Improving Public Health Messaging

Why do people ignore public health advice, even when the science is clear?

In Episode 15 of Fireplace Conversations, Dr Ikechukwu Okoh explores one of the most important lessons from COVID-19 and beyond: information alone does not change behaviour.

From vaccine hesitancy to health campaigns that miss the mark, this episode breaks down why public health messaging often fails, and what leaders can do differently.

Part 1: Why Messaging Fails – common mistakes like information overload, lack of trust, and one-size-fits-all communication

Part 2: Trust, Culture, and Behaviour – how people interpret messages through identity, emotion, and lived experience

Part 3: How to Fix It – practical strategies to communicate in ways that actually lead to action

This is not just a public health conversation.

It’s a leadership one.

Whether you’re leading teams, communities, or systems, the real question is the same:

How do you communicate in a way people trust and act on?

🎧 Pull your chair closer to the fire. Let’s talk.