Episode 58 - Building Global Health Programs: Lessons in Wellbeing, Diversity, and Literacy from Chevron and NASA

In this episode of The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast, Seth Serxner welcomes Janis Davis-Street—nutritionist, educator, public health leader, and global wellness strategist—to unpack the complexities of workforce health literacy and share lessons from her impressive career.Janis brings a unique blend of frontline experience and academic depth to the conversation, with roots in nutrition and health education, a doctorate, and advanced certifications in organizational leadership and informatics.Her career journey spans pivotal roles at NASA, where she contributed to space nutrition science and youth outreach, and nearly two decades at Chevron, championing global cardiovascular health initiatives and adapting wellbeing programs for diverse, multinational workforces.Seth and Janis also discuss:Translating science into action, highlighting the art of turning complex nutrition and health research into practical, accessible information for astronauts, students, and employees alike.The importance of tailored communication, noting that effective health messaging requires local context and lessons from customizing outreach for global populations to ensure representation and relevance in every region.Visual inclusivity, emphasizing that imagery in wellness campaigns matters and participants must see themselves reflected to feel engaged and respected.Cultural sensitivity, stressing that partnering with local teams—through language, context, and community stories—helps overcome barriers and drive trust.Peer Health Educators (PHE), describing how Chevron’s model empowers trained employees to provide basic health education, advocate for prevention, and refer peers to expert resources, expanding workforce engagement.Data-driven impact, explaining that participation and outcomes are tracked, with Chevron’s Enterprise Health Index creating organizational accountability and keeping leaders invested in health culture.The power of collaboration, highlighting that health, HR, and benefits teams must break silos and jointly nurture a culture of health for real impact.The growing urgency of health literacy, noting that misinformation—especially during the pandemic and now the AI era—affects everyone, making addressing it and increasing equitable access a priority.Responsible use of AI, emphasizing that new digital tools present both promise and risk, requiring critical thinking, source verification, and prompt engineering to combat misinformation in health.For anyone invested in workforce wellbeing, global health, or effective communication, this conversation underscores that impactful health initiatives are not one-size-fits-all—they require empathy, inclusivity, and practical translation of knowledge into action.Learn About EdLogicsWant to see how EdLogics' gamified platform can boost health literacy, drive engagement in health and wellness programs, and help people live happier, healthier lives?Visit the EdLogics website.Links:Janis Davis-Street: www.linkedin.com/in/janis-davis-street-26232315/