The Other Human in the Room

206. Joan Explores IFS - Part 1

22 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I invited Dr Risa Adams back for a recorded “mini session” using Internal Family Systems, because I wanted to share what it can l...

205. What's In Your Garden?

15 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this solo episode, I’m sharing what my three-month podcast pause is teaching me about productivity—specifically, why “more” isn’t the goa...

BONUS: FHO+ Thoughts - March 2026 edition!

12 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A real-time recording from The Only Human in the Van, in which I react to the funding changes coming next month for myself and many other family physi...

204. Crazy Busy Doctor Wisdom with Dr John Crosby

08 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I’m talking with local legend Dr. John Crosby—a 78-year-old family doctor in Cambridge who’s spent 50+ years learning (and teac...

203. On Feeling Lazy

01 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

After a three-month pause, I’m back with a brand new episode—and it’s about a word I want to destroy: lazy. In the middle of a stomach bug, I no...

FROM THE VAULT: 119. The Messy Middle

22 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Other Human in the Room is on hiatus!  For the next 3 months, you’ll still be getting weekly episodes on your podcast feeds - but they’ll...

FROM THE VAULT: 111. In Praise of Mediocrity

15 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Other Human in the Room is on hiatus!  For the next 3 months, you’ll still be getting weekly episodes on your podcast feeds - but they’ll...

FROM THE VAULT: 73. Patient Manuals

08 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Other Human in the Room is on hiatus!  For the next 3 months, you’ll still be getting weekly episodes on your podcast feeds - but they’ll...

FROM THE VAULT: 114. Hosipicing Modernity with Vanessa Andreotti

01 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Other Human in the Room is on hiatus!  For the next 3 months, you’ll still be getting weekly episodes on your podcast feeds - but they’ll...

FROM THE VAULT: 61. The Pain of People Pleasing

25 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Other Human in the Room is on hiatus!  For the next 3 months, you’ll still be getting weekly episodes on your podcast feeds - but they’ll...

FROM THE VAULT: 48. Guidelines Legalism

18 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Other Human in the Room is on hiatus!  For the next 3 months, you’ll still be getting weekly episodes on your podcast feeds - but they’ll...

FROM THE VAULT: 46. Managing Conflict Well

11 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Other Human in the Room is on hiatus!  For the next 3 months, you’ll still be getting weekly episodes on your podcast feeds - but they’ll...

FROM THE VAULT: 50. HHC - How Embodiment Can Change Our Experience and Practice of Medicine - Dr Hillary McBride

04 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Other Human in the Room is on hiatus!  For the next 3 months, you’ll still be getting weekly episodes on your podcast feeds - but they’ll...

FROM THE VAULT: 39. Illness Anxiety

28 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Other Human in the Room is on hiatus!  For the next 3 months, you’ll still be getting weekly episodes on your podcast feeds - but they’ll...

FROM THE VAULT: 37. What to Do When You Make a Mistake

21 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Other Human in the Room is on hiatus!  For the next 3 months, you’ll still be getting weekly episodes on your podcast feeds - but they’ll...

FROM THE VAULT: 26. Medical Expert Pressure

14 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Other Human in the Room is on hiatus!  For the next 3 months, you’ll still be getting weekly episodes on your podcast feeds - but they’ll...

202. How to Stop Hiding Your Magic with Dr Carlos Yu

07 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I sit down with Dr Carlos Yu, a self-described “odd” family doctor who has spent 35+ years quietly rewriting what it means to pra...

201. Share the Load, Save the System with Dr. Joyce Cheung & Angelique Bernabe

30 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I’m joined by Dr Joyce Cheung (family/palliative MD) and Ange Bernabe (PhD, economist) to talk about Locvm—an Ontario-born, physician-designed pla...

200. The Power of Pause

23 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this solo episode, I name the yellow flags that told me I’d crept past capacity—and why my body’s honest answer was to pause. I walk through ...

199. Right to Accommodation with Dr Michael Quon

16 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Michael Quon, a general internist and disability-inclusion advocate, to talk candidly about returning to work wit...

198. The Hidden Costs of Altruism with Dr Dimitrios Tsatiris

09 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I sit down with psychiatrist and physician-wellness advocate Dr. Dimitrios Tsatiris to unpack why the traits medicine rewards—achie...

197. It Doesn't Have to Be This Way with Drs. Risa Adams, Elizabeth Parsons, Robin Beardsley

02 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this conversation, I sit down with three physician–psychotherapists—Dr. Elizabeth Parsons, Dr. Risa Adams, and Dr. Robin Beardsley—co-authors...

196. Weaving All of Your Sparks into Your Medical Career with Dr Katherine Raffensperger

26 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week I sit down with Dr. Katherine Raffensperger, a psychiatry resident with an MD/MBA who sees medicine and business as parallel, interwoven pat...

195. From Overwhelm to Efficiency with Dr. Adam Stewart

19 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with Dr. Adam Stewart—rural Ontario family doc and self-described efficiency nerd—to swap real-world systems for making primary care sa...

194. Being a Good Team Player

12 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

“Good team player” is often code for “do more, say yes, don’t rock the boat.” In this solo episode, I reframe teamwork entirely: the best te...

193. The Case for Scheduling Nothing with Dr. Duncan Rozario

05 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I sit down with general surgeon, startup advisor, and all-around “human in many hats,” Dr. Duncan Rozario, to talk about purpose,...

192. Living Your Childhood Dreams with Dr. Ryan Montoya

28 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of The Other Human in the Room, I meet Dr. Ryan Montoya—family physician, graphic novelist, and luggage design consultant—joining ...

191. Enjoy Your Difficulties—Lessons from Nashville

21 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When a much-anticipated Nashville trip collided with a looming airline strike, zero sleep, and a nasty URTI, I leaned on a practice that’s changed m...

190. Give Yourself Permission with Dr. Anne Aspler

14 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this conversation, I sit down with Dr. Anne Aspler to explore what it really takes to give yourself permission to create, to heal, and to exist as ...

189. Two Row Medicine with Dr. Karenna'onwe Karen Hill

07 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of The Other Human in the Room, I sit down with Dr Karenna'onwe Karen Hill, a Mohawk Turtle Clan family physician from Six Nations of ...

188. Rediscovering Your Authentic Voice with Dr. Aditya Nellore

31 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Aditya Nellore, a physician and singer who shares how his hardest “failures” became the very doorway into a m...

187. Pick Your Challenge

24 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this short summer episode, I share why the real power is in choosing the hard that aligns with your values. From charting to patient scheduling to ...

186. From Burnout to Coherence with Dr. Mitch Abrams

17 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Mitchell Abrams, a radiologist whose personal health crisis and journey through burnout led him on a path of deep...

185. Medical Misinformation with Dr Kim Bretz ND

10 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I sit down with naturopath Kim Bretz to talk about one of the thorniest issues in healthcare today: medical misinformation. We explor...

184. Medical Storytelling on Youtube with Dr Andy Nguyen

03 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this conversation, I sit down with Dr. Andy Nguyen to explore where healthcare and creativity meet. We talk about the power of storytelling in medi...

183. Facts vs Story: Interpreting the new FHO+ Model

27 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I dive into the upcoming changes to the FHO funding model for family physicians in Ontario and explore how we respond to changes in w...

182. From Medicine to Memoirs and TV Scripts with Dr Tony Chin-Quee

20 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I speak with Tony Chin-Quee, an otolaryngologist turned writer, about his journey from medicine to storytelling. We talk about the ch...

181. ADHD in Healthcare with Melissa Beacom, OT and Tara Embrey, OT

13 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this conversation, I speak with Tara and Melissa, two brilliant occupational therapists who open up about the challenges faced by healthcare profes...

180. Using AI to Reduce Admin Burden with Dr. Amjed Kadhim-Saleh

06 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Amjed Kadhim-Saleh about his journey as a family physician and the co-founder of Pippen AI — a tool designed to red...

179. Year 3 in Review

29 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I’m taking a moment to reflect on the past year—what’s unfolded personally and professionally, and what I’ve learned along th...

178. How Other Countries Manage Healthcare Demand with Dr Tara Kiran

22 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I spoke with Dr. Tara Kiran about the insights she gained during her recent sabbatical, where she explored healthcare systems around the world. Toget...

177. Creative Writing is a Clinical Skill with Dr Tyler Beauchamp

15 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Tyler Beauchamp, a pediatric resident whose path into medicine was shaped by his own experiences as a chronic patient...

176. Urgent Optimism with Dr Yelena Chorny

08 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I speak with Dr Yelena Chorny about the challenges in healthcare, focusing on burnout, leadership during the pandemic, and the import...

175. Dreams to Reality (Retreat Reflections!)

01 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This episode was recorded live on the scene of my very first restorative medical education retreat! Join me as I give you a tour around my very cosy a...

174. Malignant Residency Programs with Dr Lauren Umstattd

25 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Lauren Umstattd, a facial plastic surgeon who shares her journey through medical training, the challenges of surgical residency, and ...

173. Giving Effective Feedback With Dr. Paul Tran

18 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Effective feedback is a pivotal element in fostering growth and development within the healthcare profession, yet it remains a topic that many individ...

172. When It's Time To Go with Dr Frances Mei Hardin

11 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I reconnect with Dr Frances Mei Hardin, who shares her decision to leave medicine as an ENT surgeon. We talk about the impact of mora...

171. Looking for Black Swans with Dr Mel Thacker

04 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I had the pleasure of interviewing Mel, who shared her journey from being an ENT surgeon to becoming a professional coach. We explore her difficult ex...

170. Marriage and Medicine With Dr Hannah Thompson and Chris Herring

27 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I speak with Hannah and Chris, a married couple navigating the challenges of medical residency and parenthood. They share their journ...

169. Alternatives to Pushing Through

20 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I discuss the detrimental effects of the culture of overworking in healthcare and present alternatives to the notion of 'pushing thro...

168. Fear of Others' Judgement

14 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I dive into the common fear of being judged by others while on my commute to work. I share some personal stories and tips on how to f...

167. Self Compassion with Dr Bryan MacLeod

07 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dr Bryan MacLeod and I discuss the importance of self-compassion in healthcare. Bryan shares his journey from experiencing cauda equina while working ...

166. Time Needed to Treat

31 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Get ready for a full nerding out in this episode! I discovered the concept "Time Needed to Treat" and NEEDED to share the original article t...

165. Using Your Intuition with Dr Kristine Woodley

24 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr Kristine Woodley, a family physician who has journeyed through several clinical settings to discover her passion...

164. Spoon Theory

17 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I introduce the concept of Spoon Theory, originally articulated by Christine Miserandino, to explore the experiences of individuals l...

163. Transition Planning

10 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I'm diving into the importance of transition planning, both in our personal lives and careers. I've been through a lot of transitions...

162. Authenticity and Faith in Healthcare with Dr Rabia Khan

03 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of The Other Human in the Room, I speak with Dr Rabia Khan, a lead physician at East Wellington Family Health Team. We discuss Rabia&#...

161. Making Spacious Money

24 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

"But I can't afford to work less". This is one of the most common objections I hear after explaining the benefits of working under your ...

160. Ableism in Healthcare with Dr Samantha Lavitt

17 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dr Samantha Lavvitt and I delve into the critical issues surrounding disability advocacy in healthcare. Sam shares the challenges she...

159. Dealing with Disappointment

10 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What scares you more - experiencing your own disappointment or someone else's? I have noticed this is a common area of struggle for folks in healt...

158. Unlearning Good Girl Conditioning with Olive von Topp

03 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I had such a great chat with Olive Von Topp about her journey from being a 'good girl' to a burlesque performer and empowerment coach. We talked about...

157. Physician Mom Shame with Dr Dawn Lim

27 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In my conversation with Dr. Dawn Lim, an emergency doctor and life coach, she opened up about her journey through burnout in the medical field and her...

156. Holding Space for Difference

20 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever struggled to stay connected with someone who holds a very different belief from your own? Growing up in evangelical Christianity and bei...

155. Relating to Conflict with Pádraig Ó Tuama

13 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The wonderful Pádraig Ó Tuama is on the podcast today! Pádraig shares how his relationship to poetry and theology shaped his work in conflict resol...

154. Reflections on Power

06 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Joan reflects on the concept of power as a central theme for her year. She explores the distinction between external and internal sou...

153. Expanding Continuity of Care

30 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Joan reflects on the concept of continuity of care in healthcare, discussing its implications, challenges, and the need for a redefin...

152. The Dose Makes the Poison

23 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Joan is the only human in her van for the last time in 2024 and sharing a short and sweet dose of humanity for you on this Christmas holiday week. ...

151. Spirituality in Medicine with Dr Dale Guenter

16 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of The Other Human in the Room, Joan and Dr Dale Guenter explore the themes of human-centered medicine, spirituality, and the challeng...

150. Embracing Uncertainty: Agile in Healthcare with Stephanie Ockerman

09 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this conversation, Joan and Stephanie explore the application of Agile and Scrum principles in the healthcare sector. They discuss the importance o...

149. Eras Tour Debrief (with special guest host Caroline Bowman!)

02 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I went to the Eras Tour and of course I HAD to talk about it!! My dear friend Caroline, with whom I have had many Taylor Swift conversations, voluntee...

148. My Medical Family - Dr David Chan

25 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is the 2nd in a series I have been creating on my family full of physicians. This week's conversation feels particularly personal and ten...

147. Fear of Forgetting

18 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Joan explores the pervasive fear of forgetting, particularly in the context of healthcare. She discusses how this fear can lead to anxiety and shame, ...

146. My Medical Family - Dr John Blake Dobson & Susan Dobson

11 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode is the first of what I hope will be a series of conversations where I get personal in a brand new way: by interviewing members of my f...

145. The 4 Best Time Saving Questions

04 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Joan discusses the importance of the FIFE questions in patient-centered care, emphasizing their role in enhancing communication and understanding betw...

144. Little Things Make a Big Difference with Dr Catherine LaFleche

28 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this conversation, Joan and Catherine explore Catherine's journey through medical school, residency, and her transition into family medicine. They ...

143. Asynchronous Patient Connections (+ a special announcement!)

21 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I'm once again driving as the only human in the van, sharing my experiments with asynchronous patient connection. I have been asking myself this centr...

142. Embracing the Human Experience with Dr Sarah Gower

14 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Joan interviews Sarah Gower, a rural family physician, who shares her journey into medicine and the importance of human connection in...

141. How Do You Feel? with Dr Jessi Gold

07 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Jessi Gold, a psychiatrist and Chief Wellness Officer, discusses the importance of addressing mental health in healthcare professionals and the pr...

140. How Are You Spending Your Attention Budget?

30 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this solo episode, Joan explores the concept of attention budget and how we spend our attention. She discusses the impact of multitasking and task ...

139. Changing Your Mind in Family Medicine with Dr Caitlin Christie

23 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Joan interviews Caitlin Christie, a family physician who shares her journey of realizing she was burnt out and the process of working...

138. Are You Arguing With Reality?

16 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Joan explores the concept of arguing with reality and how it can lead to unnecessary suffering. She introduces the idea of questionin...

137. Disrupting Healthcare Norms with Applied Healthcare Futurist Zayna Khayat

09 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Zayna Khayat, an applied health futurist, discusses the role of futurism in healthcare and the need for organizations to embed futurism into their ope...

136. Are You a Multipotentialite?

02 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Joan explores the concept of being a multi-potentialite, someone with many interests and creative pursuits. Joan discusses the challe...

135. MOVIE CLUB: Inside Out 1 & 2

30 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this bonus episode, Joan discusses her two favorite movies, Inside Out and Inside Out 2. She highlights the key takeaways from these movies, includ...

134. Summer Sabbatical Lessons 2024

26 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Joan shares her experience of taking a summer vacation and the lessons she learned during that time. She emphasizes the importance of...

133. Singing Through Life and Career Transitions with Dr Susan Thouin

19 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I am so grateful to Dr Susan Thouin for sharing her story with the podcast this week! Susan, a Canadian palliative care physician, shares her experien...

132. Integrating Grief with Krista St-Germain

12 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Many of us can think of grief as a heavy or tricky topic - which is why I am delighted for you to hear this conversation with Krista St-Germain, who w...

131. Challenges & Triumphs in NP-MD Collaboration with Amy Allen, NP

05 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I had the joy of interviewing on of my favourite healthcare humans, Amy Allen, one of the nurse practitioners who help me take care o...

130. Mediocrity is a Survival Trait with Dr Frances Mei Hardin

29 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

An episode talking about mediocrity in medicine AND Taylor Swift? Well YES! I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation with Dr Frances Mei Hardin. As a pr...

129. Part Time Shame with Time Hacker Vikki Yaffe

23 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

**reuploaded Mon Jul 22 @ 6pm - thanks to our lisenters letting me know that the audio was funky on this one!! Hopefully this is a clearer listening e...

128. You're Invited: Creating Space

15 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This is the audio version of a video presentation introducing you to Joan's Creating Space decision matrix and a new coaching program inspired by ...

127. Taking a Palliative Approach To Life

08 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This podcast was inspired by a conversation about palliative care, and the benefits of applying this approach to care well beyond the end-of-life stag...

126. Year 2 in Review: Restorative Medical Education and Coaching

01 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Continuing the annual tradition, I reflect back on what new identities I have come to hold over the past year, and what old identities have gone throu...

125. Year 2 in Review: Clinical Medicine

24 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Continuing the annual tradition, I reflect back on what new identities I have come to hold over the past year, and what old identities have gone throu...

124. Year 2 in Review: Personal Life

17 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Continuing the annual tradition, I reflect back on what new identities I have come to hold over the past year, and what old identities have gone throu...

123. The Chooseday Challenge

10 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How often do you find yourself saying "I have to", "I need to", "I should" or "I can't" in your work in he...

122. Fear & Entitement

03 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What could be fuelling a sense of entitlement? Both in our patients, but also in ourselves? Join Joan on the couch as she explores a very mind-expandi...

121. Am I Overreacting?

27 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week's podcast episode is for anyone who has ever asked the question "Am I Overreacting"? SPOILER: The answer is no. Check out Joan...

120. The Power of Maybe

20 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes wisdom comes from unexpected places. Today's episode was inspired by a book I've been reading with my children - and my reflections ...

119. The Messy Middle

13 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is for anyone feeling stuck on their journey to change their life. Growth and change can feel messy ... what if that's a good thing?I...