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Ditch The Labcoat

Ditch The Labcoat

Written by: Dr. Mark Bonta
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 Candid conversations between healthcare experts, every Wednesday at 5am EST on Labcoat.fm, your destination for evidence-based insights into the world of medicine, with no holds barred debate about hot topics in healthcare. This is for all the closet doctors, nurses, pharmacists and all others who are deeply fascinated about medicine but view the headlines with science-based skepticism.© 2024 ditchthelabcoat.com - All Rights Reserved Hygiene & Healthy Living Physical Illness & Disease
Episodes
  • Lifestyle Changes to Prevent Chronic Disease: Real Talk with Dr. Ford Brewer

    Lifestyle Changes to Prevent Chronic Disease: Real Talk with Dr. Ford Brewer
    Jan 15 2026
    Dr. Ford Brewer’s story is not about hacks or shortcuts. It is about a physician who left the adrenaline of the emergency department to confront a quieter, more uncomfortable reality. Most of the heart attacks and strokes he saw should never have happened. At Hopkins, in public health, and later in his own practice, he realized how profoundly our future health is shaped by habits that feel small in the moment and by metabolic problems that remain invisible for decades.In this conversation, we unpack what “test, do not guess” really looks like in real life. We talk about the epidemic of undiagnosed prediabetes, why fasting glucose and A1C miss so much disease, and how an old school oral glucose tolerance test can reveal what is really happening under the surface. Dr. Brewer explains continuous glucose monitors, why leg muscle acts like an internal safety valve for high blood sugar, and how small “exercise snacks” can protect you more than heroic gym bursts. We dig into the GLP 1 craze, the politics of food guidelines, and the uncomfortable reality that some systems profit from people staying sick.So whether you are a clinician, a patient who has been told your labs are “fine,” or someone who simply wants to stay out of the cath lab in your 50s, this episode is a sharp reset. It will change how you think about carbs, muscle, and “normal aging,” and it will give you tangible ways to take back agency over your metabolism. Plug in and see what happens when prevention stops being boring advice and becomes a clear plan for protecting the decades ahead.Ford Brewer MD MPH's Links : YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmoEsq6a6ePXxgZeA4CVrUw Website : https://drfordbrewermd.com/Episode Takeaways 1. Building Better Habits – Long term health depends far more on daily routines than on motivation or willpower. Action beats intention every time.2. Discomfort Drives Growth – Improvement requires stepping outside comfort zones. Sustainable prevention often starts with doing what you do not feel like doing.3. Prevention Is Undervalued – Preventive medicine is dismissed as boring, yet most chronic disease stems from issues that could have been avoided years earlier.4. Prediabetes Is Everywhere – With half the population showing signs of impaired glucose control, early metabolic testing should be a universal priority.5. A1C Is Not Enough – Standard labs miss a large percentage of metabolic disease. Old school glucose tolerance testing reveals problems long before symptoms appear.6. CGMs Change Behavior – Real time glucose feedback helps people finally understand how food and activity affect their bodies and motivates true habit change.7. Muscle Protects Metabolism – Strong, active leg muscles act as metabolic engines that help control glucose spikes and support long term vascular health.8. Food Systems Shape Disease – Big Food, outdated guidelines, and institutional incentives influence what people eat and directly contribute to chronic illness.Episode Timestamps 00:02:32 — Meet Dr. Kang Hsu, Chief Medical Officer of Canary Speech00:03:44 — How voice became medicine: the story behind Canary Speech00:04:29 — Why this conversation matters to clinicians and patients alike00:05:05 — Making science accessible: breaking down complex ideas00:06:59 — Behind the mic: how each episode comes together00:07:59 — Keeping it real: refining, revising, and staying authentic00:09:00 — Can your voice reveal your health? The rise of vocal biomarkers00:13:00 — From telehealth to wearables: real-world applications00:19:00 — The uphill climb: innovation vs. healthcare resistance00:25:00 — The road ahead: what the future of voice in medicine could look like00:31:00 — Closing thoughts and a glimpse into what’s nextDISCLAMER >>>>>> The Ditch Lab Coat podcast serves solely for general informational purposes and does not serve as a substitute for professional medical services such as medicine or nursing. It does not establish a doctor/patient relationship, and the use of information from the podcast or linked materials is at the user's own risk. The content does not aim to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and users should promptly seek guidance from healthcare professionals for any medical conditions. >>>>>> The expressed opinions belong solely to the hosts and guests, and they do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Hospitals, Clinics, Universities, or any other organization associated with the host or guests. Disclosures: Ditch The Lab Coat podcast is produced by (soundsdebatable.com) and is independent of Dr. Bonta's teaching and research roles at McMaster University, Temerty Faculty of Medicine and Queens University.
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    54 mins
  • New Years Eve Special with Dr. Mark Bonta

    New Years Eve Special with Dr. Mark Bonta
    Dec 31 2025
    In this special New Year’s Eve solo episode, Dr. Mark Bonta steps away from the guest format to reflect on a landmark year for Ditch the Labcoat and to share where the show is headed next.After surpassing 50 episodes and approaching episode 100, Dr. Bonta looks back on how the podcast evolved in 2025. What started as a more traditional interview-style medical show has grown into deeper, more philosophical conversations about performance, longevity, mental health, neuroplastic symptoms, and the human side of healthcare.Using a surprising year-end analytics insight from his recording platform, he explores why the word “athlete” became one of the most frequently used terms on the show, and what that reveals about how healthcare, high performance, parenting, and recovery intersect. He also shares a candid and self-aware resolution for 2026, including how small environmental changes can shape better habits both personally and professionally.Looking ahead, Dr. Bonta outlines meaningful shifts for the podcast in 2026. Expect fewer episodes, greater depth, clearer thematic focus, and more intentional preparation to better honor guests and their work. He also highlights future areas of exploration, including neuroplastic and invisible illnesses, long COVID, chronic fatigue, high-performance mindsets, and the role of technology and AI in improving care.The episode closes with a deeply personal reflection on caregiving. A simple moment at home caring for his daughter leads to a broader meditation on touch, nursing, administrative burden, burnout, and why “caring” remains the most essential and fragile element of modern healthcare.This episode is both a thank-you to listeners and a statement of purpose for the year ahead.Mark Bonta's Links : https://ditchthelabcoat.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-bonta-/ Episode Takeaway 1. Healthcare as Performance: Why the Athlete Mindset Keeps Appearing — Recovery, sleep, nutrition, and training principles apply far beyond elite sports.2. Filler Words Reveal Thinking: What “So” Says About Deep Conversation — Pauses often signal reflection, curiosity, and cognitive processing, not incompetence.3. Behavior Change Starts at Home: Environment Shapes Outcomes — The easiest habits are the ones your surroundings make unavoidable.4. Longevity Is Not Biohacking: It’s Consistency Over Intensity — Sustainable routines outperform extreme interventions every time.5. Quality Over Quantity: Fewer Episodes, Deeper Impact — Better preparation and focus create more meaningful learning for listeners.6. Invisible Illnesses Are Real: When Scans Don’t Explain Suffering — Neuroplastic symptoms demand credibility, nuance, and evidence-based care.7. Administrative Burden Erodes Care: Documentation Steals Time From Healing — Systems often pull clinicians away from the bedside.8. Burnout’s Red Flag: When Caring Disappears — Loss of empathy is a warning sign that support and reflection are urgently needed.Episode Timestamps05:08 – Why “Athlete” Became One of the Most Used Words on the Show07:27 – The Most Commonly Used Word on Ditch the Labcoat (And Why It Matters)09:44 – Setting Yourself Up for Success: Habits, Environment, and Behavior Change11:39 – Longevity Lessons from Athletes and Everyday Life14:02 – Quality Over Quantity: How the Podcast Evolves in 202617:25 – Neuroplastic and Invisible Illnesses: What Medicine Still Misses19:25 – Caregiving, Touch, and the Administrative Burden of Modern Medicine24:15 – Burnout, Red Flags, and the Importance of Never Stopping CaringDISCLAMER >>>>>> The Ditch Lab Coat podcast serves solely for general informational purposes and does not serve as a substitute for professional medical services such as medicine or nursing. It does not establish a doctor/patient relationship, and the use of information from the podcast or linked materials is at the user's own risk. The content does not aim to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and users should promptly seek guidance from healthcare professionals for any medical conditions. >>>>>> The expressed opinions belong solely to the hosts and guests, and they do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Hospitals, Clinics, Universities, or any other organization associated with the host or guests. Disclosures: Ditch The Lab Coat podcast is produced by (soundsdebatable.com) and is independent of Dr. Bonta's teaching and research roles at McMaster University, Temerty Faculty of Medicine and Queens University.
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    24 mins
  • Real Talk with Pediatrician and Media Personality Dr. Alok Patel

    Real Talk with Pediatrician and Media Personality Dr. Alok Patel
    Dec 24 2025
    In this episode, Dr. Mark Bonta sits down with pediatrician and medical journalist Dr. Alok Patel to unpack what it really means to keep kids healthy in a chaotic healthcare system and a distracted digital world. Starting with a story about Mark’s nine year old getting injured at hockey, they dive into how parents can respond to injuries and illness without panicking, how to check your own emotions first, and when a situation truly belongs in the emergency department versus urgent care or a clinic visit.Drawing on his frontline pediatric experience, Dr. Patel breaks down practical red flags for parents to watch for, like increased work of breathing or changes in mental status, and explains why ER waits feel so brutal yet often reflect deeper system issues like staffing and bed shortages. He shares behind the scenes stories from “The Pitt” and his work on the official HBO companion podcast, highlighting how accurately the show captures social determinants of health and the emotional reality of modern emergency care.From there, the conversation moves into vaccines, flu season, and the very human fact that even doctors sometimes struggle to follow all their own advice. Mark and Alok talk candidly about phones, social media, Roblox, and why today’s kids are essentially part of a live experiment in screen exposure. They close with a focus on what actually protects kids long term: safe, nonjudgmental adults, honest conversations about mental health, limits around screens, and a home environment that values connection over perfection.Dr. Alok Patel's https://www.alokpatelmd.com/Episode Takeaways1. Parent First, Patient Second: Kids borrow their reaction from you, so the first step in any injury or illness is to calm your own emotions before you decide what to do.2. ER vs Clinic: Not every vomit, bump, or fever is life threatening, and learning when to use urgent care or outpatient clinics can spare families long, stressful ER waits.3. Triage Reality Check: Emergency departments prioritize the sickest patients first, which means long waits for minor issues are frustrating but often a sign the system is doing its job.4. Medicine Behind the Camera: The Pit shows how accurate medical details can sit in the background while stories focus on the real emotional chaos of patients, families, and staff.5. Social Determinants in Real Time: Two kids with the same diagnosis can have completely different outcomes depending on housing, income, family support, and access to care.6. Doctors Are Human Too: Even physicians miss flu shots, struggle with habits, or feel guilty, which can actually make their public health messages more relatable, not less credible.7. Screens and Social Media: The real risk is not one device but a constant digital environment that shapes brain development, sleep, self esteem, and social skills in ways we are only starting to understand.8. Safe Adults Save Lives: The most powerful protection for teens is a nonjudgmental adult who listens, normalizes hard conversations, and gives kids a place to bring their worst thoughts without fear.Episode Timestamps02:06 – Hockey Rink Medicine: How Doctors Triage Their Own Kids04:07 – Parents First: Calming Yourself Before You React to Injury06:50 – ER, Urgent Care, or Clinic: How to Decide Where Your Child Belongs09:37 – Waiting Room Reality: Triage, Delays, and Why Sickest Kids Go First12:34 – Inside “The Pit”: TV Emergency Medicine, Accuracy, and Chaos24:50 – Flu Shots, Doctor Guilt, and Why Practice Often Lags Advice31:06 – Kids, Phones, and Social Media: The Live Experiment on Their Brains37:08 – Teen Mental Health Red Flags: Subtle Signs and Safe Adult SpacesDISCLAMER >>>>>> The Ditch Lab Coat podcast serves solely for general informational purposes and does not serve as a substitute for professional medical services such as medicine or nursing. It does not establish a doctor/patient relationship, and the use of information from the podcast or linked materials is at the user's own risk. The content does not aim to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and users should promptly seek guidance from healthcare professionals for any medical conditions. >>>>>> The expressed opinions belong solely to the hosts and guests, and they do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Hospitals, Clinics, Universities, or any other organization associated with the host or guests. Disclosures: Ditch The Lab Coat podcast is produced by (soundsdebatable.com) and is independent of Dr. Bonta's teaching and research roles at McMaster University, Temerty Faculty of Medicine and Queens University.
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    49 mins
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