Prescribing A Healthier Future with Dr. Akilah Weber Pierson
Claim This Podcastby Dr. Akilah Weber Pierson
Podcast Overview
<p>Hosted by California State Senator and board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Akilah Weber, Prescribing a Healthier Future explores the powerful connection between policy and public health. Each episode examines the social determinants of health—like neighborhood safety, school quality, environmental justice, and economic opportunity—through conversations with healthcare heroes, community leaders, policymakers, and everyday Californians. Together, we’ll uncover how smarter policies and stronger communities can shape a healthier, more equitable future for all.</p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
10/7/2025
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Recent Episodes
January 21, 2026
Beyoncé, Serena, and Everyday Black Mothers: Why No One Is Safe in This System
<p>Black mothers in America are dying at three and a half times the rate of white mothers — and more than 80% of these deaths are preventable.</p> <p>In this powerful episode of Prescribing a Healthier Future, Dr. Akilah Weber Pearson sits down with health policy expert Courtney Christian to unpack the Black maternal health crisis and the leading role heart disease plays in pregnancy-related deaths.</p> <p>Together, they explore:</p> <ul> <li>Why cardiovascular disease is the #1 cause of pregnancy-related deaths for Black women<br><br></li> <li>How systemic racism, bias, and lack of postpartum care are costing lives<br><br></li> <li>Why income, education, and fame don’t protect Black mothers<br><br></li> <li>The role of doulas, midwives, and community advocacy<br><br></li> <li>How health insurance rollbacks and access gaps worsen outcomes<br><br></li> <li>Why self-advocacy can literally save lives<br><br></li> </ul> <p>This conversation is about prevention, policy, and power — and why listening to Black women is essential to fixing maternal healthcare in America.</p> <p> If you’re pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or love someone who is, this episode could save a life.</p> <p>Subscribe, like, and share to help amplify this critical conversation.</p> <p> </p> <p>Here are some notable moments from this episode:</p> <p>00:00 – Why Black Mothers Are Dying at Alarming Rates</p> <p>00:33 – Heart Disease: The Leading Cause of Maternal Death</p> <p>01:47 – 80% of These Deaths Are Preventable</p> <p>03:21 – Meet Courtney Christian: Policy Meets Personal</p> <p>05:40 – Caring for Sick Parents While Writing the ACA</p> <p>07:28 – Why Black Women’s Health Is Often Ignored</p> <p>10:01 – Why Pregnancy Is More Dangerous Than We Realize</p> <p>12:41 – Beyoncé, Serena, and the Myth of Protection</p> <p>13:22 – Courtney’s High-Risk Pregnancy Story</p> <p>15:17 – Cardiovascular Disease Before, During, and After Pregnancy</p> <p>17:29 – The Shortage of Black OB-GYNs</p> <p>19:22 – Why Insurance Doesn’t Equal Access to Care</p> <p>21:36 – The Role of Doulas and Midwives</p> <p>24:10 – Policies That Are Improving Maternal Outcomes</p> <p>26:17 – How Insurance Rollbacks Hurt Black Women</p> <p>29:31 – Why Health Literacy Matters</p> <p>31:37 – How Communities Can Advocate for Change</p> <p>40:15 – A Shocking Medical Bias Story</p> <p>43:25 – Trusting Your Body and Getting Second Opinions</p> <p>46:08 – Final Message: How to Protect Yourself and Others</p> <p> </p> <p>#BlackMaternalHealth #MaternalMortality #BlackWomenHealth #PregnancyHealth #MaternalCare #HealthEquity #HeartDiseaseAwareness #OBGYN #PostpartumCare #BlackMoms #HealthcareCrisis #HealthPolicy #Doulas #Midwives #WomensHealth #PrescribingAHealthierFuture</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
December 23, 2025
Having a Healthy Holiday With Family
<p>Family holidays are supposed to be joyful — but for many of us, they’re complicated, emotional, and sometimes exhausting.</p> <p>In this episode of Prescribing a Healthier Future, Dr. Akilah Webber Pearson sits down with her cousins for a deeply honest conversation about what family gatherings are really like behind the scenes. From generational differences and unspoken tensions to traditions, boundaries, and unconditional love, this episode explores why family dynamics can be so challenging — and why they still matter.</p> <p>Whether you’re navigating holiday stress, dreading uncomfortable conversations, or trying to protect your peace while staying connected, this episode offers real-life insight, practical wisdom, and reassurance that you’re not alone.</p> <p>This conversation covers:</p> <ul> <li>Why family holidays feel emotionally heavy<br><br></li> <li>How generations clash around values, boundaries, and traditions<br><br></li> <li>Navigating conflict without walking away forever<br><br></li> <li>What “chosen family” really means</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>Don’t forgive to follow and subscribe.</p> <p>Some notable moments from this episode:</p> <p>00:00 – Why family holidays feel harder than they look</p> <p>02:30 – The reality behind “perfect” family gatherings</p> <p>06:45 – Generational traditions and where they come from</p> <p>10:20 – Family conflict: words that hurt and how people heal</p> <p>14:30 – How family prepares you for the real world</p> <p>17:00 – When blood family isn’t your safe place</p> <p>19:00 – Chosen family and expanding the definition of home</p> <p>22:00 – Generational clashes: alcohol, boundaries, and change</p> <p>25:10 – Loving people without agreeing with them</p> <p>28:30 – Respecting elders while honoring who you are</p> <p>32:45 – Teaching the next generation respect and connection</p> <p>36:10 – How to keep family traditions alive</p> <p>41:00 – Social media, distance, and staying connected</p> <p>45:45 – Favorite family memories and legacy</p> <p>53:20 – Final reflections: showing up imperfectly still matters</p> <p> </p> <p>#FamilyDynamics #HolidayStress #FamilyHealing #GenerationalTrauma #ChosenFamily #HolidayBoundaries #FamilyTraditions #MentalHealthMatters #HealthyRelationships #PrescribingAHealthierFuture</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
December 9, 2025
The Truth About HBCUs: Underfunded, Targeted… and Still Winning
<p>What does it really mean to walk onto a college campus where you’re not the minority — where your professors, your classmates, your leaders look like you? In this powerful episode of Prescribing a Healthier Future, Dr. Akilah Weber Pearson sits down with Dr. Kelly Elmore to explore the impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) — not just on students, but on entire communities.</p> <p>You’ll hear the untold truth about how one small HBCU in New Orleans sends more Black students to medical school than Harvard, Yale, or any Ivy League university. You’ll also learn how HBCUs shape confidence, leadership, cultural identity, and the healthcare workforce that underserved communities depend on.</p> <p>But this conversation goes beyond celebration — it exposes the ongoing threats HBCUs face:</p> <p>💣 racially motivated bomb threats</p> <p>💸 billions in chronic underfunding</p> <p>🏛️ political targeting and resource inequity</p> <p>Dr. Weber Pearson and Dr. Elmore share personal stories from Xavier University, the life-changing support they received, and how HBCUs continue to produce doctors, nurses, lawyers, educators, and leaders who go back home and literally save lives.</p> <p>If you believe in health equity, representation in medicine, and the power of community-rooted education, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.</p> <p>👇 Support HBCUs:</p> <p>✔ Contact your elected officials</p> <p>✔ Support UNCF & scholarship organizations</p> <p>✔ Recruit from HBCUs</p> <p>✔ Send your kids to HBCUs</p> <p>✔ Donate to strengthen their endowments</p> <p>📌 Subscribe for more conversations on building healthier, more equitable communities.</p> <p>Here are some notable moments from this episode:</p> <p>00:05 – The HBCU That Outperforms Harvard</p> <p>01:10 – When Black Excellence Is the Norm, Not the Exception</p> <p>04:45 – Choosing Xavier: Cosby, Church, and Childhood Dreams</p> <p>09:55 – “I Am Home”: Finally Belonging on an HBCU Campus</p> <p>16:05 – Rocky First Years and Why Parents Shouldn’t Pull Kids Out</p> <p>23:50 – Med School Hostility and HBCU-Built Resilience</p> <p>29:10 – Do We Still Need HBCUs? The Data Says Yes</p> <p>34:35 – Bomb Threats, Safety, and Unshakeable HBCU Communities</p> <p>38:40 – The $13 Billion Funding Gap and What We’ve Lost</p> <p>42:35 – How HBCUs Build Healthy Adults and Healthier Communities</p> <p> </p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
6 total episodes available
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- What is Prescribing A Healthier Future with Dr. Akilah Weber Pierson?
<p>Hosted by California State Senator and board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Akilah Weber, Prescribing a Healthier Future explores the powerful connection between policy and public health. Each episode examines the social determinants of health—like neighborhood safety, school quality, environmental justice, and economic opportunity—through conversations with healthcare heroes, community leaders, policymakers, and everyday Californians. Together, we’ll uncover how smarter policies and stronger communities can shape a healthier, more equitable future for all.</p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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