Monday Jun 17, 2024
Doubts, Disbelief, and Delayed Diagnosis
Hip. Hope. Hooray! Men Talkin’ Health
Hip. Hope. Hooray! Men Talkin’ Health was born out of my own journey—as a Black man navigating life with cancer. This show comes from a place of lived experience, healing, and the urgency to empower. I’ve been there... and now I’m bringing the mic to the movement.
Men from underrepresented communities carry a heavy burden when it comes to health. Black Americans, for instance, have the highest mortality rates for most cancers, face delayed diagnoses, and lead in heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. These aren’t just statistics—they’re real stories, real losses, and real people.
The system plays a part, sure—lack of access, coverage, and resources—but there’s another layer: health literacy. Many of us haven’t been given the tools or the language to protect our own well-being. It’s time to change that narrative.
Enter: Hip. Hope. Hooray! Men Talkin’ Health. I’m your host, Oya Gilbert—Multiple Myeloma survivor, nonprofit founder, and relentless advocate for health equity. This isn’t just a podcast—it’s a health literacy movement, infused with the rhythm and resilience of hip-hop culture.
Each episode features real conversations with men from all walks of life—doctors, activists, artists, athletes, caregivers, and brothers from the block. We’re keepin’ it raw and honest, talking about the struggles and breakthroughs that come with being a man trying to stay healthy in a world that often makes it hard.
While the heart of the show centers Black and Brown experiences, our reach includes all underrepresented communities who’ve been pushed to the margins of the healthcare conversation.
Whether you're behind the wheel, in the gym, or posted up at home—lock in. You’ll get practical tools, real stories, and inspiration that just might save your life or someone you love.
This is about reclaiming our health.
This is about breaking silence.
This is Hip. Hope. Hooray!
Let’s stay healthy, stay hopeful, and keep celebrating each win—one “hooray” at a time.
Listen on:
Episodes
Episodes
Monday May 27, 2024
Monday May 27, 2024
Yo, not to get all heavy on you, but this podcast was born out of my personal experience as a "Black man with cancer." I've learned a lot... sooo peep this.
When it comes to most types of cancer, Black people have the highest death rate and shortest survival of any ethnic group in the United States. I got wind of this fact AFTER being diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in 2017, a treatable but incurable blood cancer that impacts Black Americans 2:1 vs their White counterparts.
So, what's shaking and taking our lives in such disproportionate numbers?
Yeah, healthcare disparities like lack of access and insurance, historical injustices, and implicit bias are hurting us.... but we also suffer from limited health literacy -- and that's something we can change through conversation... Starting now!
Welcome to the premiere episode of Hip Hope Hooray – Black Men Talking About Health. In this genuine and unscripted conversation, we've brought together five Black men to share their journeys, struggles, and triumphs when it comes to their health.
From personal challenges to navigating the healthcare system, these brothas hold nothing back as they open up about obstacles they’ve faced on their wellness journey. It's a straight convo that's as relatable as it is empowering.Tune in for this groundbreaking podcast series and find out about what it really means to prioritize health in the Black community.
Let's get real, let's get inspired, and let's get healthy together. 🎙️💪🏾
GUEST LIST:Charles Duncan (Type II Diabetes) Randy Haskins (Borderline Hypertension)Antonio Goicuria III (Benign Myoclonic Epileptic Disorder)Eric Mosley (Hypertension)With your Host Oya Gilbert (Multiple Myeloma)
LINKS
Health, Hope & Hip-Hop Foundation
https://www.healthhopehiphop.org
Multiple Myeloma’s Sneak Attack on The Black Community And How To Fight Back by Carri Helman
https://heragenda.com/p/multiple-myeloma-awareness-facts-affect-on-black-women/
🎧 Listen Up
Let’s be real—too many men from underrepresented communities, especially Black and Brown men, don’t talk about their health. We tough it out. We self-medicate. We ignore the signs. And we definitely don’t bring it up with each other.
But that silence? It’s deadly.
And it stops now.
Did you know Black Americans have the highest cancer death rate and the lowest survival of any ethnic group in the U.S.? I didn’t… not until after I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in 2017—a treatable but incurable blood cancer that hits our community nearly twice as hard.
So what’s really shaking and taking us out in these numbers?
Yeah—structural issues like lack of access, insurance gaps, implicit bias, and medical mistrust are part of the story.
But here’s what we can control: limited health literacy.
Too many of us don’t get the information, support, or language we need to take charge of our health.
But knowledge is power—and that power starts with conversation.
That’s what Hip. Hope. Hooray! Men Talkin’ Health is all about.
No more shame. No more silence. No more going it alone.
Let’s talk. Let’s heal. Let’s live.
✊🏾💥🩺