By Staff
What inspired you to host a podcast in such a competitive industry
AALF, a non-profit, that I was the Board Chair of at the time, asked me to cover for a radio show host in MN on KMOJ 89.9 FM in 2015 about the African American Community. They asked because of my involvement and leadership in the Twin Cities Community. My show was very well received, and I was asked six months later to be the permanent host of the live weekly radio show, Black Leadership Redefined. I’ve been hosting the show ever since. I have approximately eleven thousand listeners per month, and due to popular demand, the show is now published as a podcast so people can listen on demand and share. This was just before the pandemic and hence very timely as all of the radio shows transitioned to virtual. And I relocated to Atlanta in 2019, where I record my shows virtually.
In Jan 2022, I took full ownership of the weekly radio show and podcast, rebranded, and funded the weekly production of the show – The more we know community show with Dr. Sylvia, conversations cultivating change.
Tell us about your podcast.
Purpose: Help listeners from minoritized communities make informed choices that inspire quality-of-life improvements for themselves, their families, and their communities.
Need: Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) are responsible for health inequities;
the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age (e.g., physical environment, housing, health behaviors & education), are factors that influence SDoH. Minorities and low-income communities are often disproportionately affected by these conditions outside their control. Our communities need information, resources, and support to help make informed decisions to improve the quality of our lives.
Opportunity: Build on the success of the radio show and podcast to:
- Inform & inspire change: interview change makers, primarily African Americans, who are breaking barriers, share resources, stories, strategies, programs, and connections to inspire communities to improve their quality of life and the lives of others
Description: Advancing racial equity takes courage, patience, and an uncompromising spirit. This is a reality, a burden minoritized communities face daily and have worked hard to bridge through advocacy, protest, education, and agency. Join Dr. Sylvia (published author and neuroscientist) on her show The more We know community show, conversations cultivating Change as she interviews and converses with insightful change makers who are leveling the playing field by breaking barriers and inspiring quality-of-life improvements for minoritized communities. Each episode contains insightful strategies, resources, and lessons everyone can use to drive equitable outcomes for all.
What has been the most memorable interview?
I’ve produced and hosted over 140 podcasts with phenomenal guests/leaders in the black community. So, it’s hard to pick one memorable interview. A few that come to mind are my interviews with community leaders who took their horrific pain and turned it into something good that helped the community significantly, my interview with Stokely, corporate leaders and community leaders like Minneapolis Chief of Police, Mayor Melvin Carter, Rep Illan Omar and AG Keith Ellison. And my interview With Nekima Levy Armstrong on Justice for George Floyd.
What have you found to be the most challenging aspect of producing the podcast?
Over the last seven years, I had found guests for my show, which wasn’t an issue when I lived in MN as they were local guests. And people requested to be guests, regularly. However, now I want to expand my guests to include national and international guests, as well as celebrities who are making a difference in the black community. This is my challenge and where I need help.
What does success look like for you?
- The show reaches a large population of minoritized communities that can benefit from education and resources provided via the show that helps build healthier and safer communities.
- A powerful series focused on health equity that is very informative and helps the black community advocate and make informed choices about our health.
- High-profile African American guests who are change-makers, making a positive, impactful difference in the black community on a large scale, e.g., entertainers, sports icons, medical professionals, academics, politicians, philanthropists, writers, etc.
- 20,000 monthly podcast downloads
- National recognition for my podcast content and resources to the black community.
In five years, what can we expect from you?
- Have built a podcast team with resources to produce and sustain high-profile informative community podcasts, that is relevant for the black community, remaining true to the purpose described above.
- Nationally recognized thought leader in global public health, health equity, and podcast host.
- A decent positive, SM following.
About Dr. Sylvia Bartley
My work is guided by a greater spiritual purpose, one rooted in mindfulness and intentionality.
I am a healthcare executive widely recognized as an advocate, and champion of social change, dedicated to eliminating health, education, and economic, disparities. I have a unique foundation of scientific research in neurophysiology and over twenty years of experience in the medical device industry with roles in sales, marketing, physician education, philanthropy, and health equity.
My commitment to reducing healthcare disparities extends with my civic engagement, providing minoritized communities with information and resources to help them make informed choices about critical conditions linked with social determinants of health.
On a personal level, for most of my life, I lived with undiagnosed depression until my eventual diagnosis in 2017. Upon this revelation, I began a conscious journey of acceptance. I took my first steps along the road of healing and adopting a holistic and scientific personalized approach to achieving and maintaining emotional health to live my best life.
I earned my Ph.D. in Neurophysiology from St. Barts and The Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry, and I hold a bachelor’s degree in Applied Biology from the University of London.
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