Despite graduating from Brigham Young University, Anna Ott continues to fuel her passion for learning through her podcast, The Health Collective.
When Ott first came to BYU, she pursued a degree in biology. However, she quickly realized it wasn’t the right fit. She then switched to communications but still felt like something was missing.
“And then I found public health,” Ott said. “It had a perfect mix of science and communications, which I loved.”
Ott’s passion for public health eventually inspired her to create The Health Collective, a podcast exploring different aspects of public health through conversations with industry professionals. However, the inspiration for the podcast didn’t come until after she completed an internship with Amanaki Fo’ou.
While conducting research on diabetes prevention, Ott asked her supervisor if she could help conduct the interviews. After expressing interest, she worked with the videographer to learn about people's stories.
“I feel like that trip and that experience of being able to work on that internship really opened my eyes to what I can do,” she said.
Motivated by her experience, Ott returned home knowing she wanted to continue storytelling. After discussing the idea with her cousin, who was also studying public health, they decided to launch The Health Collective.
The podcast features public health professionals who share their work and experiences, allowing Ott to continue learning beyond the classroom.
“After every interview, I always think, ‘Wow, I learned something today’,” she said.
In addition to running her podcast, Ott now works as a research analyst fellow at the Utah Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget. This opportunity has allowed her to apply the skills from public health to different spheres, such as evaluating the efficiency of the state.
Moving forward, Ott just wants to continue lifting others. Whether it’s through her occupation, or on her podcast, Ott hopes to continue making a difference in people’s lives.
“Something I really like about public health is the opportunity to lift people up,” she said.
Looking back on where her journey has brought her, she advises other students to be curious. From being a research assistant to starting a podcast, all these opportunities started from Ott’s passion for learning.
“Don’t be afraid to try everything that you are curious about,” she said. “Undergrad and school is a great opportunity for you to just throw yourself at things.”
Grasping on to opportunities and experiences, Ott has been able to make the most out of her time in the public health field.
To learn more about public health and hear inspiring stories, listen to The Health Collective Podcast hosted by Anna Ott and Lucy Fackrell.
