Join us for candid conversations with movers and shakers within the physical and health literacy fields as a resource provided from the National Academy of Health and Physical Literacy.
Show hosts, Charity Bryan and Sandra Sims, invite you to their monthly podcast where they discuss current and relevant issues related to health and physical education while making time for reflection and celebration with those that have been integral to the profession.
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S7, E3: Health Literacy Month with Dr. J. Sunshine Cowan
October is Health Literacy Month, and in this episode of Scaling the Summit, Charity Bryan and Sandra Sims are joined by Dr. J. Sunshine Cowan to explore why health literacy matters now more than ever.
Dr. Cowan is a professor in the Dr. Virginia Peters Department of Kinesiology and Health Studies at the University of Central Oklahoma, Director of the John A. Maisch Collective for the Greater Good, and a Master Certified Health Education Specialist. Her work connects health education, public health, health equity, students, and communities.
During the conversation, Dr. Cowan discusses what health literacy really means, the barriers that can make health information difficult to access or understand, and the important connection between health literacy and health equity. The episode also explores the role educators and health professionals play in helping people evaluate health information, especially in a world increasingly shaped by social media, online influencers, advertising, and artificial intelligence.
You will also hear practical guidance for identifying credible health information, communicating with diverse communities, and helping students build health literacy skills they can use throughout their lives.
Dr. Cowan also recommends following several trusted voices on social media for respectful, evidence-informed health information:
Jessica Knurick
Your Local Epidemiologist
Those Nerdy Girls
Friendly Neighbor Epidemiologist
Plus, stick around for the Rapid Fire Round and the final Summit question: What is the next summit health literacy professionals need to climb?
1 Sept 2026
S7, E2: From Teacher to Leader: Building and Strengthening the Profession
In this episode of Scaling the Summit – Radio Gold, Sandra and Charity sit down with Dr. Christy Killman to talk about what it means to build a career that not only moves the profession forward, but also lifts others along the way.
With more than three decades of experience spanning K–12 physical education, higher education, professional leadership, mentoring, and service, Christy reflects on the experiences that shaped her journey and the people who helped influence her path. The conversation explores the importance of professional involvement, preparing future health and physical literacy professionals, mentoring the next generation of leaders, and staying committed to service throughout a career.
Christy also shares her perspective on what today’s emerging professionals need most, the responsibility experienced leaders have to create opportunities for others, and what she believes the profession must do next to continue moving forward.
It’s a conversation about leadership, service, mentorship, and the idea at the heart of Scaling the Summit: the climb matters even more when you help others climb with you.
Plus, Christy takes on the Radio Gold Rapid Fire Round and answers the show’s new final question: What is the next summit our profession needs to climb?
4 Aug 2026
S7, E1: Advocacy- Winning the Long Game
In this episode of Scaling the Summit—Radio Gold, hosts Charity Bryan and Sandra Sims welcome Dr. Amy Upton for a conversation about moving from passion to influence.
Dr. Upton shares insights from her experience as a counselor educator, former school counselor, researcher, organizational leader, and nationally recognized advocate. Together, they explore what effective advocacy really looks like, the habits of successful advocates, common mistakes professionals make, and why strong relationships with decision-makers matter.
The conversation also examines how health and physical literacy professionals can become stronger advocates without needing to be political experts, why professional associations such as NAHPL are important to collective impact, and what it means to stay committed to “winning the long game.”
To learn more about the National Academy, please visit our website: nahpl.org
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
8 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 30 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
35
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
60
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