Salma Abdalla - Podcast Details

Shows

Complicating The Narrative When 'shelter in place' means nothing: Rethinking global health with Sabina Faiz RashidWhat is global health—and who gets to define it? For decades, the field has claimed universality while being shaped largely by specific institutions, priorities, and assumptions. But what happens when we center the places where most global health “problems” are identified? What does it mean to tell someone living in a Dhaka slum to shelter in place during a pandemic? In this episode, Salma is joined by Dr. Sabina Faiz Rashid, Professor and Mushtaque Chowdhury Chair in Health and Poverty at the BRAC James P. Grant School of Public Health in Bangladesh; Director of the Cent...

2025-11-251h 04

Complicating The Narrative Health as a human right with Benjamin Mason MeierWhat do we mean when we say health is a human right? Dr. Benjamin Mason Meier is a Professor of Global Health Policy at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill who has focused his research on the development, evolution, and application of human rights-based approaches to health. In this episode, Dr. Meier joins Salma to explore the foundations of health as a human right—from its post-World War II origins to its development in international law. They discuss the obligations this framing creates for governments and international organizations, how rights must translate into tangible poli...

2025-11-1154 min

From Spark to New Venture Gavin Robyn – Mentors, Mistakes & MotivationIn this episode of “From Spark to Venture,” hosts Salma Abdalla and Paige Knudson sit down with Gavin Robyn, local owner of Next-Door Photos. Gavin shares how he got his start in the business at just 19 through a friend's recommendation, and how that opportunity evolved into running his own team of photographers. He opens up about the skills he developed, the mentors who shaped his journey, and the mistakes that taught him valuable lessons along the way. Gavin also highlights the importance of mentorship, explaining how having a rotating circle of mentors helped him navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship. Tune...

2025-11-0721 min

Complicating The Narrative What our digital lives reveal about health with Yulin HswenWhat can Reddit, Instagram, and other digital platforms tell us about population health? Dr. Yulin Hswen, associate professor at the University of California San Francisco and associate editor of JAMA and JAMA+ AI, is a computational epidemiologist using big data to understand population health in our increasingly digital world. In this episode, Salma sits down with Dr. Hswen to explore what our digital environments can tell us about public health. From Reddit threads revealing untold health experiences to phone data mapping mobility patterns during disease outbreaks, Dr. Hswen challenges us to see social media platforms and online d...

2025-10-281h 26

Complicating The Narrative Imagine doing better with Paul J FlemingWhat if we could build our world from scratch—with health, justice, and thriving communities at its core? In his new book Imagine Doing Better: Why Policies Backfire and How Prevention Thinking Can Change Everything, Dr. Paul J. Fleming, Associate Professor in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education at the University of Michigan, argues that prevention—and imagination—should guide how we shape the future. In this conversation, Salma and Paul explore what our great-great-great-great-grandchildren might say about the choices we’re making today, and how we can reimagine the systems that define our live...

2025-10-141h 08

Complicating The Narrative Algorithms, attention, and trust: Rethinking health communication with Matthew KreuterThe techniques that make health messages more effective—personalization, customization, targeted delivery—are the same tools driving the spread of inaccurate health claims at scale. Dr. Matthew Kreuter, WashU’s Kahn Family Professor of Public Health and founding director of the Health Communication Research Laboratory, is an expert on effective and equity-oriented health communications and has been thinking about these issues for decades. In this episode, Salma and Dr. Kreuter trace the evolution from pamphlet racks to algorithm feeds. They discuss why well-intentioned public health messaging can backfire and highlight the importance of listening. They explore why certain...

2025-09-301h 10

Complicating The Narrative Uncertainty in epidemiology with Dr. Matthew A. FoxWhat is epidemiology and how do we ensure that research is done right in this field? Dr. Matthew A. Fox, Professor in the Departments of Epidemiology and Global Health at Boston University School of Public Health, has dedicated his career to ensuring that epidemiologists get it right. In this episode, Salma and Matt explore what epidemiology actually is, and is not, and discuss the importance of formulating research questions and hypotheses. They dive into how flaws in methods selection, researchers’ incentives, and funding pressures can skew study results. Matt reflects on the pivotal role of the pandemic in...

2025-09-161h 14

Complicating The Narrative Curiosity and careful thinking about research can help change the world with Dr Maria GlymourHow can we capture complex social phenomena impacting health in research? Dr. Maria Glymour, Professor and Chair of the Department of Epidemiology at Boston University School of Public Health, has focused her research on the social factors influencing dementia and cognitive function in old age. Salma and Maria analyze the dementia research landscape and discuss the key elements of the research process to capture complex social phenomena affecting health outcomes. From asking the right questions, to identifying appropriate methods and data, thinking about who the evidence will be useful for, and understanding the potential influences o...

2025-09-021h 01

Complicating The Narrative Health diplomacy in an evolving global health landscape with Dr Anders NördstromIn this deeply challenging moment for global health and international relations, how do we navigate the public health challenges that transcend borders? Dr. Anders Nördstrom, program director of the Health Diplomacy Initiative at the Karolinska Institutet and the Stockholm School of Economics has unique experience in working at the intersection of health, politics, economics, and international relations. He was the Interim Executive Director for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, acting Director of the World Health Organization, first ambassador for global health for Sweden, and head of the Secretariat for the Independent Panel for Pandemic P...

2025-08-1959 min

Complicating The Narrative Manufacturing Doubt: the commercial determinants of health with Dr Nason MaaniHow do powerful industries shape what we believe about health risks—and what we don't? Dr. Nason Maani, Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Inequalities and Global Health Policy at the University of Edinburgh, has spent years uncovering how commercial interests influence public health understanding. Salma and Nason tackle the commercial determinants of health framework, moving beyond the typical focus on individual choices to examine the systems that shape those choices. They dig into Nason's "Manufacturing Doubt" paper, which investigated how industries weaponize uncertainty against public health evidence—using “alternative causation” arguments. The conversation explores the methodological challenges of resea...

2025-08-051h 08

Complicating The Narrative Rethinking Public Health with Dean Sandro GaleaAs public health faces mounting challenges, what does meaningful progress actually look like? This inaugural episode features Sandro Galea, Margaret C. Ryan Dean and Eugene S. and Constance Kahn Distinguished Professor at Washington University's newly established School of Public Health. Salma and Dean Galea dive deep into his concept of "consequential epidemiology"—the idea that research should drive real-world change, not just academic publications. They explore the "Healthiest Goldfish" analogy and what it reveals about how we think about population health interventions. The conversation also tackles why this moment feels particularly significant for launching a new school of...

2025-07-2151 min

Free Associations The effects of early cessation of oxytocinMatt, Jess, and guest host Salma Abdalla discuss a study of early discontinuation of oxytocin during delivery, they try to predict the future of journals alongside a mass editorial board resignation, and Matt and Salma reveal their love for octopuses. Journal club article: Oxytocin discontinuation study

2024-05-211h 01

Baskets Of Knowledge Episode 114 - The Courage to Speak Your Truth with Salma AbdallaThis week's episode is a hard hitting and very powerful chat with our guest who shares her journey of being a woman, a woman of colour, a woman of colour who wears a hijab Our guest Salma Abdalla talks to us about navigating the question "Where are you from?" How that question has so many layers and so many answers that provide a rich tapestry for our conversation. We talk about the sacrifices her parents made for them to move to New Zealand and the challenges that they faced when they moved here. We ta...

2024-04-281h 02

Free Associations A blood-based screening for cancer?Matt, Jess, and guest host Salma Abdalla discuss a study testing the efficacy of a blood-based cancer screening tool, they debate the role of the workplace in mental health, and Salma sees if she can pronounce the word “bubbles” while sounding angry. Journal club article: Blood-based cancer screening study

2024-01-3054 min

Double P Podcasts The Crown S6E02 and S6E03 Review | Podcast Lilibet #TheCrown | Netflix #thecrownnetflixBubba and Matt break down S6E02 "Two Photographs" and S6E03 "Dis-Moi Oui" of the final season of The Crown on Netflix in, as Bubba tries unsuccessfully to temper Matt's poor humor in the light of these episodes. We'll be back to explore S6E04 of the Crown, and the rest of the final season soon!. Even though Matt's humor is rarely welcome, we still welcome YOUR thoughts on the episodes discussed, and ALL episodes of the Crown! Send feedback on those episodes to @Lilibetpod on X, or to @DoublePHQ across all social media (including Facebook - https...

2023-12-031h 10

Free Associations Can hearing aids prevent dementia?Matt, Jess, and guest host Salma Abdalla examine a study on the use of hearing aids to prevent dementia, they discuss whether loneliness is a public health problem (and, as usual, descend into talking about COVID), and Salma tells us the difference between coffee and concrete. Journal club article: Hearing aid and dementia study

2023-09-0557 min

Money Power Health with Nason Maani Episode 5: Going upstream in health data and decisions with Salma AbdallaHi everyone, and welcome back to money power health, a podcast on how our health is influenced by wealth and power. As we discussed in our introductory episode with Sandro Galea, one of the main things that determines our health is the distribution of resources and opportunity, yet, when we think of data on health that might better inform decisions, we tend to focus on healthcare related data, on patients, disease prevalence, and risk factor epidemiology. This week I want to speak with someone who is trying to help decision-makers think more broadly, and more upstream, when...

2023-03-0252 min

The English Chronicles Intimations Part 2Discussing "Something to Do" and "Suffering Like Mel Gibson" in Intimations by Zadie Smith. Send me your comments on the podcast, book, or language learning! Web: theenglishchronicles.com Email: theenglishchronicles@gmail.com Instagram: @theenglishchronicles Support this podcast on Patreon. Notes: 1. Merriam-Webster Dictionary, s.v. “Platonic Love,” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/platonic%20love. 2. “Mel Gibson Talking to Bloody Jesus,” Know Your Meme, accessed June 5, 2021, https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/mel-gibson-talking-to-bloody-jesus. 3. Zadie Smith, “Writer Zadie Smith Reflects on Pandemi...

2021-08-0921 min

Random Health-ish Stop Struggling in Silence...Periodt! Mental Health w/Salma AbdallaJoin us as Dr. Gloria Stone-Ozbek interviews Salma Abdalla and they dive deep into the struggles of mental health and the steps we need to take to overcome the daily struggles of emotional and social well-being.--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/random-health-ish/support

2021-02-0943 min

The African Trumpet Sudan: A Country at Crossroads - Part IIIThe state of Sudan has consistently and often precariously juggled its cocktail of historical, ethnic, religious and cultural history the sum total of which has been hits and misses of major proportions. Now a younger generation of restless women and men are demanding a total reckoning that would hopefully usher in a whole new chapter in the country's history. As narrated by Magdi El Ghizouli, Salma Abdalla, Zhuhair Bashar, and Kholood Khair. This content was originally hosted by our partner ROAPE.

2021-02-0846 min

The African Trumpet Sudan: A Country at Crossroads - Part IIThe state of Sudan has consistently and often precariously juggled its cocktail of historical, ethnic, religious and cultural history the sum total of which has been hits and misses of major proportions. Now a younger generation of restless women and men are demanding a total reckoning that would hopefully usher in a whole new chapter in the country's history. Narrated by Magdi El Ghizouli, Salma Abdalla, Zhuhair Bashar, Kholood Khair and moderated by Lisa Mann. This content was originally hosted by our partner ROAPE.

2021-02-0339 min

The African Trumpet Sudan: A country at Crossroads - Part 1The state of Sudan has consistently and often precariously juggled its cocktail of historical, ethnic, religious and cultural history the sum total of which has been hits and misses of major proportions. Now a younger generation of restless women and men are demanding a total reckoning that would hopefully usher in a whole new chapter in the country's history. As narrated by Magdi El Ghizouli, Salma Abdalla, Zhuhair Bashar and Kholood Khair. This content was originally hosted by our partner ROAPE.

2021-01-2939 min

Your Digital Mentor Podcast Decolonising Global HealthTakeaways from today's episode: Decolonising global health is an ongoing movement allowing people (and researchers) to provide a local context in the conversations surrounding health. Though many definitions exist, it is based on the undoing of the colonial legacy that surrounds countries in the global south.Local health is global health - a local context is required to make it global. It is important to reflect on issues on decolonising global health to avoid neo-colonization and include diverse voices from the global south to spearhead the movement.It is not just about putting a researcher from the global sou...

2020-11-2557 min