View The Show Notes Page For This Episode.

Dr. Hasan Merali, MD, MPH, is an associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics at McMaster University and a pediatric emergency medicine physician at McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario. He received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and a Master of Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins University. His research focuses on child injury prevention in low- and middle-income countries. He has published more than twenty-five peer-reviewed journal articles, and his work has been featured in The New York Times, BBC, CNN, Science, Medium, The Boston Globe, NBC, CBC, HuffPost, and Popular Science. Hasan is also the author of Sleep Well, Take Risks and Squish the Peas: Secrets from the Science of Toddlers for a Happier, More Successful Way of Life.

We discuss:

* My personal experience with a medical emergency at McMaster SickKids Hospital.

* Dr. Merali’s journey from a small town in Northern Ontario to emergency medicine.

* The writing process behind his book and why toddlers are masters of play, risk-taking, and emotional resilience.

* The impact of screens on childhood development and why letting kids take risks is essential.

* How toddlers utilize self-talk and private speech to develop self-regulation, build confidence and navigate their surroundings.

* How understanding toddler brain development can help parents navigate tantrums, nutrition, and self-regulation.

Please enjoy our wide-ranging conversation on today’s episode!

Connect with Hasan:

Twitter/X | Website | Facebook | LinkedIn

We Discuss:

8:13 — The Importance of Pediatric Emergency Care.

10:58 — Hasan’s journey through medical training from Harvard to McMaster.

13:58 — The ins and outs of writing your first book, from the idea to publishing.

17:01 — Lessons from Toddlers: Play and Risk-Taking.

19:57 — Navigating Modern Parenting: Balancing Play and Safety.

23:05 — The Confidence of Toddlers: How To Embrace Risk.

25:12 — The Impact of Screentime and Smartphones on Play and Development.

31:50 — Learning How To Develop Confidence From Pre-Schoolers.

33:26 — Nutrition Insights from Toddlers.

35:52 — The Power of Self-Talk and Private Speech.

43:07 — Understanding Toddler Brain Development.

46:30 — Tapping into Creativity Like A Toddler.

50:46 — Key Lessons from Toddlers for Adults on Happiness, Success and Fulfillment.

Connect with Shawn:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/drshawngill

Twitter/X: x.com/drshawngill

Website: drshawngill.com

Instagram: instagram.com/drshawngill

Substack: shawngill.substack.com

How To Support This Podcast:

If you enjoy this podcast and want to support me, there are 2 ways you can for free:

* Give this podcast a like and/or a 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

* Share this with friends, colleagues, family, or anyone you think would enjoy more content and would gain from learning more about deprescribing.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or leave a comment.

If you enjoyed this podcast episode, please consider subscribing to the channel and sharing this episode.

Thanks for tuning in. Your support means everything! SG.

B.U.D.S is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Welcome to the 12th episode of Deprescribe. In this episode, I interview Dr. Zia Poonja and Rex Farrand, the co-founders of MyHealthspan, a platform focused on longevity medicine and health optimization.

In this conversation, we discuss the importance of early screening, biomarkers, and a proactive approach to health. Rex shares his background in tech and how it informs MyHealthspan’s approach to healthcare, while Zia emphasizes the need to improve quality of life in the context of longevity medicine. We explore misconceptions about longevity, the services offered by MyHealthSpan, and the future of healthcare with advancements in AI and diagnostics. We conclude the conversation with personal insights and recommendations for optimizing health.

If you’re looking to maximize your healthspan, wellness, or performance, this conversation is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

Alternate Links To Listen

Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple Podcasts

Connect with Dr. Zia Poonja

LinkedIn | Website

Dr. Zia Poonja is an oncologist, researcher, health enthusiast, and founder of companies that specialize in health optimization. He has a passion for prevention and advocates for people to recognize the agency they have in their quality of life. Zia completed a BSc in Human Physiology followed by his MD at the University of Saskatchewan. Subsequently, he completed a residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Alberta and a fellowship in Medical Oncology at the University of British Columbia (UBC).

Zia currently practices oncology at BC Cancer in Victoria and is an actively involved co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of MyHealthspan and PrehabRx. Zia holds faculty positions at UBC and the University of Victoria. He’s the proud father of two and enjoys powerlifting and running in his spare time.

Connect with Rex Farrand

LinkedIn | Instagram | Website

Rex Farrand is the Co-Founder and CEO of MyHealthspan. Under his leadership, MyHealthspan delivers personalized health insights through advanced blood tests, DNA analysis, and expert coaching—helping people to own their health and extend their healthiest years.

Prior to founding MyHealthspan, Rex has held leadership roles across industries — Meta and Google in Tech, Goldman Sachs in Finance, and he was even an 8th grade science teacher after graduating from the University of Southern California. He's passionate about shifting healthcare from reactive treatment to proactive customer-centric solutions, ensuring that people have the tools to optimize their own health for life.

Chapters:

00:00 — The Role of Biomarkers in Health Optimization

08:42 — Rex's Journey: From Tech to Health

12:59 — Identifying Gaps in Healthcare

17:18 — Understanding Healthspan vs. Lifespan

25:49 — My HealthSpan: Services and Screening Tools

39:04 — Tactical Recommendations for High Performers

44:59 — Oncology Insights and Quality of Life

49:31 — Accessibility in Longevity Medicine

55:11 — The Future of Longevity Medicine and AI

56:08 — The Agency of Health: Empowering Individuals

01:00:07 — The Future of Longevity: Balancing Innovation and Basics

01:01:56 — Advancements in Diagnostics: The Role of AI and Testing

01:05:09 — Proteomics and Longevity: Understanding Protein Signatures

01:07:11 — Quality Control in Health Diagnostics

01:08:13 — Personal Insights: Powerlifting and Health

01:12:18 — Golf and Life: Balancing Passion and Time

01:17:05 — Billboard Messages for the Masses.

Connect with Shawn:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/drshawngill

Twitter/X: x.com/drshawngill

Website: drshawngill.com

Instagram: instagram.com/drshawngill

Substack: shawngill.substack.com

Join MyHealthspan and Support This Show

MyHealthspan is Canada’s number-one health-tech company that focuses on longevity and wellness. I’ve partnered with myHealthspan to get unique insights into my cardiac, metabolic, and cognitive health, while also deep-diving into my risks for various cancers. Your typical physical from your GP only provides you with about 20 biomarkers. However, with myHealthspan’s Every Day Longevity program, you can access over 18 advanced medical tests, screening up to 58 biomarkers and key biometrics. They take all your data and calculate a unique, MyHealthspan Longevity Score, which allows you to focus your efforts on improving the key aspects you may be missing in optimizing your longevity, performance, and wellness. Visit myHealthspan.com/deprescribe to get started; make every day count, and take the first step toward better health with MyHealthspan.

B.U.D.S is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode

Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring is a board-certified psychiatrist, former FDA medical officer, and renowned authority on psychiatric drug safety and tapering. As the co-founder of TaperClinic, the largest psychiatric deprescribing practice in the United States, Dr. Witt-Doerring has dedicated his career to helping individuals safely discontinue psychiatric medications, particularly after experiencing significant adverse reactions or protracted withdrawal. His mission is to empower patients to reclaim their mental clarity, physical health, and independence from medications that were often prescribed as quick fixes for complex problems. His YouTube channel, Dr. Josef, has over 80,000 subscribers and provides videos and insights on how to safely stop psychiatric medications and recover from side effects.

Please enjoy!

We Discuss:

02:58 — Josef's Journey into Psychiatry

05:45 — The Reality of Psychiatric Practice and Training

08:52 — Our Influences and Inspirations in Self-Help

11:57 — Josef's Transition from Psychiatry Residency to the FDA

15:15 — Insights from Josef's Time at the FDA

18:10 — How Clinical Trials Measure Efficacy and Safety of Antidepressants

24:02 — Informed Consent and Patient Communication

26:56 — Protracted Withdrawal and Treatment Resistance

29:54 — Oppositional Tolerance and Tardive Dysphoria

35:58 — The Future of Psychiatry and Antidepressant Prescribing

41:01 — Tapering and Deprescribing Antidepressants

47:52 — Approaching Complex Cases of Polypharmacy

54:45 — Mindset and Characteristics for Successful Tapering

01:00:50 — The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health

01:05:09 — Personal Experiences with Psychiatric Medication and Recovery

01:09:44 — Facing Resistance in Psychiatry

01:13:06 — Hope for the Future of Mental Health Treatment

Connect with Josef:

Instagram | Twitter/X | TikTok | YouTube | Website | Facebook | Beacon

Tapering Resources for Individuals and Clinicians

Click here to access Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring’s free taper guide.

If you’d like to sign up for Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring’s Drug Tapering Mentorship Program, please click here. The program is available for free and available to anyone and all interested in deprescribing and tapering psychiatric medicines.

Alternate Links To Listen:

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

Connect with Shawn:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/drshawngill

Twitter/X: x.com/drshawngill

Website: drshawngill.com

Instagram: instagram.com/drshawngill

Substack: shawngill.substack.com

How To Support This Podcast:

If you enjoy this podcast and want to support me, there are 2 ways you can for free:

* Give this podcast a like and/or a 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

* Share this with friends, colleagues, family or anyone you think would enjoy more content and would gain from learning more about deprescribing.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or leave a comment.

If you enjoyed this podcast episode, please consider subscribing to the channel and sharing this episode.

Thanks for tuning in. Your support means everything! SG.

B.U.D.S is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This short episode is an audio essay from yours truly. Special thanks to my friend, EA, for the guest intro!

Working in pediatric urgent care, I have an ongoing joke with my pediatrician colleagues — In each consult room, there are always two patients: the sick child and the stressed-out parent. The pediatricians handle the child, and I handle the parents.

It helps that I’m in their shoes; raising two young boys in a post-pandemic world. I’ve learned a lot on the front lines of primary care while chronicling my experience at home with my family. Lately, I’ve been having plenty of conversations with young Mothers and Fathers about their struggles with finding time to maintain their mental and physical health, while handling the responsibilities and pressures of parenthood.

This episode is dedicated to all of them—the Fathers, Mothers, and OGs who are trying to balance the art of parenting, raising young children, and providing for their loved ones while maintaining their health and sanity.

Please enjoy.

Alternate Links To This Episode

Connect with Shawn:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/drshawngill

Twitter/X: x.com/drshawngill

Website: drshawngill.com

Instagram: instagram.com/drshawngill

Substack: shawngill.substack.com

How To Support This Podcast:

If you enjoy this podcast and want to support me, there are 2 ways you can for free:

* Give this podcast a like and/or a 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

* Share this with friends, colleagues, family or anyone you think would enjoy more content and would gain from learning more about deprescribing.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or leave a comment.

If you enjoyed this podcast episode, please consider subscribing to the channel and sharing this episode.

Thanks for tuning in. Your support means everything! SG.

B.U.D.S is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Dr. Awais Aftab, MD, is a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University and practices as a psychiatrist in Cleveland, OH, USA. His academic, educational, and public-facing work focuses on conceptual and critical issues in psychiatry. He led the interview series “Conversations in Critical Psychiatry” from 2019 to 2022 for Psychiatric Times, which is now available as a book adaptation from Oxford University Press. He is a senior editor for the journal “Philosophy, Psychiatry & Psychology.” His peer-reviewed work has been published in top psychiatric journals, he has written for the New York Times, and has been quoted in publications such as the LA Times, VICE News, and the Rolling Stones Magazine. He writes a popular Substack newsletter, Psychiatry at the Margins, which has more than 10,000 subscribers from 120 countries.

Please enjoy!

Today’s Shout-Out is Dedicated To:

MyHealthspan.com, Canada’s number-one healthtech company focused on longevity and wellness. I’ve partnered with myHealthspan to get unique insights into my cardiac, metabolic, and cognitive health, while also deep-diving into my risks for various cancers. Your typical physical from your GP only provides you with about 20 biomarkers. However, with myHealthspan’s Every Day Longevity program, you can access over 18 advanced medical tests, screening up to 58 biomarkers and key biometrics. They take all your data and calculate a unique, MyHealthspan Longevity Score, which allows you to focus your efforts on improving the key aspects you may be missing in optimizing your longevity, performance, and wellness. Visit myHealthspan.com/deprescribe to get started; make every day count, and take the first step toward better health with MyHealthspan.

Key Takeaway and Quote:

“We should not think of psychiatric problems as just medical problems, but rather as these rich multifaceted problems that should be understood and approached from a variety of different angles.” — Dr. Awais Aftab.

Selected Links From The Episode

Connect with Awais Aftab on LinkedIn | Website | X/Twitter | Substack

* Articles Mentioned from Psychiatry at the Margins:

* How Antidepressants Work

* The Case for Antidepressants in 2022

* 30 Years of Listening to Prozac: A discussion with Peter Framer

* Post SSRI Sexual Dysfunction

* Conversations in Critical Psychiatry. Link to the conversations in the Psychiatry Times. Link to the book:

* Systematic Review of Antidepressant Withdrawal, Davies and Read. Link to paper.

Connect with Shawn:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/drshawngill

Twitter/X: x.com/drshawngill

Website: drshawngill.com

Instagram: instagram.com/drshawngill

Substack: shawngill.substack.com

How To Support This Podcast:

If you enjoy this podcast and want to support me, there are 2 ways you can for free:

* Give this podcast a like and/or a 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

* Share this with friends, colleagues, family or anyone you think would enjoy more content and would gain from learning more about deprescribing.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or leave a comment.

If you enjoyed this podcast episode, please consider subscribing to the channel and sharing this episode.

Thanks for tuning in. Your support means everything! SG.

B.U.D.S is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Welcome to the eighth episode of Deprescribe. My guest today is Dr. Mark Bonta, MD. He is a medical doctor and internal medicine specialist. When he’s not saving lives or positively impacting the health of his patients, Mark is advancing healthcare literacy and demystifying medicine through his podcast — Ditch The Labcoat.

In this episode, Mark and Shawn discuss:

* Finding alternative paths in medicine, and pharmacy while building the conditions for self-actualization and a rewarding career.

* Exploring alternative billing and reimbursement models in medicine.

* Our thoughts on Medicine 3.0 and the rising trends centered on longevity, healthspan, and lifespan.

* Raising resilient children and adverse childhood experiences.

* Managing and avoiding burnout in medicine, while balancing our professional obligations and responsibilities as frontline healthcare providers.

Links and Show Notes:

* Ditch The Labcoat, Episode 27 — The Art of Deprescribing with Dr. Shawn Gill.

* Adverse Childhood Experiences — The Kaiser Permanente Study

* The Wall Street Journal — Young Doctors Want Work-Life Balance. Older Doctor’s Say That’s Not The Job. (For an alternative link, click here).

* Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland

Connect with Mark:

LinkedIn | Substack | Twitter/X | YouTube | Instagram | Personal Site

Connect with Shawn:

LinkedIn | Twitter/X | Personal Site | Instagram

How To Support This Podcast:

If you enjoy this podcast and want to support me, there are 2 ways you can for free:

* Give this podcast a 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

* Share this with friends, colleagues, family or anyone you think would enjoy more content and would gain from learning more about deprescribing.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or leave a comment.

If you enjoyed this podcast episode, please consider subscribing to the channel and sharing this episode.

Thanks for tuning in. Your support means everything! SG.

B.U.D.S is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Welcome to the seventh episode of Deprescribe. My guest today is Dr. Ilona Hale, MD.

In this episode, Ilona and Shawn discuss:

* The statistics and evidence detailing the negative environmental impact of pharmaceuticals and our healthcare system.

* Strategies and insights on how clinicians can improve their clinical practice to make it more environmentally friendly and sustainable.

Key Highlights

The D.O.P.E.D. Framework: Reducing Unnecessary Medicines 101.

* Diagnosis: Having an accurate diagnosis and appropriate indication before prescribing medications.

* Options: Based on clinical context, try to offer non-pharmacological interventions as first-line therapy when appropriate.

* Patients: Include the patient in the decision-making process and empower them to be involved in their treatment plan.

* Evidence-Based: Always select evidence-based treatment options—prime clinical example: patients requesting antibiotics for viral infections.

* Deprescribe: Always consider optimizing and reducing medications.

The Environmental Impact of Primary Care

* 61% of the environmental footprint from primary care comes from pharmaceuticals — the medicines we prescribe!

* 13% alone comes from metered dose inhalers (MDIs).

Show Notes and Links:

Dr. Hale’s presentation with the Therapeutics Initiative at The University of British Columbia on the evidence and data behind the environmental impact of medicines.

The Asulkan Valley Trail - Glacier National Park, British Columbia.

Amusing Ourselves To Death: Public Discourse In The Age of Show Business. Author: Neil Postman

Alternate Links To The Podcast:

Connect with Shawn:

LinkedIn | Twitter/X | Personal Site | Instagram

How To Support This Podcast:

If you enjoy this podcast and want to support me, there are 2 ways you can for free:

* Give this podcast a 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

* Share this with friends, colleagues, family or anyone you think would enjoy more content and would gain from learning more about deprescribing.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or leave a comment.

If you enjoyed this podcast episode, please consider subscribing to the channel and sharing this episode.

Thanks for tuning in. Your support means everything!

B.U.D.S is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Welcome to the sixth episode of Deprescribe, our guest today is Stacey D’Angelo.

Stacey is a pharmacist and founder of Your Simple Health, where she works directly with patients to help optimize, streamline, and reduce medication use. She specializes in pharmacogenomics, understanding the right medicines for you based on your DNA, and deprescribing, helping people to reduce medications that are no longer right for them. She is passionate about empowering people to make informed health decisions and take a greater role in their health.

In this episode, Shawn and Stacey discuss:

* The crucial need for deprescribing in long-term care settings where polypharmacy is prevalent.

* How patients can benefit from slow tapers and individualized support during their deprescribing journey.

* The emerging field of pharmacogenomics and how it can help personalize medication management to reduce issues in medication therapy management.

* The importance of collaboration and education among healthcare providers for successful deprescribing.

Connect with Stacey:

Your Simple Health | Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook

Connect with Shawn:

LinkedIn | Twitter/X | Personal Site | Instagram

How To Support This Podcast:

If you enjoy this podcast and want to support me, there are 2 ways you can for free:

* Give this podcast a 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

* Share this with friends, colleagues, family or anyone you think would enjoy more content and would gain from learning more about deprescribing.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or leave a comment.

If you enjoyed this podcast episode, please consider subscribing to the channel and sharing this episode.

Thanks for tuning in. Your support means everything!

- Shawn GIll.

B.U.D.S is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Build. Understand. Discipline. Stillness. “B.U.D.S” is written by me, Dr. Shawn Gill - I’m a pharmacist and Father of two boys. During the day, I work as a deprescribing pharmacist, helping patients get off drugs, safely and effectively. At night, I write this newsletter. B.U.D.S is a community that's focused on inspiring individuals to take account of their health and wellness, as well as reverse mental health and chronic disease. If you’d like to support this mission, please subscribe. Much love. SG

Welcome to the fifth episode of Deprescribe with Shawn.

Today’s episode is a recording of a case presentation I gave for the University of British Columbia’s Therapeutics Initiative, in July 2024. I presented a patient case on deprescribing desvenlafaxine (brand name: Pritiq) using hyperbolic tapering.

To learn more about my presentation with Therapeutics Initiative, click here.

To access the slides from the webinar, click here.

Connect with Shawn:

LinkedIn | Twitter/X | Personal Site | Instagram

Alternate links and other platforms you can watch/listen on:

How To Support The Show

If you want to support me there are 2 ways you can for free

* Give this podcast a 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

* Share this with anyone you think would enjoy this

If you have any questions, please comment below, or you can connect with me on LinkedIn!

If you enjoyed this podcast episode, please consider subscribing to the channel and sharing the episode. Many thanks.

B.U.D.S is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Build. Understand. Discipline. Stillness. “B.U.D.S” is written by me, Dr. Shawn Gill - I’m a pharmacist and Father of two boys. During the day, I work as a deprescribing pharmacist, helping patients get off drugs, safely and effectively. At night, I write this newsletter. B.U.D.S is a community focused on inspiring individuals to take account of their health and wellness, as well as reverse mental health and chronic disease. If you’d like to support this mission, please subscribe below. Much love. SG

Welcome to the fourth episode of Deprescribe with Shawn. Our guest today is Monica Mina. NP.

In this episode, Monica and Shawn discuss:

Monica's journey from traditional nursing to antidepressant deprescribing and how her personal experience with antidepressants transformed her practice.

Key factors in successfully tapering off antidepressants.

How to distinguish between withdrawal symptoms and negative life circumstances when experiencing challenges during the taper process.

A holistic approach that includes exercise, mindfulness, counselling/therapy, and other coping strategies can support mental health during tapering.

Basic self-care practices like mindfulness, exercise, and healthy relationships and how to incorporate these practices into mental health treatment.

Monica and Shawn share their mindfulness practices, including guided meditations and journaling.

The conversation ends with some rapid-fire questions, providing insights into Monica's favourite books, her go-to self-care practices, and a message she would put up on a billboard for the world to see.

Chapters

02:30 - Monica's Journey: From Traditional Nursing to Antidepressant Deprescribing

08:42 - Timing, Commitment, and Resiliency: Keys to Successful Antidepressant Tapering

11:10 - Tracking Progress: Using Graphs and Checklists in the Tapering Process

21:43 - Distinguishing Withdrawal Symptoms from Negative Life Circumstances

25:47 - A Holistic Approach: Supporting Mental Health During Antidepressant Tapering

28:59 - The Future of Mental Health: Psychedelic Therapies and Cautious Optimism

30:47 - Incorporating Basic Self-Care Practices into Mental Health Treatment

32:55 - Mindfulness Practices: Guided Meditations and Journaling

35:37 - Rapid-Fire Questions: Favorite Books, Go-To Self-Care, and Billboard Message

Connect with Monica:

Mindful Medicine By Monica | Instagram | LinkedIn

Connect with Shawn:

LinkedIn | Twitter/X | Personal Site | Instagram

Thanks for listening. Peace and love.

SG