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We sit down with Dr. Lonnie Nelson, a clinical psychologist and member of the Cherokee Indians, to explore the importance of centering Native communities in healthcare research and practice. We learn about how Lonnie’s personal experiences with family health challenges shaped his professional journey, and how he reframes common clinical approaches to focus on culture, self-determination, and relational trust. We dive deep into the role of "culture as medicine," uncovering how traditional practices and genuine human connection can foster healing far beyond what Western medicine often recognizes. We also discuss Lonnie’s work addressing health disparities, brain health research in urban Native elders, and the need to move away from transactional, role-based healthcare toward true person-centered care.

Three Takeaways:

- Community-Driven Research, Not Researcher-Imposed Solutions
Lonnie Nelson’s approach flips the traditional research model by centering the priorities of American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Rather than imposing outside solutions, he collaborates with community members to identify needs and co-create potential interventions, then seeks funding to rigorously test these ideas. This honors cultural wisdom and ensures research is relevant and respectful.

-Reclaiming Indigenous Roots in Motivational Interviewing
A fascinating point Nelson brings up is that motivational interviewing—a mainstream therapeutic technique—has roots in Indigenous traditions. He highlights that its effectiveness comes from Native practices grounded in respect, non-judgment, and relational conversation. However, much of Western healthcare training strips these origins, sometimes making the approach feel manipulative; Nelson, instead, works to restore its original, culturally-grounded intent.

-The Native Concept of “Medicine” is Holistic and Transformative
In Native cultures, “medicine” isn’t just pharmaceuticals or interventions—it’s anything that can transform how you feel, from the smell of your grandmother’s kitchen to community rituals. Nelson stresses that when Native people say, “culture is medicine,” it’s about emotional and spiritual transformation—not just physical wellness.

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We explore the deeply personal and often overlooked connection between spirituality and health, especially within immigrant and refugee communities. Dr. Cat Delestrinos, a pediatrician and Filipino immigrant, shares moving stories from her own life and medical practice—particularly her son’s health journey—to illustrate how faith and spiritual practices can play a vital role in resilience, healing, and coping with fear. We discuss practical ways clinicians can better recognize and respect patients’ spiritual beliefs, how to open conversations about faith without imposing personal beliefs, and why understanding the spiritual dimension is critical for meaningful, holistic care.

Three Takeawayss:

1) Spirituality as a Source of Healing and Resilience in Immigrant Communities

Dr. Cat shares that for many immigrant and refugee families, spirituality isn’t just a private belief but a vital community resource and coping mechanism. She describes how, in Filipino culture (her own background), church and faith traditions are threads that bind individuals and groups—showing clinicians that understanding these can unlock strength and resilience in their patients’ healing journey

2) Personal Experience Shapes Clinical Practice

Dr. Cat’s story about her son Manny’s critical illness and the intertwining of faith with medical care is a clear reminder that clinicians’ personal experiences—especially moments of vulnerability and hope—shape how they show up for patients. Her deep dive into spirituality through praying and supporting her son reframed how she approaches medical practice and the importance she places on spiritual health

3) Missed Opportunities: Clinicians Rarely Ask About Faith

Despite spirituality often being crucial to patients, Dr. Cat realized no clinician or care team member ever brought up faith during her family’s medical ordeal unless she mentioned it herself. This points to a gap in holistic care and invites practitioners to consider what they might be overlooking by not asking about something so central to many people’s lives.

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We explore the challenges and deep rewards of providing care to newly arrived refugee and immigrant families, guided by the insights of Dr. Anisa Ibrahim, an experienced pediatrician and community advocate. We unpack the art of truly welcoming families, emphasizing the power of listening to migration histories, honoring cultural backgrounds, and recognizing that parents are the experts in their children’s lives. We delve into sensitive topics like nutrition, developmental delays, mental health, and environmental health risks, learning practical tools for culturally attuned dialogue and persistent partnership. Through stories and reflections, we highlight why culturally responsive care matters—not just for medical outcomes but for trust, resilience, and healing across diverse communities.

Three Takeaways:

The Power of Migration Stories
Dr. Ibrahim emphasizes the importance of understanding each family's unique migration journey—two families from the same country may have wildly different trauma histories, languages of comfort, and support needs. She makes it clear that “migration history” is critical; you can’t use a cookie-cutter approach for refugee or immigrant healthcare because lived experiences differ so much.

Literacy as a Clinical Foundation
One standout strategy from Dr. Ibrahim is her early, nonjudgmental questions about literacy: “Do you read or write in any language?” This simple inquiry uncovers critical information for both clinical care and partnership with community resources. It breaks down assumptions and helps tailor support, recognizing that language skills aren’t uniform, even within the same language or cultural group.

Redefining Expertise: Families as Experts in Their Own Children
Dr. Ibrahim reframes the traditional doctor-patient relationship by explicitly telling parents, “You’re an expert in your child.” This collaborative model flips the script from provider dominance to shared expertise, enhancing trust and participation—especially crucial for families new to Western healthcare system

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We explore the complexities of trust, cultural values, and intergenerational dynamics within the Filipino community, especially in accessing mental health and healthcare services. We discuss how deep-rooted traditions like family obligation, community support, and the stigma surrounding mental health influence care-seeking behaviors across generations. Through community-driven initiatives like Little Manila Rising, we highlight how culturally rooted, trauma-informed approaches—such as engaging churches, honoring ancestral spaces, and providing culturally competent care—foster healing, advocacy, and stronger relationships between healthcare providers and the community.

Three Takeaways:

Healing Hinges on Intergenerational Dialogue and Community-Led Spaces
Spaces intentionally created for both young and old to share—such as wellness panels and focus groups—are potent for mutual understanding. There’s a recurring theme that healing happens when the community is not just “served” but is leading and hosting the work, drawing on ancestral memory and lived experience

Culturally Responsive Healthcare Goes Beyond ‘Cultural Competency’
Tessa and Hannah stress that healthcare providers must go beyond textbook cultural competency. This includes offering trauma-informed care, involving families in treatment, actively engaging with community organizations (like Little Manila Rising), and educating themselves rather than outsourcing the labor of education to the community. Providers who do this, even if not sharing ethnic identity with patients, can vastly improve trust and outcomes.

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We explore the powerful story of Little Manila Rising, an organization founded to preserve the Filipino American legacy in Stockton, California, and uplift the South Stockton community. We hear how founders rallied local residents to prevent the destruction of historic neighborhoods and created a movement rooted in ancestral legacy, heart-centered activism, and holistic care. We learn about programs tackling health inequities, environmental justice, mental health, and youth development, all shaped by listening to community needs. Through initiatives like the Healing PUSO project and ECHO, we witness how blending Western and traditional Filipino healing practices, offering free clinics, and providing culturally responsive mental health support have made a tangible impact. Centering community voices and advocating for policy change, Little Manila Rising exemplifies the importance of accessible, culturally anchored healthcare that truly cares for the whole person.

Three Takeaways:

Deeply Personal and Spiritual Motivation
Tessa makes clear that the organization’s work is “heart-centered” and “spirit-led,” guided by the dreams and struggles of their ancestors. Staff are deeply connected on a personal level, honoring not just their community but also familial and ancestral legacies. This kind of motivation sets the tone for sustainable and authentic advocacy work (Tessa, 00:04:03–00:04:39).

Holistic and Culturally Rooted Healthcare Delivery
Through programs like Healing PUSO and Echo, Little Manila Rising offers both Western and traditional healing modalities, including Filipino massage, acupuncture, and sound healing. By blending these approaches, the clinics honor diverse health beliefs and needs, which community members find more welcoming and effective than traditional mainstream healthcare (Tessa, 00:11:37–00:15:19).

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We dive into the origins, structure, and impact of Islamic Trauma Healing—a community-driven, lay-led mental health intervention designed for Muslim communities, particularly Afghans and Somalis who have experienced significant trauma. Joining us are Mohammed Haroon , an Afghan mental health counselor and research coordinator, and Jake Bentley, a clinical psychologist from the University of Washington. We explore the barriers many Muslim refugees face with Western mental health services, how Islamic Trauma Healing uniquely integrates faith, community narratives, and evidence-based trauma care, and what sessions look like in practice. We discuss the training process for community leaders, the intervention’s positive effects—both academically and through personal testimonials—and address how culturally contextualized models like this can help reduce stigma and foster healing. Finally, we consider possibilities for broader dissemination and adaptation of the model to other communities.

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We explore the deep-rooted structural inequities that have shaped health outcomes for Pacific Islander communities, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Together, we unpack how colonialism, racism, erasure, and the lack of culturally appropriate healthcare have contributed to disproportionate impacts, and we highlight the vital role of community-led solutions and culturally safe spaces in healing. We discuss the limitations of the cultural competency model, the importance of recognizing power dynamics, and the essential need for physicians and healthcare systems to center trust, relationship-building, and self-determination for marginalized communities.

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Current Partnership w/ Joseph:

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We sit down with Julia Colson, the founder and executive director of the Seattle King County Clinic, to discuss the incredible journey of establishing a large-scale, volunteer-driven pop-up clinic providing free dental, vision, and medical services to thousands each year. She shares the clinic's origin story, spurred by a 60-minute episode that highlighted the healthcare struggles of everyday people and her realization of the parallels within her own life. Julia delves into the challenges of building such a unique healthcare initiative from scratch, emphasizing the essential role of openness, humility, and collaboration in shaping the clinic's success. Through heartfelt anecdotes and insights, we explore the powerful impact of the clinic in transforming both patient experiences and volunteer perspectives while also addressing how the initiative calls attention to the broader issues plaguing our healthcare system.

To Volunteer: Seattle/King County Clinic - Seattle Center Foundation

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We explore the potential of centralized contact centers in healthcare with Patty Hayward, the general manager of healthcare and life sciences at Talkdesk. Drawing from her extensive experience and personal stories, such as her mother's medical journey, Patty illustrates the critical need for better communication and coordination within healthcare systems. We delve into how centralization, aided by AI and modern technology, could improve patient care by offering timely, personalized interactions and addressing unmet needs in diverse communities. We also tackle how a centralized approach can respect cultural nuances and enhance health education, breaking down barriers to access and understanding.

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We explore the complexities of Japanese food culture and its impact on health, addressing how American influences have altered traditional diets. Jeff discusses the importance of rice in Japanese meals and his personal transition to healthier rice options. We delve into portion control within Japanese dining customs and the concept of intuitive eating. The conversation shifts to Japanese cultural nuances, including language, religion, and familial expectations, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging expertise both in healthcare and family matters. Additionally, we discuss the role of social support systems, religious influences, and the cultural dynamics surrounding aging and caregiving in Japanese American communities.

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