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Legacy Leaving and Memoir Writing: Narrating the Life-Limiting Experience of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
How do you reframe a terminal disease as a life-limiting experience? In this episode of Defining Moments, guest host Dr. Erika Kirby speaks with Dr. Chad McBride and Dr. Kathy Miller on how they’ve been co-narrating Chad’s life in the wake of his diagnosis with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly referred to as Lou… Read More

Birthing Practices in the U.S. Across Time
Childbirth is a biological and cultural experience. Birthing practices and women’s experiences of childbirth are shaped by ever-shifting medical practices and societal values and preferences. On this episode of Defining Moments, Dr. Jackie Wolf talks about the intersections between her personal experiences with social birthing and her scholarly work on the history of birthing and… Read More

Communicating about Food Allergies: Moving Between Personal Stories and Public Advocacy
Managing food allergies is a communicative process. In this episode, Dr. Jennifer Bute reflects on her family’s personal experiences with food allergies, and how her personal experiences led her to become a public advocate. She discusses her work with Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE), the largest private funder of food allergy research in the… Read More

Chicana Feminism and Border Studies: Reproductive Healthcare at the Mexico-U.S. Border
On this episode of Defining Moments Podcast, Guest Host Dr. Jill Yamasaki talks with Dr. Leandra Hernandez and Dr. Sarah De Los Santos-Upton on how they live out the values of Chicana Feminism in their work as health communication scholars and activists. Leandra and Sarah share reflections on their work on reproductive healthcare at… Read More

Stares and Prayers: Rethinking Masculinity, Disability, and Spirituality
On this episode of Defining Moments Podcast, Guest Host Dr. Laura Ellingson talks with Dr. Leland Spencer about the vulnerability of storytelling and its emancipatory potential. Spencer challenges systemic barriers that limit opportunities for individuals based on gender and sexual identities, disabilities, and spirituality. The conversation offers a hopeful vision of inclusion and respect in… Read More

Theatrical and Documentary Film Translations of Cancer Communication Research
https://ohio.streamguys1.com/DefiningMoments/mp3/18WayneBeach.mp3 Communicating about cancer across the natural progression of the disease is challenging and complicated. In this episode, Dr. Wayne Beach reflects on his research about family communication and patient-oncologist communication and the translation of his findings in the form of theatre productions and documentary films. Beach’s work illustrates the power of moving between personal… Read More

Fostering Food Access and Food Justice in Rural Contexts
Defining Moments Podcast is hosting multiple episodes about how food communicates and how we communicate about food. On this episode, host Dr. Lynn Harter talks with Dr. Kristen Okamoto and Sonia Ivancic about the unique challenges and possibilities of addressing hunger in rural contexts characterized by high rates of poverty. They discuss their research with… Read More

Re-Imagining Food Pantries as Activist Spaces
Defining Moments Podcast is hosting multiple episodes about how food communicates and how we communicate about food. In this episode, Dr. Rebecca de Souza discusses her research on communication processes at food pantries, a primary form of access for those who are food insecure. de Souza invites listeners to consider the limits of charitable organizing… Read More

Physician Shortages in Medically Underserved Areas: Fostering Inclusive Healthcare Through the Rural and Urban Scholars Pathways Programs
Shortages of primary care physicians in medically underserved areas are well-documented across the United States. Medical schools are developing curricular innovations to prepare primary care physicians for medical practice in rural and urban underserved communities. On this episode of Defining Moments, Dr. Sharon Casapulla and Dr. Alyssa Gerth talk about the Rural and Urban Scholars… Read More

Positive Deviance and Public Health Communication
Positive Deviance is an approach to public health that flips the script of traditional top-down and deficit-based communication. On this episode of Defining Moments, Dr. Arvind Singhal shares how he has embraced an assets-based, grassroots approach to social change in the midst of natural disasters, disability rights, domestic violence, and family planning. The reach of… Read More

“Defining Moments” Podcast Returns to WOUB Public Media for Season 2
Humans tell stories to make sense of birthing and dying and everything in between. Defining Moments Podcast showcases stories about living well in the midst of inescapable illness, suffering, and hardship. Season 2, which begins Monday, May 25, features an eclectic group of guests who share moments of uncertainty, innovation, and resilience. Host Dr. Lynn… Read More

Miscarriages, Infertility, and Baby Loss: Coping with Grief through Art
The Scraps of the Heart Project sponsors creative arts workshops for bereaved parents coping with baby loss and infertility. On this episode of Defining Moments, Dr. Erin Willer shares her personal story and how it informed the development of The Scraps of the Heart Project and its efforts. Dr. Willer is an Associate Professor in… Read More

Inclusive Healthcare and Social Justice: Disrupting Racial Inequalities Through Narrative Medicine
Racial inequalities in healthcare are well-documented across the United States. Medical schools are developing curricular innovations to reduce implicit racial bias and other forms of discrimination. On this episode of Defining Moments, Dr. Tracy Shaub talks about the Open Book Project at the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. The Open Book Project is… Read More

New Media in Times of Crisis: Lessons Learned from Hurricane Harvey
First responders, crisis communicators, and the general public rely on new media to communicate during natural disasters and in the aftermath. On this episode of Defining Moments, Dr. Keri Stephens shares her personal story as a flood survivor and how it informs her research funded by the National Science Foundation. Her work focuses on new… Read More

Concussion Events and the NCAA Mind Matters Challenge: Changing Safety Behaviors by Shifting Sports Narratives
Athlete safety and concussion injuries are public health concerns. Athletes sometimes conceal injuries or delay disclosure of symptoms to avoid injury treatment protocols. In this episode of Defining Moments, Dr. Alaina Zanin links failure to disclose injuries to sports narratives in the U.S. Dr. Zanin and a team of researchers from the Arizona State University… Read More

Hospice Bereavement Camps and Art Programming for Teens: Cultivating Hope through Art and Family Storytelling
Teenagers experience loss in unique ways and their expressions of grief do not always conform to adults’ expectations. In this episode of Defining Moments, Dr. Stephanie Pangborn reflects on her work with teens coping with the loss of a loved one. From hospital bedsides to campfires, she explores the use of art and family… Read More

The Ethics of Medically Unnecessary Care
“Why do patients with strong convictions about stopping aggressive care when a cure is no longer possible sometimes then agree to pursue it when it is suggested by their physicians?” asks Dr. Lori Roscoe, a Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of South Florida. On this episode of Defining Moments, Dr…. Read More

Post-partum Care, Baby Milestones, and Mothering: Historical and Contemporary Challenges
The lifecycle of early motherhood is characterized by challenges including infertility, baby loss, post-partum depression, and gaps in healthcare. On this episode of Defining Moments, Dr. Maggie Quinlan and Bethany Johnson historically frame these challenges often intensified by social media. Quinlan and Johnson are award-winning teachers and researchers at the University of North Carolina at… Read More

Collaborative Art as Social Justice: Building Inclusive Communities for Individuals with Developmental Differences
Sheltered workshops refer to rehabilitative and vocational programs for individuals with developmental differences. On this episode of Defining Moments, Patty Mitchell and Susan Dlouhy reflect on their efforts to revolutionize sheltered workshops through the Creative Abundance Model. This model relies on collaborative art programming to foster self-expression, create employment opportunities, and build inclusive communities. Patty… Read More

Communicating Compassion in an Era of Social Media
Americans’ use of social media is on the rise as are their levels of stress, anxiety, and loneliness. On this episode of Defining Moments, Dr. Sarah Tracy discusses the importance of face-to-face conversation as it relates to individuals’ physical and mental health. She argues that humans’ capacity to respond compassionately to others’ suffering is key… Read More

Telemedicine: Catalyzing Cancer Care with Virtual Visits
Virtual visits can increase access to specialized medicine without overburdening care providers. On this episode of Defining Moments, Dr. Pete Anderson reflects on his use of telemedicine to develop therapeutic alliances with cancer patients and families. Dr. Anderson is an oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic Pediatrics Institute, and a professor at the Lerner College of… Read More

Cancer Survivorship: Acknowledging the Long-Term and Late Effects of Treatment
Scientific advancements in the detection and treatment of cancer have improved survival rates. Even so, long term survivors of cancer face emotional, physical, and cognitive challenges in the aftermath of treatment. On this episode of Defining Moments, Dr. Laura Ellingson shares her personal story of cancer survivorship and how it informs her work with the… Read More