In this raw and deeply honest conversation, Keylynne Matos-Cunningham, MPH, M Ed, LPC-A—licensed trauma therapist, former public health professional, and dance-loving entrepreneur—shares how walking away from a "dream" racial justice/public health role became an act of survival. She traces her path from burnout, workplace trauma, and suicidal ideation to rebuilding her life as a trauma therapist, integrating EMDR and brainspotting, and reclaiming her lived experience as a clinical superpower. Along the way, she offers a sharp public health lens on racism, complex trauma, and ACEs, and names a future vision rooted in liberation, collective care, and a nervous system that no longer has to live in crisis mode. Meet Keylynne Matos-Cunningham, MPH, M Ed, LPC-A. Keylynne Matos-Cunningham is a public health scholar turned mental health clinician whose work bridges healing justice, trauma-informed care, and community wellness. With master's degrees in Public Health and Clinical Mental Health Counseling, she brings a powerful understanding of how systems shape our mental health and what it takes to heal beyond them. After experiencing burnout and moral injury in the public health world, Keylynne shifted into clinical work to practice liberation through embodied, culturally grounded healing. She is the creator of the Feel So You Can Heal Framework, a trauma-informed model that guides emotional processing, somatic liberation, and empowered boundaries for deep, sustainable transformation. As founder of Thrive By Us, Keylynne uses therapy, storytelling, and community care to help Black and marginalized communities reclaim well-being on their own terms. Her voice challenges the status quo while offering a compassionate vision for what public health could be: human, liberatory, and rooted in truth. Listen To This Episode of The Courageous Public Health Podcast Conversation Highlights Choosing Survival Over a "Dream" Career — Keylynne describes the physical and emotional toll of doing racial justice and health equity work during the pandemic—hands shaking on camera, crying between meetings, Sunday dread—and the moment she realized staying might cost her life. Starting Over and Betting on Herself — She shares what it meant to leave an eight-year public health career, become an intern again, cash out her retirement, and even file bankruptcy—naming these not as failures, but as necessary steps toward alignment and safety. From "Too Broken" to Wounded Healer — Trained in EMDR and brainspotting, Keylynne talks about going through intensive experiential trainings, healing her own complex trauma, and how those experiences now shape the way she sits with clients in deep grief and pain. Blending Public Health and Trauma Therapy — Drawing on her MPH background, she connects racism, ACEs, hyper-surveillance, and health disparities—calling for trauma-informed, justice-centered public health that treats mental health as core, not an add-on. Vision, Motherhood, and Collective Liberation — Looking ahead, Keylynne names her desire to become a mother, to interrupt inherited trauma, and to live "uncurled"—building a life, practice, and community rooted in authenticity, rest, and collective care. "Public health taught me how to fight for others. Counseling taught me to fight for myself." — Keylynne Matos-Cunningham, MPH, M Ed, LPC-A Stay In Touch: Keylynne Matos-Cunningham on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/keylynne/ www.Keylynne.com Thrive By Us (trauma-informed counseling within the state of Texas) - www.thrivebyus.org Email Dr. Kristi McClamroch - kristi.mcclamroch@courageouspublichealth.com Dr. Kristi McClamroch on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/ www.CourageousPublicHealth.com Subscribe to Weekly Courageous Public Health Podcast Updates - http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6 **Remember to Like the Episode, Subscribe, and Leave a Review!** Public Health Consulting To Support You At Courageous Public Health, we are turning up the volume on courage among public health professionals. We support public health organizations through workshop design and facilitation, and speaking engagements. Interested in working with us? Reach out on email, LinkedIn, or our website!
In this heartfelt and powerful episode, Dr. Janelle Taveras shares how courage, faith, and self-worth have shaped her journey as a public health professional, evaluator, empowerment coach, and mother. She speaks candidly about learning to honor her value in toxic systems, choosing boundaries over burnout, and embracing her full identity—rather than watering herself down to fit into spaces not built to receive her. Dr. Taveras also reflects on integrating her faith, her purpose, and her passion for uplifting others into a life that feels whole, aligned, and authentically hers. Before we jump in, a quick note — toward the end of our conversation, we lost audio for the final two questions. What you'll hear is everything we were able to capture, and I'm grateful we still have such a powerful conversation to share with you. You're listening to the Courageous Public Health Podcast, Episode 33. Meet Dr. Janelle Taveras Dr. Janelle Taveras began her journey in public health in 2006 with a deep passion to drive meaningful change within her community and across nations. She holds a Doctorate in Public Health with a specialization in epidemiology and brings exceptional expertise in evaluation methods, strategic planning, and equity-centered solutions. Over the course of her career, she has authored or co-authored more than 30 public health abstracts, presentations, and publications; provided capacity building and technical assistance to health departments and HIV programs across the United States; and contributed to major national efforts, including the CDC's Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative across 57 jurisdictions. Her recent work includes developing monitoring and evaluation plans for local HIV/AIDS programs in Broward County and Pinellas County, Florida. A born-again believer since 2010, Dr. Taveras integrates her faith into every aspect of her work and life. She is deeply committed to encouraging others to pursue their God-given purpose through consistent prayer and daily communion with the Holy Spirit. Her holistic approach to ministry includes Christian fitness and worship through flag ministry—expressions that reflect her belief in honoring God with both body and spirit. A lifelong fitness enthusiast, she often says, "The Holy Spirit can only go as far as the limits of our physical fitness." Dr. Taveras firmly believes that Jesus should be at the center of every core area of our lives. Through her services, products, and resources, she aims to empower individuals to live dynamic, fruitful lives rooted in Christ. She is honored to serve and walk alongside you on this transformative journey. Ready to be inspired? Let's listen to my conversation with Dr. Janelle Taveras right now. Listen To This Episode of The Courageous Public Health Podcast Conversation Highlights A Career Rooted in Evaluation and Equity — Dr. Taveras reflects on nearly two decades of public health work, including evaluation leadership on large-scale HIV initiatives, capacity building for health departments, and improving systems through data-driven strategy. Faith as a Framework for Discipline and Purpose — She shares how becoming a born-again believer reshaped how she approaches leadership, decision-making, and daily practices that keep her grounded. Honoring the Body as Part of the Work — Dr. Taveras talks about Christian fitness, movement, and her belief that physical strength supports emotional and spiritual strength — and why caring for the body is part of her ministry. Lessons From Reinvention — She offers wisdom from seasons when she had to pause, listen, and realign her life and work, naming the habits and practices that helped her rebuild with intention. A Vision for Impact and Service — Looking ahead, Dr. Taveras describes her desire to help people live purposeful, fruitful lives — and to continue strengthening public health systems through evaluation, equity, and community-centered planning. "Just because I can, doesn't mean I have to." — Dr. Janelle Taveras Stay In Touch: Dr. Janelle Taveras on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/janelle-taveras-gomez-phd-28722174/ https://www.empoweringlives.online/ Email Dr. Kristi McClamroch - kristi.mcclamroch@courageouspublichealth.com Dr. Kristi McClamroch on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/ www.CourageousPublicHealth.com Subscribe to Weekly Courageous Public Health Podcast Updates - http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6 **Remember to Like the Episode, Subscribe, and Leave a Review!** Public Health Consulting To Support You At Courageous Public Health, we are turning up the volume on courage among public health professionals. We support public health organizations through workshop design and facilitation, and speaking engagements. Interested in working with us? Reach out on email, LinkedIn, or our website!
In this deeply reflective conversation, Caroline Davis, MPH—a member of the Navajo Nation and executive director of a Native-led organization—shares her journey of finding her way back to her Indigenous identity after years of distancing herself from it. She speaks candidly about growing up as a white-passing Native kid on the reservation, navigating rejection and belonging, and reshaping her path in public health. Caroline also reflects on using her access to challenge harmful systems, finding a professional home where her full identity is valued, and holding a bold vision for a public health future rooted in equity, Native knowledge, and community care. She shares her dream of returning to writing as another way to honor her story. Meet Caroline Davis, MPH Caroline Davis (Diné) is a dedicated leader in Indigenous public health, health equity, and social justice. Born and raised on the Navajo Nation in Northern Arizona, Caroline is of Navajo and Irish descent. She brings over a decade of experience working at the intersection of public health and Indigenous community well-being. Caroline holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Northern Arizona University and a Master of Public Health from New Mexico State University. Her career has spanned maternal and child health, mental health, disease prevention, social and environmental health, and healthcare workforce development. She is deeply committed to community-centered approaches and has provided training and technical assistance to Tribes and Tribal organizations across the country, with a focus on research and evaluation rooted in Indigenous values. Caroline serves as the Executive Director of a national Native-led non-profit and co-leads her own consulting firm, working to challenge and transform the ways government agencies and non-Native institutions engage with Tribal communities. Her work is grounded in the belief that Indigenous knowledge and leadership must guide all health and healing efforts. Caroline lives in Colorado with her husband, three children, and two cats. Outside of work, she enjoys mountain biking, hiking, and exploring her creative side through art and writing. Listen To This Episode of The Courageous Public Health Podcast Conversation Highlights Growing Up Between Worlds & Coming Back to Herself — Caroline reflects on being a white-passing Native kid on the Navajo reservation, facing rejection from both sides of her family, and later reconnecting with her identity through motherhood, traditional practices, and public health. Navigating Identity, Tokenism, and Courage — She describes the dual reality of being questioned by some and treated as a "safe" Indigenous hire by institutions, and how she found the courage to challenge white saviorism and push for culturally grounded approaches in her work. Finding a Native-Led Home & Reimagining Public Health — Caroline speaks about the healing of joining a Native-led organization that values mixed-race Native experiences, her vision for a public health system rooted in equity and Indigenous knowledge, and her hope for universal care and fully resourced schools. Reclaiming Creativity and Future Dreams — Looking ahead, she shares her desire to settle into stability and return to writing fiction and children's books, bringing her identity journey onto the page. "Being white passing gives me access—so I use that access to challenge tokenism, white saviorism, and the way systems talk about Native communities." — Caroline Davis, MPH Stay In Touch: Caroline Davis, MPH on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-r-davis-mph-b59713105/ Email Dr. Kristi McClamroch - kristi.mcclamroch@courageouspublichealth.com Dr. Kristi McClamroch on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/ www.CourageousPublicHealth.com Subscribe to Weekly Courageous Public Health Podcast Updates - http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6 **Remember to Like the Episode, Subscribe, and Leave a Review!** Public Health Consulting To Support You At Courageous Public Health, we are turning up the volume on courage among public health professionals. We support public health organizations through workshop design and facilitation, and speaking engagements. Interested in working with us? Reach out on email, LinkedIn, or our website!
Dr. Linda Animashaun's story is one of faith, courage, and rediscovery. From growing up in a Ghanaian household shaped by discipline and service, to choosing public health over medicine, to leaving behind job security to build a consulting business aligned with her purpose—her journey reminds us that courage often begins with permission to want. In this episode, we talk about integrity in evaluation work, the power of saying both no and yes with intention, and the radical act of dreaming—especially when the world tells you not to. Meet Dr. Linda Animashaun Dr. Linda Animashaun is the founder and principal of Amammere Consulting, LLC, an equity-focused evaluation firm that advances public health through community-rooted insights and action. She has over 15 years of experience in health equity research and evaluation, working with federal agencies, nonprofits, foundations, and community-based organizations. Her work centers on the social determinants of health, with a focus on chronic disease prevention and control, nutrition, and community engagement in historically marginalized communities. Dr. Animashaun specializes in designing and implementing qualitative and mixed-methods evaluations that reveal the stories behind the data, empowering organizations to understand, strengthen, and sustain the impact of their work. Known for her collaborative, culturally responsive, and community-centered approach, Dr. Animashaun has developed data collection instruments, led interviews and focus groups, and produced accessible case studies, training materials, and findings reports for both technical and public audiences. She also supports organizations through facilitation and strategic planning, helping to align their efforts with equity goals and community priorities. Deeply committed to uplifting community voices, she views evaluation not just as a learning tool but as a vehicle for equity and lasting change. Dr. Animashaun holds a BA in African American Studies from Columbia University, an MPH in Behavioral Sciences and Health Education from Emory University, and a DrPH in Community Health Behavior and Education from Georgia Southern University. Listen To This Episode of The Courageous Public Health Podcast Conversation Highlights Courage as Integrity: Dr. Animashaun shares how, as an evaluator, she insists on reflecting the community's truth—resisting pressure to "massage" data for funders or optics. The Courage to Want: She talks about learning to dream beyond expectations, to "want" without guilt or limits, and how entrepreneurship helped her claim that freedom. Saying No, Saying Yes: She and Dr. McClamroch explore how both no and yes can be powerful when chosen with clarity and conviction. Faith and Hope in Uncertain Times: Even in a shifting political landscape, Dr. Animashaun holds onto hope that the work of public health—and health equity—transcends administrations. Redefining Success: From stability to self-determination, she shares what it means to build a business, a vision, and a life rooted in courage and authenticity. "We can't stop doing the work just because the administration changes. Health equity is bigger than any presidency."— Dr. Linda Animashaun Stay In Touch: Dr. Linda Animashaun on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-a-animashaun-drph-mph-ches-0b5b5416/ Amammere Consulting - https://amammereconsulting.com/ Email Dr. Kristi McClamroch - kristi.mcclamroch@courageouspublichealth.com Dr. Kristi McClamroch on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/ www.CourageousPublicHealth.com Subscribe to Weekly Courageous Public Health Podcast Updates - http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6 **Remember to Like the Episode, Subscribe, and Leave a Review!** Public Health Consulting To Support You At Courageous Public Health, we are turning up the volume on courage among public health professionals. We support public health organizations through workshop design and facilitation, and speaking engagements. Interested in working with us? Reach out on email, LinkedIn, or our website!
CPH 30 - Purple, Perspective, and Public Health: A Conversation with Natasha Knight Dr. Natasha Knight is a public health strategist whose "purple philosophy"—bold and creative, steady and calm—guides how she shows up for equity. In this episode, she talks about the courage it took to leave a dream role at the National Institutes of Health and step into corporate citizenship at Altria, where she leads strategy for underage prevention and cessation support. We get into owning your choices, "baking equity into the batter" instead of icing it on top, moving home to North Carolina, surviving a ground-up home build, and a new vision: trauma-informed, accessible interior design rooted in public health. Meet Dr. Natasha Knight Dr. Natasha Knight is a public health leader and proud purple enthusiast. For her, purple is more than a favorite color. It represents courage, creativity, and balance. It blends the calm of blue with the boldness of red, and that's how she has approached her 15+ year career: grounding herself in evidence and empathy while pushing boldly for equity and change. Dr. Knight currently serves as Manager of Underage Prevention and Cessation Support at Altria Client Services, where she leads equity-informed strategies to prevent underage tobacco use and support people on their quit journeys. Trained as a behavioral scientist with a PhD, MPH, and MBA, her path has also included roles at the National Cancer Institute and UNC Greensboro, where she focused on health disparities, community engagement, and mentoring the next generation of public health leaders. At her core, she is passionate about using data, strategy, and empathy to create solutions that make health more equitable and accessible. And in her spare time, she is a budding interior stylist, exploring how to bring well-being and equity into the spaces where people live and work. For Dr. Knight, courage in public health -- and in design -- means standing firm in spaces where equity isn't always the default, and helping communities not just survive, but thrive. Listen To This Episode of The Courageous Public Health Podcast Conversation Highlights Owning the pivot: Why Dr. Knight left a coveted NIH role to pursue impact in corporate citizenship—and what it means to align work with values. Public health on the inside: Leading underage prevention and cessation support strategy at Altria; bringing evidence and ethics to a complex space. The purple philosophy: Creative + calm as a leadership stance; standing up when it matters, without posturing. Equity isn't icing: Her on-the-spot metaphor for building systems—equity has to be mixed into the recipe, not smeared on at the end. Home as health: The cross-country move, a long home build, learning to trust the process, and speaking up when something isn't right. Design for well-being: Dr, Knight's vision for trauma-informed, accessible interior design so everyday spaces help people feel safe, centered, and well. Collective courage: Black women shouldn't have to carry equity work alone; "strength in numbers" matters when we're united. "There's no way that equity can truly be baked in that way, if you're putting it as the icing as opposed to mixing it in with the eggs and the sugar and the flour."— Dr. Natasha Knight Stay In Touch: Dr. Natasha Knight on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/naknightphd/ Email Dr. Kristi McClamroch - kristi.mcclamroch@courageouspublichealth.com Dr. Kristi McClamroch on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/ www.CourageousPublicHealth.com Subscribe to Weekly Courageous Public Health Podcast Updates - http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6 **Remember to Like the Episode, Subscribe, and Leave a Review!** Public Health Consulting To Support You At Courageous Public Health, we are turning up the volume on courage among public health professionals. We support public health organizations through workshop design and facilitation, and speaking engagements. Interested in working with us? Reach out on email, LinkedIn, or our website!
Eboni Washington has spent two decades serving children, youth, and families—first in public service and now as Director of Government and Community Relations for Action for Child Protection. In this episode, she shares what it meant to leave a secure 19-year career in county government to take a leap of faith into a new chapter—and how trusting herself, even when others doubted her decision, became an act of courage. We talk about claiming space in rooms where you might be the only one like you, seeing public health through the lens of child welfare and juvenile justice, and finding peace and purpose in the work of helping communities thrive. Meet Eboni Washington, MPA Eboni Washington, MPA is the Director of Government and Community Relations for Action for Child Protection, a non-profit organization that provides technical assistance to child welfare agencies around the country. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing legislative and regulatory changes, empowering leaders, managing government contracts, and partnering to shape Action's public policy strategies. Eboni is an experienced Human Services leader with over two decades of non-profit and local government experience. During her 18+ year career at Clark County, she worked at the Departments of Juvenile Justice Services and Family Services in Las Vegas, Nevada; most recently as Deputy Director. During her time at Clark County, she served in various roles centered on community-based justice and child welfare programs. Most notably, Eboni oversaw expansion of Clark County's juvenile assessment center, implementation of an analytics solution and development of an agency-wide performance measurement initiative designed to improve the quality of child welfare services provided to children and families in Southern Nevada. Eboni is a passionate collaborator, advocate, and strategist driven to create and implement solutions designed to build thriving communities and advance outcomes for underserved populations. In doing so, she is committed to fostering collaboration and accessibility when engaging those responsible for serving children, youth and families. Eboni Washington earned a bachelor's degree in health Ecology from the University of Nevada, Reno and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She is also a member of the American Public Human Services Association Governing Board of Directors. Listen To This Episode of The Courageous Public Health Podcast Conversation Highlights Leaping Toward Change: Leaving a 19-year public-sector career in Las Vegas to "bet on herself" and pursue new purpose in nonprofit leadership. Trusting Intuition Over Fear: Making a bold career move despite loved ones saying she was "crazy" to leave a secure, well-paid job. Claiming a Seat Without a Badge: How working in juvenile justice—without the authority or title others had—taught her to show up confident in her expertise and mission. Courage in Community: The power of mentorship, especially from women like Dannette Smith, in fueling courage and confidence. Redefining Public Health: Eboni reminds us that supporting children, youth, and families through systems like child welfare is public health. Vision for the Future: Thriving communities where children are healthy, supported, and free to be themselves—and where leaders sustain their own peace while doing the work. "I made that decision, and it was courageous, I think, just to take the step in deciding to bet on myself." — Eboni Washington, MPA Stay In Touch: Eboni Washington on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/eboni-j-washington/ Email Dr. Kristi McClamroch - kristi.mcclamroch@courageouspublichealth.com Dr. Kristi McClamroch on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/ www.CourageousPublicHealth.com Subscribe to Weekly Courageous Public Health Podcast Updates - http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6 **Remember to Like the Episode, Subscribe, and Leave a Review!** Public Health Consulting To Support You At Courageous Public Health, we are turning up the volume on courage among public health professionals. We support public health organizations through workshop design and facilitation, and speaking engagements. Interested in working with us? Reach out on email, LinkedIn, or our website!
Mully Chea, MSHI, is a first-generation Cambodian-American, the first in her family to graduate college, and now a mom to a lively toddler. In this episode, she shares how encouragement from loved ones gave her the courage to move alone to a new city, how each brave step fueled the next, and how she's learning to balance motherhood with a demanding career. From teaching herself English with Sesame Street to championing education for immigrant communities, Mully shows us that courage often begins with believing in yourself—and grows into a force that shapes families and futures. Meet Mully Chea, MSHI Mully Chea, MSHI, is a first-generation Cambodian-American, born and raised in West Philadelphia. She is a proud Temple Alumni. Mully is passionate about education, child and maternal health, minority health, and nutrition. She is deeply rooted in the community and uses her background in Public Health and Information Technology to help others. Listen To This Episode of The Courageous Public Health Podcast Conversation Highlights Leap of Faith: Mully shares how moving alone to a new city—leaving behind friends and family—pushed her to trust herself and discover new courage. Courage Feeds Courage: Reflects on how that first bold move built her confidence to keep taking brave steps in both career and life. Motherhood & Grace: Talks candidly about the challenges of balancing career ambitions with being a new mom, and the ongoing practice of giving herself grace. Power of Encouragement: Highlights how the support of a few trusted voices helped her push past fear—and how she now aims to be that voice for others. Education as Transformation: From teaching herself English with Sesame Street to becoming the first in her family to earn two degrees, she champions education as a powerful equalizer. Choosing Community with Intention: Shares the importance of surrounding herself with people who inspire and uplift her—and being that example for others, especially first-generation immigrants. "I had to teach myself English with Sesame Street. Education became the foundation no one could ever take away." — Mully Chea, MSHI Stay In Touch: Mully Chea on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mullychea5/ Email Dr. Kristi McClamroch - kristi.mcclamroch@courageouspublichealth.com Dr. Kristi McClamroch on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/ www.CourageousPublicHealth.com Subscribe to Weekly Courageous Public Health Podcast Updates - http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6 **Remember to Like the Episode, Subscribe, and Leave a Review!** Public Health Consulting To Support You At Courageous Public Health, we are turning up the volume on courage among public health professionals. We support public health organizations through workshop design and facilitation, and speaking engagements. Interested in working with us? Reach out on email, LinkedIn, or our website!
Dr. Rahmatu Kassimu has built her public-health leadership at the crossroads of evidence, lived experience, and a fierce commitment to community. Guided by the West African principle of Sankofa—"go back and bring it forward"—she left a 12-year career in the classroom to pour knowledge and care back into the communities that raised her. In this episode, she shares what it means to "do it scared": to advocate for students finding their voices, to navigate a high-risk pregnancy as a Black maternal-health expert, and to insist that stories are as essential to health as data. Together we explore how courage can be inherited and renewed—through storytelling, through village-building, and through showing up fully in the fight for equity. Meet Dr. Rahmatu Kassimu Dr. Rahmatu Kassimu, known widely as Dr. K., is a public health strategist, educator, and founder of Dr. K.'s Health Minute, a platform committed to dismantling the systems that silence, marginalize, or erase Black communities. With a dynamic background that spans sociology, health studies, education leadership, and community organizing, Dr. K. merges evidence-based practice with lived experience to build equity-centered systems and stories that heal. Over the last decade, she has empowered students, families, and professionals through culturally grounded wellness strategies, academic writing coaching, grief support, and reproductive justice work. Whether she's facilitating a workshop on maternal mental health, decoding health policy on Instagram, or mentoring future researchers, Dr. K. leads with radical empathy and unapologetic purpose. Her mission? To make complex ideas accessible, advocate for those unheard, and expand what it means to live well, mind, body, and soul. Listen To This Episode of The Courageous Public Health Podcast Conversation Highlights Matrescence & Motherhood: Dr. K opens up about the shock of early postpartum anxiety — including her day-eight realization that she was fully responsible for "this potato with poor neck control." From Classroom to Courage: Guided by the principle of Sankofa, she reflects on 12 years as an educator, helping students find their voices, even supporting a student-led walk-out. Leaving teaching was a leap of courage to live her own advice. Pregnancy as Lived Public Health: Despite being an expert in Black maternal health, she discovered how little she actually knew about pregnancy until living through high-risk complications and an emergency C-section herself. Storytelling as Public-Health Practice: She argues that we've lost crucial intergenerational knowledge because we don't pass down full stories about pregnancy, birth, and health experiences. Showing Up Fully: As a Black African-American woman with Liberian-Ghanaian roots, she insists that lived experience is a strength — not a liability — in public-health work. Power of Community: Calls for a return to wrap-around, community-centered care and shared responsibility, rather than the "me-over-we" individualism undermining public health. A Vision for the Future: Envisions healthier communities built on storytelling, intimacy, and strong villages of support — the kind of care she intentionally cultivates for her own daughter. "We have to come back to the community narrative. We can't keep thinking, 'If you have, that means I can't have.'"— Dr. Rahmatu Kassimu Stay In Touch: Dr. K.'s Health Minute - https://www.drkshealthminuteextended.com/ Dr. K on LinkedIn - https://www.instagram.com/dr.ks.healthminute/ Dr. K on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dr.ks.healthminute/ Dr. K on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DrKsHealthMinute Dr. K on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.ks.healthminute Email Dr. Kristi McClamroch - kristi.mcclamroch@courageouspublichealth.com Dr. Kristi McClamroch on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/ www.CourageousPublicHealth.com Subscribe to Weekly Courageous Public Health Podcast Updates - http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6 **Remember to Like the Episode, Subscribe, and Leave a Review!** Public Health Consulting To Support You At Courageous Public Health, we are turning up the volume on courage among public health professionals. We support public health organizations through workshop design and facilitation, and speaking engagements. Interested in working with us? Reach out on email, LinkedIn, or our website!
In this heart-centered conversation, Venus R. Evans—a Mi'kmaq and Maliseet leader in southeastern Kentucky—shares how quiet courage has guided her journey, from standing firm in her Indigenous identity to leaving a long marriage and leading grassroots organizing. She reflects on her grandmother's influence, the matriarchal roots of Indigenous community health, and the intertwined legacies of trauma, healing, and courage, while highlighting the Auntie Network, which unites and uplifts Indigenous women across Kentucky. This inspiring exchange reminds us that public health is as much about community, culture, and visibility as it is about clinics and data, and that courage often shows up as a steady, quiet presence at the table. Meet Venus R. Evans Venus R. Evans is a proud Tribal Citizen of the Mi'kmaq Nation, with ancestral roots in Presque Isle, Maine and the Atlantic Provinces of Canada. Born and raised in London/Laurel County and currently residing in Corbin, Kentucky, she is a dedicated Indigenous advocate working to uplift Native voices and address systemic challenges facing Native communities in the Commonwealth. She serves as Commissioner At Large for the Kentucky Native American Heritage Commission and is Vice Chair of the Executive Committee of Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, where she formerly represented the Cumberland Chapter on the Steering Committee. Venus is also a former secretary of the Governors Interstate Indian Council and is the founder of The Auntie Network, a grassroots initiative focused on community care and cultural preservation. A frequent speaker on Native American issues, Venus has participated in numerous panels across Kentucky and the U.S., championing Indigenous rights, cultural education, and representation. Listen To This Episode of The Courageous Public Health Podcast Conversation Highlights Quiet Courage in Action — Venus reflects on the power of steady, quiet courage: showing up when no one is watching, holding her ground as a Mi'kmaq and Maliseet woman in spaces where her identity was often dismissed, and continuing to serve her community despite resistance. Roots of Strength — She honors her grandmother, who lost her First Nations status when she married outside her band yet persevered to raise her family in Appalachia—passing on both survival and courage to future generations. Creating the Auntie Network — Seeing the isolation of Indigenous women across Kentucky, Venus organized a monthly Zoom gathering to connect, support, and amplify one another—embodying the Auntie values: Advocate, Unite, Nurture, Teach, Include, and Elevate. Claiming Her Voice — Venus shares the personal courage it took to leave a decades-long marriage, confront dismissive health-care experiences, and speak openly about intergenerational trauma—reminding listeners that vulnerability is a strength. Public Health Beyond Charts and Clinics — She envisions a public health approach that reflects the values, language, and stories of Indigenous communities—where land return, cultural revitalization, and community visibility are as essential as disease prevention. "Courage isn't just what we carry—it's what we pass on." — Venus R. Evans Stay In Touch: Email Venus Evans - venusevans1@gmail.com Venus Evans on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/venus.evans.3 Venus Evans on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/v.evans606/ Venus Evans on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@venusevans606 Venus Evans on X - https://x.com/Evans1Venus Email Dr. Kristi McClamroch - kristi.mcclamroch@courageouspublichealth.com Dr. Kristi McClamroch on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/ www.CourageousPublicHealth.com Subscribe to Weekly Courageous Public Health Podcast Updates - http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6 **Remember to Like the Episode, Subscribe, and Leave a Review!** Public Health Consulting To Support You At Courageous Public Health, we are turning up the volume on courage among public health professionals. We support public health organizations through workshop design and facilitation, and speaking engagements. Interested in working with us? Reach out on email, LinkedIn, or our website!
In this deeply personal milestone episode, Dr. Kristi McClamroch pulls back the curtain on her journey as a podcast host, revealing how 24 conversations with courageous women have fundamentally changed her. What started as careful attention to names and pronouns took on new meaning after a transformative conversation with Dr. Nandi Marshall about the language we use—and don't use—to describe identity and community. From her initial use of the term "BIPOC" to her evolving understanding of how good intentions can still perpetuate "othering," Dr. McClamroch shares the uncomfortable but essential work of being corrected, adjusted, and taught. With vulnerability and wisdom earned through real relationship, she explores what it means to make genuine space versus performative space—and why the courage to be wrong might be the most important courage of all. Listen To This Episode of The Courageous Public Health Podcast Conversation Highlights The Power of Names — Dr. McClamroch reveals her ritual of asking every guest how to pronounce their name, and share their preferred pronouns and racial/ethnic identity. She recognizes that getting these basics right is fundamental to respect and authentic connection. Creating Authentic Space — She describes her approach of telling guests to "take up all the space" and refusing to rein them in during interviews, believing that real intimacy comes from seeing and welcoming someone's full self. The BIPOC Awakening — A conversation with Dr. Nandi Marshall completely shifted Dr. McClamroch's perspective on language and identity, revealing how well-intentioned terms can still center whiteness and create "othering." Courage to Be Corrected — Dr. McClamroch shares the uncomfortable but essential realization that despite being careful about individual identity in interviews, she was still lumping communities together in her marketing materials. Evolution in Real Time — She demonstrates how she changed her podcast marketing from "BIPOC women" to simply "courageous women in public health," while still grappling with how to be transparent about her intentional centering of racialized voices. Learning as Leadership — The episode reveals how being willing to be wrong, taught, and changed by her guests has become central to her growth as both a host and a person. "Making space for someone isn't just about giving them a platform. It's about how you invite them in, how you see them, and how willing you are to be changed by them." — Dr. Kristi McClamroch Stay In Touch: Email Dr. Kristi McClamroch - kristi.mcclamroch@courageouspublichealth.com Dr. Kristi McClamroch on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/ www.CourageousPublicHealth.com Subscribe to Weekly Courageous Public Health Podcast Updates - http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6 **Remember to Like the Episode, Subscribe, and Leave a Review!** Public Health Consulting To Support You At Courageous Public Health, we are turning up the volume on courage among public health professionals. We support public health organizations through workshop design and facilitation, and speaking engagements. Interested in working with us? Reach out on email, LinkedIn, or our website!
In this luminous and energizing conversation, Dr. Joyce Senior shares her journey from Costa Rica to Oregon and from nutritionist to nonprofit co-founder, program manager, and consultant. She reflects on living her core values—love, service, well-being, and growth—while navigating what it means to be an Afro-Latina leader in U.S. public health. Whether she's hosting living room dance parties, translating health materials, or co-creating culturally centered spaces like My Hair, My Health, Dr. Senior embodies public health rooted in joy, justice, and intentional legacy. Meet Dr. Joyce Senior Dr. Joyce Senior is an Afro Latina, born and raised in Costa Rica. She is an energetic professional known for managing public health nutrition and health equity programs. As a program manager at Oregon State University, she has led the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program since 2017 and was a member of the SNAP-Ed state leadership team since 2021. She is the founder of Dr. J Senior Consulting LLC, providing English and Spanish translation and cultural competency consulting to various sectors including higher education and nonprofits. In 2021, she co-founded My Hair My Health PDX, a health and wellness nonprofit supporting Black women and their families in Oregon. Dr. Senior earned her Ph.D. in Food Technology from Clemson University in 2015 and a PMP® certification from the Project Management Institute in 2022. She aims to leave a positive legacy, guided by her core values of love, service, wellbeing and growth. Listen To This Episode of The Courageous Public Health Podcast Conversation Highlights Living Her Core Values — Dr. Senior names love, service, well-being, and growth as her foundational values—and she actively centers them in both her professional and personal life. Courage to Begin Again — She shares the courageous journey of leaving Costa Rica to pursue graduate school in the U.S. and carving out a life rooted in service and purpose. Creating Her Own Table — Dr. Senior describes co-founding My Hair, My Health, a wellness initiative for Black women that blends beauty, culture, and community healing. Reclaiming Her Power — From founding her own consulting business to challenging Eurocentric beauty standards, Dr. Senior shows how Afro-Latina women are reshaping public health. Vision for the Future — She calls for interdisciplinary, community-driven public health and urges listeners to invest in education, challenge false divisions, and build lasting legacy. "As an Afro-Latina, I am constantly redefining beauty—not by European standards, but by the fullness of who I am." — Dr. Joyce Senior Stay In Touch: Dr. Joyce Senior on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjoyce-senior/ www.drjseniorconsulting.com www.myhairmyhealthpdx.org Email Dr. Kristi McClamroch - kristi.mcclamroch@courageouspublichealth.com Dr. Kristi McClamroch on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/ www.CourageousPublicHealth.com Subscribe to Weekly Courageous Public Health Podcast Updates - http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6 **Remember to Like the Episode, Subscribe, and Leave a Review!** Public Health Consulting To Support You At Courageous Public Health, we are turning up the volume on courage among public health professionals. We support public health organizations through workshop design and facilitation, and speaking engagements. Interested in working with us? Reach out on email, LinkedIn, or our website!
In this heartwarming and powerful episode, Kimberly Pierre, MPH, CHES, reflects on the lessons she inherited from her grandmother's kitchen and how they continue to shape her purpose in public health. From folding butter into biscuit dough to centering culture and community in maternal health work, Kimberly shares how legacy is both recipe and roadmap. With deep faith, fierce love, and a calling to uplift Black women and birthing people, she invites us to consider what we carry forward—and what we're called to transform. Meet Kimberly Pierre, MPH, CHES Kimberly Pierre, MPH, CHES, is a dedicated public health leader with a Master of Public Health in Urban Public Health from Rutgers and a Bachelor of Science in Community Health Education from Montclair State University. As Deputy Director at a local municipal health department, she leads community-focused outreach and education efforts across diverse populations including older adults, migrants, and at-risk residents. A first-generation college graduate, Kimberly brings a personal and professional commitment to health equity, with particular passion for sexual and reproductive health, mental health, and maternal and child health. She also teaches at Montclair State University, serves as Associate Director of Health Communications at Yale's Substance and Sexual Health Lab, and sits on the board of the NJ Society for Public Health Education. Her work encompasses strategic planning, community outreach, public health programming, and culturally responsive engagement—always rooted in a mission to reduce disparities and elevate underserved communities. Listen To This Episode of The Courageous Public Health Podcast Conversation Highlights Courage to Pivot — Kimberly shares how not getting into medical school led her to discover public health, a field where she could merge her love of science, service, and people in more meaningful and lasting ways. Owning Her Voice — As a first-generation Haitian American, Kimberly describes how finding and using her voice—especially in academic and professional settings—has been an act of courage and healing. Birthwork as Advocacy — Her experience as a doula and bereavement care provider reflects her deep commitment to showing up for people at their most vulnerable moments, particularly Black women and immigrant families. Legacy Through Food — Kimberly views baking and cooking—especially her legendary peach cobbler—as acts of cultural connection, generational love, and joyful resistance. Leadership on Her Terms — She rejects the myth that leadership must follow one path. Instead, she embodies courageous leadership by choosing authenticity, honoring her lived experience, and creating space for others. Vision for the Future — Kimberly calls for a public health field that centers equity, sustainability, and belonging—and for institutions to invest in long-term community relationships, not just short-term outcomes. "I want to be in spaces where I can show up fully as myself—Haitian, woman, loud laugh, peach cobbler and all. That's how I know I belong." — Kimberly Pierre, MPH, CHES Stay In Touch: Kimberly Pierre, MPH, CHES on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-pierre/ Kimberly Pierre, MPH, CHES on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/publichealthkim/ Kimberly Pierre, MPH, CHES on X - https://x.com/PublichealthKim Wealth in Public Health – Empowering Communities Through Health Education and Strategic - https://wiph.org/ Email Dr. Kristi McClamroch - kristi.mcclamroch@courageouspublichealth.com Dr. Kristi McClamroch on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/ www.CourageousPublicHealth.com Subscribe to Weekly Courageous Public Health Podcast Updates - http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6 **Remember to Like the Episode, Subscribe, and Leave a Review!** Public Health Consulting To Support You At Courageous Public Health, we are turning up the volume on courage among public health professionals. We support public health organizations through workshop design and facilitation, and speaking engagements. Interested in working with us? Reach out on email, LinkedIn, or our website!
Zainab Shipchandler, MPH, MCHES, CLC is not afraid of uncertainty—in fact, she embraces it. In this episode, we talk about her bold pivot from lactation equity work to the world of artificial intelligence, and how her public health training informs both. Zainab shares what it means to lead from values like curiosity, compassion, and humility—and to navigate systems that weren't built for her with intention and care. From fighting for birthing people's rights to questioning dominant knowledge structures, Zainab models what it means to bring audacity, not certainty, into courageous public health leadership. Meet Zainab Shipchandler, MPH, MCHES, CLC Zainab Shipchandler, MPH, MCHES, CLC, is a health educator, public health consultant, and maternal and child health advocate. She is passionate about equipping people with the knowledge and skills to navigate health information and services in the age of AI. As Director and Health Education Consultant at ZRF Group, she brings her background as a Master Certified Health Education Specialist to a multidisciplinary team of experts in AI and medicine. She collaborates with clients nationwide to build professional and community capacity in AI + health literacy through workshops, speaking, and curriculum development. Zainab is especially dedicated to supporting families during the perinatal period. She recently became a Certified Lactation Counselor to guide parents through their infant feeding journeys. Her lived experience as a patient, mother of young children, and trusted resource in her community informs and inspires her work. Listen To This Episode of The Courageous Public Health Podcast Conversation Highlights From Community to Code — Zainab shares her transition from grassroots work in maternal health to exploring the potential of AI—not as a departure, but as a way to deepen her commitment to equity and care. Courage to Stay Curious — She describes how giving herself permission to "not know" opened the door to interdisciplinary innovation and allowed her to reimagine public health beyond traditional boundaries. Centering Maternal Wisdom — Grounding her work in the lived experiences of birthing people, she advocates for maternal voices to shape the design and use of technology in health care systems. Disrupting False Binaries — Zainab challenges the separation of tech and compassion, insisting that data systems can and must be built with humanity, dignity, and justice at their core. Vision for the Future — She calls for bold experimentation, creative courage, and structural change in public health—centering those most affected as co-creators of solutions. "There is such courage in not knowing. In saying: I don't have the answer, but I'm willing to ask, to listen, to learn." — Zainab Shipchandler, MPH, MCHES, CLC Stay In Touch: Zainab Shipchandler, MPH, MCHES on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/zainabship ZRF Group on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/zrfgroupinc ZRF Website - www.zrfgroup.com ZRF Group on Instagram - www.instagram.com/zrfgroupinc Email Dr. Kristi McClamroch - kristi.mcclamroch@courageouspublichealth.com Dr. Kristi McClamroch on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/ www.CourageousPublicHealth.com Subscribe to Weekly Courageous Public Health Podcast Updates - http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6 **Remember to Like the Episode, Subscribe, and Leave a Review!** Public Health Consulting To Support You At Courageous Public Health, we are turning up the volume on courage among public health professionals. We support public health organizations through workshop design and facilitation, and speaking engagements. Interested in working with us? Reach out on email, LinkedIn, or our website!
In this heartfelt and grounded conversation, Dr. Pascale D. Edouard shares how faith, lived experience, and servant leadership have shaped her bold path in public health. From speaking up in systems that often fail to listen, to imagining a future with community-led solutions and more Black women in C-suite leadership, she offers a vision rooted in equity, grace, and courage. Dr. Edouard reminds us that public health must do more than talk the talk—it must walk alongside the people it serves. Meet Dr. Pascale D. Edouard Dr. Pascale D. Edouard (she/her) is the founder and Executive Director of the Black Women in Public Health C.O.N.N.E.C.T. Collective, a non-profit dedicated to advancing the professional growth and careers of Black women in public health. A passionate public health leader and advocate for health equity, Dr. Edouard's work sits at the intersection of social justice and public health. With approximately 15 years of experience across nonprofits, government, academia, and national organizations, she is deeply committed to addressing the root causes of health inequities particularly those impacting Black and historically marginalized communities. She has served in multiple leadership roles including at the Florida Department of Health in Manatee and Sarasota counties, Manatee County Government, and the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors. She has led initiatives to recognize racism as a public health crisis, expand access to healthcare to underserved populations, led initiatives to improve maternal and child health, and develop workforce programs to include Manatee County Governments Community Health Worker's program and the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors Public Health AmeriCorps programs. Dr. Edouard earned her DrPH from the University of South Florida's College of Public Health, where her dissertation focused on the impacts of residential segregation on type 2 diabetes management. A proud Haitian American born and raised in Miami, Dr. Edouard brings her lived experience, professional expertise, and unwavering commitment to equity into every space she enters including her role as the Founder and Principal Consultant of PDE Public Health Consulting, LLC. Listen To This Episode of The Courageous Public Health Podcast Conversation Highlights Rooted in Faith — Dr. Edouard shares how her Christian faith grounds her decisions, nourishes her courage, and reminds her she doesn't have to "do it all" to be worthy or effective. First-Gen Public Health Leader — She reflects on being a first-generation college student and the eldest daughter of Haitian immigrants, and how that shaped her relationship to education, responsibility, and success. Courage in the Classroom — From advocating for students navigating trauma to calling out institutional failures, she shares moments when she chose to speak up and center humanity in academia. Servant Leadership — Dr. Edouard discusses how remembering her "why" has helped her show up with grace, courage, and integrity—especially when systems fail the very communities they're meant to serve. A New Vision for Public Health — She challenges the field to embody the diversity it claims to value by including more Black women at the C-suite level and investing in community-led problem solving. Personal Liberation — Dr. Edouard reflects on shedding external expectations and embracing a courageous, creative path outside traditional career models—where she can lead, build, and serve on her own terms. "We talk a good game about diversity in public health. But it's time we walk the walk—especially at the C-suite level." — Dr. Pascale D. Edouard Stay In Touch: Dr. Pascale D. Edouard on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pascalededouardmph/ Dr. Pascale Edouard and PDE Public Health Consulting, LLC on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pdepublichealthconsulting/ Email Dr. Kristi McClamroch - kristi.mcclamroch@courageouspublichealth.com Dr. Kristi McClamroch on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/ www.CourageousPublicHealth.com Subscribe to Weekly Courageous Public Health Podcast Updates - http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6 **Remember to Like the Episode, Subscribe, and Leave a Review!** Public Health Consulting To Support You At Courageous Public Health, we are turning up the volume on courage among public health professionals. We support public health organizations through workshop design and facilitation, and speaking engagements. Interested in working with us? Reach out on email, LinkedIn, or our website!
On This Episode Of The Courageous Public Health Podcast In this candid and inspiring conversation, Simone McPherson, MPH, CHES shares how grief, faith, and courage have shaped both her life and her public health leadership. From navigating the sudden loss of her brother to finding her voice as an evaluator and entrepreneur, she reflects on what it means to turn pain into purpose and to lead with both heart and vision. Simone invites us into her journey of healing and transformation—stepping beyond comfort zones, claiming her multifaceted identity, and building a consulting practice rooted in equity and community impact. With honesty and hope, she reminds us that purpose often emerges from our deepest challenges, and that prioritizing wellness is itself a radical act of leadership. Meet Simone McPherson, MPH, CHES Simone McPherson, MPH, CHES, is a powerhouse public health scientist, evaluation and research consultant, and kingdom-minded entrepreneur on a mission to ignite change and transform communities. With over a decade of experience across federal, state, local, and community levels, she has led and supported the evaluation of diverse public health initiatives from national programs to grassroots efforts. Simone's expertise spans the development of health equity frameworks, mixed-methods research, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and turning complex findings into actionable insights that shape policy and improve health outcomes. But her story goes beyond the credentials. Simone's journey began with a simple question: "How can we use health information to truly make people's lives better?" That question has fueled her to launch with purpose, Women Impacting Nations Consulting, LLC (W.I.N Consulting), a women-owned public health evaluation and research firm that helps mission-driven organizations elevate community voices, design impactful programs, and tell powerful stories through data. Grounded in integrity, intention, and a bold commitment to justice, Simone brings the courage to lead with both purpose and precision by transforming strategy into healing and data into real-world solutions. Listen To This Episode of The Courageous Public Health Podcast Conversation Highlights From Loss to Legacy — Simone opens up about the devastating death of her brother due to medical negligence, how it shaped her family's experience of grief, and how she channels that pain into advocacy for better health care and equity. Faith as Fuel — She shares how her spirituality and the scripture "Be strong and courageous" (Joshua 1:9) guide her through fear, grief, and the unknown. From Comfort to Calling — After job loss, Simone stepped into entrepreneurship, founding Women Impacting Nations (WINN) Consulting to help mission-driven organizations use data to ignite change. Power Without Burnout — She challenges the notion that Black women must equate power with exhaustion, advocating instead for boundaries, holistic wellness, and creating a life you don't need a vacation from. Redefining Public Health Leadership — Simone envisions a future where women of color lead boldly, where success stories are amplified, and where data and community wisdom together drive meaningful change. "I describe my life as a rubber band — every time I think I've stretched far enough, God says, 'Pull more. You've got more.'" — Simone McPherson, MPH, CHES Stay In Touch: Simone McPherson, MPH, MAcon LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/simone-mcpherson/ Email Dr. Kristi McClamroch - kristi.mcclamroch@courageouspublichealth.com Dr. Kristi McClamroch on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/ www.CourageousPublicHealth.com Subscribe to Weekly Courageous Public Health Podcast Updates - http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6 **Remember to Like the Episode, Subscribe, and Leave a Review!** Public Health Consulting To Support You At Courageous Public Health, we are turning up the volume on courage among public health professionals. We support public health organizations through workshop design and facilitation, and speaking engagements. Interested in working with us? Reach out on email, LinkedIn, or our website!
On This Episode Of The Courageous Public Health Podcast In this expansive and soul-stirring conversation, Jannah Bierens, MPH, MA shares how courage, curiosity, and lived experience have shaped her radical reimagining of public health. From leaving traditional institutions to stepping fully into purpose, she reflects on what it means to color outside the lines, take up space, and practice public health as a form of protest, healing, and love. Jannah invites us into her world as an educator, community builder, and truth teller—someone who lights the way by embodying the change she wants to see. With clarity, conviction, and joy, she reminds us that resistance can be beautiful, and that our breath, boundaries, and brilliance are tools for transformation. Meet Jannah Bierens, MPH, MA Jannah Bierens (she/they) is a pro-Black North Carolina native currently living in Michigan, working locally and nationally as a racial equity consultant, transformational leadership coach, and seasoned facilitator. As founder of PHREEEDOM LLC, she leads with love and joy through facilitating reflective dialogue around root causes of oppression, strategies of sharing/shifting power, and reclaiming narratives for self, systems, and social transformation. With 25 years, mostly in community-based public health practice, Jannah's lived, and career experience combined with their M.P.H. and M.A. in Social Justice and Community Organizing, shapes a historical and political analysis that compels them to examine and name systemic power imbalance with unapologetic truth. Most importantly, it is the guidance through generations of Black super women that have prepared them most for working collectively and in community, to get PHREEE. Listen To This Episode of The Courageous Public Health Podcast Conversation Highlights Fear as Fuel — Jannah Bierens shares how leaving traditional institutions to become a public health entrepreneur was one of the most courageous choices she's made—and how the fear never goes away, but becomes part of the process. Power in Presence — She describes what it means to take space as a Black woman in public health, while also making space for others through humility, accountability, and intention. Practice over Performance — Jannah challenges the box-checking culture of public health and calls for a shift toward practices rooted in love, justice, and community wisdom. Reading as Resistance — She reflects on how books, color, and joy have sustained her—and why her bookshelf is as much a credential as any degree. Breath and Boundaries — Jannah shares her personal mantra—rest, pleasure, and boundaries—and the radical act of choosing joy, stillness, and embodiment in a system not built for liberation. Curriculum for Change — She calls for public health education that integrates sociology, neuroscience, and history, and re-centers lived experience alongside academic knowledge. A Liberated Vision — Her future vision includes circles over ladders, curiosity over conformity, and public health rooted in community, creativity, and collective healing. "Fear doesn't go away—it becomes fuel." — Jannah Bierens, MPH, MA Stay In Touch: Jannah Bierens, MPH, MA on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jannahjustice/ Email Jannah Bierens, MPH, PH - PHREEEDOM4all@gmail.com Email Dr. Kristi McClamroch - kristi.mcclamroch@courageouspublichealth.com Dr. Kristi McClamroch on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/ www.CourageousPublicHealth.com Subscribe to Weekly Courageous Public Health Podcast Updates - http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6 **Remember to Like the Episode, Subscribe, and Leave a Review!** Public Health Consulting To Support You At Courageous Public Health, we are turning up the volume on courage among public health professionals. We support public health organizations through workshop design and facilitation, and speaking engagements. Interested in working with us? Reach out on email, LinkedIn, or our website!
In this authentic and inspiring conversation, Dr. Ericka Horne shares how courage, self-love, and faith have shaped her journey as a Black woman in public health. From boldly shaving her hair as an act of personal liberation to standing up against injustice in the workplace, she reflects on the moments that called her to take action despite fear—and how those moments continue to fuel her purpose today. Dr. Horne invites us into her story of modeling as a plus-size woman, where she champions body positivity and helps young women embrace self-love at every stage of life. She also speaks to the power of preparation, self-knowledge, and faith as tools for navigating spaces that don't always welcome Black women's leadership. Meet Dr. Ericka Horne Dr. Ericka Horne is a public health consultant who is passionate about faith-based partnerships. She holds a DrPH from Florida A & M University, and an MPH from Benedictine University. She has certificates in Health Education & Promotion and Epidemiology. Dr. Horne is the Founder and CEO of Ackire Consulting. Though she serves on several national and local boards, most of her time is spent volunteering and mentoring within her community. Dr. Horne uses her platform to engage others in prioritizing self-care, education, and most importantly, their health. As a Certified Health Education Specialist, she spends her time providing health education to the community and through Akcire Consulting, she assists with program planning and evaluation for Non-profits, Faith Based Organizations (FBOs), and underrepresented and Caribbean populations. Listen To This Episode of The Courageous Public Health Podcast Conversation Highlights Courage as Personal Liberation – Dr. Horne reflects on how boldly shaving and coloring her hair became a transformative act of courage that helped her embrace freedom and authenticity in new ways. Modeling for Self-Love and Representation – She shares her journey as a plus-size model advocating for body positivity and inspiring young women to love themselves fully, in every season of life. Advocating in the Workplace – Dr. Horne describes standing up to workplace injustice, learning to advocate for herself effectively, and using that experience to help others advocate for their health and dignity. Power Through Authenticity and Faith – She explains how knowing herself, leaning into her faith, and surrounding herself with supportive people helped her embody her power in spaces not always built for Black women. Preparation as a Form of Courage – Dr. Horne emphasizes the importance of being ready for opportunities, even when they aren't immediately available—and the courage it takes to keep preparing despite setbacks. A Vision for Health as a Right – She shares her vision for a future where health is universally accessible, Black women continue leading change, and public health work centers equity, dignity, and well-being for all. "Once I knew me, I knew me—and no one could tell me who I was because I knew who I was." — Dr. Ericka Horne Stay In Touch: Dr. Ericka Horne on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericka-horne/ Email Dr. Kristi McClamroch - kristi.mcclamroch@courageouspublichealth.com Dr. Kristi McClamroch on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/ www.CourageousPublicHealth.com Subscribe to Weekly Courageous Public Health Podcast Updates - http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6 **Remember to Like the Episode, Subscribe, and Leave a Review!** Public Health Consulting To Support You At Courageous Public Health, we are turning up the volume on courage among public health professionals. We support public health organizations through workshop design and facilitation, and speaking engagements. Interested in working with us? Reach out on email, LinkedIn, or our website!
In this powerful and deeply grounded conversation, Dr. Nandi Marshall reflects on how grief, authenticity, and courage have shaped her leadership and life. From running for APHA President while mourning the loss of her father, to resisting pressure to censor public health language, she shares what it means to lead with heart—and to keep showing up, even in the hard moments. Dr. Marshall invites us into her world as a mother, sister, and advocate—someone who takes up space with joy and integrity, while modeling what it looks like to center both community and self. With clarity and conviction, she reminds us that courage isn't always loud—sometimes, it's choosing joy, protecting your peace, and standing firm in your truth. Meet Dr. Nandi Marshall Dr. Nandi A. Marshall is a community-engaged scholar committed to maternal and child health equity and preparing the next generation of the public health workforce. She is a Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Community Health and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health at Georgia Southern University. Dr. Marshall holds a BA from Spelman College, an MPH from East Stroudsburg University, and a DrPH from Georgia Southern University. Dr. Marshall is also a certified health education specialist, a certified lactation counselor, and a certified diversity executive. Dr. Marshall has over 22 years of community engagement experience at the local, state, and national levels, particularly around health inequities. These experiences, along with her completion of the Health Equity Leadership Institute (HELI), the Birth and Breastfeeding Leadership Institute, and the Georgia Governor's Teaching Fellows Program, have fueled her commitment to addressing the social determinants of health through community engagement, breastfeeding equity, and preparing students to address public health challenges through a health equity lens. Dr. Marshall is compassionate, creative, and solution-driven with experience that has transformed her leadership in the public health and first foods field. She is President-Elect for the American Public Health Association (APHA), where she has also served as the Chair of the Science Board and Co-Chair for the Joint Policy Committee. Dr. Marshall has also served as the Education and Training Co-Lead for the Georgia Society for Public Health Education and as a Co-Chair of the Student and New Professional Caucus for the Society for Public Health Education where she currently serves on the membership committee. She also serves as a member of the CRASH committee for the United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC), which focuses on equity issues in breastfeeding, the USBC nominations committee, and previously as an APHA member representative for USBC. She is also a board member of the Georgia Breastfeeding Coalition. Dr. Marshall is also a member of the Bulloch County Board of Health, the Mayor's Commission on Diversity and Inclusion (One Boro) in Statesboro, GA, the Racial Equity and Leadership (REAL) Savannah Taskforce, and the Savannah - Ghana Alliance. As a community engaged scholar, Dr. Marshall has been involved in securing grants as a PI, Co-PI, and contributor in community-based programming and participatory research, including a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2018-present) Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) grant, Savannah H.O.P.E., on which she is a contributor leading the breastfeeding continuity of care initiative and a grant from the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health (2019-2023) on which she is the PI to implement evidence-based programming in a Chatham County high school to prevent opioid use. Most recently, Dr. Marshall secured $3.25 Million in funding to assist disadvantaged students with financing their graduate public health degrees. Dr. Marshall has published book chapters, handbooks, and peer-reviewed manuscripts, including a 2023 release focused on amplifying the voices of Black/African American Women regarding barriers to breastfeeding. She also received the 2021 Healthy Savannah Health Innovation Award based on the photovoice project highlighted in the aforementioned article. She is a nationally recognized and invited speaker and is committed to equity, service, and advocacy. Dr. Marshall is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and a devoted wife and mother of two children. Listen To This Episode of The Courageous Public Health Podcast Conversation Highlights Fear and the Presidency — Dr. Nandi Marshall shares how she nearly didn't run for APHA President—and how a single conversation with her sister helped her move through fear and say yes to her calling. Turning 40, Centering Self — She reflects on the powerful shift that came with turning 40, learning to prioritize her own joy, rest, and boundaries after a lifetime of people-pleasing. Grief and Joy Can Coexist — In the aftermath of her father's death, Dr. Marshall opens up about navigating profound grief while still making space for joy, laughter, and healing. Courage in the Classroom — She describes her stand against premature censorship in Georgia and why she refuses to rewrite public health language before a mandate requires it. Locs, Nails, and Radical Visibility — From neon French manicures to her nose piercing and locs, Dr. Marshall explains why showing up fully as herself is an act of courage—and a model for her students. Beyond BIPOC — She challenges the term "BIPOC" for centering whiteness and urges public health leaders to name and engage specific communities with care and precision. The Power of One — Inspired by her father's belief in individual impact, she encourages listeners to speak up, act locally, and support others in using their voices for change. A Family-Centered Future — Dr. Marshall's personal vision is grounded in love, growth, and staying connected to her family as they evolve together. "I don't introduce myself by saying I'm Black or a woman. I just show up as me—and that says everything."— Dr. Nandi Marshall Stay In Touch: Dr. Nandi Marshall on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nandimarshall/ Email Dr. Kristi McClamroch - kristi.mcclamroch@courageouspublichealth.com Dr. Kristi McClamroch on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/ www.CourageousPublicHealth.com Subscribe to Weekly Courageous Public Health Podcast Updates - http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6 **Remember to Like the Episode, Subscribe, and Leave a Review!** Public Health Consulting To Support You At Courageous Public Health, we are turning up the volume on courage among public health professionals. We support public health organizations through workshop design and facilitation, and speaking engagements. Interested in working with us? Reach out on email, LinkedIn, or our website!
In this warm and inspiring conversation, Dr. Chambraia Jones shares how courage, community, and advocacy have shaped her journey as a military spouse, mother, and public health professional. From navigating deployments with a newborn, to earning her PhD while balancing family and work, she reflects on what it means to act despite fear, embrace growth, and build community across each chapter of life. Dr. Jones speaks honestly about the challenges of employment, parenting, and mental health support in military life — and how she's using her voice to uplift and empower others. Meet Dr. Chambraia Jones Dr. Chambraia Jones is a public health leader and strategist whose work centers on advancing health equity and improving outcomes for children and families. She currently serves as the Brilliant Cities and Strategy Manager, where she leads national expansion efforts for a model that builds neighborhood-based hubs supporting early childhood development and family well-being. Originally from Philadelphia and now living in California, Dr. Jones is a proud military spouse, mother of two, and a proud Temple Owl. Her research focuses on perinatal depression among military spouses, blending her lived experience with a deep commitment to maternal mental health. She brings over a decade of experience across global and domestic public health, with particular expertise in community health disparities, partnership-building, program design, and data-driven strategy. Dr. Jones is passionate about systems change that is rooted with, for, and by the communities it serves. Listen To This Episode of the Courageous Public Health Podcast Conversation Highlights Courage through Deployment — Dr. Jones shares how she navigated the challenges of raising a newborn alone while her husband was deployed, and the resilience it required to rebuild community with every move. Advocacy for Military Spouses — She reflects on the need for greater support, employment opportunities, and mental health resources for military spouses — and how she's helping create change. Claiming Her Power — From pursuing a PhD to speaking up in difficult conversations, Dr. Jones explains how she learned to trust her voice and use it for change. Vision for Community and Collaboration — She shares her vision for bringing BIPOC women together to collaborate, uplift one another, and reimagine what equity in public health can look like. "We all have power, whether we've tapped into it or not." — Dr. Chambraia Jones Stay In Touch: Dr. Chambraia Jones on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chambraiajones/ Email Dr. Kristi McClamroch - kristi.mcclamroch@courageouspublichealth.com Dr. Kristi McClamroch on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/ www.CourageousPublicHealth.com Subscribe to Weekly Courageous Public Health Podcast Updates - http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6 **Remember to Like the Episode, Subscribe, and Leave a Review!** Public Health Consulting to Support You At Courageous Public Health, we are turning up the volume on courage among public health professionals. We support public health organizations through workshop design and facilitation, and speaking engagements. Interested in working with us? Reach out on email, LinkedIn, or our website!
In this dynamic and heartfelt conversation, my guest shares how courage, mentorship, and lived experience have shaped her personal and professional journey. From navigating college as a teen mom to challenging systems that fail to value Black women in public health, she reflects on what it means to act despite fear and to lead with authenticity and purpose. She invites us into her world as a connector, mentor, and advocate—someone dedicated to empowering the next generation of public health leaders while pursuing her own bold vision for the future (which just might include a nail salon!). With humor and honesty, she reminds us that claiming our power and telling our stories can be acts of resistance and resilience. Meet Dr. Nicole Vick Dr. Nicole D. Vick is a public health professional, educator, civic leader, podcaster, and author who has spent over twenty years providing tools and strategies to stakeholders, community-based organizations, students, and residents to improve health and prevent disease in some of Southern California's most underserved communities. Her commitment to community has led to a few prestigious appointments. She serves on the boards of four public health/social service organizations and for two years chaired the Health Commission for the City of Los Angeles. Dr. Vick has 15 years of teaching experience and enjoys bringing students the "Black Girl Magic" version of public health to students while providing them with a social justice lens to view the world. She has taught at Occidental College, California State University - Los Angeles, Ashford University, and University of Phoenix. Dr. Vick has a Bachelor's degree in Public Policy and Management, a Master's degree in Public Health, and a Doctorate degree in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California, a place she lived less than 5 minutes away from growing up but felt beyond reach for a young girl from South Central LA. Dr. Vick has authored two books and has written chapters for two anthologies. In her first book, "Pushing Through: Finding the Light in Every Lesson" she shares both the heartbreaking pain and the extraordinary triumphs that led her to advocacy and social justice work. Dr. Vick also has a weekly video podcast where she discusses critical issues in the Black community from a public health and social justice perspective. Listen To This Episode of The Courageous Public Health Podcast Conversation Highlights Teen Mom to Doctor — Dr. Nicole D. Vick shares how she stayed in school, earned multiple degrees, and raised her daughter while navigating barriers and bias. Courage in the Workplace — She describes the emotional toll of being passed over for promotions, and how she transformed that pain into the focus of her dissertation on psychological safety for Black public health workers. Mentorship as Leadership — Dr. Vick reflects on the power of mentorship, paying forward the wisdom of those who led with generosity and vision. The Power of Lived Experience — She advocates for centering people who bring both lived and academic expertise to public health, emphasizing that their insights are essential for creating meaningful change. A Joyful Vision — Dr. Vick shares her plans for consulting, teaching, writing—and maybe opening a nail salon where community, creativity, and public health still shine. "We have the secret sauce—our lived experience, our academic expertise, and our work in the field. Use us." — Dr. Nicole D. Vick Stay In Touch: Dr. Nicole D. Nick on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-d-vick/ NicoleDVick.com Dr. Nicole D. Vick on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nicoledvick/ Email Dr. Kristi McClamroch - kristi.mcclamroch@courageouspublichealth.com Dr. Kristi McClamroch on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/ www.CourageousPublicHealth.com Subscribe to Weekly Courageous Public Health Podcast Updates - http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6 **Remember to Like the Episode, Subscribe, and Leave a Review!** Public Health Consulting To Support You At Courageous Public Health, we are turning up the volume on courage among public health professionals. We support public health organizations through workshop design and facilitation, and speaking engagements. Interested in working with us? Reach out on email, LinkedIn, or our website!