Poz I Am Radio

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 e

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 the

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 t

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 H

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 happen

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 sou

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 amon

 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 meditati

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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

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 indu

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

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

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. A

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 Boar