PlayStreets Chicago is a collaborative, community-led initiative designed to foster healthier, stronger communities. The initiative creates safe and accessible neighborhood spaces for health and wellness activities, recreation, creativity, learning, social connection, and access to community resources.

Miguel Lopez (Public Health Administrator at CDPH and PlayStreets Lead) is joined by Lisa Butler (Program Director for Phalanx Family Services for PlayStreets in the far south region) and Felicia Walker (Founder and Executive Director of City Motivators) to discuss PlayStreets in 2026, what drives their work in the communities, and how Chicagoans can get involved.

“Me & Nic Broke Up” is a CDPH campaign that encourages Chicago youth to break away from their toxic relationships with nicotine and instead to focus on their personal well-being. On this episode of Healthy Chicago Podcast, we collaborate with From The ‘Go Show and True Star Media to encourage a candid discussion around awareness and support for those most impacted by vaping.

Co-hosts Gary Langfield Jr. and Iesha Brown talk with CDPH spokesperson Juan Ortega and Gen Z creator of the viral “Scuba” dance, Desean “Scuba” Logan-Russell, about why it’s important to discuss vape-free living, the negative effects of smoking, the predatory marketing of nicotine companies, and resources available to those who want to “break up with with nic.”

Visit MeAndNicBrokeUp.com for more information.

This episode was produced by True Star Media

Photo Cred: Christopher Lockridge + Deshaun Adams

Production Assistant: Micaiah Issac

Production Assistant: Caleb Issac

Production Assistant: Christopher Lockridge

Associate Producer: Julius Ross

Co-Host: Gary Langfield Jr.

Co-Host: Iesha Brown

• TikTok: @truestarchicago

• YouTube: True Star Media

• LinkedIn: True Star Media

• Facebook: True Star Foundation

• Instagram: @truestarchicago

June is Men’s Health Month. On this episode, Sam Rene (CDPH Program Manager, syndemic infectious disease bureau) speaks with Dominique Wilson (African American Wellness Agency and National Center for Urban Solutions) and Walter Lindsey (CDPH Database Analyst) about Black men’s health, stigma and myth around men’s health, and how every man can prioritize their mental and physical wellness.

Open to the public, Black Men’s Wellness Day is on Saturday, June 20 (7 a.m. – 12 p.m.) at the Bob Pickens Track & Field at 6233 S. Stony Island Ave. This free event brings together Black men, families, and community members for a morning focused on health, connection, and action.

Participants can:

• Get access to free heart health and other screenings

• Connect with local providers and organizations

• Take part in a 5K walk/run designed to get people moving together

• Enjoy activities for kids, a senior pavilion, live entertainment, and local vendors

For more information, and to register for free, click HERE.

Joabe Barbosa is a graduate student at Roosevelt University studying clinical psychology, but that’s likely not how you know him. If you’ve watched local news or been on Instagram lately, you likely know Joabe as the Brazilian guy wearing the Chicago flag as a cape, who is trying to run every street in the city. He’s also the guy who ran a half marathon in an inflatable bee costume, ran a long-distance race in rubber rainboots, and has the Guinness World Record for the fastest trip visiting every single Chicago CTA Subway Station.

Our discussion covers why Joabe runs, what it has unlocked for him and those around him, how exercise affects his mental well-being, and the purpose that drives his journey.

Follow Joabe’s journey on IG at @heyjoabe.

Joabe Barbosa, un estudiante de posgrado de la Universidad de Roosevelt, tiene una misión extraordinaria: correr por cada una de las calles en los 77 vecindarios de Chicago. Ha recorrido miles de millas, ha construido una comunidad que lo sigue en redes sociales y ha utilizado su plataforma para destacar a personas e historias que hacen que esta ciudad sea tan especial.

En este episodio descubrimos cómo Joabe llegó a Chicago persiguiendo un sueño, pero encontró en la actividad física una poderosa forma de conexión y bienestar mental.

Many sleep-related infant deaths occur in ordinary, everyday circumstances: exhaustion, bedsharing, soft bedding, and safe sleep spaces that go unused in moments of fatigue. These situations can be life-threatening for a baby.

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Gina Lowell, Director of Community Health for Pediatrics at Rush University Children’s Hospital, and Dr. Kyran Quinlan, Pediatric Medical Advisor at the Illinois Department of Public Health. Over the past five years, they’ve documented these deaths, explored the circumstances surrounding them, and investigated why they continue to happen.

This conversation goes beyond the numbers: it’s about what they’ve witnessed firsthand, the challenges families face, and how communities can provide meaningful support during one of the most vulnerable times in a child’s life.

Safe sleep education, home visiting programs, and community resources are available across Chicago and Cook County to support families and caregivers. For more information on infant safe sleep practices, visit chicago.gov/onechifam/safesleep.

¿Sabías que hay un grupo de jóvenes de entre 14 y 19 años que ayudan a asesorar a líderes de la ciudad sobre los desafíos que existen hoy en día en la salud mental y que contribuyen a la creación de políticas que apoyan el bienestar de la juventud en nuestra ciudad?

En este episodio, tuvimos una conversación sin filtros con integrantes del Grupo de Trabajo de Salud Pública de la Comisión de Juventud del alcalde de Chicago sobre la salud mental en los jóvenes. Exploramos los desafíos que enfrentan hoy en día, desde la presión escolar y el impacto de las redes sociales hasta la influencia de la cultura, la política y la religión, y por qué es fundamental escuchar sus voces para construir un mayor bienestar en nuestra comunidad.

On this episode of the Healthy Chicago Podcast, Ayo and Charlotte, local high school students and members of the Mayor’s Youth Commission (MYC), join Kathy Calderon (Director of Behavioral Health Program Operations) in conversation about their work in the MYC, raising awareness about mental health amongst Chicago’s youth, and how current trends and technologies like social media present challenges and advantages for some teenagers.

Learn more about the Mayor’s Youth Commission at https://explore.mychimyfuture.org/chicagoyouthcommission

To find access to mental health resources near you, visit https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cdph/supp_info/behavioral-health/mental_health_centers.html

What is National Infant Immunization Week and why is it important? On this episode, Atinuke Ajibola (Public Health Nurse II) and Diana Balbarin (Nurse Practitioner) discuss why this yearly observance is crucial for children’s health, what the current guidelines are, and how to navigate any uncertainty around vaccines and vaccine-prevention illnesses.

Find out more at https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cdph/provdrs/infectious_disease/svcs/vaccines-and-vaccine-preventable-diseases.html

Como cada año, la Semana Nacional de la Vacunación Infantil se celebra la tercera semana de abril. En este episodio, Ariel Padilla y Whitney Bellido, enfermeras de las clínicas de inmunización de las vacunas, nos hablan sobre la importancia de estar al día con las vacunas, cómo estas protegen a los más pequeños y cuál es el calendario actualizado de vacunación. También abordamos los mitos que rodean a las vacunas y cómo los padres pueden estar bien informados para tomar decisiones que protejan a sus hijos.