Raw Talk Podcast

#57 Autism: Unraveling the Spectrum

In the past, the term autism was used to describe the symptoms of schizophrenia and was (incorrectly!) thought to have been caused by apathetic "refrigerator mothers". Today, we use the term autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to describe developmental conditions that affect the communication and behaviour of individuals, with a wide range of symptoms and severities. Clearly, ASD is a complex condition and our understanding of it is constantly evolving. In this episode, you'll hear from two clinician-scientists at CAMH, Dr. Meng-Chuan Lai and Dr. Stephanie Ameis, who cover all the basics on ASD, and some newer research topics like sex and gender differences in autism. Dr. Stephen Scherer, a senior scientist at The Hospital for Sick Children, told us about his work on MSSNG, an exciting collaboration with Google and Autism Speaks, to uncover the genetic basis of ASD. You'll also hear from Connie Putterman, telling the story of her son's ASD diagnosis and how she came to be an advocate for autism research, as well as Rouya Botlani, who shares what she's learned through her work with students who have autism, at U of T Accessibility Services.

Written by: Thamiya Vasanthakumar

MSSNG
POND Network
Connie Putterman's The Parent Link
Connie Putterman's TedX Talk

#56: Mirror, Mirror - The Science Behind Skin & Cosmetics

Step 1, wash face. Step 2, tone. Step 3, apply serum. Step 4, hydrate. Sound familiar? Most of us have a facial routine that looks something like this. While the amount of steps may differ, most would agree that they follow a variation of the above regime. Today's episode questions where this and other daily hygiene/cleanliness routines come from, and explores the unique intersection at which dermatology lies - between medicine, and beauty. We talked to two dermatologists, medical professionals that specialize in the domain of skin, hair and nails for this purpose. Dr. Sandy Skotnicki, Founder of the Bay Dermatology Centre and Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, told us about her new book Beyond Soap, exploring our culture's hygiene practices, and enlightening us on the sinister side of soap. Dr. Julia Carroll, Ontario Regional Director of the Canadian Dermatology Association, discussed the complex interplay between dermatological conditions and cosmetics, and how these things are hard to untangle. To wrap up, we asked the question we know you are perhaps most interested in: what are the most essential products for healthy and well-balanced skin? Tune in to find out! Until next time, keep it hygienic - not clean!

Written by: Alexandra Mogadam

Dr. Sandy Skotnicki's Website
Beyond Soap by Dr. Sandy Skotnicki and Christopher Shulgan
Dr. Skotnicki's Clinic
The Product Elimination Diet
Dr. Carroll's Clinic
The Canadian Dermatology Association
CDA Recommended Skincare Product List

#55: Food for Thought: Unpacking Nutritional Science

What's the science behind the new and improved Canada Food Guide? Is the hype surrounding the keto diet and intermittent fasting supported by evidence? Can your genetic code tell you what diet is best for you? In this installment of Raw Talk, you'll find out! Dr. Carol Loffelmann shares how she leveraged her scientific and medical expertise as an anesthesiologist and Assistant Professor at U of T on her journey to becoming an advocate for evidence-based nutritional guidelines and the health benefits of a low-carb, high-fat diet. Expanding on this, you'll hear about the glycemic index from the man who created it, Dr. David Jenkins, a Scientist at Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute. Dr. Hoon-Ki Sung, Scientist at Sick Kids Hospital, also takes us through how intermittent fasting actually works and what happens in our fat cells. To learn about the future of food, we spoke with Dr. Daiva Nielsen, Assistant Professor at McGill University, about nutrigenomics and how genetic variation affects individuals' response to diet. Finally, we chowed down on the Beyond Meat Burger, made with 100% plant-based protein, with MD/PhD candidate Amy Khan. Your hunger for nutritional knowledge will be satisfied after this one!

Written by: James Saravanamuttu

Canada Food Guide
Food Guides From Around the World
Canadian Clinicians for Therapeutic Nutrition
Dr. Jenkins' Top 10 Healthiest Foods
Science of the Impossible Burger
MacLean's Less Meat, More Choice
Ultimate Veggie Burger Taste Test

#54: Sex, Society and Science

Think back to your first sexual education experience. What did you learn? Who taught you? How has your understanding of sex, sexuality, and gender changed as you got older? In this episode of Raw Talk, we explored these questions and more. Toronto District School Board teacher, Laura Brown, shared her thoughts on changes to the Ontario Health and Physical Education Curriculum. AIDS Committee Toronto worker, Alex Urquhart discusses PrEP as a revolutionary medication in the gay community. We also had some fun with Dr. Jessica Maxwell chatting about her PhD and current postdoctoral work on relationships and how to boost sexual well-being and satisfaction. Finally, we brought back Dr. Gillian Einstein, who walks us through the biology and neuroscience behind sexual differentiation, and what science says about both sex and sexuality existing on spectrums.

Written by: Melissa Galati

Episode #31: Sex, Gender and the Brain
University of Toronto Sexual Education Centre
Walt Disney - The Story of Menstruation (1946)
Ontario's Health and Physical Education Curriculum (2015)
Ontario's Health and Physical Education Curriculum (1998)
Testosterone Rex by Cordelia Fine
Closer by Sarah Barmak
AIDS Committee Toronto
The Lived Experience of Female Genital Cutting (FGC) in Somali-Canadian Women's Daily Lives (article)
Sex Beyond the Genitalia: the human brain mosaic (article)
Male or Female? Brains are Intersex (article)

#53: Indigenous Perspectives on Health

Everyone has their own perspective through which they view the world. But an integral part of science is questioning - questioning our assumptions and reflecting on how they may be impacted by the academic and medical systems within which we find ourselves. With this episode, we aim to do just that by learning about a different approach to health and wellness, one rooted in Indigenous knowledge. We spoke with Lee Maracle, Traditional Teacher at First Nations House about Indigenous perspectives on health. Next, Julie Bull, Research Methods Specialist at the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health, Dr. Michael Anderson, physician and researcher at the Waakebiness-Bryce Institute for Indigenous Health, and Dr. Raglan Maddox, post-doctoral fellow and researcher at the Well Living House, all shared their experiences in conducting research in partnership with Indigenous communities. Finally, Drs. Lisa Richardson and Jason Pennington talk about their efforts as curricular co-leads of Indigenous Health Education in the Faculty of Medicine to improve Indigenous health education for the next generation of clinicians. We hope this episode prompts you to appreciate the multitude of ways of knowing the world and inspires you to disrupt cultures that do not allow for these ways to co-exist. Until next time, keep it raw!

Written by: Ekaterina An

Indigenous Cultural Safety Training Program by the Provincial Health Services Authority in British Columbia
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Report
Workshops and Courses through the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres
First Nations House, University of Toronto
Cancer Care Ontario Cultural Safety Courses
Julie Bull's full spoken word poem, "Collective Responsibility"

#52: Respect Your Rhythm

There is no shortage of phrases related to time - and for good reason! Nearly all biological processes have evolved to follow a day-night cycle every 24 hours. In our fifty-second episode, Max and Richie talk all things circadian rhythm, and discuss how this phenomenon can also impact day-to-day things like wellbeing, illness and even jet-lag. To supplement their discussion, Richie sits down with U of T Professor and circadian expert, Dr. Martin Ralph, who sheds light on how these cycles are intimately-linked to just about every complex disease you can name, and provides some much-needed advice to keep our internal clocks synchronized. Although the exact mechanisms of circadian control are still a topic of active research (not to mention the highlight of the 2017 Nobel Prize in Medicine), this is an episode to stay awake for... unless it's past your bedtime. Until next time, keep it raw!

Written by: Richie Jeremian

#51: From “Miracle Drug” to Epidemic

Open any newspaper and you'll stumble across an article on the opioid crisis. While some mention illicit fentanyl, other pieces talk about doctor-prescribed substances. What is actually going on? On this episode we'll be exploring the basics of this multi-faceted topic: how did this crisis start, and why? To answer this question, we spoke to a variety of stakeholders and did some sleuthing of our own. You'll be hearing from two clinician scientists, both experts in pain management and research: Drs. Andrea Furlan and Hance Clarke. Together, they provided us a historical perspective on the crisis, and its current transcendence beyond the prescription pad. Matt Johnson, a harm reduction coordinator at Queen West Community Health Centre, shared his frontline perspective on the crisis. Finally, we had the opportunity to talk to City Councillor Joe Mihevc, the Chair of the Toronto Board of Health, the body that recently called upon the federal government to decriminalize all drugs. As they are in society, the perspectives we gathered here are diverse, yet telling of the complexity of this issue. We wrapped up the show with ideas on what needs to happen next, and hopes for the future. Until next time, keep it raw!

Written by: Alexandra Mogadam

Dr. Andrea Furlan's profile
Dr. Hance Clarke's profile
City Councillor Joe Mihevc's website
Toronto Harm Reduction Alliance
Harm reduction at Queen West Community Health Centre
Toronto Overdose Prevention Society's Go Fund Me page
CAMH's fact sheet on street fentanyl
Ontario's new Consumption and Treatment Services model
Toronto Overdose Prevention Society's response to Ontario's new Consumption and Treatment Services model
Globe and Mail article on Toronto Board of Health's call for decriminalization of all drugs

 

 

#50: From Surgical Mesh to DBS – Medical Devices in the 21st Century

Is it possible to move a wheelchair simply by thinking about it? Surprisingly, the answer is yes! Medical devices, such as brain-computer interfaces and insulin pumps, have dramatically changed the landscape of the medical field. They have enabled clinicians and patients to manage a range of diseases which were impossible to cope with or cure prior to the invention of these devices. Tune in to this week's episode as we sit down with Dr. David Urbach, Surgeon-in-Chief at the Women's College Hospital, to discuss the invention, regulation of, and controversy surrounding medical devices. We also spoke to two students - George Hanna, a Master of Applied Science and Engineering student at the Holland Bloorview Research Institute, and Amy Khan, an MD/PhD student at U of T - who are in the process of designing novel devices to help mobilize people with disabilities and make laparoscopic surgery safer, respectively. Lastly, we reached out to two patients - Doug Oliver (and his wife Diane), whose life was transformed by deep brain stimulation, as well as Lindsay Oliver, whose insulin pump is a fundamental part of her daily life. Thanks for tuning in, and until next time, keep it raw!

Written by: Aditi Desai

#49: Canada Legalizes Cannabis

The day has arrived. After being prohibited in Canada for over 90 years, cannabis has been legalized for recreational use across the country. Just about everybody has an opinion on cannabis legalization. Throughout this episode, you'll hear from people around downtown Toronto, sharing their views on legalization and some interesting personal experiences. There are also many misconceptions out there. We sat down with some researchers who study cannabis at the University of Toronto to learn about the science behind cannabis. The conversation starts with Lauren DeFreitas, a graduate student at CAMH whose research focuses on the THC and CBD content of different products and how these active chemical compounds in cannabis impact health outcomes. Dr. Ruth Ross is a professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Toronto. She talks about how THC interacts with the endocannabinoid system at the molecular level, and the potential to target this complex system for therapeutic purposes. Karolina Kozak is a PhD candidate from Dr. Tony George's lab at CAMH. Her work focuses on cannabis use disorder in schizophrenia and she tells us about what exactly happens with the brain in addiction. We also delve into some of the societal impacts of cannabis legalization in this episode. We talked to Dr. Pat Erickson, a professor emerita at the Department of Sociology at the University of Toronto. Her work looked at some of the personal and societal impacts of criminalization. We'll hear from her about the normalization of cannabis use over time, and the importance of having engaging and accurate educational material, especially for youth, now that it has been legalized. Sudha Sabanadesan is a policy development officer at Toronto Public Health. She tells us about some of the concerns they have going forward, including cannabis use by adolescents and driving while impaired, and the public health perspective on harm reduction. There's a lot to learn about cannabis legalization and this episode is a great place to start! If you haven't already, let us know what you think of the show! It's an important way for us to create the content you want to hear. Please complete this survey (https://rawtalkpodcast.typeform.com/to/PH50b2?name=RawTalk&source=Shownotes) - it'll only take you 5 minutes!

Written by: Thamiya Vasanthakumar

#48: Unpacking Autoimmunity: Myths, Microbes & Misdiagnoses

Inflammation, the gut, microbes, cortisol, and sore joints... what do these things have in common? Tune in to this week's episode as we explore what it's like living with an autoimmune condition. You'll hear the perspectives of four individuals - Vanessa, Bonnie, Yohanna, and Megan - as they reflect on their journeys to receiving their diagnoses. They share their thoughts on navigating the Canadian Healthcare System and give advice for those newly diagnosed. You'll also hear from Dr. Kenneth Croitoru - gastroenterologist at Mount Sinai Hospital and Professor in the Department of Immunology at U of T - as well as Dr. Jayne Danska - Senior Scientist at The Hospital for Sick Children and Professor in Medical Biophysics and Immunology at U of T - who breakdown autoimmunity, debunk some common myths associated with autoimmune diseases, and discuss some of their exciting work in identifying factors causing susceptibility to Crohn's and Type I Diabetes respectively. Until next time, #KeepItRaw!

Written by: Aditi Desai

University of Toronto Sports Medicine Clinic
University Health Network Arthritis Program
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)
Danska Lab
Article: Host lifestyle affects human microbiota on daily timescales
Crohn's and Colitis Canada
The GEM Project
Croitoru Lab