S5 EP1 : The Bigger the Promise, The Bigger the Warfare: Preparing Public Health for Rebuilding
Fri Feb 06 2026
Season 5 of The Public Health Podcast opens with a powerful keynote from Dr. Joyee Washington, delivered at the 2026 Public Health Joy Summit.
In Rest, Reimagine, Rebuild, Dr. Joyee invites the public health community into a deeply honest reflection on where we are, and where we must go next.
This episode acknowledges the collective grief, exhaustion, and disillusionment many public health professionals are carrying. Rather than rushing past it, Dr. Joyee names it. Honors it. And reframes it as a necessary starting point for transformation.
At the heart of this keynote is a radical but essential message: rest is not a reward, it is a strategic weapon. Dr. Joyee challenges listeners to move beyond survival mode and reclaim rest as a tool for sustainability, clarity, and power.
From there, she calls on the community to reimagine public health through abundance, not scarcity, to dream bigger than burnout has allowed and to remember what drew us to this work in the first place. This vision is not meant to be carried alone. Dr. Joyee emphasizes the necessity of rebuilding together, through community, mutual support, and shared responsibility.
This episode is both a grounding and a rallying cry. A moment to pause and a call to act.
The promise of public health is not broken. It is not over. And it is not small.
It is waiting to be rebuilt stronger, wiser, and more expansive than ever before.
Key Points From This Episode:
Reflect on what public health means to you. [1:55]
Grief is a necessary part of the healing process. [3:15]
The current state of public health is a war. [5:46]
Rest is a strategic weapon, not a retreat. [12:45]
Dreaming in abundance is essential for progress. [15:00]
Community building is crucial for rebuilding efforts. [19:00]
Sacrifice is often required in the fight for justice. [21:40]
Each generation has its own assignment to fulfill. [23:00]
We are in a war, and we will win. [25:45]
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review! For more transcripts, show notes, and more, visit: Click Here
More
Season 5 of The Public Health Podcast opens with a powerful keynote from Dr. Joyee Washington, delivered at the 2026 Public Health Joy Summit. In Rest, Reimagine, Rebuild, Dr. Joyee invites the public health community into a deeply honest reflection on where we are, and where we must go next. This episode acknowledges the collective grief, exhaustion, and disillusionment many public health professionals are carrying. Rather than rushing past it, Dr. Joyee names it. Honors it. And reframes it as a necessary starting point for transformation. At the heart of this keynote is a radical but essential message: rest is not a reward, it is a strategic weapon. Dr. Joyee challenges listeners to move beyond survival mode and reclaim rest as a tool for sustainability, clarity, and power. From there, she calls on the community to reimagine public health through abundance, not scarcity, to dream bigger than burnout has allowed and to remember what drew us to this work in the first place. This vision is not meant to be carried alone. Dr. Joyee emphasizes the necessity of rebuilding together, through community, mutual support, and shared responsibility. This episode is both a grounding and a rallying cry. A moment to pause and a call to act. The promise of public health is not broken. It is not over. And it is not small. It is waiting to be rebuilt stronger, wiser, and more expansive than ever before. Key Points From This Episode: Reflect on what public health means to you. [1:55] Grief is a necessary part of the healing process. [3:15] The current state of public health is a war. [5:46] Rest is a strategic weapon, not a retreat. [12:45] Dreaming in abundance is essential for progress. [15:00] Community building is crucial for rebuilding efforts. [19:00] Sacrifice is often required in the fight for justice. [21:40] Each generation has its own assignment to fulfill. [23:00] We are in a war, and we will win. [25:45] If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review! For more transcripts, show notes, and more, visit: Click Here