Healthy Desert Healthy You

In this episode of the Healthy Desert Healthy You podcast, host Will Dean sits down with Fernando Gutierrez, Community Engagement Specialist with the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District . Fernando explains the district’s nearly 100-year mission to monitor and control vectors—mosquitoes, rodents, fire ants, and more—that pose health risks to Coachella Valley residents . He discuss...

In this insightful episode of Healthy Desert Healthy You , host Will Dean talks with environmental scientist Samantha Shapiro of Palm Desert about her experiences at the second annual Healthy Desert Healthy You Environmental Health Summit . Samantha shares key takeaways on how local governance, private sectors, and residents can work together to improve environmental health . The conversation dive...

In this episode of Healthy Desert Healthy You , host Will Dean speaks with Martha Olvera , Assistant Director of Operations at the Galilee Center , a faith-based nonprofit dedicated to serving underprivileged families and farmworkers in the Eastern Coachella Valley . Martha shares how the organization provides essential resources—food, clothing, rental and utility assistance—to help local families...

In this episode of Healthy Desert Healthy You , host Will Dean welcomes Imperial County Supervisor Ryan Kelly for an in-depth conversation about Lithium Valley —the transformative geothermal and mineral extraction hub near the Salton Sea. Kelly explains how decades of geothermal development have laid the foundation for a new era of clean energy, job creation, and regional economic growth. He also...

In this episode of Healthy Desert Healthy You , host Will Dean talks with Rob Wheeler, Executive Director of the Mizell Senior Center in Palm Springs . Rob shares how Mizell serves as a lifeline for older adults through programs that nourish both body and spirit . From Meals on Wheels and daily congregate lunches to social activities, cultural programs , and intergenerational events , Mizell is re...

In this inspiring episode of Healthy Desert Healthy You , host Will Dean talks with Bea Padilla, Community Services Supervisor for the Desert Recreation District . Bea shares how her organization is empowering local teens in the East Valley to take action on air quality through a Desert Healthcare District & Foundation grant . Together, they’re launching youth-led workshops, data collection pr...

In this episode of Healthy Desert Healthy You , host Will Dean speaks with Cecilia Lemus , Program Coordinator at the Youth Leadership Institute (YLI) , about empowering young leaders in the Eastern Coachella Valley. With support from a Desert Healthcare District grant, YLI is tackling air quality challenges through youth-driven research, storytelling, and community engagement. Cecilia shares how...

In this episode of Healthy Desert Healthy You , host Will Dean sits down with Christian Rodriguez Ceja of Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI) to discuss the critical connections between environmental justice, health, and daily life in the Coachella Valley . Together, they explore how environmental hazards disproportionately impact Black and Brown communities, and why equity must be the starting point...

In this episode of Healthy Desert Healthy You , host Will Dean sits down with Mona Babauta, CEO of Sunline Transit Agency, to explore how the Coachella Valley is leading the way in sustainable public transit. Mona shares insights on Sunline’s pioneering hydrogen fuel cell bus fleet, the groundbreaking Silver Stars Project with SoCalGas, and the agency’s commitment to renewable energy. She highligh...

In this compelling episode of Healthy Desert Healthy You , host Will Dean welcomes Miguel Vazquez , Health Equity Urban and Regional Planner for Riverside University Health System–Public Health . Miguel shares his unique journey from environmental programs to public health planning, emphasizing the power of community engagement and equity in shaping healthier, more sustainable communities. The con...

On this episode of the Healthy Desert Healthy You podcast, host Will Dean speaks with Andrea Vidaurre — policy analyst, advocate, and co-founder of the People’s Collective for Environmental Justice . Andrea, also the keynote speaker at the upcoming Healthy Desert Healthy You Summit, discusses the devastating health impacts of diesel emissions and freight pollution in the Inland Empire and Coachell...

In this inspiring episode of Healthy Desert Healthy You , host Will Dean speaks with Jane Garrison , humanitarian, animal advocate, and founder of the Oswit Land Trust . Jane shares the incredible story of how a casual hike in 2015 led her to launch a nearly five-year battle against a billionaire developer to save Oswit Canyon —culminating in an $8.6 million land purchase. She explains how the Lan...

In this episode, Will Dean sits down with Nicholas Rossi, Senior Development Manager at Variety Children's Charity of the Desert, to discuss the nonprofit's mission of empowering Coachella Valley children. Founded in 1987, Variety provides a variety of programs, including developmental screenings, mobility equipment for children with disabilities, and family outreach. Rossi highlights the organiza...

In this inspiring episode, host Will Dean welcomes Lauren Del Sarto, founder and publisher of Desert Health News . Lauren shares how a desire to highlight both medical and natural health resources led to the creation of a trusted, community-driven publication. Now celebrating 15 years, Desert Health News continues to serve the Coachella Valley with educational articles from local practitioners. La...

In this uplifting episode of Healthy Desert Healthy You , Will Dean speaks with Jase Nagaia , the founder and instructor of Endeavor with Jase , a free, low-impact fitness class based in Palm Springs . Jase shares how his class was born from a desire to create an inclusive, welcoming, and diverse space for people of all fitness levels, backgrounds, and ages. From college students to nonagenarians,...

In this episode of Healthy Desert Healthy You , host Will Dean welcomes Melinda Cordero-Bárzaga , Associate Director and co-founder of Visión y Compromiso . Melinda shares the inspiring 25-year journey of the promotor model—community members who serve as trusted health educators, advocates, and cultural bridges . She explores how promotores bring health equity to underserved communities, especiall...

In this episode of Healthy Desert Healthy You join host Will Dean as he explores the economic impact of expanding healthcare services in the Coachella Valley. Our guest, David Robinson , Director of Analytic Services at Coachella Valley Economic Partnership (CVEP) , shares key findings from a recent economic impact study commissioned by Desert Healthcare District & Foundation . Robinson explai...

In this episode of Healthy Desert Healthy You , host Will Dean sits down with Shamora Wright , founder of the Black Wellness Club . Shamora shares her personal journey from battling postpartum depression to creating a supportive community for Black women focused on mental and physical wellness . She discusses the significance of self-care, the importance of community connections, and how her hikin...

In this episode of Healthy Desert Healthy You , host Will Dean welcomes Haley Preston , the Founder and Director of Desert Compost , to explore the vital role of composting in our community and the environment . Haley emphasizes how composting enhances ecological resilience and helps reduce waste in landfills . Our conversation reveals the deep connection between composting and soil restoration, h...

In this episode of the Healthy Desert Healthy You podcast, host Will Dean welcomes Ryan Sendejas , a climate change assessment lead author with UC Riverside Environmental Science . Ryan shares insights on the significant impacts of climate change in the Coachella Valley and the broader inland deserts region. He explains the difference between natural climate variations and anthropogenic climate ch...

In this episode of Healthy Desert Healthy You , host Will Dean welcomes William VanHemert, Director of Institutional Giving and Grants Administration at DAP Health. Together, they discuss the impactful grant DAP Health received from the Desert Healthcare District aimed at improving air quality in the Coachella Valley . Bill shares insights on the multi-faceted approach DAP Health is taking, which...

In this episode of Healthy Desert Healthy You , host Will Dean talks with Dr. Daniel Polk , Research & Evaluation Associate at HARC Incorporated . They dive into the complex issues surrounding environmental justice in the Coachella Valley, a region grappling with both economic growth and environmental challenges . Dr. Polk explains the disparities affecting communities, particularly in relatio...

In this episode of the Healthy Desert Healthy You podcast, host Will Dean sits down with Aydee Palomino, the Environmental Justice Campaign Manager at Alianza Coachella Valley . They discuss critical issues surrounding environmental justice in the Coachella Valley , particularly focusing on access to clean water, air, and essential services for underserved communities . Aydee shares insights about...

In this episode of the Healthy Desert Healthy You podcast, host Will Dean welcomes Carole Rogers , President of the Desert Healthcare District's Board of Directors and a dedicated nurse for over 50 years . Carole shares her journey from a family of healthcare professionals to becoming a passionate advocate for community health in the Coachella Valley . With a wealth of experience, she discusses ke...

Indio City Councilmember Oscar Ortiz joins Will Dean on this week's Healthy Desert, Healthy You podcast to elucidate the innovative measures being implemented to combat environmental challenges within the region . A prominent focus of their discourse is the city's enhanced turf removal program, which incentivizes residents to replace water-intensive grass with native plants , thereby facilitating...