I am joined by Dr. Uchenna Ndulue. Dr. Ndulue is a public health professional with over 30 years of experience in designing, implementing, and evaluating programs that support young people. He is the Bureau Director for the Child, Adolescent, and Family Health Bureau at the Boston Public Health Commission , the public health agency for the city of Boston, and provides oversight over programs that support maternal and child health, adolescent health, and violence prevention. Before this role, he ...
Jun 18, 2025•40 min•Season 4Ep. 4
I’m joined today by Dr. Eugene Declercq, a Professor of Community Health Sciences here at BU SPH. He is the creator of the website www.birthbythenumbers.org , and a current member of the Massachusetts Maternal Mortality Review Committee. He is also one of the founders of the Pregnancy to Early Life Longitudinal data system that has linked vital statistics, hospital, and administrative data on more than 1,500,000 births in Massachusetts since 1998. He is the recipient of the Martha May Eliot Awar...
May 16, 2025•46 min•Season 4Ep. 3
Midwifery is a practice that dates back centuries. For millennia, women relied on midwives to attend them before, during, and after childbirth. With the evolution of medicine over the years, the use of midwives has waned in developed nations, whereas many low and middle-income countries still rely on them. However, over the last few decades, there has been an increase in the use of midwives in countries like the US. In today’s episode, we will explore the world of midwifery and its impact on wom...
Apr 09, 2025•45 min•Season 4Ep. 2
The month of March is also known as Women’s History Month. As we take this month to reflect on the advances women have made, what they have achieved, and all of the amazing things women can do, it’s fitting then that today’s episode will also focus on the power of a woman’s body. Specifically, Breastfeeding and all the wonderful ways it can impact an infant’s health. I’m joined today by Emily-Swisher Rose, the Co-director and Co-founder of the Breastfeeding Medicine Equity Center at Boston Medic...
Mar 11, 2025•49 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Welcome to Season 4 of C2: Critical Conversations that Lie at the Heart of Health Justice! Zuri O'Balles introduces this season as the new host and shares what is to be expected from this upcoming season. We hope that these episodes will encourage listeners to engage in thoughtful discussions around Maternal and Child Health with their communities. Welcome back and thanks for tuning in! Please enjoy this season!
Mar 11, 2025•52 sec
Menstrual equity is not a new concept to public health. But, besides cost and availability, have you ever considered safety as another dimension to period health? Alexandra Scranton from Women’s Voices of the Earth joins us to talk about the role of chemical exposures in menstrual products, their regulation/marketing, and the stigma that underlies the whole system. Alexandra Scranton (she/her) is the Director of Science and Research at Women’s Voices for the Earth. Alex authors WVE’s scientific ...
Feb 11, 2025•40 min•Season 3Ep. 9
Money is a taboo subject in general, but it’s even more off-limits for women. How does the gendering of personal finance affect women’s financial and physical health? And, what roles do stigma and shame play in achieving financial wellness? Ariana Contreras from Women’s Money Matters joins us to answer these questions, as well as talk about her organization’s approach to a women centered and empowered solution. Ariana Contreras is the Senior Community Engagement Manager at Women’s Money Matters....
Dec 17, 2024•36 min•Season 3Ep. 8
What do you get when you mix MCH students & early professionals, passion for advocacy and awareness, and an online platform to bring it all together? The answer looks something like the Maternal and Child Health National Network. MCHNN Leadership Board members Taylor, Tamya, and Alizah talk with us to explain what the MCHNN is, where it's going, and what it hopes to do for those interested in and affected by MCH topics. Taylor Parduhn is a second year graduate student at BostonUniversity Sch...
Nov 12, 2024•30 min•Season 3Ep. 7
So much of our lives revolve around work. And in the U.S., so do our benefits. Drs. Pamela Joshi and Alison Earle join us to talk about how workplace policies affect women and their families. We explore work as a social determinant of health, the impact of caregiving on women, and international differences in paid leave policies. Dr. Pamela Joshi is a senior scientist and the associate director of the Institute for Child, Youth and Family Policy at the Heller School for Social Policy and Managem...
Sep 10, 2024•38 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Maternal and Child Health is powered by academic and community perspectives. But what about the behind-the-desk outlook? On this special episode, we hear from four Boston University School of Public Health students and current MCH fellows through the Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health as they share their stories, takeaways, and hopes for MCH’s future. Fiona Schicho is entering her final year of the dual degree MSW/MPH program, concentrating in macro social work, health policy and ...
Aug 20, 2024•35 min•Season 3Ep. 5
We often hear that kids today “are always on their phones”—but aren’t adults also spending increased amounts of time online? Dr. Monica Wang joins us to talk about how technology has changed lives across all generations and how it can be used to change our health (for better and for worse). We specifically explore digital redlining and health misinformation as two facets of technology that have an impact on youth health. Dr. Monica Wang is Associate Professor at the Boston University School of P...
Jul 09, 2024•44 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Sex education, colloquially referred to as “sex ed,” carries a variety of meanings depending on when and where you grew up in the United States. Why is there so much variance in what is taught and how does this affect young folks, especially those belonging to the LGBTQIA community? Dr. Sophie Godley joins us to answer these questions and more as we try to make sense of the good, the bad, and the politics of sex ed. Dr. Sophie Godley is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Communi...
Jun 13, 2024•41 min•Season 3Ep. 3
In the second episode of this 2-part series, we continue our conversation with Dr. Lisa Erlanger. Join us as we explore the foundations of weight-inclusive primary care and “peel back the onion” that is diet culture. We also discuss how research and everyday discourse about weight can be misleading and what we can do to fix these misconceptions. Dr. Lisa Erlanger is a board-certified family physician and Clinical Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Washington. She is a leader in th...
May 14, 2024•40 min•Season 3Ep. 2
You walk into a doctor’s office for an appointment, and what is the first thing you are asked to do? Step on a scale. For some, this experience or number fails to generate a heightened response. However, most of us have complicated and deeply personal relationships with our body and weight. Have you ever stopped to question why all doctor’s visits start this way? Or, have you ever wondered why you have been made to feel so preoccupied with your body and size in the first place? Dr. Lisa Erlanger...
Apr 09, 2024•26 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Welcome to Season 3 of C2: Critical Conversations that Lie at the Heart of Health Justice! Becca Rohac introduces the season as the new host and shares what listeners can expect from Season 3. We hope these episodes serve you in learning and carrying conversations around health justice issues with your peers, families, and communities. Hello again to those returning and welcome to those joining! We hope you enjoy listening!
Apr 03, 2024•56 sec
There exists an alluring public perception of substance misuse among young adults in high school and college. Drugs and alcohol are strategically marketed to adolescents, and this has profound public health consequences. Various examples from television, film, and social media highlight a glamorous and glorified portrayal of substance abuse. We welcome Dr. Noel Vest, PhD to the podcast to discuss the implications of substance use disorders on the development and well-being of adolescents. Dr. Ve...
Jan 09, 2024•45 min•Season 2Ep. 9
Over the last two decades, there have been profound advancements in what we know about the implications of ancestral trauma on the health and wellbeing of future generations. The question we investigate today: how is intergenerational trauma relevant to public health? We welcome Dr. Alicia Mendez to help answer this question. Dr. Mendez is a research assistant professor at Boston University’s school of social work. She studies child welfare and intergenerational trauma with a focus on mother-off...
Dec 12, 2023•45 min•Season 2Ep. 8
*Various sensitive topics that may be triggering for some listeners will be discussed in this production, so listener discretion is advised.* The topic of this month’s episode is sexual violence. Women in the United States suffer from sexual violence at alarming rates. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over half of women have experienced sexual violence involving physical contact during their lifetimes. We welcome Dr. Emily Rothman and Gina Scaramella MSW to the p...
Nov 14, 2023•43 min•Season 2Ep. 7
This episode is the second part of our Season 2 Doula Series. Doula care has been proven to improve the health outcomes of birthing individuals, yet access to this service remains limited. We welcome Cara Safon, a fourth-year PhD candidate at BUSPH, to discuss the mechanisms behind the benefits of doula care and ways to improve accessibility to this type of care. Tune in as we continue our Doula Care Series which was inspired by the recent partnership between doula agency Birthing Gently and Mas...
Oct 10, 2023•22 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Doula care has been proven to improve the health outcomes of birthing individuals, yet access to these services remains limited. Birthing Gently recently partnered with Massachusetts General Brigham as part of its United Against Racism Project . The goal of the program is to match Birth Doulas with low-income and at-risk patients. We welcome Katia Powell-Laurent, PhD to our podcast to discuss the forged partnership, the role of birth doulas on a collaborative care team, and general strategies fo...
Sep 12, 2023•29 min•Season 2Ep. 5
The phenomenon of vaccine hesitancy has escalated significantly over the last decade. Skepticism surrounding immunization, however, is not a new reality in the United States. In Episode 4 of our second season, we welcome Professor Matthew Motta, PhD to the podcast as we trace vaccine hesitancy back to our nation's founding. We discuss the various triggers that have fueled anti-vaccination sentiments with a focus on parental and maternal immunization. Tune in to hear more about politics and motiv...
Jul 11, 2023•38 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Gun violence poses profound threats to the health of children, women, mothers, and communities across the United States. In 2020 firearms became the leading cause of death among children ages 19 and below. Additionally, women in the United States who are pregnant or have recently given birth are more likely to die from murder than from obstetric causes. 68% of these homicides involved firearms. Michael Ulrich, professor at Boston University School of Law and School of Public Health, shares his a...
Jun 14, 2023•41 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Individuals experiencing homelessness face worsened health outcomes in addition to social ostracization, lack of safety, and limited access to resources. Dr. Aura Obando, pediatrician and Family Team Medical Director at Boston Healthcare for the Homeless, joins us to speak about her expertise and experience in caring for homeless families and youth. Tune in to our conversation as we explore a variety of topics related to homelessness prevention, substance use disorders, reproductive health care,...
Apr 11, 2023•41 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Individuals experiencing homelessness face worsened health outcomes in addition to social ostracization, lack of safety, and limited access to resources. Lianne O'Reilly joins us today to talk about her role as a Clinical Advocate for Women's Lunch Place, a women's day shelter in the heart of Boston. Tune in to our conversation as we discuss the importance of advocacy and activism in support of homeless women, mothers, and children. Learn more about Women's Lunch Place at: womenslunchplace.org F...
Mar 14, 2023•26 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Welcome to season 2 of C2: Critical Conversations that Lie at the Heart of Health Justice! Host Emily Rose O'Neil introduces the second season on our podcast's one-year anniversary, which also falls on International Women's Day. We hope these episodes serve you in learning and carrying conversations around health justice issues with your peers, families, and communities. Thank you for joining our community. We hope you enjoy listening!
Mar 08, 2023•1 min
Today’s conversation is with Jessie Colbert, the Executive Director of MASS PPD Fund. I talk with Jessie about the intersection of mental and maternal health and we dig deep into topics like Postpartum Depression and Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs). Find out more about the organization mentioned during this podcast here: Mass PPD Fund: https://massppdfund.org/ National MMH Hotline: 1-833-943-5746 (1-833-9-HELP4MOMS) Postpartum Support International (PSI): https://www.postpartum.net/...
Feb 14, 2023•39 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Merline Sylvain-Williams is a birth doula and owner and founder of Nurturing Babyhood N’ Beyond. She joins us to talk about the importance of doula care and its impact for birthing people and beyond. Find out more about the organization mentioned during this podcast here: Nurturing Babyhood N’ Beyond: https://nurturingbabyhoodnbeyond.com/ The production of this podcast was supported by Grant 6-T76MC00017-27-01 from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of...
Dec 20, 2022•36 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Dr. Amelia Wesselink is a Research Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at the Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH). She joins us to talk about the connection between climate change and reproductive health. Find out more about the organization mentioned during this podcast here: BUSPH Center for Climate and Health: https://sites.bu.edu/climateandhealth/ PPE special issue: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/13653016/2022/36/1 PRESTO study website: https://sites.bu.edu/presto/ The pro...
Nov 08, 2022•41 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Nicole Huberfeld the Edward R. Utley Professor of Health Law, Ethics & Human Rights at BU School of Public Health and Professor of Law at BU School of Law joins us to talk about the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization to overrule Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992). Find out more about the organization mentioned during this podcast here: Collective Power for Reproductive Justice: https://collectivepowerrj.org/ Plan C: https://www.pla...
Aug 23, 2022•38 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Food security continues to be a challenge for many households as the pandemic continues and inflation rates rise. Vivien Morris, Chairperson and Founder of Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition and Founder and Board Member of Boston Organization of Nutritionists and Dietitians of Color (BOND), joins us to talk about her work in the community focused lens on tackling food insecurity. Find out more about the organization mentioned during this podcast here: Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition: https:...
Jun 14, 2022•37 min•Season 1Ep. 4
