A new chapter: Healthy Matters leaves WCCO Radio, launches podcast
All good things don’t have to come to an end. Healthy Matters – the program hosted by Dr. David Hilden that began in 2009 for a one-year trial that went on to become a trusted source for medical information for more than 13 years – is not ending but making an exciting change. The successful radio program will no longer be heard on WCCO Radio, but will transition to a podcast format with several new features as well as a few new twists on some tried-and-true segments.
For example, the popular Open Lines shows where Dr. Hilden took calls from listeners about any type of health-related questions will be called “Hilden’s House Calls.” Listeners can call the podcast’s 612-873-TALK line to submit questions for Dr. Hilden to answer or they can send an email to [email protected] or via the Healthy Matters web site. Connecting with listeners and hearing from them in this way was key to the show’s success, and Dr. Hilden looks forward to connecting with them in a fresh, new way with the podcast.
“Healthy Matters listeners made the show successful,” explains Dr. Hilden. “They kept the show going. They are earnest, kind, and curious people who called in and sent texts asking their questions – really putting themselves ‘out there.'”
While Dr. Hilden credits his audience, in the Sunday, December 26 “farewell” show, many of those listeners called in and texted the host to tell him how much he has meant to them. That understandable advice seems to be a repeated accolade for Dr. Hilden, who says he “just tries to talk to people just as he would to patients in his clinic.” The natural, caring, personality that those of us who know Dr. Hilden experience when we work with him flowed across the airwaves during the past 13 years. And when listeners had the opportunity to meet him, he was just as authentic.
On January 4, 2009, the first episode of Healthy Matters aired on WCCO Radio. After nearly 678 shows talking about a wide variety of health topics and inviting listeners to ask questions, the show established itself as one of the most popular ones in that timeslot – thanks to Dr. Hilden, his listeners, and the guests he’s featured from Hennepin Healthcare.
“It’s just been my privilege to spend my Sunday mornings with people from all over the country and indeed the world,” said Dr. Hilden. “I want to thank the listeners for tuning in and sharing a bit of their lives with me, and invite everyone to join the next chapter of Healthy Matters where we’ll continue this exciting journey.”
Check out Dr. Hilden’s web page at www.healthymatters.org for the latest information about the new podcast series and to sign up to be notified when a new podcast is available.
