08/31/25

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S04_E23 - Beyond the Common Cold:  Understanding Pneumonia

With Special Guest:  Dr. Jessica Oswald, DO

Pneumonia!  It's something we've all heard of - or maybe even had!  It's sometimes deadly, sometimes contagious and almost always misunderstood.  But what's going on in the body exactly?  Is it contagious?  How is it different than a bad cold or bronchitis?  And why does it start with the letter P anyway?  (sorry, we don't really have an answer for that one...)

The lungs are sensitive spaces in our body and without proper care and preventative strategies, things can go sideways pretty quickly.  Thankfully on Episode 23 of our show we'll be joined by Dr. Jessica Oswald to get a baseline on these organs and what's happening when pneumonia sets in.  We'll go over who's at risk, what causes it, what can be done if you have it, and the best bets for how to dodge this pesky p-word.  And although you can't get it from having wet hair outside in the middle of Winter, Fall and Winter are peak seasons for pneumonia, so join us and get wise before they get here!

We're open to your comments or ideas for future shows!
Email - [email protected]
Call - 612-873-TALK (8255)

Get a preview of upcoming shows on social media and find out more about our show at www.healthymatters.org.

08/17/25

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S04_E22 - Why Medicaid Matters for Everyone...

With Special Guest:  Susie Emmert - Sr. Director of Advocacy and Public Policy

It's probably pretty safe to say that the healthcare system in this country is complicated, at best, and something that's only made worse by politics.  The recent passage of "The Big Beautiful Bill" has put an often debated, seldom understood and always essential piece of the healthcare puzzle in jeopardy - that being Medicaid.  But what is Medicaid exactly, and what role does it play for individuals and providers?  How is it different from Medicare?  Why is it under such scrutiny?  And why should I care if I'm not on Medicaid?

There's a lot of reasonable confusion when it comes to Medicaid and the passing of this recent bill, so we thought it was time to bring in an expert to help us untangle it - a little, at least.  Susie Emmert, Sr. Director of Advocacy and Public Policy at Hennepin Healthcare will walk us through some of the basics of Medicaid, how it applies to healthcare at both a patient and system level, and the effect the Big Beautiful Bill is expected to have on it (it's not pretty).  Think changes to Medicaid won't effect you?  Tune in and get wise to why this is definitely something that will affect us all.

We're open to your comments or ideas for future shows!
Email - [email protected]
Call - 612-873-TALK (8255)

Get a preview of upcoming shows on social media and find out more about our show at www.healthymatters.org.

08/03/25

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S04_E21 - The Small, but Mighty ... THYROID!

With Special Guest:  Dr. Sreekant Avula, MBBS

Sometimes, the why behind how we feel is a little hard to pinpoint.  Are you feeling sluggish and tired all the time, even though you're getting enough rest?  Are you gaining or losing weight without even trying?   Well, it could have something to do with your small, but mighty, butterfly-shaped gland in your neck - the thyroid.  Turns out this gland is responsible for quite a bit in the body!

But what exactly does it control?  What happens to us when something goes wrong?  And, of course, how do we fix it when something does?  On Episode 21 of our show, we'll be joined by endocrinologist Dr. Sreekant Avula to get the basics on this essential piece of the human puzzle.  We'll go over what makes it tick, what it makes tick, why we need it, and what can be done when something goes wrong with it.  We've all got a thyroid, so there's something here for everyone.  Join us!

We're open to your comments or ideas for future shows!
Email - [email protected]
Call - 612-873-TALK (8255)

Get a preview of upcoming shows on social media and find out more about our show at www.healthymatters.org.

07/20/25

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S04_E20 - Sweet Talk: Decoding Diabetes

With Special Guest:  Dr. Allison Estrada, MD

Think about this:  1 in every 10 Americans is living with Diabetes in one form or another.  It's one of the most common chronic conditions today, and it's a condition that's often misunderstood and easily oversimplified.  Diabetes isn’t just about sugar—it’s about science, lifestyle, and the small decisions that shape our health every day.  But who's most at risk?  Is it at all reversible?  Can GLP1 drugs actually help?  And is cream always a bad idea?

The truth is, it's a complicated subject since there are many types and origins of the condition, and on Episode 20, we'll untangle it with one of our top docs at Hennepin Healthcare - endocrinologist Dr. Allison Estrada.  We'll dig in to how diabetes develops, what happens in the body, and why early detection and consistent management are essential.  From diagnosis to treatment options and the latest help from the pharmacy - this is a great chance to get wise on a condition that's simply all too common in our society.  We hope you'll join us!

Here's a great resource for more information:

https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes-prevention/index.html

We're open to your comments or ideas for future shows!
Email - [email protected]
Call - 612-873-TALK (8255)

Get a preview of upcoming shows on social media and find out more about our show at www.healthymatters.org.

07/06/25

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S04_E19 - Hunger, Health, and Hope: Tackling Food Insecurity

With Special Guests:  Dr. Dianna Cutts, MD, and Amy Harris

It’s pretty hard to concentrate, work, or pretty much do anything while you’re hungry.  And while, for many of us, hunger is a passing moment, there are far too many children and adults living with this as a daily reality.  Food insecurity extends well beyond the physical effects of being hungry.  It can be a major stressor on the daily lives of kids in school, their parents, and our society as a whole.  Hunger, the world over, is a critical issue, and in our first-world, modern American society, this definitely merits a deeper look.

On this episode of our show, we’ll dig into the complexities of it with the help of two special guests from Hennepin Healthcare. Dr. Diana Cutts is the Chair of Pediatrics and a nationally recognized leader on the subject, and Amy Harris is the Population Health Program Director and a champion of building healthier communities.  We’ll go over everything from the impacts food insecurity has on both children and parents, and how those effects play out in our society as a whole.  We’ll also talk about the stress it causes on families, the importance of bringing it to the fore in a clinical setting, and what can be done to help at an individual, community, state, and even national level.  Food and nutrition are essential for human survival, so it’s safe to say food security is essential for the survival of our society.  We hope you’ll join us.

We're open to your comments or ideas for future shows!
Email - [email protected]
Call - 612-873-TALK (8255)

Here are some links to organizations that make a difference if you want to see how you can help:

Feeding America: MN

Second Harvest Heartland

Hennepin Healthcare Foundation

Get a preview of upcoming shows on social media and find out more about our show at www.healthymatters.org.

06/22/25

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S04_E18 - The ABCs of COPD

With Special Guest:  Dr. Caroline Davis, MD

Did you know that 6.5% of Americans have physician-diagnosed Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)?  That's a pretty staggering statistic...  You might think that people get it from smoking, and well, you'd be right.  But that's not the only thing that can cause it!  COPD is a disease of the airways where people have difficulty getting air out  of there lungs.  But why is that an issue?  Who's most likely to be afflicted with this condition?  And best yet, how can you avoid it altogether?

Joining us on Episode 18 of our show is Dr. Caroline Davis, a pulmonologist at Hennepin Healthcare, and just the expert to help us get to the bottom of some of these questions.  We'll go over the common causes of COPD, who's at risk, the current and future treatments available, and how this condition differs from other afflictions, like emphysema and asthma.  COPD can be a serious disease, but there are a lot great treatments available, and believe us when we say that at the end of this episode, you'll be breathing a little easier.  Join us!

We're open to your comments or ideas for future shows!
Email - [email protected]
Call - 612-873-TALK (8255)

Get a preview of upcoming shows on social media and find out more about our show at www.healthymatters.org.

06/08/25

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S04_E17 - Bedside Bots!  AI Scribing in Healthcare

With Special Guest:  Brian Imdieke, MAN, ANP-BC

Ever feel like your doctor is paying more attention to their keyboard than to you? You're not alone—and that's one of the problems AI scribes are trying to fix.  But how do they work?  How good are they?  Is my data still private?  And are we nearing the age of Dr. Bot, M.D.?

In this episode, we'll take a look at how artificial intelligence is transforming the exam room with Clinical Informaticist and published expert, Brian Imdieke (MAN, ANP-BC) of Hennepin Healthcare.  We’ll explore how AI scribes work, who's using them, what they’re doing well—and where they might still fall short.  From reducing caregiver burnout to reclaiming precious face-to-face time in the exam room, we'll unpack the promise, the pitfalls, and the privacy questions around this transformative technology.  Join us!

We're open to your comments or ideas for future shows!
Email - [email protected]
Call - 612-873-TALK (8255)

Get a preview of upcoming shows on social media and find out more about our show at www.healthymatters.org.

05/25/25

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S04_E16 - We're Talkin' Speech-Language Pathology

With Special Guest:  Adam Terrell, MS

When it comes to the field of Speech Pathology, we might tend to think it's all about helping people with the challenges of a stutter or helping kids get out a proper "R" sound - but it turns out there's a lot more to it!  Communication is a 2-way street, and there can be a lot to manage when it comes to speaking, listening and retaining information.  From a child struggling to say their first words, to stroke survivors, a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) can be essential to opening up the doors of language and communication.

But it turns out there's even more to it - and joining us on Episode 16 of our show is Adam Terrel (MS).  He's a SLP at Hennepin Healthcare and he'll walk us though what the job is really like in a hospital setting and the variety of patients helped by the work of SLPs.  We'll cover everything, from diagnosing swallowing issues to therapies and outcomes for those looking to regain their voice.  Communication is an essential part of our lives and whether you're a parent, a patient or just curious about the world of Speech-Language Pathology, you've come to the right place.  Let's get talking!

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association  I  ASHA.org

We're open to your comments or ideas for future shows!
Email - [email protected]
Call - 612-873-TALK (8255)

Get a preview of upcoming shows on social media and find out more about our show at www.healthymatters.org.

05/11/25

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S04_E15 - Heat, Haze & How Climate Is Affecting Our Health

With Special Guest:  Beth Stegora, PT, DPT

As global temperatures rise and extreme weather events become more frequent, it's not just our environment that’s feeling the impact—our bodies and communities are, too.  Worsening air quality, heatwaves and supply chain disruptions are just some of the many ways climate change can have profound effects on both our physical and mental heath, making it an essential part of any conversation around public health.

But as always, knowledge is power and action is the antidote, so on the next episode of the show we'll be joined by Climate Health Ambassador, Beth Stegora (PT, DPT) and she'll help us get a better understanding of these effects and give us helpful ideas on how to stay healthy and how each of us can make a positive impact on our climate's health going forward.  Since we all share this planet, we're all in this together, so there's something in this episode for everyone.  We hope you'll join us!

We're open to your comments or ideas for future shows!
Email - [email protected]
Call - 612-873-TALK (8255)

Get a preview of upcoming shows on social media and find out more about our show at www.healthymatters.org.

04/27/25

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S04_E14 - Gut Check: Understanding Crohn's Disease

With Special Guest:  Dr. Jason Eckmann, MD

We've all had a stomach bug at some point in our lives, and it's probably safe to say that every one of us would rather skip the next one.  But for millions worldwide with a Crohn's Disease diagnosis (AKA Crohn Disease), that stomach issue is much like the condition they live with every day of their lives.  Crohn's is a chronic condition, and whether you’re newly diagnosed, supporting someone who is, or just curious about what this condition is all about, in this episode, we'll break it down in a helpful way that’s easy to understand.

A diagnosis of this condition can be scary, and it's certainly one that comes with its own set of physical and emotional challenges.  Thankfully, on this show we'll be joined by Dr. Jason Eckmann, MD, a Gastroenterologist at Hennepin Healthcare, and someone who's helped countless patients navigate this condition and continue on with their lives.  From symptoms, to diagnosis, to treatments and what the future might hold for those with Crohn's, there's a lot to talk about - and we've got just the expert to walk us through it.  We hope you'll join us.

Here's a link to the Chron's & Colitis Foundation mentioned in the show.

We're open to your comments or ideas for future shows!
Email - [email protected]
Call - 612-873-TALK (8255)

Get a preview of upcoming shows on social media and find out more about our show at www.healthymatters.org.