The Doc Talk Podcast

Every fall and winter we see a lot of RSV in the ER. Most people recover at home, but very young babies and older adults can get seriously ill. This episode covers what RSV is, who is most at risk, when to go to the ER and what has changed in prevention for both ends of that age spectrum.

What to Expect

• What RSV is, when we see it and why you can get it more than once
• Why babies are so vulnerable and why most hospitalized infants were previously healthy
• What severe RSV looks like in older adults, including how it can tip heart and lung conditions over the edge
• When to go to the ER: the signs to watch for in babies and in older adults
• What treatment looks like at home, and why antibiotics and puffers usually aren't the answer
• Protecting babies: RSV vaccination in pregnancy and long-acting antibodies (nirsevimab and clesrovimab)
• Protecting adults: who is recommended to get an RSV vaccine, whether it's an annual shot and what we know about safety
• A rapid-fire myth round and our Prescription for Health takeaways

Thank You to Our Sponsor

Thank you to FIGS, our season sponsor. Use code FIGSDOCTALK at wearfigs.com for 20% off your first order.

Resources

• National Advisory Committee on Immunization, Summary of updated guidance to protect infants and children from RSV disease (2026)
• National Advisory Committee on Immunization, Summary of updated guidance on RSV vaccines for older adults and adults at high risk of severe RSV disease (2026)
• Public Health Agency of Canada, Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines: Canadian Immunization Guide
• Garegnani L et al., Monoclonal antibodies for prevention of RSV infection in children, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2025
• Lopes A et al., Changes in hospital admissions associated with pediatric RSV after the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, CMAJ 2026
• Tuite AR et al., Respiratory syncytial virus vaccination strategies for older Canadian adults: a cost-utility analysis, CMAJ 2024 

Publicly funded RSV programs differ by province and territory, so check with your local public health authority, prenatal provider, family doctor or pharmacist about what's offered where you live. 

Disclaimer: 

The Doc Talk is for general information purposes only and is not intended to replace medical advice from your doctor. While we are doctors, we are not your doctor. Always speak with your own healthcare provider about questions related to your personal health needs. 

October is Iron Deficiency Awareness Month, and iron deficiency is one of the most common things we see in clinic and the ER that still gets missed. In this episode we cover what iron deficiency and anemia are, who is at risk, how to spot it and how to manage it, with specific guidance for vegetarian and vegan listeners.

What to expect in this episode:

• The difference between iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia, and why you can feel unwell with a normal hemoglobin
• Who is affected in Canada, and why ferritin cutoffs are changing and vary by province and lab
• The main causes: increased needs, blood loss, low intake and poor absorption
• Signs and symptoms, from fatigue and brain fog to restless legs and hair changes
• Food and absorption, including how to get more from plant-based iron
• Supplements, IV iron and who should ask about a ferritin test
• Special groups: pregnancy, infants and toddlers, and heavy periods
• Quick takeaways for the general public and for healthcare workers

Thank You to Our Sponsor

This episode was created in partnership with Canada Beef for Iron Deficiency Awareness Month. Find out more information below: 

1. https://thinkbeef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Iron-Essentials-Toolkit_6.22.26.pdf
2. https://thinkbeef.ca/everyday-beef/eating-iron-rich/
3. https://thinkbeef.ca/iron-matters/

Additional Resources

• Health Canada, Iron: A Powerhouse Nutrient for Your Health (2025 infographic)
• Health Canada, Learn about iron
• Sholzberg M et al., Diagnosis and management of iron deficiency in females, CMAJ 2025
• Canadian Paediatric Society, Iron requirements in the first 2 years of life

More than four million people in Canada are living with diabetes and one of the most common questions after a diagnosis is also one of the most confusing: What am I actually supposed to eat?

Between social media nutrition advice, restrictive diets, conflicting messages about carbohydrates, and the growing use of medications like GLP-1s, figuring out what belongs on your plate can feel complicated.

In this episode of The Doc Talk, we're joined by Mairlyn Smith, Professional Home Economist, award-winning cookbook author and host of In The Kitchen with Diabetes Canada, and Cayla Runka, Registered Dietitian and Manager of Knowledge and Connection at Diabetes Canada.

Together, they cut through some of the noise around food and diabetes and talk about what sustainable, enjoyable eating can actually look like.

In The Kitchen with Diabetes Canada

Mairlyn also gives us a look inside In The Kitchen with Diabetes Canada, a free, live four-week virtual cooking and nutrition series running this fall.

Participants can cook along, learn practical strategies for preparing balanced meals, and have nutrition questions answered by experts in real time.

Find the program at diabetes.ca/inthekitchen.

You can also find Diabetes Canada's free handy portion guide and balanced plate resources, their online community Diabetes Canada Connect, and their virtual diabetes education program at diabetes.ca.

Our Prescription for Health

Managing diabetes doesn't mean eating perfectly or abandoning the foods that matter to you. Start with sustainable changes to your overall eating pattern, build meals around balance, protein and fibre, and look for ways to adapt the foods you already know and love.

For healthcare professionals: when starting someone on a GLP-1 medication, consider pairing the medication conversation with practical nutrition guidance rather than simply advising them to "eat less." And when patients need more education and support than can fit into a clinic visit, Diabetes Canada's free programs can be useful resources to have on hand.

This episode is brought to you by Diabetes Canada.

Resources:

Diabetes Canada: diabetes.ca

In The Kitchen with Diabetes Canada: diabetes.ca/inthekitchen

Virtual Diabetes Education Program: diabetes.ca/VDEP 

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why nutrition misinformation around diabetes is so common
• Where to start if you've just been diagnosed with diabetes
• Why diabetes management is about your overall eating pattern, not one individual food or meal
• Nutrition considerations for people taking GLP-1 medications, including getting enough protein and fibre as appetite and portions decrease
• Why you don't have to give up your favourite cultural or family foods
• Why healthy cooking can feel difficult, and ways to make it more realistic
• Practical, trustworthy resources for people living with diabetes and the healthcare professionals supporting them

Disclaimer: 

The Doc Talk is for general information purposes only and is not intended to replace medical advice from your doctor. While we are doctors, we are not your doctor. Always speak with your own healthcare provider about questions related to your personal health needs. 

Blood tests. Full-body MRIs. Biological age kits. Inflammation panels. Hormone testing. It seems like you can test everything in the name of longevity, if you’re willing to pay for it.

But does having more health data actually make you healthier?

In Part 2 of our longevity series, we’re taking on testing and once again sorting it into three buckets: Meh, Maybe and Definitely.

We look at everything from the basic tests you may already be getting through primary care to some of the much pricier testing showing up in longevity clinics and on social media.

And for every test, we ask one simple question:

If I know this number, will it actually change what I do?

We also talk about the potential downside of testing too much and why finding something earlier isn't automatically helpful if finding it doesn't actually improve your health.

So before you spend hundreds (or thousands) on a longevity workup, give this one a listen.

And if you missed it, start with Part 1: Longevity: Meh, Maybe or Definitely? What Actually Works, where we tackle the lifestyle side of living longer and healthier.

Helpful resources

Osteoporosis Canada: osteoporosis.ca
Evidence-based information on bone health, osteoporosis risk and bone density testing.

Choosing Wisely Canada: choosingwiselycanada.org
Great Canadian resource on when medical tests and treatments are and aren't likely to help.

Diabetes Canada: diabetes.ca
Information on diabetes risk, screening and prevention.

Canadian Cancer Society: cancer.ca
Information on cancer screening and screening programs across Canada.

Heart & Stroke: heartandstroke.ca
Resources on blood pressure, cholesterol and cardiovascular risk.

Follow us @thedoctalkpod and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Thanks to our Season 3 sponsor FIGS. Head to wearfigs.com and use code FIGSDOCTALK for 20% off your first order.

The Doc Talk is for general information only and isn't a substitute for medical advice. While we're doctors, we're not your doctor. Speak with your own healthcare provider about your individual health needs.

Welcome to Season 3 of The Doc Talk! 

Longevity is everywhere right now. NAD+. Peptides. Rapamycin. Cold plunges. CGMs. Creatine. Sauna. Supplements. Everyone seems to have a protocol...and something to sell you.

But what’s actually backed by evidence?

We’re kicking off Season 3 with a two-part series on longevity, and first up: what we do (and don’t) know about the things people are doing to live longer and healthier.

We’re putting some of the biggest longevity trends into three buckets: Meh, Maybe and Definitely.

Which ones have great marketing but not much human evidence? Which ones are genuinely promising? And which decidedly unsexy habits still beat most of the expensive longevity hacks?

We also get into where the science is evolving, when “we don’t know yet” is actually the right answer, and why something changing a biomarker doesn’t necessarily mean it changes how well, or how long you live.

If you’re spending time, energy or money trying to optimize your health, this is the episode to listen to before adding one more thing to your routine.

And this is only Part 1. We had so much to share, we split it into two separate episodes.

Follow us @thedoctalkpod and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Thanks to our Season 3 sponsor FIGS. Head to wearfigs.com and use code FIGSDOCTALK for 20% off your first order.

The Doc Talk is for general information only and isn't a substitute for medical advice. While we're doctors, we're not your doctor. Speak with your own healthcare provider about your individual health needs. 

Episode Overview

In this season finale, Dr. Shaz and Dr. Sheila answer your most pressing questions about GLP-1 medications and peptides from safety and side effects to menopause, mental health, and the exciting frontier of emerging research. Whether you're brand new to the Ozempic conversation or already on a GLP-1 and hitting a plateau, this episode covers it all.

We Cover:

GLP-1 Basics

• What GLP-1 stands for and how it works as a natural gut hormone
• Why these medications are so much more powerful than your body's own GLP-1
• Why GLP-1s are having a cultural moment right now — and what the science actually says
• Peptides explained: what they are, how they differ from approved GLP-1 medications, and why the regulatory and safety picture is more complex

Your Questions Answered: 

We collected your incredible questions from safety to duration, microdosing, what happens if you plateau and the potential benefits of these medications beyond weight loss.  

This episode marks the end of an incredible season. Thank you so much for listening, for sending in your questions, and for trusting us with your health conversations. We'll see you in Season 3.

This season is brought to you by FIGS: scrubs, compression socks, work bags, and loungewear for healthcare workers and beyond. Use code FIGSDOCTALK at wearfigs.com for 20% off your first order.

Connect With Us: 

Follow us on social: @thedoctalkpod

Like, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you listen

Disclaimer: The Doc Talk is for general informational purposes only and does not replace advice from your personal healthcare provider. Shaz and Sheila are doctors, but they are not your doctor. 

In this episode, we’re tackling a question that feels increasingly common and increasingly urgent: If you don’t have a family doctor and you’re getting your health advice online, how do you know who to trust?

With nearly nine in ten Canadians turning to the internet for health information, this isn’t surprising. Access to care is limited for many, and people are looking for answers wherever they can find them. But what we’re seeing in clinic and in the ER is that misinformation is no longer harmless. It’s changing decisions and, in some cases, causing real harm.

We walk through some of the myths we’re actually hearing from patients right now, from vaginal steaming and detoxes to high-dose vitamin D, “natural” cancer cures, and ongoing fears around vaccines and fertility. These conversations aren’t theoretical. They’re showing up in delayed diagnoses, complications from supplements, and patients stopping medications that were protecting them from serious outcomes.

This episode isn’t about shaming people for going online. It’s about understanding why they’re there in the first place, and giving you practical tools to navigate that space more safely. We talk about the red flags to watch for, what credible information actually looks like, and why confidence and popularity don’t equal accuracy.

At its core, this is bigger than individual choices. Health misinformation is a public health issue. It affects trust, access, and outcomes, especially for communities already facing barriers to care.

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering what to believe, this episode is for you. 

Disclaimer

A reminder that The Doc Talk is for general information purposes only. This podcast is not intended to replace medical advice from your doctor. While we are doctors, we are not your doctor. Always speak to your own healthcare provider for questions related to your personal health needs. 

Follow us on social media @thedoctalkpod and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen to podcasts.

In this special episode, we take a deeper look at the Season 2 finale of The Pitt. Rather than a full recap, we focus on the major medical storyline and the bigger themes the episode tries to tackle, including what it gets right, what it doesn’t, and what it reflects about real-life medicine.

We break down the case of preeclampsia progressing to eclampsia, discuss the realities of neonatal resuscitation, and explore the portrayal of burnout in healthcare, and why it deserves a more direct conversation.

We also reflect on key character arcs and what they reveal about the emotional cost of working in emergency medicine.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Preeclampsia and eclampsia: recognition, escalation, and management
• HELLP syndrome and maternal risk
• Resuscitative hysterotomy (perimortem C-section): when and why it’s done
• Neonatal resuscitation (NRP): key steps and where the show missed the mark
• Physician health: Dr. Al’s seizure disorder and implications for practice
• Burnout in healthcare: what it actually looks like and why it’s more than “just being tired”
• Character reflections: Robby, Whittaker, Mohan, Javadi, and Mel & Santos

A note on burnout and mental health in healthcare

Burnout, moral injury, and mental health struggles are common in medicine, particularly in high-intensity environments like emergency departments. These experiences are not a personal failure; they are often the result of systemic pressures combined with emotionally demanding work.

If you are a healthcare worker and you are struggling, you are not alone - and support is available.

Mental Health & Suicide Support Resources (Healthcare Workers)

Canada

• Talk Suicide Canada
  Call or text 988 (24/7, free, confidential)
• Canadian Medical Association Physician Wellness Hub
  Resources for physicians and learners, including mental health supports and crisis tools
• Canadian Nurses Association Wellness Resources
  Mental health and resilience resources for nurses and healthcare teams
• Provincial Physician Health Programs (PHPs)
  Confidential support services available in every province (e.g., Alberta Physician & Family Support Program)

United States

• National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
  Call or text 988 (24/7)
• Physician Support Line
  1-888-409-0141 (free, confidential peer support by physicians, daily)

Global 

• International Academy of Physician Associate Educators Wellness Resources
• Many hospitals and health systems offer confidential Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)

If you’re in immediate distress

Please contact your local emergency services or a crisis line in your region.

Follow us on social media at @thedoctalkpod and let us know your thoughts on this episode.

HPV is common. Cancer is not inevitable. 

In this episode, we break down Human Papillomavirus (HPV), what it actually means if your test is positive, and how vaccination and screening can prevent most HPV-related cancers.

About 75–80% of sexually active people will be exposed to HPV at some point. Most infections clear on their own. But certain high-risk strains can persist and increase cancer risk over time.

In Canada, approximately 1,550 people are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year and about 400 die annually (Canadian Cancer Society). Almost all cases are linked to HPV and are largely preventable.

In this episode, we cover:

• What HPV is (and isn’t)
• What happens after a positive test
• Who should get the vaccine and whether it’s ever too late
• Changes to cervical cancer screening in Canada

We also clear up common myths and explain how to move from panic to prevention.

If you’ve ever received an HPV-positive result and worried, this one’s for you. 

Thank you to our sponsor, FIGS.

If you work in health care (or love someone who does), you know how important comfort and function are. Use code FIGSDOCTALK for 20% off your first order at wearfigs.com. 

Disclaimer

A reminder that The Doc Talk is for general information purposes only. This podcast is not intended to replace medical advice from your doctor. While we are doctors, we are not your doctor. Always speak to your own healthcare provider for questions related to your personal health needs. 

Follow us on social media @thedoctalkpod and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen to podcasts.

Feeding kids has become one of the most overwhelming parts of parenting. In this episode, we cut through the noise on starting solids, picky eating, supplements, and the growing confusion around sugar and ultra-processed foods. 

We’re joined by Registered Dietitian Nita Sharda (Happy Healthy Eaters) to break down what the evidence actually says and how to apply it in real life.

What we cover:

• Baby-led weaning vs spoon-feeding
  What it is, what the evidence shows, and how to approach it safely
• Starting solids
  Nutritional priorities in early feeding and practical first food guidance
  Safe introduction of common allergens including peanut, egg and dairy
• Iron and vitamin D
  When supplementation is needed vs food-based approaches
  Signs kids may not be meeting requirements
• Picky eating
  What’s developmentally normal vs concerning
  Strategies to reduce mealtime stress and support variety
  How to think about “enough” intake and growth
• Nutrition misinformation
  Common myths circulating online and how to identify credible sources
• Added sugar
  What the evidence says about timing and amounts in childhood
• Ultra-processed foods
  What they are, why they matter and how to approach them realistically

Guest:

Nita Sharda, Registered Dietitian and co-founder of Happy Healthy Eaters, shares practical, evidence-based strategies to support family nutrition.

Connect with Nita:

Instagram: @nita_sharda

Instagram: @happyhealthyeaters

Thank you to our sponsor, FIGS.

If you work in health care (or love someone who does), you know how important comfort and function are. Use code FIGSDOCTALK for 20% off your first order at wearfigs.com. 

Disclaimer

A reminder that The Doc Talk is for general information purposes only. This podcast is not intended to replace medical advice from your doctor. While we are doctors, we are not your doctor. Always speak to your own healthcare provider for questions related to your personal health needs. 

Follow us on social media @thedoctalkpod and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen to podcasts.