PBS North Carolina to Premiere Season Two of 'Health Heroes' This November
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PBS North Carolina to Premiere Season Two of ‘Health Heroes’ This November
Produced by Rootle PBS KIDS, this series introduces young learners and their families to rewarding careers in public health.
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, 10/15/2026 — PBS North Carolina announces season two of Health Heroes, a fun educational series that spotlights careers in public health. Produced by Rootle, PBS North Carolina’s 24/7 PBS KIDS channel, the program introduces young learners to public health experts in a family-friendly format.
Season two of Health Heroes premieres Saturday, November 21, 7:30 AM, on Rootle as part of its Block Party weekend programming. Episodes will also be available online and on the Rootle PBS KIDS livestream, YouTube and the free PBS app. Season one is streaming now.
“Health Heroes introduces viewers to careers that are making a tremendous difference in communities across North Carolina,” said David Crabtree, PBS North Carolina’s CEO and General Manager. “By helping children understand the people and professions behind public health, we’re opening doors to careers they may never have considered and showing them that those opportunities exist right in their own neighborhood.”
This season, host Garin Hyde welcomes new contestants Bryson, Eve and Xavier, who quiz public health experts about their work and try to guess their occupation. Along the way, they learn about a variety of public health roles and how public health workers make our communities healthier and safer.
“Health Heroes brings together real North Carolina learners and the everyday heroes who help keep our communities healthy,” said Lauren McDowell Pyle, PBS North Carolina’s Director of Children’s Media and Education Engagement. “Families can learn together while exploring rewarding careers and important public health topics. We hope the show sparks curiosity, encourages meaningful conversations at home and helps families better understand the important role public health plays in all our lives.”
Health Heroes is made possible with support from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS).
“Public health plays an essential role in helping North Carolina’s children, families and communities stay healthy and thrive,” said Dr. Devdutta “Dev” Sangvai, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. “Health Heroes brings that work to life in a way that is engaging and easy for families to understand, while introducing young people to the many people and careers working every day to build a healthier North Carolina.”
Each episode of Health Heroes highlights a specific career within the five foundational blocks of public health: Communicable Disease Control; Environmental Public Health; Maternal, Child and Family Health; Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention; and Access to and Linkage to Care. This season, contestants meet public health experts who specialize in injury prevention, healthy diets, communicable diseases, children’s environmental health and data visualization.
“Public health touches the lives of every North Carolina family,” said Dr. Kelly Kimple, NCDHHS Director of the Division of Public Health. “Health Heroes helps children and families better understand the people and work behind healthier communities, while showing young people how they can be part of that work, too.”
Episode Schedule
Season two of Health Heroes premieres Saturday, November 21, on Rootle, online and on the Rootle PBS KIDS livestream, YouTube and the free PBS app. Season one is streaming now. Visit pbsnc.org/schedule for the latest broadcast information.
Episode 1: The Children’s Environment Hero
Premieres Saturday, November 21, 7:30 AM
Contestants Bryson, Eve and Xavier interview Rob Pearsall, an environmental health expert who keeps our indoor and outdoor areas safe and free from lead.
Episode 2: The Injury Prevention Hero
Premieres Saturday, November 21, 8:45 AM
Bryson, Eve and Xavier meet Scott Proescholdbell, a public health expert who tracks common injuries and teaches how to prevent them.
Episode 3: The Dynamic Disease-Stopping Duo
Premieres Saturday, November 21, 1:30 PM
Bryson, Eve and Xavier get to know Maura Trimble and Srijana Acharya, public health experts who track communicable diseases and nurse people back to health.
Episode 4: The Healthy Food Hero
Premieres Saturday, November 21, 2:45 PM
Bryson, Eve and Xavier talk with Meghan Brown, a public health expert who teaches her community all about healthy and accessible foods.
Episode 5: The Accessible Information Hero
Premieres Sunday, November 22, 7:30 AM
Bryson, Eve and Xavier interview Dr. Sharon Loza, a public health expert who takes complex data and helps translate it into easy-to-understand visuals.
About the NC Department of Health and Human Services
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services manages the delivery of health- and human-related services for all North Carolinians, especially our most vulnerable people—children, elderly, disabled and low-income families. The department works closely with health care professionals, community leaders and advocacy groups; local, state and federal entities; and many other stakeholders to improve the health, safety and well-being of all North Carolinians. Learn more at ncdhhs.gov.
About Rootle PBS KIDS
Rootle, PBS North Carolina’s PBS KIDS brand, provides wholesome, educational and entertaining content and resources for children and is a trusted educational partner to families, caregivers and educators across the state. Learn more at pbsnc.org/rootle.
About PBS North Carolina
As North Carolina’s statewide PBS network serving the country’s third largest public media market, PBS North Carolina educates, informs, entertains and inspires its audience on air, online and in person. Through its unique partnership of public investment and private support, the network includes in-person engagement, digital-first social and online content delivery and four over-the-air channels: PBS NC, Rootle PBS KIDS channel, the Explorer Channel and the North Carolina Channel. Its transformational events and content spark curiosity and wonder for all North Carolinians. Additionally, PBS North Carolina serves as the backbone for North Carolina’s state emergency services. To learn more about PBS North Carolina, visit pbsnc.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
-PBS NC-
Media Contact
For press info and resources, email press@pbsnc.org.