SLAY the STIgma Part 2

Join us in part two of our series on the dreaded herpes virus as we talk with STIgma slayer Rae Kennedy, RN about her herpes support group Positive Results. Get ready to learn more about herpes than you ever thought you wanted to know and prepare to be deputized as a Herpes Stigma SLAYER. Find Rae on her website HERE In Part I of this series, we talked about the medical facts and myths about this virus. In Part II, we examine the emotional and social implications of a herpes diagnosis; including when and how to disclose. How do you have that conversation with family, friends, and potential lovers? More importantly, how do you turn that talk into one that is empowering for you and your relationships? Believe it or not, you're going to really enjoy this episode! I promise. Join us in our community on December 20th at 5pm PST for a live Q&A with Rae You can always get more information here on our website We are only one of the innumerable creatures inhabiting this planet; currently, there is a particular virus strain that has captured our attention and is a daily topic of conversation. Unfortunately, the general phobia around sexuality and the aversion to talking about genitals (with the appropriate terminology prevents us from having productive conversations about the microbes that cause Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in the same open manner. Like it or not, the herpes virus is a ubiquitous presence in our lives and though it is not generally life-threatening, along with HIV, it has the dubious honor of being the most feared and stigmatized sexually transmitted infection of all. At this point, there is no cure, so once you are infected with HSV-1 or HSV-2, it never leaves you. However, the virus itself is very manageable, it is the stigma around herpes that causes real devastation. I've been thinking a lot about microbes, in general, a lot lately. How they influence us, create or end relationships, how we couldn't live without them, yet sometimes they lead to our demise. In this episode, I mention Dr. Nicolas Christakis, and his research and books. I highly recommend them! (I confess he is one of my current fantasy guests so I'm putting this request out into the universe so that someday- I'll have the courage to contact him for an interview. I know he'd have a lot to say about how microbes affect our sexual relationships and our attitudes about sex.)