VitalTalks: Future of Public Health

In this timely conversation, Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr of Freetown Sierra Leone and Dr. Mary-Ann Etiebet, President and CEO of Vital Strategies , discuss the critical role cities play in combating non-communicable diseases (NCDs) ahead of the UN's Fourth High-Level Meeting on the prevention and control of NCDs and the promotion of mental health and wellbeing on 25 September 2025. Freetown is leadin...

In the final episode of our Campaigns for Change series, we speak to creative director and story architect Kesu James to explore the radical shift from one-way public health messaging to community-driven, decentralized conversations. This episode dives into the evolution from Web 1 to Web 3, what it means for trust and authority, and how communicators must adapt in a world where your message is no...

In this conversation, we speak to Denene Rodney, CEO of Zebra Strategies, about the changing communication landscape, the need for trust in public health, along with strategies for building and maintaining trust. We also explore the role of messengers in reaching hard-to-reach populations. The conversation highlights the importance of consistency, dignity, and soft engagement in research, as well...

In this episode we explore overdose prevention and harm reduction campaigns with Tony Newman , Director of Communications for Vital Strategies' Overdose Prevention Program, and Gloria Malone , Senior Manager for Digital Multimedia Strategy. They discuss the power of communications to combat stigma, shift perceptions, and promote evidence-based solutions like harm reduction services and overdose pr...

This episode is the first in our Campaigns for Change series, where we examine how communications campaigns can help shape public health policy. We speak with  Jacqueline Murphy , Senior Director of Digital Marketing Innovation at Planned Parenthood Federation of America , and Michael Ward , Partner at agency M+R . We explore the evolving digital landscape for nonprofit campaigns, discuss strategi...

In this conversation we're joined by Jamie Cudden, leader of Dublin's Smart City Program, and Constanza Jimena Delón Córdoba, Director of Road Safety Information Monitoring at Mexico City's Mobility Department. We explore the use of technology and data to improve active travel, promote road safety, and create healthier and safer cities. Both Dublin and Mexico City are part of the Partnership for H...

How can we help consumers make healthier food choices while shopping at the supermarket? Nutrient warning labels can instantly inform shoppers if a product is high in sugar, salt or fat. But attempts to implement these labels face stiff opposition from the food and beverage industries. In this episode we hear about the challenges and successes of getting front-of-package warning labels on foods in...

We explore the impact of laws and regulations on public health, particularly in relation to tobacco control and food systems. Our discussion looks at the importance of litigation in driving social change and provides examples of impactful legal action in Brazil and South Africa. The conversation also touches on the hurdles faced in enacting public health policies, such as resource constraints and...

Whistleblower papers from inside cigarette giant Philip Morris International reveal the true intentions and strategies behind the company's IQOS non-combustible nicotine product. The papers show that Philip Morris secretly funded research on harm reduction and cessation, created a comprehensive marketing plan to build support for the product, and targeted dentists and the Olympics for promotion. T...

We've known about the health harms of lead exposure for more than 1,000 years. But many people, including children, are still exposed to lead through various sources including paint, water and soil. In this episode, Dan Kass, Senior Vice President of Environmental, Climate and Urban Health at Vital Strategies joins us to discuss this pervasive public health problem, what governments can do to moni...

Improving diets by creating and maintaining healthier food systems and environments is paramount to addressing the $2 trillion global obesity epidemic. It's a task that seems almost impossible under the deluge of ultra-processed products that make up most of our food intake. In this episode, Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health joins us to discuss her new report, "Foo...

The U.S. drug overdose crisis has create d new urgency to shift from punitive measures to a public health perspective , focused on harm reduction. Opioid settlements, agreements between governments and pharmaceutical entities, offer an opportunity to allocate funds toward preventing future crises. Christine Minhee , Founder, OpioidSettlementTracker.com and Kate Boulton, S enior Legal Technical Adv...

This episode features highlights from our VitalTalks Live event, held in New York. One in three women worldwide have been subjected to physical or sexual violence in their lifetimes — an alarming statistic that only scratches the surface of this global atrocity . The event heard from experts who are using innovative data and advocacy to help bring gender - based violence out of the shadows and int...

Our first interview on this episode is with Lili Farhang, co - director of Human Impact Partners (HIP), a national public health nonprofit. Lili discusses HIP's mission to leverage public health for policy and systems change by addressing power imbalances through equity and collective power that centers social justice movements. Then we are joined by Hattie from ANSWER Detroit, a sex worker justic...

Lack of investment in Civil Registration and Vital Statistics has been called one of the most important shortfalls in global development over the last 30 years, and the results are devastating. Tens of millions without identity and rights. Governments flying blind. For the first time in history, we have the technology, tools and know - how to make every person count. We ' ve proven that in Banglad...

In this episode, we discuss funding trends in global public health and the potential that new or different financing models have to catalyze impact. The episode features Ash Rogers, Co - CEO, Lwala Community Alliance; Julius Mbeya, Co - CEO, Lwala Community Alliance and Grace Chiang Nicolette, Vice President of Programming and External Relations, Center for  Effective Philanthropy. The Lwala Commu...

In this episode we meet with experts who are advancing new models of collaboration that put  countries in the global south at the forefront. We're joined by Dr. Mamka Anyona to discuss the Health4Life Fund, a U.N. led global financing partnership to accelerate action towards noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health  in low - and middle - income countries. What makes the Health4Life Fund i...

In part two of our series on health equity, we asked four more guests for their perspectives on health equity and what it means to them. This episode features: - Linda Villarosa, Author and contributing writer to The New York Times Magazine - Lola Adedokun, Executive Director of the Aspen Global Innovators Group - Carol McGruder, Co-Chair of the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council...

What does health equity mean to you and how can it help advance public health? As we launch our revamped VitalTalks podcast, we asked public health experts and those deeply engaged in equity work to join us to share their perspective in this special two-part series. Guests on this episode include: - Neena Prasad, Food Policy Program Lead, Bloomberg Philanthropies - Keec ha Harris, President of Kee...

The tobacco industry relies on a complex web of allies to promote its business interests and advance its agenda — helping perpetuate the global tobacco epidemic. These allies usually appear independent from the industry, but often have opaque financial links to tobacco companies or other deep - rooted connections. On this episode, our guests discuss the network of allies who help carry the message...

Alcohol consumption causes millions of deaths through health harms and negative social and economic effects. There is an underlying connection between alcohol consumption and these deaths — from liver disease, heart disease, cancer, violence, vehicle crashes, falls to tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and other conditions. Why is the largest killer of young people between ages 15 – 49 is so often overlooked?...

After attending the National Harm Reduction Conference in San Puerto Rico, Gloria Malone of the Overdose Prevention Program chats with two Puerto Rican harm reduction advocates. Tanagra and Carla share their insights on what Harm Reduction in Puerto Rico looks like and the unique challenges and work they are doing to save and improve lives in Puerto Rico. This show features: Carla Correa, Coalició...

Globally, one in three children –up to 800 million–have blood lead levels that are higher than deemed safe by the World Health Organization. Despite clear evidence of harm, many countries do not have sufficient capacity to monitor or regulate lead and protect their people from widespread exposure. In this episode, we discuss how lead affects children and their families, why lead poisoning preventi...

It's not news that what we eat has a huge impact on our overall health. What's not commonly known is that 8 million deaths are associated with poor diet –accounting for 19% of non-communicable disease deaths. Increasingly, ultra-processed foods and beverages have become readily available and have dramatically changed the way people eat, resulting in diets that are much less healthy. Our panelists...

UNGA, the United Nations General Assembly, sets policy for the United Nations. As we face generational challenges—rebuilding public health post-COVID, climate change, political instability—the successes and challenges of this global coordinating mechanism have come into focus. In this episode of the Public Health Power Hour we discuss"Does UNGA Matter?" and cover highlights from the United Nations...