Public Health Joy!

Serving your community is central to public health. But what happens when particular communities are excluded from certain spaces? Or are prevented from being included in important research and sharing of knowledge? These are some of the key questions that today’s guest, Chioma Nnaji, MEd, MPH, has grappled with on her journey as an organizer, community health worker, and researcher.

Today’s episode features part one of our conversation with Chioma, where we explore how to navigate the challenges of manuscript writing and publishing in public health. Chioma has been in public health for more than two decades, with her work in HIV/AIDS living at the intersections of public health, racial justice, and immigrant rights. Tuning into part one, you’ll learn about Chioma’s extensive journey navigating the challenges of manuscript writing, the difficulties inherent to publishing community-defined work, and how she and host, Joyee Washington, decided to form a partnership intended to help others on their writing and publishing journeys.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Who Chioma is, what she does, and the organizations and communities she serves. [01:57]

• Her work at the intersection of immigrant rights and racial justice in public health. [04:34]

• Unpacking how to apply intersectionality work within public health. [08:26]

• How communities are often intentionally excluded from certain spaces. [13:18]

• Chioma’s early community-defined work and the challenge of getting it published. [14:13]

• United We Rise as a Black-led intersectional movement. [15:43]

• The value of manuscript writing and publishing as a contribution to this field. [17:36]

• Chioma’s first manuscript, her partners, and how they were able to get it published. [19:39]

• The challenges of writing a manuscript within public health. [21:46]

• Chioma’s experience with community-academic partnerships. [25:53]

• The partnerships and support that she wants to bring to public health. [27:23]

• Joyee and Chioma’s partnership in creating The Script Lab for Public Health. [29:09]

When it comes to data collection and research within indigenous communities, we need to honor the sacred stories of those communities in order to support the decolonization of this data.

In this episode, public health entrepreneur, Heidi Berthoud, joins the conversation as we discuss importance of listening to indigenous communities during data collection, how we can support them more authentically, why their data belongs to them, the importance of giving that data back, and so much more! Heidi goes on to explain why maintaining complete objectivity is not productive in decolonizing data before she delves into what brings her joy in her work. To hear all this and share in Heidi’s passions for community data collection, reproductive justice, and making public health data accessible to everyone, press play now!

Key Points From This Episode:

We have made huge strides in how we treat mental health over the course of the past century, from the development of targeted pharmaceuticals to establishing newer and more effective methods of therapy. Yet, the possibilities of utilizing emergent technologies in treating mental health have largely been left unexplored until now.

In this episode, we discuss the role of virtual reality (VR) in mental health with Terrance Williams, Founder of Meta Wellness, a company that is harnessing the power of VR to help mental health professionals treat patients struggling with a range of conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and severe eating disorders. Terrance talks about how he founded Meta Wellness, the promising potential of VR in the mental health space, and his expectations for these technologies going forward.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Terrance's cutting-edge work at the intersection of VR, mental health, and wellness. [00:53]

• Differences between the metaverse, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence. [07:20]

• Understanding the drawbacks of VR, AI, and the metaverse. [10:57]

• Why the implications of AI are much more dangerous than VR. [13:04]

• Technology’s role in fostering collaboration and community in the mental health space. [18:04]

• How companies are addressing accessibility and affordability when it comes to VR. [19:46]

• The viability of VR as an alternative form of treatment in the mental health space. [22:12]

• How emerging technology in the mental health space will evolve in the coming years. [26:24]

• Troubling statistics around men’s mental health and Terrance’s hopes to make a positive impact through his work. [31:35]

• How to get in touch with Terrance and learn more about Meta Wellness. [33:26]

How can we equip those in faith-based spaces to guide not just the spiritual needs of their communities but their overall health too? This is the question posed by today’s guest, Ericka Horne, who is the CEO and Founder of AKCIRE Consulting, LLC, where she supports nonprofits and faith-based organizations with program planning and implementation. 

In this episode, Ericka offers some insight into her public health journey, her passion for faith-based partnerships, and how she uses her platform to prioritize self-care, education, and health equity, particularly in Black communities. We also take a closer look at what Ericka is doing to bridge the gap between faith and medicine and find out why building and nurturing community relationships is so important for public health professionals. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Who Ericka is, what she does, and the organizations and communities she serves. [02:52]

• How growing up in the church informed her focus on faith-based partnerships. [05:10]

• Bridging the gap between the church and healthcare, particularly for Black folk. [07:52]

• Why knowing your community is critical for public health professionals. [12:05]

• Challenges that Ericka has encountered and what she has learned from them. [13:19]

• The importance of being aware of the social structure and culture of your community. [16:05]

• Insight into Ericka’s research interests, including chronic disease management. [20:55]

• How Ericka facilitates emergency response support for the churches she works with. [25:38]

• The value of “meeting people where they are,” regardless of your beliefs. [27:55]

• What brings Ericka joy in her work: seeing other people get what they need. [28:36]

Welcome to the Public Health Joy podcast, the safe space for real and honest conversation about what building a public health research career is really like: the challenges, the triumphs, and all the lessons we learn along the way.

I’m your host, Dr. Joyee, a Public health researcher, PhD survivor, and entrepreneur. In today’s episode, we are talking with Tamara Mason about her work with the March of Dimes and as a doula to support Black maternal health and Black birthing joy. 

This is where research meets relationship and together, we will find our Public Health Joy!  

Key Points From This Episode:

• An introduction to today’s guest and topic of conversation. [0:00:27]

• Tamara tells us about who she is and what she does. [0:02:00]

• Tamara gives a background on the March of Dimes organization. [0:02:55]

• The three specific strategies to achieve their established common agenda. [0:0415]

• She shares the founding story of her consulting organization. [0:04:57]

• Her thoughts on the engagement of the Black maternal health crisis. [0:09:36]

• We talk about the devastating tragedy of Olympic athlete Tori Bowie. [0:12:16]

• The fear of becoming pregnant and living with the real fear. [0:13:00]

• We unpack the joy, bringing in the stories and finding solutions: Black Birthing Joy. [0:14:00]

• Tamara elaborates on the Collective Impact Approach. [0:16:00]

• She talks about her personal belief that solutions are already in the community. [0:17:18]

• We dive deeper into what Black Birthing Joy means to Tamara. [0:19:00]

• Thoughts on the idea that trauma and joy coexist, you can’t separate the two. [0:23:40]

• All stories are important and we need to hear them; traumatic and not. [0:23:27]

• The difference between a midwife and a doula. [0:26:39]

• She talks about the benefits of having a doula and the support they provide. [0:27:30]

• What a doula cannot do and what a certified nurse midwife can. [0:29:25]

• The importance of a support system in achieving Black Birthing Joy. [0:32:25]

• What brings Tamara joy in her work. [0:34:03]

• How to get in touch or connect with Tamara. [0:35:23]

• Tamara’s hope and what she hopes listeners will take from this conversation. [0:36:30]

Welcome to the Public Health Joy Podcast. The safe space for real and honest conversation about what building a public health research career is really like. The challenges, the triumphs, and all the lessons we learn along the way. I'm your host, Dr. Joyee, a public health researcher, Ph.D. survivor, and entrepreneur. 

In today's episode, we are talking with Brandon Johnson about building connections and saving lives as a tireless advocate for positive mental health and suicide prevention services. This is where research meets relationship. Together, we will find our public health joy. 

Key Points From This Episode:

Welcome to the Public Health Joy podcast, the safe space for real and honest conversation about what building a public health research career is really like: the challenges, the triumphs, and all the lessons we learn along the way.

I’m your host, Dr. Joyee, a Public health researcher, PhD survivor, and entrepreneur. In today’s episode, we are talking with Princess Jennings also known as The Data Bounty Hunter about what it takes to track down and collect data with the community. 

This is where research meets relationship and together, we will find our Public Health Joy!  

Timestamps:

0:02 What is community tracking services and what does it do? 

3:38 The importance of building rapport with clients. 

7:34 The importance of building a cohesive team. 

12:29 Getting from criminal justice to community tracking services.

18:15 The importance of mentors and networking. 

20:57 How do you find a mentor? 

25:22 What brings you joy in your work? 

Welcome to the Public Health Joy podcast, the safe space for real and honest conversation about what building a public health research career is really like: the challenges, the triumphs, and all the lessons we learn along the way.

I’m your host, Dr. Joyee, a Public health researcher, PhD survivor, and entrepreneur. In today’s episode, I’m sharing what my life is like as a Black researcher in this space and how I learned to own my identity and show up unapologetically.  

This is where research meets relationship and together, we will find our Public Health Joy! 

Time stamps:

0:00 Introduction

2:00 Transitioning from public school to private school

11:00 Being Black in White spaces

18:00 What does it mean to be a Black researcher

20:00 Being a Black Researchers is my superpower

24:00 Creating rest as a Black Researcher

29:00 Being a joyrider

Welcome to the Public Health Joy podcast, the safe space for real and honest conversation about what building a public health research career is really like: the challenges, the triumphs, and all the lessons we learn along the way.

I’m your host, Dr. Joyee, a Public health researcher, PhD survivor, and entrepreneur. In today’s episode, I’m sharing the story of transforming failure to joy on my PhD journey and how I got over to the other side.

This is where research meets relationship and together, we will find our Public Health Joy!  

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

2:00 My first attempt at a PhD

13:00 My greatest failure

14:00 My next move

18:00 My 2nd attempt at a PhD

20:00 My lupus diagnosis

23:00 My dissertation and COVID-19

25:00 Finding my greatest joy

27:00 Failure is not final

28:00 How I Got Over

Welcome to the Public Health Joy podcast, the safe space for real and honest conversation about what building a public health research career is really like: the challenges, the triumphs, and all the lessons we learn along the way. I’m your host, Dr. Joyee, a Public health researcher, PhD survivor, and entrepreneur. In today’s episode, we’re talking with Mississippi native Dr. Marshae McNeal about how she is driving positive impact as she shares her public health journey from community college to community researcher. This is where research meets relationship and together, we will find our Public Health Joy!  

0:00 Introduction

2:26 Dr. McNeal’s background and how she got into public health. 

4:24 The benefits of going to a community college.

14:35 The most challenging part of her career so far. 

19:32 Experience of working with communities in research.

25:33 What brings you joy in your work? 

Welcome to the Public Health Joy podcast, the safe space for real and honest conversation about what building a public health research career is really like: the challenges, the triumphs, and all the lessons we learn along the way.

 I’m your host, Dr. Joyee, a Public health researcher, PhD survivor, and entrepreneur. In today’s episode, we’re talking with Community Psychologist Dr. Jacque-Corey Cormier about bringing the couch to the community in public health.

 This is where research meets relationship and together, we will find our Public Health Joy!

Time stamps:

0:00 Introduction

2:00 Dr. Cormier's background in public health

3:00 What is community psychology? What does it mean to bring the couch to the community?

13:00 Ten essential public health services

15:00 Decision makers and power dynamics

20:00 The problem with a deficit mindset in research

27:00 Putting the community first

32:00 What brings you joy  

Welcome to the Public Health Joy podcast, the safe space for real and honest conversation about what building a public health research career is really like: the challenges, the triumphs, and all the lessons we learn along the way.

I’m your host, Dr. Joyee, a Public health researcher, PhD survivor, and entrepreneur. In today’s episode, we are talking all about when research gets real as we work with communities to make positive impacts. Special guest, Leonore Okwara, founder of the Association of Black Researchers joins us to share her journey.

Leonore Okwara, MPH is the Founder of the Association of Black Researchers (ABR), a 501c3 nonprofit organization that serves as a central resource to inform, support, and advance a multidisciplinary community of Black Researchers. For over 15 years, she has served in a research program management capacity and coordinated many single and multisite research projects. She has cultivated equitable partnerships between researchers and the community, and organized events that focused on addressing community mistrust in research. Because of this experience, Leonore understands the importance of bringing researchers together to share best practices, strategies, and lessons learned with future researchers.

In today’s episode, we are talking all about mental health and the radical healing necessary to make a positive impact in communities with special guest Lamarr Lewis, a mental health therapist and advocate.

Lamarr Lewis, LAPC CPRP, is a mental health therapist, consultant, dedicated advocate, author, and agent of change. On this podcast episode, he explains the importance of rest and self-care for public health workers. We cannot serve the community members who need us most if we aren’t taking care of ourselves first. We also discuss mental health, coping mechanisms, joy, mentorship, and more!

0:00 Introductions
2:00 Lamarrr’s background
8:30 Passion and mentorship
10:30 Therapists need therapy
16:50 Relationships
22:00 Work as a coping mechanism
31:00 Advocate for those who need it most 36:06 Joy in the work
37:50 Get connected

To connect with Lamarr Lewis visit https://www.lewisfamilyconsulting.net/ or connect on linkedin @LamarrLewis.