Public Health Joy: Community Power, Health Equity, and Leadership in Action

In this episode, I’m back on the Region 4 Public Health Training Center’s Leading Public Health podcast for part three of our series on redefining public health leadership. We’re talking scarcity vs. abundance mindsets.

When the needs feel endless, many of us lead from “not enough”: not enough funding, staff, or time. And when you lead from not enough, you keep creating not enough. It shows up as hoarding resources, micromanaging, avoiding innovation, and calling overwork “dedication.” Then burnout and scarcity feed each other. You can’t burn out your way to abundance. I’ve been that leader, so I’m speaking from experience.

Here’s the twist: you can have abundant resources and still operate from scarcity. You can also have limited resources and lead from abundance. It isn’t toxic positivity. It means focusing on what’s possible with what we have while we fight for systemic change.

What does leading from abundance look like?

✨ Take inventory of what you do have

✨ Ask “what is possible?” before “what’s wrong?”

✨ Delegate, even if it’s not done your way

✨ End your day reflecting on what you built

✨ Swap “but” for “and”: “We lost funding, AND here’s what we still have.”

We also talk about leading through crisis and why trust is the bridge from scarcity to abundance. Abundance is a muscle, and it takes practice. If we build it together, we rebuild together. 💛

Key Points From This Episode:

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Scarcity versus abundance mindset in public health [07:28-37:29]

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Impact of scarcity mindset on decision-making and team morale [07:28-11:03]

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How burnout is intertwined with scarcity thinking [11:03-16:59]

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Strategies to shift from scarcity to abundance mindset [16:59-22:37]

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The role of trust in fostering abundance [35:15-37:29]

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Practical daily habits to reinforce abundance thinking [22:37-26:42]

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Leadership during crises and resource limitations [26:42-32:11]

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In this episode, I'm back on the Region 4 Public Health Training Center's Leading Public Health podcast for part two of our series on redefining public health leadership. We're talking about rest as resistance and why modeling rest for your team is essential.

The system many of us work in runs on our exhaustion. Exhausted people comply. They can't think strategically or innovate; they just survive. So when you rest, you're saying your humanity matters more than the urgency. I've been the exhausted leader who made poor decisions because I was too tired to think, so I'm speaking from experience.

We also unpack why rest gets overlooked: the guilt, the myth that our worth equals our productivity, and the fear that everything will fall apart if we step away. (Spoiler: it won't.) Your team is watching. You're either modeling sustainability or self-destruction.

What does resting out loud look like?

✨ Block rest on your calendar like a board meeting

✨ Use your PTO and respect your team's time off

✨ Start meetings with five minutes of quiet

✨ Add "respond when it works for you" to your email signature

✨ Track team well-being as a KPI

You can't individual-effort your way out of systemic exhaustion. Rest has to be built into our structures.

Rest is your weapon. If we rest together, we rebuild together.

Key Points from This Episode:

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Rest as a form of resistance against systemic exhaustion [02:01 to 11:03]

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The impact of leadership well-being on team health [18:57 to 25:50]

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Practical strategies for integrating rest into work culture [29:35 to 36:33]

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The societal and systemic barriers to rest in public health [12:03 to 18:20]

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The importance of modeling and organizational support for rest [37:45 to 45:03]

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Rest as a tool for strategic decision-making and resilience [22:11 to 25:50]

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In this episode, Dr. Joyee sits down with Sana Imam, who leads the development of health equity toolkits and playbooks for the Black Director's Health Equity Agenda (BDHEA) and oversees a $1.5 million grant strengthening safety net institutions across the country.

We get into why BDHEA focuses on board directors specifically, why diverse representation alone doesn't create equitable outcomes, and the real dollar cost of health inequity: $320 billion a year right now, projected to top $1 trillion by 2040 if nothing changes. Leadership in public health means understanding the business case for healthy equity.

Sana also breaks down what "actionable change" looks like on the ground; from reshaping vaccine access during COVID to BDHEA's newest playbook on advancing health equity in safety net boardrooms.

If you've ever wondered what it takes to move health equity from a talking point to a boardroom decision, this episode is for you.

Key Points From This Episode:

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Challenges in health equity work [25:18 – 29:41]

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The role of community listening [28:45 – 29:44]

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The health equity toolkit for safety net institutions [25:18 – 27:00]

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Policy advocacy and legislative impact [32:00 – 34:46]

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Success stories from health equity initiatives [30:17 – 32:00]

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The importance of community partnerships [27:00 – 28:00]

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The impact of COVID-19 on healthcare professionals [09:32 – 14:13]

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The vision for health equity transformation [29:44 – 34:46]

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Joy in public health work [34:46 – 39:46]

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review! For more transcripts, show notes, and more visit: Click Here

In this episode, Dr. Joyee Washington sits down with the Region 4 Public Health Training Center's Leading Public Health podcast to unpack what leadership actually looks like in public health right now. Not the old top-down, credentials-first version, but something rooted in self-awareness, vulnerability, and community as our compass.

She gets honest about what it means to lead in environments that feel less "high stakes" and more just plain hostile: shrinking departments, disappearing funding, jobs that don't feel stable anymore. And she names the thing most of us won't say out loud: that we've been taught to martyr ourselves for "the greater good," and that's not noble. That's extraction. That's why we're burned out.

Dr. Joyee shares what effective leadership actually requires now: clarity in chaos, strategic rest, distributing leadership instead of hoarding it, and doing the internal work first; because you cannot give what you do not have. She reminds us that how you treat yourself is a mirror for how you'll treat your team, and that healthy leaders are the ones who build teams that can actually sustain the work.

This conversation is part of a special series, and we're so glad to bring it to you here on The Public Health Joy Podcast. Whether you're leading a team, holding a department together, or just trying to figure out how to lead yourself well first, this episode meets you there.

One thing is clear: leadership isn't about who's at the top. It's about who's willing to change, share power, and create space for everyone to do their best work.

• Redefining leadership in public health [01:53 – 09:58]
• The importance of vulnerability and self-awareness [16:29 – 25:07]
• Strategies for effective leadership in high-stakes environments [10:41 – 16:29]
• Leadership habits that unintentionally shut people down (perfectionism, scarcity mindset, emotional unavailability) [25:53 – 38:05]

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review! For more transcripts, show notes, and more visit: Click Here

In this episode, Dr. Joyee is being honest with you about where she's at right now.

We're talking about the weight of racial violence, the grief that gets passed down before we even have words for it, and the quiet rage that builds in the body every time we hear another name. She's naming what it feels like to move through this world exhausted and still show up. Still lead. Still fight.

This episode isn't just about the pain; it's about what we do with it. It's about choosing to be bold and strategic instead of silent. It's about protecting our joy in the middle of the fight, not after it, because joy has never meant everything is fine. For us, joy has always been resistance.

This one is heavy. If you need to sit with it in pieces, that's okay. If you need a place to land when it's over, that's okay too. That's what we're building here.

You don't have to have it figured out. You just have to know there's a place for you.

Key Points From This Episode:

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The emotional impact of racial violence [0:00–6:00]

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The concept of quiet rage and its role in activism [0:00–1:30]

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Historical context of racial trauma from the civil rights movement to today [1:30–11:00]

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The importance of strategic and calculated resistance [6:00–14:30]

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Joy as an act of resistance and self-preservation [19:00–21:00]

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The need for community spaces for healing and belonging [19:00–21:00]

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Internal work to recognize biases and privileges [14:30–20:00]

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The role of public health in addressing systemic injustice [14:30–20:00]

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review! For more transcripts, show notes, and more visit: Click Here

In this episode of the Public Health Joy Podcast, Dr. Joyee sits down with her friend, coach, and sister in faith, Reesi Wilson. As a funnel strategist, master copywriter, and profitability coach for women entrepreneurs, she joins Dr. Joyee for a raw, full-circle conversation about the journey it took to get here.

They're tracing the story back to where it started: Dr. Joyee burnt out, underpricing herself, and still operating on academic time long after she'd left academia. Reesi walks us through the years, the pivot, the burnout, the boundaries, the trip to Mexico that cracked everything open, the summit that was born from a dream, and the "wilderness season" that followed when obedience didn't come with an immediate reward.

They get into it: what happens when you do everything "right" and the harvest still doesn't come right away? What does it look like to keep your faith at the center of your business, even when nobody teaches you how to market that? And how do you know when a hard season is actually a restoration season in disguise?

Reesi gets personal by discussing praying and fasting alongside Dr. Joyee through the hardest stretches, and reminding her that our actions always reveal what we truly believe.

This episode is a masterclass in burnout recovery, faith-fueled entrepreneurship, and trusting the process even when the outcome isn't instant.

If you've ever wondered whether it's possible to build a thriving business without leaving your faith at the door, this episode is for you.

Key Points

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Faith and entrepreneurship [32:03 – 35:10]

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Overcoming burnout and scarcity mindset [12:13 – 17:07]

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Building impactful public health programs [25:23 – 30:57]

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The role of rest and reflection in success [20:16 – 25:22]

•

Integrating faith into professional life [08:12 – 09:08]

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In this episode of the Public Health Joy Podcast, Dr. Joyee sits down with Dr. Okey Enyia — health policy researcher, author, and founder of the John Henry Institute for Black Men's Health and Policy Innovation — for a powerful conversation about what it really takes for Black men to not just survive, but thrive.

They start with the legend of John Henry — the "steel-driving man" who beat the machine but lost his life doing it — and unpack what that story still teaches us about chronic stress, structural racism, and the cost of always having to prove yourself. Dr. Enyia shares the real history behind the legend, including the John Henryism hypothesis: the idea that chronic stressors kill, and how that shows up in the data on Black men's life expectancy today.

They get into it: do Black men get to have a soft life? Who gives them permission to rest? And what does community care actually look like when we've all been conditioned to equate rest with laziness?

Dr. Enyia gets personal too — talking openly about being laid off, navigating depression and identity shifts, and how Jesus and therapy have both been part of his own healing journey. This episode is a masterclass in self-care, soul care, and reclaiming rest as a birthright, not a reward.

If you've ever wondered how we build spaces where Black men can just be, without having to earn it, this episode is for you.

Key Points

• John Henry legend and its metaphor for health and stress [01:21 – 11:21]
• Health disparities among Black men and policy solutions [20:57 – 23:41]
• The importance of self-care, rest, and community support [19:41 – 29:07]
• Impact of white supremacy and capitalism on Black health [13:01 – 19:10]

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In this episode of the Public Health Joy Podcast, Dr. Joyee sits down with Dr. Zenobia Bryant Antoine for a powerful conversation about the deep connection between self-worth, data storytelling, and community impact. They're talking about the internal work required to lead authentically, challenging us to redefine our value beyond titles, degrees, and dollar signs.

Dr. Bryant Antoine reminds us that data doesn't just tell a story about numbers; it tells a story about people, and the way we hold that responsibility says everything about our leadership.

At its core, this conversation is about alignment: between who you are and how you lead, between the data you collect and the communities behind it, between your worth and your work.

If you've ever struggled to separate your identity from your title, or wondered how authentic leadership creates lasting public health impact, this episode is for you.

Key Points

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The importance of not defining oneself by roles or titles [01:41 – 04:17]

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Connecting data to real stories and community impact [01:41 – 08:02]

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Internal work and self-worth in leadership [08:02 – 12:49]

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The power of pivoting and adaptability [12:57 – 15:09]

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Redefining value and impact beyond money and titles [15:09 – 29:42]

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review! For more transcripts, show notes, and more visit: Click Here

In this episode of The Public Health Joy Podcast, Dr. Joyee sits down with Dr. Lovell Jones. Dr. Jones is a pioneering cancer researcher, health equity scholar, and one of the most important architects of the infrastructure that made space for Black researchers in the biomedical sciences. As the first African American to be hired in the basic/behavioral sciences, at University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, rose through the ranks to a tenured full professor and the first to hold an administrative title.

He has been mentored by giants. And he has mentored giants. Researchers now doing transformational work across the country and across the globe credit him as a foundational part of their journey.

In this conversation, he opens up about mentoring the next generation, addressing health disparities, and what it truly means to lead with a servant's heart. From historical insights to real community impact, this conversation is packed with wisdom on collaboration, legacy, and showing up for the people who need us most.

This is probably the most important podcast episode we have ever released, which tells you everything you need to know about how much work we have to do to recover and preserve our own history.

Key Points From This Episode:

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Mentoring with purpose and heart [9:37 – 14:39]

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The role of community and collaboration in health disparities [14:39 – 28:25]

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The history and impact of the Intercultural Cancer Council [35:21 – 43:58]

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Building sustainable legacies in public health [43:58 – 51:22]

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Addressing systemic issues and fostering change [22:18 – 35:13]

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review! For more transcripts, show notes, and more visit: Click Here

In this episode of The Public Health Joy Podcast, Dr. Joyee Washington shares the deeply personal story behind National Black Researchers Week — why it was created, what it has meant to the community, and why she is committed to carrying it forward this year.

This episode is about more than an event. It's about honoring the vision of someone who poured everything into making space for Black researchers, and making sure that vision does not die. In a season where so much has been taken, we are choosing to build, to gather, and to show up for one another.

Key Points From This Episode:

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The origin and significance of National Black Researchers Week [00:32 – 08:30]

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Leonora O'Quara's legacy and impact [03:45 – 15:20]

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Community support and collaboration among Black researchers [15:20 – 23:00]

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review! For more transcripts, show notes, and more visit: Click Here

In this episode of the Public Health Joy Podcast, Dr. Joyee Washington and Nicole Clark sit down to discuss Nicole's powerful journey from social work to consulting, reflecting on how her experiences have shaped her approach to leadership, community impact, and personal growth. Through an honest and thoughtful conversation, Nicole explores the deep connections between public health and social work, reminding us that meaningful change starts with understanding people, systems, and the communities we serve.

Nicole also speaks candidly about the importance of intentionality — choosing work, relationships, and opportunities that align with your values and purpose. From embracing professional evolution to navigating transitions with clarity and courage, this episode is a reminder that growth is rarely linear, but it can still be deeply fulfilling.

At its core, this conversation is about impact: how we show up for communities, how we continue learning throughout our careers, and how staying grounded in service can create lasting change. If you’ve ever questioned your next step, redefined your purpose, or wanted to build a career rooted in both passion and impact, this episode will resonate with you.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Intersection of social work and public health [00:00 – 12:45]
• Career evolution and entrepreneurship [12:46 – 35:05]
• The power of words and manifestation [26:29 – 28:30]
• Intentional leadership and community impact [28:30 – 43:25]

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review! For more transcripts, show notes, and more visit: Click Here

In this episode of the Public Health Joy Podcast, Dr. Joyee Washington and Jesseca Chatman sit down to reflect on their introduction to community-engaged research and CBPR — and how those early experiences fundamentally changed everything they thought they knew about public health.

Together, they dig into what it really means to build trust with communities, not just collect data from them. Dr. Joyee and Jesseca open up about the personal growth that comes from doing this work, the challenges of making community-based research sustainable, and why relationship-building is just as important as any finding you'll ever publish.

From the intersections of public health and law to the everyday realities of showing up for communities, this episode is both a reflection and a reminder. One thing is clear: when your work is rooted in trust, accountability, and genuine partnership, the impact goes far beyond a research report.

If you care about community voice, ethical research, and finding real joy in the work, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Key Points From This Episode:

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Community engagement is crucial for effective public health initiatives. [10:56–11:30]

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Building relationships with community members takes time and effort. [15:00–21:05]

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Sustainability should be a key consideration from the start of any project. [34:23–38:56]

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Flexibility and adaptability are essential in community-based research. [28:04–33:23]

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Personal experiences shape our professional journeys in significant ways. [00:32–10:00]

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Collaboration between community organizations and universities enhances research outcomes. [10:29–13:35]

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Understanding the social determinants of health is vital for addressing community needs. [40:10–42:00]

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Joy in work comes from knowing you are making a difference. [39:50–42:50]

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Theoretical knowledge must be complemented by practical experience. [13:35–15:00]

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Investing in community relationships leads to better health outcomes. [17:22–20:50]

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review! For more transcripts, show notes, and more visit: Click Here

In this episode of the Public Health Joy Podcast, we sit down with Alexandra Piatkowski, founder and CEO of Piat Public Health, for a conversation that reframes how we think about structure, strategy, and community impact in public health.

Together, we dig into what it really means to bring project management into public health spaces — not as a corporate add-on, but as a tool for health equity. Alexandra opens up about how she stumbled into project management through practice, what it looks like to manage complex community initiatives with limited resources, and why documentation and communication are the unsung heroes of any project done well.

From the detective work of epidemiology to the big-picture thinking required to keep coalitions moving forward, this episode makes the case that public health professionals who understand project management bring something truly special to the table. And for those who feel stretched thin and under-resourced? Alexandra has practical, real-world advice for making it work anyway.

One thing is clear: when project management is intentional, community-centered, and grounded in public health values, it becomes one of the most powerful tools we have for turning data into action — and plans into real change.

If you care about health equity, community engagement, and building the kind of leadership skills that actually move the needle, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Key Points From This Episode:

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Project management and public health create a unique skill set. [19:21 – 23:08]

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Leadership in public health benefits from project management skills. [10:52 – 12:46]

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Combining different skill sets can lead to innovative solutions. [19:21 – 20:10]

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Epidemiology enhances project management in health initiatives. [19:21 – 20:10]

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Public health professionals should consider project management training. [31:30 – 32:50]

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Effective project management is crucial in public health projects. [20:10 – 23:08]

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The integration of skills leads to better health outcomes. [20:10 – 23:08]

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Leadership roles in public health require diverse expertise. [33:11 – 35:18]

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Project management can improve public health program efficiency. [26:05 – 28:39]

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There is a growing need for skilled leaders in public health. [33:11 – 35:45]

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review! For more transcripts, show notes,and more visit: ⁠Click Here⁠

In this episode of the Public Health Joy podcast, Dr. Joyee Washington interviews Dr. Desiree Strickland, founder of the Public Health Club, about how consulting can be a tool for freedom rather than burnout. Dr. Strickland shares her journey into public health consulting and how professionals can leverage their expertise to increase both impact and income — without sacrificing their well-being. They explore the hustler mindset, effective communication, and the role of social media and AI in expanding opportunity. The conversation also touches on building values-driven businesses, reimagining public health education, and creating career paths that honor community while protecting your capacity. A must-listen for public health leaders ready to thrive as entrepreneurs and make a lasting difference.

Key Points From This Episode:

•

Helping public health professionals increase their impact and income. [00:32 – 02:00]

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The journey from a traditional public health job to consulting. [02:00 – 05:15]

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The importance of a hustler mindset in entrepreneurship. [07:08 – 11:32]

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Navigating non-federal consulting opportunities. [05:15 – 07:08]

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The significance of effective communication in public health. [29:53 – 31:19]

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Reimagining public health in a post-COVID world. [13:36 – 16:15]

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Building a sustainable career in public health. [16:45 – 19:42]

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The role of social media and AI in disseminating public health information. [32:11 – 35:30]

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The need for public health education to adapt to current realities. [28:30 – 29:53]

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Encouraging public health professionals to market their skills and services. [20:38 – 22:27]

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review! For more transcripts, show notes, and more visit: Click Here

In this new episode of the Public Health Joy Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Lisa Bowleg, Founder and CEO of the Intersectionality Training Institute, for a conversation that challenges how we think about research, power, and purpose.

Together, we dig into what it really means to do research in service of communities, not just for publications and career advancement. Dr. Bowleg opens up about the structural barriers inside academia, the courage it takes to unlearn what we've been taught, and why centering lived experience is essential to research that actually creates change.

From the roots of intersectionality to the realities of doing justice work in today’s climate, this episode is both a wake-up call and an affirmation. One thing is clear: if your work is rooted in real values and real communities, you keep going — no matter what.

If you care about health equity, community-led research, and staying grounded in your purpose, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Key Points From This Episode:

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Intersectionality is a critical framework for understanding health equity. [03:37 – 05:44]

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Everyone has multiple intersecting identities that relate to power dynamics. [05:44 – 07:46]

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Research should incorporate lived experiences and emotions. [10:23 – 13:44]

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Community engagement is essential for actionable research outcomes. [14:26 – 19:21]

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Unlearning traditional academic practices is crucial for effective research. [21:12 – 24:57]

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Intersectionality serves as a glue connecting various social justice issues. [17:15 – 19:21]

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Joy in social justice work can be a powerful motivator. [34:44 – 36:03]

•

Democracy requires active participation and commitment. [33:11 – 34:17]

•

The academic system has structural barriers to community-led research. [19:21 – 21:12]

•

Building community connections enhances the impact of research. [36:13 – 38:39]

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review! For more transcripts, show notes, and more visit: Click Here

In this powerful episode of the Public Health Joy Podcast, Dr. Joyee Washington sits down with Vinu Ilakkuvan, founder of POP Health and The Gaslit Project, for a bold conversation about power, policy, and people.

Together, they unpack what community power really means in public health—and why it’s essential in a landscape where corporate interests often shape health policy behind the scenes. Vinu shares how communities can organize, build lasting connections, and take strategic action to challenge systems that put profit over people.

From real-world stories of successful grassroots resistance to practical insights on sustaining activism, this episode is both a wake-up call and a roadmap. At the heart of the conversation is a clear message: reclaiming health and well-being requires a shift in power—and collective action is how we get there.

If you care about health equity, accountability, and building community-led change, this episode is one you won’t want to miss.

Key Points From This Episode:

•

Community power is essential for driving policy change. [04:40 – 05:28]

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Corporate influence often undermines public health efforts. [04:40 – 06:03]

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Building connections within communities is crucial for activism. [08:20 – 09:07]

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Collective action can lead to significant change. [07:38 – 08:10]

•

Inconvenience in community building is worth the effort. [10:00 – 12:00]

•

Success stories inspire further activism and engagement. [28:36 – 32:06]

•

Gaslit aims to empower communities against corporate power. [04:40 – 05:28]

•

Public health must focus on root causes of health disparities. [02:20 – 04:40]

•

Individual actions are important, but collective efforts are more effective. [26:14 – 28:26]

•

The act of caring for communities is under attack. [24:45 – 25:38]

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review! For more transcripts, show notes,and more visit: Click Here

In this episode of the Public Health Joy Podcast, Dr. Joyee Washington sits down with Quisha Umemba—registered nurse, public health leader, and CEO of Umemba Health—to talk about what it really looks like to bring AI into public health work with clarity, integrity, and impact.

Quisha shares her journey from initial resistance (“this is cheating!”) to becoming a certified AI consultant who now trains organizations to reduce busy work and increase people work. Dr. Together, Dr. Joyee and Dr. Umemba unpack what AI can do, what it shouldn’t do, and why public health is in an era of redesign that demands innovation without abandoning ethics, community wisdom, or human insight.

Key Points From This Episode:

•

Building Umemba Health at the intersection of public health expertise + learning innovation [1:45]

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Why “AI translator” is the perfect title for leaders helping teams cut through complexity [40:00]

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The mindset shift: AI doesn’t replace your expertise—it amplifies it [4:57]

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Why public health burnout makes AI’s time-saving potential especially relevant [7:34]

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The “AI iceberg”: why ChatGPT is only the tip, and what else exists beyond it [14:09]

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How AI can reduce curriculum development time from 20–40 hours down to 4–6 hours [22:40]

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Using AI for qualitative analysis, data storytelling, and leadership reporting—while keeping a human in the loop [23:27]

•

Real concerns: ethics, privacy, intellectual property, environmental impacts, and “knowledge decay” [32:30]

•

Planting seeds, building confidence, and helping people move from confusion to clarity [39:46]

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review! For more transcripts, show notes,and more visit: Click Here

Season 5 of The Public Health Podcast opens with a powerful keynote from Dr. Joyee Washington, delivered at the 2026 Public Health Joy Summit.

In Rest, Reimagine, Rebuild, Dr. Joyee invites the public health community into a deeply honest reflection on where we are, and where we must go next.

This episode acknowledges the collective grief, exhaustion, and disillusionment many public health professionals are carrying. Rather than rushing past it, Dr. Joyee names it. Honors it. And reframes it as a necessary starting point for transformation.

At the heart of this keynote is a radical but essential message: rest is not a reward, it is a strategic weapon. Dr. Joyee challenges listeners to move beyond survival mode and reclaim rest as a tool for sustainability, clarity, and power.

From there, she calls on the community to reimagine public health through abundance, not scarcity, to dream bigger than burnout has allowed and to remember what drew us to this work in the first place. This vision is not meant to be carried alone. Dr. Joyee emphasizes the necessity of rebuilding together, through community, mutual support, and shared responsibility.

This episode is both a grounding and a rallying cry. A moment to pause and a call to act.

The promise of public health is not broken. It is not over. And it is not small.

It is waiting to be rebuilt stronger, wiser, and more expansive than ever before.

Key Points From This Episode:

•

Reflect on what public health means to you. [1:55]

•

Grief is a necessary part of the healing process. [3:15]

•

The current state of public health is a war. [5:46]

•

Rest is a strategic weapon, not a retreat. [12:45]

•

Dreaming in abundance is essential for progress. [15:00]

•

Community building is crucial for rebuilding efforts. [19:00]

•

Sacrifice is often required in the fight for justice. [21:40]

•

Each generation has its own assignment to fulfill. [23:00]

•

We are in a war, and we will win. [25:45]

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In this powerful solo Season 4 finale of The Public Health Joy Podcast, Dr. Joyee Washington shares a deeply personal reflection on what 2025 demanded of her — and what it revealed about all of us in public health.

After reaching a long-dreamed-of six-figure milestone, Dr. Joy entered 2025 expecting abundance. Instead, she encountered one of the most challenging years of her life — marked by financial strain, caregiving, spiritual warfare, and the continued dismantling of public health systems. In this episode, Dr. Joyee unpacks the truth many don’t talk about: abundance is not accessed without first confronting scarcity.

This is a conversation about endurance — not as survival, but as preparation. About joy — not as softness, but as strategy. And about rebuilding public health not from institutions rooted in extraction, but from communities rooted in healing, power, and faith.

Key Points From This Episode:

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Health professionals are burned out, underfunded, and under attack.[1:00]

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We need more than just another conference; we need restoration. [3:00]

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Joy is a strategic choice in public health. [5:00]

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You can't step into abundance until you face scarcity. [6:00]

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Scarcity mindset affects both mental and physical health. [7:00]

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Endurance is built through challenges, not ease. [17:00]

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Abundance and scarcity cannot coexist. [20:00]

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Choosing joy amidst adversity is an act of resistance. [21:00]

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Public health is at a reckoning, exposing old systems. [23:00]

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Community is essential for transformation and healing. [25:00}

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review! For more transcripts, show notes,and more visit: https://joyeewashington.com/public-health-joy-season-4/

In this episode of The Public Health Joy Podcast, Dr. Joyee sits down with Silas Buchanan, founder and CEO of Our Healthy Community, a social impact consulting firm in partnership with Morehouse School of Medicine. Their mission: to close the distance between faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, and healthcare stakeholders.

Together, Dr. Joyee and Silas explore what it truly means to bridge the gaps between communities and the health systems meant to serve them. Silas shares why a web-based ecosystem is essential for empowering underserved communities through technology, ownership, and collaboration. He also highlights the influence of faith-based institutions in health messaging and the urgent need for community voices in designing digital health tools. This conversation shines a light on equity in research and the transformative power of community engagement in achieving real health equity.

Key Points From This Episode:

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The goal is to bridge gaps between community organizations and healthcare stakeholders. [02:46]

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Technology can empower communities and improve health outcomes.[08:57]

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Community input is essential in the design of health technologies. [12:00]

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Ownership of digital spaces is crucial for community control. [14:53]

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Equity in research and development is necessary for effective solutions. [20:57]

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Faith-based organizations play a vital role in health messaging. [23:52]

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Options are better than money; providing more choices leads to empowerment. [29:54]

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review! For more transcripts, show notes,and more visit: https://joyeewashington.com/public-health-joy-season-4/