This is Viral

November's been a busy month, hasn't it? 

We're premiering a new element of This is Viral, What's the News with Katy Q! In today's episode, host Paco Abiad is rejoined by Dr. Kathryn Quissell, but you can call her Katy. Together, they analyze the outcomes of the latest U.S. elections and breaking news about promising vaccines. Got questions about what this means for pubic health?  We've got the answers right here! 

Public Health Bookworm Reading List 

Podcast Resources  

Music by Ketsa 

Thank you to Anchor for sponsoring this episode.

Follow @thisisviralpodcast on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

What enrages you and what gives you hope?

This episode gives a whole new meaning to "I Can't Breathe."

Have you ever heard of pollution inequity? You're about to find out how minority communities are exposed to more pollution than they contribute. In the next episode of the "I Can't Breathe" series, we learn about the very real consequences of climate change on population health. In our first episode featuring a physician, we chat with pediatrician and founder of Virginia Clinicians for Climate Action, Dr. Samantha Ahdoot. If you're wondering how climate health is related to our conversations promoting racial equity and justice, you'll certainly understand after finishing this episode. 

Podcast Resources  

Music by Ketsa and Chad Crouch

Thank you to Anchor for sponsoring this episode.

Follow @thisisviralpodcast on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

What enrages you and what gives you hope?

Watermelon Chicken Salad, anyone?

Welcome to the launch of a new series of episodes, each of which provide a unique perspective on COVID-19's impact on different topics. First up, we're examining what it's like for college students to experience the fall semester amidst fluctuating patterns of COVID-19 infections. Join co-hosts Paco Abiad, Fariha Mujeebuddin, and Ryan Orr as they listen to four distinct college student reflections. The schools featured include: New York University (NYU), University of Oxford, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), and Rutgers University (RU).

We continue our efforts to learn and listen to our audience - email us ([email protected]) to share your personal stories in dealing with COVID-19. Whether you're an EMT, primary school teacher, performing artist, or attending higher education, we want to hear from you!

Public Health Bookworm Reading List 

Podcast Resources  

Music by Ketsa and Chad Crouch

Thank you to Anchor for sponsoring this episode.

Follow @thisisviralpodcast on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. 

What enrages you and what gives you hope?

What can activists do to promote embodied solidarity to ally with the Black community?  

In the next episode of the I Can't Breathe series, co-hosts Paco Abiad and Mikayla Marraccini embark on a journey of social ethics with Dr. Nichole Flores, a religious studies professor at the University of Virginia. Join them in a riveting conversation that connects the dots between Black Lives Matter, the hardships of the Latinx community, protests in sports, and performing arts centers.  

Join This is Viral in supporting the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), the organization that Dr. Nichole spoke of in explaining her origin story towards ethics. Donate here to the CIW's Fair Food Program, which ensures that over 35,000 farmworkers in seven states are working free from sexual harassment and discrimination, in safer working conditions, and earning better wages. You may also sign this petition and join 45,000 other supporters calling on Florida Gov. Mathis to protect the farmworker's community during COVID-19.  

Public Health Bookworm Reading List 

Podcast Resources  

Music by Ketsa and Chad Crouch 

Thank you to Anchor for sponsoring this episode. 

Follow @thisisviralpodcast on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. What enrages you and what gives you hope? 

Email us - [email protected]

What do you do when someone doesn't believe that racism is a health issue?  

*Note: Within this episode, we use the term Black bodies when discussing systemic racism in the healthcare field. While the intentions are benign, we acknowledge that language matters and that a better phrase is Black People or Lives, because the Black community is more than their bodies.*

Epidemiologist and infectious disease expert Dr. Nadia Abuelezam joins co-hosts Paco Abiad and Casey Grage to build upon the previously discussed concepts of racial health disparities. Tune in to learn how to think through a social determinants of health framework. It's crucial to acknowledge that the original structures of public health and medicine are inherently racist. What must come next is measurable action to ensure that these institutions fulfill their responsibilities to protect and promote health regardless of race.  

This time, we are not highlighting a single non-profit effort for listeners to donate to - instead, listen to Nadia's advice on supporting initiatives that matter to you and address systemic causes of inequality. After some reflection, consider donating and make a difference today.  

Public Health Bookworm Reading List for further learning, readings recommended by our guest experts. 

Podcast Resources 

Music by Chad Crouch 

Thank you to Anchor for sponsoring this episode. 

Follow @thisisviralpodcast on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter  

What enrages you and what gives you hope? Email us - [email protected] 

Medical anthropologist Dr. Gertrude Fraser and co-hosts Paco Abiad and Joyce Cheng launch the I Can't Breathe Series. Dr. Fraser discusses her mindset teaching medical anthropology at UVA, maternal mortality as an example of racial health disparities, and her personal experiences with police safety as a form of racial privilege. 

Donate to Sister Song to support indigenous women and women of color achieve reproductive justice. 

Public Health Bookworm Reading List for further learning, readings recommended by our guest experts.

Podcast Resources 

Music by Chad Crouch & Ketsa

Follow @thisisviralpodcast on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter 

What enrages you and what gives you hope? Email us - [email protected] 

Anti-racism is more than a trending topic. 

We’re pleased to announce an upcoming series on anti-racism and its intersection with health. Our team has been working hard to listen, reflect, and research content on this enormous topic. 

Topics we'll be focusing on include: Defining systems of inequality and how they contribute to racial health disparities, emphasizing the importance of anti-racism, what progress has been made since George Floyd's death and what systemic changes remain, the risks of being tear gassed during COVID-19, and much more.

We want to hear from you - what are you hoping to learn about during this ongoing series? Submit inquiries to [email protected] 

Music by Chad Crouch

"What the heck is public health and what does that have anything to do with me?" Host Paco Abiad chats with Doctor Kathryn Quissell from the University of Virginia to expand on the core values of public health, how she came to dedicate herself to researching health inequities, and who would benefit from a little public health knowledge. (Hint: the answer is everyone!)  

To learn more about the research interests of the guest expert, each episode features additional reading material so that you may continue your learning experiences and build up your public health knowledge.  

Public Health Bookworm Reading List: 1) Infections and Inequalities by Dr. Paul Farmer - https://rb.gy/qusm7t  2) Stigma as a Fundamental Cause of Population Health Inequalities by Link and Phelan - https://rb.gy/f6vyy1  

Follow @thisisviralpodcast on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

We'd love to hear from you - email us at [email protected] to let us know what enrages you and what gives you hope! 

Music Credits: Chad Crouch, Ketsa