CPH 14 — Community, Courage, and Collective Power: A Conversation with the Honorable Attica Scott
Release Date: 07/22/2025
Courageous Public Health
In this episode, Dr. Zupenda Davis shares what it looks like to choose yourself — in your work, your relationships, and your health. From setting boundaries that protect her peace to speaking openly about women’s health and menopause, Dr. Davis brings a vision of public health that centers the whole person. This is a conversation about courage, freedom, and what becomes possible when women stop shrinking and start naming what they need. Meet Dr. Zupenda Davis Dr. Zupenda Davis is the Assistant Vice President of Student Health and Wellness at Stockton University, where she has strategic...
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In this episode of the Courageous Public Health Podcast, Indya Hairston—Johns Hopkins DrPH student, founder of Community Speaks Consulting, and advocate for Black women’s reproductive and maternal health—shares how courage defined her pivotal year of 2023. She talks about moving across the country for a fresh start, applying to only one doctoral program because it aligned with her purpose, quitting a stable nonprofit job to launch her consulting firm without guaranteed income, and choosing faith over fear at every step. Indya reflects on taking up space as a Black woman in environments...
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In this episode of the Courageous Public Health Podcast, Dr. Krista Mincey—public health professor, researcher on Black men’s health, and daughter and granddaughter of first-generation college students and rural Southern farmers—shares how courage has shaped both her life and her work. She talks about picking up and moving across states alone to say yes to opportunities that scared her, walking away from relationships that didn’t honor her worth even when it meant letting go of deeply held dreams, and learning when to stay quiet to survive a system and when to use her voice to protect...
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In this episode of the Courageous Public Health Podcast, Ashley Carter, MS, RD, LDN—registered dietitian, co-founder of Eat Well Exchange, and unapologetic foodie—shares how courage has shaped her path from youngest child to first in her family to leave home for college, and from secure government job to full-time nonprofit founder. She talks about building Eat Well Exchange to teach communities how to eat healthy with cultural foods that feel like home, and what it took to trust herself enough to “let the boats get close” and finally make the leap. Ashley also reflects on what it...
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In this episode of the Courageous Public Health Podcast, Dr. Sandte Stanley—public health scientist, sociologist, and founder of Atlas Collaborative Consulting Network—shares how courage has guided every step of her journey. She talks about discovering public health through an ACES internship, navigating personal loss during graduate school, and later earning a PhD in sociology so she could ask the structural questions that public health can sometimes overlook. She also reflects on how her identity as a Black and Native woman shapes her experience in professional spaces—where her...
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In this episode, Dr. Maram Museitif shares what it means to be a first-generation college graduate, a Palestinian American public health doctor, and the “empathy princess” in systems that weren’t built for her. She talks about fighting for the chance to go to college, becoming the first doctor in her family, and then watching her sister, niece, and cousins follow—turning one act of courage into generational change. She also speaks honestly about being a visibly Palestinian, hijab-wearing woman in predominantly white spaces—about being misjudged before she even speaks, even being...
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In this insightful and resonant conversation, Dr. Bertha Hidalgo—epidemiologist, associate dean, president-elect of the American College of Epidemiology, and multi-hyphenate creative—shares what it means to “do it scared.” She talks about building a fashion and lifestyle platform while hiding her identity, navigating academic spaces as a Latina scientist, and learning to step into courage even when her voice shakes. Dr. Hidalgo reflects on becoming a trusted public health communicator during COVID-19, bridging the gap between evidence and community, and redefining what it means...
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In this raw and deeply honest conversation, Keylynne Matos-Cunningham, MPH, M Ed, LPC-A—licensed trauma therapist, former public health professional, and dance-loving entrepreneur—shares how walking away from a “dream” racial justice/public health role became an act of survival. She traces her path from burnout, workplace trauma, and suicidal ideation to rebuilding her life as a trauma therapist, integrating EMDR and brainspotting, and reclaiming her lived experience as a clinical superpower. Along the way, she offers a sharp public health lens on racism, complex trauma,...
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info_outlineIn this bold and heartfelt conversation, my guest shares how courage, community, and disruption have defined her life’s work. From standing on the frontlines of the movement for justice for Breonna Taylor alongside her teenage daughter, to breaking barriers as the first Black woman elected to Kentucky’s state legislature in nearly two decades, she reflects on what it means to act despite fear and to lead with integrity, purpose, and joy. With honesty and vulnerability, she shares how saying no can be a powerful act of courage, and how envisioning joy can be a radical practice in the face of adversity.
Meet the Honorable Attica Scott
The Honorable Attica Scott is a mom of two, a former Kentucky State Representative, a policy strategist, and a community educator. Known for her grassroots approach to politics, she helps everyday people understand how government works and why it matters. Her work empowers women and marginalized communities across the South to take a stand, participate in democracy, and challenge prevailing political myths. She’s especially passionate about reproductive justice, equity, and public education.
Listen To This Episode of The Courageous Public Health Podcast
Conversation Highlights
- Frontline Courage — The Honorable Attica Scott shares what it meant to protest for justice for Breonna Taylor while ensuring care, safety, and mutual aid for the community in the midst of a pandemic.
- Breaking Barriers in Politics — She reflects on being the first Black woman in Kentucky’s state legislature in nearly 20 years, and how community support fueled her courage to stand in spaces where she wasn’t always welcomed.
- Divine Disruption — Attica unpacks what it means to be a divine disruptor — showing up, speaking out, and raising children to see justice as part of who they are.
- The Power of No — She explains how learning to say no without apology is a courageous act that challenges the expectations placed on women.
- A Vision for Joy and Justice — Attica shares her vision for a future where joy, civic engagement, and collective action shape stronger, more equitable communities.
“Every victory along the way matters. Every win counts.” — The Honorable Attica Scott
Stay In Touch:
The Honorable Attica Scott on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/attica-scott-ms-2b970b269/
The Honorable Attica Scott on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AtticaScottKY/
The Honorable Attica Scott on Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/atticascottky/
The Honorable Attica Scott on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@atticascottky
The Honorable Attica Scott on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@atticascottky
Dr. Kristi McClamroch on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/
www.CourageousPublicHealth.com
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