04/12/2026

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S05_E13 - Too Important to Lose

With Special Guests: Susie Emmert and Jessica Oaxaca

What if one of Minnesota's most essential healthcare lifelines wasn't there when you needed it? We're talking about a Level I Trauma Center for both Adults & Pediatrics, the state's busiest emergency department, and a critical safety-net hospital for the most vulnerable in our state. Most of us may know of Hennepin Healthcare for its emergency care, but there's a lot more to it. It plays a much broader role in our state's healthcare system, and it's safe to say we'd all be at a massive loss without it. But what happens when an indispensable system like this faces a real financial cliff?

On Episode 13, we'll take a closer look at Hennepin Healthcare/HCMC and the current financial challenges it's up against. We'll sit down with Susie Emmert and Jessica Oaxaca, two of Hennepin Healthcare's advocacy and public policy leaders, to discuss what is putting the system under pressure, why it matters far beyond Minneapolis, and why the stakes are so high this time around. We'll even share how you can help ensure that this state institution staple remains here for many generations to come (or you can click on the links below). After all, it's way too important a place to lose. Please join us!

For more: hennepinhealthcare.org/howfar

Help by contacting your state representatives.

View the current legislation that is being considered: SF 4986 / HF 4841

Got healthcare questions or ideas for future shows?
Email - healthymatters@hcmed.org
Call - 612-873-TALK (8255)

Get a preview of upcoming shows on social media and find out more about our show at www.healthymatters.org.

03/29/2026

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S05_E12 - Hyperbaric Medicine - What the Heck is That?

With Special Guest: Dr. Thomas Masters

Pressure makes a diamond, and as it turns out, higher atmospheric pressure can help our bodies heal, too! Welcome to the world of hyperbaric medicine, where patients climb into a chamber, breathe pure oxygen at higher-than-normal atmospheric pressure, and let their bodies do something remarkable — heal faster than they ever could at sea level. It sounds like science fiction, but it's been around since the 1600s, and today it's FDA-approved for everything from stubborn wounds, to carbon monoxide poisoning, to radiation injuries. But how does it work? Is it safe? And what's it like inside that chamber?!

On Episode 12, we'll sit down with emergency medicine physician Dr. Thomas Masters, who will walk us through the basics of hyperbaric medicine, how it works, the conditions it treats, and of course, what it's like to spend time inside the chamber (bring a book...). This is a great chance to learn about a fascinating part of medicine, that most people have never even heard of, from an expert in the field. Join us!

Got healthcare questions or ideas for future shows?
Email - healthymatters@hcmed.org
Call - 612-873-TALK (8255)

Get a preview of upcoming shows on social media and find out more about our show at www.healthymatters.org.

03/15/2026

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S05_E11 - The SKinny on GLP-1s...

With Special Guest: Dr. Maureen Martin, PharmD, MPH

You really can't escape the marketing tactics of GLP-1s these days - because they're everywhere... But beyond the odd names there's a lot to know about them, and we're still learning about all the things they can do! Although they were originally meant to treat type 2 diabetes, these drugs have emerged as one of the most significant medical breakthroughs of the past decade. But is it all roses? Who should take these drugs and for how long? What happens when you stop taking them? And who comes up with these names, anyway?

One Episode 11 we'll be joined by Dr. Maureen Martin (PharmD, MPH) to get to the bottom of the most pressing questions around these metabolic "miracles". We'll talk about how they work, their current and emerging uses, the proper ways they should be prescribed and administered, the potential pitfalls and why there's so damned expensive (at least in the U.S.). Join us!

Got healthcare questions or ideas for future shows?
Email - healthymatters@hcmed.org
Call - 612-873-TALK (8255)

Get a preview of upcoming shows on social media and find out more about our show at www.healthymatters.org.

03/01/2026

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S05_E10 - Stress! It's Not Just in Your Head...

With Special Guest: Dr. Mitch Radin, PsyD, LP

Stress isn't just a feeling - it's a full-body event that can put the brain and body in motion, and at the right time, that's a good thing! But chronic stress can wreak all kinds of havoc on our bodies and chip away at our sleep, immunity, digestion and even our memory. But how does the brain-body connection actually work? Why is there such variability in how each of us reacts to stress? And what can we do to keep our cool when the going gets tough?

On Episode 10, we'll sit down with Dr. Mitch Radin (PsyD, LP) to break down the science of the flight-or-flight response and get to the bottom of how outside stress can have an impact inside our body. We'll explore the dialogue between the brain and body, the real effects chronic stress can have on us, and action anyone can take to build resilience and reclaim calm. Join us!

Got healthcare questions or ideas for future shows?
Email - healthymatters@hcmed.org
Call - 612-873-TALK (8255)

Get a preview of upcoming shows on social media and find out more about our show at www.healthymatters.org.

2/15/2026

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S05_E09 - Healthcare on Wheels! We're Talkin' Mobile Health

With Special Guest: Sheyanga Beecher, CNP, MSN, HMP

There are many barriers to healthcare within our communities, and for a lot of people, access itself remains the greatest challenge. Finding the time or reliable transportation to reach a clinic or hospital can prevent patients from receiving essential treatments, often allowing simpler issues to grow into far more serious conditions. Thankfully, mobile healthcare is reshaping the way care reaches patients - meeting people where they are and changing healthcare outcomes for the better, for all of us. But what do these programs actually entail? What services do they offer? And what does it take to deliver quality care on the move?

On Episode 9 of our show, we'll be joined by Sheyanga Beecher (CNP, MSN, MPH), the Director of Hennepin Healthcare's mobile health program. We'll go over the origins of mobile health, the real-world impact it's having on our communities, and why these programs extend far beyond the people they directly serve. It's an inspired conversation on an essential piece of the healthcare puzzle. We hope you'll join us!

Got healthcare questions or ideas for future shows?
Email - healthymatters@hcmed.org
Call - 612-873-TALK (8255)

Get a preview of upcoming shows on social media and find out more about our show at www.healthymatters.org.

2/01/2026

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S05_E08 - Where Are We with HIV in 2026?

With Special Guests: Dr. Amanda Noska, MD

HIV in 2026 looks much different than it did when it first hit mainstream media in the early 1980s. At the outset, there was an abundance of fear, very little understanding, and even less hope for those afflicted. But over the last few decades, we've seen a series of major scientific breakthroughs that have changed our understanding and patient outcomes almost entirely. But there's still plenty of work to do!

On Episode 8, we'll have an in-depth conversation with infectious disease expert Dr. Amanda Noska (MD, MPH) to catch us up on the current state of both HIV and AIDS. We'll cover the basics of these conditions, the progress that's been made, the current challenges we face, and what the road ahead looks like for our local and global communities. This storyline is definitely one of hope and a great example of scientific progress in medicine. We hope you'll join us!

Got healthcare questions or ideas for future shows?
Email - healthymatters@hcmed.org
Call - 612-873-TALK (8255)

Get a preview of upcoming shows on social media and find out more about our show at www.healthymatters.org.

1/18/2026

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S05_E07 - Getting Ahead on Brain Health

With Special Guests: Dr. Behnam Sabayan and Patty Takawira

It's not uncommon that our functioning brains get taken for granted, right up until the point that things go awry. But the truth is there's a spectrum to brain health and there are actually things we can do to help keep our brains healthy throughout our lives - beyond wearing a bike helmet (though that's important, too!).

Brain health is an ever-changing science, and up until the last decade, we didn't really have much of an understanding around preventive care. But that's changing quickly! To get us up to speed on things, we'll be joined by Preventive Neurologist Dr. Behnam Sabayan (MD, PhD) and Patty Takawira (MPH) from the Minnesota Department of Health. We'll go over the warning signs, preventative strategies, current understandings and the best ways to get the jump on keeping our brains healthy.

Early detection is key, and it's never too late to help your own cause. But it all comes down to awareness and knowledge, so come get wise with us!

Brain Health Awareness Day is January 22nd!

Find out more here!

Got healthcare questions or ideas for future shows?
Email - healthymatters@hcmed.org
Call - 612-873-TALK (8255)

Get a preview of upcoming shows on social media and find out more about our show at www.healthymatters.org.

12/21/25

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S05_E06 - From Low-T to ED, We’re Talking Men’s Sexual Health

With Special Guest: Dr. Travis Pagliara

Some of the most common health concerns for men are also the hardest to talk about. Erectile dysfunction, testosterone changes, and urinary leakage can quietly affect confidence, relationships, and quality of life--yet many people assume they're just part of aging or something to ignore. Truth is, these are medical issues, and understanding them can make a significant difference. Today, we're discussing it openly on the latest episode of the podcast.

If you’ve been quietly wondering, “Is this just part of getting older?”—you’re not alone. Men’s sexual and urinary health issues are common, treatable, and nothing to be embarrassed about. On Episode 6 of our show, Dr. Hilden sits down with urologist Dr. Travis Pagliara for a candid, stigma-free conversation about men's sexual and urinary health. We'll cover what is normal, what's not, how common these issues are, how common they are, who they affect, and the wide range of treatment options available. Plus, when is the right time to talk to a doctor, and why early conversations matter.

This is no doubt a sensitive subject for some, but an amazing thing about our show is that you can get wise with us, without making anyone else the wiser. We've got a great expert guest today, so we hope you'll join us!

Got healthcare questions or ideas for future shows?
Email - healthymatters@hcmed.org
Call - 612-873-TALK (8255)

Get a preview of upcoming shows on social media and find out more about our show at www.healthymatters.org.