Healthy Desert Healthy You

Desert Healthcare District & Foundation
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Weekly

The Desert Healthcare District & Foundation, based in Palm Springs, CA, produces Healthy Desert Healthy You as part of a regional health and wellness educational outreach campaign for residents in the Coachella Valley desert communities of Southern California. The program features interviews with a variety of people who are stakeholders in the physical, mental and environmental wellness of the areas residents. More information is available at www.dhcd.org and www.healthydeserthealthyyou.com. The podcast is hosted by Will Dean, Director of Communications, at the Desert Healthcare District & Foundation.

  1. 3d ago

    Tina Burns, California Scottish Rite Foundation | Helping Children Find Their Voices and Thrive

    Helping children communicate can transform their confidence, relationships, and classroom success. On Healthy Desert Healthy You, host Will Dean welcomes Tina Burns, Speech Language Pathologist and Clinical Director of the California Scottish Rite Foundation, to explore speech, language, and literacy services provided at no cost to families. Burns discusses developmental milestones, the importance of early intervention, and how pandemic disruptions affected access to support. She explains how play based therapy, caregiver coaching, and school collaboration help children build communication skills. Hear Matthew’s journey from struggling to speak to connecting with classmates and grandparents. Learn about the Coachella Valley center serving children ages three to thirteen, the need for more speech language pathologists, and how philanthropic support sustains these essential services at nineteen centers throughout California. Takeaways: Early intervention supports communication, confidence, and relationships.Speech challenges deserve attention beyond waiting and seeing.Developmental milestones help families recognize potential concerns.Play makes therapy engaging and meaningful.Caregiver coaching extends learning into everyday activities.School collaboration strengthens support across learning environments.Philanthropy funds services at no cost to families.Training future speech language pathologists addresses workforce shortages. #HealthyDesertHealthyYouPodcast #WillDean #DesertHealthcareDistrictAndFoundation #CommunityWellness #TinaBurns #CaliforniaScottishRiteFoundation #RiteCare #CoachellaValley #ChildhoodCommunication #SpeechTherapy #LanguageDevelopment #EarlyIntervention #ChildhoodLiteracy #DevelopmentalMilestones #CaregiverCoaching #PlayBasedTherapy #SchoolCollaboration #SpeechLanguagePathologists #Philanthropy #FamilySupport

    Tina Burns, California Scottish Rite Foundation | Helping Children Find Their Voices and Thrive

  2. Sep 30

    Olivia Rodriguez, Youth Leadership Institute | Youth Voices Shape Healthier Coachella Valley

    Recorded at the 2026 Healthy Desert Healthy You Summit in Rancho Mirage, host Will Dean talks with Olivia Rodriguez of the Youth Leadership Institute about helping Eastern Coachella Valley youth shape healthier communities. Olivia explains how poor air quality, limited infrastructure, and barriers to care affect mental health, especially in rural communities. She highlights youth research, welcoming community spaces, and trained peers and adult allies who can connect young people with trusted support. The conversation also explores social media, artificial intelligence, misinformation, and YLI’s HOPE campaign for healthier online platforms. Olivia shares why families, schools, and policymakers should include youth in developing solutions, and how residents can support local programs that strengthen connection, elevate youth voices, and advance environmental justice and community wellness for everyone. Takeaways: Youth voices guide local priorities and solutions.Poor air quality affects youth mental health.Rural communities face barriers to mental healthcare.Trained peers connect youth with trusted resources.Welcoming community spaces strengthen connection and wellbeing.Social media and AI raise misinformation concerns.HOPE advocates for healthier online platforms.Include youth in decisions affecting their lives. #HealthyDesertHealthyYouPodcast #WillDean #DesertHealthcareDistrictAndFoundation #CommunityWellness #OliviaRodriguez #YouthLeadershipInstitute #HealthyDesertHealthyYou2026Summit #EasternCoachellaValley #YouthMentalHealth #EnvironmentalJustice #PeerSupport #YouthLeadership #YouthVoices #MentalHealthAccess #CommunitySpaces #SocialConnection #HealthyOnlinePlatformsForEveryone #SocialMediaSafety #ArtificialIntelligence

    Olivia Rodriguez, Youth Leadership Institute | Youth Voices Shape Healthier Coachella Valley

  3. Sep 24

    Paula Simonds, Alzheimer’s Coachella Valley | Finding Joy and Connection Through Dementia Support

    An Alzheimer’s diagnosis can change daily life, but joy and connection remain possible. Recorded at the 2026 Healthy Desert, Healthy You Summit in Rancho Mirage, host Will Dean speaks with Paula Simonds, Executive Director of Alzheimer’s Coachella Valley, about helping families navigate dementia together. Paula shares how the organization’s free services, including early assessment screenings, counseling, and care partner support, meet local needs. Discover how art and music encourage expression, spark conversation, and create meaningful moments for people with dementia and their loved ones. Learn about Tunes for the Memories, Club Journey, and opportunities to support these programs through donations and lunch sponsorships. Paula also previews an October open house that welcomes residents to explore resources and start important conversations about memory concerns and support. Takeaways: Free services help families navigate dementia together.Early screenings address concerns about memory changes.Care partners benefit from support and counseling.Art encourages expression, connection, and meaningful conversation.Music creates opportunities for joy and connection.Club Journey brings families together through activities.Donations and lunch sponsorships sustain free programs.Open house welcomes conversations about memory concerns. #HealthyDesertHealthyYouPodcast #WillDean #DesertHealthcareDistrictAndFoundation #CommunityWellness #PaulaSimonds #AlzheimersCoachellaValley #HealthyDesertHealthyYou2026Summit #DementiaSupport #CarePartnerSupport #MemoryCare #ArtAndMusic #TunesForTheMemories #ClubJourney #EarlyMemoryScreening #FamilySupport #FreeCommunityPrograms #CoachellaValley #RanchoMirage #LunchSponsorships #AlzheimersAwareness

    Paula Simonds, Alzheimer’s Coachella Valley | Finding Joy and Connection Through Dementia Support

  4. Sep 17

    Dr. Takashi Wada, IEHP | Bringing Healthcare Closer to Coachella Valley Communities

    Dr. Takashi Wada, Vice President of Population Health at Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP), joins host Will Dean from the 2026 Healthy Desert Healthy You Summit to discuss expanding healthcare access across the Coachella Valley. Dr. Wada explains why mobile medical clinics, virtual care, and telehealth can bring essential services directly to people, from behavioral health and vision care to mammograms, dental services, and specialist consultations. He also addresses provider shortages, the importance of developing local healthcare talent, and incentives that can attract professionals to underserved communities. The conversation explores how partnerships, community collaboration, and emerging technologies—including artificial intelligence and remote health kiosks—could make care convenient, accessible, and responsive while strengthening health outcomes across the desert region for residents who face transportation and distance barriers. Takeaways: Mobile clinics bring healthcare directly to communities.Virtual care expands access to specialists.Behavioral health works effectively through telehealth.Technology makes mobile healthcare increasingly sophisticated.Coachella Valley faces significant provider shortages.Local talent can strengthen healthcare workforce pipelines.Partnerships help address social drivers of health.Artificial intelligence may expand future healthcare access. #HealthyDesertHealthyYouPodcast #WillDean #DesertHealthcareDistrictAndFoundation #CommunityWellness #DrTakashiWada #IEHP #InlandEmpireHealthPlan #HealthyDesertHealthyYou2026Summit #HealthcareAccess #MobileMedicalClinics #VirtualCare #Telehealth #BehavioralHealth #PopulationHealth #CoachellaValley #HealthcareWorkforce #SocialDriversOfHealth #CommunityHealth #ArtificialIntelligence #HealthEquity

    Dr. Takashi Wada, IEHP | Bringing Healthcare Closer to Coachella Valley Communities

  5. Sep 3

    Sarah Fry, Acting Dean | COD Nursing Program | Growing the Coachella Valley’s Nursing Workforce

    College of the Desert is expanding its nursing pipeline to meet the Coachella Valley’s growing healthcare workforce needs. Host Will Dean talks with Sarah Fry, Acting Dean of Mathematics and Sciences and Director of Nursing and Allied Health, about the college’s CNA, LVN, RN, and advanced placement pathways; rapid enrollment growth; and strong local graduate retention. Fry explains how community partnerships and the Healthcare Workforce Leadership Roundtable helped more than double RN admissions, while scholarships support students through a demanding program. They also discuss changing nursing roles, clinical judgment, technology, career exploration, dual enrollment, high school health academies, workforce retention, and the importance of collaboration among educators, employers, and community organizations. Fry also previews her participation in the 2026 Healthy Desert Healthy You Summit together. Takeaways: Nursing enrollment has more than doubled.Ninety percent of graduates stay locally.Local partnerships strengthen healthcare workforce development.Scholarships help nursing students remain focused.Nursing increasingly requires strong clinical judgment.Dual enrollment creates earlier healthcare pathways.Retention matters as much as recruitment.Collaboration builds a sustainable workforce pipeline. #HealthyDesertHealthyYouPodcast #WillDean #DesertHealthcareDistrictAndFoundation #CommunityWellness #SarahFry #NursingEducation #CollegeOfTheDesert #HealthcareAcademy #HealthyDesertHealthyYou2026Summit #HealthcareWorkforce #NursingWorkforce #CoachellaValley #RegisteredNurses #NursingCareers #HealthcareCareers #WorkforceDevelopment #ClinicalJudgment #DualEnrollment #HealthcarePartnerships #CommunityHealthcare

    Sarah Fry, Acting Dean | COD Nursing Program | Growing the Coachella Valley’s Nursing Workforce

  6. Aug 20

    Seham Saba, Riverside Latino Commission | Early Intervention Builds Stronger Youth Mental Health

    Seham Saba, Head of Mental Health Services at the Riverside Latino Commission, joins host Will Dean to discuss the changing mental health needs of families and youth across the Coachella Valley. Saba explains why culturally responsive, bilingual care builds trust and improves access to treatment, while examining rising anxiety, depression, isolation, immigration-related fears, social media pressures, substance use, and family trauma. She shares warning signs parents should recognize and emphasizes seeking support before challenges become crises. The conversation also explores the need to grow and retain a local behavioral health workforce by introducing young people to mental health careers. Saba also previews her participation in the 2026 Healthy Desert Healthy You Summit and its focus on prevention and community-based youth support systems. Takeaways: Culturally responsive care strengthens trust and access.Early intervention can prevent mental health crises.Immigration fears increase anxiety and social isolation.Social media challenges youth self-esteem and identity.Parents should watch for unusual behavioral changes.Same-day mental health support can make differences.Local talent can strengthen behavioral health workforce.Open conversations help reduce mental health stigma. #HealthyDesertHealthyYouPodcast #WillDean #DesertHealthcareDistrictAndFoundation #CommunityWellness #SehamSaba #RiversideLatinoCommission #CoachellaValley #HealthyDesertHealthyYou2026Summit #YouthMentalHealth #MentalHealth #EarlyIntervention #MentalHealthPrevention #CulturallyResponsiveCare #BehavioralHealth #CommunityBasedCare #MentalHealthWorkforce #BilingualMentalHealthCare #YouthWellness #MentalHealthAwareness #CommunityMentalHealth

    Seham Saba, Riverside Latino Commission | Early Intervention Builds Stronger Youth Mental Health

  7. Aug 13

    Ian Gabriel, Exec Director, Lift To Rise | Housing, Health and Hope Through Collective Action

    Ian Gabriel, Executive Director of Lift To Rise, joins Healthy Desert Healthy You host Will Dean to discuss the Coachella Valley’s affordable housing crisis and why stable housing is essential to community health. Gabriel explains how Lift To Rise and more than 70 regional partners are working toward 10,000 affordable housing units by 2028, while addressing funding gaps, infrastructure needs, homeownership, and resident leadership. He also explores the Housing First model, the connection between housing stability and better health outcomes, and why teachers, healthcare workers, hospitality employees, farmworkers, and other working families need affordable options. Gabriel previews his participation in the 2026 Healthy Desert Healthy You Summit and emphasizes that lasting progress requires coordinated action from residents, nonprofits, government, healthcare, funders, and the broader community, working together strategically. Takeaways: Affordable housing strengthens community health and stability.Lift To Rise targets 10,000 affordable homes.Housing costs burden many working Coachella Valley families.Housing First supports better long-term health outcomes.Funding barriers limit affordable housing development locally.Infrastructure remains essential for expanding housing opportunities.Resident leadership strengthens advocacy and community solutions.Regional collaboration can create lasting housing progress. #HealthyDesertHealthyYouPodcast #WillDean #DesertHealthcareDistrictAndFoundation #CommunityWellness #IanGabriel #LiftToRise #BehavioralHealth #HealthyDesertHealthyYou2026Summit #AffordableHousing #CoachellaValley #HousingFirst #HousingStability #ResidentLeadership #HousingAffordability #HealthAndHousing #CommunityHealth #RegionalCollaboration #WorkforceHousing #Homeownership #HousingInfrastructure

    Ian Gabriel, Exec Director, Lift To Rise | Housing, Health and Hope Through Collective Action

  8. Aug 5

    Dr. Jill Hingston | Affirming Care, Connection and LGBTQ+ Mental Health

    Dr. Jill Hingston, Chief Behavioral Health Officer at the LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert, joins host Will Dean to discuss affirming, trauma-informed behavioral healthcare across the Coachella Valley. She explains how the clinic serves children, adults, couples, seniors, and families navigating gender identity, relationships, grief, isolation, political stress, and minority stress. Dr. Hingston also addresses barriers including stigma, cost, cultural attitudes, and limited access, while highlighting sliding-scale care, insurance expansion, Spanish-speaking therapists, virtual services, support groups, and therapist training. The conversation explores parental support for transgender and gender-expansive youth, the value of community connection, and why people must “feel it to heal it.” Dr. Hingston also previews her youth mental health panel at the Healthy Desert Healthy You 2026 Summit on September 10, 2026. Takeaways: Affirming care supports LGBTQ+ people across generations.Parents increasingly seek guidance supporting gender-expansive children.Stigma and cost still limit behavioral healthcare.Minority stress shapes emotional and behavioral health.Group therapy builds lasting community and connection.Isolation affects both older and younger residents.Emotions must be felt before healing begins.Early intervention strengthens youth mental health outcomes. #HealthyDesertHealthyYouPodcast #WillDean #DesertHealthcareDistrictAndFoundation #CommunityWellness #DrJillHingston #LGBTQCommunityCenterOfTheDesert #PalmSpringsLGBTQ #BehavioralHealth #HealthyDesertHealthyYou2026Summit #LGBTQBehavioralHealth #MentalHealthAccess #AffirmingCare #TraumaInformedCare #YouthMentalHealth #GenderAffirmingCare #MinorityStress #CommunityConnection #MentalHealthStigma #CoachellaValleyHealth #EarlyIntervention

    Dr. Jill Hingston | Affirming Care, Connection and LGBTQ+ Mental Health
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About

The Desert Healthcare District & Foundation, based in Palm Springs, CA, produces Healthy Desert Healthy You as part of a regional health and wellness educational outreach campaign for residents in the Coachella Valley desert communities of Southern California. The program features interviews with a variety of people who are stakeholders in the physical, mental and environmental wellness of the areas residents. More information is available at www.dhcd.org and www.healthydeserthealthyyou.com. The podcast is hosted by Will Dean, Director of Communications, at the Desert Healthcare District & Foundation.

Information

  • Creator
    Desert Healthcare District & Foundation
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    62
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Desert Healthcare District & Foundation
  • Show Website
    Healthy Desert Healthy You