Wellness Wednesday: Recent Episodes
KYUK
Wellness Wednesday is a talk show about health and wellness throughout the Y-K Delta that features health care providers from Bethel, the Y-K Delta region and beyond. The program airs at 10:00 a.m. every Wednesday with hosts from YKHC, Tundra Women's Coalition, and more.
KYUK Wellness Producer Ryan Cotter speaks with Juneau-based poet Na Mee on how writing poetry can help maintain wellness.
Nicholai Joekay speaks with Dr. Ellen Hodges and Victoria Galanopoulos on the health risks associated with vaping, especially among youth, as well as resources to support those wanting to quit vaping.
Taylor Finley explains the different kinds of violence prevention strategies and shares information about the Tundra Women's Coalition's upcoming Teens Lead Ahead day camp program.
Annie Lang speaks with Scott Clifford on the history and importance of Men's Mental Health Month, as well as about how one can work to break down the stigma around and support the mental health of men in one's life.
KYUK Wellness Producer Ryan Cotter speaks with Recover Alaska's Sober Hero Kathleen Naneng on her sobriety journey and how one's story can inspire others to get the help they need.
Guest host Mary Horgan speaks with doctors Ellen Hodges and David Compton on the importance of doing available cancer screenings, as well as promising advancements in and increased access to cancer screening technology throughout the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.
Host Taylor Finley breaks down the principles of the harm reduction approach to support those living with substance misuse and how the Tundra Women's Coalition utilizes it to support those who seek its services.
In honor of National Water Safety Month, Annie Lang speaks with Will Wilson on the importance of practicing water safety and strategies people can utilize to keep themselves and their loved ones safe out on the water.
In honor of National Nurses Week, KYUK Wellness Producer Ryan Cotter speaks with nurses Deanna Pavil, Allison Samuelson, and Sharon Latham to highlight their professional journeys, the diverse career paths in nursing, and their most rewarding experiences on the job.
KYUK Wellness Producer Ryan Cotter speaks with YKHC's Heather McMillion and Christine Cutbirth on maintaining a healthy diet in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.
Nicholai Joekay speaks with Dr. Ellen Hodges and Brian Lefferts on the resurgence of measles in the United States, as well as the importance of getting vaccinated to protect oneself and one's community.
Annie Lang speaks with Anna Hanson on the benefits gardening offers to one's health and well-being, as well as how to get involved in Bethel's Community Garden this year.
Host Taylor Finley speaks with attorneys Kathy Hansen and Michael Shaffer from the Alaska Office of Victim's Rights on how their organization supports victims of crime.
Nicholai Joekay speaks with YKHC Director of Public Health Brian Lefferts to break down the important work and research that makes up public health.
Annie Lang speaks with Bethel City League player and girls basketball coach Genevieve Maczynski on the value basketball has brought to her life and the importance it has to her community, as well as the values she instills in her players.
Taylor Finely from the Tundra Women's Coalition speaks on Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, as well as the work the Teens Acting Against Violence program is doing to foster healthy relationships in the community.
Nicholai Joekay speaks with YKHC Director of Preventative Services Leanna Isaac about YKHC's Calricaraq program and how it offers preventative services through an Alaska Native cultural lens.
Stacey Reardon, Anne Kosacheff, and Annie Lang from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Fitness Center discuss the importance of having an active lifestyle and balanced diet to keeping your heart healthy.
KYUK Wellness Producer Ryan Cotter speaks with Dr. Ellen Hodges to break down what contraception is, how to determine which kind of contraception is the best for you, and how to mitigate the stigma surrounding sexual health.
Nicholai Joekay is joined by Dr. Ellen Hodges to discuss various kinds of sexually transmitted infections and their symptoms, as well as what preventative measures and treatments there are to deal with them.
Host Nicholai Joekay speaks with Pattie Smith and Joseph Okitkun on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation's community health aide program (CHAP)'s structure, career opportunities, and the support and recognition health aides receive through CHAP.
October is domestic violence awareness month. Taylor Feightner and Anna Iacobucci from the Tundra Women's Coalition discuss the history of domestic violence awareness month and how it has been celebrated across Alaska.
Annie Lang from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Fitness Center (YKFC) speaks with nurse practitioner Elizabeth Salem to discuss how one's body and health needs changes as one ages, how to maintain a healthy lifestyle to prolong well-being, and the benefits of getting older.
In honor of Health Literacy Month, Nicholai Joekay speaks with Lisa Wimmer, Pattie Smith, and Dr. Travis Nelson on how to navigate the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation's services in Bethel.
Annie Lang from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Fitness Center (YKFC) speaks with KYUK Wellness Producer Ryan Cotter on the interconnectedness of environmental and physical health.
Brittany Koech introduces herself and reintroduces the various support services the Tundra Women's Collective has to offer to the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.
YKHC's Nicholai Joekay and Gloria Benson discuss how one can support themselves and their loved ones in a suicidal crisis, Nicholai's recovery journey, and how one can celebrate National Recovery Month.
Dr. Lye Ching Wong and Esther Tobeluk Well chat with a Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation (YKHC) public information officer about vaccines.
Dr. Ellen Hodges and Brian Lefferts converse with YKHC Public Information Officer Nicholai Joekay to discuss tuberculosis in the Y-K Delta.
Wellness Producer Alex Salonga checks back in with researchers Jim Chaliak and Diane McEachern about suicide prevention in the Y-K Delta.
Nicholai Joekay chats with Registered Dietitian Heather McMillion and Exercise Physiologist Simon Cone about healthy hydrating.
Multimedia Producer MaryCait Dolan talks with Debbie Chulick and Kimberly Jung of the Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska.
Nicholai Joekay speaks about mental health in the Y-K Delta with YKHC Behavioral Health Administrator Adrienne Gregory.
Yvonne “Nonni” Aloralrea updates listeners on what's going on at Tundra Women's Coalition and shares resources for victims of sexual assault.
Brian Jackson from the YK Fitness Center gives sleep advice from the experts and his life.
YKHC Information Officer Nicholai Joekay talks with Naomi Digitaki, the Yukon-Kuskokwim Region’s AHEC director, about opportunities in health care.
YKHC Information Officer Nicholai Joekay has a chat with Kevin Krenek about men's health.
Stacey Reardon chats about the science of the heart with Anne Kosacheff and David Chakuchin.
YKHC Information Officer Nicholai Joekay has a conversation with Dr. Elizabeth Bates and Eliza Ellsworth about how to keep your heart healthy in the Y-K Delta.
Stacey Reardon interviews Mark Leary from Bethel Search and Rescue about his thoughts on ice as a living thing and ice safety.
Trisha Patton and Maksii Charles chat with YKHC Information officer Nicholai Joekay about an exciting career opportunity in dental health.
Interested in some help with your health? Wellness Producer Alexander Salonga interviews Nurse Consultant Jessica A. Downes about Fresh Start, an online program and media campaign to help Alaskans better their chronic health conditions.
YKHC Public Health Director Brian Lefferts and YKHC Chief of Staff Dr. Ellen Hodges talk with Nicholai Joekay about RSV and how to prevent contracting it.
For her last show as host, Elizabeth “Alagirl” Hebert reflects on the ways that Bethel's community honored and acknowledged Domestic Violence Awareness Month this past October.
Members of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Fitness Center and the Jesuit Volunteer Corps chat with Stacy Reardon about the impact of volunteering in their lives.
YKHC Information Officer Nicholai Joekay is joined by Lisa Wimmer, VP of Finance/CFO, and Deanna Latham, VP of Support Services, to discuss strategies for health-related travel.
Yukon-Kuskokwim Fitness Center members chat with Stacey Reardon about how volunteering has improved their lives.
Native Alaskans on the UAF BeWel Project discuss their work on culture-based suicide prevention research.
Dr. Elizabeth Bates and Brian Lefferts chat with YKHC Public Information Officer Nicholai Joekay about what to do this upcoming flu season.
Elizabeth "Alagirl" Andrew shares a variety of ways to practice self-care as summer comes to an end.
KYUK Wellness Producer Alexander Salonga is joined by Diane McEachern and Jim Chaliak to discuss three suicide prevention programs in the Y-K Delta with special guest Esther Green.
YKHC Chief of Staff Dr. Ellen Hodges joins YKHC Public Information Officer Nicholai Joekay to discuss preventative care visits.
Blaze Bell and Stevi Angasan, recipients of the 2022 and 2023 Recover Alaska Sober Heroes award respectively, speak about the importance of "recovering out loud" and serving as positive examples for Alaskans experiencing addiction.
After presenting some community announcements, Tundra Women's Coalition (TWC) Outreach Coordinator Elizabeth "Alagirl" Andrew reviews TWC 's mission statement and updates listeners on their programming.
In June, Andres Camacho and Tess Hostetter departed from McGrath to travel down the Kuskokwim River in a raft. Just under a month later, they landed in Bethel.
YKHC Public Information Officer Nicholai Joekay is joined by Elizabeth Tressler from YKHC's Diabetes Prevention and Control, and Debbie Michael from Bethel Community Services Foundation to discuss the prescription produce program.
This week Brian Jackson, operations and fitness supervisor at the Yukon-Kuskokwim Fitness Center, shares an overview of the basic components of nutrition and keeping a balanced diet.
Victoria Galanopoulos with the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation Tobacco Prevention and Coordination, Christy Knight with the Alaska Department of Health, and Jennifer Chikoyak with the American Lung Association discuss e-cigarette use among young Alaskans and the risks associated with it.
Dr. Ellen Hodges and Nicholai Joekay offer some helpful reminders for staying safe while enjoying summer on the Delta.
From working to address houselessness in Bethel to celebrating Pride, Tundra Women's Coalition's (TWC) Teens Acting Against Violence (TAAV) group empowers teens to get involved in the community. Elizabeth 'Alagirl' Andrew and Zoë Schultz recap the group's accomplishments of the past year.
June is Pride Month, and local teens are getting ready to celebrate. Tundra Women's Coalition's Teens Acting Against Violence (TAAV) speak about Pride in Bethel. This is followed by a discussion with Taylor Feightner, co-executive director of Choosing Our Roots, about the importance of safe spaces for queer youth.
Mary Horgan is joined by Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation Chief of Staff Dr. Ellen Hodges, pediatrician Dr. Lye-Ching Wong, and Director of Public Health Brian Lefferts to discuss the importance of keeping children up to date on their immunizations.
Elizabeth “Alagirl” Andrew, outreach coordinator at Tundra Women's Coalition (TWC), shares tips and strategies for taking care of our mental health.
Stacey Reardon, MaryCait Dolan, and Bev Hoffman discuss the best ways to stay safe around water and avoid drowning as the waters of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta begin to thaw for the spring and summer.
For Mental Health Awareness Month, Mary Horgan is joined by James Chaliak, Director of Preventative Health Services at the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Consortium's (YKHC) Behavioral Health Department, to discuss how the guiding principles of YKHC's Calricaraq program promote mental wellbeing.
For Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Elizabeth 'Alagirl' Andrew and Nonni Aloralrea from Tundra Women's Coalition (TWC) speak about TWC's Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) and other TWC programs designed to support survivors of sexual assault within the community.
Katie Baldwin Johnson and Janie Ferguson of the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority discuss the future of care for those experiencing a behavioral health crisis in the state of Alaska.
This month on Excellent Health, Mary Horgan is joined by fellow YKHC employees Chief of Staff Dr. Ellen Hodges, WIC Coordinator Henry Batchelor, and Family Nurse Practitioner Kristina Morris to discuss the ways in which the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program can help support good nutrition during pregnancy and the early stages of childhood.
This month on Peacetalk, Elizabeth "Alagirl" Andrew recaps the Tundra Women's Coalition (TWC) annual meeting, which took place earlier this month.
Celebrated each year on March 24, World TB Day commemorates the day in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch discovered the bacterium that causes tuberculosis. This year, the Stop TB Partnership's theme for World TB Day is "Yes! We can end TB."
For National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Mary Horgan and Dr. Ellen Hodges of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation discuss the risk factors and testing options for colorectal cancer.
Tundra Women's Coalition (TWC)'s Elizabeth "Alagirl" Andrew discusses the recent Bethel Annual Point In Time count and Project Homeless Connect events with Nakissha Bialy. She also provides important warning signs of teen dating violence in honor of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.
In honor of American Heart Month, Stacey Reardon and Anne Kosacheff discuss habits to implement in your lifestyle to promote a healthier heart.
Mary Horgan of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation (YKHC) is joined by YKHC Chief of Staff Dr. Ellen Hodges and Director of Public Health Brian Lefferts to discuss the flu, COVID-19, and RSV.
Tundra Women's Coalition (TWC)'s Elizabeth "Alagirl" Andrew and Eileen Arnold discuss the power of change and of accepting help when available, even in the face of hardship.
The Yukon-Kuskokwim Fitness Center’s Stacey Reardon is joined by Anne Kosacheff to discuss creating healthy habits and setting realistic goals for your health in the new year.
Tiffany Hall and Marlene Adams of Recover Alaska speak about the importance of building communities that are equipped to support those in recovery.
TWC's Eileen Arnold and Zoë Schultz discuss strategies of nonviolent communication as a tool for enhancing healthy relationships.
Venus Woods and Robin Lutz of the Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association joined us to discuss HIV prevention. They also talked about the realities and misconceptions of the virus following World AIDS Day on Dec. 1.
This week on Peacetalk, Eileen Arnold, Elizabeth Andrew, Maya Morris, and Rebecca Samuelson discuss the children and teen programs offered at Tundra Women’s Coalition (TWC). They also talk about different resources available to the youth in the region.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. To raise awareness, TWC's Eileen Arnold and Nakissha Bialy discuss the topic as well as resources the community can access if experiencing or witnessing domestic violence.
Eileen Arnold is joined by TWC employees and former Teen Acting Against Violence members Clementine Prince, Kirsten Nick, Maya Morris, and David Attie to recap and reflect on their recent Outward Bound trip to the east coast.
Taylor Freightner, Nakissha Bialy and Jaela Milford join Eileen Arnold to discuss homelessness services in Bethel.
Dr. Ellen Hodges and Brian Lefferts discuss the vaccine rollout for children ages 6 months to 4 years old, and talk about new COVID-19 treatments available to Y-K Delta residents.
Teens Acting Against Violence members discuss validating queer identities, and the challenges that members of the LGBTQ+ community face in our communities.
Eileen Arnold and legal advocate Yvonne "Nonni" Aloralrea discuss TWC's organization's legal advocacy program and how it promotes justice, safety, and empowerment for victims.
Dr. Ellen Hodges and Brian Lefferts discuss the BA-2 variant, and the benefits of vaccination for pregnant women.
Eileen Arnold and Maya Morris discuss child advocacy, and ways to help children navigate stress.
A conversation on plastic waste and what we can do to clean up our rivers, oceans, and tundra.
YKHC's Dr. Ellen Hodges and Public Health Director Brian Lefferts discuss what's changed, what we've learned about the virus, and the state of the COVID-19 pandemic today.
TWC’s Eileen Arnold, Krystal Henry, Yvonne “Nonni” Aloralrea, and pediatrician Dr. Jenn Prince discuss sexual assault of children and adults. They also talk about care for victims, and reporting assaults ahead of Sexual Assault Awareness and Action month and Child Abuse Awareness and Action Month.
Join YKHC's Diabetes Prevention and Control intern Edna to play myth or fact and learn about healthy living, free from dieting myths.
YKHC's Dr. Ellen Hodges and Brian Lefferts catch us up on the region's new community transmission risk guidance, new COVID-19 variants, and what we can do to stop the spread.
Follow the history of mushing in Alaska and how a group of volunteers went from organizing a one-time race to an event that has become synonymous with the state of Alaska.
YKHC's Dr. Ellen Hodges and Brian Lefferts tackle some of the questions they've been asked since our last check-in. We cover current cases, hospitalizations, and common myths about masking.
Brian Lefferts and Dr. Elizabeth Bates remind listeners of why it's important to wear a mask, and give updates on hospitalizations in the region.
On this COVID-19 call-in show with YKHC, Brian Lefferts and Mary Horgan discuss best practices for masking, testing, and isolating amid the omicron variant outbreak.
YKHC’s Dr. Ellen Hodges and Brian Lefferts discuss the importance of getting boosted, what we can expect from the omicron wave, and YKHC’s testing and isolation guidelines.
On this week's COVID-19 call-in show with YKHC, Dr. Ellen Hodges and Brian Lefferts look back at the pandemic's impact in the region over the past year. They also discuss the importance of vaccines and testing, as well as the omicron variant.
YKHC Diabetes Prevention and Control outreach specialist Emory Johnson catches up with members of the YKHC diabetes department.
YKHC Diabetes Prevention and Control outreach specialist Emory Johnson discusses methods to diagnose and prevent diabetes. She also talks about Diabetes Awareness Month and the Great American Smokeout.
Dr. Elizabeth Bates and Brian Lefferts catch us up on all things COVID-19 in the region.
Community health professionals and leaders discuss resources for alcohol addiction recovery.
Annie Mae Lee and Maya Morris discuss manipulation in relationships, and how it can be a sign of domestic violence.
YKHC's Diabetes Prevention and Control Specialist Emory Johnson is joined by pharmacist and Diabetes P&C coordinator Beth Tressler. To celebrate American Pharmacists' month, they discuss the importance of pharmacists in handling diabetes and other illnesses.
YKHC's Dr. Liz Bates and Brian Lefferts, the director of YKHC's Office of Environmental Health and Engineering, discuss COVID-19 cases in the region, the importance of vaccinations, and what you can do to protect yourself and your community.
This month, YKHC Diabetes Prevention and Control Counselor Emory Johnson is flying solo. She discusses nutrition and the benefits of subsistence foods over processed foods as we enter moose season.
In this episode, YKHC Chief of Staff Dr. Ellen Hodges and Public Health Director Brian Lefferts hear from a caller, Tim from Bethel, who experienced a breakthrough COVID-19 infection. Tim told us about how his vaccine protected him from serious illness. Lefferts and Hodges also discussed rising COVID-19 cases and the importance of getting vaccinated.
YKHC Chief of Staff Dr. Ellen Hodges and YKHC Public Health Director Brian Lefferts joined us on Wednesday, Sept. 1 to discuss the current COVID-19 trends: increasing hospitalizations, rising case counts, and regional vaccination rates.
Diabetes Prevention and Control Outreach Specialist Emory Johnson and Exercise Physiologist Miles Rice from the YKHC Diabetes Prevention and Control Department join us this week to talk about stressors and how they affect our bodies. They also explain changes to the Zombie Run, and how you can get involved.
YKHC Chief of Staff Dr. Ellen Hodges and YKHC Director of the Office of Environmental Health and Engineering Brian Lefferts join us for Wellness Wednesday. In this episode we discuss schools reopening, the changing nature of what it means to be a close contact, and immunocompromised individuals.
This week, Bethel Family Clinic (BFC) behavioral health team members Jen Peeks, Blaine LaChance, and Paula Jones join us to discuss mental health resources and all things self-care.