Higher Education with Dr. B Fran

Peoples Media
  • 5.0 (16)
  • SOCIAL SCIENCES
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Unlocking health equity is not just a goal—it's a necessity. In this insightful and powerful podcast, we dive deep into the complex web of structural determinants that fuel health disparities for marginalized communities. Join Dr. BFran with leading experts, innovators, and change-makers as they explore the root causes of these inequities and share actionable strategies to break down barriers, empowering us all to create a more just and equitable health landscape. Whether you're a health professional, advocate, or simply passionate about making a difference, this pod class offers the knowledge and inspiration you need to help shape a healthier future for everyone. Tune in and join the movement towards true health equity.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 5D AGO

    BBHMM: The Public Health Case for Reparations

    What did RiRi say? Lock in for a brand-new episode of Higher Education with Dr. BFran where today’s conversation turns bold ideas into necessary dialogue. Dr. BFran is joined by Drs. Mary Bassett and Jourdyn Lawrence for a powerful discussion on reparations for the Transatlantic Slave Trade and why public health must be part of the conversation. While reparations are often framed around wealth gaps and infrastructure, this episode explores another urgent question: What would reparations mean for Black health and survival? Together, they break down groundbreaking research showing how reparations payments could reduce premature mortality rates among Black Americans, unpack what a reparations package could actually look like, who would qualify, and who would be responsible for paying the debt owed. Through a transnational lens, they also examine what collective global action toward reparations could look like following the UN resolution declaring the Transatlantic Slave Trade one of the gravest crimes against humanity — and what it means that the United States was one of only three countries to vote against it. The conversation also explores how public health research is shaping the growing movement for reparative justice. From fiction to policy, from history to possibility, this episode pushes listeners to think deeper, question systems harder, and imagine a future grounded in racial health equity. Tap in, stay informed, and join the conversation because it’s not just about what we learn, it’s about what we’re willing to confront. For more from Dr. Brittney Francis: Tik Tok Instagram Publications Produced by Peoples Media Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    54 min

  2. MAY 8

    Sexual Violence Impacts on Health

    Are you tuned in? Lock in to this new episode of Higher Education with Dr. BFran Dr. BFran sits down with Shahem McLaurin, licensed therapist, founder of an independent mental health agency, and public mental health educator for a powerful, eye-opening conversation about the realities of sexual violence and the systems that allow it to persist. Together, they unpack the mental and physical impacts of sexual violence, the power imbalances woven into our culture, and why community-based solutions are essential for healing and redistributing resources where they’re needed most. Through an intersectional lens, they dive into how race, gender, class, politics, and religion shape the way society understands and often misunderstands sexual violence. They also tackle the growing visibility of the manosphere alongside cuts to programs addressing child trafficking and sexual violence, making this discussion more timely and urgent than ever. From history and policy to power and reproductive justice, this episode challenges listeners to think deeper, ask harder questions, and imagine what real change could look like. Tap in, stay informed, and join the conversation because it isn’t just about what we learn, it’s about what we’re willing to confront. For more from Dr. Brittney Francis: Tik Tok Instagram Publications Produced by Peoples Media Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    49 min

  3. MAY 1

    Inside ICE Custody: Abuse, Illness, and Broken Healthcare

    In this episode of Higher Ed with Dr. B Fran, Dr. B Fran talks about the public health impacts of the growing surveillance and detention being done by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). She breaks down how an increased surveillance state under ICE has increased anticipatory stress, interrupted health care visits, fractured community and family connection, and reduced access to prenatal and postpartum care. The conversation goes deeper to discuss the mental and physical health consequences of family separation, sexual abuse while in ICE custody, measles outbreaks in facilities, and the battle for funding while dismantling public health infrastructure. At a time when the president is endorsing changing the name from ICE to NICE and expanding funding for this harmful agency it is imperative that we have a conversation about how this can significant health harms. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion that talks about where we are right now and where we might be headed. For more from Dr. Brittney Francis: Tik Tok Instagram Publications Produced by Peoples Media Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    40 min

  4. APR 24

    "Foreign Aid is Not Charity": The America First Global Health Strategy

    In this episode of Higher Education with Dr. B Fran, Dr. B Fran is joined by Zil Audi-Poquillon, a Kenyan health economist studying at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Join us for a timely conversation unpacking the new America First Global Health Strategy. Together, they break down how this deal came to be in the face of WHO and USAID funding cuts, what is at risk if countries do not agree to the terms, how this fits into America’s goals of security and prosperity, and the power of collective bargaining. But this conversation goes deeper. Through a global lens, they explore how these bi-lateral agreements could significantly impact overall economic development for many African countries and be replicated across Latin America and the Caribbean. Shifting health outcomes, data, innovation and technologies globally. Given the swift dismantling of public health infrastructure globally, deals like this prime a shift from public health to private health.  Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion that connects health, policy, and power revealing what’s at stake in the ongoing fight for global health equity. America First Global Health Strategy Rubio Clip LSE Global Health For more from Dr. Brittney Francis: Tik Tok Instagram Publications Produced by Peoples Media Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    58 min

  5. APR 10

    The Roof is on Fire: State of Public Health in 2026

    In this episode of Higher Ed with Dr. B Fran, Dr. B Fran talks about the state of public health in the United States for National Public Health Week. She breaks down the changes that have been happening domestically in terms of environmental rollbacks, health insurance, TrumpRx, rollout of rural healthcare programs, and more. The US is currently experiencing a major defunding and dismantling that started back in the early days of the Trump administration and just when you think it cant get any worse it does. Public health used to be a public good that was funded and supported by federal tax dollars but we are seeing a greater push towards individual states having to exclusively take on the burden of public health while sumilatenouhsely seeing a rise in privatized corporations taking on health and turning in into a commodity that will soon be out of reach for many Americans.  Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion that talks about where we are right now and where we might be headed.  For more from Dr. Brittney Francis: Tik Tok  Instagram  Publications Produced by Peoples Media Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    49 min

  6. APR 3

    Saving Who? The Politics of Family, Power, and Reproduction

    In Episode 2 of Higher Ed with Dr. B Fran, Dr. B Fran is joined by Dr. Deirdre Cooper Owens for a powerful and timely conversation unpacking Project 2026, also known as the Saving America by Saving the Family report. Together, they break down the report’s push around family structure, marriage, and reproductive policies aimed at increasing birth rates under the banner of “American values.” But this conversation goes deeper. Through an intersectional lens, they explore how race, gender, class, and political and religious ideologies shape policies like these and draw striking parallels to reproductive control during the era of enslavement. As similar frameworks gain traction in shaping legislation in the U.S. and beyond, understanding their origins and implications has never been more urgent. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion that connects history, policy, and power revealing what’s at stake in the ongoing fight for reproductive justice. For more from Dr. Brittney Francis: Tik Tok  Instagram  Publications Produced by Peoples Media Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    56 min

  7. MAR 27

    Don't Call it a Come Back

    “Weʻre back for a whole new season, and we are not easing in quietly!”  In this powerful season opener of Higher Ed with Dr. B Fran, Dr. B Fran gets real about where she’s been and what it means to navigate both the personal and professional toll of watching public health infrastructure unravel, not just in the U.S., but across the globe. This episode sets the tone for a bold new season. Dr. B Fran breaks down how the field has shifted, what’s at stake, and why understanding all sides, including the opposition, is critical to figuring out how we got here. She also introduces a more global lens for upcoming episodes, connecting the dots between geopolitical changes and the future of health equity worldwide. She asks the question we can’t afford to ignore: Who are we making “America healthy again” for? If health equity is truly the goal, we have to think bigger. As global health systems face increasing strain, Dr. B Fran challenges us to consider what comes next: Will we be ready to rebuild something stronger and more just or will the future of health fall into the hands of private interests driven by profit over people? Honest, thought-provoking, and deeply necessary, this episode is your call to tune in, reflect, and get ready for a season that doesn’t shy away from the hard conversations. For more from Dr. Brittney Francis: Tik Tok  Instagram  Publications Produced by Peoples Media Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    49 min

  8. 05/22/2025

    Project 2025, Part 3: Dismantling Care – The Future of Medicaid, Medicare, and Health Justice

    In Part 3 of our deep dive into Project 2025, we’re turning our attention to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)—and what’s at stake as powerful forces push to reshape it. Fresh off the confirmation of CMS’s 17th Administrator, we’re already seeing the outlines of a radical shift: one that proposes over $800 billion in cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and SNAP over the next decade. Framed as “fiscal responsibility,” these proposed changes are more than just budget adjustments—they're an ideological attack on the health care safety net that millions rely on. And it doesn’t stop there. The plan outlines sweeping restrictions on access to reproductive health care, slashes funding for Planned Parenthood, and seeks to eliminate support for gender-affirming care for trans people. In this episode, Dr. B Fran breaks down what these proposed reforms mean for public health. From defunding care to redefining who gets to be healthy, Project 2025 threatens to undo decades of progress in health equity and social justice. Let’s talk about the policies, the politics, and why this moment demands our full attention. For more from Dr. Brittney Francis: Tik Tok  Instagram  Publications Produced by Peoples Media Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 21m
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About

Unlocking health equity is not just a goal—it's a necessity. In this insightful and powerful podcast, we dive deep into the complex web of structural determinants that fuel health disparities for marginalized communities. Join Dr. BFran with leading experts, innovators, and change-makers as they explore the root causes of these inequities and share actionable strategies to break down barriers, empowering us all to create a more just and equitable health landscape. Whether you're a health professional, advocate, or simply passionate about making a difference, this pod class offers the knowledge and inspiration you need to help shape a healthier future for everyone. Tune in and join the movement towards true health equity.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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