VitalTalks: Future of Public Health

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 or...

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 o...

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 ...

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 explo...

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 innovati...

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-packag...

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 constrain...

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 promo...

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 ...

Improving diets by creating and maintaining healthier food systems and environments is paramount to addressing the $2 trillion global obesity epidemic. It’s a task that seems almost impossible under the deluge of ultra-processed products that make up most of our food intake. In this episode, Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health joins us to discuss her new report, “Food, nutrition and the right to healt...

The U.S. drug overdose crisis has created new urgency to shift from punitive measures to a<...

This episode features highlights from our VitalTalks Live event, held in New York.

One in three women worldwide have been su...

Our first interview on this episode is with Lili Farhang, co-director of Human Impact Partners (HIP), a national public health nonprofit. Lili discusses HIP's mission to leverage public health for

Lack of investment in Civil Registration and Vital Statistics has been called one of the most important shortfalls in global development over the last 30 years, and the results are devastating.

In this episode, we discuss funding trends in global public health and the potential that new or different financing models have to catalyze impact. Read more