Community Health Centers. Unfiltered. Podcast
Community Health Centers. Unfiltered. is the official podcast of Advocates for Community Health, where we dive deep into the policy, politics, and people shaping the future of America’s health care safety net.
Hosted by ACH CEO Amanda Pears Kelly, each episode strips away the jargon to deliver honest conversations with policymakers on both sides of the aisle, community leaders, and health center champions on the frontlines. From Capitol Hill to local neighborhoods, we explore how community health centers are driving change, expanding access, and standing up for a healthier America.
If you care about the health of communities—and the policies and people that make it possible—this podcast is for you.
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No spin. No fluff. Just unfiltered stories from the frontlines of care. Watch or listen to an episode on YouTube, Podbean, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.
Season 1
Episode 1: One Big Beautiful Bill: What it Means for Community Health Centers
What happens to community health centers when Medicaid funding is cut? In our very first episode of Community Health Centers. Unfiltered., Amanda Pears Kelly dives deep with policy experts Stephanie Krenrich and Margaret French to unpack the real impact of Medicaid cuts—and what’s at stake for patients and communities across the country.
🎧 Watch Now | Air date August 1, 2025
Apple Podcast | Podbean | Spotify
Episode 2: Why 340B Matters More Than Ever for America’s Health Care Safety Net
Host Amanda Pears Kelly talks with Elizabeth Lee, Managing Director of Continuum Health Group, about how the 340B program helps community health centers deliver affordable care—and why it’s at risk. A must-listen for anyone invested in health care access for all and America’s health care safety net.
🎧 Watch Now | Air date August 11, 2025
Apple Podcast | Podbean | Spotify
Episode 3: Connecting the Dots Between Rural Health and Community Health Centers
How are health centers meeting the unique needs of rural communities? What challenges do they face—from workforce shortages to limited infrastructure—and what policy solutions are on the table? Host Amanda Pears Kelly talks to Health Care Strategist and Founder of the Rural Impact Michelle Rathman to connect the dots between place, access, and impact.
🎧 Watch Now | Air date August 18, 2025
Apple Podcast | Podbean | Spotify
Episode 4: When Health and Homelessness Collide: Finding Real Solutions
When you can’t afford both rent and medicine, which do you choose? On Community Health Centers. Unfiltered., Dr. Barbara DiPietro, Senior Director of Policy from the National Health Care for the Homeless Council joins us to talk about the consequences when homelessness, soaring housing costs, and healthcare challenges converge—and what’s at risk as safety net programs face deep cuts. Read more and see additional resources.
🎧 Watch Now | Air date August 28, 2025
Apple Podcast | Podbean | Spotify
Episode 5: From Food Deserts to Food Security: Changing the Narrative
Food is medicine. But what if you can’t get it? In this episode, we explore how access to nutritious food shapes health in underserved communities, and what happens when that access is out of reach. Dr. Laura Samuel from the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing joins us for a conversation on why food isn’t just fuel—it’s healthcare.
🎧 Coming soon
Episode 6: The Local Price of Medicaid Cuts: Counties on the Frontlines
When Washington talks about cutting Medicaid, the impact doesn’t just stay in D.C.—it shows up on the frontlines in counties and communities across America. In this episode, Amanda Pears Kelly sits down with Blaire Bryant from the National Association of Counties (NACo) to look at what Medicaid funding really means locally. From the strain on county budgets and safety nets to the challenges facing community health centers and hospitals, Blaire explains how these decisions affect local leaders’ ability to deliver essential services while keeping costs under control for taxpayers.
🎧 Coming soon
Episode 7: Overcoming Bureaucratic Barriers for Community Health Center Patients
What does ‘access to care’ really mean for patients—and how can health centers help make it a reality? In this episode of Community Health Centers Unfiltered, we’re joined by Jen Taylor from Families USA to explore the biggest policy roadblocks facing patients, strategies for navigating the healthcare system, and how CHCs and advocates can amplify patient voices. Tune in for insights and hope for a more accessible health care system.
🎧 Coming soon
Partner With Us
Advocates for Community Health works alongside national health care organizations, associations, foundations, government agencies, state primary care associations, and corporations that share our commitment to shaping impactful federal health policy.
Interested in being a guest on the podcast? We record in person in Washington, DC and virtually across the U.S.
Contact us to learn more
Sponsorship
Join us in amplifying the voices of health policy leaders, community advocates, and frontline providers by sponsoring Community Health Centers Unfiltered, the official podcast of Advocates for Community Health.
As a sponsor, your organization will be recognized as a champion for health care access and featured alongside powerful conversations that shape national policy. Sponsorship opportunities include on-air mentions, episode credits, custom segments, and visibility across our digital platforms.
Support the movement. Invest in the mission.
Contact us to learn more