POZ I AM Radio

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.