HealthCare UnTold

We are recasting our podcast on Smokey the Bear and our Indigenous firefighters. Help them by being safe and keeping your family safe with these safety precautions if you live in fire prone areas: *Create a fire escape plan Install and maintain smoke alarms Keep important documents and essentials with multiple family members if you can't afford a fireproof safe: Pack an emergency kit Have a design...

Our guest today is, Mario A. Guel who is a South Texas native with a background in nonprofit grant management, community economic development focusing on rural & underserved communities and higher education. At Build Healthy Places Network (BHPN) Mario serves as Senior Program Manager, providing oversight and coordination of community of practice and field building in alignment with BHPN's goals....

On August 4th, 2024, we lost a remarkable community leader, Profe. Armando Vasquez Ramos. In his honor, I wanted to recast the podcast we recently recorded. I reconnected with Armando through John A. Taboada’s photo exhibit at the Historical Society Center of Long Beach, which showcased the community work of El Centro de la Raza. Armando’s podcast interview holds a special place in my heart. I fir...

Our guest today is Rebecca Hernandez, PhD, who is the Community Archivist at the UC Santa Cruz University Library. With a rich background as the former director of the American Indian Resource Center, Rebecca brings a unique blend of expertise and passion to her role. She is dedicated to ensuring that the diverse and untold histories of Santa Cruz County are not only preserved but also celebrated....

Today, we’re joined by Janet Johns, Artistic Director, and Ruby Vasquez, Assistant Artistic Director from the Esperanza Del Valle Baile Folkorico in Santa Cruz County. They’re excited to announce the First International Folklorico and Music Conference, taking place in Santa Cruz County from August 15th to 25th. During our conversation, we’ll delve into the conference’s history and the meaningful r...

Our guest today is Gabriela Rodriguez-Gomez who is a Ph. D. candidate in Chicana/o Studies & Central American Studies at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) with a specialization in the history of murals created during the Chicana/o art movement and the Mexican mural movement. She holds a B.A. in Art and History of Art and Visual Culture from the University of California Santa Cruz, an M.A...

Kateri Lopez serves as a Project Manager at Cornerstones in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Cornerstones is committed to safeguarding the architectural heritage and cultural traditions of New Mexico. Through collaborative efforts with local communities, Cornerstones restores historic structures and cultural landscapes while promoting traditional building practices. Kateri’s upbringing in a community and...

Armando Vazquez-Ramos, an advocate for Chicano/Mexican and Latino education, has been promoting educational opportunities for over 50 years. As a student leader at California State University Long Beach (CSULB) in 1969, he co-founded the Chicano and Latino Studies department. Armando also became the Director of El Centro de la Raza in Long Beach which was a community service agency that provided t...

Jon is the Founder and Director of Migrant Media Productions. Jon is a visionary filmmaker, educator and advocate for social justice. John has been capturing and documenting the stories of Migrant Farmworkers for over three decades. He has committed his career to the struggles and the beauty of Migrant Farmworker lives. Jon's work captures the stories of musicians, strikers, educators and communit...

In 2013, Wes founded Rare Patient Voice to provide patients and their caregivers with the opportunity to voice their opinions through surveys and interviews to improve medical products and services. As with any new business, the initial days were challenging. Wes knew that he wanted to be able to share this resource with all clients, so he purposely did not accept investments from clients or other...

"Joy Power and Pride" Brian Chavez, from the Historical Society of Long Beach, joins us today to share his thoughts and reflections on the new exhibit titled "Centro de la Raza: John A. Taboada’s Photo Legacy 1970-1985." John’s exhibit captures the Chicano Movement in Long Beach and the community work of Centro de la Raza through a beautiful collection of over 3,000 meticulously preserved photos....

Dr. Geeta Nayyar, a remarkable health and technology leader, has authored the book “DEAD WRONG: Diagnosing and Treating Healthcare’s Misinformation Illness”. In our podcast Dr. G emphasizes the importance of accurate information in empowering patients, providers, and policymakers. By embracing transparency, trust can be fostered, informed decision-making facilitated, and patient outcomes enhanced....

Our guest today is Dr. Haghighian (Dr. Cyrus), Dr. Cyrus is deeply committed to patient care, aligning seamlessly with the mission of providing comprehensive and personalized healthcare. Specializing in Sleep Medicine, he strives to help patients achieve better sleep and overall well-being. He has experience working with both adults and children and his services address conditions such as Sleep Ap...

Our guest today is Chris Thompson, the CEO of Sober Sidekick.  Chris developed his application for those seeking sobriety and support. Chris wants a world where no one is alone in their battle of sobriety and his app does just that, it is 24/7 and if you reach out, others will reach out to you and give you empathy and support. Chris believes that it only takes a few people to believe in you to fin...

Our guest today is Luká Yancopoulos, CEO and co-founder of Grapevine. Under Luká’s leadership, Grapevine is providing cost-effective and timely access to millions of healthcare supplies for our healthcare systems. Grapevine is dedicated to frontline workers, aiming to reduce waste by implementing effective supply management and ensuring equitable healthcare access. We commend Grapevine for its cha...

The Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium (TBDC) is a group of activists who seek justice for the victims of the Trinity Test, the first atomic bomb detonation on July 16, 1945. The test exposed thousands of people living in nearby communities, largely Latino communities to harmful radiation, causing cancers and other diseases. The TBDC was founded in 2005 by Tina Cordova and Fred Tyler, along wit...

Our guest today is Tracy Weaver, Executive Director of Saranam. Since 2004 SARANAM has served over 180 families offering them opportunities to break the cycles of generational poverty. Saranam’s two-year, residential program, and integrated services – housing, education, and community – help families escape from homelessness and poverty permanently with a proven 88% success rate. Many programs add...

Our guest today is Tylor Taylor who is the Chief Executive Officer of Successful Aging Solutions & Community Consulting (SASCC). SASCC is a nonprofit services provider and consultancy offering an integrated suite of programs for older adults and guiding local government and institutional efforts to build age-friendly communities. As CEO, Taylor leads a dynamic team of professionals to empower comm...

The Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium (TBDC) is a group of activists who seek justice for the victims of the Trinity Test, the first atomic bomb detonation on July 16, 1945. The test exposed thousands of people living in nearby communities, largely Latino communities to harmful radiation, causing cancers and other diseases. The TBDC was founded in 2005 by Tina Cordova and Fred Tyler, along wit...

The Importance of Nonprofits During Disasters: In the wake of the recent San Diego floods, one nonprofit organization stands out for its unwavering commitment to the community. The Alpha Project, despite facing its own significant challenges—such as the flooding of a facility, vans, and employee vehicles—continues to work tirelessly on behalf of families and individuals affected by the natural dis...

In this episode, we have as our guest Tracy Rodden, the Executive Director of Feed New Mexico Kids. New Mexico Kids is a non-profit dedicated to combating childhood hunger in the state of New Mexico. Tracy shares her inspiring journey and the motivation behind leading this organization. Over 90,000 children in New Mexico are food insecure and Feed New Mexico Kids has been providing weekly snack pa...

Dr. Joshua Lee, MD is a highly accomplished clinician and researcher specializing in medication-assisted treatment of alcohol and opioid use disorders. Josh is passionate about making evidence-based treatment accessible to those seeking to drink less or achieve sobriety. His extensive experience includes conducting clinical trials on naltrexone and buprenorphine in primary care, criminal justice,...

Our guest today is Danielle Parker, the Associate Director of the community-based, non-profit organization United Voices for Newcomer Rights (UVNR). UVNR cultivates educational, economic, cultural, social and physical and mental health resources in partnership with newcomers to empower them to achieve system change that supports their well-being and integration in their new communities. UVNR uses...

Our guest is Dr. Laura Clapper, the Medical Director of Commonwealth Care Alliance California (CCA). Dr. Clapper has focused her health career on making health care more equitable and aligned with the needs of our communities. She believes that by focusing on the ecosystems of our community care systems and the social determinates of health that we can address health equity gaps. As the CCA Califo...

Our guest today is Dr. Eric Fethke, one of the country’s top pediatric cardiologists. Dr. Fethke is known for successfully treating the most difficult heart conditions in babies, children, and adults. He is also the medical director of one of the nation’s premier cardiac screening programs for children: Heart Screen New York. Dr. Fethke is the author of a new book called, "The Privilege of Caring:...