Communications Breakdown: What Works (and Doesn't) in Health and Science Communication

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CIRTC

10 episodes

1 week ago

Send us a text We hit our 10th episode by tackling two big tensions in health communication: AI’s fingerprints on our writing and images, and the real work of turning data into stories that lead to decisions. We end with a thoughtful look at trauma‑informed storytelling and a few fun extras for our listeners. • em dashes and other AI tells • what storytelling means beyond personal anecdotes • how to turn data into decisions with “so what” • a lightning talk example that finds the real messag...

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Episodes (10/10)

Communications Breakdown: What Works (and Doesn't) in Health and Science Communication

Storytelling: Turning Data into Decisions

1 month ago

30 minutes

Communications Breakdown: What Works (and Doesn't) in Health and Science Communication

Building Smarter Public Health Campaigns

Send us a text Building a public health campaign shouldn’t start with what we want to say—it should start with who needs to hear it and what decisions they’re making in the moment. In this episode, we break down some of the things we think about when we create or participate in national campaigns, from pinning down primary and secondary audiences to finding the messengers they trust. We also get into why you shouldn't just use the photos you find on Google, and we close with a tip on designin...

1 month ago

39 minutes

Communications Breakdown: What Works (and Doesn't) in Health and Science Communication

Attention First, Understanding Next: Overcoming the Illusion of Communication

Send us a text "The great enemy of communication...is the illusion of it." In this episode, we pull apart why your message might not be landing with your intended audience—or reaching them at all. From System 1 vs System 2 to creative risk, trade‑offs, and trusted messengers, we cover: • getting your audience's attention in a crowded media climate • from the Health Podcast Summit: three reasons messages fail • health literacy beyond reading level: access, design, incl...

2 months ago

32 minutes

Communications Breakdown: What Works (and Doesn't) in Health and Science Communication

Soft Skills, Real Impact: Practical Wins for Health Comm

Send us a text In this episode, we highlight practical communication strategies that professionals can apply right away to extend their reach and impact. We start with insights from our CIRTC YouTube channel, where viewer trends reveal which skills are in highest demand. From there, we discuss why virtual conferences offer unique advantages that often go overlooked. We also spotlight compelling examples of health communication in action, from an Instagram post that makes you stop and think to...

3 months ago

31 minutes

Communications Breakdown: What Works (and Doesn't) in Health and Science Communication

Finding Your Voice: Navigating Social Media, Creative Choices, and Using AI to Create Music

Send us a text Tracy and Katrina reflect on the podcast launch and explore the rapidly evolving social media landscape for scientists and researchers, plus share insights from experimenting with AI-generated music. Chapters: Podcast Launch ReflectionsSocial Media Evolution Post-TwitterPlatform Selection StrategyMusic Selection with AI ToolsHuman Creativity vs AI GenerationClosing Thoughts and EncouragementResource from this podcast: Prompts and Keywords for AI Music Generation Article referen...

3 months ago

29 minutes

Communications Breakdown: What Works (and Doesn't) in Health and Science Communication

Lessons from the Next Generation Part 2: Language, Storytelling, and Design Skills that Matter

Send us a text What happens when academic language meets real-world health communication needs? In this episode—the second in a three-part series—we continue to explore some of the gaps between academic training and practical application in health communication. At the end of Part 1, our conversation turned toward accessibility, and Part 2 picks up there, expanding into language and word choice and how to translate data into compelling stories that resonate with audiences. We close this sessi...

4 months ago

25 minutes

Communications Breakdown: What Works (and Doesn't) in Health and Science Communication

Lessons from the Next Generation Part 1: The Missing Pieces in Health Comm Education

Send us a text What do emerging professionals in health communication wish they'd learned in school? In a long, revealing conversation, we dive into candid interviews with three recent interns who came to us from diverse educational backgrounds. Our discussion centers on a critical reality: students pursuing careers in public health communication receive minimal hands-on experience during their formal education. While they may learn theoretical frameworks and analyze existing campaigns, it’s ...

4 months ago

29 minutes

Communications Breakdown: What Works (and Doesn't) in Health and Science Communication

Lessons from the Next Generation Part 3: Creativity and Dissemination Planning

Send us a text What happens when classroom theory meets real-world health communication? Our three-part series concludes with a deep dive into the perspectives of emerging professionals as they navigate the transition from academic training to practical application in health communication. We explore how creativity, feedback, and real-world practice shape the future of health communication. From graphic design and Canva challenges to the value of iterative feedback, we hear from the next gen...

4 months ago

24 minutes

Communications Breakdown: What Works (and Doesn't) in Health and Science Communication

When Public Health Meets the Instagram Era

Send us a text Remember when social media was just typing out a quick message and hitting “post”? Those days are long gone, replaced by the constant pressure to create eye-catching visuals that also have impact. This isn't just about aesthetics—it's about whether important health messages are being seen at all in today's crowded digital landscape. In this candid conversation, we pull back the curtain on a struggle facing countless health communicators: the growing demands of visual comm...

4 months ago

32 minutes

Communications Breakdown: What Works (and Doesn't) in Health and Science Communication

Welcome to Communications Breakdown!

Send us a text Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of public health messaging? How scientific research moves from dense academic journals to information that actually changes lives? Communications Breakdown is a new podcast that invites you into the world of strategic communication planning, message crafting, and research translation. We're your hosts, Tracy Mehan and Katrina Boylan, and in this first episode, we'll talk you through: why we started Communications Break...

4 months ago

12 minutes