Host Claire Stinson welcomes you to a special year-end episode of Contagious Conversations focused on highlights from the 2023 season! Listen to selections from the year’s episodes on topics as diverse as heath threats facing Black women; tra

Hypertension: Handling the Pressure

Nov 3rd, 2023 34m 17s

Doctors have long known that hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a leading risk factor for heart attack and stroke. Yet today, nearly half of all adults in the United States have hypertension, creating a silent public health threat. Host D

Reducing Stress in Schools

Oct 6th, 2023 22m 57s

Each year, fall means heading back to school for the nation’s students. But as students, teachers and school staff return again this year, the social, academic and mental health impacts of the pandemic are still being felt. In this episode, hos

A Conversation with CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen

Sep 8th, 2023 27m 59s

We're bringing you a special episode this month, as our president and CEO sits down for a conversation with Mandy K. Cohen, MD, MPH, the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances an

The Eye of the Storm

Aug 4th, 2023 18m 57s

In 2022, a mysterious outbreak of a deadly drug-resistant bacteria began spreading across several U.S. states. A CDC investigation would eventually reveal an unusual culprit: common eye drops. In this episode, Dr. Danielle Rankin takes us behin

42. Serving Those Who Served

Jul 7th, 2023 26m 46s

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the eleventh leading cause of death for Americans overall. And sadly, our nation’s veterans face even higher rates of suicide. In this month's episode, we discuss the crisi

41. Prevention vs. Prescription: The Question About Opioids

Jun 2nd, 2023 23m 57s

Physicians face many challenges in treating people living with pain, especially in light of the U.S. opioid overdose epidemic. In today's episode, we speak with Dr. Chris Jones on how physicians are handling these challenges, and the steps CDC

Tomorrow's Public Health Professionals

May 5th, 2023 29m 55s

As we emerge from the COVID public health emergency, it is a critical time to think about the future of public health. The next generation of public health workers will be charged with leading through the challenges that lie ahead. In this epis

Improving Black Women's Health

Apr 7th, 2023 19m 53s

April is National Minority Health Month, and this episode we're sitting down with Dr. Melody McCloud to discuss the health threats faced by minority women—Black women in particular—as well as the vital role of equity in public health. Dr. McClo

A Respiratory Triple Threat

Mar 3rd, 2023 27m 12s

You've probably heard a lot recently about the so-called "tridemic" or "tripledemic." This concurrent impact of COVID-19, influenza and RSV introduced major challenges to our public health system...but taught major lessons, too. David Snyder, d

Nine Lessons for the Next Generation

Feb 3rd, 2023 33m 44s

What lessons can we learn from public health victories like the eradication of smallpox? How can we expand those lessons to the fight against non-infectious diseases, too? And how can each of us become a better ancestor to the generations to co

Creatively Combating Antimicrobial Resistance

Jan 6th, 2023 26m 44s

How can creative messaging and the arts help people better understand issues around antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance? Our guests discuss the power of art to promote public health and protective behaviors, as well as the power of patient

A Prescription of Nutrition

Dec 2nd, 2022 23m 56s

Dr. Judy Monroe, president and CEO of the CDC Foundation, is your special host for today’s episode, as we discuss nutrition, medicine and public health with Dr. Thea James and Dr. Elizabeth Petelin... starting with a mystery clinical case that

Young Leaders Take Action on Climate and Health

Nov 4th, 2022 22m 47s

In our latest episode, we discuss the gaps that exist in today’s healthcare systems around climate change and health, and what young people in particular are doing to bridge those gaps. Our guests today are Hazel Rogers and Ben Rabin. Hazel is

What to Know About Monkeypox

Oct 7th, 2022 20m 10s

This month, we're talking monkeypox: what is it, what CDC is doing to tackle the outbreak and what challenges face future disease responses. Our guest expert is Jennifer McQuiston, DVM, the deputy director of the Division of High Consequence Pa

Bonus

Special Edition: International Podcast Day 2022

Sep 30th, 2022 6m 58s

In honor of International Podcast Day, we're releasing a bonus episode that takes a look back at some of our most memorable Contagious Conversations episodes from 2022! Whether you're new to our podcast and curious what we're all about, or a lo

Making Public Health Protection Our Business

Sep 2nd, 2022 23m 39s

This episode we discuss the critical role businesses play in keeping their employees and communities safe during a public health crisis. Plus, learn about the Health Action Alliance, a partnership that has helped nearly 4,000 employers do just

Making Scents of COVID

Aug 5th, 2022 18m 39s

Learn about the COVID-19 Detection Dog program—a collaboration between the California Department of Public Health and Early Alert Canines—which is introducing a new, less invasive, and more fun method of testing to schools across the state. Dr

Doers and Thinkers: Three Experts Weigh In

Jul 1st, 2022 27m 40s

For our milestone 30th episode, we're bringing you 3 discussions in one! Host Claire Stinson introduces a collection of speakers from this year’s Aspen Ideas Health Festival, an annual event that brings together innovative thinkers and doers to

Homelessness and Health: Locally, Regionally, Nationally

Jun 3rd, 2022 15m 57s

In this episode, we'll discuss the link between people experiencing homelessness and public health and what CDC is doing to address this issue. CDC's Dr. Emily Mosites details the unique health challenges for those living with homelessness and

Turning Urgency to Action

May 6th, 2022 20m 42s

How does climate change affect health? What are some successful approaches from public health's past that we can use to tackle this challenge today? And most importantly: how can we all work together to combat this growing crisis? In this episo

Relationships Matter

Apr 1st, 2022 28m 5s

“We can’t do the work alone. That is why it is important to have partnerships in our communities.” Hear Dr. Mysheika Roberts discuss this idea and more, as she takes listeners through her own journey in community-centered public health. Plus: h

Policies and Laws for the Health of All

Mar 4th, 2022 34m 11s

What exactly is public health law? Drawing from disciplines like epidemiology, public policy and evaluation, it's a field that we may not often think about in our day-to-day lives. But it has a profound impact on our lifetime trajectory. Sarah

Special Edition: Building Back Public Health

Feb 9th, 2022 21m 11s

This is a special edition Contagious Conversations podcast in conjunction with Public Health On Call, a podcast from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. This special edition features a discussion between CDC Foundation Preside

You Can't Fix What You Can't Count

Feb 4th, 2022 36m 47s

In today's world, people are used to having immediate access to data directly from the phones in their pockets. But how do public health agencies ensure that their massive and complex sets of data are managed at both scale and speed? Dr. Daniel