Leading Health | Building a Healthier Kansas

About Leading Health | Building a Healthier Kansas

No state has fallen further than Kansas in America’s Health Rankings. We used to be 8th in 1991. Why did we slip so far down in the rankings? The answer might surprise you; it’s based on a leadership challenge. At the Kansas Health Foundation, our bold vision is to make Kansas the healthiest state in the nation and to do so, this movement must be powered by Kansans in positions of authority and influence to shift Health outcomes. Starting with the launch of the 2025 publication, Leading Health, written by President and CEO of the Kansas Health Foundation, Ed O’Malley, this podcast aims to break down key concepts of this leadership challenge and actionable ways that we can work together to make a real impact on Health in Kansas. In each episode, Ed O’Malley, and Senior Advisor at Kansas Health Foundation, Susan Kang, will highlight a chapter in the book and discuss with Kansans who are actively engaged in expanding our definition of Health. Leading Health is an invitation to move the needle on Health in Kansas, and we invite you to join us in leading the way.

Publisher

Kansas Health Foundation

Category

government · health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

10 Feb 2026

Latest episode

6 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

18 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 Oct 2026

   Mindset #5: Value Process and Structure

   The members of the 30,000 love to talk about the vision (the what) and the purpose (the why); however, it’s rare for them to really talk about the “how.” In this episode, we explore why valuing process and structure is a critical ingredient to solving the health gap in Kansas. Drawing on examples from baseball leagues to youth sports coaching, from the Kansas Economic Growth Act to rural health transformation, we make the case that for the 30,000 Kansans in roles of civic authority, spending more time on the how is essential to moving the needle on our state's health challenges. Returning guest Kenny Wilk joins the conversation again to share his firsthand experiences and to help us wrestle with what it takes to invent the processes and structures that turn vision into reality. HIGHLIGHTS Why process and structure are the invisible, overlooked "how" that separates a great vision from actual results. How the invention of baseball leagues mirrors what civic leaders must do: inventing process and structure to support a big idea. The Network Kansas story: how Steve Radley and Eric Pedersen built "E-Communities" to turn a legislative vision into 80–90 thriving local entrepreneurship programs. Kenny Wilk's account of authoring the Kansas Economic Growth Act with Senator Nick Jordan, and how KTEC helped create the process behind the vision. Why creativity and imagination are essential for inventing processes—not just physical objects, but the way we organize people and resources. The Food Is Medicine movement: widespread agreement on the vision, but the hard work is inventing the process and structure to deliver and scale it across Kansas. The Rural Health Transformation Program—a $50 billion federal investment in rural health—and the Anchor Hospital concept aiming to ensure every Kansan has primary and specialty care within 60–90 minutes. The World Cup in Kansas City and the renovation of Union Station via the bi-state tax are powerful examples of how process and structure enable regional collaboration across a hard state line. Why the "how" is adaptive, not set in stone—you must be willing to learn, adjust and iterate as you go. The case for more regional collaboration in Kansas: 30 years of talk, but what process and structure would actually make it happen? Key takeaways: a vision is only as good as the process and structure around it, and those in authority should use their position to center the conversation on how. CHAPTERS 2:45 — The “How” Matters 6:54 — Network Kansas Case Study 8:51 — Kenny Joins the Conversation 15:37 — Inventing Processes for Health 19:34 — Rural Health Transformation Spotlight 24:33 — Adaptive How and Youth Sports 27:05 — Regional Collaboration Challenge 31:15 — World Cup and Bi-State Examples 33:35 — Key Takeaways RESOURCES MENTIONED Learn more about Network Kansas: https://networkkansas.com/ Refer back to our previous episode on Create Collaboration: https://share.transistor.fm/s/f0a151d5 (https://share.transistor.fm/s/f0a151d5) This episode highlights the importance of regional collaboration across Kansas, and the Kansas Health Foundation is making moves on that. Meet our two newest regional managers on the team: Northeast Regional Manager, Matt Kleinmann: https://kansashealth.org/2026/09/01/kleinmann-joins-khf/ (https://kansashealth.org/2026/09/01/kleinmann-joins-khf/) Southeast Regional Manager, Jennifer Rutledge:https://kansashealth.org/2026/09/11/rutledge-joins-khf-as-southeast-kansas-regional-manager/ (https://kansashealth.org/2026/09/11/rutledge-joins-khf-as-southeast-kansas-regional-manager/) Leading Health is an invitation to move the needle on Health in Kansas, and we invite you to join us in leading the way. Don’t have a copy of Leading Health? Claim your copy and learn more about the movement at kansashealth.org/leadinghealth (http://kansashealth.org/leadinghealth) Continue the discussion with these resources: Book Clubs (https://kansashealth.org/leadinghealth/reading-resources/) Speakers and Workshops (https://kansashealth.org/leadinghealth/speaker-request/) Share Your Story (https://kansashealth.org/leadinghealth/share-action-stories/) And be sure to subscribe, and drop a comment to let us know what you think.

2. 

   22 Sept 2026

   Mindset #4: Create Collaboration

   Encouraging collaboration is fine. To close the Health Gap, you need to shift from “encouraging” to using your leadership and authority to “create” collaboration. In this episode, we dive into the approaches to creating collaboration — anchoring it in a specific goal, requiring it rather than merely encouraging it and sharing power with those who have lived experience of the challenge. Returning guest Kenny Wilk helps define what collaboration really means. We walk through the book's progress formula (right people + good information + healthy process = progress), and explore why friction in the room is actually a sign you're on the right track. HIGHLIGHTS Why "everybody values collaboration" is true, and why almost nobody does it well. How people in authority can anchor collaboration around a bold, specific objective instead of leaving it vague. The difference between listening to people with lived experience and actually empowering them at the table. What does creating collaboration actually mean, and how does it differ from encouraging collaboration? The progress formula: right people + good information + healthy process = progress Why friction in the room is a good sign, and why rooms full of people who already agree are a blind spot. Kenny's reflection on acceptance: "Not agreement, acceptance. Not unanimity, acceptance." The difference between compromise (each side gives something up) and collaboration (you create something better than either side originally wanted). The rowboat and sail metaphor: ten people rowing together beat one person rowing alone, but when the captain asks what expertise the crew brings, they invent the sail. Kenny's challenge to listeners: identify 10 people who haven't read the book, send them a copy with a personal note, and pass it along. Ed's practical tip for people in authority: just start asking questions. "Do we have all the right people? What information do we need? What should our process be?" CHAPTERS 2:03 — Why Collaboration Matters 2:36 — Anchor a Clear Goal 5:31 — Require Not Encourage 8:53 — Next Level: Lived Experience 12:07 — Kenny Joins the Show 14:25 — Defining Collaboration Better 17:36 — Progress Formula Explained 20:40 — Friction Means Progress 21:54 — Friction Reveals Blind Spots 22:51 — Acceptance Before Agreement 25:49 — Compromise Versus Collaboration 29:40 — Rowboat and Sail Metaphor 32:26 — Practical Steps to Spark Collaboration 36:25 — Ask the Right Questions 37:44 — Takeaways and Next Chapter Resources Your Leadership Edge (https://kansasleadershipcenter.org/store/your-leadership-edge-lead-anytime-anywhere-hardcover/) Send a Copy of Leading Health To Your Network  (https://kansashealth.org/leadinghealth/send-the-book/) Leading Health is an invitation to move the needle on Health in Kansas, and we invite you to join us in leading the way. Don’t have a copy of Leading Health? Claim your copy and learn more about the movement at kansashealth.org/leadinghealth (http://kansashealth.org/leadinghealth) Continue the discussion with these resources: Book Clubs (https://kansashealth.org/leadinghealth/reading-resources/) Speakers and Workshops (https://kansashealth.org/leadinghealth/speaker-request/) Share Your Story (https://kansashealth.org/leadinghealth/share-action-stories/) And be sure to subscribe, and drop a comment to let us know what you think.

3. 

   8 Sept 2026

   Mindset #3: Race and Racism Matters

   What if the systems we built to move people forward are actually the ones holding communities back? This episode takes on one of the most important and most avoided conversations in public health: the relationship between race, racism and health outcomes. Joined by conversation catalyst, Kari Bruffett, President and CEO of the Kansas Health Institute, we explore the roots of health disparities and how leadership evolves when you confront the data, history and systems that dictate who thrives. Highlights Misconceptions about what led to the demise of Black Wall Street in Tulsa. The difference between explicit racism and systemic racism, and why both matter for Health. Why health disparities (the differences in outcomes) are not the same as inequities (the systemic reasons why). The patterns that exist in Kansas’ data that uncover systematic disparities in capital H Health. How redefining "equity" as equality of opportunity rather than equality of outcomes can open more productive conversations. How policies of the past that are rooted in racism have effects on today’s Health outcomes, and how using tactics like data walks can foster greater systematic thinking. How the Pathways to a Healthy Kansas project creates community conversations that focus on who benefits and who is harmed by current systems — without assigning individual blame. A call for the 30,000 Kansans in civic authority to lean into this conversation and start creating safe, facilitated spaces for it. Chapters 1:51 — Introducing Mindset #3: Race and racism really do matter 4:30 — The story of Black Wall Street and Interstate 244 5:28 — Explicit racism vs. systemic racism 9:52 — The three books every person should read 11:38 — Welcome back, Kari Bruffett 12:21 — When did race and racism become a Health issue? 14:04 — Kansas data: Infant mortality and maternal mortality disparities 17:11 — Disparities vs. inequities: Understanding the difference 21:38 — How systems thinking helps us understand why 21:46 — The Wichita data walk: Redlining and neighborhood disadvantage 28:27 — Pathways to a Healthy Kansas: How to have the conversation 30:25 — Who benefits? Who is harmed? Reframing the discussion 34:55 — Advice for the 30,000: How to do this discourse better 40:08 — Key Takeaways Resources Mentioned Race and Racism Books to Read: https://kansashealth.org/race-and-racism-matters/ (https://kansashealth.org/race-and-racism-matters/) Pathways to a Healthy Kansas: https://www.bcbsks.com/blue-health-initiatives/pathways/pathways-to-a-healthy-kansas (https://www.bcbsks.com/blue-health-initiatives/pathways/pathways-to-a-healthy-kansas) KHI: A Changing Kansas Report: https://www.khi.org/articles/2018-a-changing-kansas/ (https://www.khi.org/articles/2018-a-changing-kansas/) KHI Health Disparities in Kansas Research: https://www.khi.org/topics/health-disparities-in-kansas/ (https://www.khi.org/topics/health-disparities-in-kansas/) Leading Health is an invitation to move the needle on Health in Kansas, and we invite you to join us in leading the way. Don’t have a copy of Leading Health? Claim your copy and learn more about the movement at kansashealth.org/leadinghealth (http://kansashealth.org/leadinghealth) Continue the discussion with these resources: Book Clubs (https://kansashealth.org/leadinghealth/reading-resources/) Speakers and Workshops (https://kansashealth.org/leadinghealth/speaker-request/) Share Your Story (https://kansashealth.org/leadinghealth/share-action-stories/) And be sure to subscribe, and drop a comment to let us know what you think.

4. 

   25 Aug 2026

   Mindset #2: Work Systemically

   What if the way we’ve been trying to help individuals who need it is actually holding us back from solving complex Health challenges? Most of us have given to a food pantry, volunteered at a coat drive, or helped a neighbor in need. While those acts matter, to truly move the needle on Health in Kansas, individual acts of kindness aren’t enough. The 30,000 Kansans in positions of authority — elected officials, school leaders, business owners, pastors — have a unique power to shift not just how we help people, but the scale at which we help them. That's the heart of Chapter 13: Working Systemically. Joined by conversation catalyst, Kari Bruffett, President and CEO of the Kansas Health Institute, we unpack what it really means to think beyond the individual, how a simple framework can help you identify bigger leverage points, and why systemic change doesn't have to be harder, just different. Highlights The difference between an individual mindset and a systemic mindset is illustrated through Kansas examples regarding secondhand smoke, fair hiring practices and food desert policy. The "2x2" framework: a quadrant that maps out individual vs. systemic thinking against upstream vs. downstream action and why the upper-right quadrant is where Kansas needs more energy. Why charity is essential but not sufficient and how the 30,000 can shift the conversation. Kansas's extension of postpartum Medicaid eligibility to one year is a real-world example of systemic change that benefits individuals and the broader health system. How communities in the Pathways to Healthy Kansas program have evolved from downstream charity to upstream, systemic work Lawrence's "A Place for Everyone" initiative is a model for systemic thinking around housing and the unhoused population. Why systemic thinking doesn't remove individual responsibility — it levels the playing field so people can exercise it. How implementing the Five Whys questioning process can help identify the root cause problem and potential solutions by thinking systematically. Chapters 0:48 — Welcome & Introduction 5:28 — Individual vs. Systematic Examples 7:40 — 2x2 Framework 9:36 — Upstream vs. Downstream Efforts 15:33 — Kari Bruffet Joins the Talk 20:06 — Leaders Who Propel Different Thinking 21:17 — Kansas Postpartum Medicaid Example 24:41 — Community Upstream Success 27:39 — Why Systems Trigger Pushback 32:56 — Systems Involve More Than Government 35:15 — Five Whys in Action 37:16 — System Level Thinking Equals Different Thinking 38:44 — Key Takeaways Resources Kansas Health Institute (https://www.khi.org/) — Kari Bruffett's organization, which produces research and policy analysis on health in Kansas America's Health Rankings (https://www.americashealthrankings.org/) — referenced as the "north star" for measuring Kansas's health progress Work Systemically Grid (https://kansashealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Work_Systemically_Worksheet.pdf) Leading Health is an invitation to move the needle on Health in Kansas, and we invite you to join us in leading the way. Don’t have a copy of Leading Health? Claim your copy and learn more about the movement at kansashealth.org/leadinghealth (http://kansashealth.org/leadinghealth) Continue the discussion with these resources: Book Clubs (https://kansashealth.org/leadinghealth/reading-resources/) Speakers and Workshops (https://kansashealth.org/leadinghealth/speaker-request/) Share Your Story (https://kansashealth.org/leadinghealth/share-action-stories/) And be sure to subscribe, and drop a comment to let us know what you think.

5. 

   11 Aug 2026

   Mindset #1: Work Upstream

   Are you putting band-aids on a wound that needs surgery? Kansas ranks seventh in the nation for volunteerism, and yet our state has fallen further than any other in the national health rankings. What if all that good-hearted, charitable energy could be redirected — not away from helping people in need, but one step further upstream, toward preventing the need in the first place? This episode explores the first of nine mindsets from the book: the upstream mindset. We unpack the difference between charity (which treats symptoms) and change (which addresses root causes), and why people in positions of authority tend to default to downstream efforts — even when they genuinely care about the health gap. The classic "babies in the river" story anchors the conversation, and we're joined once again by Teresa Lovelady, CEO of HealthCore Clinic, who brings powerful real-world examples of how one organization works both ends of the stream simultaneously. From cancer screenings and social drivers of health, to giving kids books during their annual checkups, Teresa paints a vivid picture of what upstream work looks like in practice — and issues a challenge to all of us: take just one step upstream. Highlights Kansas ranks 7th in volunteerism nationally — a strength that also reinforces our tendency to stay downstream Charity treats symptoms; upstream work addresses root causes — and we need both, but the balance is off The "babies in the river" parable: someone has to stop pulling babies out of the river long enough to find out who's throwing them in Charity can actually weaken the urgency to change the conditions that create the need for charity in the first place HealthCore Clinic (a federally qualified health center in northeast Wichita) operates simultaneously upstream and downstream — with a food pantry, gym, walking path, pharmacy, transportation, and education classes all under one roof Early detection example: screening patients at the pre-diabetic stage — or even earlier — is a concrete upstream health intervention HealthCore screens for social drivers of health (housing, food insecurity, violence, substance abuse) and intervenes in real time Early literacy is directly linked to long-term health outcomes — HealthCore gives every child an age-appropriate book at their annual visit Going upstream is disruptive, and you may be accused of "neglecting the babies in the river" — expect pushback The incentive structures in our society push leaders toward downstream action; value-based care is beginning to change that in healthcare, but it's a long way off Teresa's practical challenge: take one step upstream — whatever your role, just move one step in that direction Textron Aviation's model: on-site healthcare access and a "one-stop shop" to help people upskill for jobs — upstream workforce investment instead of complaining about workforce quality Storytime Village: a new early literacy program in Wichita that integrates a clinic, bookstore, and community convening space — upstream collaboration in action The call to action: audit your charitable giving from the last several months and mark whether each contribution was upstream or downstream Chapters 0:00 – The 'Upstream' Mindset 1:34 – Charity vs. Change: Why Band-Aids Aren't Enough 2:50 – The 'Babies in the River' Story: What Upstream Really Means 4:52 – Real-World Upstream Examples: Foster Care & Workplace Wellness 6:22 – Guest Joins: Teresa Lovelady Returns to Talk Practice, Not Theory 7:19 – Inside HealthCore Clinic: Serving Needs Today While Preventing Tomorrow 7:57 – Prevention in Action: Population Health, Pre-Diabetes & Early Detection 12:06 – Beyond Healthcare: Literacy, Community Factors & Everyone's Role 14:02 – Why We Default to Downstream: Ease, Feel-Good Charity & the Health Gap 16:26 – Beyond Charity: Take One Step Upstream 17:14 – Why Upstream Work Feels Disruptive (and Gets Criticized) 18:23 – Downstream Is Tempting: Human Nature & Quick 'Feel-Good' Wins 20:00 – What It Takes to Swim Upstream: Org Pushback, Boards, and Incentives 21:48 – Upstream Healthcare in Action: Screening Social Drivers & Real-Time Support 26:18 – Influence Beyond the Field: Bankers, Electeds, Advocacy, and Collaboration Spaces 29:16 – Examples on the Table: Boardroom Questions, CEO Budgets, and Textron's Model 32:21 – Call to Action & Wrap-Up: Audit Your Giving and Shift Upstream Resources Mentioned HealthCore Clinic (https://healthcoreclinic.org/) — federally qualified health center in northeast Wichita, KS; offers medical, dental, behavioral health, substance abuse services, pharmacy, food pantry, gym, walking path, and transportation for patients America's Health Rankings (https://www.americashealthrankings.org) — the national health rankings that measure state health outcomes, including volunteerism as a sub-measure Textron Aviation (http://www.txtav.com) (Wichita, KS) — cited as an example of upstream workplace wellness and workforce development Wichita State University (http://www.wichita.edu) — mentioned as a resource for scholarship opportunities available to low-income patients at HealthCore Storytime Village (https://www.storytimevillage.org/) — a new early literacy program in Wichita integrating a clinic, bookstore, and community convening space Leading Health is an invitation to move the needle on Health in Kansas, and we invite you to join us in leading the way. Don’t have a copy of Leading Health? Claim your copy and learn more about the movement at kansashealth.org/leadinghealth (http://kansashealth.org/leadinghealth) And be sure to subscribe, and drop a comment to let us know what you think.

6. 

   28 Jul 2026

   Part 3: From Diagnosis to Prescription | Understanding Mindsets

   In this bonus episode, we’re transitioning from Part Two in the book Leading Health and setting up Part Three, which introduces nine mindsets that the 30,000 need to hold if Kansas is going to lead the nation in health. In Part One, we describe the symptoms of Kansas, ranked #29 at the time of writing this book. In Part Two, listeners learn that the diagnosis isn’t a health challenge, but a leadership challenge. Now, in Part Three, we give the prescription through nine mindsets that help develop the culture we need to get Kansas to #1 in America’s Health Rankings. Highlights Part one covered the health reality in Kansas and introduced the "30,000" — the Kansans in key civic roles who can move the needle. Part two revealed that the real issue isn't a health challenge; it's a leadership challenge. Part three shifts to nine mindsets (not nine solutions) because closing the health gap is an adaptive challenge, not a simple problem to solve. The 30,000 don't need to generate the solutions themselves — communities facing the greatest health disparities often already know what's needed. The job of the 30,000 is to create the conditions for those solutions to emerge. The book's three-part structure is explained simply: Part one = symptoms, Part two = diagnosis, Part three = prescription. Chapters 0:00 – Intro 1:15 – Recap Parts One and Two 2:09 – Why Mindsets, Not Solutions 3:59 – Adaptive Challenge and ALICE 4:54 – Conditions for Community Solutions 7:07 – Mindsets in Practice 8:12 – Creating Collaboration 9:17 – Symptoms, Diagnosis, Prescription 10:16 – Wrap Up and Next Episode Leading Health is an invitation to move the needle on Health in Kansas, and we invite you to join us in leading the way. Don’t have a copy of Leading Health? Claim your copy and learn more about the movement at kansashealth.org/leadinghealth (http://kansashealth.org/leadinghealth) And be sure to subscribe, and drop a comment to let us know what you think.

7. 

   14 Jul 2026

   Authority Isn’t Enough

   What if the biggest obstacle to improving health in Kansas isn't a lack of resources, knowledge, or will — but a fundamental misunderstanding of what leadership actually is? In this episode of the Leading Health Podcast, we unpack one of the most provocative ideas in the book: having authority and exercising leadership are not the same thing. Fancy titles don't automatically mobilize people. And if Kansas is going to climb the national health rankings, those with power need to understand both what they can uniquely contribute — and what they simply cannot do alone. Teresa Lovelady, President and CEO of HealthCore Clinic in Wichita, joins us again to bring these ideas to life with real-world stories, including a powerful moment during COVID that shows exactly what happens when authority either opens the door — or slams it shut. HIGHLIGHTS • Leadership is an activity, not a title. Exercising leadership means mobilizing others to make progress on tough, adaptive challenges — something a position alone cannot do. • The 30,000 are necessary but not sufficient. Kansas's key civic and institutional leaders must play their part, but no single person or organization has enough authority to close the health gap alone. • Even a governor's authority isn't enough. Adaptive challenges like improving population health require distributed effort across all levels of society. • Authority comes with expectations — and those expectations often work against change. The people who grant authority typically want stability, not disruption. But real progress requires disruption. • People in authority can make change less risky for others. By casting vision, acting as resource brokers, and creating safe spaces to experiment and fail, leaders with authority create conditions where others can lead too. • The framework: protection, direction, and order. Marty Linsky's teaching offers a practical lens — authority's job is not to have the answer, but to protect risk-takers, provide direction, and establish order so others can do the work. • When authority goes wrong, people fall through the cracks. Teresa's COVID vaccine story shows how rigid top-down thinking left 300 homebound seniors unvaccinated — and what it cost the people trying to do the right thing. • Call to action: Build a culture that accepts risk. Members of the 30,000 should examine whether their organizations genuinely create space for risk-taking — because progress on closing the health gap demands it. CHAPTERS 0:00 – Introduction & Episode Overview 1:49 – Why Authority Isn't Enough 1:55 – Leadership vs. Authority: Fancy Titles Don't Mobilize People 3:16 – The 30,000's Role: Necessary but Insufficient to Climb the Health Rankings 4:22 – Guest Returns: Teresa Lovelady on Dual Citizenship (30,000 + ALICE) 5:55 – Making It Concrete: Teresa's Definition of Exercising Leadership 7:07 – COVID as a Case Study: Sharing Leadership Beyond Positions of Power 8:57 – What We Need From Authority: Certainty of Process & Casting Vision 10:49 – Authority as Resource Broker: Clearing Paths, Connecting Resources, Setting Policy 12:44 – No Magic Wand: Wicked Problems, Limited Authority, and Working Together 14:42 – The Tension of Real Change: When Leadership Threatens Organizational Survival 15:42 – Where Authority Comes From: Expectations, Accountability, and Who Grants Power 15:56 – When People Expect "No Chaos": Why Leadership Disrupts 16:22 – The Penalty for Change: Trust, Access, and Job Risk 17:43 – Authority Isn't Enough: Avoiding Martyrs by Sharing the Work 18:50 – Using Authority Well: Direction, Resources, and a Safe Space to Lead 20:17 – What "Safe Space" Really Means: Permission to Make Mistakes 20:33 – Case Study: The Clinic Expansion "Swimming Pool" and Board Support 25:07 – Protection, Direction, Order: A Practical Framework for Authority 26:24 – How Authority Goes Wrong: The COVID Vaccine Homebound Gap 28:44 – Calls to Action & What's Next in the Series RESOURCES • Kansas Leadership Center (KLC) — https://kansasleadershipcenter.org (https://kansasleadershipcenter.org) • HealthCore Clinic (Teresa Lovelady's organization) — https://healthcoreclinic.org (https://healthcoreclinic.org) • America's Health Rankings — https://www.americashealthrankings.org (https://www.americashealthrankings.org) • ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) population framework — https://www.unitedforalice.org (https://www.unitedforalice.org) Leading Health is an invitation to move the needle on Health in Kansas, and we invite you to join us in leading the way. Don’t have a copy of Leading Health? Claim your copy and learn more about the movement at kansashealth.org/leadinghealth (http://kansashealth.org/leadinghealth) And be sure to subscribe, and drop a comment to let us know what you think.

8. 

   30 Jun 2026

   It’s Risky

   Leadership isn't all kumbaya. The truth is, real leadership, the kind that moves the needle on something as daunting as closing the health gap, is risky. It requires disrupting the status quo, disappointing your own people, and absorbing the discomfort that comes with change. But as this episode makes clear, the cost of avoiding that risk is even higher. In this episode, hosts Ed O'Malley and Susan Kang are joined by returning guest Kenny Wilk to unpack why exercising leadership is inherently risky, what it looks like in practice and why the reward on the other side is worth it. Highlights While many individuals placed in leadership roles believe they’re exercising leadership, it’s actually exceedingly rare. Leadership is risky because it’s about disruption, and how it requires disappointing your own people at a rate they can absorb. The risk-reward mismatch in health equity: the 30,000 Kansans with the most influence must take risk to benefit the people with the least, such as the ALICE population (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). The remarkable turnaround of the University of Kansas Health System, from one of the worst-rated hospitals in the nation (below the 5th percentile in patient satisfaction) to consistently above the 90th percentile. Kenny's personal framework for staying motivated to lead on issues that don't directly benefit him: gratitude, paying it forward and finding deep satisfaction in others' success. The "Salad Week" story from the 2002 Kansas legislative budget crisis. A vivid example of leaders forcing uncomfortable conversations their own caucus didn't want to have. The Kansas Capitol restoration decision: why Kenny and Senate counterpart Steve Morris refused to defund it even in a financial crisis and why it paid off. Examples of risk in what Kansans experience every day, but could deliver a great payoff. How embracing the opportunity to challenge one another with different ideas can introduce new ways of thinking. Chapters 1:19 – Review, Preview and Big Picture 2:57 – Introducing Chapter 10: [Leadership] is Risky 5:33 – How Leadership Involves Disruption and Loss 7:50 – Leadership Requires Disappointing Your Own People 9:33 –  KHF Strategy as an Example 12:21 – Risk vs. Reward in Health Equity 14:31 – Kenny on the risks and transformation of the Kansas Health System 16:14 – From Worst to Best: Culture Shift 19:05 – Metrics and Momentum Wins 21:07 – The Risky Turnaround Story 23:08 – Pay It Forward Mindset 26:19 – Hallmark Promotion Risk 27:58 – Post-9/11 Budget Crisis 30:14 – Salad Week Disruption 32:55 – Capitol Restoration Resolve 34:50 – Everyday Risk Examples 37:10 – Acceptance and Pushback 39:01 – Make Leadership Ubiquitous 40:10 – Resources and Final Challenge 42:45 – Closing and Next Chapter Resources Kansas Leadership Center (KLC) — kansasleadershipcenter.org (https://www.kansasleadershipcenter.org/) Proud but Never Satisfied — book about the transformation of the University of Kansas Health System - https://www.kansashealthsystem.com/proud-but-never-satisfied (https://www.kansashealthsystem.com/proud-but-never-satisfied) University of Kansas Health System — kansashealthsystem.com (https://www.kansashealthsystem.com/) Leading Health is an invitation to move the needle on Health in Kansas, and we invite you to join us in leading the way. Don’t have a copy of Leading Health? Claim your copy and learn more about the movement at kansashealth.org/leadinghealth (http://kansashealth.org/leadinghealth) And be sure to subscribe, and drop a comment to let us know what you think.

9. 

   16 Jun 2026

   It Requires Loss

   It’s no secret that to solve the Health Gap in Kansas, we need those in authority to stop thinking of this as a health challenge and start thinking of it as a leadership challenge that requires a lot of change. We know that what people often fear most about change is losing something that matters to them. Understanding that distinction is the key that unlocks real progress. In this chapter of Leading Health, Ed O'Malley and Susan Kang dig into one of the most important and most overlooked concepts in leadership: the relationship between change and loss. Joined again by Johnathan Sublet, founder of SENT, Inc. in Topeka, they explore what it truly takes to help communities let go of what is to make room for what could be. Kansas has climbed to #27 in the health rankings — three consecutive years of improvement for the first time in 35 years. Getting to #1 will require leaders who can name the losses, speak to them honestly and create space for others to do the same. Highlights People don't fear change — they fear loss. Reframing resistance as data, not opposition, shifts the locus of responsibility back to the leader. When someone pushes back on your idea, that's information. It means they perceive a loss you haven't yet addressed. Speaking to loss is powerful. So is letting loss speak — inviting others to voice what's hard creates trust and energizes people toward change. Johnathan Sublet shares five universal fears (death, being an outsider, the future, chaos and insignificance) and the five corresponding needs leaders must address to reduce anxiety and improve performance. The story of Topeka's first net-zero home and a significant tree to a grieving family. Illustrating what it looks like to speak to loss in a deeply human way. Technical experts (engineers, health professionals, administrators) face a particular challenge: their expertise can lead them to double down on logic when empathy is what's needed. The Moses framework: leadership requires both systems-thinking and shepherding, and most leaders are naturally strong in only one. Closing the urban-rural divide in Kansas health requires people to lose their attachment to the idea that their challenge is uniquely theirs. Prioritizing health means deprioritizing something else, and that's a real loss for the people who care about those other things. Think 401k, not day trading: small, consistent, compounding investments in a shared strategy, not swinging for the miracle, is how Kansas gets to #1. Chapters 0:47 — Introduction: Chapter 9 — It's a Leadership Challenge Because It Requires Loss 4:00 — People Don't Fear Change — They Fear Loss 5:03 — Resistance as Data: What Pushback Is Really Telling You 7:25 — Speaking to Loss vs. Letting Loss Speak 10:01 — Guest Introduction: Johnathan Sublet, SENT 12:38 — The Five Universal Fears and Five Universal Needs 15:19 — Real-World Loss: Topeka's First Net Zero Home and the Tree 18:17 — The Moses Framework: Systems Thinking Meets Shepherding 27:27 — Letting Go of Your Preferred Strategy: The K-State Transdisciplinary Housing Team 32:57 — Six Sigma and Prioritizing for Impact: The Sent Network Approach 36:07 — Takeaways: Acknowledging Loss to Make Progress 37:24 — 401k vs. Day Trading: A Mindset for Long-Term Health Leadership Resources Mentioned America's Health Rankings (https://www.americashealthrankings.org/) SENT (https://senttopeka.com/) — A Topeka-based nonprofit that focuses on Community Health and Wellness, Education and Workforce Development and Housing and Revitalization. Leading Health is an invitation to move the needle on Health in Kansas, and we invite you to join us in leading the way. Don’t have a copy of Leading Health? Claim your copy and learn more about the movement at kansashealth.org/leadinghealth (http://kansashealth.org/leadinghealth) And be sure to subscribe, and drop a comment to let us know what you think.

10. 

    2 Jun 2026

    Our Existing Assumptions Fail Us

    What if the biggest barrier to better health in your community isn't a lack of resources, but a set of assumptions you didn't even know you were making? In this conversation, co-hosts Ed O'Malley and Susan Kang are joined by returning guest Kenny Wilk of the University of Kansas Health System. Together, they unpack how hidden assumptions — about who should be involved, what needs to be done, and how fast progress can happen — quietly shape how people in authority think and act. Wilk shares candid stories from his time in the Kansas Legislature and offers a fresh lens on exercising leadership. This conversation will challenge you to surface the assumptions driving your own work before they become "premeditated resentments." Highlights The three most common assumptions the 30,000 make when tackling complex health challenges, and why each one can derail progress. The critical difference between adaptive and technical challenges. Kenny Wilk's hard-won insight from the Kansas Legislature: don't ask people to change their minds; give them new information so they can make a new decision. How sharing information to ‘slow things down’ can help a group go farther, together. The "sidewalk story" is a simple metaphor that reframes how we see ‘work’ being done. The danger of bringing people together only to present a baked solution, and what to do instead. Chapters 0:47 —Leading Health Review, Preview and Big Picture. 3:02 — Chapter Eight insight: "Closing the Health Gap Is a Leadership Challenge Because Our Existing Assumptions Fail Us" 4:55 — The three common assumptions the 30,000 make 6:28 — The quick fix trap 8:37 — Technical vs. adaptive: a broken bone example 11:14 — Kenny Wilk joins the conversation 12:18 — The water debate: a lesson from Kenny's first year in the legislature 14:52 — Defining "assumption" — and why we're all starting from different places 15:56 — You have to slow down to go far 16:22 — Getting up on the balcony to examine assumptions 17:52 — New decisions, not mind changes 19:13 — How authority can create space for assumption-surfacing 21:05 — Why leaders jump straight to solutions 22:59 — From kitchen table to campaign trail to governing — three different phases 24:27 — Technical vs. adaptive challenges in practice 27:13 — What authorities must do differently on adaptive challenges 30:46 — The sidewalk story: seeing the invisible work of adaptive leadership 33:50 — Takeaways and preview of the next episode Resources Mentioned Kansas Health Rankings (https://www.kdheks.gov/) University of Kansas Health System (https://www.kansashealthsystem.com/) Kansas Leadership Center (KLC) (https://kansasleadershipcenter.org/) Leading Health is an invitation to move the needle on Health in Kansas, and we invite you to join us in leading the way. Don’t have a copy of Leading Health? Claim your copy and learn more about the movement at kansashealth.org/leadinghealth (http://kansashealth.org/leadinghealth) And be sure to subscribe, and drop a comment to let us know what you think.

11. 

    19 May 2026

    We Don’t Agree on What Caused the Problem, or the Solutions

    What if the biggest barrier to improving the health of an entire state isn't a lack of medicine, money, or expertise, but a failure of leadership? In Chapter 7 of Leading Health, we tackle one of the most provocative ideas in the book: Kansas can't climb the health rankings without first confronting the reality that we don't agree on what caused the problem or what the solution is. That makes it a leadership challenge before it's a health challenge. This episode features a special guest — Ben Hutton, President and CEO of Hutton Company — who brings a private-sector perspective to a conversation typically dominated by the public sector. We explore what it means to lead with both humility and bold experimentation, and why getting people focused on the right problems might be more important than having all the right answers. Highlights Kansas has improved its health rankings for three consecutive years, a meaningful milestone that deserves more attention. Leadership is an activity, not a position and authority and leadership are two distinct things. The role of those in authority isn't to proclaim solutions; it's to center the problem and create alignment. Every person in the "30,000" has a part of the mess — defining your part is often the most actionable first step. Goals and strategies are not the same; confusing them is one of the most common traps when tackling adaptive challenges (Medicaid expansion is a strategy; ensuring Kansans have adequate health insurance is a goal). The Hutton Company implemented the Dream Manager program — helping employees name and pursue personal dreams, from climbing Machu Picchu to buying a first home. Discuss why businesses need to think about both  Capital H health (everything we need to thrive) vs. little h health (healthcare). The "$50,000 experiment" framework: big enough to matter if it works, small enough to survive if it doesn't. Third-grade literacy as a leading indicator: solving upstream problems prevents a cascade of downstream challenges. Two people — and two ideas — can both be right at the same time. The tragedy of our era is that we've shifted from advocating for our ideas to advocating against our opponents' ideas. Purpose-driven businesses that invest in capital H health tend to be more profitable in traditional measures too; the data bears this out. Chapters 0:48 — Introduction & Chapter 7 Overview 4:49 — Leadership vs. Authority: Lessons from COVID 11:51 — Introducing Ben Hutton 13:27 — Capital H vs. Little H Health in the Workplace 15:24 — The Dream Manager Program 19:18 — Finite vs. Infinite Games & the Case for Experimentation 25:23 — Disrupting Entrenched Narratives 35:46 — Goals vs. Strategies: How to Create Alignment 37:09 — Closing Takeaways Resources Mentioned The Dream Manager (https://www.dreammanger.com/) by Matthew Kelly The Infinite Game (https://simonsinek.com/books/the-infinite-game/) by Simon Sinek Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs) Hutton (https://huttonbuilds.com/) Leading Health is an invitation to move the needle on Health in Kansas, and we invite you to join us in leading the way. Don’t have a copy of Leading Health? Claim your copy and learn more about the movement at kansashealth.org/leadinghealth (http://kansashealth.org/leadinghealth) And be sure to subscribe, and drop a comment to let us know what you think.

12. 

    5 May 2026

    (It’s) Not a Health Challenge

    We often think of leadership as a title, but really, it’s an action. While some challenges just need a solid plan, solving the Kansas Health Gap requires a specific kind of leadership that goes beyond authority. In Episode 6 of Leading Health, Ed O’Malley and Susan Kang unpack the three reasons why this gap is so hard to close—from the lack of urgency to the inevitable clash of values. Joined by Johnathan Sublet, Executive Director of SENT, they dive further to highlight what it really looks like to lead from a calling, punch deeper at daunting problems and build systems that free you to pursue the work that keeps you up at night. Highlights Leadership is an activity, not a noun. Separating leadership from authority invites far more people into the work. The 30,000 Kansans have a specific and essential leadership role to play in improving capital-H Health, but having authority doesn't always mean you're exercising leadership. Johnathan Sublet's journey from chemical engineer to nonprofit leader illustrates what it looks like to lead from a calling rather than just manage a role. Burnout isn't caused by a heavy schedule; it's caused by an unsettled relationship. between daily tasks and the original passion that drove you to the work. The "punch deeper" metaphor: too many nonprofits throw shallow punches at problems; real leadership means aiming past the face and committing to closing gaps entirely. Competing values are not problems to solve, they're tensions to manage; if you're not getting pushback from all sides, you're probably not doing anything significant. "Leading is disappointing people at a rate they can tolerate," and remembering what got you into the work is what keeps the calling alive. Chapters 0:48 — Chapter 6 Introduction 1:56 — Why Health Is a Leadership Challenge 2:32 — Three Factors of Leadership Explained 6:09 — Authority Versus Leadership 8:02 — Having Authority Does Not Mean Exercising Leadership 9:57 — Meet Johnathan Sublet of SENT 10:38 — Leading Versus Managing 12:08 — Calling and Community Work 15:29 — Burnout and Big Swings 17:43 — Systems Free Your Focus 18:48 — Leadership Challenge Mindset 19:44 — Share the Model Widely 20:17 — Greek Not Roman Legacy 21:57 — Housing Change Snowball 23:34 — ALICE and the Missing Middle 26:52 — Competing Values in Practice 30:37 — Keep the Calling Alive 33:08 — Key Takeaways Resources SENT (https://senttopeka.com/) — A Topeka-based nonprofit that focuses on Community Health and Wellness, Education and Workforce Development and Housing and Revitalization. Kansas Leadership Center (https://kansasleadershipcenter.org/) - Learn how to exercise leadership and mobilize others for greater change. ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) (https://www.unitedforalice.org/) — a United Way framework describing the working poor, referenced in the housing discussion Leading Health is an invitation to move the needle on Health in Kansas, and we invite you to join us in leading the way. Don’t have a copy of Leading Health? Claim your copy and learn more about the movement at kansashealth.org/leadinghealth (http://kansashealth.org/leadinghealth) And be sure to subscribe, and drop a comment to let us know what you think.

13. 

    21 Apr 2026

    Part 2: Health is a Leadership Challenge Because...

    In this bridge episode between Parts 1 and 2 of the Leading Health book, we pause to recap where we've been and preview what's coming. We revisit the core arguments from our first five episodes — from capital H Health versus lower h health, to the 30,000 Kansans who hold civic authority and why they matter — before revealing the central thesis of Part 2: Kansas's health gap is not a health challenge. It's a leadership challenge. And until we frame it that way, we'll keep arriving at the same dead ends. Highlights Kansas fell from #8 to #31 in America's Health Rankings — and treating this as a health problem is exactly why progress has stalled The 30,000 Kansans in roles of civic authority — elected officials, pastors, school principals, nonprofit executives, and community-minded CEOs — are the key to change America's Health Rankings serves as the "North Star" for measuring progress toward Kansas becoming the #1 healthiest state in the nation Part 1 describes the symptoms, Part 2 delivers the diagnosis, and Part 3 will outline the prescription Passionate people working for change are often their own biggest enemy — the real challenge is frequently different than it first appears Improving population health is an adaptive challenge, not a technical one — meaning there are no easy answers, and it involves risk, loss, and ongoing exploration Leadership is rare, and it's an activity, not a position — we prefer to talk about people exercising leadership rather than simply holding the title Even if every healthcare expert, public health professional, nutritionist, and researcher does their part, the health gap will remain — because it is first and foremost a leadership challenge Chapters 1:28 – Recap of the First Five Episodes 2:13 – Capital H vs. Lower h Health 2:29 – Meet the 30,000 Civic Leaders 2:57 – America's Health Rankings as Our North Star 3:13 – The Symptoms → Diagnosis → Prescription Framework 3:55 – Passionate People and Hidden Challenges 5:44 – It's Not a Health Problem — It's a Leadership Problem 6:38 – Adaptive Challenge and the Rarity of Real Leadership 8:59 – Why This Lens Changes Everything 9:31 – Experts Matter, But Leadership Must Lead 10:48 – Wrap-Up and Next Episode Preview Leading Health is an invitation to move the needle on Health in Kansas, and we invite you to join us in leading the way. Don’t have a copy of Leading Health? Claim your copy and learn more about the movement at kansashealth.org/leadinghealth (http://kansashealth.org/leadinghealth) And be sure to subscribe, and drop a comment to let us know what you think.

14. 

    7 Apr 2026

    Kansas at #1

    What would it look like if Kansas became the healthiest state in the nation — and what would it take to get there? In Chapter 5 of Leading Health, we cast a bold vision of what Kansas at #1 in America’s Health Rankings could mean for real people. It would look like fewer Kansans going hungry, more kids reading at grade level, and hundreds of thousands fewer people struggling with substance use, just to name a few. We're joined by Kenny Wilk, former Kansas legislator and member of the Kansas Board of Regents, and now Vice President of Governmental and Community Affairs at the University of Kansas Health System. Alongside Ed and Susan, he shares what it means to cast a vision bold enough to be risky, and why that's exactly what leadership requires. Highlights In 1991, Kansas was ranked #8 in America’s Health Rankings. Over the next 30 years, we’ve drastically slipped to our lowest at #31 and today, #27. Our goal is #1. If Kansas matched New Hampshire (currently #1), 105,000 fewer Kansans would face food insecurity, 32,000 more kids would read at grade level by 4th grade, 173,000 more Kansans would exercise regularly, and 183,000 fewer Kansans would engage in non-medical drug use. The distinction between capital H Health (everything that helps people thrive) and lowercase h health (healthcare) is central to understanding why this challenge requires more than hospitals and clinics. Kenny Wilk draws on his experience leading the Kansas Economic Growth Act and the Bioscience Authority to show how bold, long-term visions can outlast the individuals who cast them. Understanding that a vision is "imagining what you cannot see" — and being comfortable that casting a bold vision invites scrutiny. How the Kansas Health Foundation’s research on the Economic Case for Health shows that Health is not only an outcome of a great economy, it’s a driver. Progress should be celebrated — incremental wins keep people engaged and moving toward a long-term goal. Chapters 1:25 – Kansas at Number One Vision 2:52 – Pragmatism Meets Idealism 3:31 – The Coins and the Climb 4:51 – What Kansans Told Us 8:04 – If Kansas Matched New Hampshire 11:21 – Up to the 30,000 11:53 – Meet Kenny Wilk 12:55 – Capital H vs. Small h Health 16:42 – Hospitals' Role in Thriving 18:41 – Casting a Risky Vision 21:31 – Players Change, Vision Stays 22:47 – Imagining the Unseen 23:50 – From Concern to Aspiration 24:32 – Listening Then Challenging 26:56 – Authority to Set Direction 28:51 – Scrutiny and Staying Steady 29:58 – Quiet Confidence and Decisions 32:01 – Kansas Number One Impact 34:51 – Health Drives the Economy 39:14 – Takeaways and Celebrate Wins 43:04 – Next Episode Leadership Challenge Resources America's Health Rankings (https://www.americashealthrankings.org/) The Economic Case for Health Report  (https://kansashealth.org/economic-case/) University of Kansas Health System (https://www.kansashealthsystem.com/) Leading Health is an invitation to move the needle on Health in Kansas, and we invite you to join us in leading the way. Don’t have a copy of Leading Health? Claim your copy and learn more about the movement at kansashealth.org/leadinghealth (http://kansashealth.org/leadinghealth) And be sure to subscribe, and drop a comment to let us know what you think.

15. 

    24 Mar 2026

    Kansas at 29th

    What happens when our state ranks 29th in Health? More importantly, what does it take to change where we rank in America’s Health Rankings? This episode explores the uncomfortable truth behind Kansas's health rankings and challenges listeners to move beyond easy explanations. We examine why leadership must start with dissatisfaction, how collective action differs from individual effort, and what it means to aim for excellence rather than just catching up. Through real examples from Wyandotte County and Cowley County, we discover how data can spark transformation when communities refuse to look away from difficult realities. HIGHLIGHTS Leadership always starts with dissatisfaction, not with comfort in the status quo. Kansas's biggest challenges are both adaptive (complex, no easy solutions) and collective (requiring collaboration across sectors). The "easy interpretation" of health data often explains problems away; the "tougher interpretation" faces them head-on. Wyandotte County's ranking of 105th out of 105 became a catalyst for community transformation. Aiming for "average" or "catching up" creates fundamentally different outcomes than striving for excellence. Data walks and reimagining exercises can break down scarcity mindsets and build collective ownership. CHAPTERS [0:00] Introduction and Episode Overview [2:29] Chapter Four Focus [3:19] Leadership Starts Dissatisfied [5:27] Easy vs Tougher Takes [7:36] Agency and Shared Responsibility [9:10] Adaptive and Collective Challenges [12:21] Why Collaboration Matters [13:40] Meet Kari Bruffett [15:17] Data Dismissed Then Faced [16:07] Wyandotte County Wakeup Call [17:44] Policy Barriers Behind Rankings [19:26] Check Engine Light Lesson [21:10] Mayor Confronts The Data [22:02] Upstream Barriers And Action [22:22] Authority And The 30000 [23:23] Why Kansas Settles For Average [25:54] Chasing Excellence At KU Health [29:51] Reimagining Beyond Constraints [32:51] From Scarcity To Collective Leadership [33:38] Cowley County Data Walk [36:46] Adaptive Leadership Takeaways RESOURCES Kansas' Health Rankings (https://kansashealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/AHR_Kansas_Summary_2025.pdf) Kansas Health Institute (KHI) (https://www.khi.org/) Kansas Leadership Center (https://www.kansasleadershipcenter.org/) Pathways to a Healthy Kansas Data Walk (https://www.bcbsks.com/blue-health-initiatives/pathways/pathways-to-a-healthy-kansas) Leading Health is an invitation to move the needle on Health in Kansas, and we invite you to join us in leading the way. Don’t have a copy of Leading Health? Claim your copy and learn more about the movement at kansashealth.org/leadinghealth (http://kansashealth.org/leadinghealth) And be sure to subscribe, and drop a comment to let us know what you think.

16. 

    10 Mar 2026

    Health as a North Star

    What if the secret to Kansas's economic future isn't just about business growth—but about the health of every single person in the state? In this conversation, we explore why America's Health Rankings matter far beyond the healthcare sector, and how 30,000 influential Kansans hold the key to reversing our state's decades-long health decline. Highlights • Kansas has fallen from 8th to 27th in America's Health Rankings since 1991—the steepest decline of any state • The ranking measures over 50 factors including economic opportunity, food security, education, civic engagement, and workplace safety—not just traditional healthcare • Research shows the relationship between health and economics works both ways: healthier people are more productive, healthier workforces strengthen companies, and healthier populations boost GDP • The "30,000" influential Kansans—leaders across sectors who don't necessarily work in healthcare—play an outsized role in creating conditions for health • America's Health Rankings is produced by UnitedHealth in partnership with the American Public Health Association, combining private sector rigor with public health expertise Chapters 00:00 - Welcome and Introduction to Chapter 3 01:30 - Recap and Personal Reflections 02:15 - Introducing America's Health Rankings 05:45 - The Importance of Health Rankings for Kansas 11:20 - Kansas Health Foundation's Strategic Focus 15:30 - The Role of the 30,000 in Improving Health 18:45 - Economic Implications of Health Rankings 20:30 - Call to Action and Conclusion Resources • Explore the Kansas State Summary of America's Health Rankings (https://kansashealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/AHR_Kansas_Summary_2025.pdf) • Economic Case for Health (https://kansashealth.org/economic-case/) - The Kansas Health Foundation (KHF) has released its Economic Case for Health report, revealing that this decline is not just a medical crisis—it is a direct threat to the state’s workforce productivity and fiscal stability. Leading Health is an invitation to move the needle on Health in Kansas, and we invite you to join us in leading the way. Don’t have a copy of Leading Health? Claim your copy and learn more about the movement at kansashealth.org/leadinghealth (http://kansashealth.org/leadinghealth) And be sure to subscribe, and drop a comment to let us know what you think.

17. 

    24 Feb 2026

    The 30,000 and Health

    What happens when the people with power and influence in our communities fail to act on the factors that create Health? The data tells a sobering story: stroke victims, ER visits, and cancer diagnoses are all trending upward. This isn't just a healthcare problem—it's a leadership problem. We explore the concept of Kansas's "30,000"—the elected officials, nonprofit executives, pastors, business leaders, and community influencers who hold the keys to creating conditions where everyone can thrive. These aren't just abstract ideas. We sit down with Teresa Lovelady, President and CEO of HealthCore Clinic, who brings a unique perspective as someone who has lived on both sides of the health gap. From showing up as an uninsured mom seeking care for her son's asthma to now leading one of Wichita's most vital community health centers, Theresa shares what it really means to bridge the divide between those with authority and those struggling to survive. Highlights • The 30,000 Kansans who hold civic authority have outsized influence on the conditions that create health in our state • The ALICE population (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) represents the working poor who are trying hard but can't make ends meet • "Mommy shaming"—the judgment that prevents people from seeking help—creates barriers to health that go beyond insurance and access • Small acts by people in positions of authority can create massive ripple effects: asking how someone is doing, making thoughtful budget decisions, or simply listening without judgment • The health gap isn't just about individual choices—it's about the systems and structures that the 30,000 create and maintain • Being part of the 30,000 comes with responsibility, but also opportunity to make meaningful change in your sphere of influence Chapters [0:48] - Welcome to Episode Two [0:54] - Recap of Chapter One and Introduction to Chapter Two [1:46] - The Role of the 30,000 Kansans [3:56] - Understanding the ALICE Population [5:36] - Interview with Theresa Lovelady [6:35] - Theresa's Personal Journey from Patient to CEO [16:05] - Challenges and Responsibilities of Leadership [23:56] - Closing Thoughts and Takeaways Resources Mentioned • HealthCore Clinic - Federally qualified health center in Wichita, Kansas providing medical, dental, behavioral health services, pharmacy, food pantry, and health education - https://www.healthcoreclinic.org (https://www.healthcoreclinic.org/) • United for ALICE - Learn more about the individuals that make up ALICE, Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. https://www.unitedforalice.org/introducing-ALICE/Kansas (https://www.unitedforalice.org/introducing-ALICE/Kansas) Leading Health is an invitation to move the needle on Health in Kansas, and we invite you to join us in leading the way. Don’t have a copy of Leading Health? Claim your copy and learn more about the movement at kansashealth.org/leadinghealth (http://kansashealth.org/leadinghealth) And be sure to subscribe, and drop a comment to let us know what you think.

18. 

    10 Feb 2026

    health vs Health

    What if the biggest health crisis in Kansas isn't happening in hospitals at all? After touring one of America's best health systems and witnessing cutting-edge stroke treatments and trauma care, host Ed O’Malley left feeling worried instead of impressed. The problem isn't that we lack brilliant doctors—it's that we need more and more of their brilliance every year. Everything is trending up and to the right: more strokes, more trauma cases, more cancer diagnoses. But why? The answer lies in understanding a crucial distinction: health with a lowercase "h" versus Health with a capital "H." Lowercase health is healthcare—it's what happens when you're already sick. Capital H Health is your ability to thrive. It's everything that creates the conditions for wellbeing: your neighborhood quality, economic opportunity, education, transportation, even broadband access. And here's the thing: Kansas used to be one of the healthiest states in the nation. We've fallen as low as #31. No state has fallen further in 35 years. This podcast series explores how 30,000 influential Kansans—elected officials, business leaders, educators, community organizers—can help turn this around. Because improving Health isn't just a healthcare challenge. It's a leadership challenge. Highlights: • The distinction between capital H Health (ability to thrive) and lowercase health (healthcare/sick care) • Why everything is going "up and to the right" in healthcare—more strokes, trauma, and cancer cases every year • The shocking lifespan gap: Mission Hills (86.7 years) vs. Argentine (75.1 years)—just miles apart • Who the 30,000 are and why they hold the key to Kansas's health future • Kansas's health ranking decline from top-tier to #31 in the nation • The World Health Organization's definition of health as complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing • Why broadband access, transportation, and zip codes are health issues Chapters: 0:48 - Welcome to the Leading Health Podcast 0:56 - Introducing the Hosts and the Book 1:31 - The Vision Behind the Podcast 3:46 - Structure of the Book 4:28 - Conversation Catalysts 6:22 - Capital H Health vs. Lowercase Health 18:19 - The Role of the 30,000 23:11 - Conclusion and Next Steps Resources Mentioned: • Leading Health: How You and 30,000 Kansans Help Communities Thrive https://kansashealth.org/leadinghealth/ (https://kansashealth.org/leadinghealth/) Leading Health is an invitation to move the needle on Health in Kansas, and we invite you to join us in leading the way. Don’t have a copy of Leading Health? Claim your copy and learn more about the movement at kansashealth.org/leadinghealth (http://kansashealth.org/leadinghealth) And be sure to subscribe, and drop a comment to let us know what you think.

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