CPH 60 — Letting Go Without a Backup Plan: A Conversation with Zoila Reyna, MPH

CPH 60 — Letting Go Without a Backup Plan: A Conversation with Zoila Reyna, MPH

In this episode of the Courageous Public Health Podcast, Zoila Reyna, MPH, shares what it looked like to walk away from work she loved—without knowing exactly what would come next. From quitting jobs without another offer lined up, to sleeping on a friend's couch so she could rebuild her life in Los Angeles, to eventually founding Public Health Hired, Zoila reflects on the risks, uncertainty, and persistence that have shaped her path. This conversation explores courage, reinvention, and self-trust—and what happens when you stop settling for a life that no longer fits. Meet Zoila Reyna, MPH ✨ Zoila Reyna, MPH is the Latina founder of the woman-owned company of an evidence-based method for getting jobs, known as Public Health Hired. Since the COVID-19 Pandemic she has been offering tailored interview preparation, resume reviews, job alerts and provides a community of practice filled with active workshops, trainings and weekly office hours. Her Mentor Sessions are legendary for providing live job searches using her advanced LinkedIn algorithm, speedy resume tailoring and interview preparation that seals the deal for job offers – as demonstrated with nearly 400 individuals getting hired thus far across nonprofits, hospitals, government, philanthropy, large NGOs, and associations within public health and community health. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from UCLA and Masters in Public Health from UC Davis. She recently quit her 7 year stint as a Senior Consultant for the Kaiser Hospital Foundation in Southern California where she worked on various socioeconomic initiatives and workforce development efforts. She is now fully dedicated to Public Health Hired and enjoys gardening while working from home in Los Angeles and lives with her son and daughter. Conversation Highlights 🎙️ * Letting Go Without a Backup Plan — Zoila reflects on quitting jobs before knowing what would come next—and the fear, judgment, and uncertainty that came with those decisions. * There's Got to Be More — Even while succeeding professionally, she realized the rest of her life no longer felt aligned—and made the difficult decision to start over in Los Angeles. * Asking for Help Changed Everything — Zoila shares the pivotal moment she asked a friend if she could sleep on her couch while rebuilding her life and career. * Learning to Navigate Corporate Spaces — She reflects on working in environments where her expertise was questioned and what it took to adapt without losing herself completely. * Building Public Health Hired — What started as career guidance during the pandemic became a nationwide mentorship community helping public health professionals pursue more aligned and meaningful work. "I was quitting without having a job." — Zoila Reyna, MPH Stay in Touch 🔗 With Zoila Reyna, MPH LinkedIn ↗ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoilareyna/]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoilareyna/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoilareyna/] Website ↗ [http://www.phhired.com]: https://www.phhired.com [https://www.phhired.com] Instagram ↗ [https://www.instagram.com/publichealthhired/]: https://www.instagram.com/publichealthhired/ [https://www.instagram.com/publichealthhired/] With Dr. Kristi McClamroch LinkedIn ↗ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/] Website ↗ [http://www.courageouspublichealth.com]: https://www.CourageousPublicHealth.com [https://www.courageouspublichealth.com] Follow for weekly reflections on courage and leadership ↗ [http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6]: http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6 [http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6] Public Health Consulting to Support You 🤝 We partner with public health, healthcare, nonprofit, philanthropic, and government organizations to design and facilitate interactive workshops for women leaders in public health — turning courage into a leadership skill so it becomes an organizational strength. If your organization would benefit from this kind of support, we'd love to connect. Reach out on LinkedIn ↗ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/] or through our website ↗ [http://www.courageouspublichealth.com].

CPH 59 — Speaking Truth to Power: A Conversation with Dr. Farah Mawani

In this episode of the Courageous Public Health Podcast, Dr. Farah Mawani reflects on what it means to do public health work that is deeply personal—where lived experience, research, and advocacy cannot be separated. From navigating the COVID-19 pandemic as both a social epidemiologist and a member of a community disproportionately impacted by the virus, to confronting systemic racism within academia and public health systems, Dr. Mawani shares what it means to keep speaking truth to power, even when the consequences are real. This conversation explores courage, solidarity, and the power of lived experience—and why dismantling systemic racism is not abstract work, but a matter of life and death. Meet Dr. Farah Mawani ✨ Dr. Mawani is a critical social and psychiatric epidemiologist applying anti-racist implementation science approaches to redress structural and systemic racism and discrimination as drivers of social and mental health inequities globally. She is a Michael Smith Health Research BC Scholar (2025-2030), and faculty member in the School of Public Health and Social Policy, Faculty of Health, University of Victoria. Dr. Mawami's community-led research and teaching are shaped by insight from her lived experience of migration and systemic racism, combined with years of professional experience conducting research in academic, policy, health system, and community environments. She applies her expertise to designing, implementing, evaluating and scaling social inclusion interventions in Canada and East Africa. She co-leads the CIHR Health System Impact Training Platform, and National Networks of Schools and Programs of Population and Public Health. Conversation Highlights 🎙️ * When the Work Is Personal — Dr. Mawani reflects on navigating the COVID-19 pandemic as both a social epidemiologist and a member of a South Asian community disproportionately impacted by the virus. * Speaking Through Grief — She shares the experience of continuing a national media interview just after learning that her great aunt had died of COVID-19 in a long-term care center affected by systemic inequities. * Lived Experience as Expertise — Dr. Mawani explains how lived experience scholarship challenges harmful assumptions and why communities most impacted by inequities must help shape the research and solutions intended for them. * Speaking Truth to Power — She reflects on confronting systemic racism within academia and public health systems—and why truth-telling is essential for creating meaningful change. * Building Roads Together — Through her peer-led walking and rolling program, Dr. Mawani describes how collective movement, visibility, and solidarity can create belonging, healing, and community power. "This is a matter of life and death for us." — Dr. Farah Mawani Stay in Touch 🔗 With Dr. Farah Mawani LinkedIn ↗ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/farahmawani/]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farahmawani/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/farahmawani/] With Dr. Kristi McClamroch LinkedIn ↗ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/] Website ↗ [http://www.courageouspublichealth.com]: https://www.CourageousPublicHealth.com [https://www.courageouspublichealth.com] Follow for weekly reflections on courage and leadership ↗ [http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6]: http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6 [http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6] Public Health Consulting to Support You 🤝 We partner with public health, healthcare, nonprofit, philanthropic, and government organizations to design and facilitate interactive workshops for women leaders in public health — turning courage into a leadership skill so it becomes an organizational strength. If your organization would benefit from this kind of support, we'd love to connect. Reach out on LinkedIn ↗ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/] or through our website ↗ [http://www.courageouspublichealth.com].

CPH 58 — Curiosity as Resistance: A Conversation with Dr. Sharon Attipoe-Dorcoo

In this episode of the Courageous Public Health Podcast, Dr. Sharon Attipoe-Dorcoo reflects on what it means to lead with courage, clarity, and curiosity inside systems that were never designed with everyone in mind. From navigating identity as a Black Ghanaian-American woman in public health spaces, to challenging dominant narratives around data, leadership, and belonging, Dr. Attipoe-Dorcoo shares a vision of public health rooted in dignity, care, and collective humanity. This conversation explores curiosity as a form of resistance—and what becomes possible when we refuse to accept oppressive systems as the only way forward. Meet Dr. Sharon Attipoe-Dorcoo ✨ Dr. Sharon Attipoe-Dorcoo is the Principal of TERSHA LLC and an award‑winning strategist, author, and systems leader who advances narrative sovereignty through data‑informed storytelling and relational governance. A multilingual systems thinker with more than two decades of experience, she integrates culturally responsive engineering design, research, and evaluation to strengthen mission‑aligned organizations and the communities they serve. Her career spans leadership roles at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, numerous philanthropic and nonprofit organizations. Dr. Attipoe-Dorcoo's expertise includes research, evaluation, artistic facilitation, economics, technical assistance, systems design, language access, accessibility, mobile healthcare, and community health workforce development. She has authored more than 70 academic publications and is widely recognized as a thought leader in innovative narrative strategy. Dr. Attipoe-Dorcoo is a 2022 Public Voices Fellow with AcademyHealth, an inaugural member of the Global South Arts and Health Envoy, Adjunct Faculty at Texas Woman's University, a board member, leadership coach, and a nominee for the National Academy of Medicine Emerging Leaders Forum. Her work is grounded in cultural humility, human‑centered design, and a commitment to amplifying systemically underrepresented voices. She has also mentored and engaged MPH students through internships within my organization, supporting them in completing their capstones and publishing their first peer‑reviewed articles With a PhD in Health Policy and an MPH from the University of Texas School of Public Health, Dr. Attipoe-Dorcoo brings analytical rigor, narrative strategy, and lived experience as a diasporic Ghanaian-American woman of faith, wife, and mom to every partnership. She is currently focused on aligning institutional strategy with inclusive impact, deepening her expertise in AI ethics, and supporting organizations in building systems that reflect care, dignity, and collective purpose in order to save time, make money, and grow. Conversation Highlights 🎙️ * Curiosity as Resistance — Dr. Attipoe-Dorcoo reflects on how oppressive systems depend on limited imagination—and why curiosity is essential for challenging dominant narratives and creating change. * Leading with Courage and Clarity — She shares why courage alone is not enough for leadership, and how clarity, presence, and curiosity shape the way she moves through systems. * Narrative Sovereignty — Dr. Attipoe-Dorcoo introduces her framework for understanding how data, lived experience, and stories come together to shape the narratives communities carry about themselves. * The Soup We're Swimming In — Together, we explore how oppressive systems become normalized—and the importance of community spaces where people can "get out of the soup." * Choosing Wholeness Over Shrinking — Dr. Attipoe-Dorcoo reflects on navigating systems not built with her in mind, and why authenticity, community, and alignment are essential forms of courage. "Systems of oppression don't want us to be curious." — Dr. Sharon Attipoe-Dorcoo Stay in Touch 🔗 With Dr. Sharon Attipoe-Dorcoo LinkedIn ↗ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonattipoe-dorcoo/]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonattipoe-dorcoo/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonattipoe-dorcoo/] Website ↗ [https://evalu-ate.org/evaluator/attipoe-dorcoo-sharon/]: https://evalu-ate.org/evaluator/attipoe-dorcoo-sharon/ [https://evalu-ate.org/evaluator/attipoe-dorcoo-sharon/] Instagram ↗ [https://www.instagram.com/koli.bosco/]: https://www.instagram.com/koli.bosco/ [https://www.instagram.com/koli.bosco/] Community Research for Liberation National Convening June 11-12, 2026 in Minneapolis, MN: https://www.researchinaction.com/convening [https://www.researchinaction.com/convening] HEAPS article: https://journals.sagepub.com/eprint/PEY6CJXGQQ5HZRUE6NQU/full [https://journals.sagepub.com/eprint/PEY6CJXGQQ5HZRUE6NQU/full] Children's book: Koli and Bosco the Dog: 6. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koli.bosco/ [https://www.instagram.com/koli.bosco/] TERSHA Pitchdeck: https://qr1.me-qr.com/mobile/pdf/af52d9d7-4f72-4d20-8953-52ef0229f5ad [https://qr1.me-qr.com/mobile/pdf/af52d9d7-4f72-4d20-8953-52ef0229f5ad] TERSHA Capabilities Statement: https://qr1.me-qr.com/mobile/pdf/4bf882da-9f77-42f9-8daf-a92d28d0963f [https://qr1.me-qr.com/mobile/pdf/4bf882da-9f77-42f9-8daf-a92d28d0963f] With Dr. Kristi McClamroch LinkedIn ↗ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/] Website ↗ [http://www.courageouspublichealth.com]: https://www.CourageousPublicHealth.com [https://www.courageouspublichealth.com] Follow for weekly reflections on courage and leadership ↗ [http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6]: http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6 [http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6] Public Health Consulting to Support You 🤝 We partner with public health, healthcare, nonprofit, philanthropic, and government organizations to design and facilitate interactive workshops for women leaders in public health — turning courage into a leadership skill so it becomes an organizational strength. If your organization would benefit from this kind of support, we'd love to connect. Reach out on LinkedIn ↗ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/] or through our website ↗ [http://www.courageouspublichealth.com].

CPH 57 — Building Without a Blueprint: A Conversation with Rebecca Désir, MPH

In this episode of the Courageous Public Health Podcast, Rebecca Désir shares what it looks like to take action before you feel ready—moving away from everything familiar, starting something from nothing, and building in real time. From launching the Black Joy Festival during the pandemic with no funding and no clear path, to redefining her identity and leadership over time, she reflects on the courage it takes to trust yourself and keep going. This conversation explores how courage builds—through action, through uncertainty, and through the decision to begin anyway. Meet Rebecca Désir, MPH✨ Rebecca Désir, MPH is a public health strategist and founder of the Black Health Commission, where she advances health equity through community centered programming, thought leadership, and culturally responsive initiatives. She is passionate about creating spaces that connect healthcare professionals, creatives, and community leaders, including through initiatives like the BLK JOY Festival. Rebecca's work focuses on redefining public health by centering culture, community voice, and sustainable impact. Outside of her work, she enjoys traveling, collecting vinyl records, and exploring the intersection of culture, storytelling, and wellness. Conversation Highlights 🎙️ * Leaping Before You're Ready — Rebecca shares what it took to move away from her family for her first job, stepping into the unknown without a safety net. * Building Something from Nothing — She describes creating the Black Joy Festival during the pandemic—starting with just an idea, no funding, and figuring it out in real time. * Doing Before You Feel Ready — Rebecca reflects on how confidence came through action—learning by doing rather than waiting until she felt fully prepared. * Letting Identities Have a Season — She talks about releasing roles and expectations that no longer bring joy, and allowing herself to evolve without seeing change as failure. * Leading Through Connection — Rebecca names relationship-building and community connection as core strengths—and essential tools for advancing public health in ways that truly resonate. "I didn't know how it was going to happen, but I knew it needed to." — Rebecca Désir, MPH Stay in Touch 🔗 With Rebecca Désir, MPH LinkedIn ↗ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccadesir/]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccadesir/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccadesir/] Website ↗ [http://www.blackhealthcommission.com]: www.blackhealthcommission.com [http://www.blackhealthcommission.com] With Dr. Kristi McClamroch LinkedIn ↗ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/] Website ↗ [http://www.courageouspublichealth.com]: www.CourageousPublicHealth.com [http://www.courageouspublichealth.com] Follow for weekly reflections on courage and leadership ↗ [http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6]: http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6 [http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6] Public Health Consulting to Support You 🤝 We partner with public health, healthcare, nonprofit, philanthropic, and government organizations to design and facilitate interactive workshops for women leaders in public health — turning courage into a leadership skill so it becomes an organizational strength. If your organization would benefit from this kind of support, we'd love to connect. Reach out on LinkedIn ↗ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/] or through our website ↗ [http://www.courageouspublichealth.com].

CPH 56 — Choosing Alignment Over Comfort: A Conversation with Dr. Shawnté Elbert

In this episode of the Courageous Public Health Podcast, Dr. Shawnté Elbert shares what it looks like to choose alignment over comfort — even when that means walking away from roles, titles, and systems she worked years to build. From navigating moments of forced transition to rebuilding her work without a platform, she reflects on the courage it takes to trust your own discernment when everything familiar falls away. This is a conversation about courage, identity, and power — and what it means to lead without negotiating your value. Meet Dr. Shawnté Elbert✨ Dr. Shawnté M. Elbert, EdD, MCHES, is a nationally recognized higher education leader with more than 20 years of experience advancing student well-being, health equity, and leadership development across diverse institutional settings. She has served as Associate Vice President of Health and Well-being at The Ohio State University, Associate Dean of Health and Wellness at Central Washington University, and Director of Health and Wellness Promotion at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis. In these roles, she provided strategic oversight for multimillion-dollar budgets, supervised cross-functional teams, and led the design and implementation of integrated wellness models that connected health, counseling, recreation, and student success initiatives. Dr. Elbert is also an accomplished educator, currently serving on the faculty at Walden University and Abilene Christian University, where she teaches graduate and doctoral-level courses in health education, public health, leadership, and qualitative research. Her leadership has shaped institutional policy and practice across immunization and wellness policy, sexual misconduct education, and DEI-driven wellness councils. She has successfully secured millions in grants and philanthropic funding for student wellness, peer support, and resiliency initiatives. A sought-after speaker and consultant, Dr. Elbert is known for her ability to bridge research, practice, and policy to foster cultures of belonging and well-being in higher education. Her scholarship includes co-authoring Supporting Neurodiverse College Student Success (2020) and Well-Being Leadership in Higher Education: A Guide for Successful Well-Being Programs (2024). Conversation Highlights 🎙️ * Choosing Alignment Over Comfort — Dr. Elbert defines courage as choosing alignment over comfort, even when it comes with real professional and personal cost. * Walking Away from What You Built — She reflects on what it meant to step away from roles and titles she worked hard to earn—and how that decision reshaped her path. * You Don't Negotiate Your Value — A pivotal shift in her leadership: entering rooms with clarity about her worth, without feeling the need to prove she belongs. * Rebuilding in Transition — Dr. Elbert shares what it takes to move forward without a clear path—redefining identity and direction beyond traditional roles. * Leading Without the Title — She describes continuing to show up, speak, and lead without relying on formal positions or institutional backing. "I don't negotiate my value once I'm in the room." — Dr. Shawnté M. Elbert Stay in Touch 🔗 With Dr. Shawnté M. Elbert LinkedIn ↗ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnteelbert/]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnteelbert/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnteelbert/] Website ↗ [https://www.elbertinnovativesolutions.org/]: https://www.elbertinnovativesolutions.org/ [https://www.elbertinnovativesolutions.org/] Facebook ↗ [https://www.facebook.com/people/Elbert-Innovative-Solutions-LLC/61573657841067/%23]: https://www.facebook.com/people/Elbert-Innovative-Solutions-LLC/61573657841067/# [https://www.facebook.com/people/Elbert-Innovative-Solutions-LLC/61573657841067/%23] Instagram ↗ [https://www.instagram.com/dr.espeaks_/]: https://www.instagram.com/dr.espeaks_/ [https://www.instagram.com/dr.espeaks_/] TikTok ↗ [https://www.tiktok.com/@dr_e_speaks]: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr_e_speaks [https://www.tiktok.com/@dr_e_speaks] With Dr. Kristi McClamroch LinkedIn ↗ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/] Website ↗ [http://www.courageouspublichealth.com]: www.CourageousPublicHealth.com [http://www.courageouspublichealth.com] Follow for weekly reflections on courage and leadership ↗ [http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6]: http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6 [http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6] Public Health Consulting to Support You 🤝 We partner with public health, healthcare, nonprofit, philanthropic, and government organizations to design and facilitate interactive workshops for women leaders in public health — turning courage into a leadership skill so it becomes an organizational strength. If your organization would benefit from this kind of support, we'd love to connect. Reach out on LinkedIn ↗ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/] or through our website ↗ [http://www.courageouspublichealth.com].