Heart over Hype

Actor, Taye Diggs, and Dr. Shamard Charles discuss living with insomnia, its many triggers, unhealthy coping strategies, and the toll that  poor sleep habits takes on the body. The two do a deep dive into functional insomnia - working through chronic sleep deprivation despite fatigue, mood swings, and irritability; first time parenthood; Taye's realization that he needed to get help; and how taking Quiviv changed his outlook on getting help. For more info follow: askdrcharles

Despite not having reached herd immunity levels, the CDC has lifted mask mandates for all fully vaccinated people. While this is a necessary step forward, some believe it may fuel the anti-vaccine/anti-mask movement.

Canceled graduations, no prom, and growing unemployment... this is the pandemic-induced reality of so many young people in the U.S. This week our HOH interns, Jacquline Pendleton and Amanda Nanandall, give us some insight into the life and outlook of young people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This week we celebrate the life of Earl "DMX" Simmons and unpack the stranglehold of addiction (Caution: Some material may be sensitive to hear and hard to digest... if you or a loved one are suffering from drug addiction please call the national substance abuse hotline at 1-800-662-4357).

Happiness and self-love are the keys to good health, strong relationships, and inner peace... so why are we told that putting yourself first is selfish?

Student loan debt is an albatross and its crushing the dreams of many Americans — especially Black Americans — holding an entire generation from buying homes, starting small businesses, and saving for retirement. It's also slowly killing us. Here's what you need to know to mitigate its negative impacts. For more please read my full piece on the Grio.com.

Match week is upon us. For thousands of future doctors this will be the best day of their lives, but for those who don't match this experience will be a major crossroads their careers. If Match Day doesn't go as planned, don't lose hope. Dr. Amber Clark, a physiatrist from UAB, shares her Match Day story of hope and perseverance; and we provide 5 tips to get you past your Match Day woes if you experience them.

There's no force more powerful than a womxn determined to rise. In support and observance of Womxn's History Month we invited Dr. Melissa Charles MD-PhD, a first generation Cuban-Haitian physician-scientist, to discuss her journey from homeless medical student to life-saving cancer research lead.

You may not think you're addicted to social media but try taking a break from it. Chances are you may feel sad at first, but relieved that you did a few days later... a classic sign that you've just overcome your first case of withdrawal. In this episode we break down how social media manipulates the brain and ways to overcome its, sometimes, negative effects.

Four time Olympian and breast cancer survivor Chaunte Lowe, basketball HOF'er and humanitarian Dikembe Mutumbo, and head coach of the Washington Football Team and recent cancer patient, Ron Rivera share their cancer stories and call for increased research and advocacy in commemoration of World Cancer Day.

Historically, tragic events have been followed by a rise in births so naturally there's been talk of a new generation of "coronababies", but preliminary data says that may not be the case. OBGYN, Dr. Calvin Lambert helps breakdown the social media fueled idea of a COVID-19 baby boom.

Journalist and political activist, Gabriela Timmis, breaks down the Capitol Hill insurrection, White fragility and the impact of toxic White privilege when it's left unchecked.

Dr. Hisam Goueli, psychiatrist and founder of Doctors in Politics, discusses post-COVID mental illness, the arts, and how doctors can help repair our broken political system.

The SARS CoV-2 vaccine is here, but encouraging Black and Brown communities to actually get the vaccine might be the real battle.

Sharon Epperson, Senior Personal Finance Correspondent for CNBC and a brain aneurysm survivor discusses the intersection of financial freedom and health as well as the importance of living a balanced, stress-free life.

With COVID-19 cases on the rise it may be time for us to rethink our Thanksgiving dinner plans.

Atlanta Mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms, discusses Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’ historic victory, the COVID-19 response in Atlanta, and how her dad has influenced her life of public service.

Master herbalist and doula, Amber Smith, talks plant based medicine, medical marijuana, kratom, and motherhood.

Anna N’Jie-Konte, founder of Dare to Dream Financial Planning, breaks down the racial wealth gap, wealth building, and why discussing finances with your partner can save your marriage.

Nearly half of all Americans today say they are lonely. Why is that so, and what are the consequences? Social scientist, Kasley Killam tells us everything we need to know about the epidemic of loneliness.

World renowned sleep expert, Azizi Seixas, breaks down the impact of sleep on our overall health and emphasizes why you should never feel guilty about getting a good night’s rest.

Dr. Charles argues that making your voice heard at the polls can have generational impact because voting is a matter of public health and safety for the Black community.

Emmy award winning news anchor, Jessica Larche, shares her 100 pound weight loss journey and her inspiration to start the Decide to Live podcast.

Penda Jai, creator of the brand Pro Hoe, breaks down how a lack of sexual dialogue and societal, racial, and religious constructs stifle our sexual liberties.

Social epidemiologist and public health expert, Dr. Nancy Krieger, shares her perspective on health disparities, America’s history of racism, the COVID-19 response, and voter suppression.

OBGYN, Dr. Calvin Lambert, discusses the disparity in pregnancy-related deaths among Black and Brown women and how to increase your chances of a successful pregnancy.

Music journalist, Kiana Fitzgerald, opens up about her mental health, all that she’s learned during her career in the music community, and how her diagnosis of bipolar disorder catapulted her journalism career.

The state of mental health in the black and brown community is a mixed bag, but amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Brian Dixon discusses how now, more than ever, we need to protect our mental health.

Welcome to the Heart Over Hype podcast with Dr. Shamard Charles, your weekly dose of health news you can use.