Podcasts
The Nation's Health Podcast brings you expert insights from public health leaders. Join us each month as we explore issues that are impacting the field and the nation's health and well-being. Brought to you by APHA, this is a can't-miss public health podcast!
Listen to episodes here and subscribe through your favorite podcast platform, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
NEW! S25, Ep11 — Public health isn’t giving up: What’s fueling hope for 2026
Despite setbacks in 2025, the public health workforce remains resilient in protecting the nation’s health. Host Sophia Meador speaks with Aryn Melton Backus of the National Public Health Coalition on how advocates are continuing the fight.
Listen to the episode and read the transcript.
Released: Dec. 19, 2025 Runtime: 8:52
S25, Ep10 — The hunger gap: Higher prices, less assistance means emptier plates for Americans
Millions more Americans are expected to be food insecure as new restrictions on nutrition programs collide with rising prices. What does that mean for our health — and for the families already struggling to get by? Host Sophia Meador digs into the stakes with leading policy and food insecurity experts.
Listen to the episode and read the transcript.
Released: Nov. 21, 2025 Runtime: 13:12
BONUS — Lessons from the dead: CDC reporting system helping prevent violent deaths
Violent deaths were once just statistics — but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Violent Death Reporting System is changing that. In this special bonus episode of The Nation’s Health Podcast, host Sophia Meador talks with two recipients of the Catherine Barber Research Award, whose groundbreaking work is revealing the stories behind violent deaths and helping shape smarter prevention policies.
Listen to the episode and read the transcript.
Released: Nov. 20, 2025 Runtime: 11:17
S25, Ep9 — Silence isn’t science: Why public health needs to get loud
The line between advocacy and lobbying can be confusing — especially for public health professionals. As the Trump administration continues to devastate the nation’s public health infrastructure, the need for strong, informed voices has never been greater. In this episode, host Sophia Meador talks with Shelley Hearne, DrPH, MPH, director of the Lerner Center for Public Health Advocacy, and Rebecca Boulous, PhD, MPH, of the Maine Public Health Association, on the ways public health supporters can use their expertise to shape policy and champion the health of their communities.
Listen to the episode and read the transcript.
Released: Oct. 29, 2025 Runtime: 13:25
S25, Ep8 — E-cigs, pouches and teens: Why the tobacco fight isn’t over
Youth tobacco use has hit record lows. But will it last? With the rise of e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, decades of hard-won progress could be at risk. In this episode, host Sophia Meador sits down with Brian King, PhD, executive vice president for U.S. programs at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, to explore what’s next for youth tobacco use in the U.S. — and whether we’re on the brink of a new public health crisis.
Listen to the episode and read the transcript.
Released: Sept. 30, 2025 Runtime: 9:06
S25, Ep7 — CDC attack signals lack of support for public health workforce
Following the Aug. 8 attack on CDC's Atlanta offices, members of the public health community are raising concerns about federal leadership's role in promoting vaccine misinformation. Two APHA leaders speak with The Nation's Health Podcast about what's at stake and what needs to be done.
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Released: Aug. 22, 2025 Runtime: 9:41
S25, Ep6 — Voices to trust amid federal vaccine chaos
As the Trump administration continues to undermine science, the need for trustworthy voices on vaccines is growing. In the latest episode of The Nation's Health Podcast, host Sophia Meador speaks with Molly O'Shea, a pediatrician and official spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics. They discuss the growing threats to the nation's vaccine infrastructure, where the public can turn for reliable vaccine guidance, and what public health professionals can do to rebuild trust and keep communities safe.
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Released: July 31, 2025 Runtime: 10:24
The Heat Rx, Episode 3: Policy to practice: Leading the way in climate health
Extreme heat is one of the most significant health threats facing communities across the country. 
In the third episode of our extreme heat series, sponsored by APHA’s Center for Climate, Health and Equity, The Nation’s Health Podcast talks with public health leaders who are taking action to address extreme heat in their communities, from creating a heat health warning system to passing a citywide cool roof policy.
Listen to the episode and read the transcript.
Released: July 28, 2025 Runtime: 12:30
S25, Ep5 — The budget breakdown: Public health on the line
The upcoming fiscal year budget calls for deep cuts to public health — which could severely weaken the ability of local public health departments to carry out their essential work. This episode of The Nation's Health Podcast breaks down the federal budget process, what the proposed funding changes could mean and how they may impact local health programs.
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Released: June 30, 2025 Runtime: 9:01
The Heat Rx, Episode 2: educating health workers to reduce harms of extreme heat
As temperatures rise, so do health risks — particularly for vulnerable communities. In the second episode of our extreme heat series, The Nation's Health speaks with public health experts about how heat affects health, and steps health workers can take to keep communities safe during extreme heat waves, including training and education.
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Released: June 26, 2025 Runtime: 11:44
The Heat Rx Series: Episode 1, Smart surfaces for public health
Climate change is making U.S. cities hotter. But smart surfaces, such as reflective pavements, solar panels or even trees go a long way in cooling them down. In the first episode of a three-part series on extreme heat, sponsored by APHA’s Center for Climate, Health and Equity, The Nation's Health Podcast talks to experts about urban heat islands and how communities use smart surfaces to create healthier places to live, work and play;
Listen to the episode and read the transcript.
Released: May 30, 2025 Runtime: 13:30
S25, Ep4 — Magic mushrooms go mainstream
The use of psilocybin — or "magic mushrooms" — is rapidly growing, but so are possible poisonings. In this episode, host Sophia Meador speaks with researcher Karilynn Rockhill, PhD, about what’s driving this trend and how public health professionals can help keep people safe.
Listen to the episode and read the transcript.
Released: May 6, 2025 Runtime: 6:30
S25, Ep3 — 5 threats to vaccination in the age of RFK Jr.
In this episode, host Sophia Meador speaks with Paul Offit, MD, about the implications of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s misguided stances on vaccines — and what it could mean for the future of disease prevention in the U.S.
Listen to the episode and read the transcript.
Released: April 11, 2025 Runtime: 7:18
S25, Ep2 — What the president's order on DEI could mean for public health
Soon after taking office, President Trump issued an executive order ending federal diversity, equity and inclusion positions and programs. In this episode, host Sophia Meador talks with experts on the order's implications for public health, and how the field can continue to promote health equity.
Listen to the episode and read the transcript.
Released: Feb. 5, 2025 Runtime: 8:30
S25, Ep1 — Public health 2025: What’s ahead
APHA Executive Director George Benjamin, MD, discusses the potential impact of leadership changes in the White House and Capitol Hill on the public health system, who might be affected and how the workforce can take action to safeguard the health of the public.
Listen to the episode and read the transcript.
Released: Jan. 10, 2025 Runtime: 6:02
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