This week, 144,000 Northern Californians were knocked off the grid in the latest round of planned power shut offs by utility giant, PG&E. Last month, the company cut power to more than 2 million customers in a move to prevent wildfires sparked by their electrical equipment. The sweeping outages had unanticipated consequences, particularly for people's health. On this episode of our podcast, we sit down with Direct Relief journalist, Paul Sherer, who reported on the effects last month's outages had on health centers. He spoke with multiple clinics in rural California that struggled to keep the lights on—and the water running.

Haiti is in the throes of a humanitarian disaster provoked by months of violent protests. Demonstrations have blocked supply routes, choking a nation already crippled by poverty. Accessing health care in these conditions is challenging, if not impossible, exacerbating existing health problems. As medical care grows more scarce, preventable disease becomes more deadly. On this […]

Haiti is in the throes of a humanitarian disaster provoked by months of violent protests. Demonstrations have blocked supply routes, choking a nation already crippled by poverty. Accessing health care in these conditions is challenging, if not impossible, exacerbating existing health problems. As medical care grows scarcer, preventable disease becomes deadlier.

On this episode of our podcast we speak with Father Rick—a priest-turned-doctor treating patients at one of Haiti’s few operational hospitals. He gives us an on-the-ground look at the situation in Haiti and a prediction for what lies ahead.

Massive wildfires, severe storms, drought — the effects of climate change are in full swing. While reducing greenhouse gas pollution continues to be a priority, adapting to the new climate is a must. Increasing climate resiliency has become a major concern for community leaders, from firefighters to public health officials. Last week, these leaders gathered […]

Massive wildfires, severe storms, drought—the effects of climate change are in full swing. While reducing greenhouse gas pollution continues to be a priority, adapting to the new climate is a must. Increasing climate resiliency has become a major concern for community leaders—from fire fighters to public health officials. Last week, these leaders gathered to brainstorm ideas about how their communities can adapt to reduce the impacts of climate-related disasters. On this episode of our podcast, we get a seat at the table as those on the frontlines of climate change take proactive measures against extreme weather events.

The Kincade Fire has displaced more than 200,000 people in Northern California, upending the lives of residents across Sonoma County.

Pads and tampons are a simple necessity, yet women across America are going without them. The cost of these products make them inaccessible for many low-income women struggling to make ends meet. These women often forgo menstrual hygiene products in order to afford for other basic necessities. Without tampons or pads, women resort to using […]

Pads and tampons are a simple necessity, yet women across America are going without them. The cost of these products make them inaccessible for many low-income women struggling to make ends meet. These women often forgo menstrual hygiene products in order to afford for other basic necessities. Without tampons or pads, women resort to using rags, toilet paper, or even adult diapers. The problem has garnered national attention and stoked advocacy campaigns across the United States. While activists work to pass policies that would increase women's access to period products, women on the margins continue to struggle with the problem on a monthly basis. In this episode of our podcast, we explore the realities of period poverty in the United States and the movement working to end it.

The Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics are using a multi-tiered approach to tackle opioid addiction.

The opioid epidemic has impacted communities in every corner of the country, posing new challenges for healthcare providers. As opioid-induced overdoses continue to soar, doctors have had to adapt to the changing needs of their patients.

In Santa Barbara County, the Neighborhood Clinics have adopted a multi-tiered approach to battle addiction and promote recovery. The harm reduction program integrates behavioral health therapy with medically assisted treatment. In order to prevent potential opioid-related injuries, the clinics provide every patient in their program with a supply of Naloxone— a drug that reverses opioid overdoses. On this episode of our podcast, we follow Dr. Fenzi as he gives us a first-hand look at what the Neighborhood Clinics are doing to tackle opioid addiction in their community.