True Health Live

Health equity is still out of reach. Many do not experience equitable application of policies and systems – perpetuating health disparities.

Do you want to share your story and experience? Contact us and tells us about what’s happening with you.

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In Episode 13 we are talkin’ telemedicine and its place in culture – it’s how we do things now.

In our first live episode, we cover the true story of menthol. We are joined by guest host, Natasha Phelps, a Lead Senior Staff Attorney at the Public Health Law Center. She leads their race and health equity work focusing on racism as a public health emergency.

Menthol is a point of contention in the tobacco control world. “For the last 11 years, advocates have been banging their cups agains the rails trying to get policymakers to understand the dangers of menthol. Since the 1960s Big Tobacco have targeted communities of color, more specifically Black communities. When it comes to menthol, it is the cigarette flavor of choice for over 80% of Black smokers.”

Ms. Phelps reminds us that when it comes to what has happened on the legal front with menthol, it is really a reflection of the political oppression and the systems that are present in this country. There is a period where people weren’t aware of the programming, but once they became aware of what the tobacco industry was doing the general mindset toward smoking started to change. Attitudes began to shift as more science developed and concerns around children were at the forefront. But what about the Black children?

When we think about the true story of menthol, we have to be brave enough to take the story in its entirety. Menthol is the great initiator. It starts with young people but then it becomes the vice for some many Black people who start smoking. Menthol actually makes it easier to get hooked and much harder to quit.

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What are the things that we should do to keep stay healthy? In True Health Live Podcast Episode 11, Deidre, Precious and Anushka share wise words as they deliberate on their own “healthy” behaviors – starting with food.

“Food is fuel.” It is almost like determining the best gas for your car. If we wouldn’t put diesel or low grade fuel in a luxury town car, then why consume inappropriate or sub par food? Precious reminds us that the time period from plate to mouth is the shortest part of the journey. Anushka also ads that for many that explosion of flavor for the taste buds is the most important.

Food is where it all starts. What is on the internal will always exhibit itself on the external. Therefore, have to be mindful of the “fuel” that we put into our bodies. The wrong foods can lead to other negative health outcomes like obesity, diabetes, heart disease, stroke and hypertension. All of which come with hefty price tags for the health care system.

Ultimately, we have to choose the right things to put in our bodies. “As you continue to eat better, you feel better and when you feel better you don’t worry as much.”

Part 2 is here! In Episode 10 of True Health Live, Deidre and Precious continue the discussion. They provide additional shares of stressful experiences and personal stories about policing and public health. They also cover the dynamics of being pulled over, what to do, and the overall impact on mental health.

Policing and public health is a global issue. Taking location into account, both our individual and shared experiences (current and historical) shape our perspectives on this matter. But why is it a public health issue? Because for many people of color, it means exposure unnecessary aggression and violence that have both physical and psychological affects. Encounters with police are a matter of life or death which is an underlying cause of stress for many.

For people of color, policing means stress of knowing what could happen, what has happened to those you know and those you don’t means walking on eggshells daily. The question of whether or not one will make it home is maddening. You can be sleeping in your own home and still not be safe.

Making matters worse is fact that there is never any real resolve after most incidents of police violence. According to data from Mapping Police Violence website, almost 99% of murders by “police between 2013 and 2020 have not resulted in officers being charged with a crime”.

Policing and public health is a global issue. Our perspectives on this matter are colored by both our individual and shared experiences (current and historical). But why is it a public health issue? Because for many people of color, it means exposure unnecessary aggression and violence that have both physical and psychological affects. Encounters with police are a matter of life or death which is an underlying cause of stress for many.

For people of color, policing means stress of knowing what could happen, what has happened to those you know and those you don’t means walking on eggshells daily. The question of whether or not one will make it home is maddening. You can be sleeping in your own home and still not be safe.

Making matters worse is fact that there is never any real resolve after most incidents of police violence. According to data from Mapping Police Violence website, almost 99% of murders by “police between 2013 and 2020 have not resulted in officers being charged with a crime”.

In Episode 9 of True Health Live, Deidre and Anushka share personal stories of stressful experiences with policing and public health. Stories shared are deeply personal and emotionally charged. From parents, to spouses, and children – born and unborn – we cover what was once held close to the chest.

Episode #8 of True Health Live we point out our reliance on technology. Which increased exponentially with the advent of COVID. This is especially true when it came to schools shutting down and having to pivot to remote learning.

Now, around the country, schools are opening back up. Many places have implemented a hybrid of in-person and remote learning, some have gone back to physically being in the schools. But what happened during our confinement, and in some ways is still happening? How have they been affected by having to sit at a computer, laptop or tablet for hours on end?

We discuss the idea of the choice versus requirement and what makes the remote learning attractive. Some students have excelled at remote learning, while others have struggled. “Google is magnificent, they can just punch in things but how are we testing the knowledge. We still have to hold them accountable” -Anushka.

We discuss how the social piece of learning in school is very important. We have to acknowledge that the new normal has taken a toll on them just as it has on adults. “This became an opportunity to know what my child’s learning style is.” – Precious.

Technology has been the great assistant to the vast majority of people in the world. We now find ourselves at place were we ask, is it too much?

The hosts of True Health Live discuss Marijuana and the public health concerns that arise with legalization. From youth use to monetization, there are many new things to think about as more States legalize weed.

Marijuana legalization is a public health issue. The excitement that we are witnessing from everyday people is because the legalization concerns recreational use. This is a very big move away from the solely medicinal allowances that many states had been open to for the last several years. With recreational use we must be mindful of several aspects:

Another thing to consider is whether or not we are having authentic conversations on all sides that build trust. Additionally we have to really think about how we don’t undermine current policies in place that help people live healthy lives. Finally knowing where it is legal is a must since there are variations to the legality of marijuana and doing research by state is helpful… Tune in below.

Tune in for this quick episode which recap our chat on vaccines and emphasis of it being a personal choice. We take the listeners on a journey to listen, trust and understand as a means to better serve the community.

First, Anushka gives her take on vaccines. “What really causes a big disconnect is misinformation or not enough information. People are share many opinions and not facts.” Then, Precious hones in on the important of focus and paying attention, looking for truth, and being responsible in sharing information. Theories and hearsay can get us into some tricky situations.

This podcast exists in order to provide relatable and reliable information to the everyday person. Finally, there is a way in which we must use language to connect so all parties can listen, trust and understand seamlessly.

In Episode 5, of the True Health Live podcast, the ladies continue the conversation on the COVID Vaccines: What We Know. This time around, they cover people with underlying health conditions and pregnant and nursing mothers.