The TSET Better Health Podcast

People of all ages feel better when they eat healthier, and there are programs that are helping Oklahomans choose and access nutritious foods. For National Nutrition Month, Episode 51 of the TSET Better Health Podcast features Meredith Scott, director of the Oklahoma Nutrition Information and Education (ONIE) Project, and Melissa Vilas of Rescue Agency and the Swap Up nutrition education program for teens.

The TSET Better Health Podcast dropped its first episode in March 2020, coinciding with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Episode 50 revisits some health challenges many faced during the lockdown and offers tips to improve health and well-being now, almost five years later. Jennifer Goodrich, a licensed professional counselor, CEO of Pivot, Inc., and featured guest in Episode 2, returns to discuss barriers to wellness and lessons learned from the pandemic, and advice on caring for one's mental, emotional and physical health today. In addition, TSET Campaigns Manager Chase Harvick explains how and why the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline is helping more Oklahomans than ever quit tobacco use, the leading cause of preventable health in our state.  

  In this season of Thanksgiving and the holidays, Episode 49 shines a warm glow upon health programs and trends in Oklahoma to be thankful for. Project ECHO Director Dr. Tara Jackson explains how the international program extends health and medical expertise to underserved areas in Oklahoma through tele-mentoring, and Cushing Asst. Superintendent Mike Wayland shares how the new Tiger Trail connects community members and all Cushing schools with physical activity.

 Lung cancer screenings save lives by detecting cancer early, but only 1.7 percent of eligible Oklahomans get screened. TSET and OU Health are teaming to bring screening to more people by launching a Mobile Lung Cancer Screening bus this fall. Episode 48 provides insights on lung cancer screening from OU Health thoracic surgeon Dr. J. Matthew Reinersman and a person who shares their personal experience with screening, and information on the bus from Terry Rousey, TSET associate director of statewide initiatives.

Physical activity is not just for the young and athletic, it's for Oklahomans of any age and ability. Episode 47 of the TSET Better Health Podcast introduces listeners to Mark Ivy of NewView Oklahoma and his promotion of adaptive sports like beep ball -- a new take on baseball -- and other physical activities for fellow visually impaired persons. Executive Director Kathleen Fitzgerald talks about the Oklahoma Senior Games' variety of sports and activities, and OSG competitor Jamie Moore and her coach, Brock Hunter, explain their enjoyment for line dancing. Finally, TSET Campaign Manager Kelsey Nation discusses the many helpful physical activity resources found on the Shape Your Future website.   Shape Your Future - NewView Oklahoma https://youtu.be/8ij9dupY9FA

Discovery and Built Environment Innovations are newer TSET grant programs that already are benefiting Oklahoma communities. Episode 46 provides an overview of the new community grant programs and shares two Built Environment success stories. One is a Parks and Recreation master plan in Pauls Valley to boost livability and physical activity for years to come, the other is a new Horticulture Education Building for the Botanic Garden at Oklahoma State University that welcomes scores of thousands of visitors each year.

 Vaping is a source of curiosity for many underaged persons and concern among parents, educators and public health experts. Episode 45 of the TSET Better Health Podcast delves into the rise of youth vaping and efforts that are underway to reduce it. State Rep. Cynthia Roe, R-Lindsay, speaks on her bills that aim to reduce youth retail access to vape products and why she is passionate about it, and two high school students discuss how and why teens vape and the actions they suggest to help prevent it. And Kelli Brodersen, director of TSET Strategic Communications, describes new ad campaigns that speak to youth about the dangers of vaping and how to quit when they are ready.

This year, American Heart Month in February gets an added Leap Day of observance and a TSET Better Health Podcast episode dedicated to heart health and disease prevention. Cardiologist Tim Daly explains how disease develops in the heart and blood vessels over time and how to avoid it, and we'll visit a county wellness center where people of all ages gather for classes and activities that are great for both heart and spirit.

The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline is celebrating 20th anniversary, and the TSET Better Health Podcast is highlighting the free TSET-funded service that has helped hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans quit tobacco. Tune in to Episode 43 and hear from Michelle Lynch, president and CEO of the North American Quitline Consortium; Christin Kirchenbauer, Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline director, and three TSET staff members who share their own personal journeys to quitting tobacco.

 Staying physically active can be a walk in the park – or to school, the workplace or around the town. The newest episode of the TSET Better Health Podcast features Stroud City Manager Bob Pearman speaking on the town's new attractions aimed at improving the health and longevity of residents; a wellness coordinator for state employees who shares tips and resources to help any workplace become a healthier environment, and a return to Webbers Falls, where students are gearing up for National Walk or Roll to School Day in early October.

TSET has reorganized departments within its agency, and Executive Director Julie Bisbee provides details on the restructure and how it will help TSET better serve Oklahomans. Episode 41 also looks at local innovations that are helping more Oklahomans enjoy access to healthy foods, including a produce store that gardener and farmers market champion Loretta Merritt opened recently within a shipping container in rural Cherokee County.

 Tobacco use in Oklahoma costs thousands of lives and billions of dollars in health care and lost productivity each year, but a newly released state plan and federal court-ordered tobacco corrective statements at stores both aim to reduce tobacco use. Podcast episode guests Elizabeth Chery-Mullen of the Oklahoma State Department of Health tells us about the five-year state plan and what it means for Oklahomans, and TSET Communication Manager Chase Harvick discusses the history and impact of the upcoming corrective statements. 

 TSET has invested millions of dollars into cancer, tobacco cessation and wellness research – and Oklahomans are reaping the benefits. From the OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center's (SCC) renewed recognition as a National Cancer Institute Designated Cancer Center, to the scores of tobacco- and wellness-related studies currently underway at the TSET Health Promotion Research Center (HPRC), TSET's research funding is improving Oklahoma's long-term health and economy. Learn how in this TSET Better Health Podcast episode from SCC Director Dr. Robert Mannel and Dr. Darla Kendzor, co-director of the HPRC.

 May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, but you don't have to be a top athlete to join the fun. Physical activity is great for Oklahomans of all ages and abilities! Episode 38 of the TSET Better Health Podcast explores how, from Bike, Roll and Walk to School Day for students in early May through free workout videos from Shape Your Future that help beginners bust their yoga, dance and barre exercise moves. Listeners also will hear from an Oklahoma Department of Transportation official on the makings of an active transportation plan that will help cities and towns of all sizes improve access and safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and others.

As National Nutrition Month draws to a close, this TSET Better Health Podcast episode examines nutrition and obesity prevention in our state, especially among youth. Jae Morrison of the Oklahoma State Department of Health discusses findings in the state's newly released Obesity Prevention Plan, and what we can take from it for our own well-being. Listeners also will hear from Christy White, the innovative child nutrition director of Hinton Public Schools who explained how and why healthy food options have become popular among students in her rural western Oklahoma district. And we visited Jenks Middle School, where students joined thousands statewide on March 22 in participating in the Swap Up Day of Action, a hands-on nutrition education day.

Tobacco companies have long used deceptive marketing in ever-changing ways to lure new customers into buying and becoming addicted to their dangerous products. They know how to appeal to different populations, and it has worked with deadly results. TSET is launching a new media campaign that exposes how the tobacco industry uses “shapeshifting” marketing to make tobacco and vape products seem appealing to people of different ages and communities. Episode guests will include TSET Health Communication Manager Chase Harvick, who will speak about the Shapeshifter campaign; Donald Richardson of Guiding Right, a local agency that helps African Americans and others break free from tobacco use and other health threats, and Purcell High School students Carter Goldston and Alexis Wenthold on the influences that draw teens to vaping and tobacco use, and how to counteract those influences.

Governing by the will of the people is assumed in democracy – unless preemption is involved. Such is the case with local tobacco laws in Oklahoma cities. Preemption is when a higher level of government limits or eliminates the power of a lower level of government to regulate on a particular issue. Since 1987, Oklahoma cities and towns have been prohibited from adopting tobacco restriction ordinances that go beyond state law. So local municipal leaders who want to further protect residents from harmful tobacco use in public places cannot do so. This TSET Better Health Podcast episode explores the public health and local governance issue with Doug Matheny, a policy expert at the TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Tahlequah City Councilman Stephen Highers, and Thomas Larson, TSET director of public information and outreach.  

Smoking rates in Oklahoma are dropping to historic lows, but they continue to rank high among the 50 states and vaping is still a persistent problem, especially among youth. This TSET Better Health Podcast episode takes a look at efforts to lower tobacco and vape use in our state heading into 2023 with guests Matt Glanville of the American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network, Paola Klein of the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline, and  Mayra Amezcua and Lacey Laymon with TSET Healthy Youth Initiative's YAHL program who discuss their motivations for tackling tobacco and vape use in their local schools and communities.  

We hear it every holiday season – it's the most wonderful time of the year. But it's not for those who are grieving a loss or are feeling stressed out or alone during the holidays. It can also be a challenging time for our physical health, when time off and holiday gatherings can make it easy to let healthy habits slide by the wayside. Check out the next episode of the TSET Better Health Podcast and find ways to boost your mental, emotional and physical wellness during the holidays, so this truly can become the happiest time of the year. Find out how from Executive Director Erin Engelke and Clinical Director Heather Gaglio of Calm Waters Center for Children and Families, who will offer great ways to boost mental and emotional well-being during the holidays; Kym Hardin of Healthy Schools Oklahoma, who will help us stay physically active into the new year; and TSET's own Dylan Jasna, who will share new and tasty nutritional resources from Shape Your Future.

As few as 1.5 percent of Oklahomans who are eligible to get a lung cancer screening actually get them – 1.5 percent. Episode 32 of the TSET Better Health Podcast will explore who qualifies for lung cancer screenings, reasons why rates are so low in our state, the high importance of getting screened, and the programs in place to increase awareness of, and accessibility to, these lifesaving tests. Speaking on this will be Dr. Mark Doescher of the University of Oklahoma's Stephenson Cancer Center and College of Medicine, and Eric Finley of the Oklahoma Hospital Association. In addition, Dr. Lurdes Queimado, of the TSET Health Promotion Research Center at the OU Health Sciences Center, will explain encouraging new research results that show much higher rates of remission of head and neck cancers among smokers who quit before starting their treatments compared to those who continued smoking. All music licensed through PremiumBeat. Full transcripts and music credits available at tset.ok.gov/podcast.

“It's easy to quit,” Ken Allen, a Muscogee Creek, said of tobacco. “I quit every day, probably 20 times. It was just staying quit is the problem.” The Perkins resident finally quit smoking after more than 35 years with help from the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline – and no help from a commercial tobacco industry that markets heavily to Native Americans. Allen shares his long journey toward better health in Episode 31 of the TSET Better Health Podcast, which also includes Aaron Williams, tobacco program coordinator of the Southern Plains Tribal Health Board. Williams offers a wider perspective on commercial tobacco use and cessation among Native Americans in Oklahoma, and how commercial tobacco differs from ceremonial tobacco use and traditions. During the interview, Williams referred to BRFSS, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, which is the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) phone survey system for learning about rates of health-related risk behaviors and chronic health conditions at national and state levels.

Oklahoma students are back in school, where kids and teens often get the nutrition and energy they need to learn and stay active from meals and snacks served in the cafeteria. In fact, school nutrition is crucial for the health and well-being of Oklahoma kids both during and outside of school hours. With school in session and Child Obesity Awareness Month arriving in September, Episode 30 of the TSET Better Health Podcast will focus on school and child nutrition with Jennifer Weber, executive director of child nutrition at the Oklahoma State Department of Education; Heather Steele and Sheila Russell with Tulsa Public Schools' Child Nutrition, and Valarie Carter, a classically trained chef, food writer and mom who shares her knowledge on Shape Your Future Healthy Kitchen segments on KJRH in Tulsa.

We Oklahomans often find ourselves behind the wheel or behind a desk, causing us to fall behind on physical activity. When our built environment lacks sidewalks, trails, bike lanes – in other words, walkability and active transportation – it becomes even harder to get up and be physically active.  Efforts are underway within communities of all sizes to make them easier and safer to walk, jog, run and bike – not only in residential neighborhoods, but also in business districts that profit from increased foot traffic.  In this episode, hear from Ron Frantz and Shane Hampton of the University of Oklahoma's Institute for Quality Communities on how walkability and placemaking – making public spaces more appealing – is happening throughout Oklahoma and why it's good for our physical and economic health. You'll also hear from Kelly Martin, an elementary school principal. She explains how community partnerships led to walking trails that benefit numerous students and community members. Doug Walton, TSET Healthy Living Program coordinator in Muskogee County, also joins us to talk about Connect Muskogee and its plan to tie together every aspect of transportation system, including sidewalks, trails and bikeways.  All music licensed through PremiumBeat. Full transcripts and music credits available at tset.ok.gov/podcast.

We all know that eating well-balanced nutritious meals is important for energy and good health. But that can be difficult for Oklahomans who rely on dollar and convenience stores for their groceries because they lack access to faraway supermarkets. Fortunately, families and individuals can shop for healthy foods at smaller stores, and this episode's guests provide resources, strategies, and services available to help. Pat Dehart, a diabetes educator nurse, walks us through what healthy options are available in dollar and convenient stores. Lydia Kelley, executive director of Loaves & Fishes, details the services her client-choice food pantry provides, who can qualify, and why it's so meaningful. And Dylan Jasna, new member of the TSET Health Communication team, shares the wealth of resources available through Shape Your Future, a healthy lifestyle promotion program of TSET. All music licensed through PremiumBeat. Full transcripts and music credits available at tset.ok.gov/podcast.

TSET's commitment to healthier communities throughout Oklahoma bears repeating. So the TSET Better Health Podcast will present an encore presentation of the “TSET Community Impact” episode that featured stories of partnerships between TSET Healthy Living Program grantees and local community members that helped bring new school playground equipment to Prague, sidewalks to Newkirk for pedestrian safety, increased healthy food access to small and large communities in Cleveland County and a host of healthier environments in Muskogee. The episode presents a great opportunity to look back at community impacts as TSET and its grantees look forward to both new and continuing opportunities for better health in Oklahoma in the months and years ahead.   All music licensed through PremiumBeat. Full transcripts and music credits available at tset.ok.gov/podcast.

We all know that nicotine addiction is bad for the body, but what about the mind? This month, the TSET Better Health Podcast takes a deep dive into how tobacco impacts mental health with three special guests: Tony Stelter from ODMHSAS discusses the toxic relationship between nicotine addiction. Krysten Isaac of Rescue Agency and Dr. Thomas Ylioja of National Jewish Health talk about two innovative tobacco cessation programs aimed toward helping youth and young adults quit smoking or vaping. All music licensed through PremiumBeat. Full transcripts and music credits available at tset.ok.gov/podcast.

The Health Promotion Research Center, or HPRC, is on the front lines of behavioral change technology. Join HPRC co-directors Michael Businelle and Darla Kendzor for an inside look at the Center's work and ground-breaking scientific research into mobile apps and financial incentives to quit smoking. All music licensed through PremiumBeat. Full transcripts and music credits available at tset.ok.gov/podcast.

Take a tour through some of the inspiring stories from TSET's Healthy Living Program. Hear from coordinators Melinda Caldwell, Arianna Derr and Hillary Mead about how they're collaborating with local leaders and organizations to improve the health of their communities. New municipal tobacco policies, Cherokee Nation health partnerships and summer feeding programs for kids are just the start of how these grantees work tirelessly to transform their counties for the better. All music licensed through PremiumBeat. Full transcripts and music credits available at tset.ok.gov/podcast.

2022 is in full swing. Making New Year's resolutions are a common practice, but we often struggle with maintaining them through the year. For this episode, special guests Dr. Jon Hart, Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline Director, and Dr. Ashley Weedn, a pediatrician specializing in childhood obesity, walk us through what it takes to make lasting lifestyle changes for health and wellness. All music licensed through PremiumBeat. Full transcripts and music credits available at tset.ok.gov/podcast.

The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) was a ground-breaking agency upon its establishment in 2001. Unlike its counterparts in other states, the agency's operations and missions were dictated by and for the people of Oklahoma by statewide vote. As a result, the agency remains innovative and effective in saving countless lives and changing the course of our state's future. Take a look back at the last 20 years of TSET with former Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson and former State Representative Ray Vaughn, who were among the prominent bipartisan coauthors and advocates for TSET's creation. Executive Director Julie Bisbee explores how the mission has grown and what's in store for the future. Follow the journey from humble beginnings as a simple state question to Oklahoma's public health powerhouse as TSET celebrates its 20th anniversary. All music licensed through PremiumBeat. Full transcripts and music credits available at tset.ok.gov/podcast.

Storytelling is a central tenet of impacting human behavior and generating real social change. That's why the TSET Health Communication (HC) team is an important part of executing the agency's mission. But creating messages that resonate is no easy task. Hear from three special guests about the logic, strategies, and execution of TSET's award-winning HC team: Renee Nolen Rosencrans of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Office of Smoking and Health shares her expertise on why health-focused messaging campaigns are critical to changing and understanding poor health behaviors; Sjonna Paulson, TSET HC Director, shares the history, evolution and strategies behind our work in HC; and Laura Beebe, an epidemiologist with the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center who works closely with TSET as an evaluator to ensure that our messages are effective, shares interesting results from some of our most impactful public health campaigns. All music licensed through PremiumBeat. Full credits and transcripts available at tset.ok.gov/podcast.

In this episode, listeners meet William Poole, who was diagnosed with cancer and given less than a year to live in 2012. After numerous surgeries and rounds of chemotherapy, he had exhausted all options. But when he discovered the TSET Phase 1 Clinical Trials program at Stephenson Cancer Center, everything changed. The Stephenson Cancer Center and TSET have a longstanding partnership with benefits that improve the health of Oklahomans. SCC Executive Director Robert Mannel explains how the SCC has become one of the most innovative and prestigious cancer treatment centers in the country. Dr. Susanna Ulahannan, associate director of the TSET Phase 1 Clinical Trials Program under SCC, shares what sets the program apart from other approaches and why patients like William Poole inspire her passion to continue. SCC and the clinical trials program save lives not just for Oklahomans, but cancer sufferers all across the country. All music licensed through PremiumBeat. Full transcripts and music credits available at tset.ok.gov/podcast.

Join the TSET Better Health Podcast team for an inside look at the annual Oklahoma Municipal League conference and how TSET grants benefit cities and schools. Since 2012, TSET has awarded Healthy Incentive Grants to more than 130 cities and towns and to numerous school sites and districts, and every grant creates healthier local environments – as determined by local residents and officials. This episode tells more about the grants that any qualifying school or community in Oklahoma can apply for, and how Healthy Community and School Incentive Grants have benefited the students, staff and community of Granite Schools and the residents of Boley and Muldrow.   All music licensed through PremiumBeat.

Explore the exciting world of stem cell research with Courtney Griffin, Ph.D., Scientific Director at the Oklahoma Center for Adult Stem Cell Research. This innovative approach to regenerative care shows promise in areas across the medical spectrum from blindness to COVID-19. Join your hosts and TSET Executive Director Julie Bisbee to learn about this state-of-the-art research facility right here in Oklahoma that is helping TSET fulfill its mission.

The Youth Action for Health Leadership, part of TSET's Healthy Youth Initiative, inspires and incentivizes young people to become advocates for public health. Jessica Davis, TSET Assistant Director of Programs, and Caryle Hausbeck, Senior Program Manager at Rescue Agency, give us an inside look at this innovative approach to youth engagement and generational impact. Music licensed through PremiumBeat. Full transcripts and credits available at tset.ok.gov/podcast.

Join the Better Health podcast team and special guests for a discussion on systemic causes and effects of poor nutrition in Oklahoma and some partnerships that are addressing it. Marc Jones, CEO of Homeland Acquisition Corporation, and Richard Comeau with Hunger Free Oklahoma break down the realities of food insecurity and what the Double Up Oklahoma program is doing to help. Jonathan Veal with RestoreOKC introduces listeners to a new grocery store in northeast Oklahoma City, Market at Eastpoint, and the importance of providing access to fresh fruits and vegetables to this food desert. Tune in to find out how you can work with local leaders to improve your community's access to healthy foods. All music licensed through PremiumBeat. Full transcripts with credits available at tset.ok.gov/podcast.

TSET welcomes its first national guest and public health powerhouse, Dr. Steven A. Schroeder, to discuss the importance of prevention and why it should be a priority in Oklahoma and the United States. Dr. Schroeder wrote the 2007 Shattuck Lecture "We Can Do Better," a landmark report on the status of health and mortality in America. His findings suggest that despite high health care spending and standards, the United States ranks poorly in health rankings compared to the rest oe world. Where trauma care and disease treatment are critical components of health and medicine, prevention efforts save money, health and lives. Bruce Benjamin, Vice-Chair of the TSET Board of Directors, and Julie Bisbee, TSET Executive Director, share how TSET's recent foray into youth prevention efforts is helping to create a healthier Oklahoma for generations to come. All music licensed through PremiumBeat. Full transcripts with credits available at tset.ok.gov/podcast.

Food insecurity in Oklahoma was higher than the national average before the pandemic. Since then, the need for food access has only increased, especially in rural areas and smaller cities in Oklahoma. This episode highlights a few inspiring stories from recipients of the 2020 TSET Food Systems Impact Grants. These projects make a little go a long way: RSVP of Enid, a multifaceted food and services resource center for seniors, expanded their operation to provide necessary assistance to local seniors as they age in place. In Laverne, Oklahoma, Collective Roots formed as a food security cooperative to connect local farmers and food producers with consumers in a rural area with limited food access. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Ottawa County tripled the number of meals they serve to meet the needs of children and families during the pandemic. Learn about the resilience of rural Oklahoma in this month’s episode of the TSET Better Health Podcast. TSET is participating in a virtual panel discussion on food insecurity and Oklahoma's children on May 11th. Find more information and RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/events/136987258438502 All music was acquired through PremiumBeat or a public CC-By license. Song credits and full attributions are available in the episode transcription.

Public health advocates have identified a root cause of many health issues plaguing Oklahomans: insufficient health education in public schools. In this episode, State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister, Healthy Schools OK Executive Director Lindsi Lemons, and new TSET Program Officer Laura Matlock provide their expert opinions and on-the-ground perspectives about what it will take to improve health education in Oklahoma. Join your hosts James and Cate to find out what a comprehensive health education program entails, the status of this effort right now, and how it affects Oklahomans. Music licensed through PremiumBeat. Transcript and music credits available at tset.ok.gov/podcast.

Swap Up is an exciting new statewide education campaign from the TSET Healthy Youth Initiative. Focused on youth nutrition and obesity prevention, Swap Up is collaboration between TSET and Rescue Agency and is tailored to the specific health needs of Oklahomans 13-18. Join James and Cate as they pull back the curtain on this groundbreaking campaign as it positions itself to help build a brighter future for Oklahoma youth. Hear from guests Julie Bisbee, TSET Executive Director; Jeff Jordan, Rescue Agency founder; and Kelly Day, Rescue Agency Senior Creative Director. Music licensed through PremiumBeat. Transcript and music credits available at tset.ok.gov/podcast.

What is Big Tobacco’s influence in our government? Public health policy experts Sarah Rivin with the American Heart Association and Doug Matheny with the TSET Health Promotion Research Center join hosts James and Cate to discuss preemption, Big Tobacco lobbying, and vaping regulation. (Music: “Hoist”, “Space”, “Scramby Eggs”, “Sheffield Hall”, and “A Perceptible Shift” by Andy G. Cohen, released under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC By) license)

Seasons greetings from TSET! This month, James and Cate spread holiday cheer with guests Jae Morrison and Valarie Carter. Jae Morrison, an obesity prevention specialist for the Oklahoma State Department of Health, talks about ways to stay physically active during the winter season and best practices for sticking to your New Year’s resolutions. Valarie Carter, chef and culinary medicine instructor for the OU-TU School of Community Medicine, shares what culinary medicine is, which ingredients are best to use for the season, and a couple of healthy and tasty holiday recipes. From TSET, have a happy and healthy holiday!

In honor of the Great American Smokeout, a national holiday to encourage tobacco cessation for one day, James and Cate explore the current state of youth vaping with advocates and professionals alike. Hear conversations with Rescue founder Jeff Jordan and Tulsa Public Schools physical education coordinator Jen Sanders about the myths, facts, figures and advice for youth vaping. Paola Klein of the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline describes the tools and strategies that allows OTH to be so successful. Later, TSET Executive Director Julie Bisbee joins in to celebrate the 20th anniversary of TSET’s creation and youth vaping has made TSET’s mission more important than ever.

In addition to funding grants that transform schools and communities, TSET plays a big role in advancing cutting-edge scientific research in Oklahoma. Directors from Stephenson Cancer Center, Health Promotion Research Center and Oklahoma Center for Adult Stem Cell Research share the work they do to save lives and improve health statewide.

School is back in session, and times are tough for all of us. This episode of the TSET Better Health Podcast provides listeners with informative interviews and lists of resources for those affected by food insecurity and COVID-19. Representatives from the Regional Food Bank and Hunger Free Oklahoma share the wide array of resources available to struggling Oklahomans, including senior meal boxes, prescriptions, food pantries, and more. Carrie Slatton-Hodges of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services details all the services the agency provides in the age of COVID-19. Additionally, TSET’s own Health Communication Manager Kelli Brodersen shares exciting developments in TSET’s new healthy youth and food access initiatives.

The TSET Healthy Living Program (HLP) and its coordinators have transformed communities across Oklahoma. Join James and Cate as they travel the state to share first-person perspectives of these grant-funded initiatives:Muskogee has used the TSET HLP to implement vast changes from complete streets, childhood nutrition, community gardens and wellness in the workplace. The coordinator in Newkirk helped city leaders and advocates secure a large grant to connect the community through safe sidewalks. Cleveland County has made immense progress in increasing nutritional food access in rural areas, which not only improves the health of residents but also supports local farmers and the economy. Prague Elementary School has reimagined what education can be with the help of TSET HLP coordinators by incorporating physical activity into the learning process.TSET HLP coordinators work with community leaders to implement strategic projects that create generational change. Tune in to learn more about TSET’s impact on the lives of everyday Oklahomans.

James and Cate head to McAlester to take a look at rural health care and the importance of the TSET-funded Physician Manpower Training Commission (PMTC) during COVID-19. Janie Thompson, PMTC executive director, and Michelle Mabray, physician recruiter at McAlester Regional Health Center, discuss how PMTC incentivizes physicians to practice at rural hospitals through medical student loan debt forgiveness. David Keith, CEO of McAlester Regional Health Center provides a bird’s-eye view of the state of rural health care in Oklahoma during the pandemic and the crucial services his facility provides. Dr. Kamron Torbati, an award-winning PMTC physician, tells his story from life in California to the Marines and what brought him to McAlester. Music by Reverend Gary Davis, Doctor Turtle and Jason Shaw (1, 2), available at FreeMusicArchive.org.

Better Health is bringing healthy, local food to you in this episode. Your hosts James and Cate explore the sights, sounds and people at the Scissortail Park Farmers Market, have an informative conversation with Abbey Owens, Meredith Scott and Jade Owen of the Oklahoma Nutrition Information and Education (ONIE) Project, and dive into the story of Shelby Sieg, chef at Lua Mediterranean and Bottle Shop and a featured chef with Shape Your Future. Tune in to learn more about local farmers markets and the importance of nutritional food for the body and soul. Find your local farmers market at ShapeYourFutureOK.com. Mediterranean music: Yerbaguena by Gnawledge

Sunday, May 17, is No Menthol Sunday, a day for churches in the African American community to shine a light on the insidious nature of menthol and targeted tobacco advertising. Dr. Adam Alexander of the OU Health Sciences Center shares the latest research on the appeal and dangers of menthol, and Theodore Noel of Guiding Right shares the influential work of the organization and the importance of community outreach. Then firefighter and former smoker Shaun Pryor shares his experience with the tobacco helpline and the power of positive role modeling. 

James and Cate discuss important ways to stay physically and mentally healthy while practicing social distancing during the novel coronavirus pandemic.Jennifer Goodrich, licensed professional counselor and CEO of Pivot: A Turning Point for Youth, provides valuable insights and useful tips for nurturing your mental health and keeping perspective during unusual and traumatic times. Then, Melissa Oishi, RD/LD, Pediatric Dietitian at OU Physicians, explains the importance of keeping a well-balanced diet and best practices for safe and efficient grocery shopping. Your hosts provide a plethora of valuable resources for quitting tobacco, meal planning, exercising at home, finding food, accessing state resources, homeschooling and more. Links and resources: Coronavirus helpline: 211 or 877-215-8336OK Coronavirus Center - coronavirus updates and resourcesOK COVID-19 Resources - state guidance and resources OK Tobacco Helpline (1-800-QUIT-NOW) - free supply and coaching to quit smoking/vaping/tobacco useSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Disaster Distress Hotline: 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746Shape Your Future - helpful guides for exercise and nutritionYMCA free online workouts NY Times article on meditationNews 9 list of public schools providing free foodOK Regional Food Bank - help getting food and prescriptionsOETA distance learning programsOK State Dept. of Education resources and guidance

Health communication consultant James Tyree and intern Cate Howell co-host this episode about Tobacco 21, the new federal law restricting sale of tobacco products to people under the age of 21. After taking a look at the research behind how and why the law originated, Cate shares an interview with Dr. Amy Cohn of the Oklahoma Tobacco Research Center. Dr. Cohn explains why this is the first step toward a broader movement in limiting tobacco use and how it affects youth and young adults. Then, James shares a conversation he had with Nancy Packwood, owner of Norman convenient store Alameda Market and Tackle, who discusses her perspective on how the new law has affected her business and why she supports it. Cate closes out the episode by sharing how and why she came up with the TSET podcast and how the TSET team hopes our listeners will benefit from it.