Across America, there are persistent health inequities that impact communities in ways you might not expect. Joining us to discuss health equity in action is leading health equity champion, Dr. Jovonni Spinner. In this conversation, you’ll hear all about our guest’s phenomenal career, what made her want to get into public health, why she loves working on improving health equity, and more! We delve into the importance of recognizing a community’s value and lived experience above your own...

Are we truly addressing the root causes of public health challenges, or are we merely reacting to the symptoms? How can we shift our approach to create lasting, impactful change? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Dorothy Cilenti, Founder and CEO of Health Ascent Associates, LLC, and a seasoned public health professional with over 20 years of experience in local and state health agencies in North Carolina. Dr. Cilenti brings a wealth of knowledge from her work in improving public...

When we realize that democracy truly places power in the hands of the, so many people’s lives will change. Today Garrison McMurtrey joins us to discuss politics, policies, and politicians. He is currently the District Director for the office of US Congresswoman, Angie Craig. Garrison has had an extensive career from working on the Public Affairs team at Target, to being an Outreach Director for Senator Amy Klobuchar, and now he is a candidate for Ramsey County Commissioner in Minnesota....

Are you ready to tackle your finances with confidence and clarity? In today’s episode, Dr. Jennifer Edwards, a seasoned Financial & Retirement Consultant at Savvy Financial Wellness, joins us to demystify the path to financial stability. Dr. Edwards, a fourth-generation business owner and third-generation financial professional, specializes in helping energetic working women and moms design a flexible and funded retirement. With her experience managing multi-million dollar grants in...

In this episode of the Public Health Joy podcast, host Dr. Joyee Washington shares how her first international trip to Mexico gave her a new perspective on abundance in public health. After feeling burnt out from running her public health business full-time, Dr. Joyee's "spirit" told her she needed a vacation. Despite never having traveled internationally before, she decided to take a trip to Mexico, which ended up being a transformative experience. Witnessing the beauty and abundance of...

Public health and epidemiology are constantly changing, albeit slowly. One thing that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later is the importance of research, the need to reexamine what it is, and how we approach it in this modern world. Today, we are joined by Mary Carney, a consultant specializing in research, data analysis, and communications services to help non-profits achieve their goals. We begin with how Dr. Joyee and Mary met as members of WE Public Health, a women’s...

Your vote might not bring immediate change, but it is crucial as it contributes to the possibility of a better future. Joining us in conversation today is Dr. Jeanine Abrams-McLean, the President of Fair Count, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with a goal of building continued civic participation and ensuring that every person in Georgia and America is counted in a fair and accurate census. Jeanine details the work being done at Fair Count and what her role entails before deeply...

Data is the foundation on which public health is built. Without data, there is no public health. As such, it becomes the responsibility of all those interested in public health to ensure – like all other public health aspects – that data is approached from a place of diversity, equity, and inclusion. On today’s show, we welcome the Founder, CEO, and Principal Consultant of Chilombo Consulting, Vanessa Da Costa, who is here to speak on the importance of data equity from her experience...

Let's be real, it's a struggle being a Black professional in the public health workforce, am I right? We've been resilient our whole lives, what we need is rest, periodt! It is no secret that historically marginalized Americans face obstacles in many areas of society, especially in the workforce. However, our experience, culture, and heritage as Black professionals continue to build strength and character by utilizing the lessons we have learned to share with others. We can channel...

Public health researchers and professionals often adopt a top-down approach that assumes that education, resources, or "expert" assistance can empower communities. The truth is communities already have all the power they need. True empowerment requires collaboration to jointly increase control over the factors affecting the lives and well-being of community members. To discuss shifting power dynamics and rethinking who holds power in our communities, we are joined by Chinonye "Chi...

Researchers can often be disconnected from reality, but preserving the dignity of your community members is paramount to a people-first research process. Dr. Rodney Washington is a retired Associate Professor of Early Education and Population Health Science and currently owns Consulting Plus, a health and educational consulting foundation improving health and educational outcomes for communities experiencing high-poverty. During this episode, he joins us to share his insights on...

Today on The Public Health Joy Podcast, we speak to Dr. Mary Davis, Lead Evaluation Specialist at Emory Centers for Public Health Training and Technical Assistance, about the importance of the human element in the evolution of public health research and evaluation. Dr. Davis has extensive experience with all aspects of public health applied research and evaluation and has provided evaluation capacity-building assistance to a variety of organizations. In this episode, she joins us to...

Welcome back to your safe space for having honest conversations about what it takes to transform public health research into life-changing solutions for communities. Being an entrepreneur in public health requires a certain drive, a specific skill set, and a well-grounded understanding of what it means to engage communities in order to elevate them. Dr. Charlotte Huntley has all of the above, and as Dr. Washington’s mentor in public health, she joins us today to share her thoughts on the...

As Benjamin Franklin once said: “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” Preparation is such an important piece of Public Health work and during this episode, we are joined by a passionate professional supporting entrepreneurs through planning and organizational support. Chelsea Yvanda is the Public Health Virtual Assistant. After completing her Master of Public Health and working in the space for a decade, she recognized the need for administrative and operational support for...

Join Dr. Joyee for a thought-provoking conversation on the role of righteousness in public health research. In this episode, she delves into the importance of integrity, honesty, and humility in driving positive impact and equity. From challenging the status quo to embracing discomfort, we explore how righteousness guides our decisions and shapes our journey in the world of public health research. Tune in for insights, inspiration, and a fresh perspective on creating meaningful change...

As a community health educator, today’s guest shines a light on Black women’s sexual health by giving a voice to issues that are often faced but rarely talked about. Dr. Shemeka Thorpe is an award-winning sexuality educator, researcher, and international speaker whose research focuses on the sexual well-being of Black women using sex-positive and pleasure-centered frameworks. She has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles, was listed by Buzzfeed as one of the Top 20 Black sexologists you...

If you work in public health, then you are no doubt aware that, statistically, Black women are three to four times more likely to die from birth-related complications than their white counterparts. And while it’s important to understand the reasons behind these unacceptable and heartbreaking numbers, the more pressing question is: what is being done about it? Joining Dr. Joyee Washington on the podcast today is her friend and colleague, Dr. Nakeitra Burse to talk about how they, and other...

Traditionally, there are a number of power imbalances that exist between foundations and nonprofits in the public health space, but trust-based philanthropy involves creating and sustaining more collaborative, transparent, and holistic partnerships between grantmakers and grantees. To help us explore how we can reimagine funding, power, and research through trust-based philanthropy to drive positive impact and health equity, we are joined by Dr. Rachel Powell, a passionate public health...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...