African American Diabetes Podcast Show

Everyone loves the "Dream." But do you know the reality? In 1967, Dr. King walked onto Stanford’s campus and delivered "The Other America", a raw, searing takedown of economic inequality and systemic division that shook the room. It wasn't polite; it was revolutionary. But did this specific speech seal his fate? On this episode of the African American Diabetes Podcast , we are diving deep into the...

5 Researchers kicked out of the American Diabetes Conference. THE UNFILTERED TRUTH: Reclaiming Our Health, Bypassing the Gatekeepers Are you tired of organizations that claim to fight for you while silencing the truth? From their segregationist origins in 1939 to their recent move of calling the police on scientists at their own conference, the American Diabetes Association has a long, unbroken DN...

Family, pull up a chair. If you or a loved one is living with Type 2 diabetes, this is the most important message you’ll hear all year. On the latest episode of the African American Diabetes Podcast , host Leon Rock is delivering a raw, unfiltered wake-up call about PAD (Peripheral Artery Disease) . This silent killer clogs leg arteries, cuts off blood flow, and is quietly devastating our communit...

Family, pull up a chair. If you or a loved one is living with Type 2 diabetes, this is the most important message you’ll hear all year. On the latest episode of the African American Diabetes Podcast , host Leon Rock is delivering a raw, unfiltered wake-up call about PAD (Peripheral Artery Disease) . This silent killer clogs leg arteries, cuts off blood flow, and is quietly devastating our communit...

Stop trying to "cheat" your lab work, family! In this high-energy solo episode, host Leon Rock breaks down why your A1C test isn't a daily snapshot, it’s a 90-day time machine. Leon strips away the medical jargon and the shame to reveal how cultural factors, systemic stress, and genetic traits unique to the Black community impact your numbers. Your DNA is not your destiny. Tune in to get a practic...

It’s time we stop playing "Whack-A-Mole" with our health. In this special African American Diabetes Podcast , I’m breaking down the clunky medical term Cardiometabolic Health in a way that actually makes sense for us. We’ve been taught that "the sugar," "the pressure," and the heart are separate problems. They aren't. They are cousins living in the same house. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by...

Is medical technology the new battleground for Civil Rights? Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) and insulin pumps are the gold standard of care, yet Black patients are significantly less likely to be prescribed them, regardless of income. In this powerful 90-minute episode, Leon Rock breaks down the "Tech Divide" and explores how our community can reclaim health sovereignty through bio-hacking. Hi...

In this powerful episode, Leon Rock dives deep into the historical reasons behind medical mistrust in the Black community. He explores how the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) framework is being used to dismantle barriers to clinical trial participation and discusses the federal mandates designed to ensure Black Americans are no longer invisible in the search for a diabetes cure.

In this electrifying episode, we stop "managing" a crisis and start investigating a crime. We are stripping away the polite clinical language to expose the Diabetes Industrial Complex , a system that profits more from our chronic decline than our actual recovery. From the contradictions of Big Pharma’s pricing to the hollow "awareness" campaigns of community organizations, we name the names and ca...

Are you a patient or just a statistic? In this explosive solo episode, host Leon Rock pulls back the curtain on the "Standard Care Trap" that is failing Black Americans living with diabetes. Drawing from his own harrowing journey through medical gaslighting and "non-compliant" labels, Leon reveals the life-changing moment he transitioned to the world-class, culturally competent care at the Howard...

Join host Leon Rock for a powerful, short yet deep dive into the revolutionary legacy of Booker T. Washington’s National Negro Health Week (NNHW). We explore how a seven-day "health revival" fueled by the Black Church became the blueprint for racial survival, long before the medical establishment opened its doors to us. In this episode, we discuss: The Hoffman Shadow: How biased data was used as a...

In this week’s episode of the African American Diabetes Podcast , we’re pulling back the curtain on the Kitchen Table Conspiracy . We aren’t just talking about A1Cs and finger pricks—we’re talking about how a system of Food Apartheid hijacked our plates and then had the nerve to blame us for it. Inside this episode: 🛑 Culture vs. Colonialism: Why the "standard" diabetic diet feels like an insult...

What happens when fear, stoked by aggressive immigration enforcement, becomes as dangerous to our health as the disease itself? For Black and Latino Americans—particularly those from immigrant backgrounds—the intersection of diabetes and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) activity is not just a policy debate; it’s a matter of life and death. From the Somali neighborhoods of Minneapolis to t...

This episode of the African American Diabetes Podcast goes beyond the typical health conversation! Leon Rock, Podcast Host chats with Eric Kennedy, a true visionary who transformed his diabetes and Congenital Insensitivity to Pain (CIP) diagnosis into a driving force for advocacy and systemic change. From empowering individuals to leading prison reform with Mass CURE, Eric's journey is a testament...

Leon Rock, Host of the African American Diabetes Podcast is unpacking the REAL reason diabetes rates are so high in the Black community. It’s not just genetics—it’s RACISM, STRESS, and BAD POLICY . Get the facts, reclaim your health, and find out how you can join the African American Diabetes Association to build hyper-local power!

"Mommy, I Think I Have Diabetes": The Power of Listening to Black Youth. Family, pull up a chair to the circle! This week, we are reclaiming our bloodline. We are honored to sit down with Jamala Lesane , a woman walking in a powerful legacy (cousin to the legendary Tupac Shakur). But today, she’s fighting a different kind of war—the battle for our health. In this powerful episode, we discuss: The...

Beyond the Headlines : A Mother and Daughter's Unbreakable Bond. Hear the full story behind the local and national news clips that inspired the community: the day Samantha Mason called for help to save her diabetic mother, Sharon Mason. Podcast Host Leon Rock talks with the Masons about the intergenerational impact of diabetes, the unique challenges Sharon faced in managing her condition, and how...

Beyond the Headlines : A Mother and Daughter's Unbreakable Bond. Get ready for an emotional, inspiring part 1 episode, of a 2 part series that defines true family strength. You read the local and national news clip—now hear the full, inspiring story . Podcast Host Leon Rock talks with Samantha and Sharon Mason about the intergenerational impact of diabetes, the day Samantha’s quick thinking saved...

Beyond the Headlines : A Mother and Daughter's Unbreakable Bond. Hear the full story behind the local and national news clips that inspired the community: the day Samantha Mason called for help to save her diabetic mother, Sharon Mason. Podcast Host Leon Rock talks with the Masons about the intergenerational impact of diabetes, the unique challenges Sharon faced in managing her condition, and how...

Join us for an open, honest discussion about the unique challenges, triumphs, and crucial conversations surrounding Diabetes and organ donation within the African American community . This week's podcast explores how diabetes disproportionately impacts African Americans, the realities of kidney and other organ failure, and the life-saving potential of becoming an organ donor. Join me with my speci...

Stop scrolling. This is the most crucial 20 minutes you'll spend on your health this week. Host Leon Rock is firing up the "real talk" about a silent diagnosis that's stalking our community: prediabetes . It's not just a warning; it's a WAKE-UP CALL . For too long, the narrative around diabetes has been about managing the crisis. Today, we're flipping the script to focus on PREVENTION . Prediabete...

Join host Leon Rock on Episode 21 of "The African American Diabetes Podcast" for a powerful and timely discussion. In this episode, titled "A Call to Action: Confronting Diabetes Disparities in the Black Community," we explore a critical issue affecting our community: the impact of recent federal budget cuts on healthcare access for African Americans with diabetes. Leon breaks down what these cuts...

Prepare to be inspired by Part 2 of the African American Diabetes Podcast with Dr. Stephen B. Thomas, the brilliant mind behind CUT2MD , a groundbreaking initiative that reveres and elevates barbershops as sacred community hubs for health promotion . Learn about The Barbershop Initiative , a powerful program that empowers our beloved barbers and Beauty Salons to rise as health advocates and educat...

Prepare to be inspired by Dr. Thomas's brilliant mind behind CUT2MD , a groundbreaking initiative that reveres and elevates barbershops as sacred community hubs for health promotion . Learn about The Barbershop Initiative , a powerful program that empowers our beloved barbers and Beauty Salons to rise as health advocates and educators , nurturing well-being within their communities. These initiati...

Ever wonder if the echoes of our past still whisper in our blood? Join us as we unveil the hidden truth behind generational pain and its profound grip on Black health, particularly the soaring rates of Type 2 Diabetes. This isn't just talk; it's a vital journey into Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation , guiding us from ancestral struggles to a vibrant, healthier future.