The Healthy Project Podcast

What happens when the agency responsible for protecting public health relies on safety information from the companies it's supposed to regulate? In this episode of The Healthy Project Podcast, host Corey Dion Lewis sits down with award-winning investigative journalist Carey Gillam, editor-in-chief of The New Lede, to examine the relationship between pesticide regulation, corporate accountability,...

You know Ty Pennington for transforming homes. In this conversation, he shares what it feels like to face a problem he cannot simply fix: his mom’s chronic lung condition. Ty joins Corey Dion Lewis to talk about his mom’s experience with bronchiectasis, or BE, the years of respiratory symptoms before her diagnosis, and how the condition has affected their family. He opens up about caregiver guilt,...

Why do some people delay or decline vaccines even when the science seems clear? Dr. Mike Myers joins The Healthy Project Podcast to discuss what happens between medical evidence and the people asked to trust it. Corey and Dr. Myers discuss the return of measles, vaccine misinformation, the role of healthcare providers in earning trust, and why distrust within Black and brown communities cannot sim...

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, or EDS, is a genetic connective tissue disorder that can affect nearly every system in the body. Yet many people spend years living with unexplained pain, frequent injuries, gastrointestinal concerns, cardiovascular symptoms, and other challenges before receiving a diagnosis. In this episode, Corey speaks with physical therapist Dr. Emma McCauley about the difference betwee...

Every clinician knows food shapes health. The evidence has been there for decades. So why does nearly every food as medicine program in America still run on grant money with an expiration date? Dr. Yousuf Ahmad has spent 30 years inside the system, running hospitals, leading a health plan, building health tech, and he watched nutrition sit on the sidelines of care the entire time. Now, as Presiden...

There's a federal law that's supposed to protect you from toxic chemicals in your baby bottles, your carpet, your drinking water, and your kid's toys. Most people have never heard of it — and right now, some lawmakers are trying to quietly weaken it. In this episode, Corey sits down with Sarah Vogel, Senior Vice President for Healthy Communities at the Environmental Defense Fund, to break down the...

We've been told that if we just show people the data on racial health disparities, change will follow. It hasn't. In this episode, Corey sits down with Dr. Sarah Gollust (University of Minnesota) and Dr. Neil Lewis Jr. (Cornell University), researchers with the Collaborative on Media and Messaging for Health and Social Policy (CommHSP), to unpack why the numbers alone never move people — and what...

What’s the difference between digital literacy and AI literacy—and why does it matter for the future of work? In this episode, Corey sits down with Nancy Mwirotsi, founder of Pi515, to break down how technology is shaping economic mobility for youth. They explore why basic digital skills are still missing, how AI tools are changing critical thinking, and what it takes to prepare the next generatio...

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Some things are true whether we talk about them or not. Iowa has one of the highest cancer rates in the country. The people most affected by it are often the last ones to hear about it. And the systems that were supposed to catch it early — the clinics, the screenings, the outreach programs — are losing funding right now, quietly, in ways most people won't notice until it's too late. This episode...

Quad Cities advocate Royce Wright gets real about youth mental health, the homelessness crisis, and what it means to show up consistently for kids and communities that the system keeps overlooking. SHOW NOTES: Some of the most important public health work doesn't happen in clinics or conference rooms. It happens on street corners, in shelters, and in honest conversations with kids who just need so...

The CDC is being cut by more than 50%. Over 100 public health programs are being eliminated. And the communities that will feel it first — and hardest — are the same ones who've always been at the back of the line. In this solo episode, Corey breaks down what's actually being dismantled, why the framing of "cutting DEI" is designed to make you look away, and what it means for Black and Brown commu...

After 30 years bridging the gap between public policy and communities, Darolyn Davis knows why most public health engagement efforts fail—and more importantly, how to fix them. In this episode of The Healthy Project Podcast, host Corey Dion Lewis speaks with Darolyn Davis, founder of D&A Communications, about the critical disconnect between well-intentioned public health initiatives and the co...

Corey Dion Lewis sits down with Dr. Margot Kushel, a practicing general internist with over 30 years of experience at San Francisco General Hospital and Director of the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, to explore why homelessness is fundamentally a housing problem—not a healthcare problem—and what this means for medical professionals and communities. Dr. Kushel shares compelling i...

Today’s episode is not the one I planned to release. I was supposed to share an interview I was excited about, but it didn’t feel right to move forward after the tragic killings by ICE agents in Minnesota. Families are grieving. Communities are scared. And pretending everything is normal felt like the wrong move. In this solo emergency episode, I speak honestly about not having the right words, bu...

Sister Mary Haddad, President and CEO of the Catholic Health Association, returns to The Healthy Project as 2025 ends with a major coverage threat ahead. In July 2025, Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act with major Medicaid changes that analysts warn will reduce access for millions. American Medical Association+1 At the same time, enhanced ACA premium tax credits are set to expire on De...

This episode explores how technology and healthcare intersect. We talk with Jhonatan Bringas Dimitriades, MD, CEO of Lapsi Health, about Keikku, the first FDA-cleared smart stethoscope with an AI scribe. You will hear how this tool impacts clinical workflows, patient communication, and the broader healthcare system. Key points covered • How clinicians use AI during real-world visits • Measurable t...

Dr. Philip Alberti joins Corey Dion Lewis to unpack what organizations risk when they remove words like equity and justice overnight without community input. The conversation focuses on trust, decision-making speed, and the difference between changing language and changing relationships. You will hear: Why fast brand shifts can damage credibility What authentic community engagement requires How to...

83,000 Americans die needlessly every year due to health inequity and systemic racism in healthcare. Dr. George Rust has spent 40 years fighting health disparities in America's most underserved communities, from migrant farmworker clinics in rural Florida to leading public health initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this powerful conversation, Dr. Rust reveals the structural inequities, ra...

How can families in under-resourced communities access timely, culturally responsive hearing care for infants who are deaf or hard of hearing? Corey Dion Lewis is joined by Pamela Rowe, MA, CCC-SLP, and Dr. Lauren Ramsey to unpack the barriers that shape early hearing care and where teleaudiology can improve access. You will hear: How health literacy, transportation, and mistrust delay early care...

In this episode of The Healthy Project Podcast , host Corey Dion Lewis talks with Pamela Oren-Artzi, COO and co-founder of GRIN , a digital oral health platform reimagining how care is delivered for underserved communities. Pam shares her journey from technology leader to health innovator, the challenges of addressing oral care deserts, and how GRIN’s accessible, affordable tools are transforming...

In this episode of The Healthy Project Podcast , host Corey Dion Lewis sits down with Stacy Wells, a purpose-driven leader and DEI practitioner working at the intersection of behavioral health, education, and public service. From her early days in the classroom to her current role leading health equity efforts in Minnesota’s direct care and treatment system, Stacy shares the challenges and lessons...

In this episode of The Healthy Project Podcast , host Corey Dion Lewis is joined by Sister Mary Haddad, President and CEO of the Catholic Health Association of the United States. Together, they get into the pressing issue of proposed Medicaid funding cuts and the far-reaching implications for millions of Americans, particularly those in underserved communities. Sr. Mary offers expert insight into...

What if the key to better health isn’t treatment—it’s prevention? In this episode of The Healthy Project Podcast, Corey Dion Lewis breaks down the true meaning of preventative health and why it matters. From early screenings to lifestyle changes, Corey explains how staying ahead of illness can save money, boost energy, and extend your life. We cover: What counts as preventative care How early dete...

ITamar Blue, founder of Mental Happy , joins Corey Dion Lewis on The Healthy Project Podcast to explore how group therapy and community-based care are changing the future of mental health. In this episode, you’ll hear:  • Why group support is often more effective than one-on-one therapy  • How Mental Happy empowers both participants and providers  • The cultural and structural gaps in mental healt...