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Plus Life Media

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Plus Life
TypeMedia company
Founded2019; 7 years ago (2019)
FoundersKarl Schmid, Brent Zacky, Mike Spierer
HeadquartersLos Angeles, California, United States
Websitepluslifemedia.com

Plus Life (stylized as +Life) is a multi-platform digital media brand that produces original programming focused on HIV awareness, education, and reducing stigma. Plus Life was created by journalist Karl Schmid,[1] in partnership with producers Brent Zacky and Mike Spierer, to combine journalism, storytelling, and advocacy in a digital format.[2][3][4][5]

History

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Plus Life Media was co-founded in 2019 by Karl Schmid, Brent Zacky and Mike Spierer in collaboration with the LA-based production company AOMedia.[6][7][8][9]

Plus Life conducts interviews with medical professionals, advocates, and people living with HIV, along with creating lifestyle segments. It has also participated in collaborations with advocacy organizations and media partners in support of HIV awareness initiatives, including World AIDS Day.[6][10][11][12][13]

Programming

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Plus Life's programming includes recurring series and specials.

+Talk

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+Talk is a weekly talk show hosted by Karl Schmid that features interviews with people living with HIV, clinicians, advocates, and public figures. Episodes cover topics related to HIV, including diagnosis, treatment, stigma, relationships, and mental health.[14][15][16]

What’s the Jeuge

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What’s the Jeuge is a digital talk series hosted by actress, model and transgender activist Gracie Cartier.[17] The series covers topics related to stigma, mental health, wellness, and healthcare disparities affecting Black, transgender, and HIV-positive communities. Cartier, who has publicly disclosed her HIV-positive status, serves as the host.[18][19]

HIV Unwrapped

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HIV Unwrapped is an initiative produced by Plus Life that involves collaboration between HIV researchers and emerging fashion designers. The result of this initiative is fashion designs that are created with HIV-related scientific concepts as well as lived experiences in mind. These designs are then presented through runway events and accompanying media content. [20][21]

The first United States edition of HIV Unwrapped took place during New York Fashion Week on September 13, 2025, at the Nexus Club in New York City.[22] The event paired HIV researchers with fashion designers, including students from Parsons School of Design, with the resulting garments presented in a “lab-to-runway” format.[23][24][25][26][27]

The U.S. edition was produced in partnership with organizations including GLAAD, EqualPride, and the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM), with additional support from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and design mentorship provided by the fashion brand Tanner Fletcher.[28] Gilead Sciences served as a principal sponsor.[23][29][30]

A one-hour companion special titled HIV Unwrapped was produced for Hulu and ABC and released on November 30, 2025. The program includes behind-the-scenes footage from New York Fashion Week, interviews, and runway segments.[31][32][33]

Notable guests

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Plus Life programming has featured medical experts, advocates, artists, and public figures involved in HIV advocacy, LGBTQ+ visibility, public health, and cultural storytelling. Guests have included:

Awards and nominations

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YearAwardCategory / WorkResultRef
2022GLAAD Media AwardsOutstanding Online JournalismNominated[40][41]
2024GLAAD Media AwardsOutstanding Online JournalismNominated[42][43]
2024GLAAD Media AwardsBarbara Gittings Award for Excellence in LGBT JournalismWon[44][45][46]

References

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  1. ↑ "Karl Schmid". ABC7 Los Angeles. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  2. ↑ "About Us". Plus Life. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  3. ↑ "How +Life's Karl Schmid Is Bringing HIV Into the Mainstream Conversation". GLAAD. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  4. ↑ "Redefining the Narrative: Karl Schmid's +Life Reshapes the Mainstream Discourse on HIV". Gay45. Editorial Office. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  5. ↑ Song, Kristie (September 18, 2025). ""If not now, when?" Journalist and activist Karl Schmid is reshaping how we talk about HIV/AIDS". Los Angeles Blade. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  6. 1 2 "Turning Positive into a Plus". Plus Life. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  7. ↑ "Karl Schmid Is Dedicated to End HIV Stigma with +LIFE Media". GLAAD. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  8. ↑ "Why ABC Correspondent Karl Schmid Waited 10 Years to Publicly Reveal He's HIV-Positive". SELF. 2018-03-26. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  9. ↑ "Rising Stars: Meet Karl Schmid". VoyageLA. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  10. ↑ "Reporter Karl Schmid: Being HIV-Positive 'Shouldn't Be a News Story'". People. 2018-03-27. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  11. ↑ "This HIV Advocate Strips Down for an Important World AIDS Day Message". Yahoo Life. December 1, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  12. ↑ "HIV Advocate Strips Down for an Important World AIDS Day Message". Out. December 1, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Karl Schmid Delivers a Special World AIDS Day Message — Nude". HIV Plus. December 1, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  14. ↑ "+Talk". Plus Life. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  15. ↑ "HIV Advocate Tony Morrison Talks Mental Health on New "Truth Be Told" Episode". Yahoo Life. June 30, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  16. ↑ Guerrero, Desirée (June 30, 2022). "HIV Advocate Tony Morrison Talks Mental Health on New Web Series". HIV Plus. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Activist Gracie Cartier To Debut New Talk Show 'What's The Jeuge'". Blavity. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  18. ↑ "Activist Gracie Cartier to Debut New Talk Show, "What's The Jeuge," Which Will Amplify Trans Voices". Blavity. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  19. ↑ "Talk Show Host Gracie Cartier on Her Inspiring Journey of Self-Love". Essence. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  20. ↑ "HIV Unwrapped". HIV Unwrapped. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  21. ↑ "Smashing Stigma with Couture: +Life's 'HIV Unwrapped' Set to Debut at NYFW". GLAAD. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  22. ↑ "'HIV Unwrapped' Continues the Fight Against HIV Through Fashion". Council of Fashion Designers of America. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  23. 1 2 "Smashing Stigma with Couture: +Life's Iconic "HIV Unwrapped" Set to Debut at New York Fashion Week 2025". GLAAD. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  24. ↑ "CFDA: "HIV Unwrapped" Continues the Fight Against HIV Through Fashion". Council of Fashion Designers of America. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  25. 1 2 Araujo, Aldo (September 15, 2025). "The "HIV Unwrapped" Show United Fashion, Science and Storytelling". CFDA. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  26. ↑ Robert, JaMir (September 15, 2025). "Stitching Science and Style: HIV Unwrapped Bridges Fashion, Advocacy, and Awareness". The Knockturnal. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  27. ↑ "HIV Unwrapped Brings Awareness to New York Fashion Week". IN Magazine. September 2025. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  28. ↑ "The Lab Coat Just Got Queer: HIV Research Walks the Runway at NYFW". Out. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  29. ↑ "Out Magazine: The Lab Coat Just Got Queer". Out. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  30. 1 2 "Science Meets Style: +Life Unveils HIV Unwrapped at New York Fashion Week". GLAAD. September 18, 2025. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Mark Your Calendars: +Life's Iconic HIV-Themed Runway Show Available to Stream on Hulu Starting Nov. 30". GLAAD. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  32. ↑ "HIV Research Walks the Runway at New York Fashion Week". Out. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  33. ↑ Sirico, Gina (November 29, 2025). "New Hulu Special Fuses Fashion and Science to Commemorate World AIDS Day". ABC7. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  34. ↑ Lafayette, Jon (July 8, 2020). "'Plus Life' Goes National on ABC's Localish Net". Next TV. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  35. ↑ Nahmod, David-Elijah (May 4, 2023). "Out TV host Karl Schmid talks HIV stigma, sobriety, and storytelling". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  36. ↑ "How +Life's Karl Schmid is Bringing HIV into the Conversation This World AIDS Day". GLAAD. November 30, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  37. ↑ "Billy Porter on HIV Stigma and the Impact on the LGBTQ+ Community | Plus Life Episode 9". ABC7. May 19, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  38. ↑ "Billy Porter on HIV Stigma and the Impact on the LGBTQ+ Community | Plus Life Episode 9". ABC7 New York. May 19, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  39. ↑ Lafayette, Jon (July 1, 2020). "'Plus Life' Goes National on ABC's Localish Net". Next TV. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  40. ↑ "GLAAD Media Awards Nominees – 33rd Annual". GLAAD. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  41. ↑ Daw, Stephen (January 19, 2022). "2022 GLAAD Media Awards Nominations: Lil Nas X, Halsey & More". Billboard. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  42. ↑ "GLAAD Announces Nominees for the 35th Annual GLAAD Media Awards". GLAAD. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  43. ↑ Ramos Bechara, Diego (January 17, 2024). "GLAAD Media Award Nominations 2024: Full List". Variety. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  44. ↑ "Billboard Wins 2024 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Print Article". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  45. ↑ Dunn, Jack; Malkin, Marc (March 15, 2024). "'Yellowjackets,' 'Ted Lasso,' 'Bottoms' and Reneé Rapp Win Top Prizes at GLAAD Media Awards". Variety. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  46. ↑ Gardner, Chris (May 11, 2024). "GLAAD Media Awards 2024 New York Winners: 'Red, White & Royal Blue,' 'Rustin' Among Top Honorees". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
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