Welcome to This is Viral! COVID-19 thrust public health into the global spotlight, but there’s much more to discuss. Dive into conversations with experts in policy, medicine, and culture for a healthy dose of authenticity and transparency. We are students, activists, and healthcare professionals passionate about empowering all voices in the story of public health. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thisisviral/support
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Episode 17: "Public Health Professionals" Part 1 - Ibukun Omole
28:20
28:20
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"It's really cool when you feel like you can show up for someone who felt like they didn't have anyone." We're launching a new focus on This is Viral and turning our attention towards the career possibilities that open up when you choose to pursue public health. To kick things off, meet Ibukun Omole, a UVA graduate who has spent the last year worki…
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Episode 16: "Running on Empty" - Mental Health with Runners
32:37
32:37
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“Who run the world? Girls!” -Beyoncé Host Sarah Moxham returns to lead This is Viral's first all-women podcast episode. Joining her at the table are former UVA track/cross country runners, Georgie Mackenzie and Libby Davidson. This is their "love story" with running, and its peak highs and lows. A key study that inspired this episode details the ge…
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Episode 15: Mental Health Care as a Team Sport - featuring Henry Kessler and Cabrel Happi Kamseu
23:13
23:13
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Have you ever wanted to learn about the life and mindset of a D1 athlete or a professional soccer player? Look no further! Host Paco Abiad reconnects with some old friends: USMNT and New England Revolution defender, Henry Kessler, and University of Virginia forward, Cabrel Happi Kamseu, to discuss the world of soccer (or football for anyone outside…
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A story about Community health, the Meaning of "Siyabonga," and How to Be the Worst Uber Passenger! Host Paco Abiad takes a deep dive into conversation with Fulbright Scholar Scarlett Bergam to learn all about what it's like to be living and working in South Africa this year amidst the latest developments with the COVID-19 Omicron variant. Today's …
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Episode 13: "COVID-19 x Mental Health" with Dr. Rick Mayes - Patching Up Mental Health
29:10
29:10
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Are you in need of some soul-filling conversation? Do you want to learn a little bit about the U.S. healthcare system? Look no further than this episode, featuring Dr. Rick Mayes! Join co-hosts Paco and Daniel as they dive into what the Affordable Care Act is and what it means for providing access for mental health care. Make sure to listen all the…
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Episode 12: "COVID-19 x Mental Health" with Dr. Heather Zelle - Analyzing Virginia Health Policy
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26:10
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How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected our collective mental health? Does America have the policies and infrastructure to protect and promote our mental health? These are the burning questions that our team is investigating during this mini-series of content around mental health. Why are we launching this project? Hear what our guest, Dr. Zelle, ha…
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Episode 11: COVID-19 x Xenophobia: We Belong Here
20:39
20:39
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We Need to Talk About Anti-Asian Hate. In the aftermath of the Atlanta shootings and the continued senseless acts of xenophobia against AAPI, host Paco Abiad takes the microphone to share some of his raw thoughts and emotions as a Filipino-American and also as someone who's been researching the consequences of xenophobia during COVID-19 for the pas…
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Between Helplessness and Hope, Fear and Fortitude, Isolation and Innovation. This has been a Year of COVID-19. Join us in this very special episode of This is Viral as host Paco Abiad takes us back through the different stages, or rather, seasons, of the pandemic since it began in March 2020. This pandemic has fluctuated in waves that reflect both …
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"In the midst of my symptoms, I wrote on my phone that I was teetering on the edge of disaster." We’re fast approaching a year since the SARS-CoV-2 disrupted life as we know it. As public schools prepare for students to return to physical classrooms and college students return for the spring semester, let’s pause for a moment to hear about how the …
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Episode 8: "I Can't Breathe" Standing In Your Truth with Seriah Barnes
16:50
16:50
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And we're back! Join us today as co-hosts Paco and Sarah meet up with a fellow high school classmate to learn about her experiences as a Black woman and activist both in her hometown and college environment. You won't want to miss these truths that Seriah Barnes is about to share! Visit our newly published website! Public Health Bookworm Reading Li…
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Episode 7: "What's the News with Katy Q" - Post Election Analysis
21:52
21:52
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November's been a busy month, hasn't it? We're premiering a new element of This is Viral, What's the News with Katy Q! In today's episode, host Paco Abiad is rejoined by Dr. Kathryn Quissell, but you can call her Katy. Together, they analyze the outcomes of the latest U.S. elections and breaking news about promising vaccines. Got questions about wh…
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Episode 6: "I Can't Breathe" - Climate Health and Environmental Justice with Dr. Samantha Ahdoot
35:53
35:53
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This episode gives a whole new meaning to "I Can't Breathe." Have you ever heard of pollution inequity? You're about to find out how minority communities are exposed to more pollution than they contribute. In the next episode of the "I Can't Breathe" series, we learn about the very real consequences of climate change on population health. In our fi…
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Episode 5: COVID-19 x College: It Really Is That Bad
30:04
30:04
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Watermelon Chicken Salad, anyone? Welcome to the launch of a new series of episodes, each of which provide a unique perspective on COVID-19's impact on different topics. First up, we're examining what it's like for college students to experience the fall semester amidst fluctuating patterns of COVID-19 infections. Join co-hosts Paco Abiad, Fariha M…
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Episode 4: "I Can't Breathe" Getting Ethical with Dr. Nichole Flores
34:51
34:51
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What can activists do to promote embodied solidarity to ally with the Black community? In the next episode of the I Can't Breathe series, co-hosts Paco Abiad and Mikayla Marraccini embark on a journey of social ethics with Dr. Nichole Flores, a religious studies professor at the University of Virginia. Join them in a riveting conversation that conn…
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Episode 3: "I Can't Breathe" Protecting Black Lives with Dr. Nadia Abuelezam
36:27
36:27
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What do you do when someone doesn't believe that racism is a health issue? *Note: Within this episode, we use the term Black bodies when discussing systemic racism in the healthcare field. While the intentions are benign, we acknowledge that language matters and that a better phrase is Black People or Lives, because the Black community is more than…
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Episode 2: “I Can’t Breathe” Reflections on Racial Privilege and Implicit Bias with Dr. Gertrude Fraser
35:03
35:03
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Medical anthropologist Dr. Gertrude Fraser and co-hosts Paco Abiad and Joyce Cheng launch the I Can't Breathe Series. Dr. Fraser discusses her mindset teaching medical anthropology at UVA, maternal mortality as an example of racial health disparities, and her personal experiences with police safety as a form of racial privilege. Donate to Sister So…
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Bonus Episode: Introducing the “I Can’t Breathe” Series
7:40
7:40
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Anti-racism is more than a trending topic. We’re pleased to announce an upcoming series on anti-racism and its intersection with health. Our team has been working hard to listen, reflect, and research content on this enormous topic. Topics we'll be focusing on include: Defining systems of inequality and how they contribute to racial health disparit…
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Episode 1: “What the (Public) Health?” Conversations with Dr. Kathryn Quissell
30:12
30:12
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"What the heck is public health and what does that have anything to do with me?" Host Paco Abiad chats with Doctor Kathryn Quissell from the University of Virginia to expand on the core values of public health, how she came to dedicate herself to researching health inequities, and who would benefit from a little public health knowledge. (Hint: the …
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Hello! Thank you tuning into our show, This is Viral. We are a team of students, activists, and public health nerds. Our mission is to foster passionate and insightful conversations on a variety of public health topics that apply to listeners of all backgrounds. With the help of featured guest experts, we know we can get the job done. We hope you e…
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