In this episode of the GoHealth Podcast, CEO
Gillian Straine sits down with
Dr. Shola Oladipo, a registered dietitian with nearly 30 years of experience, researcher, pastor, and CEO of
Food for Purpose. Shola’s pioneering work sits at the intersection of faith, food, and health — equipping Black Majority Churches and wider communities to embrace culturally relevant approaches to health and healing.
Together they explore:
- Shola’s story of food, family, and faith growing up in the Pentecostal church.
- The Rest–Digest–Reset project and how it is reshaping health through community co-design.
- The unique health challenges facing Black, African, and Caribbean communities — and what mainstream health systems often overlook.
- Why “cultural relevance” matters so much in healthcare.
- The deeper barriers to health, from chronic stress and hypertension to the “weathering effect.”
- How church leaders can be powerful agents of change — while also needing care themselves.
- The theology that helps us connect faith with health, and how slowing down to “find the pace of God’s love” can itself be an act of healing.
About our guest:
Dr. Shola Oladipo is a registered dietitian, doctoral researcher, and the founder of
Food for Purpose (FFP CIC). She has created the award-winning
Healthy Church Initiative and partners with churches, NHS trusts, and local councils to tackle health inequalities. Her PhD research focuses on how Black Majority Church leaders can influence health behaviours and build healthier futures.
Links and resources:
