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Just can’t get us out of your head.
Doing Good Where You Are (with Kelsey Mishkin Gardner)
In this episode, we chat with Kelsey Mishkin Gardner, Deputy Chief of Staff for Representative Raúl Grijalva. Kelsey discusses her journey from Oklahoma to Congress, her work on health policy and environmental issues, and the importance of tribal sovereignty and Medicaid expansion. She offers advice on securing federal grants, emphasizing coalition-building and strategic communication. We also touch on her role in initiating a GAO report on incarcerated pregnant women and navigating federal grants under the current administration.
Sex ed makes cool adults (with Kimberly Molitor)
In this episode, Kimberly Molitor, the Executive Director of Teen Empower, sets the record straight about sex education: it definitely needs a rebrand because it’s so much more that that! We talk about how Teen Empower helps teens navigate healthy relationships, manage risky situations, and understand their bodies and health—while avoiding legal trouble for STI transmission. In Oklahoma, where sex ed is often outdated and inconsistent, there’s a clear need for evidence-based, expert-led programs. Someone needs to tell teens that Mountain Dew is not a plausible birth control method. Kimberly also highlights the strong parental support for Teen Empower and their peer educator program, which empowers high school students to teach each other about healthy relationships, risk reduction, and pregnancy prevention. Find Teen Empower at teenempower.org.
Let’s get together. Yea, yea, yea. Let’s as public health combine! (with McKenzie Cowlbeck & Stephanie Mansour)
Have you ever thought about what fuels your passion for “public health”? Co-chairs of the Policy Caucus of the Oklahoma Public Health Association (OPHA), McKenzie Cowlbeck and Stephanie Mansour, hadn’t until they sat down for this interview. Ironically, they are among the few who didn’t stumble into the policy field by accident. Join us as two dedicated public health advocates discuss their public health origin stories, what public health means to them, and how they’re helping put OPHA back on the map. Come along as we explore the driving force behind our shared passion. Find out more at www.opha.net or search for Oklahoma Public Health Association.
I know a girl, so I care about periods (with Linley Faye Smith)
According to Linley Faye Smith, ending period poverty is simple. Just get products into the hands of those who need them, duh. However, if visible sweat on a humid Oklahoma day is any indication, it isn’t that easy. Period OKC started with Linley giving out tampons and pads from her car during the pandemic. Now, the organization provides thousands of products to anyone who can reach their OKC location. Now dubbed an expert, she has taken her passion to the #GIRLDADS in the Capitol to discuss ending period poverty. Her message: “Periods aren’t gross. They’re normal. Let’s not make it weird. If people didn’t think it was weird, it wouldn’t be so complicated when it comes to funding.” She is really good at one-liners. www.periodokc.org
Doula access… let me count the ways (with Omare Jimmerson)
What’s one way to improve maternal health outcomes? According to Omare Jimmerson, it’s community doulas and a fiercely passionate team (and probably a couple of calming breaths). Omare and the Tulsa Birth Equity Initiative have long espoused the benefits of community doulas, and last year they achieved a milestone many had only hoped for: SoonerCare coverage for doula services. (party fog horn noise). Listen in to find out what a doula is and learn all about the initiatives underway by TBEI to improve maternal health in Tulsa (and hopefully throughout all of Oklahoma). www.tulsabei.org
Something about the grocery tax (with Emma Morris)
Oklahoma’s 5-year long will-they-won’t-they relationship with cutting the grocery tax is exhausting. But now that it’s passed, is cutting the tax all rainbows and sunshine like it sounds? Of course not. When is policy ever that easy? But that’s why Emma Morris (formerly with OK Policy) graciously sat down with me to “check-out” the budget impacts of cutting the taxes and how targeted alternatives can better help Oklahoma families. www.okpolicy.org
Don Your Pink Jacket!
The Oklahoma capitol is a full-on Monet. Picturesque from afar, but it’s a big old mess up close and inside. And who better than to glide through the bustle than your favorite hot pink women’s health policy enthusiast–Metriarch! Every other week (mostly), we’ll bring you the context of proposed bills and policies by asking…wait for it…the people doing the work! Legislators are making crucial decisions, yet public input is only possible via an email to our elected leaders. Policy in Pink is the megaphone to blast the full story of policy issues from experts’ mouths. Catch up with the recent women’s health policy news in Oklahoma and soak in the expertise on the most discussed issues in the state. It’s a policy podcast, it’s pink, it’s scented, and it’s definitely got something a little extra.
