Samantha Sobie DNP, APRN, NNP-BC is a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Specialist at AngelEye Health. She has over a decade of experience working in NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Units). Samantha’s doctoral work focused on assessing health literacy and improving the NICU discharge process. Today, she combines her clinical expertise with digital innovation to support families and care teams during the NICU journey.

Listen as Samantha Sobie and Helen Osborne talk about:

More ways to learn:

Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. The chapter “Know Your Audience: Children and Youth” is especially relevant to this podcast episode.

Read a transcript of this podcast.

The post Neonatal Teaching: Health Literacy Lessons for Us All (HLOL #269) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.

Eli Gerard has worked with Canine Companions for nearly a decade, including five years as a trainer. He now serves as the Program Field Representative for the Northeast Region. Eli assists with all aspects of the program including puppy raising support, placement of dogs released from the program, and direct work with clients. He brings to this his experience working in special education and enjoyment of many outdoor activities.

Jennifer Johnson has worked as a Child Life Specialist at Sutter Health in California for over 30 years. Most of that time, she specialized in pediatric oncology, supporting children and families as they navigate the significant stress and challenges of cancer treatment. In 2004, Jennifer became a Canine Companions graduate with her first facility dog, Millie. Together, they were pioneers in integrating facility dogs into the pediatric units at Sutter Health. Jennifer has worked with several dogs since, including her newest one, Bill. There are now 16 facility dog graduate teams across the Sutter Health system. As Jennifer shares, the positive impact of these dogs is truly powerful medicine.

Eli Gerard and Jennifer Johnson talk with Helen Osborne about:

More ways to learn:

Videos:

Social Media:

Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. The chapter “Community Connections” is especially relevant to this podcast episode.

Read a transcript of this podcast.

The post Canine Companions and Facility Dogs in Healthcare (HLOL #268) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.

Tamara Huntley is a licensed social worker and passionate advocate for individuals with disabilities. Born with cerebral palsy, Tamara serves as the Self-Advocacy Liaison for the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council and contributes to research through Brandeis University’s Bridges Project. Tamara is a widow and proud single mother of two. Professionally and personally, Tamara’s commitment is to create a more inclusive world.

Joanne Nicholson, PhD is a clinical and research psychologist, Professor at the Institute for Behavioral Health at Brandeis University, and Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at the UMass Chan Medical School. Joanne’s research focuses on interventions, services, and support for families living with behavioral health conditions and disability. Joanne always partners with whose who bring lived experience. The PCORI-funded Bridges Project team, an active collaboration between Brandeis and partners at the Harvard Medical School Countway Library, includes mothers living with intellectual and developmental disabilities and focuses on promoting “Research Better Together.”

Listen as Tamara Huntley and Joanne Nicholson talk with Helen Osborne about:

More Ways to Learn:

Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. All the chapters about “Know Your Audience” are relevant to this podcast.

Read a transcript of this podcast.

The post Communicating Clearly with People Who Have Disabilities (HLOL #267) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.

Dr Caroline Foreman B.Sc BMBS FRACP is a clinical immunology and allergy specialist, with a special interest in the communication of allergies. As Medical Director of the not-for-profit foundation MedicAlert Australia, Caroline provides clinical oversight and guidance to ensure that this foundation maintains its high clinical standards.

Listen as Dr Caroline Foreman talks with Helen Osborne about:

More ways to learn:

Information about MedicAlert in Australia:

Information about MedicAlert in USA:

Information about MedicAlert in Canada:

Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. The chapter “Community Connections” is especially relevant to this podcast.

Read a transcript of this podcast.

The post Emergency Health Information (HLOL #266) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.

Liz Seegert is an award-winning, independent journalist. Liz has written about health for more than 30 years. Her main beats include aging, women’s health, social determinants of health, and health policy. Liz’s articles have appeared in dozens of national and local media outlets including Scientific American, TIME, The American Journal of Nursing, and Web MD/Medscape. Liz is the contributing editor on aging and health equity for the Association of Healthcare Journalists (AHCJ). She also co-directs two fellowship programs–mentoring and training emerging journalists in aging and in health reporting.

Listen as Liz Seegert talks with Helen Osborne about:

More ways to learn:

Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. The chapter “General Public: Traditional Media” is especially relevant to this podcast

Read a transcript of this podcast.

The post Narrative Journalism: Stories to Make Points Clear and Compelling (HLOL #265) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.

Today’s two guests are leaders of the new United States Health Literacy Association (USHLA).

Helen Osborne talks with Karen Komondor and Monique Hill about:

More ways to learn:

Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. The chapter “Organizations: Health Literacy Across Programs, Companies, Communities, and Countries” is especially relevant to this podcast.

Read a transcript of this podcast.

The post U.S. Health Literacy Association: From Silos to Synergy (HLOL #264) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.

Helen is taking a break to recover from back surgery, so we’re re-running some classic episodes. Here’s one from 2024.

Rear Admiral (RDML) Paul Reed, MD is the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, the Director of the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, a pediatrician, and a senior U.S. Public Health Service Officer. His primary responsibility is to advise the Assistant Secretary for Health on disease prevention and health promotion programs and policies. Additionally, RDML Reed provides direction and oversight for national health initiatives such as Healthy People 2030, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, and the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition.

In this podcast, RDML Paul Reed talks with Helen Osborne about:

More ways to Learn:

Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. Especially relevant to this podcast are the chapters, “Community Connections,” “Health Equity in the Context of Health Literacy,” and “Organizations: Health Literacy Across Programs, Companies, Communities, and Countries.”

Read a transcript of this podcast.

The post Re-Airing: Health in the Context of People’s Lives (HLOL #263) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.

Helen is taking a break to recover from back surgery, so we’re re-running some classic episodes. Here’s one from 2019.

Bridget Gaglio PhD, MPH is a Senior Program Officer for the Clinical Effectiveness and Decision Science program at the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). She works to improve communication and dissemination of evidence-based information among patients and their healthcare providers. Gaglio has published papers on patient-centered communication, health literacy, and dissemination and implementation of health interventions. But this podcast isn’t about that. Rather, it’s about experiences and lessons Bridget and Helen each learned as patients.

In this podcast, Helen Osborne talks with Bridget Gaglio about:

More Ways to Learn:

Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Second Edition (updated 2018),by Helen Osborne. Chapter 5 is especially relevant to this podcast, “Communicating When Patients Feel Scared, Sick, and Overwhelmed.”

Read the transcript of this podcast.

The post Re-Airing: When Patients Create Their Own Medical Binders: A Powerful Way to Get Organized and Feel More in Control (HLOL #262) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.

Leslie J. Pelton, MPA is a senior program officer at The John A. Hartford Foundation, where she oversees grants that are transforming care for older adults and family caregivers through the Age-Friendly Health Systems movement. Prior to this, Leslie was vice president at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, where she collaborated with funders, national partners and leading health systems to design and spread Age-Friendly Health Systems. As of May 2025, more than 5,200 hospitals, medical practices, nursing homes, clinics, and home health care agencies, this movement is committed to delivering evidence-based care to reduce harm and align with what matters to older patients and their caregivers.

Listen as Leslie Pelton talks with Helen Osborne about:

More ways to learn:

Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. The chapter “Know Your Audience: Older Adults” is especially relevant to this podcast.

Read a transcript of this podcast.

The post Age-Friendly Health Systems (HLOL #261) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.

Doris Zallen, PhD, is Professor Emerita of Science Studies and Humanities at Virginia Tech. Her research explores personal, family, and societal issues arising from advances in genetic testing and gene therapy. Zallen is the author of two books about genetic testing and is developing an online tool to help people make informed choices about testing. Zallen always draws from the experiences of genetic professionals along with everyday people making decisions about whether to have genetic testing.

Jamie Tyrone has been a patient advocate for many years after accidently learning that she has the gene that puts her at high risk for Alzheimer’s Disease. Ever since, Tyrone’s advocacy has taken many forms including as a research participant, co-author, and member of several professional committees. Tyrone wrote a book about her experience, Fighting for My Life – How to Thrive in the Shadow of Alzheimer’s. 

Listen as Doris Zallen, Jamie Tyrone, and Helen Osborne discuss:

More ways to learn:

Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. The chapter “Decisions About Treatment, End-of-Live Choices, or Whether to Participate in Clinical Trials” is especially relevant to this podcast.

Read a transcript of this podcast.

The post Genetic Testing; Conversation with a Researcher and Patient Advocate (HLOL #260) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.