Courageous Public Health

In this episode of the Courageous Public Health Podcast, lori latham, MA, reflects on what it means to keep showing up—even when the outcome isn't certain. From running for leadership knowing she would likely lose, to speaking more directly after years of softening her voice, to raising children she cannot protect from every challenge, lori shares what it looks like to act from your values even wh...

In this episode of the Courageous Public Health Podcast, Malaika Simmons, MS, reflects on what it means to trust yourself, stay aligned with your values, and lead with intention—even within systems that can pressure you to disconnect from who you are. From navigating experiences of bias and self-doubt to helping others make values-aligned leadership decisions, Dr. Simmons shares how awareness, emp...

In this episode of the Courageous Public Health Podcast, Dr. Avalon Adams-Thames reflects on what it means to keep showing up—through grief, responsibility, leadership, and systems that do not always make space for your full voice. From losing family members whose experiences shaped her path into public health, to navigating professional spaces where she was expected to shrink herself, stay silent...

Meet Jasmine Brett Stringer, MAPP ✨ Jasmine Brett Stringer is an expert on workplace well-being and emotional agility, helping individuals and organizations thrive through practical, research-backed strategies. A 2026 Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal Women in Business Honoree, she is a dynamic keynote speaker, award-winning author, television personality, and Founder & CEO of Carpe Diem with...

In this special bonus episode, Dr. Kristi McClamroch shares the story behind the paintings that now hang behind her and reflects on what they have taught her about courage, connection, and the power of witnessing. A personal reflection on grief, creativity, and why painting and podcasting are, in many ways, the same act of attention.

In this episode of the Courageous Public Health Podcast, Zoila Reyna, MPH, shares what it looked like to walk away from work she loved—without knowing exactly what would come next. From quitting jobs without another offer lined up, to sleeping on a friend's couch so she could rebuild her life in Los Angeles, to eventually founding Public Health Hired, Zoila reflects on the risks, uncertainty, and...

In this episode of the Courageous Public Health Podcast, Dr. Farah Mawani reflects on what it means to do public health work that is deeply personal—where lived experience, research, and advocacy cannot be separated. From navigating the COVID-19 pandemic as both a social epidemiologist and a member of a community disproportionately impacted by the virus, to confronting systemic racism within acade...

In this episode of the Courageous Public Health Podcast, Dr. Sharon Attipoe-Dorcoo reflects on what it means to lead with courage, clarity, and curiosity inside systems that were never designed with everyone in mind. From navigating identity as a Black Ghanaian-American woman in public health spaces, to challenging dominant narratives around data, leadership, and belonging, Dr. Attipoe-Dorcoo shar...

In this episode of the Courageous Public Health Podcast, Rebecca Désir shares what it looks like to take action before you feel ready—moving away from everything familiar, starting something from nothing, and building in real time. From launching the Black Joy Festival during the pandemic with no funding and no clear path, to redefining her identity and leadership over time, she reflects on the co...

In this episode of the Courageous Public Health Podcast, Dr. Shawnté Elbert shares what it looks like to choose alignment over comfort — even when that means walking away from roles, titles, and systems she worked years to build. From navigating moments of forced transition to rebuilding her work without a platform, she reflects on the courage it takes to trust your own discernment when everything...

In this episode of the Courageous Public Health Podcast, Dr. Khalilah LeGrand shares what it looks like to practice courage through restraint — especially in high-stakes public health moments where she holds information that could change how a story is perceived, but chooses not to share it. As a spokesperson navigating crisis, scrutiny, and public pressure, she reflects on the discipline it takes...

In this episode of the Courageous Public Health Podcast, Aaliyah Belk shares what it looks like to find your way in public health — even when you don't fully understand the path ahead. From navigating identity and learning how to take up space, to asking for help and building her career without a clear roadmap, Aaliyah reflects on the courage it takes to keep going when you feel uncertain. This is...

In this episode of the Courageous Public Health Podcast, Corinna Kelley shares what it looks like to practice courage by staying in uncertainty — sitting in discomfort long enough to rediscover who you are becoming. From leaving a full-time role to step into consulting without a clear plan, to sharing her story on stage, Corinna reflects on how growth happens not by avoiding discomfort, but by lea...

In this episode of the Courageous Public Health Podcast, Karina Barillas shares what it looks like to live courage not as a choice, but as a necessity — from speaking up as a child in the face of abuse to leading a movement rooted in dignity, belonging, and community. She brings us into the reality of what it means to use your voice in spaces that don't welcome it — and the courage required to ins...

In this episode of the Courageous Public Health Podcast, LaTonya Bynum shares what it looks like when prevention stops being theoretical — and becomes a decision about your own body, your own life, and your own future. After learning she carried a genetic risk for cancer, LaTonya was offered preventive surgery. Instead, she made a different choice — one that required her to confront stress, identi...

In this episode, Dr. McClamroch reflects on what 50 conversations have taught her about courage in public health — how it shows up, why it often goes unnoticed, and what changes when we begin to name it clearly. Because if there's one thing she sees now, it's this: courage is already happening — it's just not being recognized. And when it is, something shifts. You're listening to the Courageous Pu...

In this episode of the Courageous Public Health Podcast, Daphne Robinson—attorney, former juvenile prosecutor, public health professional—reflects on what it means to tell the truth about a system she once served from the inside. Through her book, she challenges colleagues, questions long-held assumptions, and names the ways Black children are treated differently in juvenile court.   We talk about...

In this episode, Dr. Nelva Lee shares what it looks like to act with courage by stepping into public leadership, trusting her voice, and refusing to shrink herself to fit expectations — even while running for statewide office. This is a conversation about public leadership, authenticity, and the courage to run your own race — even when politics, expectations, and fear try to push you into a mold t...

In this episode of the Courageous Public Health Podcast, Dr. Jovonni Spinner shares what it looks like to do it scared — betting on yourself, speaking honestly about equity, and leading with conviction even when the room gets uncomfortable. This is a conversation about courage as a practice — about pivoting without calling it failure, leaving the "good government job" to build Beacon Public Health...

In this episode of the Courageous Public Health Podcast, Chevelle Davis shares what it looks like to tell the truth and stand ten toes down on it — in academia, in policy spaces, and in public health systems that often reward silence over honesty. This is a conversation about courage, power, and accountability — about land and responsibility, professionalism and whiteness, data-to-action work, and...

In this episode, Angela Bannerman Ankoma, MPH, MSW shares what it looks like to lead despite fear — in crisis, in community, and in systems that don't always expect public health to be at the table. This is a conversation about courage under pressure, unapologetic advocacy, public health beyond the clinic walls, Black women's leadership, and what it means to build power in historically marginalize...

In this episode, Syreeta Nolan shares what it looks like to claim your full identity and build systems that honor every body and mind — even when those systems were never designed for you. This is a conversation about disability justice, prevention, and power — and what becomes possible when we stop asking people to fit broken systems and start redesigning systems to fit people. You're listening t...

In this episode of the Courageous Public Health Podcast, Brittaney Jenkins, BS, CHES®, CPST—founder and CEO of Jenkins Public Health Consulting, course and program strategist, and public health entrepreneur—shares how courage looks in real life: moving away from home, building a business from her expertise, and learning to name her value without apology. Brittaney also breaks down what it takes to...

In this episode, Dr. Zupenda Davis shares what it looks like to choose yourself — in your work, your relationships, and your health. From setting boundaries that protect her peace to speaking openly about women's health and menopause, Dr. Davis brings a vision of public health that centers the whole person. This is a conversation about courage, freedom, and what becomes possible when women stop sh...

In this episode of the Courageous Public Health Podcast, Indya Hairston—Johns Hopkins DrPH student, founder of Community Speaks Consulting, and advocate for Black women's reproductive and maternal health—shares how courage defined her pivotal year of 2023. She talks about moving across the country for a fresh start, applying to only one doctoral program because it aligned with her purpose, quittin...