Missouri Health Talks

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Missouri Health Talks travels throughout the state gathering conversations between Missourians about issues of access to healthcare.

KBIA


    • May 29, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 4m AVG DURATION
    • 346 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Missouri Health Talks

    Hogs for Hunger: "Providing a great service to individuals in our community who are seeking assistance at our food pantries."

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2025 3:59


    Hogs for Hunger is a program that allows farmers to donate pigs to their local food banks or senior centers for a tax deduction. Since the program began, more than 2.6 million servings of pork have been donated.

    "To be the best for your farm, to be the best for your family – you have to also take care of yourself."

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2025 3:59


    Dr. Allison Sindle is a dermatologist with Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, down in the Bootheel. She comes from a farming family and spoke about some of the ways farmers – and farmers' loved ones – can help keep them safe from the sun.

    “When we were looking for ways to support the farmer and the farm family, we looked first at ourselves.”

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2025 3:59


    Farming is a common way of life in Shelby County in Northeast Missouri, but farming doesn't come without it's challenges. In the last few years, it was found that the county had one of the highest rates of suicide by firearm in the state.

    “I believe that there's way more good mental health in agriculture than bad.”

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2025 3:59


    Emma Alexander and her family live in southwest Missouri and come from a long line of Missouri farmers. She and her 16-year-old son Lucas recently sat down and spoke about how farming and its challenges benefit their mental health and well-being.

    "I strongly encourage people to talk more about mental health. The more it gets spoken about, the less stigma there's going to be."

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2025 3:59


    Dr. Zane He is a psychiatrist with University of Missouri Health Care. He works at the MU Student Health Center as a sort of “school psychiatrist." He spoke about how he's seen the stigma around mental health change during his career, and about how simply talking about issues can help reduce the stigma around mental health.

    "Stroke affects a wide range of populations, wide range of ages."

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2025 3:59


    According to the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services, stroke is the sixth leading cause of death in Missouri. Dr. Adnan Qureshi with University of Missouri Health Care is an expert on strokes and spoke about how treatment options for strokes have expanded during his time in the field.

    Amid rising measles cases, 'the real problem moving forward is that vaccination rates have been tumbling.'

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2025 3:59


    According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have already been more than 700 measles cases in the United States so far this year. That's more than double the number of cases reported in all of 2024.

    Art for All Abilities class is 'building confidence... and confidence is something that carries them through the rest of their lives.'

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2025 3:59


    The Presser Art Center in Mexico has been hosting a new class, Art for All Abilities, which gives creators with developmental and intellectual disabilities the opportunity to come together and make art.

    "There are so many different ways that librarians can contribute to health."

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2025 3:59


    Jenny Bossaller, a professor of library sciences at the University of Missouri recently sat down with Robin Westphal, the Executive Director of Daniel Boone Regional Library in Columbia, to talk about the important role libraries can play – as a tool for connection.

    At the Osage County Library: 'We're offering things for those older adults that want to get out of the house, want to have a little socialization."

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2025 3:59


    The Osage County Branch of the Missouri River Regional Libraries is located in Linn – and for the past year or so, they've been hosting programs that focus on fall prevention and an active lifestyle for area seniors.

    New blood pressure monitor program at Mexico-Audrain County libraries 'came at a very, very good time.'

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2025 3:59


    The Mexico-Audrain County Library District recently began offering a new service in partnership with a local doctor. Christal Bruner is the director of the library district and spoke about how patrons can now check out blood pressure monitors when they need them, as well as new books that help better explain this and other health conditions.

    Little Dixie Regional Libraries: Helping the community tackle hard topics with 'The Healing Library.'

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2025 3:59


    The Little Dixie Regional libraries, which cover Randolph and Monroe county, serve the health of their communities in lots of ways. Like a collection of small health equipment, such as thermometers and blood pressure cuffs, that can be checked out and a "Healing Library," a collection of interactive kits that allow families to tackle hard topics together.

    Moberly's new school-based daycare aims to be 'a little perk' for teachers

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2025 3:59


    The Moberly School District recently opened the Little Spartans Clubhouse," an embedded, in-school daycare option for district teachers. Vicky Snodgrass is the director of the Little Spartan Clubhouse and spoke about how this new resource benefits students, teachers – and the community as a whole.

    Growing foster kids into successful adults with a 'loving and kind environment.'

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2025 3:59


    Moberly and Randolph County have a pretty high rate of families being involved in the foster system. Amy Martel and her husband Daniel are trying to change that with Rooted 242 – a café and community space in downtown Moberly where kids aging out of the foster system are given opportunity to learn job and life skills – in a safe and supportive space.

    Providing in-home therapy to help people 'get back on track, so they can be the kind of parent they want to be.'

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2025 3:59


    Ashley Swon is a counselor who lives in Moberly and works at Crossroads Counseling LLC based in Fayette. She spoke about the benefits of this home-based care and of giving families skills that help them stay together.

    Focus on Fatherhood: "To become a better father, you first of all had to become a better man."

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2025 3:59


    James Williams and Keeyon Howard help run the “Focus on Fatherhood” program in Moberly, which is through Randolph County Caring Community Partners and works to improve the well-being of the entire community by investing in fathers.

    Gender affirming care would 'prevent any possible future breast cancer chances since I'm high risk.'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2025 3:59


    Cosmo Evans is a disabled veteran who's nonbinary and intersex. They spoke about their access to medical care that both affirms their gender and benefits their physical health.

    Being a queer physician, 'can be extremely validating and extremely rewarding work.'

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2024 3:59


    Lydia Bennett. She's a pansexual polyamorous person, as well as a resident physician working in emergency medicine. She spoke about how her identity has and hasn't played a role in her work.

    "I could talk all day about how much I love rural medicine despite the challenges."

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2024 3:59


    Dr. Brittney Marshall has been working in rural healthcare since her clinical days – now as the resident physician at the Family Medicine Clinic in Fayette. She spoke about why she chooses to work in – and loves rural medicine.

    Borderline personality disorder 'isn't making me less of a person, less worthy of love.'

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2024 3:59


    Nathan Gilbert is a college student in Columbia who has borderline personality disorder, or BPD – a mental health condition that impacts a person's ability to manage their emotions and can lead to tumultuous relationships. He spoke about his BPD diagnosis and how the condition impacts his life, but does not define him.

    During the holidays, ‘get the vaccine to protect those around you.'

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2024 3:59


    Dr. Robin Blount is the chief medical officer at Boone Health. She spoke about the importance of vaccinations – especially as people gather in large groups during the holidays.

    The pressure of veterinarian medicine: 'It's just this sense… of failure and doom and sadness and disappointment.'

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2024 3:59


    Dr. Taylor Miller is a veterinarian and mental health professional with Not One More Vet, a group that's working to combat the high rate of suicide in the field of veterinary medicine. Research shows that veterinarians are twice as likely as other medical professionals, and four times more likely than the general population to die by suicide.

    With Medicare fraud, 'you're not stupid if you fell for it... but we can help them report it.'

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2024 3:59


    Rona McNally is the director of the Missouri Senior Medicare Patrol, which helps patients prevent and report Medicare fraud. It's estimated that nationally, Medicare losses $60 billion a year to fraud, errors and abuse.

    When it comes to childcare for first responders, 'employers have to be creative.'

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2024 3:59


    Kip Kendrick, the presiding commissioner of Boone County, spoke about the center's mission to address barriers to employment for public safety employees through providing access to affordable childcare.

    With Medicare: 'Don't be afraid to reach out and ask for help.'

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2024 3:59


    Applying for Medicare may seem really scary, but this week we hear from Shannon Hasenstein with Aging Best in Columbia. Her job is to help Missourians find the Medicare plan that is best for them.

    The library 'is so much more than books. It is a community hub.'

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2024 3:59


    Tyler Davis is the first community resource manager at Daniel Boone Regional Library in Columbia. He started full time in January, and his job is to connect patrons with health and social support resources. He spoke about some of the needs he has seen in the community and how he – and the library can help.

    "We have work to do, we have communities to lead, and so we don't need breast cancer to be standing in our way."

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2024 3:59


    Katie Manga is the CEO of nonprofit organization Gateway to Hope, which provides support to breast cancer patients, survivors and anyone impacted by breast cancer or in need of breast health services.

    Peer Support Workers: 'The glue that connects the clinical and treatment world to the person.'

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2024 3:59


    Christina Lee in St. Louis. She works at the St. Louis Empowerment Center as a peer case manager supervisor. She spoke about peer support workers and the important role these folks can play in recovery.

    Addressing vaccine hesitancy one conversation at a time: 'No question that's off limits.'

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2024 3:59


    Meghan Kruse is a pediatric nurse practitioner at Columbia Public School's Scholar Clinic, a school-based clinic that serves students enrolled in CPS. She spoke about childhood vaccinations through their clinic, and about the power of having a conversation with concerned parents.

    "Harm reduction is something that we do in everyday life."

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2024 3:59


    Stacey Andrews in Lynn Meyerkord both work at the AIDS Project of the Ozarks, or APO, in Springfield. They spoke about the history of harm reduction and how folks may already be using harm reduction techniques in their everyday lives.

    Being queer & disabled 'gives me more ability to enrich my life through community.'

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2024 3:59


    Grey Riley was diagnosed with ADHD and autism in their youth and with multiple chronic conditions as an adult. They spoke about how being at the intersection of disability and queerness has impacted their life.

    "Not every trans woman wants to have sexual reassignment surgery. We shouldn't feel subjected to that."

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2024 3:59


    In August, the Missouri Department of Revenue updated the process for gender marker changes on a state ID – now requiring proof of gender affirming surgery or a court order.Amariah Hardwick is a trans women who lives in St. Louis and is a leader with Transformations, an organization founded and led by trans women of color.She spoke about the impacts of this change and how the process of transitioning looks different for every person.

    HIV in the Ozarks: 'Get into treatment because there's something we can do now.'

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2024 3:59


    Lynne Meyerkord has been working at the AIDS project of the Ozarks, or APO, in Springfield for 37 years and is now the Executive Director.The organization was created in the early days of the AIDS epidemic to help people suffering from HIV and AIDS. She spoke about how HIV has changed in the nearly 40 years she's been working in the field.

    The American Indian Center of Springfield: 'We help everyone. We don't turn away people."

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2024 3:59


    Kay Gibson and Valerie Badhorse are the co-chairs of the American Indian Center of Springfield. Kay's tribe is Cherokee and Valerie's tribe is the– Bois Forte Band (boys fort band) of the Minnesota Chippewa. They spoke a little about why they started the center in the first place.

    Preventing male suicide: “It's as simple as talking to somebody that you trust.”

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2024 3:59


    Clay Goddard and Lauren Stockam both work in Springfield. Goddard is the president for Brightli Behavioral Health's Southwest Region and Stockam works in communication and outreach at Springfield-Greene County Health. They spoke about the “Hey Man, You Good” campaign that's working to reduce the high rate of male suicide in southwestern Missouri by getting men to open up.

    Finding adequate childcare in rural Missouri is 'next to impossible.'

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2024 3:59


    Amanda Coleman is the vice president of early childhood and family development for the Community Partnership of the Ozarks in Springfield. She spoke about some of the challenges guardians face when trying to find childcare in rural Missouri.

    The early AIDS epidemic in rural Missouri: 'You were just hiding.'

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2024 3:59


    Tony Lutz is 62 and was born and raised in Jefferson City. He spoke about his experiences as a closeted gay man in mid Missouri – during the early days of the AIDS epidemic.

    Patient portals are ‘an opportunity for you to be a participant in your own care.'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2024 3:59


    Dr. Thomas Selva, a pediatrician and the Chief Medical Information Officer at University of Missouri Health Care, spoke about how patient portals can empower people to play a larger role in their own healthcare and increase access for patients.

    When talking about weight management, 'how can we be supportive, but not shaming.'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2024 3:59


    Dr. Crystal Lim is the chair of health psychology at the University of Missouri, and has spent much of her career working with children who are overweight. She spoke about how the treatment of excess weight has changed to focus more of health than size.

    Talking about suicide with youth: "their struggles are not the same as your struggles"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2024 3:59


    Jessica Obuchowski is the Central Region Vice President of Youth Services for Brightli, the parent compant of Burrell Behavioral Health. She spoke about how parents can talk to their kids about mental health and recognize warning signs for suicide.

    "Keeping it in your medicine cabinet... for another day is also a misuse of medication."

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2024 3:59


    Jeff Horwitz is the CEO of Stop the Addiction Fatality Epidemic Project, or SAFE, a national organization working to end overdose deaths. He spoke a little about how the safe storage – and timely disposal – of prescription medications at home can protect families.

    Improving access to care for rural ALS patients: "How can we make it easier?"

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2024 3:59


    Jaime Basnett is the ALS research program manager at NextGen Precision Health. She spoke about challenges rural ALS patients can face seeking care and what NextGen is doing to help.

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