The Doc Talk Podcast
Dr. Shazma Mithani and Dr. Sheila Wijayasinghe have spent years navigating the health care system. Not just as doctors for their patients, but as moms for their kids, and patients themselves. And they know it's not always straightforward.
Every two weeks they'll take a real question from a real patient, and provide in-depth answers with a clear path to action, with help from other trusted experts.
No jargon. No time wasted. Just real talk about real issues from two doctors who've seen it all. And they'll give you the inside scoop on how to navigate the health care system like a pro.
This is The Doc Talk.
Disclaimer: 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.
Episodes
46 episodes
31. What Should You Actually Feed Your Kids?
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’r...
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43:29
30. Are Women Being Gaslit in Medicine?
For International Women’s Day, we’re tackling a difficult but important question: are women’s symptoms being dismissed in healthcare?Research shows that women experience higher rates of missed and delayed diagnoses for several maj...
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23:27
29. Before You Board: Travel Health Essentials Every Canadian Should Know
Travel is exciting. Getting sick on vacation is not. In this episode, we walk through what Canadians should think about before heading out of the country, and even within it. From vaccines and malaria prevention to travel insurance, food and wa...
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22:42
Special Heart Month Rerelease! Episode 10: Think It’s Not Your Heart? Think Again.
In light of Heart Month, The Doc Talk Podcast is dropping a special re-release of our episode on heart health.Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in Canada.In this episode of The Doc Talk Podc...
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30:32
28. Perimenopause: What’s Happening to Me?!
Perimenopause can feel confusing, frustrating, and at times overwhelming and most of us aren’t taught what to expect. We usually start with a listener question, but this time, it’s Dr. Shaz asking Dr. Sheila all the real-world quest...
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36:19
27. Clot or Not? The Blood Clot Symptoms You Can’t Afford to Miss
Blood clots are common, often preventable, and still widely misunderstood. In this episode, Dr. Sheila Wijayasinghe and Dr. Shazma Mithani unpack what people actually need to know about deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), co...
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19:46
26. Sick, Stuck, or Waiting: How Do You Navigate Care in Canada?
In this episode of The Doc Talk Podcast, we break down how the Canadian health care system is actually structured and how to navigate it safely when access is limited, from the perspectives of an emergency room d...
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21:56
The Doc Talk × The Pitt Recap Season 2: Episode 1
This is our last episode breaking down the Pitt and we’re closing this chapter with an episode we’re really proud of.As always, we watch through two clinical lenses as Dr. Shaz as an emergency physician giving us the actual behind the sc...
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20:59
25. Keep, Skip, or Caution: Sorting Exercise Fact From Fiction with Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple
The exercise and wellness space is louder than ever and often full of confident, conflicting advice. In this episode, we sit down with exercise physiologist and researcher Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple to cut through the noise using a simple framew...
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40:08
24. Does My Cough Need Antibiotics?
As cold and flu season ramps up, coughs and breathing concerns are one of the most common reasons people seek medical care. In this episode, Dr. Shazma Mithani and Dr. Sheila Wijayasinghe break down how to think about coughs during respiratory ...
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30:04
The Doc Talk × The Pitt: Season 1 Finale Recap (Episodes 14 & 15) × Dr. Jacob Lentz
We’ve reached the end of Season 1 of The Pitt — and what a shift it’s been.In this finale episode, we’re joined by Dr. Jacob Lentz, one of the medical advisors for The Pitt, who took time while filming Season 2 t...
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32:10
23. How to Avoid Medical Mishaps Over the Holidays
The holidays look cozy online, but in clinics and emergency rooms, this time of year can be really hard if you're sick or injured.In this episode, we break down what actually spikes over the holidays: GI flare-ups, slips and falls, viral...
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28:10
The Doc Talk × The Pitt Recap: Episodes 12 & 13
In this recap, we dive into The Pitt’s intense two-hour mass-casualty arc, episodes that capture the overwhelming pace, emotional weight, and coordinated chaos of real emergency medicine.We break down what mass casualty incidents ...
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32:44
22. Is it time to rethink alcohol?
The holidays are around the corner, and for many people, that means more conversations about drinking. In this episode, Shazma and Sheila answer a listener question, explore what the newest evidence says about alcohol, and reflect on how it sho...
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Season 2
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23:10
The Doc Talk × The Pitt Recap: Episodes 10 & 11 with Special Guest Dr. Fran
Before we jump into the details of episodes 10 and 11, we're joined by the brilliant OB-GYN and medical educator Dr. Fran @pagingdrfran, to discuss the intense delivery case, a chaotic shoulder dystocia and postpartum hemorrhage that had...
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39:38
21. Little Bodies, Big Questions: Understanding Eczema in Childhood
In this special episode, we're tackling a skin condition that affects 1 in 5 Canadian children: eczema. From the very first patch to long-term management, we’re breaking it all down with one of Canada’s leading pediatric dermatologists...
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47:27
Behind the Scenes with Fiona Dourif aka Dr. McKay! The Doc Talk x The Pitt Recap: Episodes 8 & 9
We dive into two of The Pitt’s most emotionally charged hours exploring grief, moral distress, and the impossible pace of emergency medicine.A special conversation on advocacy and authenticity with Fiona Dourif, th...
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57:17
20. Are Febrile Seizures Dangerous?
In this episode, Dr. Shazma Mithani and Dr. Sheila Wijayasinghe tackle one of the scariest moments for parents — when a child has a seizure during a fever. They break down what febrile seizures are, why they happen, what to do in the moment, an...
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Season 2
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13:30
The Doc Talk × The Pitt Recap: Episodes 6 & 7
These two powerful episodes of The Pitt take us into the heart of moral distress in medicine, from abortion care and teen consent to burnout, privatization, and the emotional cost of caring deeply in a strained system. We break down th...
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32:16
19. Should I Worry About a Fever?
Fever is one of the most common reasons parents bring their children to the ER and family medicine clinic. We break down what every parent should know about fevers in kids: when to worry, when to relax, and how to keep your child comfortable at...
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Season 2
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17:27
The Doc Talk × The Pitt Recap: Episodes 4 & 5
In this double recap, we deep dive into The Pitt Episodes 4 and 5, two back-to-back hours in the ER that capture everything from humour to heartbreak.We discuss the powerful storylines like end-of-life care and caregiver burnout...
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37:25
18. How to Avoid a Trip to the ER (Part 2 - Adults)
ER wait times in Canada are longer than ever, but many visits are preventable. In this episode, we break down the red flags that do require the ER, the common injuries and habits that don’t, and practical ways to stay out of h...
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Season 2
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35:44
The Doc Talk × The Pitt Recap: Episodes 2 & 3
We’re back with our parallel season of The Doc Talk Podcast, where we recap Season 1 of The Pitt, the medical drama we can’t stop talking about.This week’s a double-header: Episodes 2 and 3. The pace slows down but the stories hit ...
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38:27
