VitalTalks: Future of Public Health

Hosted by Vital Strategies

Health Fitness

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Sep 2025

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About the show

VitalTalks: Future of Public Health from Vital Strategies looks at how the world around us shapes our health, and how we can shape our environments so that everyone, everywhere has the potential for great health. Vital Strategies is a global public health organization that seeks to accelerate progress on the world's most pressing health problems. Our team combines evidence-based strategies with innovation to help develop and implement sound public health policies, manage programs efficiently, strengthen data systems, conduct research, and design strategic communication campaigns for policy and behavior change. To find out more, please visit www.vitalstrategies.org.

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44 recent

September 15, 2025Episode 428 min

Local Voices, Global Impact: Cities and the Fight Against NCDs

In this timely conversation, Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr of Freetown Sierra Leone and Dr. Mary-Ann Etiebet, President and CEO of Vital Strategies, discuss the critical role cities play in combating non-communicable diseases (NCDs) ahead of the UN's Fourth High-Level Meeting on the prevention and control of NCDs and the promotion of mental health and wellbeing on 25 September 2025. Freetown is leading by example on NCD prevention as part of the Partnership for Healthy Cities, a global network of 74 cities supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies in partnership with Vital Strategies and the World Health Organization. Mayor Aki-Sawyerr shares insights on how urban centers, home to nearly 60% of the global population, can deliver fast, responsive policy solutions where people live, work, and play. The episode highlights cities as powerful allies in global health action, demonstrating what's possible when urban leaders are resourced and empowered to tackle pressing public health challenges at the local level. This episode references a recent statement from the Partnership for Healthy Cities, urging world leaders to recognize cities as essential partners in addressing NCDs . A number of mayors championed the statement's call to action, including Mayor Aki-Sawyerr.

April 22, 2025Episode 325 min

Campaigns for Change: Community Is the Channel—Communicating in a Networked World

In the final episode of our Campaigns for Change series, we speak to creative director and story architect Kesu James to explore the radical shift from one-way public health messaging to community-driven, decentralized conversations. This episode dives into the evolution from Web 1 to Web 3, what it means for trust and authority, and how communicators must adapt in a world where your message is no longer the oracle—it's the conversation starter. We unpack what it takes to build public health campaigns that spark genuine dialogue, foster human connection, and meet people where they are—online, in community, and beyond. Our guest on this episode: Kesu James, Creative Director and Story Architect Visit the Campaign Beacon resource mentioned in this episode at www.campaignbeacon.org

March 3, 2025Episode 333 min

Campaigns for Change: The Power of Trusted Messengers in Public Health Campaigns

In this conversation, we speak to Denene Rodney, CEO of Zebra Strategies, about the changing communication landscape, the need for trust in public health, along with strategies for building and maintaining trust. We also explore the role of messengers in reaching hard-to-reach populations. The conversation highlights the importance of consistency, dignity, and soft engagement in research, as well as the power of trusted messengers with lived experiences. Our guest on this episode: Denene Rodney, CEO of Zebra Strategies Visit the Campaign Beacon resource mentioned in this episode at www.campaignbeacon.org

January 29, 2025Episode 229 min

Campaigns for Change: Redefining Harm Reduction with Community Voices

In this episode we explore overdose prevention and harm reduction campaigns with Tony Newman, Director of Communications for Vital Strategies' Overdose Prevention Program, and Gloria Malone, Senior Manager for Digital Multimedia Strategy. They discuss the power of communications to combat stigma, shift perceptions, and promote evidence-based solutions like harm reduction services and overdose prevention centers. Through real-world examples, they emphasize storytelling, community collaboration, and data-driven strategies to change hearts, minds, and policies. This episode features: Tony Newman, Director of Communications for Vital Strategies' Overdose Prevention Program Gloria Malone, Senior Manager for Digital Multimedia Strategy for Vital Strategies' Overdose Prevention Program Visit the Campaign Beacon resource mentioned in this episode at www.campaignbeacon.org

January 9, 2025Episode 138 min

Campaigns for Change: How Planned Parenthood and M+R Drive Social Impact

This episode is the first in our Campaigns for Change series, where we examine how communications campaigns can help shape public health policy. We speak with Jacqueline Murphy, Senior Director of Digital Marketing Innovation at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and Michael Ward, Partner at agency M+R. We explore the evolving digital landscape for nonprofit campaigns, discuss strategies to counter misinformation, and how to engage diverse audiences effectively. Key topics include leveraging social media, storytelling, paid advertising, and lessons from impactful campaigns such as Planned Parenthood's response to the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health decision. We also discuss how an audience-centric approach and sustained communication efforts are crucial in advancing public health and social change. This episode features: Jacqueline Murphy, Senior Director of Digital Marketing Strategy and Innovation at Planned Parenthood Federation of America Michael Ward, Partner at M+R Visit the Campaign Beacon resource mentioned in this episode at www.campaignbeacon.org

September 19, 2024Episode 431 min

Using Technology and Data to Improve Active Travel

In this conversation we're joined by Jamie Cudden, leader of Dublin's Smart City Program, and Constanza Jimena Delón Córdoba, Director of Road Safety Information Monitoring at Mexico City's Mobility Department. We explore the use of technology and data to improve active travel, promote road safety, and create healthier and safer cities. Both Dublin and Mexico City are part of the Partnership for Healthy Cities and serve as innovation labs, sharing their experiences and learnings with other cities. The conversation highlights the importance of community engagement, data-driven decision-making, and the need for infrastructure and policy changes to prioritize public health and well-being. Our guests on this episode are: - Jamie Cudden, leader of Dublin's Smart City Program - Constanza Jimena Delón Córdoba, Director of Road Safety Information Monitoring at Mexico City's Mobility Department

August 14, 2024Episode 427 min

Sugar, Salt, Fat: The Fight for Nutrient Warning Labels in Mexico and Colombia

How can we help consumers make healthier food choices while shopping at the supermarket? Nutrient warning labels can instantly inform shoppers if a product is high in sugar, salt or fat. But attempts to implement these labels face stiff opposition from the food and beverage industries. In this episode we hear about the challenges and successes of getting front-of-package warning labels on foods in Colombia and Mexico, including industry interference and lawsuits. Despite obstacles, they have seen positive results, such as increased awareness, changes in consumer behavior, and product reformulation. Guests include: - Javier Zúñiga, Legal Coordinator from El Poder del Consumidor - Andrés Vélez, Partner at Edulegal, Colombia

July 24, 2024Episode 334 min

Litigating for Health: Challenging the Tobacco and Food Industries

We explore the impact of laws and regulations on public health, particularly in relation to tobacco control and food systems. Our discussion looks at the importance of litigation in driving social change and provides examples of impactful legal action in Brazil and South Africa. The conversation also touches on the hurdles faced in enacting public health policies, such as resource constraints and the influence of powerful corporations. Our guests on this episode are: Isabel Barbosa, Associate Director of O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law Sasha Stevenson, Executive Director of SECTION27

July 2, 2024Episode 226 min

The IQOS Illusion: Whistleblower papers from inside Philip Morris International

Whistleblower papers from inside cigarette giant Philip Morris International reveal the true intentions and strategies behind the company's IQOS non-combustible nicotine product. The papers show that Philip Morris secretly funded research on harm reduction and cessation, created a comprehensive marketing plan to build support for the product, and targeted dentists and the Olympics for promotion. The science of IQOS is still uncertain, but evidence suggests that it does not reduce the risk of tobacco-related disease and death, and it may increase exposure to harmful chemicals. In this episode, we're joined by Sophie Braznell, Research Coordinator at the Tobacco Control Research Group at the University of Bath and Jorge Alday, Director at STOP, a global tobacco industry watchdog. They discuss why public health professionals, policymakers, and consumers should be skeptical of the company's claims and take action to counter their marketing push.

February 9, 2024Episode 129 min

Lead Poisoning: The Urgent Need for Global Action

We've known about the health harms of lead exposure for more than 1,000 years. But many people, including children, are still exposed to lead through various sources including paint, water and soil. In this episode, Dan Kass, Senior Vice President of Environmental, Climate and Urban Health at Vital Strategies joins us to discuss this pervasive public health problem, what governments can do to monitor lead exposure and what you can do to protect yourself from lead poisoning.

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