757: Julie Lewis and Jenny Koenig: Mothering as a 38 Year Aids Survivor

Julie Lewis, a 38-­year AIDS survivor, was infected with HIV in 1984 but not diagnosed until the early 1990s when she was given three to five years to live. After years of silence about her disease, she found an unlikely community of friends to fight alongside and began using her story to make a difference. Her experiences as a woman living with AIDS offers insights about grief and loss, caregiving, spirituality and the importance of community in the midst of tragedy. In 2020, Julie completed her 30/30 Project in celebration of her 30 years of living with AIDS. This resulted in 30 new healthcare facilities serving women, girls, and families in 9 countries. These facilities have allowed for over 715,000 patient visits, 127,000 HIV tests, and the safe delivery of over 9,000 babies.   Jenny Koenig is a writer and Grammy Nominated Music Video Producer. She’s passionate about channeling her creativity into ways to raise money for nonprofits, including the 30/30 Project. She was a co-creator and Executive Producer for All in WA: A Concert for COVID Relief, which raised over $110 million for COVID related causes. She’s learning how to juggle life as a new mom to her 6 month old daughter. Jenny is a longtime friend of Julie Lewis and jumped at the chance to help her tell her story. Listen in to hear Julie and Jenny share: What it was like to receive her HIV diagnosis as a mom of a 2, 4, and 6 year old - and be given only 3-5 years to live Her decision to tell her 6 year old, Ryan, about her HIV status - knowing full well that he would not be able to keep the family secret How Ryan shared Julie’s status and broke the seal on “going public” with her status What it was like to feel like she was parenting on borrowed time  The moment when she realized she had lived to see all the things she thought she would never get to experience The reality of Julie’s survivor guilt as she has outlived so many friends from the AIDS community The African women and moms who inspired her 30/30 Project to build 30 hospitals for 18 organizations across 9 countries The sweet, unlikely, and incredibly special friendship of Julie and Jenny (Julie’s daughter’s college roommate) Links mentioned: Connect with Julie and Jenny Book: Still Positive Still Positive on IG Support the 30/30 Project The 30/30 Project on IG Julie on IG Jenny on IG We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Welcome to Shameless Leadership! This show is for women, transgender people, non-binary folks, and allies who are committed to advancing their leadership and the leadership of those around them. In this space, we believe everyone deserves to feel seen, heard, valued, and supported. Our mission is to help you foster these feelings within your own circles of influence to build trust, psychological safety, and a culture of belonging. In each episode, we dive into essential topics impacting women in leadership - everything from shutting down your inner critic and imposter syndrome to overcoming perfectionism to using your voice in new ways to advocate for yourself, your ideas, and other folks carrying marginalized identities. You'll hear practical tips, effective strategies, and inspiring stories that will not only enhance your leadership skills but also broaden your perspective to become a more confident, thoughtful, and empathetic leader. Our stories come from people carrying identities who are often underrepresented, underestimated, and excluded. By sharing their experiences, we aim to provide you with invaluable lessons that will transform your leadership journey. We are thrilled to have you join this community of Shameless Leaders who are actively creating a world where everyone, regardless of gender, can intentionally lead through a more curious, compassionate, and inclusive lens.