Episodes

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team tackle a deceptively simple question: How do you manage your health? In this episode, the team reflects on the many factors - big and small - that shape personal health management, from daily habits and self-care to navigating healthcare systems and making lifestyle choices. Tune in for a lively discussion that will leave you thinking about your own approach to health and how small changes can make a big difference. Join the conversation a...

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Dr. Mitchell Elliott Bender, Clinical Professor of Dermatology and longtime leader in the field, about common and complex dermatologic conditions. Dr. Bender was born and raised in the Bronx, NYC, and earned his undergraduate degree in biology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He went on to graduate from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and completed his residency in dermatology at the University of...

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Sam Simmons about men’s stories and experiences related to health and healthcare. Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships. More about their work can be found at https://www.huemanpartnershipalliance.org/

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Dr. Ida Fonkoue , Assistant Professor in the Physical Therapy Division at the University of Minnesota, about the connections between trauma, stress, and PTSD in young women . Dr. Fonkoue serves as the director of the Neurobiology of Emotion, Sleep and Trauma (NEST) lab, where she and her team investigate how trauma affects neurocirculatory and hormonal systems, particularly as they relate to cardiovascular disease risk in women. ...

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Diana Sabreen , founder of The Big Dream , about how our dreams - both big and everyday - shape our health, creativity, and sense of purpose. Diana brings a refreshingly unconventional path to her work - opting for sunlit cliffs and cross-continental adventures instead of fluorescent lights and cubicles. Her life has been guided by curiosity, creativity, and a belief that joy and self-expression are essential to wellness. As a longt...

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter Team chat about how to address health in anxious times, and explore how uncertainty, stress, and societal challenges shape our public health infrastructure. Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships. More about their work can be found at https://www.huemanpartnershipalliance.org/ Research A Climate of Uncertainty The United States not...

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Dr. John R. Finnegan, former dean of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, about the role of public health in today’s changing landscape. Dr. Finnegan, who holds an MA and PhD in Mass Communication from the University of Minnesota, has contributed decades of experience to public health education, research, and service. His work includes leadership roles with organizations such as Children’s HeartLink, HealthEast, and ...

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Patty Takawira, who leads the Aging and Healthy Communities Unit at the Minnesota Department of Health, about Alzheimer’s. Patty works alongside a passionate team to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and related dementias, promote early detection, and support the health and wellbeing of both caregivers and individuals living with dementia. Her work is rooted in advancing health equity and ensuring that all Minnesotans have the opportun...

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Dr. Jennifer Lundblad, President and CEO of Stratis Health, about quality assurance and quality improvement in healthcare. Dr. Lundblad leads Stratis Health, an independent non-profit based in Bloomington, Minnesota, focused on collaboration and innovation in health care improvement. With a strong foundation in leadership, organizational development, and program management, she brings deep experience from both the nonprofit and healthc...

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Dr. Abigail Houts, Internist and Geriatrician, about healthcare as we age. Dr. Houts brings a wealth of experience in geriatric medicine, having served in diverse clinical and leadership roles across the country. From her early work with PACE programs in Chicago to launching a physician house call service for underserved seniors at Hennepin County Medical Center, she has long been an advocate for accessible, community-based elder ca...

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Dr. Kumi Smith, Associate Professor in the Division of Epidemiology & Community Health at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, about the opioid crisis. Dr. Smith's research focuses on health disparities at the intersection of infectious diseases, substance use, and unstable housing. She develops structural interventions to support clinical workers in delivering culturally specific and trauma-informed care for margina...

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Dr. Steven Fu, Professor of Medicine at the University of Minnesota and Director of the VA Center for Care Delivery and Outcomes Research (CCDOR), about Veteran Health. Dr. Fu's research focuses on smoking cessation and tobacco-related health disparities, particularly among diverse and disadvantaged populations. His work aims to improve the delivery and utilization of tobacco dependence treatments, ensuring better health outcomes fo...

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Dr. Thomas E. Kottke, Kathleen Anderson, & Thea Williams about firearm storage and safety. Dr. Thomas E. Kottke is the medical director for well-being at HealthPartners, a professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota, and a health services researcher at the HealthPartners Institute. With a background in internal medicine, cardiology, and public health, his work focuses on preventive care and community well-being. Kathleen An...

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Andrew Litchy, N.D., about naturopathic medicine and its role in modern healthcare. Dr. Litchy is a naturopathic doctor who treats people of all ages, focusing on digestive and cardiovascular health, chronic illnesses, and overall wellness. He is also a faculty member, meditation teacher, and collaborator with research programs aimed at integrating naturopathic approaches and mindfulness practices into broader healthcare solutions. ...

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat about Health Insurance. Listen along as the team attempts to make sense of a variety of health insurance complexities. This episode is merely an introduction with more detailed episodes to come. Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships. More about their work can be found at huemanpartnership.org. Research https://www.h...

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter Team chat with Dr. Chrystian Pereira, an accomplished leader in pharmaceutical care and health systems, to discuss the pressing issue of pharmacy deserts and their impact on community health. Dr. Chrystian Pereira, Pharm.D., is an Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy in the department of Pharmaceutical Care and Health Systems. As the Director for Interprofessional Education, Dr. Pereira spearheads initiatives that...

Stan, Clarence, & Barry chat with Dr. Kathleen Garland to better understand pediatric blood disorders. Dr. Kathleen (Kate) Garland is a pediatric hematologist at Children's Minnesota, specializing in hemostasis and thrombosis with a passion for advancing care through clinical trials and research. With training from East Tennessee State University, Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, and Oregon Health & Science University, she excels in delivering evidence-based, technology-driven car...

Stan and Clarence chat with three incredible leaders in public health and policy: Dr. Tom Kottke, Dr. Amy Lansky, and Dr. Alison Cuellar. Dr. Tom Kottke is the Medical Director for Well-Being at HealthPartners and a Professor of Medicine at the University of Minnesota. With a career dedicated to cardiovascular health and preventive medicine, Dr. Kottke brings a wealth of experience in evidence-based practice and public health leadership. A member of the inaugural U.S. Preventive Services Task Fo...

Stan, Clarenc, & Barry revisit vaccinations with Nurse Practioner, Shirlynn LaChapelle Shirlynn LaChapelle, President of Nursing is the Answer and a nurse consultant at Shirlynn LaChapelle & Associates, brings decades of expertise as a former surgical ICU nurse, nurse practitioner, and past president of the Minnesota Black Nurses’ Association. A member of the Minnesota Attorney General’s Drug Pricing Task Force, she joins Health Chatter to share her insights on the critical role of vaccinatio...

Stan, Clarence, & Barry chat with Dr. Christi Patten about their research in developing novel, theory-based behavioral interventions for tobacco cessation. Listen along as Dr. Patten details the complexities and challenges of tobacco cessation. Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships. More about their work can be found at http://huemanpartnership.org/

Stan, Clarence, and Barry chat with Pam Mink - Director of Health Services at the Minnesota Department of Health - about a newly released report on telehealth expansion. Check out the new report here Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships. More about their work can be found at http://huemanpartnership.org/ Research: What is telehealth? Telehealth—or health care delivered u...

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team discuss the impacts labels, stereotypes, and identities can have on health. Research What is stereotyping: The double edge sword of labels Labels fail to capture the complexity, diversity, and wholeness of our humanity, and have the potential to reinforce stereotypes, which contribute to discrimination and oppression. In a basic and simplistic way, the use of labels can help us to understand our social environment by serving as short-cut...

Stan and Clarence chat with two incredible leaders in Indigenous health and public policy: Ravyn Gibbs and Kris Rhodes. Ravyn Gibbs serves as the Tribal Liaison at the Minnesota Department of Health. Ravyn works to uplift Native communities, focusing on Indigenous rights and reducing health disparities. With a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology from the University of Minnesota Duluth and dual Master’s degrees in Social Work and Public Health from the University of Minnesota, Ravyn is also pursu...

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team reflect on over 2 years of Health Chatter episodes in this 100th episode special. Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships. More about their work can be found at http://huemanpartnership.org/