Podcasts
The Nation's Health Podcast provides a closer look at important public health topics.
Listen to our podcasts online or download the files to your computer or portable device!
Revising the 10 Essential Public Health Services
An updated version of the 10 Essential Public Health Services — which describe the public health activities that all communities should undertake — was released in September 2020. The revised framework places equity at its core.
Jessica Solomon Fisher of the Public Health Accreditation Board talks with The Nation's Health on how and why the important framework has changed. (October 2020) Runtime: 11:45
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of recording
• Read the related cover story in The Nation's Health
How Black communities are harmed by energy injustice
Jacqui Patterson, director of environmental and climate justice at NAACP, discusses energy justice and work to build a better energy economy for all.
Energy injustice has far-reaching impacts for Black communities, which are being disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. (September 2020) Runtime: 16:06
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of recording
US Hispanics struggling with greater challenges in face of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally changed life for everyone across the nation. But when it comes to health, the experience is not universal.
Amelie Ramirez and Rosalie Aguilar of Salud America join The Nation's Health reporter Aaron Warnick to discuss the challenges the U.S. Hispanic population faces during the pandemic. (May 2020) Runtime: 8:36
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of recording
ADHD can disrupt adult life — here’s how to own it
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is known for impacting children, but ADHD can persist through adulthood. The disorder can impact work, relationships and even health. ADHD researcher and author Russell Barkley, PhD, discusses his research and how to manage ADHD as an adult. (March 2020) Runtime: 11:14
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of recording
Walking for exercise: Get the most out of your steps
Walking is a freely accessible, low-impact way to exercise. But do you know how fast you should be walking or how many steps you should really take daily? APHA member Libby Richards, PhD, RN, shares tips that can help you make the most of your walk. (January 2020) Runtime: 11:06
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of recording
Climate change is harming children's health — and it's going to get worse
In this episode of The Nation's Health Podcast, host Aaron Warnick is joined by APHA's Environment Section's Leyla McCurdy. Together, they talk to Harvard C-CHANGE's Aaron Bernstein to talk about how climate change harms the world's children and how public health professionals can work toward solutions. (October 2019) Runtime: 14:46
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of recording
Public health benefit or community danger? Making electronic scooters safer
Shareable electronic scooters, commonly referred to simply as e-scooters, are a popular way to get around. However, riders can get seriously injured on the vehicles, even at slow speeds. Jeff Taylor, an epidemiologist at Austin Public Health, weighs in on how we might make this growing mode of transportation a little more safe. (September 2019) Runtime: 10:03
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of recording
All of Us: Better health through inclusive research
Launched in May 2018, the All of Us Research Program is striving to enroll 1 million participants. Dara Richardson-Heron, chief engagement officer for the program, speaks to The Nation's Health about its progress one year in. June 2019. Runtime: 6:53
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of recording
Health in the economy, breaking down silos, with Surgeon General Jerome Adams
Jerome Adams, MD, MPH, in September was sworn in as the 20th surgeon general of the United States. As the head of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, Adams is tasked with promoting and advancing the country’s public health priorities. He previously served as the state health commissioner in Indiana, where he dealt with an opioid epidemic and HIV outbreak. The Nation’s Health spoke with Adams about his role. (February 2018) Runtime: 12:44
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of recording
Everyday ways to fight climate change
Every day, we face countless choices when it comes to being environmentally conscious. Drive or take public transportation? Take a long bath or a quick shower? It may not seem like these decisions add up to much, but they matter a lot for the environment, and in turn, reducing climate change. APHA's Natasha DeJarnett shares what you can personally do to combat climate change. (January 2018) Runtime: 8:19
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of recording
How climate change drives extreme weather: What you need to know now
As climate change takes a toll on the health and wellness of communities throughout the U.S. and around the world, we can expect to endure more extreme weather events. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the global surface temperature in 2016 reached the warmest levels on record. But it’s not just a hotter planet that we have to be concerned about. Extreme weather events such as drought, flooding and storms are also occurring more frequently and with greater force. (September 2017) Runtime: 14:29
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of recording
Teen depression
David Brent, MD, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and a National Institute of Mental Health-funded researcher, talks with The Nation’s Health about the signs and symptoms of depression in teens, how loved ones can offer help and different options for treatment. (November/December 2016) Runtime: 7:28
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of recording
Cycling for health
Kristine Karlson, an associate professor at Dartmouth College’s Geisel School of Medicine and a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine, talks with The Nation’s Health about the health benefits of cycling and offers recommendations on how to be a safe and smart cyclist. (October 2016) Runtime: 7:18
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of recording
Equitable access to reproductive health: Interview with Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund
As Planned Parenthood celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2016, Richards, a keynote speaker at APHA’s 2016 Annual Meeting and Expo, talks with The Nation's Health about the organization’s accomplishments and future in providing equitable access to reproductive health care as well as the political hurdles it has faced recently to make sure women have access to needed health services. (September 2016) Runtime: 16:46
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of recording
U.S. senior health
Rhonda Randall, DO, chief medical officer of UnitedHealthcare Employer and Individual Retiree Solutions, talks with The Nation’s Health about the key takeaways from the America’s Health Rankings Senior Report, such as the progress made and the challenges that lie ahead. (August 2016) Runtime: 8:32
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of recording
Education and health: Paula Braveman, MD, MPH, director of the Center on Social Disparities in Health at the University of California-San Francisco, talks with The Nation’s Health about the ways education influences health throughout the lifespan for our multi-part series on social determinants of health. (August 2016) Runtime: 17:15
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of recording
Social determinants at the local level
Q&A with Charlotte Parent: New Orleans Health Department incorporating social determinants in its work to improve health of city (August 2016) Runtime: 12:59
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of recording
Healing racial injustice
Q&A with Gail Christopher, DN, vice president of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation enterprise. Christopher talks with The Nation's Health about plans to bring U.S. communities together around health disparities in an effort to reach reconciliation. (July 2016) Runtime: 16:07
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of recording
Tips for healthy swimming
Kathe Briggs, MS, an American College of Sports Medicine-certified clinical exercise physiologist, talks with The Nation's Health about the health benefits of swimming and rules to follow to swim safely. (May/June 2016) Runtime: 11:19
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of recording
Q&A with CDC’s Houry: ‘If we can prevent falls…we can reduce long-term morbidity, mortality’: Senior fall prevention programs protect health, life of older adults
Debra Houry, MD, MPH, director of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention talks with The Nation's Health about the health risks and costs associated with falls among seniors and how CDC is promoting falls prevention. (April 2016) Runtime: 7:33
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of recording
America’s Health Rankings: An annual assessment of the nation’s well-being: Interview with Rhonda Randall
Rhonda Randall, DO, chief medical officer of UnitedHealthcare Employer and Individual Retiree Solutions, talks with The Nation's Health about the 2015 America’s Health Rankings, addressing the triumphs and challenges public health workers faced in the past year — and past decade — in keeping Americans healthy. (February 2016) Runtime: 11:31
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of this recording and read the cover story on the rankings in the February issue.
Teen nutrition: Tips for making healthy food choices easy: Interview with Nicole Larson
Nicole Larson, a National Institutes of Health-funded researcher talks with The Nation's Health about the nutrients teens need for their development and the healthy choices they can make when eating at home and away. (January 2016) Runtime: 9:04
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of this recording
The power of public health on the big screen: Interview with Naomi Ranz-Schleifer on APHA's film fest
Naomi Ranz-Schleifer, chair of APHA's Global Public Health Film Festival, talks about the highlights of the 2015 festival, taking place at APHA’s 143rd Annual Meeting and Exposition in Chicago. This year’s festival features more than 100 films from over two dozen countries. (November/December 2015) Runtime: 10:41
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of this recording
Strengthening public health by increasing diversity: Q&A with Freeman Hrabowski, president of the University of Maryland-Baltimore County
Freeman Hrabowski, a keynote speaker at APHA’s 143rd Annual Meeting and Exposition, talks about his efforts to boost young minority participation in science, technology, engineering and math-related careers and the impact inequity could have on the future of U.S. health care (October 2015) Runtime: 9:46
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of this recording and check out the Q&A in the October issue
Q&A with Charlotte Porter, MPH, the deputy director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Individual and Community Preparedness Division
While September is National Preparedness Month, being ready in a disaster a year-round effort. Porter gives advice on how Americans can prepare their families, workplaces and themselves to survive an emergency situation. (September 2015) Runtime: 13:02
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of this recording
Q&A with J. Nadine Gracia of HHS’ Office of Minority Health: Inequity, disparities still exist for people of color: Using policy to level the health playing field for US minorities
Gracia talks about the progress made so far in reducing health disparities among U.S. minority populations in the 30th anniversary of the Secretary's Task Force Report on Black and Minority Health and the policies her office will champion in order to achieve health equity. (August 2015) Runtime: 15:06
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of this recording
Norovirus: Prevent yourself from being doubled over from a powerful infection
Norovirus is a highly infectious group of viruses that can cause vomiting and diarrhea. In this interview with Aron Hall, DVM, MSPH, DACVPM — an epidemiologist with the viral gastroenteritis team of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases — learn what measures to take in preventing an infection from taking a foothold in your family. (August 2015) Runtime: 8:29
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of this recording
Shifting to a prevention and treatment approach on substance abuse: Interview with Michael Botticelli, director of the U.S. Office of National Drug Policy
Botticelli talks about how a national drug policy focused on prevention and a comprehensive approach to drugs has shaped his leadership in the U.S. Office of National Drug Policy. (July 2015) Runtime: 18:09
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of this recording
Turning mealtime into family time: Interview with Rachel Fisher, MS, MPH, RD, a nutritionist with the National Institutes of Health’s Division of Nutrition Research Coordination
Between work, school and other activities, it may be hard for your family to find time to spend together. But research shows there are both nutritional and social benefits to sharing meals as a family. (July 2015) Runtime: 6:59
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of this recording
Phobias: Learning how to face your fears: Interview with Raphael Rose, PhD, associate director of the Anxiety Disorders Research Center and associate clinical professor within the Department of Psychology and Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the University of California-Los Angeles
A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder where an excessive fear of a certain thing or situation can make it hard to function. But there are ways to seek help to overcome your fears. (May/June 2015) Runtime: 11:06
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of this recording
The health benefits of dog ownership: Interview with Sandy Barker, PhD, NCC, LPC, director of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine Center for Human-Animal Interaction
As a dog owner, you’re responsible for many tasks that ensure your furry friend will live a long and happy life. But dogs can help you live a healthier life, too. (April 2015) Runtime: 8:45
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of this recording
Interview with Karen DeSalvo, MD, MPH, MSc, national coordinator for health information technology and acting assistant secretary for health at the Department of Health and Human Services on the ways health IT can improve the quality of health care
DeSalvo talks about how health information technology, particularly via electronic health records, can improve health care and what work still needs to be done to make this technology accessible to both health care providers and consumers in the wake of a new Federal Health IT Strategic Plan. (March 2015) Runtime: 15:08
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of this recording
Interview with Mary Wakefield, PhD, RN, administrator for the Health Resources and Services Administration on the agency's role maintaining the nation’s public health through access to insurance, primary care and workforce development
Wakefield talks about the future of public health via administration initiatives that keep access to medical care open for underserved populations and prepare the public health workforce for a changing landscape of health care. (February 2015) Runtime: 29:39
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of this recording
Mammograms and their role in detecting breast cancer early: Interview with Jacqueline Miller, MD, FACS, medical director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program
A mammogram is an important exam for women that can spot the early signs of breast cancer. There are tips you can follow for a successful appointment, as well as different options for mammography, depending on your risk factors for developing cancer. (January 2015) Runtime: 8:55
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of this recording
Shingles: A painful but preventable disease: Interview with Michael Oxman, MD, a staff physician in infectious diseases at the VA San Diego Health Care System and professor of medicine and pathology at the University of California-San Diego
Caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, shingles is a painful skin rash that occurs most-often in seniors. But there is a way to prevent it. (November/December 2014) Runtime: 14:47
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of this recording
Raising awareness of skin cancer: Interview with Acting Surgeon General Boris Lushniak, MD, MPH
Lushniak talks with The Nation’s Health about the new surgeon general's "Call to Action to Prevent Skin Cancer," why cancer rates are on the rise in the U.S. and what families, communities and government need to do to reduce risks. (October 2014) Runtime: 16:31
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of this recording
Snoring and its effects on personal and public health: Interview with Michael Twery, PhD, director of the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute’s National Center on Sleep Disorders Research
The sounds of snoring may wake your significant others, friends — even yourself. But loud, chronic snoring may be a sign of sleep disordered breathing that could affect your health in the long run. (September 2014) Runtime: 14:16
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of this recording
The Great Migration’s effects on public health: Interview with Isabel Wilkerson, author of “The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration"
Isabel Wilkerson, a keynote speaker at APHA's 142nd Annual Meeting and Exposition, talks with The Nation's Health about the Great Migration of blacks from the South to the north, Midwest and West Coast and how their quests for a better lives ties into the Annual Meeting theme “Healthography: How Where You Live Affects Your Health and Well-Being.” (August 2014) Runtime: 19:58
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of this recording
The dangers of leaving your child inside a hot car: Podcast with Rebecca Noe, MN, MPH, FNP-BC, epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Environmental Health
It's never safe to leave a child unattended in a car. But it can be especially dangerous on a hot day, when a mistake can cost a life. Learn the steps you can take to remind yourself to check the car before you leave. (July 2014) Running time: 6:19.
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of this recording
Too much sitting may lead to long-term health risks: Podcast with JoEllen Wilbur, PhD, associate dean for research and professor at Rush University’s College of Nursing
While sitting after a long day may seem relaxing, sitting too much and too often could lead to health issues such as high blood pressure and heart disease. Small amounts of physical activity are recommended to keep moving if you sit for most of your workday or travel long commutes in a vehicle. (May 2014)
Running time: 14:36
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of this recording
Measles: Lessons in prevention: Podcast with Gregory Wallace, MD, MPH, MS, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Measles is a highly contagious and potentially fatal respiratory disease. But despite being highly contagious, it is highly preventable with vaccination. Learn how to take preventive measures against measles and what to do if you suspect an infection or outbreak. (April 2014)
Running time: 7:14
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of this recording
What are the Leading Health Indicators? Podcast with Carter Blakey, deputy director of the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at the Department of Health and Human Services
The Leading Health Indicators are 26 objectives selected from Healthy People 2020, a set of national priorities to improve the health of all Americans. Learn what they are and how you can use them to improve health in your community. (March 2014)
Running time: 12:16
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of this recording
• Read a related article in the March 2014 issue of The Nation's Health
How well are states equipped to handle public health emergencies? Podcast with James Blumenstock, MHSA, of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, and Jeffrey Levi, PhD, of Trust for America's Health
Two recent analyses — the National Health Security Preparedness Index and "Outbreaks: Protecting Americans from Infectious Diseases" — detail the strengths and weaknesses of state level public health preparedness efforts. States have steps to take to protect residents against infectious disease and improve in areas such as surge management, the analyses indicate. (February 2014)
Running time: 16:29
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of this recording
The effects of caffeine and the signs of dependency: Interview with Steven Meredith, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow researcher at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine’s Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit
While many Americans consume caffeine regularly, there can be consequences to consuming too much. Find out if your diet has too much caffeine and how to cut back. (January 2014) Running time: 8:29
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of this recording
U.S. uninsured rates held steady in 2012, but change is on horizon: Interview with Sara Collins, PhD, vice president for health care coverage and access at the Commonwealth Fund
Recent U.S. Census Bureau data reveals uninsured numbers held steady for Americans in 2012. But thanks to the Affordable Care Act, those numbers are expected to change dramatically soon. (November 2013) Running time: 9:03
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of this recording
Ways to prevent substance abuse in families, communities — Interview with Onaje Salim, EdD, LPC, acting deputy director for the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Anyone can be at risk for developing a substance abuse problem — particularly adolescents. But there are things families and communities can do to emphasize healthy behaviors and discourage abuse before it starts. (October 2013) Runtime: 9:12
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of this recording
Closing gaps, opening eyes — Interview with Michael Marmot, PhD, MPH, director of University College London's Institute of Health Equity
Michael Marmot, a keynote speaker at APHA's 141st Annual Meeting and Exposition, talks with The Nation's Health about the progress made in advancing the social determinants of health and the work that needs to be done on a global scale to reduce health disparities. (September 2013) Runtime: 9:46
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of this recording
• Read an article based on this interview in the September 2013 issue of The Nation's Health
Senior health: Good habits can help you stay healthy as you age — Interview with Marie A. Bernard, MD, deputy director of the National Institute on Aging
As a senior, you may have a whole new world open up to you that includes traveling and grandchildren to keep you young at heart. But aging is not always easy. That’s why it’s important to be vigilant about staying healthy. (August 2013)
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of this recording
Q&A with Reed Tuckson: ‘If there is ever a time for public health, this is that time:’ Confronting challenges requires collaboration, leadership, will
As executive vice president and chief of medical affairs for UnitedHealth Group, Reed Tuckson, MD, FACP, has been an outspoken advocate for turning off the spigot of preventable chronic diseases. As commissioner of public health for the District of Columbia from 1986 to 1990, Tuckson stepped into the national spotlight when — frustrated with city officials’ inattention to health issues — he donned his white coat and stethoscope and went into the city's poorest areas to see patients. (September 2012)
• Play recording
• Read a transcript of this recording
Podcast: How to beat the heat and stay safe in hot weather
Do you know how to stay healthy when it's hot out? Linda Degutis, DrPH, MSN, director of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, speaks with The Nation's Health about heat-related illnesses. Degutis offers tips for staying safe in hot weather and describes the warning signs of heat-related illnesses. (Get Ready Report podcast, May 2012)
• Play podcast
• Read a transcript of this podcast
Podcast: Tips for creating a useful first-aid kit
What should you put in your first-aid kit? Richard Bradley, MD, a member of the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council and an associate professor of emergency medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, talks to The Nation's Health about what you need to have on hand for an emergency. (Get Ready Report podcast, March 2012)
• Play podcast
• Read a transcript of this podcast
For questions or problems with these recordings, send us a message from our feedback page. For more podcasts from APHA's Get Ready campaign, visit the Get Ready website.
