Shows
Feedback with EarBuds: The Podcast Recommendation PodcastRewriting Black And Indigenous HistoriesWelcome to Feedback with EarBuds, the podcast recommendation podcast. Our newsletter brings you five podcast recommendations each week according to a theme, and curated by a different person. Our podcast is an audio version of the newsletter. Subscribe to the newsletter: eepurl.com/cIcBuH This week's theme is Rewriting Black and Indigenous Histories. The curator is Chip Colwell, editor-in-chief of the SAPIENS magazine and executive producer of SAPIENS: A Podcast For Everything Human.Why did Chip choose this theme? "In the months following George Floyd’s murder, the magazine and podcast I work on, SA...2022-05-1711 min
Code WACK!Fighting for life in America's healthcare rabbit holeWhat if you got a really terrible diagnosis in your mid-40s? ”Terrible” as in “unimaginably expensive?” “Terrible” as in “terminal?” Would you want to spend the time you have left on hold, searching for some kind of insurance for the chance to save or at least prolong your life? What are your options, really? Hear heart-failure patient Joel Sloan explain to host Brenda Gazzar what he’s gone through after falling down the chaotic rabbit hole of the American healthcare system. 2021-09-0610 min
Nurse TalkNew from Code WACK, Heartless Denial: HIV Discrimination & Organ TransplantsIt’s tough enough to be born with a genetic predisposition to heart disease. Tougher still to suffer advanced heart failure at 43. Then add in an HIV diagnosis and a hyper-fragmented healthcare system. What if your health plan won’t pay for your heart transplant because of a pre-existing condition or some other reason? Join Joel Sloan and Brenda Gazzar as they delve into the disturbing details of his extraordinary fight to live.2021-08-3109 min
Code WACK!Heartless Denial: HIV Discrimination & Organ TransplantsIt’s tough enough to be born with a genetic predisposition to heart disease. Tougher still to suffer advanced heart failure at 43. Then add in an HIV diagnosis and a hyper-fragmented healthcare system. What if your health plan won’t pay for your heart transplant because of a pre-existing condition or some other reason? Join Joel Sloan and Brenda Gazzar as they delve into the disturbing details of his extraordinary fight to live.2021-08-3009 min
Nurse TalkNew from Code WACK, 'Centuries of Inequities' & the COVID Crisis.Part 2. How has America’s lack of a national, coordinated response to COVID affected us? What about the attacks on America’s public sector? Why did simply having to go to work turn out to be the single biggest issue Black Americans faced during the pandemic? Join host Brenda Gazzar and Chicago’s own Dr. Linda Rae Murray, MD, MPH, as they take a deep dive on the structural reasons for America’s fragmented healthcare system and what we need to do to fix it.2021-08-2410 min
Code WACK!'Centuries of Inequities' & the COVID CrisisHow has America’s lack of a national, coordinated response to COVID affected us? What about the attacks on America’s public sector? Why did simply having to go to work turn out to be the single biggest issue Black Americans faced during the pandemic? Join host Brenda Gazzar and Chicago’s own Dr. Linda Rae Murray, MD, MPH, as they take a deep dive on the structural reasons for America’s fragmented healthcare system and what we need to do to fix it. 2021-08-2310 min
Nurse TalkNew from Code WACK, Medicine's undeniable role in U.S. racismHow is racism baked into American society? What role has medicine played in propagating it? How does racism in health care affect Black and indigenous peoples? Listen as "full-time troublemaker" Dr. Linda Rae Murray, MD, MPH, former Chief Medical Officer - Primary Care for the Cook County Bureau of Health Services and host Brenda Gazzar discuss the artificial separation between social, structural and personal racism -- and how little has changed since the 1970s.2021-08-1709 min
Code WACK!Medicine's undeniable role in U.S. racismHow is racism baked into American society? What role has medicine played in propagating it? How does racism in health care affect Black and indigenous peoples? Listen as "full-time troublemaker" Dr. Linda Rae Murray, MD, MPH, former Chief Medical Officer - Primary Care for the Cook County Bureau of Health Services and host Brenda Gazzar discuss the artificial separation between social, structural and personal racism -- and how little has changed since the 1970s. 2021-08-1609 min
Nurse TalkNew from Code WACK, Restaurant Worker Abuse? Let Us Count The WaysDoes commercial health insurance - when it's actually affordable - even provide the kinds of coverage restaurant workers need to cope with backbreaking work and emotional abuse? Who would want to risk catching COVID to do a job that pays $2.13 an hour plus tips? Join Brenda Waybrant, union organizer and former long-time restaurant worker, and host Brenda Gazzar as they discuss how COVID was a wake-up call for workers in a service industry that in too many cases, ignored and forgot them during the pandemic.2021-08-1008 min
Code WACK!Restaurant Worker Abuse? Let Us Count The WaysDoes commercial health insurance - when it's actually affordable - even provide the kinds of coverage restaurant workers need to cope with backbreaking work and emotional abuse? Who would want to risk catching COVID to do a job that pays $2.13 an hour plus tips? Join Brenda Waybrant, union organizer and former long-time restaurant worker, and host Brenda Gazzar as they discuss how COVID was a wake-up call for workers in a service industry that in too many cases, ignored and forgot them during the pandemic.2021-08-0908 min
Nurse TalkNew from Code WACK, Why Restaurant Workers are Singing the Blues: Former Nashville Server Speaks OutWhat health challenges do restaurant workers face as a result of their work? How did they fare during COVID? Can most restaurant workers really afford to miss a shift due to illness? Join Brenda Waybrant, union organizer and former long-time restaurant worker in Nashville, and host Brenda Gazzar as they discuss how private health insurance - whether employer-sponsored or from the marketplace - remains unaffordable for many Americans in low-income jobs, while public health insurance saves lives.2021-08-0309 min
Code WACK!Why Restaurant Workers are Singing the Blues: Former Nashville Server Speaks OutWhat health challenges do restaurant workers face as a result of their work? How did they fare during COVID? Can most restaurant workers really afford to miss a shift due to illness? Join Brenda Waybrant, union organizer and former long-time restaurant worker in Nashville, and host Brenda Gazzar as they discuss how private health insurance - whether employer-sponsored or from the marketplace - remains unaffordable for many Americans in low-income jobs, while public health insurance saves lives. 2021-08-0209 min
Nurse TalkNew from Code WACK, Cherry picking? Lemon dropping? How health insurers weed out sick peopleHow do health insurance companies avoid insuring more costly patients? What’s a “trojan horse” when it comes to single-payer legislation? Does financing health care through an insurance system make sense? Join Dr. Stephen Kemble, practicing psychiatrist and past president of the Hawaii Medical Association, and Brenda Gazzar as they discuss one of the biggest challenges to winning Medicare for All in California - the popularity of HMO giant Kaiser Permanente.2021-07-2707 min
Code WACK!Cherry picking? Lemon dropping? How health insurers weed out sick people.How do health insurance companies avoid insuring more costly patients? What’s a “trojan horse” when it comes to single-payer legislation? Does financing health care through an insurance system make sense? Join Dr. Stephen Kemble, practicing psychiatrist and past president of the Hawaii Medical Association, and Brenda Gazzar as they discuss one of the biggest challenges to winning Medicare for All in California - the popularity of HMO giant Kaiser Permanente. 2021-07-2607 min
Nurse TalkNew from Code WACK, Hallucinating & Hypertensive: A Long COVID NightmareAs if having Long COVID weren’t enough, does America’s broken healthcare system make things worse? Does the social safety net - meaning Medicaid, unemployment and disability insurance - actually save us? Join Mariana Pineda, a New York teacher and mother of four, as she shares her COVID long-haul nightmare with host Brenda Gazzar. It was hard enough just trying to stay alive and keep her health insurance in force. Why was getting treatments approved by her insurance like a full-time job?2021-07-1311 min
Code WACK!Hallucinating & Hypertensive: A Long COVID NightmareAs if having Long COVID weren’t enough, does America’s broken healthcare system make things worse? Does the social safety net - meaning Medicaid, unemployment and disability insurance - actually save us? Join Mariana Pineda, a New York teacher and mother of four, as she shares her COVID long-haul nightmare with host Brenda Gazzar. It was hard enough just trying to stay alive and keep her health insurance in force. Why was getting treatments approved by her insurance like a full-time job?2021-07-1211 min
Nurse TalkNew from Code WACK, The Fallacy of Choice in U.S. Health CareWhat if your surgery were suddenly cancelled the day before because your insurer deemed it "medically unnecessary?" What choices do Americans have when it comes to their care? Would global budgeting have helped rural hospitals cope with the pandemic? Stephanie Kang, PhD, health policy director for Rep. Pramila Jayapal, shares with Brenda Gazzar how her father's personal experience with a marketplace health plan during a serious health crisis illustrates the need for improved, expanded Medicare for All.2021-07-0710 min
Code WACK!The Fallacy of Choice in U.S. Health Care with Dr. Stephanie KangWhat if your surgery were suddenly cancelled the day before because your insurer deemed it "medically unnecessary?" What choices do Americans have when it comes to their care? Would global budgeting have helped rural hospitals cope with the pandemic? Stephanie Kang, PhD, health policy director for Rep. Pramila Jayapal, shares with Brenda Gazzar how her father's personal experience with a marketplace health plan during a serious health crisis illustrates the need for improved, expanded Medicare for All.2021-07-0510 min
Nurse TalkNew from Code WACK, Setting the stage for health equity in AmericaWhat’s the point of pushing for Medicare for All when President Biden opposes it? What about racial equity in healthcare - is winning single payer enough? Is there any value in supporting incremental legislation expanding Medicare to some? Host Brenda Gazzar and guest,
Dr. Stephanie Kang, PhD and current Congressional health policy director, discuss legislative strategies worth pursuing now if we hope to win a better healthcare future for America.2021-06-2809 min
Code WACK!Setting the stage for health equity in AmericaWhat’s the point of pushing for Medicare for All when President Biden opposes it? What about racial equity in healthcare - is winning single payer enough? Is there any value in supporting incremental legislation expanding Medicare to some? Host Brenda Gazzar and guest, Dr. Stephanie Kang, PhD, health policy director for Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal discuss legislative strategies worth pursuing now if we hope to win a better healthcare future for America. 2021-06-2809 min
Nurse TalkNew from Code WACK, The $4T Elephant in the Room – U.S. Health CareFeaturing Dr. Thomas Rice, health economist and Distinguished Professor at University of California, Los Angeles’ Fielding School of Public Health, and host Brenda Gazzar, discussing why it’s not “one-size-fits-all” when it comes to health insurance systems.
This is part two of a two-part series.2021-06-2210 min
Code WACK!The $4T Elephant in the Room - U.S. Health CareWhat’s holding the U.S. back from implementing system-wide solutions to our healthcare woes? How do other countries rein in prescription drug prices? What are the 5 most important lessons about health care that the U.S. could learn from other wealthy nations? Host Brenda Gazzar and her guest, Dr. Thomas Rice, health economist and Distinguished Professor at UCLA’s Fielding School of Public Health, discuss why it’s not “one-size-fits-all” when it comes to health insurance systems. 2021-06-2110 min
Nurse TalkNew from Code WACK, Shareholders Before Patients - America’s Healthcare DilemmaWhy does the U.S. healthcare system perform poorly in equity and efficiency compared to other wealthy nations? How does the U.S. ration access to health care based on cost? How do other countries manage to cover everyone for less? What lessons can we learn from their health insurance systems? Host Brenda Gazzar and her guest, Dr. Thomas Rice, health economist and Distinguished Professor in UCLA’s Department of Health Policy and Management, discuss his new book, “Health Insurance Systems: An International Comparison.”2021-06-1510 min
Code WACK!Shareholders Before Patients - America’s Healthcare DilemmaWhy does the U.S. healthcare system perform poorly in equity and efficiency compared to other wealthy nations? How does the U.S. ration access to health care based on cost? How do other countries manage to cover everyone for less? What lessons can we learn from their health insurance systems? Host Brenda Gazzar and her guest, Dr. Thomas Rice, health economist and Distinguished Professor in UCLA’s Department of Health Policy and Management, discuss his new book, “Health Insurance Systems: An International Comparison.” 2021-06-1410 min
Nurse TalkNew from Code WACK, The Three-Front Battle for California Single PayerWhat's happening with healthcare reform in one of the bluest states in the nation, California? On which three fronts are single-payer advocates battling? What's essential to winning a healthcare justice ground game? Join host Brenda Gazzar and her guest, Ellen Karel, Chair of Health Care for All - California, as they discuss this historic moment for single-payer in the Golden State!2021-06-0809 min
Code WACK!The Three-Front Battle for California Single PayerWhat's happening with healthcare reform in one of the bluest states in the nation, California? On which three fronts are single-payer advocates battling? What's essential to winning a healthcare justice ground game? Join host Brenda Gazzar and her guest, Ellen Karel, Chair of Health Care for All - California, as they discuss this historic moment for single-payer in the Golden State!2021-06-0709 min
Nurse TalkNew from Code WACK, An Offense to Justice & Humanity?How did Ellen Karel, the chair of Health Care for All-California, come to support Medicare for All? What lead her to advocate for healthcare equity? Join host Brenda Gazzar and Ellen Karel as they discuss how expensive getting care can be, even with health insurance. Why should hardworking Californians, struggling to survive on low incomes, face hurdles to getting the care they need? What is holding California back from embracing single-payer healthcare, which would cover everyone for less money? Learn more at HEAL California!2021-06-0208 min
Code WACK!An Offense to Justice & Humanity?How did Ellen Karel, the chair of Health Care for All-California, come to support Medicare for All? What lead her to advocate for healthcare equity? Join host Brenda Gazzar and Ellen Karel as they discuss how expensive getting care can be, even with health insurance. Why should hardworking Californians, struggling to survive on low incomes, face hurdles to getting the care they need? What is holding California back from embracing single-payer healthcare, which would cover everyone for less money? Learn more at HEAL California!2021-05-3108 min
Nurse TalkNew from Code WACK, Hawaii, Vermont & Single Payer: What went wrong?How did Hawaii’s effort to establish universal healthcare get derailed by the Affordable Care Act? What’s an all-payer healthcare system and is it an alternative (or a path) to single-payer? What really happened with Vermont’s attempt at single payer? Dr. Stephen Kemble, psychiatrist and past president of the Hawaii Medical Association, and host Brenda Gazzar discuss what key feature of a single-payer plan is absolutely essential to reduce overall healthcare costs. Learn more & subscribe at HEAL California!2021-05-2407 min
Code WACK!Hawaii, Vermont & Single Payer: What went wrong?How did Hawaii’s effort to establish universal healthcare get derailed by the Affordable Care Act? What’s an all-payer healthcare system and is it an alternative (or a path) to single-payer? What really happened with Vermont’s attempt at single payer? Dr. Stephen Kemble, psychiatrist and past president of the Hawaii Medical Association, and host Brenda Gazzar discuss what key feature of a single-payer plan is absolutely essential to reduce overall healthcare costs. Learn more & subscribe at HEAL California!2021-05-2407 minNurse TalkNew from Code WACK, Mental Health & Medicaid's Managed Care MessHow has Medicaid Managed Care affected the availability of mental health services for low-income patients? Do corporate insurance industry practices, like medication preauthorization, complicate the treatment of mental health patients? Dr. Stephen Kemble, psychiatrist and past president of the Hawaii Medical Association, and host Brenda Gazzar discuss how Managed Care creates burdens for patients and psychiatrists alike and how new models, such as collaborative care, might help.2021-05-2009 min
Code WACK!Mental Health & Medicaid's Managed Care MessFor Mental Health Awareness month, this week's pod looks at how Medicaid Managed Care affects the availability of mental health services for low-income patients. Do corporate insurance industry practices, like preauthorization, complicate the treatment of mental health patients? Dr. Stephen Kemble, psychiatrist and past president of the Hawaii Medical Association, and host Brenda Gazzar discuss how Managed Care burdens patients and psychiatrists alike and how new models, such as collaborative care, might help.2021-05-1709 min
Nurse TalkNew from Code WACK, What’s driving U.S. doctors out of private practice?Featuring Dr. Nancy Niparko, a pediatric neurologist, and host Brenda Gazzar on how common health insurance industry practices drove her to shut down her private practice. Can doctors stay in business when today’s reimbursement rates in some specialties can be lower than they were 30 years ago?2021-05-1208 min
Nurse TalkNew from Code WACK, Health Insurance - America's 'Chaotic Deal with the Devil?'What can doctors do when they learn the best treatment for their patients is not covered by health insurance? How are American children impacted by coverage denials and the high cost of medicines? Brenda Gazzar and Dr. Nancy Niparko, a pediatric neurologist at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, discuss the frustrating and unnecessary insurance hassles doctors routinely face while trying to properly treat their patients, and how different it is in Canada.2021-05-1008 min
Code WACK!What’s driving U.S. doctors out of private practice?How do common health insurance industry practices affect doctors’ ability to remain independent? Can doctors stay in business when today’s reimbursement rates in some specialties can be lower than they were 30 years ago? What happens when billing-related administrative expenses are too high? Dr. Nancy Niparko, a pediatric neurologist in the Los Angeles area, explains to host Brenda Gazzar how she came to shut down her private practice and accept employment. Learn more & subscribe at HEAL California!2021-05-1008 min
Code WACK!Health Insurance: America’s ‘chaotic deal with the devil?’What can doctors do when they learn the best treatment for their patients is not covered by health insurance? How are American children impacted by coverage denials and the high cost of medicines? Brenda Gazzar and Dr. Nancy Niparko, a pediatric neurologist at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, discuss the frustrating and unnecessary insurance hassles doctors routinely face while trying to properly treat their patients, and how different it is in Canada. Learn more & subscribe at HEAL California! 2021-05-0309 min
Code WACK!Unemployed & Uninsured in a PandemicHow were everyday Americans affected when they lost their jobs and their health insurance during the pandemic? Is subsidized health insurance from Affordable Care Act marketplaces an answer, given out-of-pocket limits as high as $8,150 in 2020? Host Brenda Gazzar and Cathy Munzer, a fitness instructor living in Flushing Queens, discuss the fear and stress she felt when facing a medical emergency while unemployed and unable to afford health insurance. Learn more at HEAL California!2021-04-2608 min
Nurse TalkNew from Code WACK, Taking on Corporate Healthcare in America.What would the political path to winning Medicare for All look like? How can we take on the power of corporate health care? Why is it essential that people understand how our for-profit healthcare system affects them personally? Host Brenda Gazzar and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, physician and politician, discuss how his compelling new book, “Medicare for All: A Citizen’s Guide” was written for skeptics and advocates alike, and why this fight matters for everyone.2021-04-2010 min
Code WACK!Taking on Corporate Healthcare in AmericaWhat would the political path to winning Medicare for All look like? How can we take on the power of corporate health care? Why is it essential that people understand how our for-profit healthcare system affects them personally? Host Brenda Gazzar and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, physician and politician, discuss how his compelling new book, “Medicare for All: A Citizen’s Guide” was written for skeptics and advocates alike, and why this fight matters for everyone. Learn more & subscribe at HEAL California!2021-04-1910 min
Nurse TalkNew from Code WACK, 'Critical Condition:' How to Save American Health Care?What impact did having roots in two worlds - Detroit, Michigan and Alexandria, Egypt - have on a young Dr. Abdul El-Sayed? How did his life experience sharpen his perception of the systems of inequality? What motivated him to first pursue a career in medicine, then move on to public health and now politics? Host Brenda Gazzar and Dr. El-Sayed, physician and politician, discuss his compelling life and best-selling new book, “Medicare for All: A Citizen’s Guide.”2021-04-1510 min
Code WACK!'Critical Condition:' How to Save American Health Care?What impact did having roots in two worlds - Detroit, Michigan and Alexandria, Egypt - have on a young Dr. Abdul El-Sayed? How did his life experience sharpen his perception of the systems of inequality? What motivated him to first pursue a career in medicine, then move on to public health and now politics? Host Brenda Gazzar and Dr. El-Sayed, physician and politician, discuss his compelling life and best-selling new book, “Medicare for All: A Citizen’s Guide.”2021-04-1210 min
Nurse TalkNew from Code WACK, The Scoop on California's New Medicare for All BillWhat are the key features of CalCare, California’s new single-payer bill (AB 1400)? Will it save money, or cost more? If we had single-payer, would Californians still have to pay premiums and deductibles? University of California San Francisco professor emeritus James G. Kahn, health economics expert, and host Brenda Gazzar discuss facts about CalCare, including options to finance it, and what we can do to help get it passed!2021-04-0709 min
Code WACK!The Scoop on California's New Medicare for All BillWhat are the key features of CalCare, California’s new single-payer bill (AB 1400)? Will it save money, or cost more? If we had single-payer, would Californians still have to pay premiums and deductibles? University of California San Francisco professor emeritus James G. Kahn, health economics expert, and host Brenda Gazzar discuss facts about CalCare, including options to finance it, and what we can do to help get it passed!2021-04-0509 min
Nurse TalkNew from Code WACK, The David & Goliath Fight for Medicare for All.What convinced a global health expert that single-payer healthcare systems are the way to go? How did the coronavirus pandemic impact the existing American healthcare system? Why has the California Legislature failed to get to single-payer despite widespread support for it? UCSF professor emeritus James G. Kahn, health economics expert, and Brenda Gazzar discuss the state of past and future healthcare reform efforts.2021-04-0108 min
Code WACK!The David & Goliath Fight for Medicare for AllWhat convinced a global health expert that single-payer healthcare systems are the way to go? How did the coronavirus pandemic impact the existing American healthcare system? Why has the California Legislature failed to get to single-payer despite widespread support for it? University of California San Francisco professor emeritus James G. Kahn, health economics expert, and Brenda Gazzar discuss the state of past and future healthcare reform efforts. Don't forget to subscribe for news, views & new podcasts!2021-03-2908 min
Code WACK!America's Racial Generation Gap & Healthcare ReformWhat about the people who earn too much for Medicaid but too little to afford Obamacare? How has our broken healthcare system taken center stage at the union bargaining table? Have racial and generational divisions held back the healthcare reform movement? Sean Cavanaugh, campaign director for Whole Washington, and host Brenda Gazzar, discuss why bridging the racial generation gap is key to winning Medicare for All. 2021-03-2209 min
Nurse TalkNew from Code WACK, The fight for healthcare equity in Washington State.How does our corporate healthcare system prevent us from fully investing in the public good? What about its disparate impact on Black Americans? How would we all benefit if our society prioritized taking care of people? Sean Cavanaugh, campaign director for Whole Washington, and host Brenda Gazzar, discuss why SB 5204, the latest single payer bill in Washington State, is vital and how it would work.2021-03-1808 min
Code WACK!The fight for healthcare equity in Washington StateHow does our corporate healthcare system prevent us from fully investing in the public good? What about its disparate impact on Black Americans? How would we all benefit if our society prioritized taking care of people? Sean Cavanaugh, campaign director for Whole Washington, and host Brenda Gazzar, discuss why SB 5204, the latest single payer bill in Washington State, is vital and how it would work. 2021-03-1508 min
Nurse TalkNew from Code WACK, Free to leave? Domestic abuse & health care.What are the traps that can keep survivors locked into abusive relationships? Is domestic violence more common in lower-income households? What advantages do higher-income survivors have when they seek help? Michele Hamilton, counselor and board member of Health Care 4 All-PA, joins host Brenda Gazzar to discuss how Medicare for All would change the dynamics for abuse survivors.2021-03-1010 min
Code WACK!Free to leave? Domestic abuse & health careWhat are the traps that can keep survivors locked into abusive relationships? Is domestic violence more common in lower-income households? What advantages do higher-income survivors have when they seek help? Michele Hamilton, counselor and board member of Health Care 4 All-PA, joins host Brenda Gazzar to discuss how Medicare for All would change the dynamics for abuse survivors. Click here for transcript.2021-03-0810 min
Code WACK!How America’s broken healthcare system fails victims of domestic abuseDomestic abuse victims often need urgent treatment for health problems resulting from physical and emotional assault. In many cases, they must find shelter in another town, county or state. How does the U.S. health insurance system respond to their needs? What about county-specific safety-net programs? Michele Hamilton, counselor in a domestic abuse shelter and board member of Health Care 4 All-PA, joins host Brenda Gazzar to discuss why Americans need health insurance that is not tied to their jobs, their parents or their abuser. Click here for transcript. 2021-03-0110 min
Code WACK!Pesticides, Accidents and ICE: Migrant farmworkers risk their lives to put food on your tableCalifornia’s migrant farmworkers suffer from more than inadequate housing, inaccessible health care and social isolation. What are the health risks they face at work each day while contributing to the state’s booming agricultural economy? Radio Bilingue's Hugo Morales and host Brenda Gazzar discuss the dangers farmworkers face at work, including pesticide exposure, working around farm animals and with mechanized equipment. Then there’s the constant fear of deportation. . . .Click for the transcript!2021-02-2209 min
Code WACK!Radio Bilingue's Hugo Morales - from farmworker to public radio mogulWhat health challenges do California’s farmworkers and their families routinely face as a consequence of dire poverty? What’s it like to be socially isolated and treated like an alien? Hugo Morales, co-founder and executive director of Radio Bilingue, and host Brenda Gazzar discuss his incredible life, starting as a Mexican-born indigenous child who joined his father at a farm labor camp in Healdsburg, California to his time studying at Harvard. 2021-02-1510 min
Nurse TalkNew from Code WACK, battered by illness, medical bills in America's SouthWhat options are there for an uninsured performing artist facing financial destruction from medical bills? How does one’s state of residence impact the affordability of health care? Eliska Hahn and host Brenda Gazzar discuss the challenge of affording health care after developing a devastating illness even with the Affordable Care Act.2021-02-1012 min
Code WACK!Battered by illness, medical bills in America's SouthWhat options are there for an uninsured performing artist facing financial destruction from medical bills? How does one’s state of residence impact the affordability of health care? Eliska Hahn and host Brenda Gazzar discuss the challenge of affording health care after developing a devastating illness even with the Affordable Care Act. 2021-02-0812 min
Code WACK!Any port in America’s healthcare storm?How did a hardworking, highly talented performance artist end up declaring medical bankruptcy at age 23? Does the desire for dignity, independence and healthcare security mean Americans must give up their dreams of working in creative fields? Host Brenda Gazzar and Eliska Hahn, voice talent, model and actor, examine how America’s fragmented healthcare system let her down as she started a family while pursuing an ambitious entertainment career across the country. 2021-02-0110 min
Code WACK!Stigma, Incarceration and Coronavirus - A Triple ThreatWhy are incarcerated people experiencing devastating coronavirus outbreaks? What special vulnerabilities do they face that increase their susceptibility to the virus? Host Brenda Gazzar and Dr. Nina Harawa discuss how the day-to-day realities of life in prisons and jails make it nearly impossible to avoid exposure, and what needs to be done about it. 2021-01-2510 min
Code WACK!Equity & Respect: A Prescription for a Healthy SocietyToday we’re celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a racial equity champion, with a look at how stigmatized communities such as HIV-positive, transgender and incarcerated people are faring overall and during the coronavirus pandemic. Host Brenda Gazzar and Dr. Nina Harawa discuss the special vulnerabilities they face, and how to effectively communicate vital health-related information in light of a history of mistreatment in the medical system. 2021-01-1813 min
Code WACK!Grieving dad won’t stop fighting for Medicare for AllHow can a father cope with the senseless death of a beloved son following a missed $20 premium payment? What devastating consequences can result when a patient's health insurance changes without warning? Host Brenda Gazzar and Scott Desnoyers discuss how an unexpected health insurance change meant that his son Danny lost access to critical medication, which he says contributed to his son's suicide. How would things be different if we had Medicare for All? 2021-01-1114 min
Code WACK!How safe is the coronavirus vaccine? Dr. Rob Davidson weighs inHow can we overcome vaccine hesitancy among Americans? What role does distrust of the medical establishment play in the decision to be vaccinated? Why do some communities have serious concerns around seeking medical care? Host Brenda Gazzar and Dr. Rob Davidson, practicing emergency room doctor, discuss the targeted messaging campaign being launched by the Committee to Protect Medicare, the latest mRNA vaccine technology and why he trusts the new COVID-19 vaccines. 2021-01-0407 min
Nurse TalkPNHP's Dr. Susan Rogers: Stop blaming patients and start asking questionsWhy did a man in his 20s die from a totally treatable disease? How do social determinants affect patients’ ability to get to doctors appointments or buy prescribed medicines? Host Brenda Gazzar and Dr. Susan Rogers, new president of Physicians for a National Health Program, discuss how essential it is to acknowledge the role inequities play in health care and to stop blaming patients. For more information visit https://heal-ca.org.2021-01-0311 min
Code WACK!The Unmasked Truth with Dr. Rob Davidson, Committee to Protect MedicareWhy is it that an advanced nation like the U.S. has experienced over 2 million COVID-19 infections? How have factors like the lack of a coordinated federal response and an inadequate health insurance system contributed to our national health tragedy? Host Brenda Gazzar and Dr. Rob Davidson, practicing emergency room doctor and head of Committee to Protect Medicare, discuss how wearing masks and getting vaccinated would save countless American lives. 2020-12-2806 min
Nurse TalkCode WACK. Been There. Dr. Susan Rogers On Racism In MedicineWhat was it like growing up Black in America during the Civil Rights struggles of the 1960's? What was the experience of systemic racism faced by students of color - especially Black women - in medical school during that era? With host Brenda Gazzar, Dr. Susan Rogers, new president of Physicians for a National Health Program, describes the life experiences that helped shape her commitment to social justice and healthcare equity. This is part one of two podcasts. For more about Code WACK visit https://heal-ca.org.2020-12-2209 min
Code WACK!PNHP's Dr. Susan Rogers: Stop blaming patients and start asking questionsWhy did a man in his 20s die from a totally treatable disease? How do social determinants affect patients’ ability to get to doctors appointments or buy prescribed medicines? Host Brenda Gazzar and Dr. Susan Rogers, new president of Physicians for a National Health Program, discuss how essential it is to acknowledge the role inequities play in health care and to stop blaming patients.2020-12-2111 min
Code WACK!Been there. PNHP's Dr. Susan Rogers on racism in U.S. medicineWhat was it like growing up Black in America during the Civil Rights struggles of the 1960's? What was the experience of systemic racism faced by students of color - especially Black women - in medical school during that era? With host Brenda Gazzar, Dr. Susan Rogers, new president of Physicians for a National Health Program, describes the life experiences that helped shape her commitment to social justice and healthcare equity.2020-12-1409 min
Nurse TalkLights! Camera! Uninsured! Hollywood elites face healthcare hassles.How does having to work to get employer-sponsored health insurance affect Americans with chronic illness? Does managing health insurance get any easier after retirement? (Hint – not necessarily.) Are Medicare Advantage plans really advantageous? And for whom? Retired actor Kathy Fields Lander, wife of actor and comedian David L. Lander, and host Brenda Gazzar talk about how fears for a loved one’s health care can keep family members up at night, and the importance of health care to our democracy. Note: Since this podcast David Lander passed away from complications due to his chronic illness. For more information visithttps://heal-ca.org...2020-12-0906 min
Code WACK!What Now for California’s Medicare for All Movement?What are the prospects for single payer in California? What role might the Healthy California for All Commission play in the future of the state's healthcare system? What about Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature? Michael Lighty, founding fellow of the Sanders Institute and former healthcare constituency director for Bernie 2020, and host Brenda Gazzar discuss who and what California single-payer supporters should focus on in 2021.2020-12-0708 min
Code WACK!Does a Biden White House spell the end of Medicare for All?What are the prospects for Medicare for All under President-elect Joe Biden's tenure given his stated opposition to it? What steps can we expect the federal government to take to address healthcare inequities? What about reform efforts within the states? Michael Lighty, founding fellow of the Sanders Institute and former healthcare constituency director for Bernie 2020, and host Brenda Gazzar discuss how Biden's presidency might affect federal and state efforts to win Medicare for All. 2020-11-3006 min
Code WACK!Will the legal challenge to Obamacare fail?How likely is it that the U.S. Supreme Court would rule the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional? What does “unconstitutional” actually mean in this context? Scott Nelson, a public interest attorney working with Public Citizen, and host Brenda Gazzar discuss possible outcomes to the case against Obamacare, and the reasons why Public Citizen, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization, believes Medicare for All would be a better option for Americans than our current market-based system. 2020-11-2306 min
Code WACK!Obamacare on Trial - What's at Stake?The Affordable Care Act is before the Supreme Court again. What's the latest case about? Why are California and Texas suing over the landmark legislation? What impact might the court's decision have on Americans' health care? Scott Nelson, a public interest attorney working with the nonprofit consumer advocacy organization Public Citizen, and host Brenda Gazzar discuss the latest legal challenge to Obamacare and the possible consequences. 2020-11-1609 min
Code WACK!Worry-free health care? Not even in LaLa Land!What recourse do performers and media professionals have in the face of rising health insurance premiums? Is the entertainment industry bouncing back from the pandemic? Ayesha Orange, professional dancer, choreographer, and single mom, joins host Brenda Gazzar to discuss how increased health insurance expenses may affect her and her young son next year.2020-11-0906 min
Code WACK!Don't ‘break a leg!’ Health benefit changes are coming to TinseltownChanges to SAG-AFTRA’s benefit plans concern working-age performers and retirees alike. What happens when an artist can't get enough work to qualify for benefits - like, during a pandemic? And what about COBRA? Ayesha Orange, professional dancer, choreographer, and a single mom, joins host Brenda Gazzar to discuss how changes to SAG-AFTRA’s benefit plans are throwing even more worries into the mix ahead of 2021.2020-11-0206 min
Code WACK!Lights! Camera! Uninsured! Hollywood elites face healthcare hasslesHow does having to work to qualify for employer-sponsored health insurance affect Americans with chronic illness? Does managing health insurance get any easier after retirement? (Hint - not necessarily.) Are Medicare Advantage plans really advantageous? And for whom? Retired actor Kathy Fields Lander, wife of actor and comedian David L. Lander, and host Brenda Gazzar talk about how fears for a loved one’s health care can keep family members up at night, and the importance of health care to our democracy. 2020-10-2606 min
Code WACK!'HEL-LO!’ to healthcare uncertainty,” says Laverne & Shirley’s SquiggyDid you hear about the upcoming changes to SAG-AFTRA’s employee-benefit plans? How are union health plans coping with America’s out-of-control healthcare costs? Are retiree health benefits guaranteed for life? David L. Lander, his wife Kathy Fields Lander, and host Brenda Gazzar discuss how changes to SAG-AFTRA’s benefit plans impact long-time union members like them and the complicated, costly insurance alternatives they are left with. 2020-10-1906 min
Code WACK!America’s Avoidable Tragedy? with Oakland Mayor Libby SchaafIs healthcare inequality more evident to America’s mayors than to our federal representatives? How differently might the pandemic have played out if Medicare for All had already been in place? Did the link between employment and health insurance force Americans to keep working - not just for the income but also for the insurance? Libby Schaaf, Oakland, California mayor, and host Brenda Gazzar discuss how coronavirus suffering in the U.S. could have been reduced.2020-10-1206 min
Nurse TalkCode WACK! How To Win Medicare For All...Featuring Michael Lighty, founding fellow of the Sanders Institute and former healthcare constituency director for Bernie 2020:
What’s holding the U.S. back from Medicare for All? (Hint: It’s not just Trump.) What about California? In this second episode in a podcast series with host Brenda Gazzar, Michael Lighty, founding fellow of the Sanders Institute and former healthcare constituency director for Bernie 2020, discusses the political obstacles to winning single payer and the essential connection to the issue of racial equity in health care.2020-10-0706 min
Code WACK!Mayors for Medicare for All: Upending the Status QuoWhy have two California mayors joined forces to launch Mayors for Medicare for All? How are American cities "laboratories for democracy?" How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected local communities? Libby Schaaf, Oakland mayor and the City Council's former senior policy adviser for Community & Economic Development, and host Brenda Gazzar discuss how fixing America's broken healthcare system is critical to equity, justice and decency. 2020-10-0506 min
Code WACK!The fight for transformative, accessible and inclusive health care for all with Angelica SalasWhat healthcare policies are necessary to expand access to care to low-income people? How will these policies benefit every person in our country? What happens to the billions of dollars undocumented workers pay into Medicare and Social Security each year? Angelica Salas, executive director of CHIRLA (Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights) and host Brenda Gazzar discuss how the pandemic has highlighted our interdependence and the need to take care of one another.2020-09-2806 min
Code WACK!Immigrant Justice: For some, it never comesWhat happens when immigrant workers become ill? Hear the story of how Guillermo, an undocumented construction worker in his late fifties, was exposed to coronavirus on the job and lost his life. How does his death impact his family and his community? Angelica Salas, executive director of CHIRLA (Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights) and host Brenda Gazzar discuss how access to emergency health care alone is simply not enough.2020-09-2106 min
Code WACK!Essential Yet Undocumented?Why are immigrant workers more vulnerable than other workers during this pandemic? When they do get sick, what options do immigrants without documentation have when it comes to care? What public health policies are absolutely critical during a pandemic? Angelica Salas, executive director of CHIRLA (Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights) and host Brenda Gazzar discuss the impact that exclusion from the social safety net has had on immigrants whose work is considered essential to the economy.2020-09-1406 min
Code WACK!The Fight for Immigration Reform, Health Care & Education, with Angelica Salas, CHIRLAWhat are commonalities in the undocumented experience? Is denial of access and punishment the chief purpose of U.S. immigration policy? How did California evolve from one of the most anti-immigrant states to be more welcoming and inclusive? Angelica Salas, executive director of CHIRLA (Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights) and host Brenda Gazzar discuss the struggles undocumented immigrants face when it comes to health care, education and the social safety net.2020-09-1006 min
Nurse TalkWelcome to this weeks CODE WACK podcast featuring .Michael LightyWill “a little bit of this and a little bit of that” solve America’s healthcare problems? Is COVID-19 a game-changer in the fight for single-payer? In this first episode of a podcast series with host Brenda Gazzar, Michael Lighty discusses the Medicare-for-All movement and the Democratic Party’s new unity task force.2020-09-0806 min
Code WACK!Complex Trauma & Mental Illness on Skid RowWhat's the one common denominator among women experiencing homelessness? Is homelessness a moral failing, or a consequence of complex trauma? Does substance abuse cause homelessness, or is it a coping mechanism? Amy Turk, a social worker and chief executive officer of the Downtown Women’s Center, and host Brenda Gazzar discuss how when it comes to our health care, it's always cheaper to do the right thing. 2020-09-0306 min
Code WACK!How Medicare for All Could Help End HomelessnessWhy is it that 60% of the women living on Skid Row are African-American? What happens when women become too sick to work and lose their health insurance? What programs promote access to health care for those experiencing homelessness? Amy Turk, a social worker and chief executive officer of the Downtown Women’s Center, and host Brenda Gazzar discuss how Medicare for All could help deter homelessness.2020-08-3106 min
Code WACK!Coronavirus & Skid RowWhat special challenges do people without permanent housing face with coronavirus? And what programs have served to protect them during the pandemic? How has the expansion of Medi-Cal under the Affordable Care Act impacted healthcare access for women experiencing homelessness? Amy Turk, a social worker and chief executive officer of the Downtown Women’s Center, and host Brenda Gazzar discuss the various public policies that have positively affected the lives of Angelenos living on the streets.2020-08-2506 min
Code WACK!Domestic Violence, Homelessness & Health CareWhat are the root causes of homelessness among women? What role does gender-based violence play? What policies would reduce the risk of women becoming homeless? Amy Turk, a social worker and chief executive officer of the Downtown Women’s Center, and host Brenda Gazzar discuss the factors that drive women and their children out of their homes and into the streets. 2020-08-1706 min
Code WACK!California’s Healthcare Reform: The Players, Policy & PoliticsDid Gov. Gavin Newsom change his mind on single payer? Is the Healthy California for All Commission meeting its mandate? Where are the major California healthcare foundations when it comes to reform? Michael Lighty, founding fellow of the Sanders Institute and former healthcare constituency director for Bernie 2020, and host Brenda Gazzar discuss the principal players in California’s struggle for health equity and Medicare for All. 2020-08-0706 min
Code WACK!Health Care's Transformative MomentWhy won’t our legislators take up the political fight against health insurers and pharmaceutical companies? How can we shift the definition of what’s politically possible when it comes to our health care? In this third episode in a podcast series with host Brenda Gazzar, Michael Lighty, founding fellow of the Sanders Institute and former healthcare constituency director for Bernie 2020, discusses the need for a broad reorganization of society based on racial justice, solidarity and compassion. 2020-08-0406 min
Code WACK!How to Win Medicare for AllWhat’s holding the U.S. back from Medicare for All? (Hint: It’s not just Trump.) What about California? In this second episode in a podcast series with host Brenda Gazzar, Michael Lighty, founding fellow of the Sanders Institute and former healthcare constituency director for Bernie 2020, discusses the political obstacles to winning single payer and the essential connection to the issue of racial equity in health care. 2020-07-2806 min
Code WACK!Is Coronavirus the Health Equity X-factor?Will "a little bit of this and a little bit of that" solve America's healthcare problems? Is COVID-19 a game-changer in the fight for single-payer? In this first episode of a podcast series with host Brenda Gazzar, Michael Lighty, founding fellow of the Sanders Institute and former healthcare constituency director for Bernie 2020, discusses the Medicare-for-All movement and the Democratic Party's new unity task force.2020-07-2106 min
Code WACK!PPE, Paper Bags & A PandemicHow are some hospitals conserving personal protective equipment? (Hint: In ways that would be unthinkable before the pandemic.) And who’s ultimately responsible for assuring sufficient PPE supplies? Code WACK! host Brenda Gazzar and Rose Roach, executive director of the Minnesota Nurses Association, compare the rules for PPE use before and after COVID-19. Plus, if PPE is in such short stock, why are hospitals pushing to reinstate elective surgeries?2020-07-1806 min
Code WACK!Healthy Profits or Healthy People? Rose Roach, perverse incentives in for-profit health careWho and what gets left out when health care is driven by profit? How does “lean model management” affect public health preparedness? Code WACK! host Brenda Gazzar and Rose Roach, executive director of the Minnesota Nurses Association, compare racial inequities in Minnesota and the rest of the nation. Plus, what's the cost of the perverse incentives implicit in our for-profit healthcare system? 2020-07-0706 min
Code WACK!Nurses, Racism & Black Lives Matter ProtestsHow are nurses of color impacted by racism, both on the job and in the streets? Could using weapons of war against protesters increase the spread of coronavirus? Code WACK! host Brenda Gazzar and Rose Roach, executive director of the Minnesota Nurses Association, discuss the concerns nurses have today, as America struggles against both a pandemic and its racist past.2020-07-0206 min
Code WACK!Health Care & The Politics of Black VulnerabilityHow do U.S. policies intensify the vulnerability of Black communities, including during pandemics? What caused the historical distrust between the Black community and the American healthcare system? Code WACK! host Brenda Gazzar and Janel Bailey, Co-Executive Director of Organizing and Programs at the Los Angeles Black Worker Center, discuss how public policies around eviction, employment and medical exploitation combine to harm Black workers and their families. Could Medicare for All help? 2020-06-2906 min
Code WACK!'When America Catches Coronavirus, Black Folks Die'How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting Black workers? What does it mean in light of the inequality the Black community already faces? Code WACK! host Brenda Gazzar and Janel Bailey, Co-Executive Director of Organizing and Programs at the Los Angeles Black Workers Center, discuss the racial inequities of "flattening the curve" and explore how shelter-in-place rules are less likely to protect black workers. 2020-06-2406 min
Code WACK!Combatting inequality - the role of public health, education & communityWhy are people of color disproportionately affected by chronic illnesses like diabetes and asthma? Is it the individual’s fault, or is it their environment? Would better health insurance help? Listen as John Kim, Executive Director of Advancement Project California and Code WACK! host Brenda Gazzar explore strategies to build trust and save lives. Plus, why universal health insurance is only part of the answer. 2020-06-1506 min
Code WACK!COVID's Deadly Trio: Gentrification, Racial Segregation & DistrustWhat's America’s deadliest underlying condition? How have decades of unbridled gentrification, racial and economic segregation and discrimination intersected to keep communities of color in the eye of the pandemic in Los Angeles? John Kim, Executive Director of Advancement Project California, and Code WACK! host Brenda Gazzar examine the systemic injustices exacerbated by COVID-19. Plus, why building trust is essential to any solution.2020-06-1106 min
Code WACK!COVID: Keeping Doctors and Nurses Safe + South Korea's SuccessHow does it feel to risk your life just going to work, like during the coronavirus pandemic? What's the best way to tackle the PPE shortage? In this final episode in a four-part series, Dr. Philip Verhoef, Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Hawaii and ICU physician, joins host Brenda Gazzar to discuss these issues, plus how South Korea’s government-run healthcare system bolstered its ability to control the spread of the deadly virus.2020-06-0106 min
Code WACK!Pandemic: How Pooling Resources & Cutting Bureaucracy Can Save LivesWhy was there such an uneven distribution of testing capacity in the United States and how can we address that problem in the future? How does bureaucracy impact American health care? In this third of a podcast series, Dr. Philip Verhoef, Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Hawaii and ICU physician, joins host Brenda Gazzar to explore how pooling resources and minimizing bureaucracy with Medicare for All would save lives. Plus, what are the downsides to Medicare for All?2020-05-2806 min
Code WACK!America's fragmented healthcare system & COVID-19How has our fragmented healthcare system affected our ability to perform basic public health functions? What lessons can we learn from other countries with nationally-centralized electronic health records? With host Brenda Gazzar, Dr. Philip Verhoef, Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Hawaii and ICU physician, takes a closer look at Taiwan’s Medicare-for-All system and how it made identifying COVID hotspots faster and easier. How can the U.S. strengthen its response to future pandemics?2020-05-2506 min