People of Public Health Podcast
In this high-speed, on-the-go, multi-tasking world we live in, podcasts, due to their hand-free nature and ability to reduce screen time, have become increasingly popular in recent years. NWCPHP is excited to announce its new podcast, People of Public Health (POPHealth). In this series, the CDC’s 10 Essential Public Health Services frame real-life stories from public health practice in our region; Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
Listening to a podcast allows the listener’s eyes to rest and their brain to expand by using their imagination to create visuals alongside the audio. An overwhelming majority of people who listen to podcasts do so to learn something new. POPHealth focuses on the work done by public health professionals to address the effects of specific, timely issues that touch everyone. Written and produced by NWCPHP’s Instructional Designers, Kevin deVoss and Erica Ellis, Erica set the scene by saying, “In the first season, we visit Thurston County Public Health & Social Services staff and their partners to understand how they are working to manage the spiraling opioid crisis that has been claiming lives and has intensified existing health problems in the community.”
The four episodes in this season cover Assessment, Policy Development, Assurance, and Health Equity. Not to be confused with population health, “this podcast series takes a ground-level view of what ‘Essential Public Health work’ looks like in real communities,” said co-producer Kevin deVoss. “It focuses on personal stories from a select group of individuals working in the public health field to gain more familiarity with critical health issues that are broadly known across the country, but rarely discussed in intimate detail.”
This podcast aims to highlight the intersecting nature of public health work, the partnerships needed to navigate multiple crises, the diversity and resilience of the workforce, and the unique personalities that offer hope to communities. The overall purpose is to elucidate the challenges, successes, and questions that emerge in the everyday work of public health practice. “By surfacing these challenges, successes, and questions, NWCPHP envisions POPHealth to be a unique learning tool,” said Kevin. “What makes this podcast different is that it is not lecture or interview style. It uses a narrative that focuses directly on the people in practice which we believe will encourage listeners to reflect deeply on the impact of their work in public health and stimulate them to creatively advance their practice in their communities.”
There are many benefits of podcasts, in addition to creating an intimate environment for a listener’s imagination to thrive. They help increase levels of empathy, foster relationships, and build community among speakers and listeners who may be experiencing and need help navigating similar challenges. The materials in this limited podcast series are meant to support existing live content in the Essentially Public Health training however, they can also stand on their own for listeners to enjoy.
POPHealth is designed for those new to public health as well as professionals who would like a deeper understanding of the everyday issues in the field. All are encouraged to give it a listen.
To learn more and listen, visit People of Public Health.
