Public Health Insight

Flint, Michigan was once known as one of America's most prosperous industrial cities. Decades of deindustrialization and a water crisis changed that, but crisis isn't the whole story. Laura Keen of GiveDirectly joins the podcast to explore the resilience behind the popular headlines, the gaps in America's safety net, and what the expanded Child Tax Credit revealed about child poverty. All of it set the stage for Rx Kids — one of the most ambitious social programs in the country.References for Our Discussion◼️The US town that pays every pregnant woman $1,500: ‘We're not OK with our babies being born into poverty' ◼️Direct Unconditional Cash Transfers Boost Well-Being for Mothers and Babies ◼️Perinatal Cash Transfers and Birth Outcomes: A Population-Based, Quasi-Experimental Study of the Rx Kids Unconditional Cash Prescription During Pregnancy and Infancy ◼️Hardship and Hope: The Relationship Between Unconditional Prenatal and Infant Cash Transfers, Economic Stability, and Maternal Mental Health and Well-Being◼️To End Extreme Poverty, Give Cash — Not Advice | Rory Stewart | TED◼️New research: Cash for pregnant moms in Flint led to healthier births and millions in healthcare savings Guest◼️Laura Keen, U.S. Program Director, GiveDirectlyHost◼️Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Producer◼️Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®◼️Abhinya GulasingamProduction Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomLeave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

She studied philosophy at UPenn, sharpened her Spanish watching telenovelas with a host mom in silk robes and kitten heels, then moved to Peru and built staircases so families wouldn't fall carrying water. Laura Keen's path wound through cocoa farms in West Africa, anti-trafficking work in the Amazon, and the inner workings of fair trade — each stop ultimately leading her to GiveDirectly and a radically simple idea that's reshaping how we think about poverty. References for Our Discussion◼️The US town that pays every pregnant woman $1,500: ‘We're not OK with our babies being born into poverty' ◼️Direct Unconditional Cash Transfers Boost Well-Being for Mothers and Babies ◼️Perinatal Cash Transfers and Birth Outcomes: A Population-Based, Quasi-Experimental Study of the Rx Kids Unconditional Cash Prescription During Pregnancy and Infancy ◼️Hardship and Hope: The Relationship Between Unconditional Prenatal and Infant Cash Transfers, Economic Stability, and Maternal Mental Health and Well-Being◼️To End Extreme Poverty, Give Cash — Not Advice | Rory Stewart | TED◼️New research: Cash for pregnant moms in Flint led to healthier births and millions in healthcare savings Guest◼️Laura Keen, U.S. Program Director, GiveDirectlyHost◼️Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Producer◼️Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®◼️Abhinya GulasingamProduction Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomLeave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

Imagine surviving a snake bite only to battle depression for years. Half of hospitals can't properly treat snake bites and almost all healthcare workers struggle to administer life-saving anti-venom in many ways. Dr. David Lalloo illuminates a crisis killing more people than many familiar diseases, yet receiving a fraction of the funding. From recent strides in quality control to universal antivenom approaches and simple prevention measures, this conversation reveals the challenges of snakebite envenoming and the promising solutions that could finally end it.References for Our Discussion◼️Strike Out Snakebite: The Global Snakebite Taskforce◼️Snakebites kill 130,000 people a year. This UK lab may have the answer◼️Why giant statues of snakes popped up in GenevaGuest◼️Professor David LallooHost◼️Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Producer◼️Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®◼️Abhinya GulasingamProduction Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomLeave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

Right now, someone is being bitten by a venomous snake. Over the course of a year, 138,000 deaths and 400,000 disabilities. Yet snake bite remains one of the world's most neglected health crises.Professor David Lalloo explains why this preventable tragedy persists—from the science of venom to the economics of anti-venom, and why the right treatment might not exist where people need it most.References for Our Discussion◼️Snakebites kill 130,000 people a year. This UK lab may have the answer◼️Why giant statues of snakes popped up in GenevaGuest◼️Professor David LallooHost◼️Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Producer◼️Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®◼️Abhinya GulasingamProduction Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomLeave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

A young doctor faces a choice: wait in line after a lecture or go to the pub. He waits. Fast forward, he's on a plane to Papua New Guinea. He arrives expecting malaria research—but finds 25% of ICU beds filled with snakebite victims. Professor David Lalloo didn't plan to dedicate his life to one of the world's most neglected health crises. He stumbled into it. And it took until 2017 for the WHO to even recognize snakebite as a disease worth fighting. This is the story of how one split-second decision changed everything, and why getting the world to care is harder than solving the problem itself.References for Our Discussion◼️Snakebites kill 130,000 people a year. This UK lab may have the answer◼️Why giant statues of snakes popped up in GenevaGuest◼️Professor David LallooHost◼️Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Producer◼️Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®◼️Abhinya GulasingamProduction Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

Public health says "don't drink and drive." Bud Light says "don't let the party stop—have a designated driver". One feels like a lecture, the other made millions take notice. That communication gap is why public health messaging still misses the mark despite saving millions of lives.In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, Dr. Brian Castrucci explains how AI platforms and influencer partnerships could go a long way in helping public health step out of the shadows. From the De Beaumont Foundation's toolkit to communicate with policymakers to the VeriSci AI platform that puts sophisticated messaging in practitioners' hands, Brian shows why public health must meet people where they are: on social media, not government webpages. The field that gave Americans decades of extra life now faces a choice—adapt or disappear.References for Our Discussion◼️Poll: 100 Days In, Americans' Perceptions, Expectations, and Trust in Public Health◼️Poll: 79% of Americans Support Routine Childhood Vaccine Requirements◼️About Brian C. Castrucci◼️A New AI Platform to Strengthen Health Communication and Combat False Narratives◼️Science to People: VeriSciGuest◼️Dr. Brian Castrucci, DrPHHost◼️Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Producer◼️Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®◼️Abhinya GulasingamProduction Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

79% of Americans support childhood vaccine requirements—including the majority of Republicans. So why does it feel like everyone in the U.S. is against public health?In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, Dr. Brian Castrucci reveals what public opinion polling actually shows: Americans are far more united on health issues than we think. The problem isn't what people believe—it's the messages we're sending and who's delivering them.References for Our Discussion◼️Poll: 100 Days In, Americans' Perceptions, Expectations, and Trust in Public Health◼️Poll: 79% of Americans Support Routine Childhood Vaccine Requirements◼️About Brian C. Castrucci◼️A New AI Platform to Strengthen Health Communication and Combat False Narratives◼️Science to People: VeriSciGuest◼️Dr. Brian Castrucci, DrPHHost◼️Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Producer◼️Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®◼️Abhinya GulasingamProduction Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

If you just look at his resume, it sounds almost made up: Political Science at NC State, a Master's at Columbia, a DRPH at UNC, and a decade in the trenches as an epidemiologist across three states. Then, employee number three at a “tiny foundation”—now president and CEO, shaping how America thinks about public health. This episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast dives into the forks in the road, the mentors, and the scars that turned Dr. Brian Castrucci into the leader he is today.References for Our Discussion◼️About Brian C. Castrucci◼️A New AI Platform to Strengthen Health Communication and Combat False Narratives◼️Science to People: VeriSciGuest◼️Dr. Brian Castrucci, DrPHHost◼️Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Producer◼️Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®◼️Abhinya GulasingamProduction Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

Welcome to the Public Health Insight Podcast, where we go beyond the headlines to explore the ideas, challenges, and people shaping health in communities around the world.Every Tuesday, host Gordon Thane brings you conversations with researchers, practitioners, and changemakers tackling the most urgent questions in public health.From the former CEO of Gavi to the attorney who exposed DuPont's forever chemicals—these are the stories that matter.

Find out why brilliant candidates still miss out on job opportunities and why Gordon thinks we're in the midst of a job interview crisis, where candidates often show up underprepared. Host & Producer◼️Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

Collective action is the engine of public health transformation. In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, Dr. Vinu Ilakkuvan shares the tactics that turn community frustration into real-world victories, like Pittsburgh's fight for public water. The conversation also explores how building coalitions, fostering local connections, and embracing joy can challenge entrenched power and spark lasting change. References for Our Discussion◼️An overview of the commercial determinants of health◼️Pop Health   ◼️Gaslit Blogs Guest◼️Dr. Vinu Ilakkuvan, DrPH, Founder and Principal Consultant, PoP HealthHost(s)◼️Purva Mehta, BMSc, MScProducer(s)◼️Abhinya Gulasingam◼️Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

What if the real force shaping our health isn't our doctor, our diet, or even our zip code - but the invisible hand of corporate power?In this eye-opening episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, we go beyond the usual talk of social determinants to expose the deeper, upstream forces that shape our health: the commercial and political power wielded by corporations. Tune in as we sit down with public health disruptor Vinu Ilakkuvan, who unpacks how corporate interests manipulate narratives, shift blame onto individuals, and quietly influence everything from policy to what's on our grocery store shelves - in essence the root causes of the root causes.References for Our Discussion◼️An overview of the commercial determinants of health   ◼️Gaslit Blogs Guest◼️Dr. Vinu Ilakkuvan, DrPH, Founder and Principal Consultant, PoP HealthHost(s)◼️Purva Mehta, BMSc, MScProducer(s)◼️Abhinya Gulasingam◼️Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

What drives someone to leave a traditional career path and take on the hidden forces shaping our health? In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, Dr. Vinu Ilakkuvan traces her journey from an early interest in journalism to biomedical engineering and economics, and ultimately to public health. She reflects on the pivotal moments, values, and experiences that inspired her to found Pop Health and Gaslit, and explains why empowering communities is at the heart of her mission.References for Our Discussion◼️An overview of the commercial determinants of health   ◼️Gaslit Blogs Guest◼️Dr. Vinu Ilakkuvan, DrPH, Founder and Principal Consultant, PoP HealthHost(s)◼️Purva Mehta, BMSc, MScProducer(s)◼️Abhinya Gulasingam◼️Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

What does it take to get vaccines to everyone who needs them? In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, Dr. Seth Berkley, former CEO of Gavi, joins us to break down the global fight for vaccine access, from the spread of misinformation to the race against new pandemics. We explore why vaccine equity matters, what's at stake when funding and trust falter, and the lessons we need to learn to protect everyone, everywhere, in the present and future.References for Our Discussion◼️Fair Doses: An Insider's Story of the Pandemic and the Global Fight for Vaccine Equity◼️How children will be impacted by U.S. cuts to global vaccine alliance◼️The diseases that could return as vaccination rates decline — and why you should careGuest◼️Dr. Seth Berkley, MDHost & Producer(s)◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

A billion children. Millions of lives saved. And you've probably never heard the full story—until now.In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, host Gordon sits down with Dr. Seth Berkley, the mastermind behind Gavi and author of "Fair Doses," to pull back the curtain on the alliance that quietly changed global health forever. From high-stakes decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic to the relentless pursuit of vaccine equity, this episode is packed with the real stories, hard lessons, and bold ideas that rarely make the headlines.References for Our Discussion◼️Fair Doses: An Insider's Story of the Pandemic and the Global Fight for Vaccine Equity◼️How children will be impacted by U.S. cuts to global vaccine alliance◼️The diseases that could return as vaccination rates decline — and why you should careGuest◼️Dr. Seth Berkley, MDHost & Producer(s)◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.We're giving away a copy of Dr. Seth Berkley's new book, Fair Doses: An Insider's Story of the Pandemic and the Global Fight for Vaccine Equity. To enter, just send an email to ThePublicHealthInsight@gmail.com with "Book Giveaway" as the Subject Line. Entries close on November 26th and we'll reach out to the winner of the contest on November 27th. You must live in the U.S. to be able to participate. 

When the world was in a health crisis, Dr. Seth Berkley didn't just watch—he was at the centre of the storm. In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, we rewind to his early days and trace his path through global health's toughest challenges.References for Our Discussion◼️Fair Doses: An Insider's Story of the Pandemic and the Global Fight for Vaccine Equity◼️How children will be impacted by U.S. cuts to global vaccine alliance◼️The diseases that could return as vaccination rates decline — and why you should careGuest◼️Dr. Seth Berkley, MDHost & Producer(s)◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

How do we move from talking about health equity to making it a reality in public health practice? In this episode, we dive into the findings of the report ‘From Words to Action: Equipping the Public Health Workforce to Advance Health Equity.'In this episode of Public Health Insight Podcast, Dr. Jamila Porter and Kay Schaffer share their insight on what it really takes to embed equity into the daily work of public health professionals.References for Our Discussion◼️From Words to Action: Equipping the Public Health Workforce to Advance Health Equity◼️40 Under 40 Spotlight: Jamila Porter◼️PH WINS DashboardGuest◼️Jamila Porter DrPH, MPH, Chief of Staff◼️Kay Schaffer, Research and Evaluation OfficerHost & Producer(s)◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

There's a lot that we can learn from a nationally representative sample of public health workers from local and state health departments. In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, we dive into the nation's largest public health workforce survey, the PH WINS, to uncover what's really happening on the frontlines. Guests, Kay Schaffer and Jamila Porter, from the De Beaumont Foundation as they break down the data, reveal surprising gaps between intention and action, and share how real feedback and research are shaping the future of public health.References for Our Discussion◼️From Words to Action: Equipping the Public Health Workforce to Advance Health Equity◼️40 Under 40 Spotlight: Jamila Porter◼️PH WINS DashboardGuest◼️Jamila Porter DrPH, MPH, Chief of Staff◼️Kay Schaffer, Research and Evaluation OfficerHost & Producer(s)◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

What does it take to turn health equity from a talking point into real, lasting change? In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, Dr. Jamila Porter and Kay Schaffer of the de Beaumont Foundation—two leaders whose personal journeys and professional missions collide at the intersection of justice, data, and community. The central question of this series explores the hard questions about whether public health is truly equipping its workforce for equity.References for Our Discussion◼️From Words to Action: Equipping the Public Health Workforce to Advance Health Equity◼️40 Under 40 Spotlight: Jamila Porter◼️PH WINS DashboardGuest◼️Jamila Porter DrPH, MPH, Chief of Staff◼️Kay Schaffer, Research and Evaluation OfficerHost & Producer(s)◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

In the chaos of a global pandemic, clarity and trust became as vital as any vaccine. In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, Dr. Tista Ghosh reveals the untold stories behind rural and urban divides, the confusion of shifting public health guidance, and the fragile foundation of trust that shapes our collective response. This conversation cuts through the noise to spotlight the real challenges and urgent lessons that public health must face before the next crisis arrives.References for Our Discussion◼️Tista Ghosh | Author◼️Bird flu's deadly return: Are we flying blind into the next pandemic?◼️Trump's Cuts to FEMA Leave Us Unprepared for Disasters ◼️The CDC at a Crossroads: Budget Cuts, Public Health, and the Growing Threat of Infectious Diseases ◼️Social Impact Authors: How & Why Author Tista S Ghosh Is Helping To Change Our WorldGuest◼️Dr. Tista Ghosh, MD, MPH; Physician, Epidemiologist, Award-winning Health Journalist, & AuthorHost & Producer(s)◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

We treated the world as if everyone was living the same pandemic. But what if that was our biggest mistake? Dr. Tista Ghosh takes us inside her new book, Before The Next Crisis, sharing untold stories from the frontlines—stories that challenge what we thought we knew about COVID-19. This episode dives deep into the chaos, confusion, and courage that defined the crisis, and asks: how do we rebuild trust in science, and what should we do differently next time?References for Our Discussion◼️Tista Ghosh | Author◼️Bird flu's deadly return: Are we flying blind into the next pandemic?◼️Trump's Cuts to FEMA Leave Us Unprepared for Disasters ◼️The CDC at a Crossroads: Budget Cuts, Public Health, and the Growing Threat of Infectious Diseases ◼️Social Impact Authors: How & Why Author Tista S Ghosh Is Helping To Change Our WorldGuest◼️Dr. Tista Ghosh, MD, MPH; Physician, Epidemiologist, Award-winning Health Journalist, & AuthorHost & Producer(s)◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

From family stories of freedom fighters to the chaos of COVID-19, Dr. Tista Ghosh's journey is anything but ordinary. In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, she opens up about growing up between cultures, navigating political minefields as Colorado's Chief Medical Officer, and what she learned listening to frontline workers, which she captures in her new book, Before The Next Crisis.References for Our Discussion◼️Tista Ghosh | Author◼️Bird flu's deadly return: Are we flying blind into the next pandemic?◼️Trump's Cuts to FEMA Leave Us Unprepared for Disasters ◼️The CDC at a Crossroads: Budget Cuts, Public Health, and the Growing Threat of Infectious Diseases ◼️Social Impact Authors: How & Why Author Tista S Ghosh Is Helping To Change Our WorldGuest◼️Dr. Tista Ghosh, MD, MPH; Physician, Epidemiologist, Award-winning Health Journalist, & AuthorHost & Producer(s)◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

Child trafficking isn't just a distant headline—it's a reality in many communities. In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, we break down misconceptions, highlight the importance of prevention education, and discuss the policy changes making a difference. Erin Williamson shares hard-won lessons from the field and paints a hopeful vision for the future.Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of child trafficking, exploitation, and abuse. While the conversation is meant to inform and empower, some parts may be emotionally challenging. Please listen in a way that honors your limits. Take breaks, pause or step away if you need to. This topic matters and your wellbeing matters too.References for Our Discussion◼️Love146 - Ending Child Trafficking and Exploitation◼️4 Approaches to Anti-Trafficking WorkGuest◼️Erin WilliamsonHost(s)◼️ Purva Mehta, BMSc, MScProducer(s)◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

What if we did a rethink of child trafficking—beyond criminology—and started seeing it as a public health issue, shaped by poverty, trauma, and the systems around us? In this episode, we're joined by Erin Williamson, Chief Programs and Strategy Officer at Love146, who brings two decades of experience working to keep kids safe from exploitation, as we dig into the real reasons kids become vulnerable and why true prevention means more than just catching the bad guys.Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of child trafficking, exploitation, and abuse. While the conversation is meant to inform and empower, some parts may be emotionally challenging. Please listen in a way that honors your limits. Take breaks, pause or step away if you need to. This topic matters and your wellbeing matters too.References for Our Discussion◼️Love146 - Ending Child Trafficking and Exploitation◼️4 Approaches to Anti-Trafficking WorkGuest◼️Erin WilliamsonHost(s) Purva Mehta, BMSc, MScProducer(s)◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

How do you help vulnerable kids not just survive, but thrive? Erin Williamson's journey in social work and anti-trafficking reveals what it takes to build programs that truly change lives. In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, Erin shares the pivotal moments, tough decisions, and practical strategies that she's used in her career to leave a lasting impact.References for Our Discussion◼️Love146 - Ending Child Trafficking and Exploitation◼️4 Approaches to Anti-Trafficking WorkGuest◼️Erin WilliamsonHost(s)◼️ Purva Mehta, BMSc, MScProducer(s)◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

Vaccines have saved millions of lives, but questions and doubts persist. We dig into the roots of vaccine hesitancy, the history of immunization, and the challenges of making informed choices in a world full of information (and misinformation). In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, we talk with Dr. Christopher Stobart about why vaccine skepticism isn't new, how risk and trust shape our decisions, and what it really means to protect ourselves—and each other.References for Our Discussion◼️ How the anti-vaccine movement weaponized a 6-year-old's measles death◼️ Butler University Public Health Faculty & Staff◼️ Rate My Professor: Dr. StobartGuest◼️Dr. Christopher Stobart, Associate Professor of Biology at Butler UniversityHost(s) & Producer(s)◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

What's lurking inside in the environment, inside of us, and what's waiting to emerge? Virologist Dr. Christopher Stobart joins the Public Health Insight Podcast to explore the vast universe of viruses—how they infect, adapt, and sometimes leap from animals to humans. We break down the science behind how they spread, the resurgence of diseases like measles, and what could be the next big threat.References for Our Discussion◼️ How the anti-vaccine movement weaponized a 6-year-old's measles death◼️ Butler University Public Health Faculty & Staff◼️ Rate My Professor: Dr. StobartGuest◼️Dr. Christopher Stobart, Associate Professor of Biology at Butler UniversityHost(s) & Producer(s)◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

Step into the invisible world of viruses, academia, and health research with Dr. Christopher Stobart, Associate Professor and virologist at Butler University. In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, Dr. Stobart shares his journey from aspiring heart surgeon to leading virologist, revealing how curiosity and unexpected opportunities shaped his path.References for Our Discussion◼️ How the anti-vaccine movement weaponized a 6-year-old's measles death◼️ Butler University Public Health Faculty & Staff◼️ Rate My Professor: Dr. StobartGuest◼️Dr. Christopher Stobart, Associate Professor of Biology at Butler UniversityHost(s) & Producer(s)◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

What if we could vaccinate minds against misinformation before people encounter it? Dr. Stephen Barnard reveals the breakthrough science of "prebunking" - psychological inoculation that builds our resistance to manipulation tactics. Explore why traditional fact-checking fails and how rebuilding trust through relationships might be our most powerful defense against the post-truth era.References for Our Discussion◼️ The new science of prebunking: how to inoculate against the spread of misinformation◼️Psychological inoculation improves resilience against misinformation on social media◼️STEPHEN R. BARNARD WebsiteGuest◼️Dr. Stephen BarnardHost(s) & Producer(s)◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

What's the difference between an honest mistake and a deliberate lie? In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, Dr. Stephen Barnard breaks down the spectrum of problematic information and the psychological vulnerabilities that make us susceptible to false information—from echo chambers and political identity to our eroding trust in institutions. This conversation episode examines how misinformation spreads accidentally while disinformation campaigns deliberately exploit our biases for profit and power. Through examples ranging from pharmaceutical marketing disguised as news to the viral spread of COVID conspiracy theories, we uncover the human psychology behind our information crisis and why public health misinformation can literally be a matter of life and death.References for Our Discussion◼️ The new science of prebunking: how to inoculate against the spread of misinformation◼️Psychological inoculation improves resilience against misinformation on social media◼️STEPHEN R. BARNARD WebsiteGuest◼️Dr. Stephen BarnardHost(s) & Producer(s)◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

While Twitter was still seen as a platform for users to provide seemingly trivial updates, sociology graduate student Stephen Barnard began a decade-long deep dive into how the platform was reshaping journalism and democracy itself. This episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast explores Dr. Barnard's unexpected path into pioneering digital media research and his reflections on citizen journalism during the Ferguson protests and the dismantling of information gatekeeping that gave us today's media ecosystem.References for Our Discussion◼️ The new science of prebunking: how to inoculate against the spread of misinformation◼️Psychological inoculation improves resilience against misinformation on social media◼️STEPHEN R. BARNARD WebsiteGuest◼️Dr. Stephen BarnardHost(s) & Producer(s)◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

In the thrilling conclusion to our mini‑series with Dr. Don Weiss, we crack open three of New York City's most chilling public health case files. From the anthrax bioterrorism attacks that rattled a nation to a toddler's X‑ray that revealed a murderous heavy‑metal plot, to a bacterial “serial killer” hiding in plain sight. All these stories from Dr. Weiss' new book illuminates the fascinating world of epidemiology.References for Our Discussion◼️ [New Book] Disease Detectives: True Stories of NYC Outbreaks◼️ Debate Over Monkeypox Messaging Divides N.Y.C. Health DepartmentGuest◼️Dr. Don WeissHost(s) & Producer(s)◼️ Leshawn Benedict, MPH, MSc, PMP®◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

What does it take to track down an outbreak in one of the world's busiest cities? Dr. Don Weiss reveals his step-by-step playbook for disease surveillance and investigation in New York City—a global crossroads where public health threats can escalate fast.From rapid detection to pinpointing sources, discover how Dr. Weiss and his team used science, strategy, and detective work to protect millions in a city where every second counts.References for Our Discussion◼️ [New Book] Disease Detectives: True Stories of NYC Outbreaks◼️ Debate Over Monkeypox Messaging Divides N.Y.C. Health DepartmentGuest◼️Dr. Don WeissHost(s) & Producer(s)◼️ Leshawn Benedict, MPH, MSc, PMP®◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

A curious 8-year-old with a love for chemistry grows up to investigate some of America's most dangerous disease outbreaks—then risks his entire career to speak truth to power.Dr. Don Weiss spent more than two decades as an epidemiologist, investigating everything from post-9/11 anthrax letters to lead poisoning outbreaks. But one of his biggest challenges would come later in his career, when he decided to become a whistleblower.During the 2022 Mpox outbreak in New York City, Dr. Weiss believed the official health messaging was dangerously misleading. When his internal concerns were ignored, he faced an impossible choice: stay silent or speak out and risk destroying his career. In the end, he chose integrity over job security—and the article published in the New York Times meant that his career would ultimately pay the price.References for Our Discussion◼️ [New Book] Disease Detectives: True Stories of NYC Outbreaks◼️ Debate Over Monkeypox Messaging Divides N.Y.C. Health DepartmentGuest◼️Dr. Don WeissHost(s) & Producer(s)◼️ Leshawn Benedict, MPH, MSc, PMP®◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

The research that gave us COVID vaccines in record time, that's working on cancer cures, and that's preparing us for climate change is under unprecedented threat. Massive budget cuts are shutting down labs, halting breakthrough research, and dismantling America's scientific infrastructure. But scientists aren't sitting idle.In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, host Gordon Thane speaks to one of such scientists, Dr. James Alwine, about how researchers are mobilizing to defend public health through grassroots organizing, strategic communication, and citizen advocacy. From the rapid formation of Defend Public Health to early victories in protecting critical agencies, we uncover the tactics that are working and why your voice as a citizen carries more weight than you might think.References for Our Discussion◼️ Trump Is Killing Life-Saving Health ResearchGuest◼️James Alwine, PhD | Emeritus Professor of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania; Visiting Professor, University of Arizona; Coordinating Committee Member, Defend Public HealthHost(s) & Producer(s)◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

In 1970, a young man, from a paper mill town in Pennsylvania, borrowed his roommate's car and drove 11 miles to see a new medical school. That casual drive would lead to one of the most widely used techniques in molecular biology and biomedical research.In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, Dr. James (Jim) Alwine reflects on the fortuitous moments behind his career, how science builds on centuries of knowledge, the power of NIH funding, why "silly science" saves lives, and the threats now dismantling the foundations of health research.References for Our Discussion◼️ Trump Is Killing Life-Saving Health ResearchGuest◼️James Alwine, PhD | Emeritus Professor of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania; Visiting Professor, University of Arizona; Coordinating Committee Member, Defend Public HealthHost(s) & Producer(s)◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

The Ottawa Charter offered a bold idea: that health isn't just shaped in hospitals or clinics, but in the everyday decisions we make about policy, environments, education, and empowerment. Nearly four decades later, that idea feels more urgent than ever.In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, host Gordon Thane unpacks the story of the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion. From its origins in Ottawa, Ontario, to the movement it tried to spark, we'll explore why the Charter felt revolutionary in 1986, how it slipped from practice, and why its vision still matters today.Hosts & Producers◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®References for the Discussion◼️ Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion: An International Conference on Health Promotion◼️ The 1st International Conference on Health Promotion, Ottawa, 1986◼️ Milestones in health promotion : statements from global conferences◼️ Health promotion emblemPodcast Production Notes◼️ 1st news clip adapted from  ‘UN: Chronic, Non-Communicable Disease Is World's Leading Killer' [Voice of America]◼️ 2nd audio clip adapted from ‘Health Report - WHO Campaign to Beat Cardiovascular Disease' [Voice of Africa]◼️ 3rd audio clip adapted from ‘Global Cancer Crisis: WHO's Urgent Call to Action' [News Central TV]◼️ 4th audio clip adapted from ‘Why is diabetes spreading around the world? | Inside Story' [Al Jazeera English]Credits◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

One morning in February 2025, EngenderHealth received the kind of email every global health leader dreads—three major USAID grants were gone. No warning. No appeal. Just: “not in the national interest.”In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, we unpack the real-world consequences: canceled surgeries, programs being stretched to their limit, and the ripple effects that reach far beyond borders. EngenderHealth's CEO, Traci Baird, returns to share how her team acted fast—redirecting emergency funds, forming unlikely partnerships, and putting resilience to the test. Because when lives are on the line, waiting for policy to catch up isn't always an option.References for Our Discussion◼️EngenderHealth◼️DOGE Makes Its Latest Errors Harder to FindGuest◼️Traci BairdHost(s) Purva Mehta, BMSc, MScProducer(s)◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

The path to global reproductive rights often begins in the most local of places—a single clinic, a single conversation, a single patient.In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, host Purva Mehta explores how Traci Baird's career unfolded from counselling women in a North Carolina clinic to scaling abortion access across five continents. Along the way, she redefined what quality care looks like, led bold expansions into medication abortion, and championed inclusive sexual health education for youth. Now as President and CEO of EngenderHealth, she reflects on the moments that shaped her leadership and the lessons that still guide her through uncertainty.References for Our Discussion◼️EngenderHealth◼️DOGE Makes Its Latest Errors Harder to FindGuest◼️Traci BairdHost(s) Purva Mehta, BMSc, MScProducer(s)◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

By 1981, the U.S. Surgeon General's office was a shadow of its former self—no ships, no quarantine stations, barely a dozen staff, and one statutory duty: publish the annual smoking report. Yet the Reagan White House still saw an opportunity. They tapped Dr. C. Everett Koop, a pediatric surgery legend whose outspoken pro-life views looked perfect for them in shoring up the administration's social-conservative base.In the final chapter of this three-part mini-series on the Public Health Insight Podcast, host Gordon Thane and biographer Dr. Nigel S. Cameron explore how Koop turned a “figurehead” job into the nation's moral megaphone—taking on Big Tobacco, steering the federal response to HIV/AIDS, and redefining public-health leadership.References for Our Discussion◼️Dr. Koop: The Many Lives of the Surgeon GeneralGuest◼️Nigel S. Cameron on LinkedInHost(s) & Producer(s)◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

Pediatric surgery as a specialty hasn't been around for as long as you might think. Before 1946, it wasn't even a line item in most hospitals—children simply waited for whichever general surgeon happened to be on call.In the second chapter of this three-part mini-series on the Public Health Insight Podcast, host Gordon Thane continues his conversation with biographer Nigel M. de S. Cameron to trace the journey of a young Dr. C. Everett Koop—from his first day at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to the moment he helped turn the care of children into an entirely new medical specialty, one whose ripple effects still shape neonatal, trauma, and fetal surgery today.References for Our Discussion◼️Dr. Koop: The Many Lives of the Surgeon GeneralGuest◼️Nigel M. de S. Cameron on LinkedInHost(s) & Producer(s)◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

Dr. C. Everett Koop was one of the most iconic figures in U.S. public health—instantly recognizable by his beard and bow tie, but much less known for the deeper convictions that guided his work. Despite his groundbreaking contributions to pediatric surgery, tobacco control, and AIDS education, his full story has remained largely untold—until now.In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, we speak with Dr. Nigel S. Cameron, the author of the first full biography of Dr. Koop. Drawing on personal friendship and years of research, Cameron shares why he felt called to tell Koop's story, how the book came to be, and what public health professionals today can learn from Koop's moral clarity, courage, and complexity.References for Our Discussion◼️Dr. Koop: The Many Lives of the Surgeon GeneralGuest◼️Nigel S. Cameron on LinkedInHost(s) & Producer(s)◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

It started with an eye condition, a laptop, and a growing sense that public health professionals deserved more support. What came next? A mentorship model shaking things up across Canada.In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, Carly La Berge shares the story behind the Canadian Public Health Hub, including its triad mentorship model, how she's keeping it inclusive and burnout-free, and why she believes mentorship should be accessible, flexible, and community-driven.She also reflects on the lessons from an early failed attempt at mentorship involving $500 worth of uneaten pizza and makes a compelling case for why more public health professionals should step up as mentors.References for Our Discussion◼️The Canadian Public Health Hub Guest◼️Carly La Berge, MPHHost(s) & Producer(s)◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

Carly La Berge never planned to work in public health. After years of pursuing a career in medicine, rejection letters, and frustrations in healthcare clinics sent her down an unexpected path — one fueled by advocacy, system change, and a lot of detours.In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, Carly shares how working as a medical office assistant opened her eyes to deeper health inequities, why she pursued an MPH in Social Policy, and how policy writing became a tool for accountability and action. She also talks about imposter syndrome, board leadership, and the story behind Charlie's Colourful Plate, a public health children's book inspired by her own experiences as one of the world's pickiest eaters.References for Our Discussion◼️The Canadian Public Health Hub Guest◼️Carly La Berge, MPHHost(s) & Producer(s)◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

When public health stories are told right, they don't just inform—they move people.In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast with Alexson Calahan, Founder of Small Adventures Communications, we dive deep into the ‘how' of public relations in public health and explore tangible takeaways to do it better.From building trust with patients to crafting campaigns that change behavior, Alexson shares the tools, strategies, and lessons she's learned across two decades in the field, including:◼️The difference between PR, marketing, and communications in practice◼️What happens when PR and public health work really well together◼️How to connect emotionally and ethically with communities and patients◼️A step-by-step approach to collecting, crafting, and sharing patient stories responsibly◼️How organizations can prepare for crises and protect both relationships and reputationsPlus, we unpack the role of AI in PR (spoiler: it's not ready to write your press releases just yet).References for Our Discussion◼️Small Adventures Communications◼️Today Show Article: How parents of children born with heart defects share their hopeGuest◼️Alexson Calahan, APRHost(s) & Producer(s)◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

What does public health have to gain from public relations? In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, we speak with Alexson Calahan—Founder of Small Adventures Communications and a seasoned public relations expert with nearly 20 years of experience about her unconventional journey from selling classified ads to how she turned a data inquiry from the Today Show into a $100K gift for congenital heart defect research.Whether you're in public health, comms, or curious about how stories shape change—this one's for you.References for Our Discussion◼️Small Adventures Communications◼️Today Show Article: How parents of children born with heart defects share their hopeGuest◼️Alexson Calahan, APRHost(s) & Producer(s)◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the world's vulnerabilities—and reignited global conversations about how to prepare for the next one.In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, Dr. Garry Aslanyan returns to unpack the proposed WHO Pandemic Treaty and how it builds on existing tools like the International Health Regulations. We explore what makes this treaty different, the debates shaping its negotiation, and what it could mean for countries like Canada.From vaccine equity to intellectual property rights and misinformation, we break down why global health treaties matter for you as a local public health professional.References for Our Discussion◼️TDR◼️Global Health Matters PodcastGuest◼️Dr Garry AslanyanHost(s) & Producer(s)◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) might not make headlines today, but it was the first treaty negotiated under the World Health Organization—and it changed the global public health landscape forever.In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, Dr. Garry Aslanyan returns to unpack the story behind this groundbreaking treaty. We explore how the FCTC was negotiated in an era before Zoom calls and WhatsApp, the political and economic tensions that shaped its development, and how it continues to influence tobacco control policies worldwide—despite evolving challenges like vaping, flavored products, and social media marketing.From legal battles with Big Tobacco to global policy coordination, we break down why this treaty still matters for local public health professionals.References for Our Discussion◼️TDR◼️Global Health Matters PodcastGuest◼️Dr Garry AslanyanHost(s) & Producer(s)◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

You've heard of the World Health Organization (WHO), but do you know how it actually works and why it matters in your everyday life? In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, we're joined by Dr. Garry Aslanyan, Manager of Partnerships and Global Engagement at the WHO's TDR programme in Geneva, Switzerland. We dive into the fascinating origins of the WHO, explore how it's structured and funded, and unpack how its global decisions directly impact local public health efforts. From eradicating diseases like smallpox to coordinating international responses to COVID-19, we discuss how this global institution continues to shape the health of communities worldwide—and why understanding its role matters for every public health professional.References for Our Discussion◼️TDR◼️Global Health Matters PodcastGuest◼️Dr Garry AslanyanHost(s) & Producer(s)◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

Gun violence is now a leading cause of death in many demographics but how do you intervene when many of the underlying causes don't have anything to do with guns in the first place?In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, Lori Toscano, Director of Justice Technical Assistance at WestEd, discusses using data analytics and machine learning to identify and address risk and protective factors for community violence. The conversation covers a new framework, the Violence Prevention Navigation Framework (VPNF), that leverages 70 community-level indicators to guide deeper root cause analysis and to prioritize interventions. Lori emphasizes intersectoral collaboration, historical community disinvestment, and primary prevention strategies to create systemic change. The episode showcases innovative tools to drive better understanding and actionable recommendations for improving community safety.References for Our Discussion◼️WestEd◼️Violence Prevention Navigation Framework (VPNF)Guest◼️Lori ToscanoHost(s) & Producer(s)◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

What does a meticulous career in criminal justice and violence prevention look like? Look no further than Lori Toscano. In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, Lori joins to share her initial ambition to become a grade 5 teacher to now a devoted career in community violence intervention. The conversation dives into the importance of data, community involvement, and the challenges Lori faced while trying to balance enforcement and support. The episode concludes with insights into her role at WestEd, her approaches to technical assistance, and her passion for violence prevention.References for Our Discussion◼️WestEdGuest◼️Lori ToscanoHost(s) & Producer(s)◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®Production Notes◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music RoomSubscribe to the NewsletterSubscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don't miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.Leave Us Some FeedbackIf you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We'd love to hear what you think.Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.