Stop & Talk

Angelina Renteria is the Chief Operating Officer of Indian Health Council, a tribally-run health center serving nine sovereign tribal nations in North San Diego County. With nearly 30 years of experience in health and fitness and two decades in health-focused grant development, she brings deep expertise and cultural insight to her work. Angelina is a passionate advocate for wellness, community voice, and culturally grounded care that meets people where they are.

This Episode: 
What if your doctor knew your name, your story, and what was in your fridge? 

That’s the level of care Angelina Renteria champions through Indian Health Council. In this episode, Grant and Angelina explore what it means to offer "womb to tomb" care that reflects the culture, needs, and values of tribal communities. From snowy mountain roads to multi-generational households with limited transportation, tribal members face unique health access barriers, and Indian Health Council meets them with compassion and strategy. 

Angelina shares how the clinic’s integrated care model—where providers, nurses, behavioral health staff, and even peer support specialists collaborate—leads to better outcomes and stronger trust. She also opens up about her own journey from a childhood on military bases to becoming an advocate for Native health, and how her experience of being othered as a teen became fuel for inclusive leadership. 

Plus, Grant and Angelina talk about community-rooted solutions to the opioid crisis, why traditional practices like sweat and drum circles deserve recognition in modern medicine, and how the medicine wheel’s four pillars—mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical—can inspire a more balanced healthcare system for all.

Key Moments: 

• [2:38] Why tribally informed care is essential and different from standard healthcare 
• [10:22] What “womb to tomb” care looks like in practice 
• [14:30] How trust and cultural understanding boost health outcomes 
• [25:31]The four components of health: mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being
• [35:45] A bold approach to addressing addiction and recovery 
• [51:06] What policymakers need to hear about tribal healthcare 

Resources Mentioned in This Episode: 

Grant Oliphant is the CEO of the Prebys Foundation and a longtime leader in philanthropy and social impact. With decades of experience guiding foundations through moments of transformation, he has a deep understanding of how philanthropy can respond to crises, support nonprofit resilience, and advocate for the society we aspire to reach. 

This Episode: 

Nonprofits are facing unprecedented challenges—from shifting political landscapes and funding cuts to increasing demands for services. With federal cuts threatening essential programs, nonprofit leaders are grappling with how to sustain their missions while navigating an evolving philanthropic landscape. 

In this candid conversation, Grant Oliphant flips the script and takes the guest seat, offering his insights on the role of philanthropy, nonprofits, and each of us as individuals in this moment. He shares how the Prebys Foundation is standing with San Diego’s nonprofit sector, the moral and practical dilemmas organizations face, and why belonging remains at the heart of Prebys' mission. 

Grant and Crystal also unpack the larger cultural shifts at play, from the erosion of trust in institutions to the censorship of language that directly impacts the people nonprofits serve. As they discuss what’s at stake, they also offer hope—reminding listeners that the nonprofit sector remains one of the most trusted forces for good, and that resilience is built through community and shared purpose. 

Key Moments: 

• [2:50] How national shifts are affecting nonprofit leaders' mental well-being 
• [9:00] Why Prebys Foundation stands by diversity, equity, and inclusion—without the jargon 
• [16:32] The unique role nonprofits play in shaping America’s social fabric 
• [29:16] How Prebys is responding to federal budget cuts and nonprofit concerns 
• [39:07] The fine line nonprofit leaders must walk between survival and advocacy 
• [55:40] Grant’s advice for nonprofit leaders feeling overwhelmed in this moment 

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:  

In this episode, Grant sits down with four  motivated leaders who are driving solutions to the Tijuana River sewage crisis. Ramon Chairez, Sarah Davidson, Lesly Gallegos-Stearns, and Kapili Pasa are proving that change isn’t just possible, it is already happening through advocacy, environmental education, and community organizing. 

Their stories reveal deep, personal connections to the estuary, the ocean, and the communities most affected. From respiratory illnesses to economic setbacks and lost opportunities for youth, they highlight why urgent action is needed and why those in power must be held accountable. Everyone in San Diego County deserves clean air, safe oceans, and a thriving future. 

Despite the challenges, their message is clear: action is necessary, and change is within reach. With growing community advocacy, legal action, and scientific research, momentum is building. As Kapili puts it, "The alternative is unacceptable." This episode is a call to believe in San Diego’s ability to solve big problems and to be part of the solution. 

Special Series: This season, Stop & Talk is diving into one of San Diego County’s biggest environmental and health emergencies: the Tijuana River Sewage Crisis. Through this special series, we hear from doctors, advocates, researchers, and others fighting for clean environments, healthy communities, and real solutions. 

Credits:
This is a production of the Prebys Foundation

Hosted by Grant Oliphant

Co-Hosted by Crystal Page

Co-produced by Crystal Page and Adam Greenfield

Engineered by Adam Greenfield

Production Coordination by Tess Karesky

Video Production by Edgar Ontiveros Medina

Special Series: This season, Stop & Talk is diving into one of San Diego County’s biggest environmental and health emergencies: the Tijuana River Sewage Crisis. Through this special series, we hear from doctors, advocates, researchers, and others fighting for clean environments, healthy communities, and real solutions to a crisis that’s been dismissed for too long. 

This episode:
For decades, families in San Diego’s border communities have faced a sewage crisis that threatens their health and well-being. Now, two dedicated physicians, Dr. Kimberly Dickson and Dr. Vi Nguyen, are sharing how the sewage is impacting the people in their care. With medical expertise and deep community ties, they’ve connected the dots between troubling health patterns and the ongoing sewage crisis, stepping forward as advocates for their patients and neighbors. 

In this episode, host Grant Oliphant speaks with Dr. Dickson and Dr. Nguyen about what they’re seeing in their exam rooms, why this crisis demands urgent action, and the surprising response when they raised their concerns. 

This isn’t just a conversation about pollution—it’s about the power of information, the courage to speak up, and the responsibility we all share to ensure every child has the chance to grow up healthy and safe. 

Credits:
This is a production of the Prebys Foundation

Hosted by Grant Oliphant

Co-Hosted by Crystal Page

Co-produced by Crystal Page and Adam Greenfield

Engineered by Adam Greenfield

Production Coordination by Tess Karesky

Video Production by Edgar Ontiveros Medina