It's really not the living with HIV that I'm nervous for people for. It's like not knowing your status is really what you need to be careful of. I just did these press tours like all over the world. And there was times where I would be in an interview and I'd be like, well, as someone who's living... Because I'm living with HIV and I would want to talk about it and I would find myself like... I remember my mom just being like, honey. Once you say this, like there's no coming back.

And I was like, and I would want to talk about it and I would find myself like I remember my mom just being like honey

once you say this like there's no coming back and I was like yes I'm ready jonathan van nash

host of the emmy nominated queer eye new york times bestselling author and later in this episode

sexual health expert and writer ashley cobb comes on I've had several STIs in my life. It's not the end of the world. Herpes is very common. It's like one in four people that you know have herpes. So I know more than four people. And you do too. My mom and stepdad. My stepdad was the one who I was talking about. His name was Steve. I really don't think I would have survived. Like, drugs, compulsivity. I just, I'm so

grateful that I got to witness such a beautiful, like, secure functioning relationship up

close. Do you think it's possible to receive that kind of unconditional love without

giving that person an opportunity to know you unconditionally? My God, it's going to make you cry.

My friend, J! Hi honey, how are you? Don't get blown away. All right, what are we talking about today? My book. Yes. You know what I think that overall theme is? It's writing about your book and the moment that you had of thinking, am I going to disclose, am I not going to disclose? But I think it's just about intimacy in general, the power of owning your full story. Yeah. And I also want to weave this into, because when we were on your podcast, we talked about unconditional, positive regard. And you told me this beautiful story about your mom and your stepdad. Yes. And how your mom was like, don't. Oh, I love that story.

I love that story.

Yeah.

You believe it's magic.

When you're-

I tell that story in the book too.

Do you?

Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

Let's tell that.

Let's tell that story.

Get the Corks.

Get the book.

I think that story is so good. I love that story even more than HIV. But do you think we could tie them together? We can talk about both, but I've talked about HIV so many times and I never talk about that.

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