How we talk about health is important, and even those with the best intentions don't always do it well. Krista Lamb is an author and science communicator in Toronto. For years she has helped scientists, physicians, advocates, and others share their healthcare stories effectively. Along the way, some of them have taught her how we can and should talk about health in ways that are empathetic, understandable, and accurate. In the How to Talk About Health podcast, she asks those people to share their tips and tricks to help everyone communicate better.
Telling healthcare stories with those experiencing homelessness
Over years of researching the impact of homelessness and other social disparities on people living with diabetes, Dr. David Campbell has also discovered a number of unexpected ways to amplify the voices of people with those lived experiences. Arts-based communication in particular—from a photo exhibit to short films and a play—has proven to be an effective way to humanize the people hidden behind the research data.
In this episode, Dr. Campbell talks with Krista about the power of “knowledge mobilization products” to drive greater understanding and empathy, and to get key issues on the radar of policy-makers.
19 Feb 2026
Dismantling global gender inequities in healthcare with Clare Szalay Timbo
Globally, over 1 billion people live with vision loss. Women and girls account for a disproportionate 55% of that number. That discrepancy in eye health and access to vision healthcare is what Clare Szalay Timbo works to address at Orbis Canada.
In this episode, Clare talks to Krista about the origins and impacts of gender inequities, which extend beyond access to vision care and into underrepresentation in eye health professions and leadership positions. Alongside the barriers and challenges, Clare discusses unique solutions that are working to improve equity in healthcare around the world.
19 Feb 2026
Effective patient advocacy needs simple, authentic, and collaborative messaging with Kim Hanson
Kimberley Hanson has a passion for engaging patients in the healthcare conversation and supporting the critically important work of patient organizations. Her advocacy work with organizations like Diabetes Canada, HealthPartners, and Breakthrough T1D Canada has been shaped by her own lived experience with type 1 diabetes.
In this episode, Kim speaks with Krista about the importance and impact of advocacy work. The conversation explores the differences between advocacy communication and communicating as a researcher or healthcare provider, highlighting how to share your message in a way that’s inclusive, understandable, and effective for your intended audience.
19 Feb 2026
How to frame the numbers and tell the story behind the stats with Jeffrey Rosenthal
Math anxiety can be a real barrier to sharing health and science information effectively. It can also stand in the way of receiving those messages the way they are intended.
Since statistics and probabilities play such a key role in research and healthcare, we need to become a lot more comfortable talking about numbers in our work.
Jeff Rosenthal, Professor of Statistics at the University of Toronto, speaks with host Krista Lamb about making numbers more friendly and interesting, pet peeves around communicating math and statistics, and the importance of examining bias at every level.
24 Jun 2024
How Mental Health is Portrayed in the Media with the Braaains Team
Braaains is a podcast exploring the inner workings of our brains, mental health, & disabilities and how film & television portray them. Hosts Sarah and Heather Taylor join Krista to discuss the way mental health and disabilities are portrayed in the media - and how everyone, including healthcare providers, can improve the way we talk about these issues
Learn more and listen to Braaains.
Listen to Krista as a guest on Braaains discussing diabetes distress and the media. (https://braaainspodcast.com/episodes/diabetes)
Support How to Talk About Health - Join our Patreon for all sorts of extra resources and opportunities to network. (https://www.patreon.com/HowToTalkAboutHealth) It's also a way to keep this show free for everyone!
10 Jun 2024
Weight bias and how to talk about obesity with Dr. Sean Wharton
How we talk about a person's body weight can have a big impact on how they feel - and it can go a long way in finding the right options for their health and wellness. Dr. Sean Wharton talks to Krista Lamb about weight bias, systemic inequities and a host of other issues related to the treatment of obesity.
Dr. Wharton is a physician, he is the Medical Director at the Wharton Medical Clinic, he is an adjunct professor at McMaster University and York University, he was the co-lead author of the Canadian Obesity Guidelines, he founded the Black Medical Students Association at the University of Toronto, and he has led multiple research projects related to better understanding and treating obesity.
The Canadian Obesity Guidelines (https://obesitycanada.ca/guidelines/)
Support How to Talk About Health - Join our Patreon for all sorts of extra resources and opportunities to network. (https://www.patreon.com/HowToTalkAboutHealth) It's also a way to keep this show free for everyone!
27 May 2024
Using graphic medicine to tell healthcare stories
Artist Janina Gaudin is better known as Miss Diabetes. She has developed a dedicated following for her comics, which bring to life the challenges of a life with type 1 diabetes.
Her work in graphic medicine has made research findings, healthcare advocacy points and complicated health information easier to understand and digest - allowing greater accessibility and understanding.
Learn more about Miss Diabetes. (https://missdiabetes.com/)
Learn more about graphic medicine. (https://www.graphicmedicine.org/)
Support How to Talk About Health - Join our Patreon for all sorts of extra resources and opportunities to network. (https://www.patreon.com/HowToTalkAboutHealth) It's also a way to keep this show free for everyone!
13 May 2024
Science is a Drag and Communicating in 2SLGBTQ+ Space
Carrie Boyce, Executive Director of the Royal Canadian Institute for Science (RCIScience) (https://www.rciscience.ca/) joins host Krista lamb to discuss Science is a Drag (https://www.scienceisadrag.com/), and how to create inclusive spaces for the queer community to get involved in science.
Advancing LGBTQ_ People in STEM Careers. (https://www.aspeninstitute.org/publications/advancing-lgbtq-people-in-stem-careers/#:~:text=Research%20thrives%20when%20it%20embraces,engineering%2C%20and%20mathematics%20(STEM))
Kimberlé Crenshaw TedTalk on intersectionality. (https://www.ted.com/talks/kimberle_crenshaw_the_urgency_of_intersectionality?language=en)
Support How to Talk About Health - Join our Patreon for all sorts of extra resources and opportunities to network. (https://www.patreon.com/HowToTalkAboutHealth) It's also a way to keep this show free for everyone!
29 Apr 2024
Effectively Communicating in Global Health and Ophthalmology
Dr Hunter Cherwek is an ophthalmologist and the Vice President of Clinical Services and Technology at Orbis International. Hunter started his career with Orbis right out of medical school, and he was able to lecture and work in over 20 countries aboard the Flying Eye Hospital and helped build the organization’s award-winning telemedicine platform, Cybersight. He offers great insights into how to respectfully communicate with people around the globe.
Learn more about Orbis (https://can.orbis.org/en)
Learn more about Cybersight (https://cybersight.org/)
Support the How to Talk About Health Patreon for exclusive content! (https://www.patreon.com/HowtoTalkAboutHealth)
15 Apr 2024
Effectively Communicating about Diabetes and "Taboo" Health Topics
Dr. Alice Cheng is an endocrinologist and an associate professor of medicine at the University of Toronto. Alice is well known in the diabetes community as an extraordinary communicator—that’s one reason she has been tapped to become the co-host of the American Diabetes Association’s Diabetes Care On Air podcast. (https://diabetesjournals.org/care)
She is also the creator of The Med Ed Pledge (https://www.themededpledge.com/) – an initiative to increase Diversity & Inclusion in continuing medical education.
Support the How to Talk About Health Patreon for exclusive content! (https://www.patreon.com/HowtoTalkAboutHealth)
5 Apr 2024
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