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Hip. Hope. Hooray! Men Talkin’ Health

Hip. Hope. Hooray! Men Talkin’ Health

By: Health Hope & Hip-Hop Foundation
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About this listen

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.

Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
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Episodes
  • Men, Myeloma, and the Weight of Pain: A Patient and Care Partner
    Dec 29 2025

    Host Oya Gilbert sits down with Richard Armstrong, a multiple myeloma patient, and Chad Moore, a long-time husband and care partner, for a powerful, unfiltered conversation about pain, perseverance, and partnership in the face of blood cancer. From months of unexplained back pain and collapsing spines to kidney failure, ER chaos during the height of COVID, and being dismissed or misdiagnosed, this episode shines a light on just how dangerous delayed diagnosis can be—especially for Black families.​

    Richard shares how close he came to giving up when the pain felt unbearable, while Chad breaks down what it means to advocate fiercely for his wife when doctors don’t see the full picture and male caregivers are often overlooked. Together, they show the power of family, faith, and community when facing an “incurable but treatable” disease like multiple myeloma.​

    You’ll hear about:

    • Early symptoms and red flags of multiple myeloma

    • Living with chronic pain and fearing the worst

    • The unique role and burden of male care partners

    • Why support systems and self-advocacy are critical for survival

    Perfect for patients, care partners, clinicians, and anyone who cares about health equity and men’s health.

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    37 mins
  • Stackin Moments with Myeloma: Trust the Process
    Dec 15 2025

    Stackin’ Moments with Myeloma: Trust the Process — Gary Lambert & Dr. Blue on CAR-T, Trials & Real Teamwork

    In this powerful episode of Hip. Hope. Hooray! Men Talkin’ Health, host Oya Gilbert is joined by Dr. Brandon Blue, a multiple myeloma specialist at Moffitt Cancer Center, and Gary A. Lambert, who has been living with multiple myeloma since 2014.

    Gary shares his journey from an active life as a runner and cyclist in Philadelphia to a Stage III myeloma diagnosis at age 38 after months of worsening back and hip pain. Dr. Blue explains what multiple myeloma is in clear, everyday language and breaks down advanced treatments like CAR-T cell therapy, clinical trials, and why trust and timing matter in care decisions.

    Together, they discuss:

    • Why myeloma is often missed early, especially in Black men

    • How to think critically about clinical trials

    • The power of doctor–patient teamwork and care partner advocacy

    • How CAR-T changed Gary’s life and allowed him to focus on family and purpose

    • Why listening to your body and asking questions can save lives

    This episode is a reminder that cancer doesn’t define the whole story — it’s just one chapter. The goal is to survive, thrive, and keep stacking moments.

    #HipHopeHooray #HealthHopeHipHop #MenTalkinHealth #MultipleMyeloma #CART #ClinicalTrials #HealthEquity #PatientAdvocacy

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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Lupus. Love. Life. The Remix of Resilience.
    Dec 15 2025

    Lupus. Love. Life. The Remix of Resilience.

    Recorded live at HealtheVoices 2025, this episode of Hip Hop Hooray! Men Talkin’ Health is a powerful conversation about faith, mental strength, chronic illness, and the will to keep going.

    Host Oya Gilbert sits down with Emmitt Henderson III and Shanell Matlock, lupus warriors and advocates whose journey together proves that resilience isn’t just about surviving—it’s about purpose.

    Emmitt Henderson III, founder of Male Lupus Warriors, has lived with lupus for more than 30 years and is currently facing kidney failure while recovering from major back surgery. In this episode, Emmitt shares how prioritizing mental health, holding onto faith, and staying rooted in purpose have carried him through decades of physical challenges. He is also the author of The Power in Men, available on Amazon.

    Shanell Matlock is a U.S. military veteran, co-author of Veterans Unchained, and creator of the 8 Second Campaign, a movement raising awareness for kidney donation and Emmitt’s urgent need for a living donor. Together, they discuss love, partnership, advocacy, and what it means to show up for one another through chronic illness.

    This episode is a reminder that pain doesn’t have to silence you—and that your story can be someone else’s survival guide.

    🎙️ “God kept me here, and His will with me is not done. The back will heal. The kidney will come.” – Emmitt Henderson III

    🔑 In This Episode:
    • What lupus is and how it affects the body

    • Living with chronic illness for decades

    • Mental health as a survival tool

    • Faith, resilience, and purpose

    • The mission behind Male Lupus Warriors

    • The story of the 8 Second Campaign

    • Turning pain into power through advocacy

    🎧 Listen now on Podbean and all major podcast platforms. 📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/3XZKbdZZr5g?si=Nwx_RhKmvJEQ2otp

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    40 mins
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