Public Health Joy: Community Power, Health Equity, and Leadership in Action

Dr. Joyee Washington
  • 4.9 (15)
  • SOCIAL SCIENCES
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Public Health Joy is a podcast for public health professionals, researchers, and community leaders who believe equity, justice, and healing belong at the center of public health work. Hosted by Dr. Joyee Washington, the show explores community-engaged research, health equity, leadership, policy, technology, entrepreneurship and sustainable public health careers, bridging strategy with soul to reimagine public health. This is a space where rest fuels resistance, community power drives change, and public health becomes a tool for collective healing and transformation.

  1. S5 EP5 - From Salary to Six Figures: Public Health Consulting as a Career Path for Leadership Impact

    APR 3

    S5 EP5 - From Salary to Six Figures: Public Health Consulting as a Career Path for Leadership Impact

    In this episode of the Public Health Joy podcast, Dr. Joyee Washington interviews Dr. Desiree Strickland, founder of the Public Health Club, about how consulting can be a tool for freedom rather than burnout. Dr. Strickland shares her journey into public health consulting and how professionals can leverage their expertise to increase both impact and income — without sacrificing their well-being. They explore the hustler mindset, effective communication, and the role of social media and AI in expanding opportunity. The conversation also touches on building values-driven businesses, reimagining public health education, and creating career paths that honor community while protecting your capacity. A must-listen for public health leaders ready to thrive as entrepreneurs and make a lasting difference. Key Points From This Episode: Helping public health professionals increase their impact and income. [00:32 – 02:00] The journey from a traditional public health job to consulting. [02:00 – 05:15] The importance of a hustler mindset in entrepreneurship. [07:08 – 11:32] Navigating non-federal consulting opportunities. [05:15 – 07:08] The significance of effective communication in public health. [29:53 – 31:19] Reimagining public health in a post-COVID world. [13:36 – 16:15] Building a sustainable career in public health. [16:45 – 19:42] The role of social media and AI in disseminating public health information. [32:11 – 35:30] The need for public health education to adapt to current realities. [28:30 – 29:53] Encouraging public health professionals to market their skills and services. [20:38 – 22:27] If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review! For more transcripts, show notes, and more visit: Click Here

    42 min
  2. S5 EP 4 - Intersectionality and Health Equity: Why Justice Must Be at the Center of Public Health

    MAR 20

    S5 EP 4 - Intersectionality and Health Equity: Why Justice Must Be at the Center of Public Health

    In this new episode of the Public Health Joy Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Lisa Bowleg, Founder and CEO of the Intersectionality Training Institute, for a conversation that challenges how we think about research, power, and purpose. Together, we dig into what it really means to do research in service of communities, not just for publications and career advancement. Dr. Bowleg opens up about the structural barriers inside academia, the courage it takes to unlearn what we've been taught, and why centering lived experience is essential to research that actually creates change. From the roots of intersectionality to the realities of doing justice work in today’s climate, this episode is both a wake-up call and an affirmation. One thing is clear: if your work is rooted in real values and real communities, you keep going — no matter what. If you care about health equity, community-led research, and staying grounded in your purpose, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Key Points From This Episode: Intersectionality is a critical framework for understanding health equity. [03:37 – 05:44] Everyone has multiple intersecting identities that relate to power dynamics. [05:44 – 07:46] Research should incorporate lived experiences and emotions. [10:23 – 13:44] Community engagement is essential for actionable research outcomes. [14:26 – 19:21] Unlearning traditional academic practices is crucial for effective research. [21:12 – 24:57] Intersectionality serves as a glue connecting various social justice issues. [17:15 – 19:21] Joy in social justice work can be a powerful motivator. [34:44 – 36:03] Democracy requires active participation and commitment. [33:11 – 34:17] The academic system has structural barriers to community-led research. [19:21 – 21:12] Building community connections enhances the impact of research. [36:13 – 38:39] If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review! For more transcripts, show notes, and more visit: Click Here

    39 min
  3. S5 EP3 - Fighting Corporate Influence in Public Health: Building Community Power for Health Equity

    MAR 6

    S5 EP3 - Fighting Corporate Influence in Public Health: Building Community Power for Health Equity

    In this powerful episode of the Public Health Joy Podcast, Dr. Joyee Washington sits down with Vinu Ilakkuvan, founder of POP Health and The Gaslit Project, for a bold conversation about power, policy, and people. Together, they unpack what community power really means in public health—and why it’s essential in a landscape where corporate interests often shape health policy behind the scenes. Vinu shares how communities can organize, build lasting connections, and take strategic action to challenge systems that put profit over people. From real-world stories of successful grassroots resistance to practical insights on sustaining activism, this episode is both a wake-up call and a roadmap. At the heart of the conversation is a clear message: reclaiming health and well-being requires a shift in power—and collective action is how we get there. If you care about health equity, accountability, and building community-led change, this episode is one you won’t want to miss. Key Points From This Episode: Community power is essential for driving policy change. [04:40 – 05:28] Corporate influence often undermines public health efforts. [04:40 – 06:03] Building connections within communities is crucial for activism. [08:20 – 09:07] Collective action can lead to significant change. [07:38 – 08:10]  Inconvenience in community building is worth the effort. [10:00 – 12:00] Success stories inspire further activism and engagement. [28:36 – 32:06] Gaslit aims to empower communities against corporate power. [04:40 – 05:28] Public health must focus on root causes of health disparities. [02:20 – 04:40] Individual actions are important, but collective efforts are more effective. [26:14 – 28:26] The act of caring for communities is under attack. [24:45 – 25:38] If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review! For more transcripts, show notes,and more visit: Click Here

    43 min
  4. S5 EP 2- Using AI to Reimagine Public Health Training and Workforce Development

    FEB 20

    S5 EP 2- Using AI to Reimagine Public Health Training and Workforce Development

    In this episode of the Public Health Joy Podcast, Dr. Joyee Washington sits down with Quisha Umemba—registered nurse, public health leader, and CEO of Umemba Health—to talk about what it really looks like to bring AI into public health work with clarity, integrity, and impact.  Quisha shares her journey from initial resistance (“this is cheating!”) to becoming a certified AI consultant who now trains organizations to reduce busy work and increase people work. Dr. Together, Dr. Joyee and Dr. Umemba unpack what AI can do, what it shouldn’t do, and why public health is in an era of redesign that demands innovation without abandoning ethics, community wisdom, or human insight. Key Points From This Episode: Building Umemba Health at the intersection of public health expertise + learning innovation [1:45] Why “AI translator” is the perfect title for leaders helping teams cut through complexity [40:00] The mindset shift: AI doesn’t replace your expertise—it amplifies it [4:57] Why public health burnout makes AI’s time-saving potential especially relevant [7:34] The “AI iceberg”: why ChatGPT is only the tip, and what else exists beyond it [14:09] How AI can reduce curriculum development time from 20–40 hours down to 4–6 hours [22:40] Using AI for qualitative analysis, data storytelling, and leadership reporting—while keeping a human in the loop [23:27] Real concerns: ethics, privacy, intellectual property, environmental impacts, and “knowledge decay” [32:30] Planting seeds, building confidence, and helping people move from confusion to clarity [39:46] If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review! For more transcripts, show notes,and more visit: Click Here

    43 min
  5. S5 EP1 : The Bigger the Promise, The Bigger the Warfare: Preparing Public Health for Rebuilding

    FEB 6

    S5 EP1 : The Bigger the Promise, The Bigger the Warfare: Preparing Public Health for Rebuilding

    Season 5 of The Public Health Podcast opens with a powerful keynote from Dr. Joyee Washington, delivered at the 2026 Public Health Joy Summit. In Rest, Reimagine, Rebuild, Dr. Joyee invites the public health community into a deeply honest reflection on where we are, and where we must go next. This episode acknowledges the collective grief, exhaustion, and disillusionment many public health professionals are carrying. Rather than rushing past it, Dr. Joyee names it. Honors it. And reframes it as a necessary starting point for transformation. At the heart of this keynote is a radical but essential message: rest is not a reward, it is a strategic weapon. Dr. Joyee challenges listeners to move beyond survival mode and reclaim rest as a tool for sustainability, clarity, and power. From there, she calls on the community to reimagine public health through abundance, not scarcity, to dream bigger than burnout has allowed and to remember what drew us to this work in the first place. This vision is not meant to be carried alone. Dr. Joyee emphasizes the necessity of rebuilding together, through community, mutual support, and shared responsibility. This episode is both a grounding and a rallying cry. A moment to pause and a call to act. The promise of public health is not broken. It is not over. And it is not small. It is waiting to be rebuilt stronger, wiser, and more expansive than ever before. Key Points From This Episode: Reflect on what public health means to you. [1:55] Grief is a necessary part of the healing process. [3:15] The current state of public health is a war. [5:46] Rest is a strategic weapon, not a retreat. [12:45] Dreaming in abundance is essential for progress. [15:00] Community building is crucial for rebuilding efforts. [19:00] Sacrifice is often required in the fight for justice. [21:40] Each generation has its own assignment to fulfill. [23:00] We are in a war, and we will win. [25:45] If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review! For more transcripts, show notes, and more, visit: Click Here

    29 min
  6. S4 E22: The Gift of Endurance-2025 Reflections in Public Health

    12/19/2025

    S4 E22: The Gift of Endurance-2025 Reflections in Public Health

    In this powerful solo Season 4 finale of The Public Health Joy Podcast, Dr. Joyee Washington shares a deeply personal reflection on what 2025 demanded of her — and what it revealed about all of us in public health. After reaching a long-dreamed-of six-figure milestone, Dr. Joy entered 2025 expecting abundance. Instead, she encountered one of the most challenging years of her life — marked by financial strain, caregiving, spiritual warfare, and the continued dismantling of public health systems. In this episode, Dr. Joyee unpacks the truth many don’t talk about: abundance is not accessed without first confronting scarcity. This is a conversation about endurance — not as survival, but as preparation. About joy — not as softness, but as strategy. And about rebuilding public health not from institutions rooted in extraction, but from communities rooted in healing, power, and faith. Key Points From This Episode: Health professionals are burned out, underfunded, and under attack.[1:00] We need more than just another conference; we need restoration. [3:00] Joy is a strategic choice in public health. [5:00] You can't step into abundance until you face scarcity. [6:00] Scarcity mindset affects both mental and physical health. [7:00] Endurance is built through challenges, not ease. [17:00] Abundance and scarcity cannot coexist. [20:00] Choosing joy amidst adversity is an act of resistance. [21:00] Public health is at a reckoning, exposing old systems. [23:00] Community is essential for transformation and healing. [25:00} If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review! For more transcripts, show notes,and more visit: https://joyeewashington.com/public-health-joy-season-4/

    30 min
  7. S4 E21 - Shorten the Distance: Using technology and community to bridge the gap for equity

    12/05/2025

    S4 E21 - Shorten the Distance: Using technology and community to bridge the gap for equity

    In this episode of The Public Health Joy Podcast, Dr. Joyee sits down with Silas Buchanan, founder and CEO of Our Healthy Community, a social impact consulting firm in partnership with Morehouse School of Medicine. Their mission: to close the distance between faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, and healthcare stakeholders. Together, Dr. Joyee and Silas explore what it truly means to bridge the gaps between communities and the health systems meant to serve them. Silas shares why a web-based ecosystem is essential for empowering underserved communities through technology, ownership, and collaboration. He also highlights the influence of faith-based institutions in health messaging and the urgent need for community voices in designing digital health tools. This conversation shines a light on equity in research and the transformative power of community engagement in achieving real health equity. Key Points From This Episode: The goal is to bridge gaps between community organizations and healthcare stakeholders. [02:46] Technology can empower communities and improve health outcomes.[08:57] Community input is essential in the design of health technologies. [12:00] Ownership of digital spaces is crucial for community control. [14:53] Equity in research and development is necessary for effective solutions. [20:57] Faith-based organizations play a vital role in health messaging. [23:52] Options are better than money; providing more choices leads to empowerment. [29:54] If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review! For more transcripts, show notes,and more visit: https://joyeewashington.com/public-health-joy-season-4/

    44 min
  8. S4 EP 20- You Are the Movement: Welcome to Public Health Joy

    11/21/2025

    S4 EP 20- You Are the Movement: Welcome to Public Health Joy

    In this episode of The Public Health Joy Podcast, Dr. Joyee takes listeners behind the scenes of the movement that is reshaping how we think about public health. With honesty, vulnerability, and clarity. Dr. Joyee speaks to the exhaustion, grief, and burnout that so many public health professionals are carrying in 2025. She acknowledges the frustration of working in systems that undermine your purpose, devalue your expertise, and drain your spirit—and she assures listeners: I see you, because I am you. Dr. Joyee shares her own journey from surviving toxic institutions to building a six-figure, community-led consulting practice rooted in equity and liberation. She highlights the hard truths of the field today: public health has been attacked, funding slashed, and trust eroded. Yet even in the midst of collapse, she insists that joy, purpose, and power are still within reach. This episode introduces the framework that guides the entire Public Health Joy movement: Rest, Reimagine, Rebuild, Resist. Dr. Joyee breaks down why rest is essential to liberation work, how re-imagining frees us from institutional dependency, how rebuilding equips us to act on our purpose, and how resistance fuels sustainability rather than burnout. Listeners are invited to join the Public Health Joy Summit happening January 14–16, 2026—a virtual, immersive experience that offers practical skill-building, community care, real-world training, and a collective space for reimagining what public health can become. Dr. Joyee reminds us that institutional permission is not required to transform communities—and the future of public health depends on the leaders who dare to build new systems now. Key Points From This Episode: Public health is about community, not just institutions. Rest is essential for sustainable public health work. Community-led solutions can transform public health. The current systems are designed to control, not serve. Public Health Joy is a resistance movement. We need to re-imagine public health together. Burnout culture is detrimental to public health professionals. The Public Health Joy Summit is a call to action. Your lived experience is valuable in public health. Joy is a revolutionary act in the face of adversity. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review! For more transcripts, show notes,and more visit: https://joyeewashington.com/public-health-joy-season-4/

    21 min
See All (83)

Trailer

4.9
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

Public Health Joy is a podcast for public health professionals, researchers, and community leaders who believe equity, justice, and healing belong at the center of public health work. Hosted by Dr. Joyee Washington, the show explores community-engaged research, health equity, leadership, policy, technology, entrepreneurship and sustainable public health careers, bridging strategy with soul to reimagine public health. This is a space where rest fuels resistance, community power drives change, and public health becomes a tool for collective healing and transformation.

Information