POZ I AM Radio

Dr. Frank Spinelli is the former Clinical Director of HIV Services at New York City's Cabrini Medical Center. Today, he serves the community in a more comprehensive capacity as a board certified internist, with a large HIV+ and gay men's health private practice in Manhattan. Dr. Spinelli is also an Associate Clinical Professor of New York Medical College. Dr. Spinelli is the monthly healthcare columnist for The Advocate, the oldest continuing gay publication in the United States. He also appears regularly on Sirius radio's top-rated Out Q with Larry Flick. Dr. Spinelli maintains a full lecture schedule where he is able to speak on gay men’s health and lifestyle issues. Dr. Spinelli is the author of The Advocate Guide to Gay Men's Health and Wellness, published in 2008. He lives in Manhattan and is currently at work on his next book. In addition to medical care and writing, Dr. Spinelli offers a variety of procedures, particularly for gay men living with HIV. “Lipodystrophy Syndrome is a condition I feel very strongly about. Facial wasting secondary to antiretroviral medication and HIV is not exclusively about one’s appearance. It can also greatly affect self-esteem and how someone sees themself within the community.” This is why Dr. Spinelli offers treatment for facial wasting using Sculptra. www.FrankSpinelliMD.com

Tracey is originally from NYC. He served in the USAF. He has a grown son, Jermaine, who is unfortunately an addict. Tracey came to California in 1996 for a relationship for "the one". Of course, that did not work out. He then met his present mate, and husband, Lenwood on June 8, 2007, in the midsts of getting ready to move to Texas , Tracey put those plans on hold since they both agreed they wanted to be together. In their discussions, Lenwood told Tracey that he always wanted to adopt - so they started the process with Allen. They adopted Allen in February of this year. Lenwood and Tracey were married on June 22, 2008, and had a very big ceremony in Palm Springs with their family in attendance December 13, 2008.

Tracey was diagnosed in April 1993. He thanks his higher power and his family for his thriving and growing in this disease. It has never been a hindrance to him. In fact, Tracey believes his deal with GOD helped him with his disease and striving.

Prior to his diagnoses Tracey has been and continue to be an avid activist against HIV/AIDS...since 1985. He has been a part of many different organizations- Aids Survival Project, Atlanta, GA, Gay Mens Health Center, NYC, Brothers Back 2 Back, Atlanta, GA and been a consultant to many others such as AID Atlanta.

Tracey enjoys his life with his family. In fact, Tracey and his Husband will hopefully be adopting another little boy in the near future.

Actor, playwright and poet, Brian E. Bengtson is a native of Omaha, and has been featured in many national Gay/Lesbian magazines and HIV/AIDS journals such as HURAKAN, DAVID'S PLACE, BAY WINDOWS, and POETRY MOTEL. The Crawlspace Theatre in New Orleans first produced his one-act play, entitled FAGS IN THE MALL, in 1991. He served four and a half years as Poetry Editor for THE NEW VOICE OF NEBRASKA (the state’s oldest and longest-running G/L/B/T magazines until it folded in 1998).

His first chapbook, entitled "GAY . . .SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED" was published by Lone Willow Press in 1995. He currently has a new book of poetry, entitled FIRST CHILL (published through Publish America), available for sale from places like Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and etc. In the next two months, Brian's third collection, LEAVENWORTH STREET will be out from Backwater Press (Backwaterpress.com).

He now lives in Omaha with his partner Chris, and his dog Lucy, who now must share her home with two new cats because she lacks an opposable thumb.

Multi-award winning producer/director John Rutherford, President and Creative Director of COLT Studio Group, has produced over 350+ man-on-man films in his career. The look of his films is unmistakable and has garnered him multiple awards and accolades, including a life-time achievement award from AVN in 2001, the Hall of Fame award from the Grabby's in 2002 and another life-time achievement award from the Free Speech Coalition in 2006 as well as winning numerous awards over the years as well as Best Director 5 times from the annual GayVN Awards Show. John will touch on what the requirements are on HIV testing in the Adult Film Industry and what precautions they take to protect the models.

"Michael Moniz has over 6 years in the field of coaching. Michael holds a Masters degree in the field of Communication from Rollins College. He started out working with many corporations and universities helping develop the next generation of leaders. He realized the needs for support in the gay and lesbian community and opened his own personal coaching practice soon after. He works with various clients from the gay and lesbian community but hosts groups for support to recently diagnosed and living with HIV. Helping HIV+ people move from merely just surviving to thriving in their lives with health, love, relationships, goals and adventures.

Michael's life coaching practice is all about living life out loud. His energetic and dynamic personality helps clients take action in their lives and make their dreams into reality. Michael is an avid blogger and writes bi-monthly articles for PlanetOut and several regional papers. Michael speaks at many conferences and events all over the US working to help people get more out of their lives and become "unstuck".

Michael truly believes that "life is not about finding yourself; life is about creating yourself."

Visit Michaels website - www.Michael-Moniz.com

Richard N. Schooping, a Certified Holistic Health Consultant, Author, Inspirational Speaker, Singer/Songwriter, and Artist has personally transcended AIDS. He is now living truth that we are more than AIDS, fear, death, diseases, suffering, or anything. He shares that we are always free in love, and that he may illumine this for us now.

Richard is sharing that AIDS is not the end of hope or of a life but may be the most glorious opportunity to transcend all limitation when we shift our perception from the victim to the observer of our lives. After suffering with AIDS, cancer, countless diseases, and immeasurable depression on-and-off for more than twenty years he was shattered. He also experienced not only the death of one husband, but three husbands to AIDS in less than 10 years. Richard has experienced an unimaginable hell. The gift is instead of him succumbing and losing this life, he has transcended and is now here sharing that no matter the misery - the human heart may overcome any suffering with the correct guidance and wisdom. Richard has suffered and may now empathize and assist anyone along their path out of the darkness and into oneness.

www.richardschooping.com

When Clint Walters was only 17 years old, He suddenly became struck down with a range of illnesses after completing my first year of A-Levels. Clint went into the hospital for what he was told was just some “routine tests”. His mum was sitting right next to me when the doctor told me the news “He was diagnosed HIV positive.” He knew his life would never be the same again, with no preparation whatsoever and very little information on HIV/AIDS – He honestly believed I was just given a death sentence.

At that point in time, He did not have anyone or anywhere to turn to. He found a support group in London and traveled alone for the two-hour round trip every week. Even though he was the only young person to attend the group - the group members were older gay men - He kept going. It was all he had.

Health Initiatives was founded in April 1999, as his answer to the lack in peer support services for HIV positive youth in this country. Young people living with HIV/AIDS are in desperate need of services encouraging their involvement. After traveling around the UK and working closely with a number of youth-run HIV organizations in San Francisco, California, He returned to London to set-up a youth project over here.

Testing HIV positive at the age of 17 is a earth shattering and unimaginable turning point in any young person’s life. The young people HI supports are often isolated without even the support of their parents or family members. HI services are built upon a number of agencies and approaches to sexual health and young people’s involvement key to the success of programmes.

Nate Klarfeld is a retired dentist from the Kansas City area now living in Florida. After retiring from dentistry in 1996 with an HIV/AIDS diagnosis he went into teaching biology and sex education in an inner city school. From there he moved to Ft. Lauderdale and became involved in an HIV support group at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center. One of the group leaders, Paul Stalbaum had been organizing hetero POZ cruises for an ASO there and was interested in starting a gay POZ men's cruise. Nate and his partner, Grover Lawlis, MD a psychiatrist from Dallas,TX were asked to co-host the cruise; planning activities, giving lectures and making sure the men were made to feel comfortable.

Besides having fun and learning, the cruises have become a 'safe place' for POZ men to meet and relax. The stigmas, stereotypes and drama of gay life seem suspended as soon as we leave shore. Many of our men return year after year renewing friendships and making new ones. This year's cruise is Oct 10-18th 2009 leaving and returning from Ft. Lauderdale and there are limited cabins available. Our next cruise is a Mexican Riviera cruise leaving and returning to Long Beach, CA from May 2-9th, 2010.

www.hivcruise.com www.positivecruise.com

"Egypt" lost his mother, father and family in just one week. Imagine being too sad to cry. At the age of twelve, his father told him: "I do not want you boy", and then proceeded to cancel child support a day after his mother died.

"Egypt" lived with his older sister, Chastity, who made a living as a beautician by day and at night a stripper. Living in cars, selling drugs, fighting, stealing clothes and being arrested on multiple occasions became his life.

Yet, despite all these hardships, "Egypt” received his first degree while being on the "Dean's list", graduated with Phi Theta Kappa Honors, was the 147lbs Florida State boxing champion, and is an award winning actor.

Egypt took his anger and channeled it into a passion to improve others: much like his sister Chastity helped him.

In less than three years, "Egypt" has appeared on Apollo twice, BET’ 106 & Park, MTV, UPN, NBC, National Public Radio, SEVENTEEN Magazine, HIV PLUS magazine, POZ magazine, New York Daily News, Madison's Who's Who of business executives and professionals in addition to a BET special, “Pos or Not?” all for his dynamic work educating people about HIV, Black history, sex, love and politics. He does this through God, motivational speaking, comedy, acting and poetry. He adopted the name "Egypt" because he plans to influence the world as the great African empire has influenced the earth. Ladies and gentlemen,” Egypt" also known as "Devin T. "Robinson X.