100th Episode Special

Stanton Shanedling: Hello, everybody! Welcome to Health Chatter! It's a special show. Actually, all our shows are special, but this one is a celebratory one because we are celebrating our 100th show today. We’re going to be talking with all of us who have been involved with Health Chatter for the last two and a half years. It’s been a wonderful ride, and thank you to everybody. I can’t underscore enough that without our crew behind the scenes, and those who are part of our podcast from time to time, we would not be where we are now. They are truly second to none—wonderful, wonderful people. So, thank you to Maddie Levine, Wolf, Erin Collins, Deandra Howard, Matthew Campbell, Sheridan Nygaard, and Barry Baines.

Stanton Shanedling: Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for Health Chatter up to this point. And, of course, there’s Clarence. I keep thinking back, Clarence, when you and I met over breakfast and were just talking about the possibility of even doing a podcast. Frankly, neither one of us knew what the hell we were doing, but we thought it would be exciting and a new way to effectively communicate with the public around a variety of health issues.

Stanton Shanedling: I remember you said to me, “Let’s just do it!” And of course, I’m thinking, “What do you mean just do it? There’s a lot of logistics to it.” But your excitement really underscored us going ahead with it. So, Clarence, your initial thoughts?

Clarence: Well, when we first started discussing this, I thought about the possibilities and the potential of having an honest conversation about a lot of these different issues. Sometimes we seem to have conflicting values until we talk about them. Especially around health, there are perceptions, myths, and a lot of things we don’t know. I try to be a community member on the show and ask the questions I’ve heard others ask. It was a great opportunity to sit down with you and then to see some of the wonderful partners, guests, and the crew.

Clarence: The crew was phenomenal. We didn’t know what we were doing, but we came together and were willing to try. It’s been amazing.

Stanton Shanedling: You’ve always carried the torch for how we can have open, honest discussions about these health topics in a way that people feel comfortable asking questions and learning about them. I’ve certainly learned a lot. I also have to thank the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota. Without them, we wouldn’t have been able to identify our amazing team.

Stanton Shanedling: All we did was put out a notice: “Hey, is anyone at the School of Public Health interested in developing and doing a podcast?” And we got a lot of interest. It was hard to go through all the different resumes, but it was clear that the people we selected really rose to the top. You could just tell their minds were always working, that they had opinions that would add to the show, and they had the energy and talent to do what needed to be done. It was truly a treat to get them all.

Stanton Shanedling: Now, let’s go around the horn a bit. One thing I’d like us to reflect on is where we’ve been and where we hope to go next. Maddie, your thoughts?

Maddie Levine-Wolf: Matthew’s going to have to edit this out, but I just saw Sheridan chat that she has to hop off a little earlier than expected, so she wants to go first. So, I’m going to pass it off to Sheridan.

Stanton Shanedling: Okay, that’s fine. Sheridan?

Sheridan Nygard: Yeah, thanks, everybody! So, a few things I wanted to reflect on: I came into the team a little later than everybody else—I guess Barry’s latest addition, so I’m at least middle of the pack now. But I just felt so welcomed and immediately respected for my expertise in marketing and communications. I feel like we all collaborate really well together, bringing our unique expertise and perspectives. One thing I’ve really valued about our hosts, Stan and Clarence, is they’ve always made me feel like an expert in my own right and have valued my opinions.

Sheridan Nygard: Being a younger person, it can be a little intimidating at times. It’s hard to get started, and I’ve really valued the networking, the advice, and even our chats before and after each episode. We have a great group. I love our holiday parties and our shared values, even when we have differing opinions. I really appreciate that this is a place where it’s okay to make mistakes and learn from each other. I don’t think you get that in too many other places. Podcasting has always been an interest of mine, and now that I know the ins and outs, I have a deeper respect for people who do podcasts. I value how much time, effort, and attention goes into each episode, and it’s been amazing to see how the whole podcast operates. As for where we’re going, public health is endless. I can’t see us running out of ideas. We talk a lot about revisiting topics, especially around election cycles, and I’m excited to see what comes up in the next year or two. I think we could even expand to look at global issues in public health.

Stanton Shanedling: Thank you, Sheridan. You’ve brought life experiences and a personal passion to our shows that I greatly appreciate. There have been personal connections, like Erin’s work with diabetes and discussions on death and dying, where we’ve all shared something meaningful. Everyone has passions they’re willing to share, and that’s something I truly value.

Clarence: You know, sometimes I’m just flabbergasted by the level of intellect and maturity that’s come from our crew. I’ve learned so much from the younger generation, as they’ve been willing to be vulnerable and open. As you said, Stan, there have been times when I’ve been in awe of their responses, but I’ve also been surprised by some of the things I’ve said. It’s been a great ride.

Stanton Shanedling: Yeah, it’s been an amazing journey. Maddie?

Maddie Levine-Wolf: Yeah, there’s a lot to reflect on. I think it’s been just over two years since we started. I joined during my second year of grad school, and honestly, I didn’t think I would stay after graduation. I thought it would just be a nice experience while I was in school. But now, I can’t seem to let go. Not that I’ve been trying to, but it’s been such a meaningful part of my life, even after graduation and starting my full-time job.

Maddie Levine-Wolf: On the one hand, it’s exciting to have a finger on the pulse of public health with our incredible guests. But also, I really love the team. This is a great group of people, and it’s nice to come together, bringing our diverse backgrounds and experiences. It’s been a really rewarding experience to apply all those different lenses and perspectives to the topics we cover.

Stanton: Thank you. You've been a a a truly special member for our listening audience, you know, Maddie, started out here where we record in in Minneapolis, Minnesota, but now lives in Chicago and is still intimately involved with our with our shows and it's 1 thing I've I've I've come to realize is that as we've developed the shows over these years. Everybody falls into a particular niche of responsibility, and and they're really good at it. And so, you know. Thank you all for for that. So, Erin, are you there.

Erin Collins (NACC): I am here, and I have to be honest, I don't have anything really new to add to the conversation on where we've been. I think everybody has wrapped up what we've done really well. For me, I'm more forward-thinking about where I think health chatter is going. I think we still have a lot of tough topics we haven't discussed yet, and one where we've struggled is cannabis and THC legalization and policy-making. I'm really excited to try and get something going on that topic.

I'm also looking forward to doing another episode on harm reduction and its role in the community, particularly in Minneapolis, where we’re struggling with opioid addiction. The episode we did on politics was so timely, and I think we could probably squeeze another one in November. That would be something people would be really interested in, especially as we get closer to the elections and people want to know the candidates' opinions on public health issues. That could be really exciting as well.

Although we've done hundreds of episodes, there's still so much more we can touch on, and that is really exciting.

Stanton Shanedling: Thank you again, Erin. You've been with us since day one, and you're such a great team member. Let’s go to Matthew. Matthew is our production person. Without him, the shows wouldn’t get out to the listening audience. He does all the editing, adds the music, and makes sure everything is clear. Matthew is second to none. So, Matthew, take it away.

Matthew (Health Chatter): Yeah, of course. When I think about this, I think about how new our early episodes were, how new I was to podcasting, and what that meant. We were still trying to figure out the technology side of things, like where to post, what to post, and how to post everything, but it seems like we’ve got our rhythm down a little bit now. We’ve figured it out.

One of the things I’ve really enjoyed over the past couple of years with Health Chatter is the amount of topics we get to touch on. In public health, sometimes, at least for me in grad school, I was kind of siloed into specific areas where I worked and got to know those really well, but I lost sight of the bigger picture of how all these topics come together and how everyone’s working toward the greater good. I think Health Chatter brings these topics together in a way that allows us to put the whole puzzle together—how does each individual topic fit into the larger public health arena and overarching wellbeing.

When I think about moving forward, I want to continue doing that. I like what Sheridan was saying about looking at national and global perspectives, instead of just focusing on Minneapolis or the state because many of these topics transcend that.

I’m excited for all the different topics we could touch on because there are so many things we’ve yet to cover. I’m just excited to continue to grow. I didn’t know if I’d stick around after graduating, but Health Chatter has been such a great place. I love the people, I love working with you all, and I love posting the episodes. Here we are, two years later, and I look forward to many more years to come.

Stanton Shanedling: Thank you, Matthew. You know, one thing that came to mind when you were speaking is how interconnected all these subjects are in health. All of them have some impact on all of us. It might not be touching you directly, but knowing about the subjects, even indirectly, is important.

Diondra Howard: Hi, yes, so I’ll go next. I guess one thing I really like about this podcast is, obviously, I enjoy working with everyone. It’s really fun when we all get together to talk and catch up. But the main thing I love about this podcast is that we are in such a unique time right now, with social media and debate shows becoming so popular. I think it’s refreshing to have a podcast where these aren’t debates. We’re talking with professionals who are working in the topics we’re discussing, people starting grassroots programs. We’re really getting a feel for what they’re doing on a daily basis. It’s just information-based, not back-and-forth debates or heavy bias.

I think it’s totally fine that people have biases and opinions, and everyone should be heard, but it’s nice to listen to something that’s really just about the information and the personal and professional lives of the people we’re talking to. That’s one thing I’ve really enjoyed about working on this podcast.

Stanton Shanedling: Yeah, you bring up a really important point. It’s okay to disagree, and you can still be civil to one another and learn from each other. I think that’s definitely been true with Health Chatter.

Alright, Barry. Barry was brought on as our medical advisor. Clarence and I realized that we aren’t physicians; we come at it from a public health lens, and many of the topics have clinical aspects to them. We thought, wouldn’t it be great to have Barry on? How many shows did you do with us, Barry? Was it three?

Barry Baines: You made me audition three times.

Stanton Shanedling: Yeah, okay. So, there were three shows that Barry did with us, and we thought, Barry would be really good. I remember having breakfast with Barry and Clarence, and it was kind of like, "Slam dunk, let’s do it." Barry agreed, and it’s been going strong since. Barry, thanks for your insight and perspectives.

Barry Baines: Sure, sure. As the newbie, although it’s already September and we started in February, time moves quickly. I want to thank everyone for inviting me into the Health Chatter tent. It’s been a lot of fun, and certainly very educational. I jotted down a few points about where I think we’ve been, from my perspective. One of the strengths of Health Chatter is that we’re intergenerational. There are the "old folks" (Clarence, Stan, and me), and then there are the younger folks. I think this really helps us maintain a balance and perspective in what we do.

What I’ve liked in particular is that, as a podcast, we’re both seeking and sharing knowledge, not just with our audience but with each other. How many times have we all learned something while recording? The topics and guests we’ve had have been amazing, and it’s been stimulating to hear from them.

Another thing I’ve noticed is that when people ask questions, if you don’t know what you don’t know, you don’t know what to ask. The research the other folks here have provided has been unbelievable. It allows us to know more and, most importantly, it helps us ask the right questions. I think this is what makes many of our shows interesting—we have that fundamental research, so we know what kind of questions to ask. It gives us firmer footing.

These topics go beyond public health. When we first met, we discussed how Barry could come on when the topics were more clinically oriented. Fortunately or unfortunately, I’m able to wrap my head around most topics and make them relevant to the show. The topics we cover extend beyond public health into all spheres—whether community, clinical practice, politics, or policy. They’re all connected.

Thank you for inviting me in, and I look forward to continuing with this moving forward. There’s so much more we can cover.

Stanton Shanedling: Yeah, we’ll keep it going.

Barry Baines: The topics we’ve already covered and those still on our list will keep us busy for a long time to come. Many people have already mentioned this, but the topics are timely and dynamic, especially public health topics where policy changes. These changes can alter the direction of many of the things we’ve talked about. For example, we touched on homelessness, and even locally in Minneapolis and St. Paul, things have changed dramatically depending on local elections and how the city council addresses homelessness.

Moving forward, I think we should look at topics that have had the most policy impact and revisit them. It’s not like we’re rehashing the same thing, because the research we get often covers so much more than we’re able to discuss in a single show. There’s still fertile ground to revisit these topics. I’d like us to rigorously pick out some topics where there’s been the most change to discuss again. I don’t think we’ll run out of things to cover.

I also wonder what topics our audience would like to see us cover. It’s not just the people in this room, but our broader listening audience. What do they want us to bring to the table?

Stanton Shanedling: I'd be remiss in not recognizing Human Partnership. To that point, I want to circle back to Clarence and have him share a little bit about Human Partnership as our sponsor and how they are involved.

Clarence: Alright, thanks, Dan. I didn’t think I was going to do this, but anyway, Human Partnership is a coalition of collaborators who work together on public health issues that the community identifies as important. We go out and try to find the research and data to add to the narrative so the community has both a story and data to tell.

One of the reasons we're so excited about the podcast is that this is really what we believe public health is about. We're learning a lot of different things and involved in many things, but we need to find a way to disseminate this information so people can take action. Our whole goal is to find allies and have transparent conversations that help people take action. Health Chatter is just another way for us to be engaged, where we bring together not only the research clinicians, the academic community, and government, but also the community. It’s a place for us to have these important conversations.

It's so great to be in a space where we can address issues in an informative way. Human Partnership is really about helping our communities become healthier—creatively and in ways that make a real impact.

Stanton Shanedling: You know, I think Human Partnership is spelled H-U-E-M-A-N, and I was always drawn to the idea behind that. It doesn’t matter what color your skin is; we all have health issues that we need to talk about and be aware of. So, thank you to Human Partnership for being such a wonderful partner in Health Chatter.

One thing I’ve realized is that even though I’m retired, I see Health Chatter as a great way to stay updated and continue learning about many issues we still face. I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve learned a lot from doing these shows. Sometimes I sit back and reflect, thinking, “Wow, I never thought of it that way.” It’s been very special.

At first, we thought Health Chatter was just about health-related issues, like chronic or infectious diseases, but we also covered many social issues. We’ve discussed gun violence, racism, anti-Semitism, mental health, poverty, and homelessness. These topics are all intertwined, and we’ve learned so much from them.

Going forward, we have some exciting topics planned. If you, the listening audience, have ideas for future episodes, feel free to let us know on our website, healthchatterpodcast.com. Also, check out Human Partnership at humanpartnership.org.

We’ll be focusing on climate, veterans’ health, children’s health, reproductive rights, vaccinations, love and passion, men’s health, women’s health, long-term care, insurance, Planned Parenthood, stress and anxiety, LGBTQ+ issues, and as Aaron mentioned, a show on cannabis. The list keeps growing!

To the listening audience, thank you so much for being part of our journey. Our 100th show has been special to us, and we hope it’s been special for you too. So, for all of you out there in listening land, keep Health Chatting Away!