Closing the Health Literacy Gap with Dr. Madalyn McKnight of Project Healthvocate

Ep #124 — Closing the Health Literacy Gap with Dr. Madalyn McKnight of Project HealthvocatePart of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤Did you know 9 out of 10 people don't understand basic health information, and that the fix might just be talking like real people talk?Dr. Madalyn McKnight built Project Healthvocate to close the gap between complex medical language and the way people actually speak, born out of her time in the Southern Poverty Law Center's Advocacy Institute. What started as a summer project has grown into a nonprofit, a podcast, a newsletter, and a published journal.What We Talk AboutHow a lifelong journaling habit (inspired by Moesha, if you're wondering) turned into a doctorate, a nonprofit, and a published author careerWhy Dr. Madalyn believes health literacy is a community issue, not just a patient problem, and how she's working to train providers in cultural competency, not just patients in self-advocacyThe unexpected turn: the sobering stat that only 18% of new doctors received culturally competent training last year, and what that means for Black maternal health outcomes in Mississippi specificallyIf you love origin stories rooted in real research and real stakes, this episode is for you.All about Dr. Madalyn McKnightYou're gonna love Dr. Madalyn. She's a data analyst, nonprofit founder and executive director, author, and media entrepreneur dedicated to advancing health, wellness, and community impact. As founder and executive director of Project Healthvocate and founder of MadalynMedia LLC, she combines data-driven insight, storytelling, and advocacy to educate and empower communities through her writing, speaking engagements, and media platforms.Things We MentionedProject Healthvocate, projecthealthvocate.com (free resources, a Substack newsletter, and provider training/CEU coursework in the works)Improving Perfection: A Black Girl's Guide to Being Better, Dr. Madalyn's journal/self-help book, available at Madalynmedia.com Amazon, and major retailersDo You Hear Yourself, Dr. Madalyn's podcast on health, wellness, and community impactSix Dimensions, a Mississippi-based organization Dr. Madalyn partners with to address health disparitiesChapters:00:07 - Introduction to the Black Business Series00:26 - Introduction to Project Health and Holistic Approaches15:15 - Advocating for Health Equity29:22 - Navigating the Challenges of Perfection43:20 - The Importance of Sleep and Wellness PracticesThis series is supported by Off the Grid, a podcast for small business owners who want to leave social media without losing their clients. Find them at offthegrid.fun 🖤Connect with Dr. Madalyn McKnightWebsite: Project Healthvocate (contact form for speaking requests)Website: Madalyn MediaProject Healthvocate on InstagramMadalyn Media on InstagramEmail Dr. MadalynStay Connected📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it freeMore ways to connectEmail: [email protected] on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.comSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported; thank you for being here. 💛🫶🏾⭐ Rate & Review the Show📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Stephanie GrahamLyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam FamCover Art: Emma McGoldrick