Episode 89 of The Health Exchange Podcast looks at the realities of living with asthma with guest Dominique Lovings, a podcaster and content creator who was diagnosed as a child but spent much of her life without fully understanding the condition or how it should be managed. Dr. Rutland talks with Dominique about what asthma actually is, how symptoms can be minimized or overlooked, and how untreated inflammation can affect more than just the lungs. Their conversation also examines the connections between asthma, allergies, sinus disease, and hearing loss, while highlighting the importance of proper long-term treatment and patient education. As Dominique shares her experiences navigating health care, exercise, and the loss of a friend to an asthma attack, the episode takes a deeper look at health care disparities, the consequences of undertreatment, and why patients deserve to understand their conditions and advocate for their own health.

Follow Our Host:

instagram.com/drjrutland

Produced by Born Ready Films:

instagram.com/bornreadyfilms

Episode 88 of The Health Exchange Podcast examines what happens after death and the often misunderstood world of funeral care with guest Ashley McLean, a funeral director and embalmer who gives Dr. Rutland a behind-the-scenes look at what happens from the moment someone dies to the funeral, burial, or cremation. The conversation breaks down the realities of embalming, cremation, working with hospitals and families, and the unexpected challenges morticians face, while also exploring the emotional side of caring for people on some of the hardest days of their lives. Ashley shares stories that reveal how grief can bring families together or expose long-standing conflicts, and why planning ahead can make an enormous difference. Ultimately, the episode offers a candid look at death, grief, and the people who care for us after medicine can no longer do so, while reminding us how understanding mortality can change the way we live.

Follow Our Host:

instagram.com/drjrutland

Produced by Born Ready Films:

instagram.com/bornreadyfilms

Episode 87 of The Health Exchange Podcast explores the brain, spine, and nervous system with guest Dr. Lindsey Ross, a board-certified neurosurgeon specializing in complex spine surgery. Dr. Rutland speaks with her about how the nervous system communicates throughout the body, how neurosurgeons determine when surgery is necessary, and the importance of listening closely to patients when symptoms are difficult to diagnose. The conversation covers common spine problems including herniated discs, sciatica, spinal stenosis, and spondylolisthesis, as well as ergonomics, chronic back pain, concussions, brain injuries, and the warning signs that should never be ignored. Dr. Ross also discusses advances in spine surgery, the future of neuroscience, protecting brain health as we age, and her journey as a woman in a historically male-dominated field.

Follow Our Host:

instagram.com/drjrutland

Produced by Born Ready Films:

instagram.com/bornreadyfilms

Episode 86 of The Health Exchange Podcast explores the science, psychology, and humanity of palliative care with guest Dr. Alex Gamble, an internist, psychiatrist, and palliative care physician. Dr. Rutland speaks with him about what palliative care actually means, how it differs from hospice, and why it should be considered throughout the course of serious illness rather than only at the end of life. The conversation examines the emotional side of serious illness, including how pain, anxiety, grief, and stress are deeply connected, and why helping patients and families process difficult emotions is just as important as managing physical symptoms. They also discuss delivering life-changing diagnoses, navigating goals of care, supporting families and clinicians through emotionally difficult situations, and the importance of creating psychological safety for doctors to acknowledge their own emotions. Ultimately, the episode explores how patients, families, and physicians can learn to sit with suffering, understand what their emotions are telling them, and keep the person’s values, goals, and humanity at the center of care.

Follow Our Host:

instagram.com/drjrutland

Produced by Born Ready Films:

instagram.com/bornreadyfilms

Episode 85 of The Health Exchange Podcast explores the challenges of keeping kids healthy as they head back to school with guest Dr. Dylan Ochal, a pediatrician who discusses everything from frequent childhood illnesses and developing immune systems to the importance of wellness visits and preventive care. Dr. Rutland speaks with her about knowing when a child’s symptoms are normal versus when they may signal something more serious, while also covering vaccines, sleep, screen time, nutrition, mental health, and the many ways school can impact a child’s overall well-being. The conversation also highlights the importance of parent education, setting healthy boundaries, building trust with your pediatrician, and creating an environment where children can thrive both physically and emotionally.

Follow Our Host:

instagram.com/drjrutland

Produced by Born Ready Films:

instagram.com/bornreadyfilms

Episode 84 of The Health Exchange Podcast tells the remarkable story of stomach cancer survivor Sidney Raskind, whose life was forever changed after the devastating loss of his daughter led to the discovery of a hereditary cancer syndrome hidden within his family. Sidney joins Dr. Rutland to discuss how genetic testing uncovered his cancer before symptoms ever appeared, the difficult decision to undergo a total gastrectomy, and what it truly means to live without a stomach. Their conversation explores the life-saving potential of genetic screening, the realities of hereditary cancer, navigating grief, trusting medical science, and adapting to life after major surgery. Sidney also shares how his experience transformed him into an advocate, using his story to raise awareness about early detection, resilience, and finding purpose after unimaginable loss.

Follow Our Host:

instagram.com/drjrutland

Produced by Born Ready Films:

instagram.com/bornreadyfilms

Episode 83 of The Health Exchange Podcast explores the rapidly evolving world of cancer care with guest Dr. Paul Hanona, a hematologist-oncologist dedicated to both treating patients and educating the public. Dr. Rutland and Dr. Hanona explain what cancer actually is, why it should be thought of as hundreds of unique diseases rather than a single diagnosis, and how breakthroughs in genetics, immunotherapy, CAR-T cell therapy, and personalized cancer vaccines are transforming treatment and giving patients more hope than ever before. They also discuss the importance of prevention through lifestyle choices, screening, and genetic testing, while addressing disparities in cancer outcomes, the promise of clinical trials and artificial intelligence, and the emotional realities of caring for people with cancer. Throughout the conversation, they emphasize that while cancer remains one of medicine's greatest challenges, advances in research are helping more patients live longer, healthier lives with renewed hope.

Follow Our Host:

instagram.com/drjrutland

Produced by Born Ready Films:

instagram.com/bornreadyfilms

Episode 82 of The Health Exchange Podcast explores the complex world of pediatric ear, nose, and throat health with guest Dr. Gene Liu, an otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon. Dr. Rutland speaks with him about why ear infections are one of the most common reasons children visit the doctor, how fluid in the middle ear can affect hearing and speech development, and why some children outgrow these problems while others need more aggressive treatment. The conversation explains the anatomy behind Eustachian tube dysfunction, adenoid enlargement, recurrent infections, and ear tubes, while also addressing the role of allergies, inflammation, and environmental exposures in chronic congestion and ear disease. Beyond the common conditions, Dr. Liu shares fascinating stories from his career involving newborn airway emergencies, cochlear implants, cleft palate care, and other rare pediatric ENT disorders, offering parents a practical guide to understanding when symptoms are part of normal childhood and when they deserve closer medical attention.

Follow Our Host:

instagram.com/drjrutland

Produced by Born Ready Films:

instagram.com/bornreadyfilms

Episode 81 of The Health Exchange Podcast explores the growing impact of colorectal cancer with guest Dr. Karen Zaghiyan, a board-certified colorectal surgeon. Dr. Rutland speaks with her about why colorectal cancer is rising among younger adults, the warning signs people often dismiss, and why screening remains one of the most powerful tools for prevention. The conversation breaks down common misconceptions around colonoscopies, how polyps can be detected and removed before becoming cancer, and the evolving options for those who are hesitant about traditional screening. Dr. Zaghiyan also shares how lifestyle, the gut microbiome, inflammation, and genetics may influence colorectal cancer risk, while highlighting advances in surgery, robotics, and immunotherapy that are changing how these cancers are treated. This episode emphasizes the importance of early detection, having uncomfortable conversations, and taking proactive steps to protect your health.

Follow Our Host:

instagram.com/drjrutland

Produced by Born Ready Films:

instagram.com/bornreadyfilms

Episode 80 of The Health Exchange Podcast takes a look at the Mobile Stroke Unit with Dr. May Nour, a vascular and interventional neurologist and Medical Director of the UCLA Health Mobile Stroke Rescue Program. Dr. Rutland and Dr. Nour discuss what happens inside the brain during a stroke, why every minute can mean the loss of millions of brain cells, and how recognizing symptoms quickly can dramatically change a patient's outcome. The conversation breaks down the differences between ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes, the risk factors that put people of all ages at risk, and why as many as 90% of strokes may be preventable through lifestyle changes and better management of chronic conditions. They also take an inside look at UCLA's groundbreaking Mobile Stroke Unit, an innovative program bringing advanced brain imaging and life-saving treatment directly to patients before they ever reach the hospital, transforming the future of emergency stroke care.

Follow Our Host:

instagram.com/drjrutland

Produced by Born Ready Films:

instagram.com/bornreadyfilms