About the podcast:

Respecting Health looks at the values of society and how they relate to the health of people, institutions, and the environment. Societal values have a direct impact on what we prioritize. Respecting Health examines how societies reject, accept, or amplify the resulting health inequities. 

By acknowledging and modifying the underlying causal values, adopting approaches that work, and making a commitment to change, we can improve the state of human health around the world.

I have been involved in health issues for many years, most frequently through the lens of health information technology. Along the way I observed that despite the promise of technology, it was at best another tool available to those who care about improving human health. Every community, whether framed as a locality, a culture,  or a nation, faces a different set of challenges. Each has different objectives, capabilities, and starting points. Each is at a different point in the journey.

That may sound complex, and it is! But it is also an opportunity to learn from each other. What works? What doesn’t? There is a world of options, and a wide range of outcomes to discuss. Through this podcast I hope to examine the underlying values that drive those options, and the resulting pathways to health.

As we forage along these pathways we develop an appreciation for our environment, social structures, technologies, economies, policies, and arts. Add a dash of psychology, anthropology, history, and the future, and I think we’ve got the recipe for some fantastic conversations.

Now, a bit about me:

I am interested in many things. I have worked in broadcasting, publishing, technology, and healthcare. I often describe myself as a “disappointed optimist.” I always think we can do better as individuals, societies, and as a species. The key is respecting each other and the incredible variety of perspectives worth considering. 

I believe that if we respect each other and our surroundings, and if our health and happiness are priorities, we will do things that align with those goals. We will ensure that all of our actions consider, or respect, the potential health impact, and act accordingly. If we respect each other, and the goal of health, the social contract we create will include the right of just and equitable access to care, and environments in which people can thrive.

Young people have something to say about all of this, and will have an opportunity to share their views through this podcast. We’ve heard it a million times: “young people are the future.” Why yes, they are. And they have a right to expect a world in which they too can have access to environments that nurture the best in everyone.

Educationally, my undergraduate degree is in English Literature. Back when I got that degree, the common assumption was that it would lead to an academic teaching career. I always thought of it as honing skills that improve my ability to question, discern, and learn just about anything I cared to. But that degree program came with a lot of flexibility: I didn’t just study poets and philosophers. I also studied meteorology, photography, geology, computer architecture, astronomy, and more. Later, once working in healthcare, and then much later in my adulthood, I added a Master of Arts in bioethics and health policy. Still later, I went for one more, this time a Master of Science in information and communications technology and security. I also for a few years held a Certified Foresight Practitioner designation, but I’ve let that expire. I still look at everything through the lens of foresight and futurism, so you’ll see that here in my postings. All of these come together here, and I hope to look at the world of health with the belief in human adaptability and a drive for better futures.

Also, watch for photographs I’ve taken that settle my soul, and bring me joy. I hope they do the same for you!

I don’t know everything. But I hope to bring some really interesting people and ideas to you through this project. Everything connects to our health, from the planet’s perspective down to our work environments.

Welcome, and thank you for joining me on this journey! – Rod Piechowski