A Youngstown State University (YSU) led initiative has launched a new way to showcase the Penguins and Mahoning Valley through a health and wellness podcast.

YSU's Guin Fit initiative launched "Wellness in the Valley" on Monday, a show highlighting community-driven efforts in the Valley focused on individual well-being.

Guin Fit is a community wellness initiative funded through the CDC’s Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) 2023–2028 cooperative agreement.

"The podcast provides an opportunity to bring awareness to the programming and work of the Guin Fit initiative, in partnership with the Healthy Community Partnership, and to hear from real people in the community," Kelley Frazier, program manager of Guin Fit, stated. "Listeners will hear from community partners, program participants and strategy leads who have engaged with or been impacted by our work."

According to a news release, episodes of the monthly podcast will focus on community design for physical activity, family healthy weight programs and food service and nutrition initiatives.

Frazier also stated that they hope the podcast will continue to document progress and inspire broader participation in community health efforts.

The primary audience for the podcast includes residents of the Mahoning Valley and the community served through the CDC REACH initiative. 

"A podcast allows people to consume information while continuing their daily routines, such as driving, walking or doing household tasks," Frazier stated. "We've also kept episodes short so listeners can stay engaged without a lengthy time commitment."

The first episode was released on March 16, featuring an interview with Dr. Nicolette Powe, and can be found online by clicking here.