The Medical Dads Podcast

By definition, children are what defines a parent. This week, we close out our series on relationships by talking about our relationship with our children, from cradle to adulthood and beyond.

This week, the Medical Dads get ready to talk maybe the most important relationship for every parent, their relationship to the other parent.

On your deathbed, supposedly you will be thinking about your friends. But how is a busy parent supposed to stay connected to their friends while life is pulling them in every other direction?

This week, the Medical Dads take a look at probably one of the most misunderstood and made-fun-of relationships of all: your relationship with your in-laws!

This week the Medical Dads are talking about parents. Is Chinese filial piety really a thing? Do westerners care about their parents at all? As busy parents ourselves, this week we explore relationships with our own parents as we ease into adulthood and beyond.

This week, the Medical Dads are talking about enemies. We all have them. We all wish we didn't. What do we about them?

This week, the medical dads resume after a brief hiatus to break down one of the key relationships in many people's lives: the sibling relationship.

This week, the Medical Dads finish their dissection of the physician shortage crisis by discussing some potential solutions, both real and imagined!

As our discussion of the physician shortage rolls on, we break down the whole concept of doctor burnout. To the Medical Dads, it feels like more doctors are burning out than ever before, but why does it happen and what does it all mean?

This week, the Medical Dads continue their look at the physician shortage crisis by looking at some of the causes for why it is happening now. An aging work force, physician burn out, and much more in this week's deep dive on Canada's health crisis.

As we continue our discussion about the physician shortage in Canada, we take a look at what actually happens to patients when there aren't enough doctors around. We examine a compromised health care system, from walk in clinics, to over-worked emergency rooms and the results aren't pretty.

The Medical Dads begin a discussion about the physician shortage crisis in Canada. What is going on and what can be done about it? This week, on the first episode, the Medical Dads lay out the basis of the physician shortage and discuss how it's affecting their work.

This week, Stu and Dave reminisce about their memories of a lifetime of test taking, and wonder if there is a point to all the tests and exams that their children have to go through.

This week, its official! The Medical Dads are officially middle aged. Or are they? Depends on who you ask, perhaps1 In any case, Stu and Dave break down some common middle aged dad problems and discuss how to cope with them.

In this episode, the Medical Dads talk about side gigs-those jobs on the side that people do to make a little extra money, and how sometimes, side gigs aren't the best way to go if you are looking for car repairs, or regular timely episodes of the Medical Dads!

Recorded just before Christmas, the Medical Dads talk about what books they and their kids are reading of late.

Stu and Dave sit down to unwrap the realities of Christmas presents.

The Medical Dads ponder the serious issue of what they should do with their lives when they finally grow up.

This week, the Medical Dads sit down to share some scary stores. Like really, really scary stories.

Stu and Dave talk about a particular Canadian institution/caricature: the hockey parent. Stu reflects on his time as a hockey dad, while Dave looks forward to many cold hours standing behind the glass.

The Medical Dads podcast returns for year 4 with their season premiere, going back to school in a time when Covid has been conquered... sort of.  Note: this episode was recorded in September 2022 and was supposed to air then, but somehow didn't upload on time, so get ready for a trip down memory lane... to last month!

This week, Stu and Dave continue their discussion on anxiety with a focus on older children and how to approach these issues as parents,

The Medical Dads sit down to talk about mental health this week. They share frustrations about the health care system when it comes to mental health, then examine a few common anxiety disorders that parents might have to face including school refusal in young children.

For Thanksgiving 2022, the Medical Dads sit down to ponder all the things that we really aren't so thankful for about the world in 2022 while looking for a silver lining through it all.

The season finale of the 3rd season of the Medical Dads is finally upon us. Join us as we take a peek under the hood of everyone's favourite not quite so medically inclined parenting podcast. We talk a bit about how the show got started, and how the show has evolved from how it was first conceived.

Then, see you all in a few weeks for the beginning of season four!

This week, the Medical Dads talk about work life balance-what they learned about it from their parents, and the life principles around it that they would like to pass on to their children.

The Medical Dads explore why being a dad is a lonely business. Whether its meeting people through their children's playdates, or through athletic endeavours, its not easy to for dads when it comes to friendships.

Finally, the Medical Dads are proud to present their own take on Sickle and Ebert's movie reviews. For your listening pleasure, a deep dive review of two movies of vital, global importance (also known as the only two movies Dave has watched this year): Pixar's Turning Red and then, a spoiler laden review of The Batman.

In this episode (recorded a few weeks earlier in June), Stu and Dave talk about their plans for the upcoming summer, and why the summer of 2022 promises to be more interesting than just another COVID summer.

The Medical Dads are here to ring in the biggest day of the year! 

This week, in a continuation of the discussion about life in the Pediastric ER, the tables turn and Stu puts Dave in the hot seat to find out what people should know before they book an appointment with their family doctor.

The Medical Dads survived the great spring thunderstorm of 2022 and live to tell the tale! 

For Mother's Day, Stu and Dave sit down to share some stories about the long winding road their moms took to get where they are today. Happy Mother's Day to everyone out there!

Stu and Dave give a primer on what parents should know about emergency rooms. When is a good time to go the ER? Should they bring food with them? What exactly constitutes an emergency? If you've ever been confused by all the various health care options out there, from family medicine clinics to walk in clinics to the ER, this episode is for you! 

In a continuation to the last conversation on junk food, the Medical Dads have a serous, medical talk about potato chips, before sharing their thoughts about sugar snacks and ice cream.

Where else in the world will you get a long form discussion by medical doctors about the merits of junk food from McDonald's to fried chicken.  Just like quality junk food, this episode will leave you happy and satiated but perhaps not much better off in the grand scheme!

For the 30th anniversary of Basic Instinct, the Medical Dads talk about movies that are definitely not appropriate for their kids... yet.

Dave and Stu reflect on the state of the world while war rages in the Ukraine. Is the world simply one big exercise in playground diplomacy? How does one process war as a parent? How do they talk to their children about the realities of the world we live in? The Medical Dads do their best to wrap their heads around some serious topics this week.

The Medical Dads ponder the Endemic. Is it the end of the pandemic or is it the beginning of something else? Is it time to make plans for the summer? How worried are we about COVID as we had into spring? As COVID nears the two year mark, the Medical Dads get ready to talk about the end!

Stu and Dave stay on the topic of books, as they make time to talk comic books, graphic novels and Manga. Where else can you get a discussion about the Slam Dunk manga, Popeye, Calvin and Hobbes and Demon Slayer?  Nowhere else.

Where else are you going to get a discussion about Demon Slayer manga, Anne of Green Gables and Paw Patrol books all in the same hour? I didn't think so!

As the Beijing Winter Olympics roll on, the Medical Dads get into the Olympic spirit and talk about watching sports with their children and share memorable stories about the Blue Jays, Raptors, and watching sports with their own parents back in the day.

Stu and Dave sit down and talk about the Canadian version of Chinese New Year. Stu brushes up on his Chinese New Year greetings and they share some stories and memories about Chinese New Years from years gone by.

Stu and Dave take a break from worrying about Omicron to talk about the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to siblings and sibling rivalries. What can parents do to manage sibling rivalries? When are sibling rivalries beneficial and what happens when they go sour.

This week, as the Omicron variant rages around Ontario, Stu and and Dave break down how parents should weigh the various factors as they consider whether to send their children back to school or not. 

Its 2022 and suddenly Covid is back in full force. Stu and Dave talk about how Covid upended their Christmas holidays and is now threatening to upend schooling and parenting once again.

In this episode, recorded a month ago, Stu and Dave take a break from Covid talk and break down some common misconceptions (and conceptions) about Canada and Canadians. This is the break from Covid talk that you didn't know you needed!

The Medical Dads break down the 12 things they are wishing for this Christmas, culminating in a discussion of possibly the greatest Christmas movie ever made.

Stu and Dave talk about trying to parent during the internet age. From children using internet "for school," to playing online games, to accessing social media, the internet causes parents a lot of grief. How do we monitor what our kids are doing online? Is there a safe way for kids to navigate the internet? The Medical Dads share some of their own ideas about the internet and how to deal with it as parents.

Stu and Dave wax nostalgic about sick days from when they were growing up. Stu shares his mother's cure for children's sick days, while Dave recalls how sick days can sometimes motivate people to acts of athletic brilliance.