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The Vitalyst Spark podcast explores what it means to create a healthy community in Arizona.
Episodes
Tuesday Feb 23, 2021
Tuesday Feb 23, 2021
In the three years since this podcast originally launched, we’ve talked consistently about the need for policy change, yet we’ve never produced an episode focused on an Arizona Legislative Session. But that all changes today.
In this, our 64th episode (cue the Beatles When I’m 64), we’ve got some policy champs on the line to talk about what’s going on related to health care, housing and food during this 2021 Legislative Session. The big question, of course, is “how does the pandemic shape what’s happening down there” – and we’re going to get right into that big time in this episode.
It’s time to talk about what’s going on with food systems, housing and health care at the 2021 Arizona Legislative Session, as of February 22, 2021.
Links:
Tuesday Feb 16, 2021
Tuesday Feb 16, 2021
This week we’ve got a brand-new panelist and we’re digging into what everybody wants to know about: what’s going on with vaccines?!? It’s clear that Arizona as a state is staking its future on two strategies for COVID. The first relies on individuals being asked to do the right things regarding mitigation. The second relies on vaccinations. We’ll talk about where the numbers are today and what they tell us about mitigation, and then we will shift to all aspects of vaccination, including systematic successes, operational shortcomings, and racial and income inequities – as well as the need for approval of more vaccines to address all of the above.
There’s a lot to learn about in this episode, so let’s get to it. It’s time to talk about the Arizona’s improving numbers, plus all things vaccination-related, as of February 15, 2021.
Tuesday Feb 09, 2021
Tuesday Feb 09, 2021
This week we’re zooming out from Arizona to gain a more global view of COVID-19. You’re about to meet a complexity science physicist, an epidemiologist at the heart of a successful national COVD strategy, and an independent health care analyst who bridges international and U.S. perspectives. You’ve heard a lot on this podcast about policies and systems for mitigation. Today, the topic shifts to the strategy of elimination: how other countries achieved it while the United States did not, along with thoughts as to why and what can be done next.
There’s a whole new perspective learn about in this episode, so let’s get to it. It’s time to talk about the international picture of the pandemic: what we’ve seen in the world, and what can be learned from different countries’ actions, as of February 8, 2021.
Links:
- endcoronavirus.org
- BMJ Article "Elimination Could Be the Optimal Response Strategy for COVID-19 and Other Emerging Pandemic Diseases," co-authored by Michael Baker
- Guardian Op-Ed "All Countries Should Pursue a COVID-19 Elimination Strategy: Here Are 16 Reasons Why," co-authored by Michael Baker
- Pre-Print: "A Proactive Approach to Fight SARS-CoV-2 in Germany and Europe"
Tuesday Feb 02, 2021
Tuesday Feb 02, 2021
So much is happening right now: (1) our healthcare heroes and hospital systems continue to be pushed to their limits, (2) at least one new and highly transmissible coronavirus strain is confirmed in Arizona, (3) the death toll climbs, and (4) the toll of social, health, and economic impacts increases too. On the other side of the equation the race to ramp up vaccine approvals, and get actual “shots in arms,” gains momentum. Today, we’ll work to get a handle as to where Arizona stands on each of these items.
One fact still stands out: Arizona continues to lead the nation in terms of weekly average new COVID cases. It was twelve months ago that our state confirmed its first COVID case. We have amassed a year of learning, and it still boils down to this: in order to slow the spread, you’ve got to stay home as much as you can, wash up and mask up when you can’t, and shrink your circle. It really, truly, is that simple. When we don’t do these things, cases rise and more people die. When we do, cases fall and we save lives. Do your part. Slow the spread. Be COVID smart.
It’s time to talk about our healthcare heroes, a COVID 2020 year in review, what’s up with new vaccine approvals, and what’s going on with the current vaccine rollout, as of February 1, 2021.
Links:
Wednesday Jan 27, 2021
Wednesday Jan 27, 2021
This week’s episode marks the start of a journey into the health, well-being and vibrancy of Arizona’s tribal communities. Tribes comprise 7% of this state’s population, and have governmental responsibilities across 25% of its land mass. Yet tribes are far too misunderstood, and far too little recognized for their wisdom and strengths.
Our three awesome guests took on a daunting task: providing an overview of Arizona’s tribes for the 113th Arizona Town Hall background report entitled Creating Vibrant Communities. The work they did was such a great contribution that space in the report was expanded to give more momentum to busting some myths, building knowledge, and opening up new possibilities.
So let’s get to it. It’s time to open up the discussion about Arizona’s tribal communities, starting with an introduction to the Arizona Town Hall Background Report chapter, its authors, the tribes’ COVID experiences, and much more, as of January 25, 2021.
Links:
Creating Vibrant Communities, the 113th Arizona Town Hall Background Report
Native Nations Institute (Joan Timeche)
Tuesday Jan 19, 2021
Tuesday Jan 19, 2021
COVID-19 continues to spread substantially in Arizona, leaving few corners of life untouched. You’ll hear quite a bit of discussion between our two guests about just why that is – and you will be hearing from two guests instead of three precisely because of COVID: long-time participant Dr. Nicholas Vasquez started our session at the table, but was drawn away five minutes into the recording by the urgency of another COVID fatality. In fact, as we release this episode, the U.S. will record its 400,000 death from COVID-19, and you’ll hear more perspective on that from Dr. Joshua LaBaer in a few minutes.
400,000 American deaths is a deeply troubling milestone, and urgent policy and change will be needed to slow the spread and stem the tide of hospitalizations and deaths. Please contribute to slowing down the spread: wash up, mask up, and shrink your circle. The more people we bump into, the more chance there is for COVID-19 to spread. It’s that simple. The capacity of our health care system to care for Arizonans is at stake. The well-being of our frontline health care workers is at stake. The lives of Arizonans are at stake. Do your part. Shrink your circle of contact. Be COVID-smart.
Alright, let’s get to it. It’s time to talk about where we’ve gone wrong; how we might want to think about the rules of the road going forward; the latest on operation warp speed and the warped rollout of vaccines; and when some sense of normality might return, as of January 18, 2021.
Tuesday Jan 12, 2021
Tuesday Jan 12, 2021
For episode two of 2021, we’re taking a look at the potential powder keg of pending evictions in Arizona. Even as the pandemic is putting an enormous strain on health care systems, its economic impacts are profound and equally difficult to fathom. According to the National Council of State Housing Agencies, upwards of 250,000 renters are currently in danger of eviction.
We’ve said it many times before. Housing IS health. So, how do we work to avoid yet another potential health crisis triggered by evictions? That is the half-a-billion dollar question. Landlord communications, rental assistance, utility assistance, and legal assistance are all parts of the equation. Help is on the way for landlords and renters. To make sure people are aware of what’s going on and what’s possible, we’ve got three great guests from the legal realm and a new website to talk about at azevictionhelp.org.
It’s time to talk about the pending wave of evictions and Arizona. Most importantly, it’s time to talk about resources to help stem that tide, as of January 11, 2021.
Links:
Tuesday Jan 05, 2021
Tuesday Jan 05, 2021
Welcome to 2021 and the first Vitalyst Spark podcast of this new year. We are starting up right where we left off - with our COVID-19 Roundtable. Here is what’s to come in this episode: first, a look at where we are now and reflection as to how Arizona got here; next, some analysis of what individuals and communities are thinking and doing; and thirdly, just what the heck is going on with the slow rollout of vaccinations. It’s a conversation filled with great insights, serious frustrations, and surprising revelations that you do not want to miss.
Before we get to the conversation, know that today brought more striking COVID news for Arizona. You’ll hear us talk about having the fifth-highest population-adjusted weekly average case rate. But just hours after recording, Arizona officially vaulted to number one in the U.S., per data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Community spread is currently orders of magnitude higher than anything experienced earlier this year. Hospitals and their staffs, as you’ll hear in more detail, are at or near breaking points. And the case rate trajectory indicates that system stresses will increase over the coming weeks.
Please contribute to slowing down the spread: wash up, mask up, and shrink your circle. The more people we bump into, the more chance there is for COVID-19 to spread. It’s that simple. The capacity of our health care system to care for Arizonans is at stake. The well-being of our frontline health care workers is at stake. The lives of so many Arizonans are at stake. Do your part. Shrink your circle of contact. Be COVID smart.
You won’t find any New Year’s resolutions in this episode, but you will find Arizona realities and revelations regarding COVID-19 as of January 4, 2021.
Tuesday Dec 22, 2020
Tuesday Dec 22, 2020
Welcome to the final Vitalyst Spark podcast of 2020. We are finishing this year with our 20th COVID-19 Roundtable just after Emergency Use Authorization for a second vaccine from Moderna. It also arrives among very long shadows cast by record high new daily and weekly case counts, record high hospitalizations, and unthinkable numbers of deaths. The U.S. is experiencing fatality rates that are equivalent to or greater than a daily 9/11. Some realities of how we are handling this pandemic have become maddeningly frustrating. Meanwhile, other realities have to be acknowledged as part of a learning curve. And still others – like getting two highly effective vaccines developed in less than a year – are to be celebrated. We’re going to touch on all three of those realities in today’s discussion.
What can you do this holiday season? Enjoy it. Safely. That means not only should you wash up, mask up, and keep a heads up for your fellow Arizonans out there. It also means that we’ve got to slow down the spread. And that means that we all need to shrink our circle. The more people we bump into, the more chance there is for COVID-19 to spread. It’s that simple, so please: be COVID smart. The capacity of our health care system to care for our fellow Arizonans is at stake. The well-being of our frontline health care workers is at stake. The lives of so many Arizonans are too. Do you part. Shrink your circle of contact. Be COVID smart.
Alright, let’s get to it. It’s time to talk about the numbers, health care capacity, front line worker burnout, contact tracing, state metrics for businesses and schools, vaccines, the powers of science, the media, and more… as of December 21, 2020.
Tuesday Dec 08, 2020
Tuesday Dec 08, 2020
Today’s COVID-19 Roundtable is a little schizophrenic. On the one hand, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel, in the form of pending emergency use authorizations and vaccine rollouts. On the other hand, you can expect somewhere between 36 and 70 Americans to die just in the time it takes for you to listen to this podcast episode at regular speed. In Arizona, case counts are at new highs, hospital capacities are being strained, and there is no sign that any of these numbers will soon peak or decrease. In fact, the sobering reality is that the opposite is true.
In the near term especially, we need to take extra special care of ourselves and our communities. As you’ll hear from our guests in this episode, we’ve got to do everything we can using what we now know. Three factors determine potential for infection: people, space, and time. More people = more risk, less space = more risk, and longer time = more risk. There is a big difference between a well-spaced walk in the park and a small, indoor bar that’s filled with people. Bars and restaurants have been shown to be more risky for COVID-19 by a significant factor. The CDC is urging us to limit travel and to limit the number of people at. Do your best Arizona. Wash up, mask up, and maintain physical distancing to help manage the risks of people, space, and time.
Alright, let’s get to it. It’s time to about the latest information on vaccines – but also what’s happening with community spread and health care systems as of December 7, 2020.