Communications Breakdown: What Works (and Doesn't) in Health and Science Communication

CIRTC

Communications Breakdown is a new podcast that breaks down what works (and doesn't) in health and science communication. Hosted by Tracy Mehan and Katrina Boylan, this podcast brings you into their world of research translation, health promotion, public health communications strategy, website and social media management, graphic design, and much more. 

Episodes

  1. Building Smarter Public Health Campaigns

    4 DAYS AGO

    Building Smarter Public Health Campaigns

    Send us a text Building a public health campaign shouldn’t start with what we want to say—it should start with who needs to hear it and what decisions they’re making in the moment. In this episode, we break down some of the things we think about when we create or participate in national campaigns, from pinning down primary and secondary audiences to finding the messengers they trust. We also get into why you shouldn't just use the photos you find on Google, and we close with a tip on designing for dark mode. Topics: National Injury Prevention DayStart With Audience, Not MessagesChoosing Channels And Social ConstraintsData Informs Action, Emotion Drives AttentionAudit Existing Resources And Fill GapsPartner-Friendly Assets And FormatsTone, Music, And Visuals Set EmotionJargon, Plain Language, And TrustImage Licenses: Risks And Best PracticesDark ModeLinks: National Injury Prevention Day (NIPD): https://nationalinjurypreventionday.org/ NIPD Post-Event Fireside Chat (Tracy is moderating!): https://nationalinjurypreventionday.org/kickoff-webinar#fireside-chat Copyright, Creative Commons, and Public Domain: https://youtu.be/BTNI1Od5IaA Reverse Image Search: https://youtu.be/3JJdFfNpaz8 Google License Sorting Tool: https://youtu.be/zjVgQgm7GY8 If you liked what you heard today, please consider subscribing to or following us. We also love it when you like or comment on the episode. Share it with somebody you think might like it. If you want to get in touch with us, there's a link in the show notes that will send us a text. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This podcast is a project of the Center for Injury Research Translation and Communication (CIRTC). Connect with CIRTC: www.cirtc.org Find CIRTC on LinkedIn, Bluesky, and YouTube. Note: all thoughts and opinions shared in this podcast are personal and not representative of any organization.

    40 min
  2. Attention First, Understanding Next: Overcoming the Illusion of Communication

    23 OCT

    Attention First, Understanding Next: Overcoming the Illusion of Communication

    Send us a text "The great enemy of communication...is the illusion of it." In this episode, we pull apart why your message might not be landing with your intended audience—or reaching them at all. From System 1 vs System 2 to creative risk, trade‑offs, and trusted messengers, we cover:    • getting your audience's attention in a crowded media climate  • from the Health Podcast Summit: three reasons messages fail  • health literacy beyond reading level: access, design, inclusion  • empathy for trade‑offs and offering workable alternatives  • new research on the "truth sandwich" and correcting misinformation ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Links from the episode: Quote: https://quoteinvestigator.com/2014/08/31/illusion/ Thinking, Fast and Slow: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thinking,_Fast_and_Slow CPSC links: https://www.instagram.com/uscpsc/; https://bsky.app/profile/cpsc.gov Dumb Ways to Die: Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJNR2EpS0jwWebsite: https://www.dumbwaystodie.com/Aaron Carroll, MD, MS: https://academyhealth.org/about/people/aaron-e-carroll-md-ms Health Podcast Summit: https://summit.healthpodcast.co/ Some research on the backfire effect: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11109-010-9112-2https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article-abstract/133/4/e835/32713/Effective-Messages-in-Vaccine-Promotion-A?redirectedFrom=fulltexthttps://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2819073Truth sandwich: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_sandwich “The truth sandwich format does not enhance the correction of misinformation” (Swire-Thompson et al) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40860910/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This podcast is a project of the Center for Injury Research Translation and Communication (CIRTC). Connect with CIRTC: www.cirtc.org Find CIRTC on LinkedIn, Bluesky, and YouTube. Note: all thoughts and opinions shared in this podcast are personal and not representative of any organization.

    32 min
  3. Soft Skills, Real Impact: Practical Wins for Health Comm

    29 SEPT

    Soft Skills, Real Impact: Practical Wins for Health Comm

    Send us a text In this episode, we highlight practical communication strategies that professionals can apply right away to extend their reach and impact. We start with insights from our CIRTC YouTube channel, where viewer trends reveal which skills are in highest demand. From there, we discuss why virtual conferences offer unique advantages that often go overlooked. We also spotlight compelling examples of health communication in action, from an Instagram post that makes you stop and think to an ER physician’s authentic video on medication safety. Finally, we share a simple but powerful messaging tip that can make your cause-and-effect statements clearer and more persuasive. Links from the episode: CIRTC YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@CIRTC_Donkey Brays https://www.instagram.com/p/DOlu8D1ERmN/ Brain and Beyond https://www.instagram.com/p/DOOHKzVE8qY/ BeachGem10 https://www.tiktok.com/@beachgem10/video/7483119035765296414Harvard SPH newsletter https://t.e2ma.net/message/fphqtj/jkgp9ksc~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This podcast is a project of the Center for Injury Research Translation and Communication (CIRTC). Connect with CIRTC: www.cirtc.org Find CIRTC on LinkedIn, Bluesky, and YouTube. Note: all thoughts and opinions shared in this podcast are personal and not representative of any organization.

    31 min
  4. Finding Your Voice: Navigating Social Media, Creative Choices, and Using AI to Create Music

    8 SEPT

    Finding Your Voice: Navigating Social Media, Creative Choices, and Using AI to Create Music

    Send us a text Tracy and Katrina reflect on the podcast launch and explore the rapidly evolving social media landscape for scientists and researchers, plus share insights from experimenting with AI-generated music. Chapters: Podcast Launch ReflectionsSocial Media Evolution Post-TwitterPlatform Selection StrategyMusic Selection with AI ToolsHuman Creativity vs AI GenerationClosing Thoughts and EncouragementResource from this podcast: Prompts and Keywords for AI Music Generation Article referenced: "Scientists no longer find Twitter professionally useful, and have switched to Bluesky" https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40637733 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This podcast is a project of the Center for Injury Research Translation and Communication (CIRTC). Connect with CIRTC: www.cirtc.org Find CIRTC on LinkedIn, Bluesky, and YouTube. Note: all thoughts and opinions shared in this podcast are personal and not representative of any organization.

    29 min
  5. Lessons from the Next Generation Part 3: Creativity and Dissemination Planning

    25 AUG

    Lessons from the Next Generation Part 3: Creativity and Dissemination Planning

    Send us a text What happens when classroom theory meets real-world health communication? Our three-part series concludes with a deep dive into the perspectives of emerging professionals as they navigate the transition from academic training to practical application in health communication. We explore how creativity, feedback, and real-world practice shape the future of health communication. From graphic design and Canva challenges to the value of iterative feedback, we hear from the next generation of public health professionals what surprised them most about the field and what it really takes to move from creating materials do getting them out into the world.  We wrap up with big-picture takeaways about accessibility, dissemination, and why health communication can (and should) be a space for creativity and fun.  If you are interested in seeing the documents we use to onboard our interns, you can find them on our website in the Resources from CB box.  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This podcast is a project of the Center for Injury Research Translation and Communication (CIRTC). Connect with CIRTC: www.cirtc.org Find CIRTC on LinkedIn, Bluesky, and YouTube. Note: all thoughts and opinions shared in this podcast are personal and not representative of any organization.

    25 min
  6. Lessons from the Next Generation Part 2: Language, Storytelling, and Design Skills that Matter

    25 AUG

    Lessons from the Next Generation Part 2: Language, Storytelling, and Design Skills that Matter

    Send us a text What happens when academic language meets real-world health communication needs? In this episode—the second in a three-part series—we continue to explore some of the gaps between academic training and practical application in health communication. At the end of Part 1, our conversation turned toward accessibility, and Part 2 picks up there, expanding into language and word choice and how to translate data into compelling stories that resonate with audiences. We close this session by discussing skills like evaluating resources for credibility and using programs like Canva for health communication. Check out for Part 3 where we continue our conversation about graphic design, creativity, and planning for effective dissemination of health information. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This podcast is a project of the Center for Injury Research Translation and Communication (CIRTC). Connect with CIRTC: www.cirtc.org Find CIRTC on LinkedIn, Bluesky, and YouTube. Note: all thoughts and opinions shared in this podcast are personal and not representative of any organization.

    25 min
  7. Lessons from the Next Generation Part 1: The Missing Pieces in Health Comm Education

    25 AUG

    Lessons from the Next Generation Part 1: The Missing Pieces in Health Comm Education

    Send us a text What do emerging professionals in health communication wish they'd learned in school? In a long, revealing conversation, we dive into candid interviews with three recent interns who came to us from diverse educational backgrounds. Our discussion centers on a critical reality: students pursuing careers in public health communication receive minimal hands-on experience during their formal education. While they may learn theoretical frameworks and analyze existing campaigns, it’s challenging to replicate the work environment in an academic setting, so skills like accessibility and translating data for different audiences are often new concepts to the students who pass through our program.  This episode, the first in a three-part series, offers valuable insights for educators, health communication professionals, and students alike about bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world practice.  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This podcast is a project of the Center for Injury Research Translation and Communication (CIRTC). Connect with CIRTC: www.cirtc.org Find CIRTC on LinkedIn, Bluesky, and YouTube. Note: all thoughts and opinions shared in this podcast are personal and not representative of any organization.

    29 min
  8. When Public Health Meets the Instagram Era

    25 AUG

    When Public Health Meets the Instagram Era

    Send us a text Remember when social media was just typing out a quick message and hitting “post”? Those days are long gone, replaced by the constant pressure to create eye-catching visuals that also have impact. This isn't just about aesthetics—it's about whether important health messages are being seen at all in today's crowded digital landscape.  In this candid conversation, we pull back the curtain on a struggle facing countless health communicators: the growing demands of visual communication in a field where most practitioners received little to no visual design training. We explore the disconnect between what public health students learn in school versus what they need in practice, and whether the return on investment for visual-first platforms justifies the resources required. Beyond identifying problems, we discuss strategic approaches to platform selection, ways to develop visual communication skills, and how reframing challenges through positive motivation can transform outcomes. Have you experienced similar challenges in your health communication work? We'd love to hear your thoughts and strategies! Talk to us on LinkedIn, Bluesky, and YouTube, or text using the link at the top of this box. In the episode we refer to the PH Wins report (Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey). You can find that document at: https://debeaumont.org/phwins/2024-survey/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This podcast is a project of the Center for Injury Research Translation and Communication (CIRTC). Connect with CIRTC: www.cirtc.org Find CIRTC on LinkedIn, Bluesky, and YouTube. Note: all thoughts and opinions shared in this podcast are personal and not representative of any organization.

    33 min
  9. Welcome to Communications Breakdown!

    25 AUG

    Welcome to Communications Breakdown!

    Send us a text Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of public health messaging? How scientific research moves from dense academic journals to information that actually changes lives? Communications Breakdown is a new podcast that invites you into the world of strategic communication planning, message crafting, and research translation.  We're your hosts, Tracy Mehan and Katrina Boylan, and in this first episode, we'll talk you through: why we started Communications Breakdownhow we each found the field of health communicationthe education and experiences we draw on to create accurate, accessible, eye-catching health promotion campaignsWhether you're a researcher wanting to share your work more effectively, a communication professional looking to sharpen your skills, or simply someone interested in how health information reaches the public, we're sharing our insights with warmth, humor, and expertise.  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This podcast is a project of the Center for Injury Research Translation and Communication (CIRTC). Connect with CIRTC: www.cirtc.org Find CIRTC on LinkedIn, Bluesky, and YouTube. Note: all thoughts and opinions shared in this podcast are personal and not representative of any organization.

    12 min
  • 9 Episodes

About

Communications Breakdown is a new podcast that breaks down what works (and doesn't) in health and science communication. Hosted by Tracy Mehan and Katrina Boylan, this podcast brings you into their world of research translation, health promotion, public health communications strategy, website and social media management, graphic design, and much more. 

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