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What happens when the agency responsible for protecting public health relies on safety information from the companies it's supposed to regulate? In this episode of The Healthy Project Podcast, host Corey Dion Lewis sits down with award-winning investigative journalist Carey Gillam, editor-in-chief of The New Lede, to examine the relationship between pesticide regulation, corporate accountability, and public health. Drawing on her investigation co-published with The Guardian, Gillam discusses internal Syngenta documents on paraquat, a widely used herbicide linked in scientific research to Parkinson's disease. The documents raise questions about what the company knew, what information was shared with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and whether farmers and agricultural workers received adequate warnings about potential health risks. The conversation goes beyond one chemical or one company. Corey and Carey explore how pesticide safety decisions are made, how corporate research influences regulatory oversight, and why environmental health concerns affect communities far beyond agricultural fields. In this episode, you'll learn: What internal Syngenta documents reveal about the company's knowledge of paraquat and potential neurological risks.What researchers have found about the relationship between paraquat exposure and Parkinson's disease, and why the findings remain contested.How the EPA evaluates pesticide safety and why its reliance on industry-provided research raises concerns.How corporate influence can affect independent scientific research, public information, and regulatory decisions.Why pesticide exposure, agricultural runoff, and water quality matter for communities, including those in Iowa.How environmental health risks intersect with health equity, prevention, and corporate accountability.Why Carey continues investigating these issues despite facing professional intimidation and personal challenges.Carey also shares the human stories behind her reporting, including families affected by serious illnesses and the financial and emotional consequences they have experienced. This conversation raises a larger public health question: Are our regulatory systems doing enough to prevent harm before people become sick? Whether you work in healthcare, public health, agriculture, environmental advocacy, or simply want to better understand the systems protecting your health, this episode offers a closer look at the science, policy, and people behind pesticide regulation. About the Guest Carey Gillam is an award-winning investigative journalist, author, and editor-in-chief of The New Lede. Her reporting focuses on environmental health, pesticide safety, corporate accountability, and the intersection of science and public policy. Explore Carey's reporting at The New Lede: https://www.thenewlede.org/ Listen to more conversations about health, healthcare systems, and public policy on The Healthy Project Podcast. ★ Support this podcast ★

You know Ty Pennington for transforming homes. In this conversation, he shares what it feels like to face a problem he cannot simply fix: his mom’s chronic lung condition. Ty joins Corey Dion Lewis to talk about his mom’s experience with bronchiectasis, or BE, the years of respiratory symptoms before her diagnosis, and how the condition has affected their family. He opens up about caregiver guilt, why laughter can become difficult, and what he wishes he had understood sooner. We also discuss the questions families can ask when symptoms keep coming back and why listening closely to a loved one matters. Ty Pennington is a paid spokesperson for Insmed. He joins the episode as part of the Suspect BE awareness initiative. Learn more about the campaign: https://www.suspectbronchiectasis.com/ Follow The Healthy Project Podcast for more conversations about health and the people living through it. ★ Support this podcast ★

Why do some people delay or decline vaccines even when the science seems clear? Dr. Mike Myers joins The Healthy Project Podcast to discuss what happens between medical evidence and the people asked to trust it. Corey and Dr. Myers discuss the return of measles, vaccine misinformation, the role of healthcare providers in earning trust, and why distrust within Black and brown communities cannot simply be dismissed as “hesitancy.” They also explore how social media has changed who people consider credible, why the COVID-19 vaccines were developed faster than many people expected, and what Dr. Myers learned while writing The Vaccine Bible. Dr. Michael T. Myers Jr. is a Harvard and Johns Hopkins-trained physician with more than 35 years of experience in primary care, pediatrics, healthcare leadership, and public health. Learn more about Dr. Myers and The Vaccine Bible at DrMikeMyers.com. ★ Support this podcast ★

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, or EDS, is a genetic connective tissue disorder that can affect nearly every system in the body. Yet many people spend years living with unexplained pain, frequent injuries, gastrointestinal concerns, cardiovascular symptoms, and other challenges before receiving a diagnosis. In this episode, Corey speaks with physical therapist Dr. Emma McCauley about the difference between hypermobility and EDS, why diagnosis can take more than a decade, and how racial disparities can make that journey even longer for people of color. Dr. McCauley also explains how physical therapy can help people improve joint stability, body awareness, movement, and quality of life. The conversation highlights the importance of listening to patients, building diverse healthcare professions, and helping people find ways to live full lives while managing chronic conditions. Show Notes Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is often associated with flexibility, but the condition can affect far more than a person’s joints. Dr. Emma McCauley joins The Healthy Project Podcast to explain how EDS affects connective tissue throughout the body and why symptoms can look different from one person to another. Corey and Dr. McCauley discuss the long road many patients face before receiving a diagnosis. They also explore why pain reported by Black patients and other patients of color may be dismissed, contributing to even longer delays in receiving answers and care. Dr. McCauley explains the role physical therapists can play in recognizing patterns, helping patients understand their bodies, and connecting them with other healthcare professionals. In This Episode What Ehlers-Danlos syndrome isThe difference between EDS and general hypermobilityWhy an EDS diagnosis can take 10 to 12 years or longerHow racial bias and pain dismissal affect diagnosisWhy EDS is not only a white person’s conditionHow EDS can affect the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, nervous, and musculoskeletal systemsThe connection between hypermobility and neurodivergenceHow physical therapy improves proprioception, stability, and body awarenessWhy movement may feel awkward when patients learn new patternsHow physical therapists help patients make long-term lifestyle changesWhy representation matters within the physical therapy professionHow Iowa’s direct-access laws may allow patients to see a physical therapist without a referralEpisode Timestamps 00:48 – Dr. Emma McCauley’s path to physical therapy02:22 – How she began working with patients with EDS03:53 – Understanding EDS and hypermobility04:58 – The long road to receiving a diagnosis06:43 – Why EDS is not a white person’s disease08:06 – Racial disparities in pain treatment and diagnosis09:13 – Diversity and representation in physical therapy11:52 – Why physical therapists may have more time to listen13:18 – Proprioception, joint stability, and body awareness16:55 – EDS and the aging process17:13 – Comorbidities, mental health, and neurodivergence19:28 – Helping patients experience more of life21:02 – Physical therapy as long-term lifestyle management22:20 – How to begin seeking physical therapy services24:10 – How to connect with Dr. Emma McCauley About Dr. Emma McCauley Dr. Emma McCauley is a physical therapist at Kinetic Edge Physical Therapy in the Des Moines area. Her work includes helping people with hypermobility and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome better understand their bodies, build stability, manage pain, and improve their quality of life. Connect with Dr. Emma McCauley Kinetic Edge Physical Therapy6000 Grand AvenueDes Moines, Iowa Email: [email protected] ★ Support this podcast ★

Every clinician knows food shapes health. The evidence has been there for decades. So why does nearly every food as medicine program in America still run on grant money with an expiration date? Dr. Yousuf Ahmad has spent 30 years inside the system, running hospitals, leading a health plan, building health tech, and he watched nutrition sit on the sidelines of care the entire time. Now, as President and CEO of AssureCare, he's behind NutraVance, a platform built to move nutrition out of the pilot graveyard and into real clinical workflows: screening, EHR integration, culturally personalized meal plans, outcome tracking, and the piece nobody wants to talk about, reimbursement. Corey and Yousuf get into the five things that were missing all along, how AI personalizes nutrition without leaving under-resourced communities behind, what this looks like inside an FQHC, why every hospital needs a chief affordability officer, and what has to change so a heart failure patient never again leaves a hospital without a nutrition plan. If you've ever watched a program your patients loved disappear when the funding ran out, this conversation is for you. ☕ Tell us what you thought of this episode and get a Healthy Project coffee mug: https://forms.gle/W6fqYUcJPsuHYjad8 What we cover: The moment Yousuf realized nutrition was never part of central caregiving across hospitals, health plans, and physician practices (00:59) Why a sick-care system that reimburses treatment can't see the value of prevention (04:01) The proof of value problem: the 3-to-1 ROI argument Yousuf makes to health plan CEOs (06:22) The five missing pieces that killed every food as medicine program: screening, workflow integration, personalization, measurement, and reimbursement (09:07) How AI personalizes nutrition to culture, budget, and multiple chronic conditions without deepening bias against already disadvantaged communities (12:32) What NutraVance looks like inside an FQHC, where 32 million Americans get their care (16:45) Why every hospital and health plan needs a chief affordability officer (18:13) Who pays for food as medicine today, and who should: Medicare, Medicaid, and the payers writing the checks (19:32) The 10-year vision: a healthcare system that asks for your nutrition plan the way it asks for your insurance card (22:12) Yousuf's leadership advice: the difference between motion and progress (34:11) About the guest: Dr. Yousuf J. Ahmad, DrPH, is President and CEO of AssureCare, a Cincinnati-based population health technology company. He previously served as President and CEO of Mercy Health in Cincinnati, leading a $3 billion integrated health system. AssureCare's newly launched NutraVance platform brings nutrition assessment, care planning, personalized meal planning, patient engagement, and reimbursement workflows into a single system embedded in clinical care. Links: Learn more about NutraVance and AssureCare: assurecare.com Discover mission-driven podcasts on Goodfeed: goodfeed.co Follow The Healthy Project on all platforms and subscribe so you never miss an episode. Before you go, I want to put you on to something I'm excited about. GoodFeed is a curated discovery platform for mission-driven podcasts, built to connect shows like this one with the listeners, funders, and organizations who care about the same work. It's in private preview right now, and you can join the waitlist at goodfeed.co! Hosts, funders, nonprofits, and listeners are all welcome in the first cohort.  ★ Support this podcast ★

There's a federal law that's supposed to protect you from toxic chemicals in your baby bottles, your carpet, your drinking water, and your kid's toys. Most people have never heard of it — and right now, some lawmakers are trying to quietly weaken it. In this episode, Corey sits down with Sarah Vogel, Senior Vice President for Healthy Communities at the Environmental Defense Fund, to break down the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA): how it went from a "dog that never barked" to a bipartisan reform ten years ago, why Black and brown communities carry the heaviest burden of chemical exposure, and what's actually at stake if these protections get rolled back. Sarah also shares real, practical steps you can take at home — no chemistry degree required. This episode is brought to you by Goodfeed.  ═══════════════════════════════ In this episode: What TSCA is, why it was passed in 1976, and why it barely worked for 40 yearsThe 2016 bipartisan reform that finally gave the EPA real authority to review chemicalsWhy cost can't be part of the "is this safe" conversation — but can factor into "how do we manage the risk"Why Black and brown communities are disproportionately exposed to industrial pollution and toxic waste, and how redlining is directly tied to thatWhat's being proposed right now that could quietly gut these protections againWhy "regulation kills innovation" doesn't hold up — and what strong rules actually do for public health and industrySimple, low-cost things you can do today: testing for lead, skipping fragranced products, avoiding plastic in the microwave, washing your hands after cleaningResources mentioned: Learn more about TSCA: edf.org/tscaCheck your exposure risk by zip code: chemicalactionmap.edf.orgConnect with Sarah Vogel and the Environmental Defense Fund at edf.org. This episode is brought to you by Goodfeed — goodfeed.co. ★ Support this podcast ★

We've been told that if we just show people the data on racial health disparities, change will follow. It hasn't. In this episode, Corey sits down with Dr. Sarah Gollust (University of Minnesota) and Dr. Neil Lewis Jr. (Cornell University), researchers with the Collaborative on Media and Messaging for Health and Social Policy (CommHSP), to unpack why the numbers alone never move people — and what does. They dig into the fear of "backlash," why context changes everything, and the surprising finding that the communities most affected by inequity are often the most ready to act, yet are routinely left out of the research about them. Show Notes Why does telling people the facts about health disparities so often fail to create change? Dr. Sarah Gollust and Dr. Neil Lewis Jr. have spent two decades studying exactly that question — how media and messaging shape what the public believes about health, race, and who deserves care. In this conversation, they make the case that data without context can backfire, while stories grounded in lived experience can mobilize people across racial and political lines. In this episode: Why "just show them the data" is an incomplete strategy — and what people actually need to understand the why behind health outcomesThe moment a governor called COVID "the great equalizer," and why it crystallized the urgency of getting health communication rightThe study that found 94% of racial-equity messaging research relied on majority-white or all-white samples — and what that bias erased"Beyond fear of backlash": why explaining the causes of disparities removes defensiveness instead of triggering itHow America's individualistic culture pushes people toward blaming individuals ("just eat healthier," "just exercise") instead of seeing systemsWhy people of color, often excluded from the research, turn out to be the most willing to mobilize for changeThe power of narrative transportation — and why Neil opens academic papers with a quote from Dr. King's The Other AmericaHow the collapse of local health journalism makes community-grounded stories harder to tell, and why independent platforms matter more than everKey takeaway: Don't go quiet because the conversation is hard. You're likely in the majority — and the right words, with real context, can bring people in rather than push them away. Connect with our guests: CommHSP: https://commhsp.org/Follow the collaborative on LinkedIn for new research and accessible summariesConnect with The Healthy Project: Subscribe to the Live, Work, Play, Pray Substack for more on population health, advocacy, and community wellnessThis episode touches on heavy topics, including structural racism and health inequity. Take care of yourself as you listen. A Word From Our Sponsor This episode is brought to you by Goodfeed. Good conversations like this one deserve a place to live and grow — and that's exactly what Goodfeed is built for. If you're a creator, advocate, or community builder who's tired of fighting the algorithm just to reach the people who actually want to hear from you, Goodfeed gives you a better way to share your voice and connect with your community on your own terms. No gatekeepers. No noise. Just your work, reaching the people who care about it. Check it out at https://www.goodfeed.co/ and start building your feed today. ★ Support this podcast ★

What’s the difference between digital literacy and AI literacy—and why does it matter for the future of work? In this episode, Corey sits down with Nancy Mwirotsi, founder of Pi515, to break down how technology is shaping economic mobility for youth. They explore why basic digital skills are still missing, how AI tools are changing critical thinking, and what it takes to prepare the next generation for real opportunities. Nancy shares her journey building Pi515 to support underserved and refugee youth through tech education. She also explains how exposure, mentorship, and hands-on learning can change a child’s trajectory. If you care about education, workforce development, or closing opportunity gaps, this conversation will challenge how you think about tech and youth development. Show Notes What you’ll learn:  The difference between digital literacy and AI literacy  Why many students still lack basic tech skills  How AI tools can weaken or strengthen critical thinking  The role of mentorship in shaping career paths  How tech access impacts economic mobility  Why youth need exposure to real-world opportunities  The risks of over-relying on AI tools  How to prepare kids for the future of work Key Moments:  00:00 – Introduction to Nancy and Pi515  03:00 – How Pi515 started and supporting refugee youth  05:30 – Why exposure shapes career possibilities  09:00 – Digital literacy vs AI literacy explained  13:00 – The danger of overusing AI tools  17:00 – Skills youth need for future jobs  20:00 – AI risks: misinformation and deepfakes  22:30 – How parents and educators can guide kids  27:00 – Best AI tools and how to use them wisely  32:00 – Youth, entrepreneurship, and making money with AI  34:00 – Why talent leaves cities like Des Moines  40:00 – Building innovation ecosystems for the future Notable Quotes:  “Kids cannot be what they don’t see.”  “Digital literacy is basic skills. AI literacy is understanding the tool, the ethics, and the impact.”  “You can’t let the tool do the thinking for you.”  “We need to empower young people as leaders, not just learners.” Resources & Links:  Pi515: https://pi515.orgCall to Action:  Subscribe for more conversations on health, community, and opportunity  Share this episode with educators, parents, and leaders  Leave a review to help more people find the show ★ Support this podcast ★

Music by Tunetank from Pixabay SPONSORED BY GOODFEED IMPACT AUDIO NETWORKJoin the waitlist at goodfeed.co EPISODE DESCRIPTION: What does it actually mean to advocate for your community — and where do you even begin? In this episode, host Corey Dion Lewis sits down with Morgan Newman, Grassroots Manager for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) and a two-time cervical cancer survivor, for a deeply honest conversation about the art and science of advocacy. Morgan shares how her own health journey became the foundation for her advocacy career, why trust-building is the most underrated skill in public health, and how coalition work can amplify impact without duplicating effort. Whether you're a seasoned organizer or someone who's never attended a community meeting, this episode will meet you where you are. IN THIS EPISODE: • How a personal cancer journey became the spark for a career in advocacy• The three levels of advocacy — personal, community, and systems change• Why building trust is the first step before you say a single word to a community• How to enter communities you don't live in and still earn credibility• The power of coalition building — and how to avoid the silo trap• Why storytelling moves people faster than data ever will• Preventing burnout and compassion fatigue in advocacy work• How to stay educated and connected in a rapidly changing landscape• Why advocating for yourself is the most foundational act of all ABOUT MORGAN NEWMAN: Morgan Newman, MSW, is a licensed social worker, cancer policy advocate, and board member of the Iowa Cancer Consortium. She brings a trauma-informed lens to community health work and is passionate about empowering others to tell their stories and make lasting systems change. Connect with Morgan on LinkedIn. RESOURCES MENTIONED: • Iowa Cancer Consortium: iacancer.org• Iowa Cancer Plan — available through the Iowa Cancer Consortium• Live, Work, Play, Pray Newsletter — Subscribe on Substack SPONSORED BY GOODFEED IMPACT AUDIO NETWORKA network built for podcasts, making a difference. Join the waitlist: https://goodfeed.co/ ABOUT THE SHOW:The Healthy Project Podcast explores the social drivers of health — where we live, work, play, and pray — through honest conversations with advocates, practitioners, and community leaders—hosted by Corey Dion Lewis. ★ Support this podcast ★

Some things are true whether we talk about them or not. Iowa has one of the highest cancer rates in the country. The people most affected by it are often the last ones to hear about it. And the systems that were supposed to catch it early — the clinics, the screenings, the outreach programs — are losing funding right now, quietly, in ways most people won't notice until it's too late. This episode is about all of that. But more than anything, it's about people. About This Conversation Corey sits down with Jason Semprini — a public health economist, a lifelong Iowan, and somebody who has spent his career translating complex data into something that can actually change how communities live. What started as a conversation about economics turned into one of the most honest, grounded discussions about health, place, and power that The Healthy Project Podcast has ever had. This one isn't for researchers. It's for anyone who has ever wondered why their community looks the way it does — and whether anybody in power is paying attention. What We Get Into The cancer rate nobody's talking about: Iowa ranks among the highest states in the nation for cancer. It's not a fluke. It's not a bad data year. It's consistent, it's climbing, and it's being driven by a specific set of cancers shaped by where people live and what surrounds them. Jason breaks down what the numbers are actually showing — and why the story is more complicated than any headline has captured. Agriculture, jobs, and the health trade-off nobody wants to say out loud. Iowa's ag economy is the backbone of this state. It provides livelihoods, identity, and community for generations of Iowa families. It is also, according to clear and compelling research, contributing to adverse health outcomes, including cancer. Jason doesn't flinch from that tension. Neither does Corey. Because pretending it doesn't exist isn't protecting anybody. What happens when the money disappears? Pop-up mammography clinics. Free screenings. Community health workers are going door to door. These programs exist because some people don't have a regular doctor — and for them, a pop-up clinic isn't a backup plan, it's the only plan. When federal funding gets cut, these are the first programs that feel it. Jason shares what colleagues on the ground are experiencing right now. It's not abstract. It's hitting real people in real communities today. Prostate cancer, Black men, and what the system keeps missing. This part of the conversation hits close to home for Corey — founder of Save the Homies, a prostate cancer awareness initiative through My City My Health. It's not always that Black men in Iowa are getting prostate cancer at higher rates. It's that they're getting diagnosed later. The navigation to quality care is broken. The trust isn't there. The access isn't there. Jason connects this to a framework about biology and health systems colliding — and why fixing it requires more than a screening event. The real cost of data we're not using. One of the most practical takeaways in the whole conversation: collecting health data you're not acting on isn't neutral. It costs money, it burdens patients, and it pulls resources away from interventions that would actually move the needle. If your organization is drowning in surveys nobody reads, this part is for you. What a job well done actually looks like. For Jason, success isn't a published paper. It's a policy change. An updated screening guideline. An insurance expansion that took twenty years to become the Affordable Care Act. The work is long. The patience required is real. But the outcomes are lives — and that's the only metric that matters. About Jason Semprini Jason Semprini is a public health economist and researcher whose work focuses on cancer, health policy, and the systems shaping health outcomes across Iowa. A lifelong Iowan, Jason's path to this work ran through AmeriCorps, the Peace Corps, and the University of Chicago — where he developed the research and economic skills he now applies to the most pressing health challenges facing this state. His work sits at the intersection of data, policy, and real community impact. Find Jason on LinkedIn explore his research. If This Episode Hit For You — Here's What To Do Next Share it. Send this episode to somebody in your life who needs to hear it. A friend, a coworker, someone at your church, your health department, or your organization. The more people who hear this conversation, the more it can do. Subscribe to the Live. Work. Play. Pray. Newsletter This is where Corey goes deeper every week — health equity, the social determinants shaping our communities, and the stories that don't always make the headlines but absolutely should. Written for real people, not just professionals. Free to subscribe. 👉 https://substack.com/@coreydionlewis Work With Healthy Project Media. If you're a health organization, nonprofit, community health center, foundation, or health plan doing work that deserves a bigger audience, Corey wants to talk. Healthy Project Media partners with organizations across the population health ecosystem to tell stories that actually reach the communities they're trying to serve. Schedule a free 30-minute conversation to explore what that looks like. 👉 https://koalendar.com/e/meet-with-corey-lewis?month=2026-03&duration=30&date=2026-03-23 About The Healthy Project Podcast Hosted by Corey Dion Lewis — public health storyteller, founder of My City My Health INC, and integrated health consultant at the Iowa Primary Care Association — The Healthy Project Podcast exists to make public health accessible, honest, and real for the people it's supposed to serve. Every episode bridges the gap between what the data shows and what communities actually feel. New episodes drop weekly. 📲 Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube 📬 Subscribe to the newsletter: https://substack.com/@coreydionlewis The Healthy Project Podcast is produced by Healthy Project Media | Des Moines, Iowa ★ Support this podcast ★

Quad Cities advocate Royce Wright gets real about youth mental health, the homelessness crisis, and what it means to show up consistently for kids and communities that the system keeps overlooking. SHOW NOTES: Some of the most important public health work doesn't happen in clinics or conference rooms. It happens on street corners, in shelters, and in honest conversations with kids who just need somebody to show up. This week on The Healthy Project Podcast, Corey Dion Lewis sits down with his cousin Royce Wright — a community advocate based in the Quad Cities who has built a reputation for doing exactly that. Royce works with at-risk youth navigating mental health challenges, behavioral issues, and identity crises, while simultaneously raising his voice about the growing homelessness crisis in his community. His approach is rooted in lived experience, patience, and an unshakeable belief that trust is the foundation of everything. In this conversation, Royce shares what it's really like to work with kids who are struggling, why the family unit matters just as much as the child, and how a chance encounter while filming a TikTok video led to a viral moment — and a GoFundMe — aimed at opening emergency overflow shelters and youth spaces across the Quad Cities. What We Cover: Youth Mental Health & Advocacy Why are so many at-risk kids caught in an identity crisis and performing toughness they don't actually feelHow adverse childhood trauma shapes behavior — and why patience is the most underrated tool in youth workWhat it means to be authentic with young people who can read you in secondsThe importance of modeling behavior, not just preaching itHow to advocate for youth mental health even if you're not on the frontlineHomelessness in the Quad Cities How policy changes around shelter placement have pushed the unhoused out of safe spacesWhy people become homeless faster than most of us realize — and why warm weather doesn't solve the problemThe viral TikTok moment where Royce connected with a young man who had just become homeless and didn't even know a local shelter was openWhy abandoned buildings in the Quad Cities are at the center of this conversationRoyce's Mission & How You Can Help How Royce went from passing out coats from his storage unit to becoming a community voiceThe GoFundMe campaign: Creating Safe Spaces for the Unhoused and At-Risk YouthA $100,000 goal to fund emergency overflow shelters and additional youth spaces in the Quad CitiesResources & Links: 🔗 Royce Wright's GoFundMe — Creating Safe Spaces for the Unhoused and At-Risk Youth Follow Royce Wright: FacebookTikTok InstagramYouTubeLinkedInAbout The Healthy Project Podcast The Healthy Project Podcast is hosted by public health storyteller Corey Dion Lewis. Each week, Corey brings honest, community-first conversations about health equity, mental health, social determinants of health, and the people doing the real work in underserved communities across the country. 🎙️ Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. ★ Support this podcast ★

The CDC is being cut by more than 50%. Over 100 public health programs are being eliminated. And the communities that will feel it first — and hardest — are the same ones who've always been at the back of the line. In this solo episode, Corey breaks down what's actually being dismantled, why the framing of "cutting DEI" is designed to make you look away, and what it means for Black and Brown communities when the safety net has a hole cut through the middle of it.  ★ Support this podcast ★

After 30 years bridging the gap between public policy and communities, Darolyn Davis knows why most public health engagement efforts fail—and more importantly, how to fix them. In this episode of The Healthy Project Podcast, host Corey Dion Lewis speaks with Darolyn Davis, founder of D&A Communications, about the critical disconnect between well-intentioned public health initiatives and the communities they aim to serve. This conversation goes beyond surface-level community engagement to explore what it really takes to build institutional trust. Darolyn shares the pivotal moment in her career when she realized that policymakers were making decisions for communities without including the voices of those most affected. Working in the California State Legislature, she witnessed firsthand how missing perspectives—particularly women and people of color—led to unintended harmful consequences in public policy. This realization launched three decades of work focused on equity-first communication strategies, where community voices aren't just heard, but actively shape outcomes. Key Discussion Points: Why Traditional Outreach Fails Darolyn explains why treating outreach as a distribution problem rather than a relationship problem dooms most initiatives from the start. Sending mailers, holding meetings, and posting information online doesn't equal meaningful engagement—and communities see right through it. The Trust Gap in Healthcare. The conversation addresses uncomfortable truths about why communities, particularly communities of color, distrust healthcare institutions. With Black women facing maternal mortality rates 3-4 times higher than white women, and Black Americans comprising only 5-7 percent of clinical trial participants despite representing 14 percent of the population, historical and ongoing systemic failures shape present-day healthcare decisions. Measuring What Actually Matters Most agencies measure engagement success by counting meetings held or materials distributed. Darolyn argues for a completely different approach: measuring sentiment, behavioral change, and whether you've actually moved people from one understanding to another. She reveals why superficial metrics waste resources and erode trust further. Real-World Case Study: Six Years to Build Trust Darolyn shares the remarkable story of working with the Bayview Hunters Point community in San Francisco. When a public agency wanted to build a new 62 million dollar community facility, residents initially refused—they didn't trust that promises would be kept. It took six years of consistent relationship-building, honest dialogue, and demonstrating follow-through before the community agreed. The result: a state-of-the-art Southeast Community Facility that now serves as a healthcare, education, workforce training, and community hub. This case study illustrates a critical truth: meaningful change takes time, and there are no shortcuts to building trust. Institutional Responsibility vs. Personal Choice One of the most important reframings in this episode is shifting from "Why don't communities trust us?" to "What are we doing that earns trust?" When trust is treated as an institutional responsibility rather than a personal choice, the burden shifts from communities to the organizations that serve them. What Keeps Failing After 30 Years Darolyn identifies recurring problems: communities brought in too late in the decision-making process, equity treated as a checkbox, budgets too small for genuine engagement, organizations moving faster than relationships allow, and failure to acknowledge historical harms that shape current perceptions. The Question Every Public Health Leader Should Ask Before launching any campaign or initiative, Darolyn advises asking: "Who is not at the table?" This simple but profound question forces organizations to identify missing voices and perspectives before making decisions that will impact those very communities. About This Episode's Guest: Darolyn Davis is the founder of D&A Communications, an equity-first communications agency that has spent three decades specializing in public health, education, transportation, and workforce development. Her work focuses on authentic community engagement that doesn't just inform communities about decisions already made, but involves them in shaping outcomes. She built her agency on the principle that all people deserve a voice in policies that affect their lives. Why This Conversation Matters: Public health professionals, healthcare administrators, policy makers, and community organizers face increasing challenges in building trust and achieving meaningful health outcomes. Misinformation spreads rapidly, historical harms create justified skepticism, and communities increasingly push back against initiatives designed "for them" without "with them." This episode provides both diagnosis and treatment for broken engagement systems. Whether you're launching a vaccination campaign, developing health policy, running a community health center, or working in any capacity where trust matters, this conversation offers practical wisdom earned through decades of on-the-ground experience. Connect with Darolyn Davis: Website: https://davisimpact.com/ About The Healthy Project Podcast: The Healthy Project Podcast brings you conversations with leaders, innovators, and changemakers in public health who are transforming how we approach community health, equity, and wellbeing. Host: Corey Dion Lewis Show Notes Episode Summary: Darolyn Davis, founder of D&A Communications with 30 years of equity-focused communication experience, reveals why most community engagement efforts fail and shares the six-year journey it took to build trust for a $62 million community facility in San Francisco's Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood. Key Topics Covered: The policy-making disconnect: Why decisions made without community input failEquity-first communication: Moving from "for communities" to "with communities"The distribution vs. relationship problem in public health outreachWhy communities feel ignored despite official "engagement" effortsTrust as institutional responsibility rather than personal choiceHistorical context of healthcare distrust in communities of colorHealthcare disparities: Black maternal mortality, clinical trial participation, pain treatmentHow to measure engagement impact beyond attendance numbersThe true cost of superficial community engagementCase study: Bayview Hunters Point Southeast Community FacilityWhat keeps failing after three decades in the fieldHow quickly trust can be lost versus how long it takes to buildSocial media's role in spreading both information and misinformationThe most important question to ask before launching any public health campaignNotable Statistics Discussed: Black women are 3-4 times more likely to die in emergency rooms compared to white womenBlack Americans represent 14% of the U.S. population but only 5-7% of clinical trial participantsBlack patients receive pain treatment approximately 22% less often than white patientsThe Southeast Community Facility project cost: $62 millionTime investment to build community trust for the facility: 6 yearsFeatured Case St...

Corey Dion Lewis sits down with Dr. Margot Kushel, a practicing general internist with over 30 years of experience at San Francisco General Hospital and Director of the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, to explore why homelessness is fundamentally a housing problem—not a healthcare problem—and what this means for medical professionals and communities. Dr. Kushel shares compelling insights from her three decades of clinical practice and research, revealing how the lack of affordable housing creates impossible situations for healthcare providers trying to treat patients experiencing homelessness. From managing diabetes in a tent to storing insulin without refrigeration, she illustrates why "there is no medicine as powerful as housing." What You'll Learn: Why regions with high homelessness rates are defined by housing affordability, not mental health prevalenceHow structural racism and redlining created the current crisis, with Black Americans 4-5 times overrepresented in homeless populationsThe stark reality: only 36 affordable housing units exist for every 100 extremely low-income households in AmericaWhy Housing First policies work better than Treatment First approaches, backed by evidence from veteran homelessness reductionThe hidden homeless population: workers living in cars, college students couch-surfing, and older adults losing housing for the first timeHow the politicization of Housing First policies threatens progress and patient outcomesPractical ways healthcare providers can advocate for housing as a health interventionKey Clinical Insights: Dr. Kushel explains why treating chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and mental health disorders becomes nearly impossible when patients lack stable housing. She shares real stories from her practice, including a 63-year-old patient who hadn't eaten in four days while fighting eviction, and discusses how readmission penalties unfairly penalize hospitals serving homeless populations. The Evidence for Housing First: Learn about the dramatic 85% housing retention rate of Housing First approaches compared to 5-10% success rates of traditional Treatment First models, and why the George W. Bush administration adopted this evidence-based policy. Dr. Kushel also shares findings from California's comprehensive statewide homelessness study, debunking myths about people traveling from other states. For Medical Professionals: This episode is essential listening for physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, medical students, residents, community health workers, social workers, case managers, and anyone in healthcare who treats patients experiencing housing instability. Dr. Kushel provides a framework for understanding how to advocate beyond the clinic walls. About Dr. Margot Kushel: Dr. Kushel is a physician and researcher who has dedicated her career to understanding and ending homelessness. She directs the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative and the Action Research Center for Health at the University of California, San Francisco. Her research informs policy at local, state, and federal levels. Resources Mentioned: UCSF Benioff Homelessness Initiative: homelessness.ucsf.eduCalifornia Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness"There Is No Place" by Brian GoldstoneEpisode Takeaway: "There is no medicine as powerful as housing. Homelessness is a housing problem." Whether you're a healthcare provider frustrated by social determinants of health, a medical student learning about population health, or a community advocate, this conversation will change how you think about the intersection of housing and health. SHOW NOTES Episode: Housing as Medicine: Why Homelessness is a Housing Crisis Guest: Dr. Margot Kushel, MD Host: Corey Dion Lewis Category: Medicine Duration: ~49 minutes ABOUT THIS EPISODE Dr. Margot Kushel, Director of the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, explains why homelessness is fundamentally a housing crisis and how this understanding transforms medical practice and healthcare advocacy. GUEST BIO Dr. Margot Kushel, MD Practicing General Internist, San Francisco General Hospital (30+ years)Director, UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing InitiativeDirector, Action Research Center for Health, UCSFLeading researcher on homelessness and health outcomesPolicy advisor at local, state, and federal levelsKEY TOPICS & TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Introduction: The Housing-Health Connection [02:00] Homelessness is a Housing Problem Why mental health and substance use don't explain geographic variationsThe role of affordable housing shortagesComparing high vs. low homelessness regions[05:00] The Clinical Reality: Hands Tied Behind Our Backs Treating diabetes in patients living in tentsWhy standard medical care fails without stable housingThe frustration of healthcare providers[08:17] The Numbers: America's Affordable Housing Crisis 36 units per 100 extremely low-income households nationallySan Francisco: 24 units per 100 householdsOne million units short[09:15] "There is No Medicine as Powerful as Housing" Using physician voices in policy advocacyThe limitations of healthcare aloneAddressing root causes[13:55] Hospital Readmissions and Housing Instability How readmission penalties penalize safety-net hospitalsPatients discharged to sidewalksThe need for systemic change[17:08] Structural Racism and the Homelessness Crisis Black Americans: 4-5 times overrepresentedThe legacy of redlining and housing discriminationHow wealth gaps perpetuate housing instabilitySan Francisco example: 5% population, 37% of homeless[19:28] Historical Context: How Housing Policy Weaponized Race Post-WWII home ownership boomRedlining and mortgage discriminationIntergenerational wealth transfer blockedOngoing discrimination in rental housing[23:49] The Hidden Homeless Population Workers living in cars (Uber drivers, janitors, fast food workers)College students experiencing housing insecurityThe invisible crisis in CSU, UC, and community collegesPeople with addresses who aren't truly housed[27:17] Older Adults: The Growing Crisis Half of single homeless adults are 50+40% experiencing homelessness for first time after age 50Bodies breaking down from physical laborThe eviction-to-homelessness pipeline[28:14] Clinical Case: The Amoxicillin Story Patient in garage without refrigerationAntibiotic treatment failure due to housingWhy "having an address" doesn't mean housed[29:11] Debunking the Migration Myth California study: 90% lost housing in-state75% in the same county...

Today’s episode is not the one I planned to release. I was supposed to share an interview I was excited about, but it didn’t feel right to move forward after the tragic killings by ICE agents in Minnesota. Families are grieving. Communities are scared. And pretending everything is normal felt like the wrong move. In this solo emergency episode, I speak honestly about not having the right words, but choosing to not stay silent. The Healthy Project was created to shine a light on the systems that harm people, and what happened in Minnesota is not just a headline. It is state violence. It is the predictable result of a system built on fear and enforcement. This episode is about sitting with discomfort, naming what’s happening, and turning awareness into action. I share why immigration enforcement has always been violent, why no human being deserves to die because of documentation status, and what you can do right now to support impacted communities. We talk about: The ICE killings in Minnesota and why this matters to all of usHow silence protects harmful systemsThe human cost behind immigration enforcementWays you can take action through education, mutual aid, and community supportThis is a heavy episode. But it’s a necessary one. You don’t need perfect words to show up. You just need to refuse to look away. ★ Support this podcast ★