Jessica Malaty Rivera: Public Health's Communication Problem

How do we talk about science in a way people can actually trust? In this episode of Octavia's Cure, host Dr. Stella Safo talks with Jessica Malaty Rivera, an infectious disease epidemiologist and one of today's leading science communicators, about where public health communication breaks down, and how to fix it. Jessica has built a career translating complex science for wide audiences, and in this conversation she pushes back on the idea that plain language means dumbing things down. Instead, she makes the case that clear communication is about dignity, respect, and repetition, not oversimplification. Stella and Jessica dig into why the work of science is incomplete without communication, and what it would take to close the gap between the institutions doing the research and the public that's supposed to trust them. If you've ever wondered why public health messaging so often misses the mark, this episode offers a clear eyed, hopeful path forward.Octavia's Cure is a production of Just Equity for Health. This episode was hosted and executive produced by Dr. Stella Safo. Creative direction and production by Amanda Misiti. Post-production by Simon Cowart of Cowart Company. Digital content by Devon Johnson. For more information, visit octaviascure.com.