Christopher Barnhill - POZitive Impact

On Sunday August 12th at 9pm EST Robert & Jack will be speaking with Christopher Barnhill. Christopher Barnhill is an award-winning HIV/AIDS activist and Founder/CEO of POZitive Impact, LLC.

At 16 he discovered that he was infected at birth with HIV, which inspired him to dedicate his life to promote the awareness of knowing one’s status. For the past 8 years he has been speaking publicly about being positive and has been featured on numerous media outlets such as NPR, BET's 106 & Park, LOGO, MTV, ABC Nightline, Black Enterprise Magazine, and profiled in the book “Travels of a Gay Nation” by Phil Gambone. His goal is to be the hope for other young HIV-positive people, by demonstrating that you can live a productive life. In addition to his many accomplishments, he also has worked on the Obama Administration’s National HIV Strategy in regards to HIV and Youth and a licensed youth minister for The Community Church of Washington DC. 

2012 has been a wonderful year for Christopher as he was the National Spokesmodel for The National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Organization (NBHAAD), featured in the International AIDS Society Documentary "Passing the Torch", and received "The Next Generation Award" from Metro Weekly.  Call the show with your questions for Christopher at 347-215-9442

Listen to the interview 

David Purdy - AIDS 2012 Reunion

On Sunday July 15th at 9pm EST I will be speaking with David Purdy on the POZ I AM Radio Show. David Purdy is Founder and Chief Executive Officer of World AIDS Institute. David has dedicated the past 23 years to the education and de-stigmatization of AIDS to create an acute awareness of this growing problem facing the globe. Successfully battling his own fight with HIV, David has continued to champion for new science and technology that can one day lead to the eradication of this disease.

Dave will be sharing his story and speaking about AIDS 2012 Reunion events , including Beyond Belief with Daniel Bauer, that will be taking place in Washington DC this July. AIDS 2012 Reunion is the one-stop resource for community events before, during and after the XIX International AIDS Conference (Washington, DC, July 20-28); for persons living with HIV and AIDS, the LGBTQ community and the general public.

Listen to the interview 

Shawn Decker - The Rebel Returns

This Sunday July 1st at 9pm EST Robert and Jeromy will be speaking with the original "Positoid" Shawn Decker. Infected with HIV as a child through the contaminated blood products used to treat his hemophilia, Shawn learned early in life about discrimination. Within a month of testing positive for the virus, he was kicked out of the 6th grade. By all accounts, he wasn’t expected to live five years.

After beating the odds and graduating from high school, Shawn opened up about his life, creating one of the first “poz blogs” in 1996 describing his life as a then twenty-year old dating with HIV. He penned a column for Poz Magazine, entitled “Positoid”, and his first book, My Pet Virus: The True Story of a Rebel Without a Cure, was published by the Penguin Group in 2006. He tours the United States with his wife partner, Gwenn Barringer, discussing sexual health and HIV issues and also fronts his band, Synthetic Division, giving out ONE Condoms at their live shows.

Listen to the interview 

Straight to the Point with Michael Lloyd

On Sunday June10th at 9pm EST,the POZ I AM Radio Show will be speaking with Michael Lloyd. Michael Lloyd an outspoken young man, from Orlando, Florida. He seems too young to be such a regarded leader when it comes to HIV/AIDS in the Orlando, and the central Florida area. For the past two and a half years and not only has he been an inspiration to others by fund raising for Hope and Help, a local HIV service organization but also through the efforts to share his story of his struggle after being diagnosed with HIV, on January 26, 2010. He simply presents himself as a confident man with the desire to improve the lives of all those dealing with the struggle of HIV.

Michaels own struggle wasn't the easiest although after hard work, tough love, and a very strong support group, Lloyd says that he accounts everything to God and his family. "If it wasn't for them I'd have to say I wouldn't really be here today"

Michaels battle with methamphetamine as a cloud to cover the inability to accept himself with HIV is the reason he's on the show today, it his mission to be an example to other gay men his age that they don't have to fall in step with the societal norm the gay community has set.

Listen to the interview - Click here

Kevin Maloney - Rise Up to HIV

This Sunday June 3rd ay 9pm EST - Robert Breining & Jeromy Dunn will be speaking with Kevin Maloney the founder of Rise up to HIV on POZ I AM Radio. In March 2010, Kevin learned he had contracted HIV, and one month later with follow up labs was told he has also contracted Hepatitis C. Kevin was not an intravenous drug user. The hepatitis C piggy backed onto the HIV virus. Kevin was seroconverting at the time he found out of his HIV diagnosis, and fortunately caught his hepatitis C early too. That diagnosis was his rock bottom.

He had been dealing with an addiction, and these diagnoses gave him reason to pause and reflect on his life. He set in motion a series of action plans to combat his HIV, his addiction, and his Hepatitis C. With treatment, Kevin cured hepatitis C. During the past 2 years he was laid off from his job in NYC, and his mother is currently connected to a respirator, it’s been 7 months now. He’s taken a job in Washington, DC where he has been the past 4 months working for a non-profit that advocates for people living with HIV/AIDS. It’s been a whirlwind of 2 years, but in hindsight he wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

Kevin will also be talking about the @HashTagHIV Campaign. Seven HIV/AIDS Activists have come together to assemble a team of faces and voices who will encourage the global community to Tweet heavily  using the hash tags, #HIV and #AIDS during the International AIDS Conference (IAC) You can learn more about the campaign here.

Listen to the interview - Click Here

Ryan Wilcox - Ice Skater and Long Term AIDS Survivor

This Sunday May 24th at 9pm EST the POZ I AM Radio hosts will be speaking with long term HIV/AIDS survivor & Ice Skater Ryan Wilcox. Ryan Wilcox is a 50-year-old Denverite, who was born in Greeley and raised on a dairy farm in Ca on City. In 1979, he contracted HIV/AIDS before there even was the diagnosis of AIDS. Doctors initially diagnosed him with Cyclo Mega Virus (which was essentially an umbrella term to describe many viruses the doctors could not at the time identify).

In 1981 his illness became GRID (Gay Related Immune Deficiency) and finally in 1984 he received the official prognosis of AIDS. Ryan has been living with AIDS for almost 31 one years, being one of the first to experience the struggles and stigmas that come with the disease. After losing his partner of many in years in 1989 due to AIDS, Ryan started a slow decline into depression and failing health.By 2006, Ryan was walking with a cane and his weight had fallen to 97 pounds. It was in 2006 that Ryan had first heard of the Gay Games, when he was invited by friends to participate and "flag" for the opening ceremonies in Chicago. Due to his health, he was not able to attend..

After learning about the Gay Games, Ryan was inspired to change his life. He wanted to participate in the 2010 Gay Games. He then returned to his childhood passion and sport of figure skating, which his grandmother had him involved in as a child in Colorado Springs. Ryan enrolled in a "Learn To Skate" program at Big Bear Ice Arena in Denver and also began taking private lessons. Slowly his strength and articulation came back to him. 

At the time, He didn't know how he would get there (Germany) but that was his dream,. That is how Ryan's dream started but it has transformed into something else entirely. Ryan's dream is far from over as he is now in the process of trying to raise money to send himself and his skating coach to Germany in August. Being on disability for so many years has prevented Ryan from being able to work a normal job because he would lose his health care benefits.

Listen to the interview - Click Here

Marvelyn Brown - Marvelous Connections

Sunday May 12th at 9pm EST Robert Breining and Jeromy will be speaking with the marvelous Marvelyn Brown. Marvelyn Brown, a 27-year-old native Tennessean, learned she was HIV-positive at age 19. Her autobiography, The Naked Truth: Young, Beautiful and (HIV) Positive, was published by Amistad/HarperCollins in 2008.

Her humanitarian work earned her a 2007 Emmy Award for Outstanding National PSA, BET’s Rap It Up campaign named Brown one of the 25 "HEROES" in the HIV/AIDS epidemic, in 2009 she won the Do Something Award which resulted in her face and story on the back of millions of Nacho Cheese Doritos bags nationwide, and in 2010, she was inducted into The Heroes In The Struggle Photo Exhibit by The Magic Johnson Foundation and The Black AIDS Institute. Most recently she was named a Modern Day Black History month hero by BET and was honored by the New Jersey NETS as part of their Black History Month honoring influential people initiative.

Brown has also appeared on CNN's Black in America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, America’s Next Top Model, America’s Best Dance Crew, CBS’s The Early Show, numerous BET’s Rap It Up episodes and MTV’s programming. She has also appeared on the Tavis Smiley Show, the Tom Joyner Morning Show, the Michael Baisden Show, Steve Wilko’s Show, as well as the Tyra Banks Show. Articles including her story have appeared in Newsweek, U.S. News and Report, Fortune 500, Ebony, Black Beat and ESSENCE magazine. Brown has also had a tremendous affect on print in the United Kingdom with feature stories in Cosmopolitan, Pride and Fabulous Magazine. Brown has also graced the covers A&U, POZ and The Ave.

She is currently the CEO and an Independent HIV Consultant for, Marvelous Connections, which she founded in 2006. Brown now has an online boutique called, MARVSPIRATIONAL, with some of her own inspirational quotes, and she is a proud ambassador for the Greater Than AIDS Campaign.

Listen to Marvelyn Brown's Interview 

Robert Suttle - HIV Criminalization

Tonight I will be speaking with Robert Suttle on POZ I AM Radio. Robert will be sharing his experiences of being subject to HIV criminalization and how he is advocating for change. 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 new nonprofit initiative combating HIV criminalization, stigma, and discrimination, promoting the empowerment of people with HIV, providing support to those charged or at risk of being prosecuted.

Jeromy, Robert & Robert

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 Board’s meeting in December, 2011, and Oslo, Norway for UNAIDS High Level Consultation on HIV criminalization in February, 2012, sharing his story. Robert is active with the Positive Justice Project and the HIV Justice Network.

Listen to the interview - Click here

Jamar Rogers - After his Elimination

Photo Credit - NBC The Voice

Tomorrow Friday May 4th at 12pm EST the POZ I AM Radio show hosts Robert Breining and Jack Mackenroth will be speaking with Jamar Rogers about his time as a contestant on The Voice.

This past Tuesday brought the end of the road for four contestants on The Voice, none more shocking to us than our friend Jamar Rogers. With only eight singers left in the competition heading into the elimination Tuesday , Jamar faced teammate Juliet Simms in a battle to represent Team Cee Lo in the finals. Cee Lo gave 60 points to Juliet Simms and 40 ponts to Jamar Rogers.When combined with America's vote, the final result of 121-79 in favor of Juliet. So our friend Jamar may not of won the title of the The Voice but he definitely won the hearts of America.

We also want to encourage all of Jamar's Family (his fans) to call into the live show at 347-215-9442 and share their feelings about Jamar's journey. You can also tweet us @POZIAM with your questions for Jamar. We may ask your question on air.

Listen to the LIVE broadcast  - click here 

Listen to our first interview with Jamar after disclosing his HIV status on The Voice here 

or read the transcripts of that interview here.

Jim Geary - Delicate Courage

This Sunday April 29th at 9pm EST, I will be speaking with the Author of Delicate Courage, Jim Geary on POZ I AM Radio. I first met Jim Geary and his partner Jeff Allen at the PL14 Conference. I felt an instant connection with them. Sometimes you meet someone it feels like you met them before or knew them your whole life. This is how it felt for me. I was so happy to reconnected with them again this year at PL15 and I took it as a sign to have Jim on my show.

Jim Geary moved to San Francisco in 1974 and began working as a nurse's aide on an oncology floor. Because of his reputation and ability to provide compassionate interaction and nurturing touch he was frequently assigned to patients who were in the process of dying. During this period Jim also continued his political activism in San Francisco working with Supervisor Harvey Milk and others to defeat the anti-gay Briggs Initiative, which sought to fire all gay and lesbians teachers in the state, as well as non-gay teachers who associated with them.

Jim Geary - Robert & Jeff Allen

Jim volunteered for Shanti Project in 1978 as an emotional support counselor working with people and loved ones who were facing a life-threatening illness. In a few months he became director of volunteer/client services. In October 1981 he formed what was to be the first support group for individuals with AIDS in the world.

When Shanti Project lost its funding in 1982, Jim volunteered to work for no money to keep the organization afloat while he sought funding for the AIDS services that were so desperately needed. Serving as executive director for seven years he oversaw and developed this premier agency into an internationally acclaimed model of AIDS services which included: an emotional support program, practical support program, residential program, San Francisco General Hospital AIDS unit counseling program, AIDS information and referral program and the recreational activities program.

He is recognized internationally as a respected trainer on the psychosocial issues of people with AIDS, grief counselor, and leader in the development of AIDS services. Jim has been a resident of Ormond Beach since 1989 where he has continued to provide training and service to local AIDS organizations. Jim shares his life with his lover, Jeff Allen, and their two Pomeranians Jasper and Benji.
 Learn more : www.delicatecourage.com

Listen to Jim Geary's Interview - Click Here

Join in on the conversation in the #PIARadio live chat room or 

call the show and listen live by phone 347-215-9442 

Jay Campbell - Project LOL (Live Out Loud)

This Sunday April 22nd at 9pm EST I will be speaking with Jay Campbell. On August 9th, 2011 Jay Campbell and a good friend (and regular sex partner) got tested for HIV. He had a heard that a previous partner of his had tested positive and was always delaying getting tested, fearing the inevitable. He and his friend were deemed HIV preliminary positive.

It was the guilt of probably infecting others, an AIDS diagnosis, his mother's death, and severe clinical depression that eventually thickened his skin. When his first lab revealed a CD4 count of 26 his survival instinct took charge and he knew he'd do as he promised his mother upon initial diagnosis. His mother was the first person he told, and she made him promise her that he would do what he had to do to live a good life and to "not let anyone feel like anything less than you[he] are[is]."

He stayed true to his promise and takes his meds everyday before going to work at Project LOL (Living Out Loud) in Jersey City. The project is a CDC funded drop-in center where young MSM can go to connect with eachother, get confidentially tested for HIV for free, get free condoms/lube, and participate is group interventions/one-on-one counseling sessions. Justin's work with a community he relates to brings him true joy everyday. He loves helping others like him "find their comfort zone".


Find more videos like this on POZ I AM

Listen to the interview 

Healthy Living Summit Recap with Robert & Jeromy

This Thursday April 19th at 9pm EST Robert Breining and Jeromy Dunn will be hosting the Healthy Living Summit Recap Show on POZ I AM Radio.The past week from April 10th -13th Robert and Jeromy presented at NAPWA's National Healthy Living Summit in Dallas Texas. The Summit promotes healthy living for people living with HIV. The new National Healthy Living Expo continued the work of NAPWA’s popular Staying Alive national conferences in a new environment of not just surviving with HIV but living productive and fulfilling lives. The conference consisted of a Mens,Womens and Youth Institute and tons of break out sessions on relationships, Hep C co-infections,HIV Criminalization, HIV in the rural south and social media. If you attended  or presented at the Healthy Living Summit, we want you to share your experience please call 347-215-9442 during the live show. 

If you are on twitter we ask that you use the hashtags for the show and conference 

 #PIARadio - #HealthyLivingSummit

 Listen to the Healthy Living Recap show live or archived

Write a Letter to HIV with Justin B Terry Smith

This Sunday April 15th our friend Justin B Terry Smith will be introducing the "Write A Letter to HIV Campaign" to the POZ I AM Radio audience. Many of us that are infected with HIV often do not address HIV. I've decided that we need to whether you are HIV negative or positive; this letter is meant to encourage and empower.

If you're infected or affected by HIV, I'm asking that you write a letter and then videotape yourself reading the letter aloud. If you don't want to video tape yourself you can send in a picture of yourself or something that represents you. It helps sometimes to get your feelings out, whether you've been recently diagnosed or have been living with HIV for a long period of time.

Justin is asking everyone -- including his fellow bloggers and others that don't have a blog -- to join me in this campaign, You can view my letter to HIV by clicking here for an example of what I'm talking about. Like I stated above if you don't want to make a video you don't have to; a simple letter will suffice. You can also send a picture of yourself. Entries will be posted in a series on thewww.body.com which will later on be put on my website www.justinbsmith.com.

Send your letters and video embedded code/links to mylettertohiv@gmail.com.

PLEASE JOIN Justin IN EMPOWERING YOURSELVES IN THIS FIGHT AGAINST HIV/AIDS!

Listen to the interview with Justin B Terry Smith - Click Here 

Amanda Brown - HIV Positively Positive

This Sunday April 1st at 9pm EST -  Robert and Jeromy will be speaking with Blogger Amanda Brown. Amanda was born in Hyannis, Massachusetts. In 1998 at the age of 18, she joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints against her parents wishes, packed up and moved to Utah to attend Brigham Young University. Not long after graduation in 2002 she left the Church , accepted the fact that she was gay and came out of the closet to her friends and family.

A few months later she joined the U.S. Army with hopes of attending Medical School on their dime. She was raped nearing the end of Basic Training, tested HIV positive shortly after and was discharged. After being on the patient side of the fence, she decided a career in the medical field would not be in her future. She attended the University of Utah where she earned a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering. In 2005 she succumbed to religious peer pressure that the rape happened because she wasn't living the "right" way.She decided to leave her gayness in the closet and go back to Church where she married a young Mormon man, only to come to her senses a year later and leave both the man and the Church for good.

 She decided that HIV would not prevent her from doing the things she loves and never has allowed it to get in the way of her ambitious dreams. In 2010 and 2011 she played for the Utah Jynx (a Women's full contact Semi-Pro Football team). If you ask her what her greatest accomplishment in life is... she will proudly say, "I ran a marathon in 2008, it took me six hours... but I did it." She is currently writing a children's book called "The Monster Under My Bed." A story about an 11-year old boy with HIV/AIDS. Aside from maintaining her own website with a personal blog and a free text message service for individuals with questions related to HIV/AIDS, she volunteers for her local AIDS Foundation.

Listen to the interview - Click Here 

Dab Garner - 31 Years of Hope

Join Robert Breining and Jeromy Dunn this Sunday March 25 at 9pm EST when they will be speaking with 31 year survivor Dab Garner. Dab Garner will be sharing about the 31 year message of DAB The AIDS Bear.  Join us for this special episode of POZ I AM RADIO when we celebrate 31 years of Dab the AIDS Bear. This is an episode you don't want to miss. Call in with comments for Dab Garner at 347-215-9442

The Story of Dab The AIDS Bear

Back in 1981 when Dab 1st had friends starting to die from AIDS, the hospitals wouldn't allow visitors into the patient's room unless you wore protective garments (gowns, masks etc.) because they were afraid of this new disease and were not sure how the virus was passed. Because of this, people were usually close to death and had at least one opportunistic infection when they were diagnosed and hospitalized. You could see even seasoned health care professional recoil in fear and not wanting to touch the patients. Even close friends were hesitant or scared to visit their friends in the hospital. Dab started buying Gund teddy bears and giving them to friends so they wouldn't have to feel so alone, abandoned and afraid. That is how Dab the AIDS Bear Project began.

Learn more at www.dabtheaidsbearproject.com

Listen to the interview live or archived - click here