S5 EP3 - Fighting Corporate Influence in Public Health: Building Community Power for Health Equity

In this powerful episode of the Public Health Joy Podcast, Dr. Joyee Washington sits down with Vinu Ilakkuvan, founder of POP Health and The Gaslit Project, for a bold conversation about power, policy, and people.Together, they unpack what community power really means in public health—and why it’s essential in a landscape where corporate interests often shape health policy behind the scenes. Vinu shares how communities can organize, build lasting connections, and take strategic action to challenge systems that put profit over people.From real-world stories of successful grassroots resistance to practical insights on sustaining activism, this episode is both a wake-up call and a roadmap. At the heart of the conversation is a clear message: reclaiming health and well-being requires a shift in power—and collective action is how we get there.If you care about health equity, accountability, and building community-led change, this episode is one you won’t want to miss.Key Points From This Episode:Community power is essential for driving policy change. [04:40 – 05:28]Corporate influence often undermines public health efforts. [04:40 – 06:03]Building connections within communities is crucial for activism. [08:20 – 09:07]Collective action can lead to significant change. [07:38 – 08:10] Inconvenience in community building is worth the effort. [10:00 – 12:00]Success stories inspire further activism and engagement. [28:36 – 32:06]Gaslit aims to empower communities against corporate power. [04:40 – 05:28]Public health must focus on root causes of health disparities. [02:20 – 04:40]Individual actions are important, but collective efforts are more effective. [26:14 – 28:26]The act of caring for communities is under attack. [24:45 – 25:38]If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review! For more transcripts, show notes,and more visit: Click Here