Can a positive STD (sexually transmitted disease) result, be a positive thing in your life? 

Sam Franchell has taken a life-changing diagnosis and used it as the impetus to create an incredible podcast to help those dealing with a recent diagnosis of the HSV virus. Most of us may have heard about 'sexually transmitted disease's' but do you know what is stigma and what is truth? Did you know that you can become a carrier of the HSV virus from a family member kissing you or a cold sore? Even children can be carriers! How about how to live with and treat the symptoms? Not forgetting tips on how to disclose to a potential partner - Sam's got it all covered!

Sam Franchell is the host and creator of 'Herpes: Positively Positive' a podcast about  HSV-1 and HSV-2 - otherwise known as Herpes. An incredibly informative tool for anyone who is faced with this diagnosis or wants to help someone who is. But more than that, Sam's story is one of hope. A young lady who wasn't given a choice about her condition, but who then went on to use her experience to help others.

Sam's podcast can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and she is contactable through Instagram and Twitter  and please do check out her WEBSITE!

In January, WHO estimated that 417 million people aged 15-49 years have HSV-2 infection, which causes genital herpes. Taken together, the estimates reveal that over half a billion people between the ages of 15-49 years have a genital infection caused by either HSV-1 or HSV-2.

Article in the Atlantic about stigma. Refinery article about stigma.

Can you imagine the fear those words would put into you? Steven G Taibbi hasn't heard them just once, he has been told several times that he only has months to live! And yet this incredibly brave, intelligent and humble man has gone on to live a life rich with experiences and full of memories. How has he done it? In this episode, I talk candidly to Steven about his story, what it feels like to have an 'out of body experience', alongside how he approaches the medical world and his fitness and health tips for those of us post-transplant. You can find his book on Amazon, and Steven on Facebook and LinkedIn. Watch the incredible trailer for his book here - 

Every year sepsis kills more than cancer with 11 million global deaths a year. In this episode I was lucky enough to interview Gary Andrews who lost his wife to sepsis and yet had managed through the platform of social media to create a beautiful online sketchbook of his life with his two children as they live through the journey that is grief and loss. Gary is a successful artist, illustrator, cartoonist and actor who began his doodling on his first night alone after she passed away. Known as a ‘Doodle A Day’ he posts his pictures in his feeds (@GaryScribbler) Instagram and Twitter and they now have over 55K followers. Despite his unimaginable loss, Gary has done something incredibly positive through his art. He has created increased awareness about sepsis and also allowed others who are in a similar situation, bereaved or widowed to feel they are not alone. Through darkness he and his family are bringing light to the world through art. Simply magical. You can find out more about Gary on his website www.garyscribbler.co.uk and to read more about Sepsis www.nhs.uk/sepsis/

What is it like to be told at 17 you have an incurable autoimmune disease and by 30 you will need a new liver or you will die? In this episode, Lucinda tells the story of how she faced her disease head-on and challenged it to defeat her. For more information about this podcast please look on Facebook for ‘This Second Chance Life’ and to find out more about Lucinda and her journey please see her website www.lucindaparkerroberts.com