Black Body Health: The Podcast

In part two of Black and Disabled with Vilissa Thompson, we dive into the topic of intersectionality. Thompson opens up by talking about how media has traditionally positioned abled people as 'saviors' for the disabled population. Telethons and fundraisers often portray disabled people as people to be pitied over or incapable of living like others in society. "The way we view disabled people is grossly negative and condescending," Thompson says. This negativity will sometimes deter Black people from identifying as disabled. It's hard enough to be Black in America and adding "disabled" to our social categories can feel like another item added to the struggle plate. To help combat this, we need representation -- which host Natasha Phelps discusses in this episode. Did you miss part one? Click here to catch up. Send your feedback to csellars@centerforblackhealth.org CREDITS: Host, Natasha Phelps Producer,Chelsey Sellars Logo Designer, Ashlee Woods

We're starting a new series on Black Body Health: The Podcast. This week, you get to meet Vilissa Thompson. For 10 years, Thompson has led Ramp Your Voice!, an organization that promotes empowerment, education, inclusion, and self-advocacy for disabled people like herself. According to the World Health Organization, there are three dimensions of disability With this in mind, there are still societal pressures and exclusions which prevent people with disabilities from being active or participatory in the ways they would like to be. This episode opens up with host Natasha Phelps explaining what disability rights are and the diversity found within the disabled population. Part one of this series is all about why Vilissa Thompson became an activist. Send your feedback to csellars@centerforblackhealth.org CREDITS: Host, Natasha Phelps Producer,Chelsey Sellars Logo Designer, Ashlee Woods

Welcome back Black Body Health listeners! Here is part three of our Black Veterans series with Black Veterans Project Co-Founder, Richard Brookshire. Did you miss out on part 1? Click here to catch up. Send your feedback to csellars@centerforblackhealth.org CREDITS: Host, Natasha Phelps Producer,Chelsey Sellars Logo Designer, Ashlee Woods

In this episode, we are continuing the conversation with Black Veterans Project Co-Founder, Richard Brookshire. This segment is about the health issues that disproportionately affect Black veterans during service and when they come home. Did you miss out on part 1? Click here to catch up. Send your feedback to csellars@centerforblackhealth.org CREDITS: Host, Natasha Phelps Producer,Chelsey Sellars Logo Designer, Ashlee Woods

Welcome back, Black Body Health listener! Host Natasha Phelps starts off November with part one of our Black Veteran series. In this episode, we introduce you to Richard Brookshire, one of the brilliant minds behind Black Veterans Project. The nonprofit works to advance racial equity for those in and out of uniform by using storytelling and national reporting. They have positioned themselves to be watchdogs of policy and change that could affect the health and well-being of Black veterans. Not only does he detail the hard work of Black Veterans Project on the podcast, Brookshire also shares his own experience with the military. He joined in his early twenties for many reasons but a major incentive was to pay off student loans. This is a theme that is common among Black male military recruits. Brookshire also shares how his return to civilian life had some dark moments – one of which became the catalyst for the creation of Black Veterans Project. To commemorate those who served this Veteran’s Day, go listen to this podcast now! Look out for part two where we will dive into the topic of Black veteran health. Latest news featuring Black Veterans Project>>here Send your feedback to csellars@centerforblackhealth.org CREDITS: Host, Natasha Phelps Producer,Chelsey Sellars Logo Designer, Ashlee Woods

At The Center for Black Health & Equity, we pledge to support a meaningful and community-driven response to this growing monkeypox (MPX) outbreak. MPX has spread to over 88 nations and we are now under a global health emergency according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Recently, on August 3, 2022, the Biden-Harris Administration officially declared MPX a public health emergency in the United States. This critical development aims to free up emergency funding, coordinate a nationwide response, and improve the distribution of vaccines and treatment. This past week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 23,499 confirmed cases in the United States and the number is expected to increase. New York and California have experienced the highest number of cases thus far, but other major U.S. states and Puerto Rico are at the helm of this outbreak. The Center for Black Health & Equity exists to fight for Black lives by helping communities understand root causes of health inequity and come up with solutions to address them. Black and Latino people make up more than a third of all MPX cases in this country, yet only less than 10 percent of Black people are vaccinated for it according to the CDC. We’ve seen this kind of disparity unravel during the beginnings of the COVID-19 pandemic and though the lesson has not been applied here, there is still an opportunity to address this health inequity. Listen to podcast host, Natasha Phelps, break down MPX and demystify the stigma connected to it.

Have a seat, let us drape you, and welcome to Black Body Health the Barbershop! Kidding, this is another great podcast episode where fabulous host Natasha Phelps interviews two guests about Black health. More specifically, Black men’s health. In this country, Black men have the lowest life expectancy compared to men and women of other racial and ethnic groups. Stigma, proper access to healthcare, and other socioeconomic details contribute to this disparity. So what are medical and public health professionals doing about this? They’re going to the barbershops. Michael Scott, Senior Program Manager at The Center for Black Health & Equity, joins the conversation alongside Jon Brown, founder of BlackMensHealth.com. These two met in a barbershop as well and implore the need for Black men’s health to be steered in a positive direction. They explain how leaving the barber’s chair will leave you with more than just a fresh fade. This episode expounds on how Black barbershops are valuable pieces to Black culture, history, and occasionally hubs for public health messaging. Listen now – no clippers necessary! Send your feedback to info@centerforblackhealth.org CREDITS: Host, Natasha Phelps Producer,Chelsey Sellars Logo Designer, Ashlee Woods

It’s hot hot hot almost anywhere you go. With record heat baking the United States and Europe, during UV Safety Month, we felt that a discussion about skin cancer in Black people was vital. Yes, our melanin is more than just beautiful – it provides protection. However, the amount of protection it gives us from the sweltering sun is not enough to hit the beach without sufficient sunscreen. While Black people are less likely to be diagnosed with skin cancer, we are more likely to die from it due to late detection. In this episode, host Natasha Phelps explains this health disparity further. She’ll tell you why it’s detected so late in Black people, where melanoma spots often appear on Black skin, and how to stay safe this summer. Have fun, be safe, and the next time you hear someone say “Black people can’t get sunburned,” tell them to listen to this episode of Black Body Health: The Podcast. Send your feedback to info@centerforblackhealth.org CREDITS: Host, Natasha Phelps Producer,Chelsey Sellars Logo Designer, Ashlee Woods

At the start of June, many multimillion-dollar companies changed the color scheme of their logos to rainbows. While sharing social media posts saying #LoveIsLove – how many of them believe it and make it part of their company culture? Enjoy the floats, music, and festivities all Pride Month long but understand that Pride is a movement for LGBTQ+ activists. There has been progress in some sectors, but we have also seen recent legislation that is creating a setback – yes Texas and Florida, we’re talking about you. In this episode, Host Natasha Phelps has an interesting and humorous conversation with L’Monique King – a literary enthusiast that is an ‘out and proud, lesbian Black woman.” King touches on the history of pride, intersectionality, and how she works to defend and teach the next generation about LGBT+ rights. Once you’re done listening, Natasha and L’Monique encourage you to keep learning about Pride on your own. Start with these incredible leaders: Marsha P Johnson, Bayard Rustin, Pauli Murray, Angela Davis, and Angela Davis, Audre Lorde Send your feedback to info@centerforblackhealth.org CREDITS: Host, Natasha Phelps Producer,Chelsey Sellars Logo Designer, Ashlee Woods

In the late 90s, pharmaceutical companies created opioids so doctors can treat patients with chronic or severe pain. Misuse and overprescribing of these drugs have turned a solution into a health crisis – often highlighted in predominantly white communities. Yet in recent years, there has been a shift. The number of Black people who have overdosed on opioids has increased by about 40 percent as other groups see a decrease in cases. In this episode of Black Body Health: The Podcast, Natasha explains why drug addiction in the Black community deserves our attention and action. The idea that opioids are ‘only used by white people’ is not only false, but also part of the stigma that will keep us from addressing this problem head-on. Send your feedback to info@centerforblackhealth.org REFERENCES: What is the U.S. Opioid Epidemic?Opioid painkiller prescribing varies widely among states4 U.S. companies will pay $26 billion to settle claims they fueled the opioid crisisSuicides by drug overdose increased among young people, elderly people, and Black women, despite overall downward trendWhy Prescription Opioids Aren’t Only a Problem for White AmericansOpinion: With overdoses spiking, we need a different approach CREDITS: Host, Natasha Phelps Producer, Chelsey Sellars Logo Designer, Ashlee Woods

This week, Black Body Health The Podcast starts off a little heavy. A draft from the U.S. Supreme Court potentially striking down on abortion rights was leaked to the press. People across the country are marching to protest on what could be a major infringement of our right to privacy. Host Natasha Phelps elaborates on this concern before starting the main discussion: the need to rest and sleep. When was the last time you had some adequate, consistent sleep? Can you think of the last time you took a few minutes or an hour to rest your mind? For many of us, sleep and rest sound like ‘luxuries.” May is Mental Health Awareness Month; sleep and rest have an affect on your mental state. As Black people, the burden of systemic racism and ancestral trauma weighs down on us daily – affecting our sleep, rest, and mind. Social media and socioeconomic issues can also contribute to a lack of sleep or rest. Listen now to see how you can improve your sleep and rest. Send your feedback to info@centerforblackhealth.org REFERENCES: Reports Show That Black People Experience More Sleep Deprivation Than Other GroupsThe Nap MinistryGive Black Employees Time to Rest and RecoverIntergenerational Effects of Discrimination on Black American Children’s Sleep Health CREDITS: Host, Natasha Phelps Producer,Chelsey Sellars Logo Designer, Ashlee Woods

We are about a week away from No Menthol Sunday, a national faith-based observance day put on by The Center for Black Health & Equity. It is an opportunity to engage faith communities in tough conversations about how menthol and tobacco addiction have robbed us of community health for generations. One could say it’s poetic that as we prepare to embrace No Menthol Sunday on May 15, the FDA announces the rule-making process to ban menthol in tobacco products. Though we celebrate the historic win, community leaders like Jamal Gooding in Brockton, MA understand that the fieldwork is still necessary to get menthol out of our neighborhoods. In this episode, host Natasha Phelps gives an update on this FDA announcement and how No Menthol Sunday is a helpful tool to get others involved in the fight. Jamal explains how his younger advocates at PACC are the key to creating “sustainable change” and meaningful activism. Lawmakers are needed to take down menthol, but in this discussion, you will learn how change on a community level is just as important. Send your feedback to info@centerforblackhealth.org REFERENCES: Enough is Enough Music VideoPeople Affecting Community Change (PACC) CREDITS: Host, Natasha Phelps Producer, Chelsey Sellars Logo Designer, Ashlee Woods

It started with a little abdominal pain, but it progressed as the day went on. Within hours, she had to endure an emergency surgery. That’s just a part of Sterling Fulton’s story. You’ve heard her on Black Body Health: The Podcast before, speaking as the Director of Evaluation for The Center for Black Health & Equity. But this week, Sterling joins host Natasha Phelps to talk about her journey with uterine fibroids. Alongside her is Dr.Stacey Wells, a hospitalist working in Houston, Texas. She joins the conversation not only as a physician but also as Sterling’s concerned caregiver and younger sister. Play this scary but enlightening story as a way to participate in Fibroids Awareness Week. We hope this encourages you to take care of your uterine health or the health of someone you love. Let’s uplift those who are silently dealing with uterine fibroids and inspire them to stand up for themselves as they seek medical care. Send your feedback to info@centerforblackhealth.org REFERENCES: The White Dress ProjectNo More Secrets CREDITS: Host, Natasha Phelps Producer, Chelsey Sellars Logo Designer, Ashlee Woods

Happy April! Springtime is among us – the birds are chirping louder, your neighbors are cutting the grass, and you are probably listening to this podcast while driving down a snowless road. This is a great moment to start reconnecting to nature, and our guests on this week’s episode of Black Body Health: The Podcast would agree. Meet Jordan Bethea, production manager for Backyard Basecamp located in the Baltimore area. He’s a first generation farmer working to help Black people in their nature reconnection journey near the city. We also have Andrea Ramos on the podcast, an amateur climber who made a major move to Salt Lake City in order to actively experience nature with her new found BIPOC climbing community. They both have a connection to the earth but understand that for others, interacting with the outdoors may be more difficult to start. Host Natasha Phelps hikes through the topics of stigma, lack of access and the issues of safety Black people often experience when exploring nature. As you listen to the conversation, understand that hiking, climbing or enjoying a walk by a river are not activities that “Black people don’t do.” We all deserve to have clean air, trees and feel safe when we’re outside — whether we’re in the mountains or on some acreage of land in the inner city. Send your feedback to info@centerforblackhealth.org TIMESTAMPS: 5:14 – Center News 7:42 – I Love Nature 18:25 – Meet Our Guests REFERENCES: Backyard BasecampThe Gear Fund CollectiveFarming While BlackEffect of Greening Vacant Land on Mental Health of Community-Dwelling Adults CREDITS: Host, Natasha Phelps Producer, Chelsey Sellars Logo Designer, Ashlee Woods

Can a war in Europe tamper with the legitimacy of the content you’re scrolling through on social media? Of course! We often go on social media for a quick laugh or some inspiration, but we also use it to learn and stay up to date with what is going on in the world. If something piques your interest, you are bound to share it with others but how often do you check if it’s factual before you send it? This week, Natasha Phelps pulls apart the topic of disinformation, misinformation and how it infects the internet on Black Body Health. In this episode, learn how and why some people have chosen African Americans as their audience to misinform about COVID-19, the electoral process and even the Megan Thee Stallion trial. Don’t delay and start the podcast now – there are also tips on how to increase your media savviness, produced by The Center for Black Health & Equity’s TheTruthCheck.org campaign. Send your feedback to info@centerforblackhealth.org TIMESTAMPS: 2:53 – Center News 5:36 – We are in an Infodemic 14:36 – Where does Mis/Dis info come from? 18:28 – What is the Mis/Dis info about? 44:10 – How will the government or social platforms control this? 49:45 – Protect yourself from misinformation REFERENCES: Chakras, crystals and conspiracy theories: how the wellness industry turned its back on Covid scienceHow society should deal with misinformation on SpotifyReport Of The Select Committee On Intelligence U.S. Senate On Russian Active Measures Campaigns And Interference In The 2016 U.S. ElectionThe Hip-Hop Blogosphere Has a Serious False News ProblemHoward U. researchers: Black voters getting flooded with election disinformationRussian election meddling is back -- via Ghana and Nigeria -- and in your feeds CREDITS: Host, Natasha Phelps Producer, Chelsey Sellars Logo Designer, Ashlee Woods

So what IS at the end of your fork – have you thought about that today? It’s National Nutrition Month and there’s no time like the present to make a healthy lifestyle change. Yes, proper eating choices and physical activity matter — and the more you put off addressing that, the harsher the consequences may be. We invite Holly Branch, Food and Nutrition Program Manager for The Center for Black Health & Equity, to talk on Black Body Health this week. Branch manages this program funded by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). While she is passionate about “eating colorfully” and reading the nutrition labels on packaged foods, Holly says it will take all of us to push for policy changes that will inherently improve Black health. Most recently, the FDA has suggested that sodium levels must be lowered in our food supply to address heart disease and declining heart health in this country. Start the podcast now to hear Holly Branch’s response to this major government guidance. Send your feedback to info@centerforblackhealth.org TIMESTAMPS: 2:10 – Center News 5:00 – Meet Holly Branch 12:30 – Sodium 17:42 – “These foods are weapons of mass destruction” 35:20 – Choices 52:23 – Tips REFERENCES: "It's rough on us" | Those in North Memphis food desert deal with full week of Family Dollar closure, uncertaintyNjeda Board Approves Nj Food Desert Communities Designations ListMyPlate.govFDA.govEatRight.org CREDITS: Host, Natasha Phelps Producer, Chelsey Sellars Logo Designer, Ashlee Woods

A trip to the doctor’s office is not always the most comforting experience. We have to come in and share details about ourselves, hoping and expecting this person in a white coat to help us. But imagine how much better would it be if you knew the doctor was someone just like you? We need more Black doctors, and – slowly – that may be changing. An article from NPR says the number of first-year med students went up by 21% in the last year. Changes to admission procedures and waived application fees are part of the reasons why more Black students are getting admitted to medical school. In this podcast episode, host Natasha Phelps applauds the increasing number of physicians, touches on some of the barriers students face when trying to become one, and why Black physicians are so needed. Oftentimes, Black patients are met with medical racism when seeking care. Their concerns are dismissed, their pain isn’t taken seriously and negative comments are annotated in their medical charts. Black doctors, especially those serving patients in similar communities they have lived in, help to relieve these medical care concerns for Black patients. Black doctors, we thank you! Send your feedback to info@centerforblackhealth.org REFERENCES: A Brief But Spectacular take on protecting 'Black genius' Ray Charles - Reaching For The Dream - PSA for UNCF The number of first-year Black medical students jumps 21% in the past year Physicians Use More Negative Words in Black Patient Records. Here's Why That's Harmful Black Students Are Enrolling At Record Pace To Medical Schools Data about race and physicians 'Why are they not getting better?': How one Black doctor is working to fight racial disparity in healthcare CREDITS: Host: Natasha Phelps Producer: Chelsey Sellars Logo Designer: Ashlee Woods

We are Blackity Black Black all year long, but it is expressed even more so during Black History Month. Your social media feeds are probably flooding with quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., which is great, but February gives us a chance to honor and discuss all aspects of Black history. Right now you can download our new resource, ‘Health Justice in Tobacco Control’. This training guide takes you on a journey to understand how the commercial tobacco industry has had a grip on Black health and wellness. Briefly put, tobacco was a slave crop that was later laced with menthol flavoring and heavily marketed to African Americans. Legislation from then and until now has helped to reverse some of the damage this industry has done, yet there is still work to do – as you will read in the guide. Sterling Fulton is the Director of Evaluations for The Center for Black Health & Equity. She’s a co-writer for ‘Health Justice in Tobacco Control’ alongside Dr.Robert Robinson. He is the former Associate Director for Health Equity, Office on Smoking and Health for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Listen to Sterling give a preview of the training guide in this episode. She and Natasha Phelps, who has also completed extensive work in the world of tobacco control, explain how a community approach can help make tobacco policy changes. Read the guide, here. Send your feedback to info@centerforblackhealth.org CREDITS: Host: Natasha Phelps Producer: Chelsey Sellars Logo Designer: Ashlee Woods

We’re about a month into 2022, so the ‘New Year, New Me’ energy is still in the air. The team and voices behind Black Body Health: The Podcast are feeling it too. With that in mind, change is coming for our fun podcast and we hope you’re ready for it! Aidil Ortiz and Ritney Castine hop on the podcast as co-hosts one more time to reminisce and pass the baton to our new host, Natasha Phelps. Natasha is the Director for Equity-Centered Policy for The Center for Black Health & Equity. Her department will guide The Center into new arenas that correlate with Black health. In this episode, the hosts talk about their journey on the podcast – favorite moments and lessons learned along the way. They also introduce you all to Natasha, who is eager to take on this new role on the mic. The Center and Black Body Health production team are thankful for Aidil and Ritney for being pioneers on this project. We hope to have you back soon; see you later! What would you like to learn about next? Email us at info@centerforblackhealth.org with your comments.

On World AIDS Day, let’s take it up a notch and take a walk at the ball! For decades we have used this day to spread awareness and advocate for the end of the HIV epidemic, but we cannot talk about the good fight without mentioning the ballroom scene. Mainstream shows and documentaries like Pose, How Do I Look?, Paris is Burning, and Legendary have given most of us a peek into the world of ballroom. The culture started in New York City by Black people, primarily those in the LGBT+ community. Today, many houses (or groups) can be found all around the world hosting their own spectacular dance events and competitions. In the ballroom, people might be serving face or striking a pose but there’s much more to it -- they can enter knowing it’s safe under all the glitter and glamour that was made by them, and for them. It’s also a place where public health advocates have allocated resources and information about HIV/AIDS. Donte Prayer, the new HIV Program Manager for The Center for Black Health & Equity, brings his colleague Kenya Hutton, Deputy Director for the Center for Black Equity, to the podcast to share their insights on ballroom culture. Both of them say while the space has helped people navigate through the epidemic, ballroom is still highly criticized. Along with stigma, there are issues concerning equity in treatment and health laws that are harmful to Black people living with HIV. Special host Natasha Phelps, the new Director of Equity-Centered Policies at The Center, leads the conversation from a health justice perspective. What do you think about ballroom? Email us at info@centerforblackhealth.org with your comments.