Today’s long overdue podcast is about why accessibility and diversity have been such a problem in the wellness world, and how we can all begin to support that changing. I wanted to feature people from different aspects of the wellness world to really paint a larger picture about the limiting factors at play, from doctor bias to the lack of diversity in workout studios to the unique challenges of breaking into the food startup world—to illustrate that there’s no part of the wellness world that’s untouched by this problem. My first guest today is Chrissy King, a writer, speaker, fitness and strength coach, as well as the teacher of the Anti-Racism for Wellness Professionals Class, which I’m signed up for. You can find Chrissy online at chrissyking.com, and on Instagram @iamchrissyking. We talk about why anti-racism work is fundamental to wellness, what you can personally do when your favorite wellness spots (gyms, restaurants) aren’t diverse, and what needs to happen AFTER we educate ourselves in order to create real change. My next guest today is Ibhraeem Basir, the founder of A Dozen Cousins, one of my favorite food brands. You can find A Dozen Cousins online at adozencousins.com and on Instagram @adozencousins. We talk about what anyone can do to support the expansion and success of Black-founded businesses, his advice for anyone worried about cultural appropriation in the food world , and his company’s social initiatives to help bring healthy eating to communities in need. My last guest today is Dr. Tosin Odunsi, an Obstetrics & Gynecology physician. She’s the founder of The Mentorship Squad, a community comprised of Black and Latinx women seeking mentorship along their journey to becoming U.S. physicians. You can find Dr. Odunsi on instagram @lifebytosin and online at lifebytosin.com. We discuss why many common wellness treatments today actually have their roots in the abuse of Black people, why Black people consistently have higher rates of acute and chronic diseases, including COVID-19, and why only 5% of doctors are Black, and only 2% are Black women—and how we can help change those numbers. This is an important episode, and I hope its startles you, inspires you, and makes you think, I’d love to hear your thoughts and learnings on Instagram–please screenshot and tag me (@lizmoody) and my guests and share your thoughts. PS: Healthier Together is officially a number one best-seller! You can get your copy on Amazon or at lizmoody.com/cookbook. Please keep sending me your creations on Instagram—they make me so happy! The Healthier Together Podcast is proud to support Partake Foods. When Denise Woodard’s daughter was diagnosed with severe food allergies as an infant, Denise looked for healthy & safe snacks, came up short, & decided to make her own. That’s how Partake was born. Now in retailers nationwide, including Target, Partake cookies are gluten-free, vegan, and free of the top 14 allergens and come in a variety of crunchy and soft-baked flavors. Food allergies, which affect 1 in 13 kids, are shown to be more likely in black children. Getting safe food into the hands of the Black community with allergies is a top priority for Partake, so the entire month of June, 10% of total sales on Partake’s website will go to the amazing efforts of Food Equality Initiative to ensure food insecure families have access to the food, education and advocacy they need. They were kind enough to share a discount code—if you shop on PartakeFoods.com during the month of June, you can get 10% off your order and free shipping on $20 or more with code HEALTHIERTOGETHER. We’re also proud to support The Honey Pot Company, a plant-powered feminine care company. In addition to healthy feminine washes, wipes, organic cotton tampons, and herb-infused menstrual pads, they also offer natural anti-itch cream, herb and boric acid suppositories, and more. They truly have pretty much everything you need to keep your vagina healthy and happy. Also, they’re packaging is truly too cute. I’ve seen them in a ton of retail stores so definitely go to www.thehoneypot.co to find a retailer near you. Healthier Together cover art by Zack. Healthier Together music by Alex Ruimy.