decided to stay at UHD and continue his campaign. He is not planning to pursue any legal action: "I just want an apology. And I'm going to wait for that.

Michelle Anderson is an African-American woman who has been living for HIV since 1999. She currently resides in Dallas, Texas and is very active in her community as Co-Chair of Campaign to End AIDS Texas , The Afiya Center Peer Educator , Public Speaker , as well as a board member for AIDS Services of Dallas, and ADAP Advocacy Association where she is the Treasurer. Michelle has dedicated much of her personal life to educating others on HIV/AIDS throughout the greater Dallas area and beyond. She plans to finish her degree in Social Work where she will be able to continue to spread the message, and educate people regarding HIV/AIDS. Michelle has stepped out of the box and was previously crowned  Ms. Duncanville Plus America 2010 and 2011. She plans to use her title to become the voice of positive women of color. Michelle has experience as a group facilitator and has attended many conferences where she received training in Advocacy, Project LEAP (Learning, Empowerment, Advocacy, Participation), and Common Threads.

Tonight Robert & Jeromy will be discussinga range of topic and news headlines. Call the show with your comments. 347-215-9442

Positive since 2005, Danny now is a staunch advocate/activist in the AIDS community. Working as as outreach supervisor and peer group facilitator he fights everyday to end stigma and AIDS related health disparities. He had recently been named chairperson for the Southern Maryland region for The HIV Planning Group, which has been newly created by the CDC.  Together with the amazing network of advocates/activists that are available to our community Danny can see the day when AIDS is no more.

The Needle Prick Project is an editorial and visual project with the mission of sparking a new conversation about HIV today.  The editorial project is a profile series featured in The Advocate online magazine that is intended to place a modern face on HIV. These profiles not only feature people who are positive but also those who have an experience with HIV - whether it be a partner, brother, mother or friend.  The visual project allows others to become involved in the project by taking a photo with a red band aid and the "get pricked" logo.  Each photo represents a commitment to having a conversation about HIV with friends and family. The project began with the initial article, "The Needle Prick" Reluctant Commentary from a Newly HIV Positive 20-Something."  The Needle Prick is a metaphor for being afraid of something that ultimately makes us feel better.  Most people are afraid of discussing HIV, but education through conversation is the best way to erase stigma, increase awareness and prevent transmission.

At the age of 17, Jake was doing things that no 17 year old should be doing, and he was doing these things without any protection. On June 2nd 2012 Jake was told something no one wants to ever hear, He at the young age of 17 was HIV positive. Jake is open to his family and friends and has always been, this is one reason why he believes he’s come so far in so little time with coming to terms with his diagnosis. This was a Jake knew that this was going to be a life changing event and vowed from that day forward that he would do everything in his power to not let it happen to any other youth. Today, 9 months after his diagnosis, Jake is happy, healthy, and now fulfilling his vow he made to himself and doing everything in his power to prevent youth from contracting HIV. View Jakes Letter to HIV

DISCLOSURE - STIGMA - DATING - STARTING MEDICATIONS ..Call us with your topics and comments at 347-215-9442

On Sunday February 3rd Kevin Maloney the founder of RiseUpToHIV is going to be talking about his new Anti-Stigma Campaign - No SHame in Being HIV Positive. This is a Global public campaign inspired by Chelsea Clinton raising awareness by holding a simple sign for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Kevin's vision for this campaign is to mobilize people in places across the United States and the World willing to stand up to Stigma and Rise Up To HIV, all in an effort of realizing the UN Goals of getting to ZERO. The biggest barrier Kevin believes to realizing these goals is STIGMA.

Robert Breining & Jeromy Dunn will be dicussing a range of hot topics this evening. DISCLOSURE - STIGMA - DATING - STARTING MEDICATIONS ETC...Call in and weigh in with your comments at 347-215-9442