Where health, culture, and community meet.

What happens when the problems affecting your patients cannot be solved with a prescription? Corey Dion Lewis sits down with Dr. Megan Srinivas, physician, Chief Medical Officer at Primary Health Care, and Iowa legislator, to talk about the connection between medicine, policy, housing, and community health. Dr. Srinivas shares how her experiences caring for patients pushed her toward policymaking. She explains why housing can shape nearly every part of a person’s health, from safety and medication access to transportation, insurance coverage, and the ability to focus on anything beyond immediate survival.   They also discuss the role of nurses, community health workers, case managers, and social workers in extending care beyond a short clinical visit, the challenges created by Medicaid redetermination, and why you do not have to hold elected office to influence policy.   The conversation closes with a reminder that advocacy can start anywhere, including with young people willing to ask one simple question: “What can I do?” Show Notes In this episode:  02:40 — Dr. Srinivas’ path through internal medicine, infectious disease, global health, and health equity   04:01 — Why she realized there was only so much she could accomplish with a prescription pad   07:25 — What medicine taught her about listening, disagreement, and meeting people where they are   08:59 — Why “housing is medicine”   10:54 — What clinicians can do when a patient is experiencing housing instability   13:46 — How nurse-led visits and team-based care can strengthen patient trust and understanding   16:08 — Medicaid work requirements, redetermination, and the problem of not having a stable address   18:33 — How Primary Health Care is preparing patients who may be at risk of losing coverage   21:23 — Managing the emotional weight of caring for patients while working to change the system   22:24 — Turning patient experiences into advocacy and policy   23:49 — Why health professionals across disciplines have a role in advocacy   26:19 — The influence young people can have on policy and community change   27:57 — Using social media to push accurate information into the public conversation   29:36 — What Dr. Srinivas is looking forward to at the My City My Health Conference   33:50 — Why difficult moments require more than acknowledging the problem. They require people willing to work together to change it.  Dr. Srinivas describes health as something shaped by far more than what happens inside a clinic. Housing, transportation, food, insurance, safety, and public policy all influence whether someone has the opportunity to be healthy.  She also makes the case that advocacy does not require a title. Testifying, contacting elected officials, sharing your expertise, and raising an issue that others may not see can all influence what happens at the decision-making table.  Connect with Dr. Megan Srinivas Dr. Srinivas shares that people can connect with her through her legislative email and across Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X, and TikTok.  My City My Health Conference Dr. Srinivas will join the Housing Is Medicine conversation at the 5th annual My City My Health Conference on November 13, 2026. Learn more and register at mycity.health. Move the City FWD is powered by My City My Health.

Special thanks to UnityPoint Health, the presenting sponsor of the 2026 My City My Health Conference, for supporting this work and helping us move the city forward.  Urban planner, housing researcher, and filmmaker Amal Barre joins Corey Dion Lewis for a conversation about why housing should be treated as a core part of health. Amal brings more than a decade of experience in affordable housing, homelessness services, urban planning, and community development to the conversation. She explains why stable, accessible, quality housing cannot be separated from healthcare, economic mobility, education, transportation, neighborhood design, and the other systems that shape our daily lives. Corey and Amal discuss what happens when healthcare and housing operate in silos, why professionals need to build relationships outside their traditional spaces, and how showing up in “unexpected places” can create new opportunities for collaboration and change. They also explore Amal’s path into housing work, what she learned working alongside families navigating homelessness and social service systems, and why planners, healthcare professionals, nonprofits, developers, and community members need to better understand what each other is doing. Amal will join the Housing Is Medicine panel at the 2026 My City My Health Conference in Des Moines on November 13. In this episode: Why housing and health are inseparable How the built environment shapes health outcomes The cost of navigating fragmented systems Why relationships matter in solving housing challenges What healthcare organizations can do beyond making referrals How planning, housing, healthcare, and community organizations can work together Why breaking down silos can lead to better community solutions Learn more about My City My Health and register for the 2026 conference at mycity.health.

Getting someone into an apartment is not the end of the work. It is often where the real work begins. Corey talks with Austin Neal about youth homelessness, housing instability, and what it takes to help young people build a life beyond survival mode. Austin shares lessons from nearly a decade of serving people experiencing homelessness through Joppa, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa, and Iowa Homeless Youth Centers. They discuss hidden homelessness, the lack of affordable housing in Des Moines, and why housing must include safety, stability, mental health support, employment, food, and long-term relationships. They also explore a central question: What becomes possible when a young person finally has a safe place to sleep? Austin will continue this conversation as part of the Housing Is Medicine panel at the 2026 My City My Health Conference. Learn more and register at mycity.health. SHOW NOTES In this episode: How volunteering helped Austin discover his purpose What Austin learned serving people through Joppa The realities facing students and families experiencing homelessness Why youth homelessness cannot be reduced to drugs, alcohol, or personal choices The difference between placing someone in housing and helping them remain housed Why safety matters when evaluating housing outcomes How young people experience hidden homelessness through couch surfing, cars, and temporary living arrangements Why traditional homelessness counts miss many young people The connection between housing, mental health, trauma, and preventive care What it means to meet someone’s immediate needs before asking about long-term goals How stable housing gives young people room to dream again Why communities must work with people instead of making decisions for them The relationship between housing conditions, cancer, and community health KEY QUOTES “At the root of it, it’s a housing issue.” “My judgment came first rather than my help.” “If they don’t have shelter, they can’t begin to dream. They can’t begin to think about what’s next.” “We can say we housed this many young people, but how many feel safe and equipped to keep those apartments?” ABOUT THE GUEST Austin Neal has nearly a decade of experience serving people experiencing homelessness and housing instability. His work has included volunteering with Joppa, supporting students through Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa, and working with young adults at Iowa Homeless Youth Centers. Austin is also joining Above + Beyond Cancer as an outreach manager and will serve as a panelist during the Housing Is Medicine discussion at the 2026 My City My Health Conference. CONNECT WITH MY CITY MY HEALTH Learn more about the conference, community education, and upcoming events at mycity.health. The Move the City FWD Podcast is powered by My City My Health.

When the world feels heavy, how do you acknowledge what you are feeling without losing your ability to move forward? Keynote speaker and life coach Vanessa McNeal joins Corey Dion Lewis to discuss burnout, hopelessness, anger, personal responsibility, and the pressure many helpers and community leaders feel to do more. Vanessa explains why the questions you ask yourself shape how you see your work and your impact. She also shares practical ways to understand anger, reconnect with what gives you life, manage expectations, and remember that meaningful change does not happen through one person alone. Vanessa will also serve as a panelist on the Mental Health Panel at the 2026 My City My Health Conference Des Moines. REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE Join us November 13, 2026, at Curate in Des Moines for conversations focused on mental health, housing, economic mobility, community resources, and the issues shaping the health of our communities. Presented in partnership with UnityPoint Health. Register here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/my-city-my-health-des-moines--2026 The conference is open to community members, advocates, professionals, organizations, and anyone who wants to help move the city forward.

Did you know that Medicaid members in Iowa have separate dental benefits available to them? Many people don't — and that's exactly why we're having this conversation. At the 2025 My City My Health Conference, special host Paula Bell sits down with Taryn Jonet from Delta Dental of Iowa to unpack what dental coverage looks like for Iowa's Medicaid and Hawkeye populations, and how Delta Dental is showing up as more than just an insurance company. Taryn breaks down how Delta Dental serves over 450,000 Iowans through a one-door approach to care — helping members find dentists, access specialty services, get transportation to appointments, and connect with community resources that address the social determinants of health. Plus, she shares how their team of Iowa-based staff partners with nonprofits, community health centers, and managed care organizations to make sure no one falls through the cracks. If you or someone you know is on Medicaid, this episode could change how you access care. Visit DWPIowa.com to connect with their member services team and find the resources available to you. If you need to connect with Delta Dental's member services or want to learn more about the benefits available to you, visit DWPIowa.com — everything you need is there.  The Community Resource Podcast is a live interview series recorded at the My City My Health Conference, spotlighting organizations making a real difference in Iowa communities.