Public Health Joy: Community Power, Health Equity, and Leadership in Action

Public Health Joy: Community Power, Health Equity, and Leadership in Action

By Dr. Joyee WashingtonBusinessCareers
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Public Health Joy: Community Power, Health Equity, and Leadership in Action episodes

  • S3 Ep 4: "Beyond the Gift Card" - A Conversation with The Community Lady

    Research is often a dirty word in communities. The harm caused by academic researchers can only be counteracted by building trust and relationships in an authentic way. And that doesn't mean just offering a gift card for all their data! It means prioritizing the strengths and needs of communities in addition to fairly compensating them for their time.

    Today we are joined by The Community Lady herself, Ms. Ede Crittle – a seasoned professional in community engagement, partnership development, and coalition building. With over 20 years of experience, Ede's passion for grassroots organizations as the foundation for change has led her to promote equitable health through research partnerships since 2011. 

    In today’s conversation, the John Hopkins’ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Service Award recipient walks us through her professional background, how she gained her affectionate nickname, and a rundown of Project E-RACE and the other work she’s currently involved in. Then, we dive into how she is building relationships between communities and academic researchers, what true partnership looks like, and we discuss why academic researchers need to better understand the role and power of communities. To end, Ede walks us through her Beyond the Gift Card community conversation series, and we discover why she’s at her happiest when the people around her are working together.  

     

    Key Points From This Episode:

    • Introducing The Community Lady herself, Ms. Ede Crittle. [01:04]

    • Ede’s professional background and the work she’s currently involved in (Project E-RACE). [02:02]

    • How she became ‘The Community Lady’. [03:35]

    • Taking a closer look at how to improve research in community-based organizations. [06:40]

    • The difference between community-based and community-driven research. [13:20]

    • Exploring the relationship between academic researchers and their community partners. [15:20]

    • The ins and outs of Ede’s Beyond the Gift Card community conversation series. [20:14]

    • What brings her joy in her work. [25:50]

    • More details on Project E-RACE. [26:28]

      • If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review!  For more transcripts, show notes, and more visit: https://joyeewashington.com/public-health-joy-podcast-season-3/  

      29 min
    • S3 Ep 3: Building Resilience Through Community-Driven Decision-Making

      The sooner we acknowledge that public health issues are linked to urban planning, community building, racism, and epigenetics, the sooner we can solve public health crises across the world!

      Today on The Public Health Joy Podcast, we are joined by the founder and CEO of Deep Consultants, urban planning scholar, and TED Talk alumnus, Dr. Deepika Andavarapu. Dr. Andavarapu is a strategic systems thinker designing long-term solutions in public health with an emphasis on results and measuring impact.

      In this episode, you will hear all about our guest’s background, how urban planning and public health go hand-in-hand, the importance of community-driven decision-making, and so much more! We delve into Dr. Andavarapu’s TED Talk and the resilience of communities before discussing why we need to move away from the medical model in the public health system. Dr. Andavarapu even explains why race and racism are a massive public health crisis. Finally, she tells us what brings her joy in her work. To hear all this and even get a bit of insight into the incredible WE Public Health organization, tune in now!

      Key Points From This Episode:

      • Introducing today’s guest, Dr. Deepika Andavarapu, and a bit about WE Public Health. [0:01:03]

      • Dr. Andavarapu explains the connection between urban planning and public health. [0:05:41]

      • The importance of involving the voice of the community when finding sustainable solutions. [0:08:59]

      • What Dr. Andavarapu’s TED Talk was about and the three levels of social capital. [0:18:22]

      • Why we need to move beyond the medical model in the public health system. [0:26:28]

      • The effect that race and generational racism have on public health crises and why that needs to be recognized. [0:30:00]

      • The importance of having a mindset shift in order to make true changes in public health. [0:36:55]

      • Dr. Andavarapu tells us what brings her joy in her work. [0:39:01]

        • If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review!  For more transcripts, show notes, and more visit: https://joyeewashington.com/public-health-joy-podcast-season-3/

        42 min
      • S3 Ep 2: Women Entrepreneurs Changing the Game in Public Health

        Many of us have experienced a pivotal moment in our lives where we couldn’t just keep talking, we had to take action. And sometimes the best way to ensure action takes place is to enlist the help of your community, rather than attempt to go at it alone. Such was the experience of Jennifer McKeever, Founder and Managing Partner of WE Public Health, a growing collective of women consultants, all of whom are committed to making a difference in their profession.

        In today’s episode, we talk with Jennifer about the founding of WE Public Health, why she did so with a collective of brilliant women, and how they have set about supporting others in their profession. We discuss the many challenges women face, from the racism experienced by women of color to overall sexism, and why WE Public Health is dedicated to the idea of allowing women to lead on their own terms.

        Jennifer also expands on how they run their operations at WE Public Health, the effort being made to truly embrace the cooperative model, how this sets them apart, and why our current systems make cooperatives so difficult. To hear the full scope of all the incredible things happening at WE Public Health, be sure to tune in to this important conversation!

        Key Points From This Episode:

        • Get to know our guest, Jennifer McKeever. [0:55]

        • How Jennifer and a collective of women first conceptualized WE Public Health. [02:25]

        • Why so many women are making the transition to a solopreneurship. [04:30]

        • How WE Public Health helps support women in the public health profession. [05:30]

        • What Jennifer learned from initiating a collective of consultants. [06:51]

        • An overview of what makes WE Public Health unique in its operations. [08:35]

        • The cooperative spirit at the heart of their organization; why they are committed to it despite the challenges. [10:38]

        • Why Jennifer is consistently blown away by the untapped talent in public health. [15:21]

        • How different backgrounds and lived experiences contribute to public health work. [17:08]

        • The story of how Jennifer was first introduced to public health as a profession. [18:41]

        • Why you can’t have an optimal outcome if you don’t have good processes and relationships. [24:11]

        • Unpacking how WE Public Health builds robust, lasting relationships between collaborators, consultants, and clients. [25:18]

        • Insight into WE Public Health’s tailored approach to consulting. [0:30:46]

        • Jennifer shares what brings her joy in her work and how you can get in touch. [32:42]

          • If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review!  For more transcripts, show notes, and more visit: https://joyeewashington.com/public-health-joy-podcast-season-3/

          36 min
        • S3 Ep 1: Exponential Growth

          Welcome to a fresh year and a brand new season filled with exciting expectations! In season 3, we're diving into the theme of "Exponential Growth."

          In this premiere episode, we explore what's on the horizon for Season 3, the innovative challenges Dr. Joyee is embracing for personal and professional development, and strategies for setting expectations and creating plans to catalyze positive impacts in your community.

          Tune in as we navigate the path to a future of enhanced public health research, focusing on sustainable solutions, community well-being, and health equity.

          Key Points:

          0:05 Preparing for exponential growth in public health research. 

          4:17 Personal growth and self-care in 2024. 

          7:56 Slow and steady growth vs. exponential growth in business and personal life. 

          13:55 Preparing for exponential growth in public health research. 

          18:19 3 key steps for planning for exponential growth in public health research 

          23:39 What to expect in season 3 of the podcast

          If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review! For more transcripts, show notes, and more visit: https://joyeewashington.com/public-health-joy-podcast-season-3/

          27 min
        • S2 Ep 25: Moving Mountains-Lessons Learned as a Public Health Researcher

          Challenges we face as public health researchers and professionals can often feel like a mountain. How do we overcome these challenges? We have to learn how to move the mountains.

          Join Dr. Joyee on a transformative journey in the season 2 finale of The Public Health Joy Podcast, where she shares invaluable insights gained from overcoming hurdles in public health research. From navigating technical glitches to personal struggles with trauma, autoimmune disease, job loss, and grief, Dr. Joyee reveals the resilience needed to move mountains for others through shared experiences.

          Discover the top 5 lessons learned as a public health researcher, emphasizing the courage to confront challenges head-on and the transformative power of being intentional. Dr. Joyee dives into the art of moving mountains in public health research, advocating for starting small, believing in change, and the profound impact of community collaboration.

          Be encouraged, be inspired, start small, and believe in the possibility of change. 


          Key points:

          0:55 Celebrating YOU! 

          3:12 Celebrating 25 episodes 

          4:38 The story behind creating The Public Health Joy Podcast 

          9:03 Overcoming challenges in public health research and career development. 

          13:47 Facing challenges, collaboration, and community involvement in public health

          14:24 Top 5 lessons learned to overcoming challenges

          22:10 Shifting the narrative in public health research 

          If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review!  For more transcripts, show notes, and more visit: https://joyeewashington.com/podcast/

           

          27 min
        • S2 Ep 24: Put Down The World and Rest-Preventing Burnout in Public Health

          Are you a public health professional who feels overwhelmed and exhausted? Perhaps you love your career, but you just don’t feel fulfilled and you’re beginning to wonder if your only option is to quit. You might be experiencing burnout!

          Today, we speak with rest coach, Marissa McKool about what it means to prevent burnout in the public health space and how we can “put the world down and rest." Marissa is a former public health leader-turned public health burnout coach for women who helps public health professionals reduce their stress, increase their confidence, and create a fulfilling career without burning out. She got her Master of Public Health (MPH) at Emory University, completed a fellowship at the CDC, and has held several leadership positions at UC Berkeley's School of Public Health.

          In this episode, you’ll learn some practical tips to identify burnout, detach from hustle culture, give yourself permission to rest, begin to practice intentional thoughts, and so much more! As you’ll discover, Marissa believes that rest is a revolutionary act in the face of toxic capitalism and other systems of oppression. Tune in to begin your restful resistance today!

          Key Points From This Episode:

          • Insight into Marissa’s public health journey and her experience of burnout. [02:05]

          • Signs and symptoms of physical, mental, and emotional burnout. [08:10]

          • Detaching from hustle culture: why rest shouldn’t be correlated with productivity. [11:30]

          • How to start with what you need and give yourself permission to ask: what do I want? [16:30]

          • Tools to help you focus on what you can control and practice intentional thoughts. [22:34]

          • Simple ways to resist the conditioning that tells us we don’t deserve rest. [26:22]

          • Why rest is a revolutionary act in the face of toxic capitalism. [31:30]

          • The role of intersectionality and the value of coaching. [35:44]

          • How Marissa derives joy from seeing her clients begin to invest in themselves. [36:30]

          • Ways to get in touch with Marissa and access her free resources! [38:01]


            • If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review!  For more transcripts, show notes, and more visit: https://joyeewashington.com/podcast/

            40 min
          • S2 Ep 23: Research and Work Reimagined-Finding Freedom in Wellness

            A precedent of overworking yourself and only resting when you hit burnout in order to work even more has been set in the workplace and it has to change.

            In this episode, we are joined by the award-winning educator and social scientist, Dr. Courtney McCluney to hear about her research in codeswitching and how she has found freedom in wellness and reimagining how we should work through her company, Equiwell Partners Group. We are reminded that it is okay to remove yourself from work environments that do not serve you and that your work should bring you joy.

            Key Points From This Episode:

            • Introducing today’s guest, Dr. Courtney McCluney. [0:52]

            • Courtney tells us about her professional journey and what she strives to accomplish. [02:40]

            • Our guest’s mission to make individual wellness the most important part of business. [04:29]

            • What codeswitching is; particularly in the workplace amongst Black people. [13:50]

            • The link between public health issues and codeswitching. [19:00]

            • The importance of moving away from work environments that do not serve you. [26:47]

            • Why work environments should prioritize employees’ well-being and bring joy. [33:36]

            • What brings Courtney joy in her work at the moment. [36:41]

              • If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review!  For more transcripts, show notes, and more visit: https://joyeewashington.com/podcast/

              41 min
            • S2 Ep 22: Lived Experience is Data. Periodt.

              When it comes to qualitative research, lived experience offers a wealth of valuable information that can shape and enhance the quality and relevance of public health studies. Few researchers know this better than Dr. Marissa Robinson, DrPH, MPH, RPCV, a strategic leader, visionary, and disruptor within the field of infectious disease.

              In today's episode, Dr. Robinson shares her perspective on the power of qualitative research, recognizing our lived experiences as data, and breaking into the public health field as a Black woman researcher. We also touch on the value of taking an ethnographic approach, the importance of holding those around you accountable, and of course, what brings Dr. Robinson joy in her work. Tune in to learn more about using qualitative research to ensure that your programs, grants, interventions, and data drive positive impact and long term solutions, bringing joy to your communities!

              Key Points From This Episode:

              • Why Dr. Robinson is proud to be a person of color in the field of infectious disease. [02:01]

              • How she broke into the space as a Black woman researcher. [04:51]

              • Reasons that qualitative research is just as important as quantitative research. [10:09]

              • Advice for finding your place in the vast field of public health and making an impact. [13:01]

              • The crucial role that storytelling has played in marginalized communities. [16:48]

              • Highlighting the value of taking an ethnographic approach to your research. [20:28]

              • Why lived experience should be considered valuable data. [25:40]

              • The importance of celebrating small wins and holding people accountable. [30:38]

              • Making “good trouble” and other things that bring Dr. Robinson joy in her work. [34:15]

                • If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review!  For more transcripts, show notes, and more visit: https://joyeewashington.com/podcast/

                41 min
              • S2 Ep 21: Get Plugged In-Language and Communication for Health

                In this episode we are talking with Marline Edmond founder of Plug Communications, LLC about how she is developing culturally competent health communication strategies in "Plain Language U Get" to promote equitable health information targeting the Black diaspora.


                Marline is a public health communications strategist, a third-year postgraduate student at Howard University Cathy Hughes School of Communications, and a self-proclaimed optimist who also goes by the moniker Munchy da Plug. In her research, she focuses on the history of health campaign propaganda, media framing of Haitians during public health crises, and the health communication practices to address the Black maternal health crisis in America. She joins us to discuss her mission and her varied experiences helping BIPOC people to navigate the US healthcare system. We touch on the gift we share as Black women to navigate different spaces, what it means to understand the political powers at play in the healthcare system, and harness the power of language. Language is evolving and we are called to respond to our changing world. Today’s conversation provides a practical starting point to empower others as we do exactly that! Thanks for tuning in. 

                Key Points From This Episode:

                • Welcoming Marline Edmonds, also known as Munchy da Plug, to the Public Health Joy Podcast. [0:00]

                • Her mission to connect others to public health resources and where her nickname comes from. [01:42]

                • Munchy’s experiences helping her Haitian parents to navigate the English healthcare system. [03:35]

                • Navigating different spaces as a Black woman and communicating beyond words to protect your community. [05:37]

                • Allocating appropriate blame to institutions rather than individuals in the healthcare system. [08:06]

                • The power of language in directing research and communication. [11:33]

                • Why learning is beautiful and what happens when you ask folks to repeat themselves. [17:13]

                • The danger of accepting the spiral of silence. [18:32]

                • Responding to a changing world with evolving language. [21:33]

                • Why it is so important to identify and speak to your specific audience. [26:27]

                • What brings Marline joy in her work as a public health communications professional. [28:42]

                  • If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review!  For more transcripts, show notes, and more visit: https://joyeewashington.com/podcast/

                  32 min
                • S2 Ep 20: The Impact of Unlearning in Community-Engaged Research

                  Community-engaged research is a collaborative and participatory approach to public health research and evaluation that includes those affected by the issue at hand. Ultimately, this means going beyond the textbook to understand these issues from a different (and sometimes uncomfortable) perspective.

                  In this episode, we talk to community psychologist and committed equity and social justice advocate, Dr. Tatiana Bustos, about the impact of “unlearning” in community-engaged research and the importance of out-of-the-box thinking that invites communities into the process. Dr. Bustos shares insight into how she has helped public health practitioners build capacity with more equity-centered approaches that can strengthen communities and create social change to transform lives.

                  Key Points From This Episode:

                  • An introduction to Dr. Bustos and the work she does as a community psychologist. [2:10]

                  • The different mindset and “unlearning” that community-engaged research requires. [3:44]

                  • Why leaning into discomfort is important in order to work with your community. [14:06]

                  • How Dr. Bustos thinks about promoting equity and accessibility in her research. [17:52]

                  • Benefits of bringing your identity into your work as a public health professional. [20:56]

                  • Redefining success based on the community you’re working with. [23:23]

                  • Dr. Bustos highlights the significance of different types of impact. [26:04]

                  • What brings Dr. Bustos joy in her work, namely the people she serves. [33:11]

                    • If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review!  For more transcripts, show notes, and more visit: https://joyeewashington.com/podcast/

                    37 min

                  About Public Health Joy: Community Power, Health Equity, and Leadership in Action

                  From the publisher's feed

                  Public Health Joy is a podcast for public health professionals, researchers, and community leaders who believe equity, justice, and healing belong at the center of public health work. Hosted by Dr.…