The Equity Matters Podcast

Respeck on My Name (Work to Do)

“Social work isn’t a profession.” “ Public health isn’t a real field.” “Your degree doesn’t matter.”   Every time society dismisses a field, it affects funding, pay, and the people doing the hardest work: social workers, public health professionals, educators, and caregivers who sustain our communities. In this episode of Equity Matters, Dr. James Bell III explores the history and politics of professionalism, showing how traits like formal education, licensure, and hierarchy were historically built to exclude women, Black and Brown professionals, and working-class communities. We dive into the consequences of structural inequities, including undervalued labor, disposable workforces, and narratives shaped by outsiders rather than the people doing the work.   Listen & Subscribe to Equity Matters Podcast: Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-equity-matters-podcast/id1525740075], Spotify [https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equitymatters], and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOlNtkwbw1a_drA0AwqXeSg] Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/equitymattersmedia/] Like us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/EquityMattersPodcast/] Follow us on TikTok [https://itsjbthree.my.canva.site/equitymattersmedia] Check out our Free Resources on Gumroad [https://justsolutionsllc.gumroad.com/] Visit Dr. Bell’s Website [https://itsjbthree.my.canva.site/]

Respeck on My Name Teaser

“Social work isn’t a profession.” “Public health isn’t a real field.” “Your degree doesn’t matter.” These statements might sound like casual opinions, but they reveal something deeper about how society decides which professions deserve respect, funding, and power. In this preview of the upcoming Equity Matters episode “Respeck on My Name (Work To Do)”, Dr. James Bell III explores the history and politics of professionalism and why fields like social work and public health are often dismissed even though they are essential to the health and stability of our communities. This full episode will look at: * The history of professional status in the United States * How race, gender, and power shaped who gets to be called a “professional” * Why care professions are often undervalued and underfunded * The impact this has on the public health and social work workforce Subscribe and stay tuned for the full conversation starting this Wednesday.

The Moment of Truth (Intent & Impact)

Somebody said n****. Someone has a neurological disorder. Who is to blame? Can you hold two truths at once? Listen & Subscribe to Equity Matters Podcast: Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-equity-matters-podcast/id1525740075], Spotify [https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equitymatters], and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOlNtkwbw1a_drA0AwqXeSg] Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/equitymattersmedia/] Like us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/EquityMattersPodcast/] Follow us on TikTok [https://itsjbthree.my.canva.site/equitymattersmedia] Check out our Free Resources on Gumroad [https://justsolutionsllc.gumroad.com/] Visit Dr. Bell’s Website [https://itsjbthree.my.canva.site/]

Public Service Announcement '26 (Equity Still Matters)

Dr. Bell has something to say. Listen & Subscribe to Equity Matters Podcast: Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-equity-matters-podcast/id1525740075], Spotify [https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equitymatters], and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOlNtkwbw1a_drA0AwqXeSg]  Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/equitymattersmedia/] Like us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/EquityMattersPodcast/] Follow us on TikTok [https://itsjbthree.my.canva.site/equitymattersmedia] Check out our Free Resources on Gumroad [https://justsolutionsllc.gumroad.com/] Visit Dr. Bell’s Website [https://itsjbthree.my.canva.site/]

Sound of Silence (Boy's Don't Cry)

What happens when silence becomes a survival skill and survival becomes a sickness? In this episode of Equity Matters, we examine the crisis of Black men’s health in America, where strength is too often defined by endurance and silence. From heart disease and diabetes to colorectal cancer, Black men face some of the highest rates of preventable illness yet many avoid care altogether, shaped by fear, stigma, and a history of systemic neglect. We trace how cultural expectations, mistrust, and racial bias collide to create deadly outcomes — and how breaking the silence could be one of the most radical acts of care. This isn’t just about health. It’s about what happens when a society teaches men to carry pain quietly and calls it pride. The Sound of Silence now streaming wherever you listen to podcasts. Listen & Subscribe to Equity Matters Podcast: Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-equity-matters-podcast/id1525740075], Spotify [https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equitymatters], and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOlNtkwbw1a_drA0AwqXeSg] Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/equitymatterspodcast/] Like us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/EquityMattersPodcast/] Follow us on TikTok [https://itsjbthree.my.canva.site/equitymattersmedia] Check out our Free Resources on Gumroad [https://justsolutionsllc.gumroad.com/] Visit Dr. Bell’s Website [https://itsjbthree.my.canva.site/equitymattersmedia] Join the Equity Matters Circle [https://linktr.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=15e9ed7dd92716b1b9d1f2f8c&id=245918a45e]