Podcast appearances and mentions of robert breining

In episode 4, the HealtheVoices Radio co-hosts (Robert Breining, Brady Dale Etzkorn-Morris and Dawn Gibson) will take a look back at Season 3 of the show and reflect and learn from the challenging year since the start of the pandemic. The co-hosts will dive deeper into the topics discussed on this season episode-by-episode, allowing them to reflect on those moments and conversations, and share how their own 2020 experiences have shaped their outlooks on advocacy and life with chronic illness.   The views and opinions expressed by the podcast hosts are solely those of the respective speakers and do not imply and should not be understood to imply the endorsement or recommendation of Johnson & Johnson (or any of its affiliates) regarding any product, item or service.

In episode 3, the HealtheVoices Radio co-hosts (Robert Breining, Brady Dale Etzkorn-Morris and Dawn Gibson) and guests will discuss advice they have for health advocates, and how advocacy has changed over 2020. The hosts will discuss mastering your story, owning your successes, and understanding your audience. They will also dive into how the idea of advocacy has changed in 2020, from the perspective of both new and veteran advocates. Finally, they will talk about how to mentor new advocates, and how to find the next step on your advocacy journey based on the legacy you want to leave behind.

In the Season 3 premiere of HealtheVoices Radio, guest Guy Anthony (HIV advocate) joins our hosts Dawn M. Gibson, Robert Breining and Brady Dale Etzkorn-Morris to chat about “Advocacy, COVID-19 & Isolation.” Our panel explores the ways in which online health advocates have been affected by the virus itself and the challenges of social distancing. Special thanks to Chelcie Rice and iPain for our wonderful intro. 

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.

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 

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.

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

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.   

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.

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. 

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

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. 

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.

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 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.

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."

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