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