Health Chatter

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Dr. Robin Austin, Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing, about menopause and the often-overlooked realities of midlife women’s health.

Dr. Austin brings more than 20 years of clinical experience spanning pain management, women’s health, and integrative health. With both a DNP and PhD in Nursing Informatics—and dual training as a chiropractor and nurse—her work blends clinical insight with data science to address whole-person needs. Her research focuses on chronic pain and menopause, and she is a Research Mentee with the The Meno...

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Julie Brock, owner of Julie Brock Consulting, about community engagement.

Julie is a strategist who helps individuals, teams, and organizations move from ideas to measurable action through human-centered systems. Her work draws on co-design, CliftonStrengths®, Results Based Accountability, and stress management and resiliency—grounded in deep listening, connection-making, and a willingness to disrupt the status quo so people can lead with confidence and purpose. Julie brings experience across K–12 education, workforce development, community-based organizations, business, and higher education, and holds degrees in English and Human Development.

Lea...

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Mary Gray, Director of Rehabilitation at HealthPartners, about falls and fall prevention.

Mary oversees rehabilitation services across HealthPartners’ community-based hospitals and clinics, including cardiac rehabilitation. A licensed physical therapist with 27 years of experience, she brings deep expertise and passion for geriatrics—particularly fall prevention, dementia and age-friendly care, osteoporosis management, and frailty. Beyond her professional work, Mary is also a caregiver to her 95-year-old father living with dementia, giving her both clinical and personal insight into the realities of aging and safety.

Join us for an e...

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Dr. Steve Kopecky, Professor of Medicine and Preventive Cardiologist at Mayo Clinic, about blood pressure and the updated guidelines.

Dr. Kopecky is a consultant and chair of education in the Division of Preventive Cardiology within the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He also serves as director of the Familial Hypercholesterolemia Clinic, Statin Intolerance Clinic, and the Cardiovascular Emergency Department Consult Service. A nationally and internationally recognized leader in cardiovascular disease prevention, Dr. Kopecky’s work focuses on the role of lifestyle in he...

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Ellie Wilson, Executive Director of the Autism Society of Minnesota, about Autism Spectrum Disorder and the evolving landscape of support across the lifespan.

Ellie Wilson brings two decades of experience supporting children, teens, and adults on the autism spectrum. With a background in public health administration and policy, Ellie has completed advanced fellowships through Minnesota LEND (Leadership and Education in Neuro-Developmental Disabilities) and the National Institute of Educational Leadership. Her work spans recreation programs, K–12 and post-secondary education, emergency response systems, clinical and therapeutic settings, and community li...

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Dr. Ronda Marie Chakolis-Hassan, President of the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy, and Dr. Ai-Ja Jackson, licensed pharmacist, about Medication Management—and explore the central question: “Should we just medicate?”

Dr. Ronda Marie Chakolis-Hassan, PharmD, MPH, exemplifies the intersection of clinical expertise and public health advocacy in pharmacy practice. An alum of the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy and School of Public Health, her diverse career spans 15 years in Pharmacy Benefit Management and over 5 years as a Medication Therapy Management pharmacist in community practice. Her commitment to health...

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Susan Mau Larson, Chief Administrative Officer at LifeSource, and Sarah Sonn, Director of Communications at LifeSource, about life saving organ donation.

Susan Mau Larson has spent her career leading strategic and policy efforts to strengthen organ donation systems nationwide and support donor families through the process. She has held leadership roles across national donation advocacy and public education organizations.

Sarah Sonn leads communications at LifeSource and focuses on public education, storytelling, and community partnerships to increase donor registration and address misinformation.

Join us...

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat about retirement and health.

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Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at https://www.huemanpartnershipalliance.org/

Stan, Clarence, and the Health Chatter team chat about the profound role friendships play in our overall health and well-being.

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Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at https://www.huemanpartnershipalliance.org/

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Dr. David Alter, psychologist, author, teacher, and explorer, about mindfulness, meditation and health.

Dr. Alter has more than 35 years of experience as a clinician, educator, trainer, and researcher. His career spans clinical practice, international teaching, and authorship of books and peer-reviewed articles. Beyond psychology, he is also an adventurer and photographer, using his lens to explore humanity’s shared heritage and our deep connections to nature. At the heart of his work is a passion for understanding relationships—within our biological systems, between brain, mind, body, and envi...

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team tackle a deceptively simple question: How do you manage your health?

In this episode, the team reflects on the many factors - big and small - that shape personal health management, from daily habits and self-care to navigating healthcare systems and making lifestyle choices.

Tune in for a lively discussion that will leave you thinking about your own approach to health and how small changes can make a big difference.

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Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Dr. Mitchell Elliott Bender, Clinical Professor of Dermatology and longtime leader in the field, about common and complex dermatologic conditions.

Dr. Bender was born and raised in the Bronx, NYC, and earned his undergraduate degree in biology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He went on to graduate from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and completed his residency in dermatology at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Bender founded Dermatology Specialists PA in Edina, Minnesota, which has grown into a 15-member practice...

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Sam Simmons about men’s stories and experiences related to health and healthcare.

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Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at https://www.huemanpartnershipalliance.org/

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Dr. Ida Fonkoue, Assistant Professor in the Physical Therapy Division at the University of Minnesota, about the connections between trauma, stress, and PTSD in young women.

Dr. Fonkoue serves as the director of the Neurobiology of Emotion, Sleep and Trauma (NEST) lab, where she and her team investigate how trauma affects neurocirculatory and hormonal systems, particularly as they relate to cardiovascular disease risk in women.

Join us for an enlightening discussion about how trauma shapes women’s cardiovascular health.

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Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Diana Sabreen, founder of The Big Dream, about how our dreams - both big and everyday - shape our health, creativity, and sense of purpose.

Diana brings a refreshingly unconventional path to her work - opting for sunlit cliffs and cross-continental adventures instead of fluorescent lights and cubicles. Her life has been guided by curiosity, creativity, and a belief that joy and self-expression are essential to wellness. As a longtime artist, activist, and coach, she helps people break free from societal “shoulds” and reconnect with the boldest vers...

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter Team chat about how to address health in anxious times, and explore how uncertainty, stress, and societal challenges shape our public health infrastructure.

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Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at https://www.huemanpartnershipalliance.org/

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Dr. John R. Finnegan, former dean of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, about the role of public health in today’s changing landscape.

Dr. Finnegan, who holds an MA and PhD in Mass Communication from the University of Minnesota, has contributed decades of experience to public health education, research, and service. His work includes leadership roles with organizations such as Children’s HeartLink, HealthEast, and the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health, as well as involvement in initiatives focused on sexual assault prev...

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Patty Takawira, who leads the Aging and Healthy Communities Unit at the Minnesota Department of Health, about Alzheimer’s.

Patty works alongside a passionate team to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and related dementias, promote early detection, and support the health and wellbeing of both caregivers and individuals living with dementia. Her work is rooted in advancing health equity and ensuring that all Minnesotans have the opportunity to age with dignity, connection, and care.

Listen along as Patty Takawira shares their expertise about Alzheimer’s and...

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Dr. Jennifer Lundblad, President and CEO of Stratis Health, about quality assurance and quality improvement in healthcare.

Dr. Lundblad leads Stratis Health, an independent non-profit based in Bloomington, Minnesota, focused on collaboration and innovation in health care improvement. With a strong foundation in leadership, organizational development, and program management, she brings deep experience from both the nonprofit and healthcare sectors.

Listen along as Dr. Lundblad shares how quality assurance and improvement are critical to improve health outcomes.

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Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Dr. Abigail Houts, Internist and Geriatrician, about healthcare as we age.

Dr. Houts brings a wealth of experience in geriatric medicine, having served in diverse clinical and leadership roles across the country. From her early work with PACE programs in Chicago to launching a physician house call service for underserved seniors at Hennepin County Medical Center, she has long been an advocate for accessible, community-based elder care. Currently, she leads as Medical Director for Ambulatory Services at the Minnesota Department of Human Services and continues to provide...

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Dr. Kumi Smith, Associate Professor in the Division of Epidemiology & Community Health at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, about the opioid crisis.

Dr. Smith's research focuses on health disparities at the intersection of infectious diseases, substance use, and unstable housing. She develops structural interventions to support clinical workers in delivering culturally specific and trauma-informed care for marginalized patients. Her expertise spans HIV, STIs, infectious disease dynamics, intervention science, sexual health, and healthcare stigma.

Join us for an insightful discussion on the opioid...

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Dr. Steven Fu, Professor of Medicine at the University of Minnesota and Director of the VA Center for Care Delivery and Outcomes Research (CCDOR), about Veteran Health.

Dr. Fu's research focuses on smoking cessation and tobacco-related health disparities, particularly among diverse and disadvantaged populations. His work aims to improve the delivery and utilization of tobacco dependence treatments, ensuring better health outcomes for those who have served. With an extensive background in medicine and public health, Dr. Fu brings valuable insights into the challenges and advancements in Veteran...

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Dr. Thomas E. Kottke, Kathleen Anderson, & Thea Williams about firearm storage and safety.

Dr. Thomas E. Kottke is the medical director for well-being at HealthPartners, a professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota, and a health services researcher at the HealthPartners Institute. With a background in internal medicine, cardiology, and public health, his work focuses on preventive care and community well-being.

Kathleen Anderson is a clinical social worker, mother of three, and a volunteer educator with Be SMART, a national campaign dedicated to promoting...

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Andrew Litchy, N.D., about naturopathic medicine and its role in modern healthcare.

Dr. Litchy is a naturopathic doctor who treats people of all ages, focusing on digestive and cardiovascular health, chronic illnesses, and overall wellness. He is also a faculty member, meditation teacher, and collaborator with research programs aimed at integrating naturopathic approaches and mindfulness practices into broader healthcare solutions.

Join us for an enlightening discussion about the principles and applications of naturopathic medicine, and stay tuned to gain fresh perspectives on holistic health.<...

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat about Health Insurance.

Listen along as the team attempts to make sense of a variety of health insurance complexities. This episode is merely an introduction with more detailed episodes to come.

Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com

Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at huemanpartnership.org.

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter Team chat with Dr. Chrystian Pereira, an accomplished leader in pharmaceutical care and health systems, to discuss the pressing issue of pharmacy deserts and their impact on community health.

Dr. Chrystian Pereira, Pharm.D., is an Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy in the department of Pharmaceutical Care and Health Systems. As the Director for Interprofessional Education, Dr. Pereira spearheads initiatives that enhance collaborative care across health professions. In addition to his role at the College of Pharmacy, he practices as a clinical pharmacist and trains...

Stan, Clarence, & Barry chat with Dr. Kathleen Garland to better understand pediatric blood disorders.

Dr. Kathleen (Kate) Garland is a pediatric hematologist at Children's Minnesota, specializing in hemostasis and thrombosis with a passion for advancing care through clinical trials and research. With training from East Tennessee State University, Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, and Oregon Health & Science University, she excels in delivering evidence-based, technology-driven care and mentoring the next generation of hematology specialists.

Listen along as Dr. Garland shares her expertise on pediatric blood disorders and their impact on children and families.

...

Stan and Clarence chat with three incredible leaders in public health and policy: Dr. Tom Kottke, Dr. Amy Lansky, and Dr. Alison Cuellar.

Dr. Tom Kottke is the Medical Director for Well-Being at HealthPartners and a Professor of Medicine at the University of Minnesota. With a career dedicated to cardiovascular health and preventive medicine, Dr. Kottke brings a wealth of experience in evidence-based practice and public health leadership. A member of the inaugural U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, he has contributed to federal guidelines on tobacco treatment and co-chaired the National Quality Forum’s Cardiovascular Standing Co...

Stan, Clarence, & Barry revisit vaccinations with Nurse Practioner, Shirlynn LaChapelle

Shirlynn LaChapelle, President of Nursing is the Answer and a nurse consultant at Shirlynn LaChapelle & Associates, brings decades of expertise as a former surgical ICU nurse, nurse practitioner, and past president of the Minnesota Black Nurses’ Association. A member of the Minnesota Attorney General’s Drug Pricing Task Force, she joins Health Chatter to share her insights on the critical role of vaccinations in promoting public health.

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Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Heal...

Stan, Clarence, & Barry chat with Dr. Christi Patten about their research in developing novel, theory-based behavioral interventions for tobacco cessation.

Listen along as Dr. Patten details the complexities and challenges of tobacco cessation.

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Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at http://huemanpartnership.org/

Stan, Clarence, and Barry chat with Pam Mink - Director of Health Services at the Minnesota Department of Health - about a newly released report on telehealth expansion.

Check out the new report here

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Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at http://huemanpartnership.org/

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team discuss the impacts labels, stereotypes, and identities can have on health.

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Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at http://huemanpartnership.org/

Stan and Clarence chat with two incredible leaders in Indigenous health and public policy: Ravyn Gibbs and Kris Rhodes.

Ravyn Gibbs serves as the Tribal Liaison at the Minnesota Department of Health. Ravyn works to uplift Native communities, focusing on Indigenous rights and reducing health disparities. With a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology from the University of Minnesota Duluth and dual Master’s degrees in Social Work and Public Health from the University of Minnesota, Ravyn is also pursuing a Doctorate in Public Health at Johns Hopkins University. Drawing on previous work in federal Native and Tribal affa...

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team reflect on over 2 years of Health Chatter episodes in this 100th episode special.

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Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at http://huemanpartnership.org/

Stan, Clarence, and the Health Chatter team chat about the effects of traveling on health.

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Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at http://huemanpartnership.org/

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat about the impacts of safety on health.

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Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at http://huemanpartnership.org/

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Dr. Mike Osterholm about infectious diseases.

Dr. Osterholm - a Regents Professor, McKnight Presidential Endowed Chair in Public Health, and the Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota - has an extensive and distinguished career in infectious disease. Dr. Osterholm has also held numerous positions throughout state and local governments serving as the Science Envoy for Health Security on behalf of the U.S. Department of State, Special Advisor to the then Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson...

Stan, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat about burials, funerals, and health. Listen along as the team reflects on their personal experiences and how these experiences influence health and well-being.

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Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at http://huemanpartnership.org/

Stan, Clarence, and the team chat with Jordyn Scorpio about toxic relationships.

Jordyn serves as the Director of Community Education at SHALVA - the oldest independent Jewish domestic abuse agency in the United States - where they focus on creating a prevention education program for young couples. Jordyn has also been a part of the Lincoln Square/Ravenswood Solidarity network, the planning committee for the JCFS Professional Network, the program committee for Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the steering committee for Run DV (domestic violence) Out of Town, and served as the SHALVA rep on the Chicago...

The Health Chatter team explores fakes news and potential health implications.

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Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at http://huemanpartnership.org/

The Health Chatter team explores "fake new" and potential health implications.

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Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at http://huemanpartnership.org/

Listen along as the Health Chatter team dives into the effects of politics on health.

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Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at http://huemanpartnership.org/

Stan, Clarence, and Barry chat with Dr. Miguel Ruiz about health disparities.

Dr. Miguel Ruiz is an internal medicine and palliative care specialist who has practiced in Minnesota for over twenty-five years. After working as an internist at the West Side Community Health Services/La Clinica serving Latinx and other diverse communities, he transitioned his practice to Regions Hospital where he worked as a hospital medicine physician and a palliative care specialist. Dr. Ruiz is also an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Minnesota and is actively involved in the training of...

Stan, Clarence, and Barry chat with Michelle Chiezah on infant mortality.

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Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at http://huemanpartnership.org/

Stan, Clarence, and Barry chat with Dr. Paul Waytz on arthritis and rheumatology.

Dr. Waytz - an experienced Rheumatologist - began his career as a physician in med school at the University of Illinois with an Internal Medicine Residency and Rheumatology Fellowship at the University of Minnesota. After two years in academic medicine, Dr. Waytz transitioned to private practice for the next 34 years. While Dr. Waytz retired from seeing patients in 2014, he continued with the clinic as a principal investigator for drug studies and clinical research focusing on implicit bias and DEI relations.

Listen along...

Stan, Clarence, and Barry chat with Dr. Terri Harvath and Lisa Brown about caregiver burnout.

Dr. Terri Harvath - Clinical Professor at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing - is an internationally recognized expert in gerontological nursing practice and education and is currently serving as the Associate Director of the Clinical Science & Practice Core for the Center on Healthy Aging and Innovation at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Harvath also serves on the National Advisory Committee for the CAP-CT (Caregivers As Partners in Care Teams), Advancing Caregiving Research and Evidence Network (CARE Network) Steering Committee, and...

Stan, Clarence, and Barry chat with Dr. Lynn Blewett - Director of the State Health Access Data Assistance Center (SHADAC) and Professor at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health - about access to healthcare and insurance.

Dr. Blewett has a long-standing career and experience in public health, health insurance models, health care policy, and access to health care. As the Director of SHADAC, Dr. Blewett supports state efforts to monitor and evaluate programs to increase access and coverage through funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Listen along as Dr. Blewett shares their...

Stan, Clarence, and Barry chat with Dean Melinda Pettigrew of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health about the future and vision of public health education.

Dean Pettigrew has an extensive public health career. Before her current role, Dean Pettigrew was the Anna M. R. Lauder Professor of Epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health. While at Yale, Dean Pettigrew held several leadership positions including interim dean, deputy dean, senior associate dean for academic affairs, and deputy Title IX coordinator. As a trained epidemiologist, Dean Pettigrew's research research focuses on the epidemiology of respiratory tract...

Stan, Clarence, and Barry welcome back Brandon Jones to chat about the detrimental effects of stress.

Brandon is the Executive Director of the Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health (MACMH). His background is in Sociology, Community Psychology, and Marriage and Family Therapy. As a psychotherapist, professor, and behavioral health consultant before his leadership at MACMH, Brandon has worked as a school-based mental health counselor and specializes in therapeutic services within communities of color.

Listen along as the team chats about stress.

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Stan, Clarence, and Barry chat with Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad about loneliness.

Dr. Holt-Lunstad is a professor of psychology and neuroscience and director of the Social Connection & Health Lab at Brigham Young University. She is also the founding scientific chair and board member for the U.S. Foundation for Social Connection and the Global Initiative on Loneliness and Connection. Her research focuses on the individual and population health effects, biological mechanisms, and effective strategies to mitigate risk and promote protection associated with social connection.

Listen along as Dr. Holt-Lunstad shares their expertise on the effects of...

The Health Chatter team chats with Susan Mau Larson and Nichole Salaam from LifeSource about organ donation.

Susan Mau Larson, the Chief Administrative Officer at LifeSource, has an extensive career advancing organ donation and supporting families. Susan positions LifeSource for continued growth and success by driving fulfillment of the long-term vision and strategic priorities ensuring effective internal and external communications, working with our state and federal officials, and leading key strategic initiatives.

Nichole Salaam, the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at LifeSource, works to identify and drive strategies to eliminate systemic organizational marginalization and...

Stand and Clarence chat with Brandon Jones about narcissism.

Brandon is the Executive Director of the Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health (MACMH). His background is in Sociology, Community Psychology, and Marriage and Family Therapy. As a psychotherapist, professor, and behavioral health consultant before his leadership at MACMH, Brandon has worked as a school-based mental health counselor and specializes in therapeutic services within communities of color.

Listen along as Brandon shares his wealth of knowledge on narcissism.

Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com

Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, wh...

Stan and Clarence chat with Dr. Sarah Molasky - a local pharmacist - about weight loss medications.

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Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at http://huemanpartnership.org/

Stan and Clarence chat with Sophia Lenarz-Coy about food insecurity.

Sophia Lenarz-Coy serves as the Executive Director of The Food Group, where she thinks creatively, collaborates with community partners, and brings good,

culturally connected food where it’s needed most. The food system is complex and interconnected, but making it more equitable is possible.

Listen along as Sophia details the detrimental effects of food insecurity.

Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com

Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More ab...

Stan and Clarence chat with Teresa Ambroz and Julie Dalton about childhood diabetes.

Teresa manages the Diabetes and Health Behavior Unit at the Minnesota Department of Health guiding efforts to prevent diabetes and improve the lives of all Minnesotans affected by diabetes and arthritis.

Julie is the Diabetes Prevention Planner at the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Division overseeing strategies related to implementing, spreading, and sustaining evidence-based, family-centered childhood obesity interventions.

Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com

Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is...

Stan, Clarence, and Dr. Barry Baines (Health Chatter's new medical advisor) chat with Dr. Joseph Gaugler about long-term care, longevity, loneliness, and aging.

Dr. Gaugler is a distinguished University McKnight Professor and Robert L. Kane Endowed Chair in Long-Term Care and Aging at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. Dr. Gaugler’s research examines the sources and effectiveness of long-term care for persons with Alzheimer's disease and other chronic conditions. As an applied gerontologist, Dr. Gaugler's interests include Alzheimer's disease and long-term care, the longitudinal ramifications of family care for persons with dementia and other ch...

Stan, Clarence, and the team chat about the illusion of immortality.

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Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at http://huemanpartnership.org/

Stan and Clarence chat with Dave Hokanson, Sandeep Burman, Alycia Overbo, and Chad Kolstad from the Minnesota Department of Health about water in relation to public health.

Listen along as the the MDH team shares their wealth of knowledge on water.

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Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at http://huemanpartnership.org/

Dr. Barry Baines is back! Stan, Clarance, and Dr. Baines chat about Hospice care. 

Dr. Baines is a recently retired family physician and hospice & palliative medicine specialist with more than 25 years of experience as a hospice medical director. Dr. Baines is also the leading authority on the use of ethical wills in palliative care and other settings. Be sure to check out his book Ethical Wills: Putting Your Values on Paper. 

Listen along as Dr. Baines shares his wisdom and emphasizes the importance of hospice care.

Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com

B...

Stan and Clarence chat with Dr. Lenora Newsome and Dr. Ronda Chakolis about the pharmaceuticalization of medicine and Pharmageddon - three days of nationwide walkouts at CVS and Walgreens.

Listen along as the group discusses growing concerns of the pharmaceutical industry.

Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com

Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at http://huemanpartnership.org/

Stan and Clarence chat with Dr. Tom Kottke and Anthony Butler about unintentional firearm injuries and gun violence prevention.

Dr. Kottke first joined Health Partners in 2004 and is now the Medical Director for Well-Being for the health plan, Professor of Medicine at the University of Minnesota, and a health services researcher at the HealthPartners Institute. Additionally, Dr. Kottke is a strong advocate for gun violence prevention.

Anthony serves on the Protect Minnesota board - a coalition of 16 statewide groups committed to working together to prevent gun violence. Find out more about Anthony and Protect Minnesota...

Stan and Clarence chat with Patty Wetterling.

Patty Wetterling was a stay-at-home mother of four children when her world was rocked by the abduction of her 11 year old son Jacob, on October 22, 1989. With a shattered heart, Patty began studying child abduction and sexual exploitation. Who abducts children, how are they located, what can we do to prevent these horrible crimes? Her advocacy led her to passing Federal legislation requiring sex offenders to register their addresses with law enforcement. She served on the Board of Directors for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for 22 years and...

Stan and Clarence chat with Dr. Robert Turesky about prostate cancer.

Dr. Turesky currently serves as a Professor in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Minnesota. Before this professorship, he served as the Director of the Masonic Cancer Center’s Analytical Biochemistry shared resource - a mass spectrometry facility devoted to cancer and chemo-prevention programs at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Turesky's research investigates the biochemical toxicology mechanisms of potential cancer-causing agents in the environment, tobacco, foods, cosmetic dyes, and traditional herbal medicines.

Listen along as Dr. Turesky shares his wealth of kn...

Stan, Clarence, and the Health Chatter team - Diondra Howard, Sheridan Nygard, Erin Collins, Maddy Levine-Wolf, and Matthew Campbell - reflect on the past year and chat about exciting things to come.

Stan and Clarence chat with Dr. Randal J. Thomas about the history and importance of cardiac rehab.

Dr. Thomas is a board-certified internal medicine specialist with fellowship training in preventive cardiology. He attended the George Washington University School of Medicine and obtained internal medicine training at the Georgia Baptist Medical Center in Atlanta, Georgia, where he also served as a chief resident for one year. He underwent fellowship training in preventive cardiology as a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar at Stanford University. Before joining Mayo Clinic in 1999, Dr. Thomas was a faculty member of the Department of...

Stan chats with Rabbi Matt Goldberg about spirituality.

Rabbi Goldberg graduated from Hebrew College and ordained in 2023. Originally from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Matt received a B.A. in English with a Minor in American History from Dalhousie University. After high school he lived in Israel on the USCJ’s Nativ gap year program, where he first met his wife Elana.

During rabbinical school he held internships at synagogues in Boston and Toronto, and was part of the 12th cohort of the iCenter’s Masters Concentration in Israel Education. Upon his graduation, Matt was awarded Hebr...

Stan and Clarence chat with Dr. Jigar Patel about the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare.

Dr. Patel serves as the Senior Director in Product Management for Healthcare at Orcal. Throughout this time, they have developed a deep understanding of the technical needs of healthcare, including AI based products. Dr. Patel is especially passionate about using electronic health records (EHR) and associated technologies to benchmark and improve outcomes across all medical specialties and venues of care.

Listen along as Dr. Patel shares how AI is shaping modern healthcare.

Join the conversation...

Stan and Clarence chat with Pearl Evans, Dr. Ronda Chakolis, and Eddie Krumpotich about harm reduction and the Steve Rummler Hope Legislation.

Listen along as Stan and Clarence chat about the relationship between grief and health.

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Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at http://huemanpartnership.org/

Stan and Clarence chat with Dr. Sumedha Penheiter about Minnesota's State Cancer Plan.

Dr. Penheiter - an experienced cancer expert - holds a doctoral degree in biochemistry and genetics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She then completed postdoc work at Mayo Clinic focusing on cancer biology and signaling pathways in carcinogenesis. Currently, Dr. Penheiter serves as manager and consultant within the Mayo Clinic strategy department advising on system optimization and enhancement.

Listen along as Dr. Penheiter shares her wealth of knowledge on the Minnesota State Cancer Plan.

Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com<...

Stan and Clarence chat with Dr. Jay Desai and Kate Murray about long covid.

Dr. Desai - experienced epidemiologist - serves as the Section Manager of Chronic Disease and Environmental Epidemiology at the Minnesota Department of Health.

Kate Murray serves as a Program Coordinator for Long Covid and Post Covid Conditions at the Minnesota Department of Health.

Listen along as these two share their wealth of knowledge on the lasting effects of covid.

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Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating...

Listen along as Stan and Clarence chat about motivation.

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Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at http://huemanpartnership.org/

Stan and Clarence chat with Dr. Haithum Hussein and Tony Moore about the patient perspective of strokes.

Listen along as Tony shares his patient story.

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Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at http://huemanpartnership.org/

Stan and Clarence chat with Dr. Genelle Lamont about health literacy.

Dr. Lamont, currently serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Biobehavioral Health at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Duluth Campus. Dr. Lamont's research interests focus on the intersection between chronic disease, social determinants of health, and Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias in indigenous populations. She also focuses on health equity, health literacy, cultural humility, and establishing meaningful and accessible health data on American Indians/Alaska Natives using community-based participatory research and building public health surveillance capacity to address native he...

Stan and Clarence chat with Dr. Courtney Jordan Baechler and Dr. Jim Peacock about Minnesota's Cardiovascular and Diabetes 2035 State Plan.

Dr. Baechler - board certified internist and cardiologist - currently serves as the Medical Director of Health Equity and Health Promotion at the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation and Health Promotion Specialist at Rosado Consulting. Dr. Baechler is especially interested in heart disease prevention and behavioral change to support overall wellbeing.

Dr. Peacock serves as the Cardiovascular Health Unit Supervisor at the Minnesota Department of Health.

Listen along as Stan, Clarence, Dr. Baechler, and...

Stan and Clarence chat with Jan Malcolm - an experienced public health practitioner - about public health leadership.

Jan Malcolm has an extensive 40 year career in public health leadership across public, for-profit, and not-for profit sectors. Additionally, the former Commissioner of Health has served across 3 different governors - Ventura, Dayton, and Walz - representing both political parties. Malcolm was also one of the first health care leaders to highlight health disparities and the impact of the social determinants of health. She laid the foundation for health legislation aimed at reducing health disparities in the state.

...

Stan and Clarence chat with Dr. Haithum Hussein about strokes, stroke prevention, and stoke recovery.

Dr. Hussein is originally from Egypt, where he attended medical school and neurology residency at Ain Shams University in Cairo. After moving to the United States, he worked as a research fellow prior to completing his second neurology residency and stoke fellowship at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Hussein now serves as an Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of Minnesota as clinician, educator, and clinical researcher. He also serves as an investigator for several clinical trials. Dr. Hussein has co-authored...

In this third - and final - installment of our mental health series, Stan and Clarence chat with Dr. Mike Trangle about mental health policy implications.

Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com

Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships. More about their work can be found at http://huemanpartnership.org/

Stan and Clarence chat with Melissa Winger - author of Who Cares? The Real Patient Experience - about the complexities and challenges of navigating the health care system.

Melissa Winger - a devoted public health practitioner - has an extensive background in quality improvement and health systems. Melissa serves as a Quality Improvement Specialist for UnitedHealth Group and as a Health Care Home Site Surveyor for the Minnesota Department of Health. In addition, Melissa serves on the American Academy of Pediatrics National Social Determinants Health Board, the National Technical Advisory Committee on Screening Tools, the Family Partnerships...

Stan and Clarence chat about life lessons they've learned and their experiences with death, grief, and loss.

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Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships. More about their work can be found at http://huemanpartnership.org/

For the second installment of our mental health series, Stan, Clarence, and Dr. Mike Trangle explore mental health through different population and age groups.

Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com

Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships. More about their work can be found at http://huemanpartnership.org/

Stan and Clarence chat with Dr. Jeff Louie about pediatric ER concerns.

Dr. Louie is a pediatric emergency physician for M Health Fairview Masonic Children's Hospital. He also serves as Associate Professor for the Department of Pediatrics and Division Director of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at the University of Minnesota.

Listen along as we chat about the most common pediatric ER concerns, risk factors, seasonal variations, and more.

Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com

Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships. More about their...

Stan and Clarence chat with Dr. Mike Trangle about Mental Health, introducing a 3 part series.

Dr. Trangle serves as HealthPartners Senior Medical Director for Behavioral Health and President of the Minnesota Psychiatric Society. In addition, Dr. Trangle serves as Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Minnesota Medical School Department of Psychiatry.

Listen along as Stan, Clarence, and Dr. Trangle chat about the growing mental health crisis.

Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com

Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships. More...

Stan and Clarence chat with Dr. Gail Brottman about asthma.

Dr. Brottman is a pediatric pulmonologist at Hennepin County Medical Center and M Health Fairview Pediatric Specialty Clinic. She also serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Brottman also holds several credentials and honors and has been featured in several newsletters, videos, and other media outlets.

Listen along as we chat about asthma.

Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com

Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through...

Stan and Clarence chat with Minnesota Senator John Marty on the politics of health care and SF2955.

Senator Marty (40, DFL) has served as a Minnesota senator since 1987, authoring countless bills. His current legislative concerns include Climate, Health Care, Economic Justice, education, economic development, environment, ethics, energy, criminal justice, social justice, racial justice, and gender justice.

Listen along as Senator Marty details SF2955 and illustrates the politics of health care. Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com

Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships. More about their...

Stan and Clarence chat with Patty Bowler - Director of Policy and Community Programs at the Minneapolis Health Department - and Kara Hirdman - Senior Public Health Specialist for Mental Well-being at the Minneapolis Health Department - about the government's interest in the mental health and well-being of its citizens.

Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com

Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships. More about their work can be found at http://huemanpartnership.org/

Stan and Clarence revisit the topic of suicide with Stefan Gingerich.

Stefan Gingerich - Senior Epidemiologist at the Minnesota Department of Health - has extensive knowledge of suicide rates and trends in Minnesota. They have been cited and quoted in countless articles, publications, and reports. Listen along as we take another look at this alarming topic.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988. Or find additional resources with live chat at 988lifeline.org

Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com

Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN...

Clarence and Stan chat with Angela Fields, Kristin Godfrey Walters, and Nasadir Mohamed about the scope and importance of Community Health Workers.

Angela Fields - Associate Executive Director of Minnesota Community Health Worker Alliance - has a career in working throughout the community to expand community health relations. Similarly, Kristin Godfrey Walters - Community Health Worker Training Program and Community Engagement Director for the Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Division of the Minnesota Department of Health - plans, implements, evaluates, disseminates information, and recommends policies and practices to support the enhancement of the Community Health Worker workforce...

Stan and Clarence chat with Dr. David Fischer about orthopedic replacements.

Dr. Fischer - a retired faculty member of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Minnesota - spent his career specializing in knee and joint replacement surgery along with sports medicine. He brings a wide breadth of knowledge to this topic.

Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com

Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships. More about their work can be found at http://huemanpartnership.org/

Stan and Clarence chat with Dr. Douglas Kennedy and Dr. Brent Leininger about pain and pain management.

Dr. Kennedy - Assistant Professor with the Integrative Health and Wellbeing Research Program - and Dr. Leininger - Assistant Professor with the Integrative Health and Wellbeing Research Program - research pain and pain management for the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing. Both also work with Partners 4 Pain - a collaboration between patients, community members, organizations, and researchers to learn, develop, and evaluate solutions to pain and opioid crisis.

More about their great work can be...

Clarence chats with Kayte Barton about disabilities and the healthcare outcomes of those living with disabilities.

Kayte - athlete and Special Olympian - serves as Health Messenger for Special Olympics Minnesota. In this role, she helps athletes live healthier lives and educates others on the importance of inclusive healthcare for folks with intellectual disabilities. Kayte also works with Institute for Exceptional Care’s Individuals with the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Project Committee, where she works to create better health outcomes for people with disabilities in partnership with payers, healthcare professionals, and researchers.

Kayte brings he...

On this episode, Stan and Clarence chat with Dr. Barry Baines - respected hospice specialist and leading authority on ethical wills- about the importance and impact of ethical wills and legacy letters.

Dr. Baines currently serves as Hospice Medical Director and Vice President of Living Wisely. Living Wisely encourages individuals and organizations to identify and communicate the core values and experiences that have given their lives meaning through a range of services including:

presentations, seminars, and workshops designed to suit your individual and organizational needs

coaching, consulting, and training for individuals and organizations<...

In this episode, Stan and Clarence chat about the vital role family, friends, and colleagues play in our health.

Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com

Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at http://huemanpartnership.org/

Listen along as Stan and Clarence chat about the importance of research guiding public health practice. Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com

Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at http://huemanpartnership.org/

Stan and Clarence chat with Jennifer Walter about exercise.

Jennifer Walter is a life-long competitor and career personal trainer/coach. She began with soccer and moved into endurance sports including triathlon, road and mountain biking (two state cycling titles), marathons and ultra trail racing, and most recently, Hyrox Racing holding the world record in the 55-59 age group and prepping for a World Championship Title end of May in Manchester. Jen is a mom of three and can speak to the challenge of raising kids while trying to manage health and fitness goals. Her passion remains in...

Stan and Clarence chat about trust, confidence in our healthcare system, and trust as a social determinant of health.

What does it mean to trust the health care system? How do you trust your physician? How have covid and politics shaped trust, or mistrust, in our healthcare system? Listen along as Stan and Clarence tackle these great questions while discussing the importance of trust.

Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com

Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.More about their work can be found at...

Stan and Clarence chat with Jon Roesler about epidemiology and health measurement.

Jon currently serves as Assistant Professor and Program Director of Public Health Programs at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. Before this role, Jon served as an epidemiologist and supervisor at the Minnesota Department of Health. While his experiences are largely centered on epidemiologic investigations of injury and violence, Jon has also worked on various other public health topics including diabetes, heart disease, oral health, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, excessive alcohol use, and occupational health.

Jon brings a wide breadth of knowledge to this...

Stan and Clarence chat with Dr. Barry Baines on how to talk with your physician about general health and more serious illnesses.

Dr. Baines - after completing his medical training at Georgetown University Medical and residency at the University of Wisconsin Maddison - developed an extensive career in family medicine with sub-specialties in palliative and hospice care. In this episode, he details how to have those all-important, yet often difficult, conversations with your doctor.

Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com

Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through...

Stan and Clarence chat with Dr. Nicole Heinrich about how pets influence our lives and health.

Dr. Nicole Heinrich, DVM, DACVD, - the owner of McKeever Dermatology Clinics, the largest vet dermatology practice in the midwest - has loved and worked with animals since childhood. Fast forward to today, Dr. Heinrich has diagnosed and treated over 6,000 dogs and cats with skin and ear diseases. In addition, she is a contributing author for two textbooks - Clinical Small Animal Internal Medicine and Color Handbook of Skin Diseases of the Dog and Cat (third edition) - and several publications. <...

Stan and Clarence sit down with Jeremy Olson to chat about newspaper and journalism coverage of health issues.

Jeremy has a developed career as a healthcare journalist. In addition to being a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, Jeremy has completed fellowships at the Kaiser Family Foundation, Poynter Institute, and New York Times. Jeremy has received numerous awards for their work including, "a Premack Public Affairs award for scrutinizing a schizophrenia drug trial, a SABEW award for uncovering abuses of meatpackers, and a Casey Medal for examining deaths in foster care." (Star Tribune) Jeremy now reports for the Star Tribune.<...