Defining Moments Podcast: Conversations about Health and Healing

Every year over 3 million dogs enter rescue shelters in the U.S. alone. Rescue organizations are short on resources and rely heavily on volunteers. On this episode of Defining Moments, Dr. Jill Yamasaki invites listeners into the trauma-filled world of animal rescue. She reflects on her own journey characterized by both compassion fatigue and resilience. Dr. Yamasaki is an Associate Professor in t...

Communicating about cancer across the natural progression of the disease is challenging and complicated. In this episode, Dr. Wayne Beach reflects on his research about family communication and patient-oncologist communication and the translation of his findings in the form of theatre productions and documentary films. Beach’s work illustrates the power of moving between personal stories and the p...

Families play a pivotal role in helping members make sense of mental illness and other health challenges. In this episode, Dr. Kellas invites listeners to consider how the process of family storytelling and the types of stories told can foster and/or disrupt stigma and healing. She offers suggestions for research-informed and narrative-based interventions for individuals, families, and groups. Dr....

Defining Moments Podcast is hosting multiple episodes about how food communicates and how we communicate about food. On this episode, host Dr. Lynn Harter talks with Dr. Kristen Okamoto and Sonia Ivancic about the unique challenges and possibilities of addressing hunger in rural contexts characterized by high rates of poverty. They discuss their research with justice-oriented organizations that se...

Defining Moments Podcast is hosting multiple episodes about how food communicates and how we communicate about food. In this episode, Dr. Rebecca de Souza discusses her research on communication processes at food pantries, a primary form of access for those who are food insecure. de Souza invites listeners to consider the limits of charitable organizing as a response to hunger. She urges us to re-...

Childhood cancer is the number 1 disease killer among children in the U.S. Worldwide, a child is diagnosed with cancer every 3 minutes. Behind every statistic are stories. On this episode of Defining Moments, Dr. Joe Bianco talks about his family’s experience with childhood cancer. His professional world collided with his personal one when his 11 year-old son Andrew was diagnosed with rhabdomyosar...

Shortages of primary care physicians in medically underserved areas are well-documented across the United States. Medical schools are developing curricular innovations to prepare primary care physicians for medical practice in rural and urban underserved communities. On this episode of Defining Moments, Dr. Sharon Casapulla and Dr. Alyssa Gerth talk about the Rural and Urban Scholars Pathways (RUS...

Positive Deviance is an approach to public health that flips the script of traditional top-down and deficit-based communication. On this episode of Defining Moments, Dr. Arvind Singhal shares how he has embraced an assets-based, grassroots approach to social change in the midst of natural disasters, disability rights, domestic violence, and family planning. The reach of his work spans numerous cou...

Humans tell stories to make sense of birthing and dying and everything in between. Defining Moments Podcast showcases stories about living well in the midst of inescapable illness, suffering, and hardship. Season 2 launches on Memorial Day, May 25th, and features an eclectic group of guests who share moments of uncertainty, innovation, and resilience. Host Dr. Lynn Harter draws on twenty years of...

The Scraps of the Heart Project sponsors creative arts workshops for bereaved parents coping with baby loss and infertility. On this episode of Defining Moments, Dr. Erin Willer shares her personal story and how it informed the development of The Scraps of the Heart Project and its efforts. Dr. Willer is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Denver....

Racial inequalities in healthcare are well-documented across the United States. Medical schools are developing curricular innovations to reduce implicit racial bias and other forms of discrimination. On this episode of Defining Moments, Dr. Tracy Shaub talks about the Open Book Project at the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. The Open Book Project is based on the principles...

First responders, crisis communicators, and the general public rely on new media to communicate during natural disasters and in the aftermath. On this episode of Defining Moments, Dr. Keri Stephens shares her personal story as a flood survivor and how it informs her research funded by the National Science Foundation. Her work focuses on new media usage in rescue and evacuation efforts during Hurri...

Athlete safety and concussion injuries are public health concerns. Athletes sometimes conceal injuries or delay disclosure of symptoms to avoid injury treatment protocols. In this episode of Defining Moments, Dr. Alaina Zanin links failure to disclose injuries to sports narratives in the U.S. Dr. Zanin and a team of researchers from the Arizona State University Center for Strategic Communication a...

Teenagers experience loss in unique ways and their expressions of grief do not always conform to adults’ expectations. In this episode of Defining Moments, Dr. Stephanie Pangborn reflects on her work with teens coping with the loss of a loved one. From hospital bedsides to campfires, she explores the use of art and family storytelling to help teens grieve and imagine new normals. Dr. Pangborn is a...

“Why do patients with strong convictions about stopping aggressive care when a cure is no longer possible sometimes then agree to pursue it when it is suggested by their physicians?” asks Dr. Lori Roscoe, a Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of South Florida. On this episode of Defining Moments, Dr. Roscoe explores the ethical dilemmas surrounding medically unne...

The lifecycle of early motherhood is characterized by challenges including infertility, baby loss, post-partum depression, and gaps in healthcare. On this episode of Defining Moments, Dr. Maggie Quinlan and Bethany Johnson historically frame these challenges often intensified by social media. Quinlan and Johnson are award-winning teachers and researchers at the University of North Carolina at Char...

Sheltered workshops refer to rehabilitative and vocational programs for individuals with developmental differences. On this episode of Defining Moments, Patty Mitchell and Susan Dlouhy reflect on their efforts to revolutionize sheltered workshops through the Creative Abundance Model. This model relies on collaborative art programming to foster self-expression, create employment opportunities, and...

Americans’ use of social media is on the rise as are their levels of stress, anxiety, and loneliness. On this episode of Defining Moments, Dr. Sarah Tracy discusses the importance of face-to-face conversation as it relates to individuals’ physical and mental health. She argues that humans’ capacity to respond compassionately to others’ suffering is key to individual well-being and the vibrancy of...

Virtual visits can increase access to specialized medicine without overburdening care providers. On this episode of Defining Moments, Dr. Pete Anderson reflects on his use of telemedicine to develop therapeutic alliances with cancer patients and families. Dr. Anderson is an oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic Pediatrics Institute, and a professor at the Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Re...

Scientific advancements in the detection and treatment of cancer have improved survival rates. Even so, long term survivors of cancer face emotional, physical, and cognitive challenges in the aftermath of treatment. On this episode of Defining Moments, Dr. Laura Ellingson shares her personal story of cancer survivorship and how it informs her work with the American Cancer Society. Dr. Ellingson is...

Humans tell stories to make sense of birthing and dying and everything in between. Defining Moments Podcast showcases stories about living well in the midst of inescapable illness, suffering, and hardship. Episodes feature an eclectic group of guests who share moments of uncertainty, innovation, and resilience. Host Dr. Lynn Harter draws on twenty years of experience in health contexts to spark co...