We’ve spent 99 episodes interviewing global experts about optimal wellness. So for our 100th episode, host Shaun Francis and his team turned the mic over to listeners and explored audience-submitted Eat, Move and Think stories. Featuring one listener’s thoughts on dairy, a 70-year-old man performing remarkable feats of strength, and an easy way to control your social media use. Also: An Omicron COVID-19 update from Medcan’s chief medical officer, Dr. Peter Nord. For links and insights with time ...
Jan 10, 2022•28 min•Season 1Ep. 100
Life can be difficult. Whatever we’re enduring—a global pandemic? a difficult medical diagnosis?—emerging scientific research shows that humour can be an important coping tool. In this episode, we explore how author/comedian Jessica Holmes (Royal Canadian Air Farce, The Holmes Show) and mental health comedian Ryan Zeitz (Mental Hellth) use humour to get through tough times—and what the rest of us can learn from them. For links and insights with time codes, visit the Episode 99 web page ....
Jan 03, 2022•35 min•Season 1Ep. 99
As we ring in the new year, many of us have goals we want to accomplish. Some of us will achieve them. Others won’t. University of Victoria exercise psychologist Dr. Ryan Rhodes has devoted his career to determining why people don’t do the things they want to do—and devised strategies to help. In conversation with Medcan ’s Dr. Jack Muskat, Dr. Rhodes describes how to achieve those resolutions. (Encore episode.) For links and insights, visit the Episode 98 web page ....
Dec 27, 2021•29 min•Season 1Ep. 98
Omnipresent screens and always-on work schedules are playing havoc with our sleep cycles, creating a population that is getting less shut-eye, and experiencing more sleep disruptions, than ever before. That’s a problem because research suggests that sleep is integral to our cognitive, physical and mental health, with poor sleep increasing risk for everything from high blood pressure to diabetes and depression. Former insomniac and ABC News anchor Diane Macedo’s new book, The Sleep Fix , includes...
Dec 20, 2021•45 min•Season 1Ep. 97
When she was 17, Samra Zafar was forced to marry an older man she’d never met and move to Canada with him. She suffered years of verbal, physical and emotional abuse, but eventually, through hard work and the support of peers, she gained the courage to walk away, and build a new life for herself and her daughters. Now, Zafar is an international speaker, a bestselling author and a med school student at McMaster University. Here, she shares her riveting story with Dr. Jack Muskat, and provides enc...
Dec 13, 2021•39 min•Season 1Ep. 96
Eat Move Think experts nutritionist Leslie Beck (eat), our host Shaun Francis (move), psychologist Dr. Jack Muskat (think) and Dr. Peter Nord (medicine) discuss the year that was, make their picks for the wellness trend that dominated the last 12 months, and speculate about what’s to come in 2022. Episode 95 webpage We’ll get to links and insights in a moment, but first: Our 100th episode is coming up! And want to hear from you: What’s YOUR best eat, move or think tip? We’ll use the best optimal...
Dec 06, 2021•37 min•Season 1Ep. 95
Does your local Starbucks barista make a mean frappuccino? Perhaps that’s because their company provides them with one of the most comprehensive wellness benefits packages around. Each Starbucks “partner” who works 20 hours a week is eligible for $5,000 for mental health support every year, among other perks. Here, Medcan Chief Growth Officer Bronwen Evans chats with Starbucks Canada VP of Partner Resources Cara Beck about the way the Seattle-based coffee company is bridging the gap between well...
Nov 29, 2021•29 min•Season 1Ep. 94
Keijo Taivassalo is 82 years old, and at the 2021 Boston Marathon he demolished the competition, winning his age group by more than 30 minutes. We think Keijo is the embodiment of the Eat Move Think approach to living a long and healthy life. So what’s his secret? We had Medcan’s chief medical officer, Dr. Peter Nord, sit down with Keijo to explore the life of the master marathoner, and the lessons the rest of us can draw from it. Episode 93 webpage features video of the entire podcast! LINKS Ke...
Nov 22, 2021•31 min•Season 1Ep. 93
Low-fat, sugar-free, zero carb….oh my! Society has come up with every diet imaginable in our journey toward living healthy, but rates of obesity continue to rise. Food journalist Mark Schatzker argues that tampering with the food we eat has harmed our ability to properly feed ourselves. Medcan director of food and nutrition Leslie Beck chats with Schatzker about his new book, The End of Craving , what’s so bad about manufactured additives, artificial sweeteners, and the puzzling paradox of Itali...
Nov 15, 2021•33 min•Season 1Ep. 92
Should we break up our work days with short bouts of exercise? Should we exchange the single 45-minute workout for three 15-minute bouts, or even smaller units of physical activity? According to The One-Minute Workout author and McMaster kinesiology professor Martin Gibala, a series of short exercise bursts distributed throughout the day provides a wide variety of health and longevity benefits. In this episode, Prof. Gibala chats with host Shaun Francis about the benefits of exercise snacking, a...
Nov 08, 2021•32 min•Season 1Ep. 91
Marc Lewis, neuroscientist, former opiate addict and author of Memoirs of an Addicted Brain , believes that addiction rates increased recently because lockdowns deprived people of the physical proximity to loved ones that the brain finds so nourishing. Here, he explores his thesis with Medcan’s clinical director of mental health, Dr. Jack Muskat, in a wide-ranging conversation about the nature of addiction, the neurological benefits of hugs and physical affection—and the unintended consequences ...
Nov 01, 2021•30 min•Season 1Ep. 90
The growing field of art therapy argues that paintings and sculpture can improve your wellness. In collaboration with Art Toronto, host Shaun Francis examines the evidence with such experts as the contemporary artist Marcel Dzama, RxArt founder Diane Brown, Sinai Health psychiatrist-in-chief Dr. Lesley Wiesenfeld and Montreal Museum of Fine Arts art therapist Stephen Legari. Plus: Medcan’s art strategist, Stacy Francis, discusses her innovative approach to art. Episode 89 webpage LINKS See this ...
Oct 25, 2021•32 min•Season 1Ep. 89
There are a lot of self-help books out there, but none of them are written by a hockey legend with four Olympic gold medals and a medical degree. Hayley Wickenheiser’s extraordinary success as a woman in a male-dominated sport happened because of her remarkable grit and resilience. In this episode, she chats with Medcan’s Chief People and Growth Officer Bronwen Evans about her new book, Over the Boards: Lessons from the Ice , and tells stories of the moments and mentors that made her who she is....
Oct 18, 2021•32 min•Season 1Ep. 88
Whether you’re talking kombucha or kimchi, fermented foods are all the rage. They’re taking over grocery store aisles—and being featured in some important clinical trials. Recently, Stanford scientists Dr. Christopher Gardner and Dr. Justin Sonnenburg established that eating a diet high in fermented foods promotes a healthier, more diverse gut microbiome, and lowers inflammation. What does that mean? Why does it matter? In this episode, they chat with Medcan Director of Food and Nutrition Leslie...
Oct 11, 2021•35 min•Season 1Ep. 87
Want a cheat sheet on how to extend your life, while staying healthy and happy along the way? Medcan Chief Medical Officer Dr. Peter Nord has been a sailor for more than 50 years. He noticed that his fellow sailors are staying incredibly fit, sharp and healthy well into their old age. This week, Dr. Nord joins host Shaun Francis to describe five secrets of longevity that we can all incorporate into our lives — each one drawn from the way sailors live, as well as medical research. Don’t worry, no...
Oct 04, 2021•26 min•Season 1Ep. 86
“Psychedelics saved my life,” says Payton Nyquvest. “Now [I’m] on a mission to pay that forward.” Nyquvest is the CEO of Numinus Wellness, a publicly traded Vancouver start-up that manufactures such illegal psychedelics as MDMA and psilocybin for clinical drug trials. The intent is to determine how effective they are as a therapy for mental illness. And if their potential pans out, Numinus Wellness wants to administer the drugs to patients in guided sessions across the continent. In this episode...
Sep 27, 2021•33 min•Season 1Ep. 85
They’re portrayed as a mechanism to achieve self-knowledge in the Amazon Prime show, Nine Perfect Strangers . They were the subject of promising clinical trials in the New England Journal of Medicine and Nature Medicine . They fascinate Joe Rogan and Tim Ferriss, and their promise was even the subject of a book by Michael Pollan ( How to Change Your Mind ). So is the buzz about psychedelics justified? What’s the deal with microdosing? And exactly which mental illnesses might benefit from psyched...
Sep 20, 2021•25 min•Season 1Ep. 84
Humans are social creatures. Our wellness as individuals depends on the extent we feel like we belong in community settings at work, when socializing, and at home. But how can today’s leaders encourage strong ties among coworkers when so many are working virtually? Host Shaun Francis, the CEO of Medcan, explores the challenge of creating strong social bonds with climbing expedition leader Scott Kress of Summit Team Building, who has climbed the Seven Summits (the tallest mountains on each of the...
Sep 13, 2021•35 min•Season 1Ep. 83
What’s the difference between getting through the day and performing at your absolute best? A whole lot, argues Dr. Greg Wells—and he wants to help you get there. Dr. Wells is a physiologist, senior scientist at SickKids hospital and the president of Wells Performance. He takes the latest training techniques from elite athletics and applies them to corporate executives, to help CEOs and management teams perform better in their jobs. His latest book is Rest, Refocus, Recharge: A Guide for Optimiz...
Sep 06, 2021•30 min•Season 1Ep. 82
Remember when everyone thought things would be back to normal by September? Instead, children are returning to classrooms with caseloads climbing. So how should parents prepare kids for the return to in-person schooling? Is it safe? Would they be better off being taught virtually? And when should we expect vaccines to be approved for those who are under the age of 12? For guidance, we turned to a pair of Medcan experts: Dr. Janice Weiss, director of child and youth, and Dr. Jack Muskat, clinical...
Aug 30, 2021•26 min•Season 1Ep. 81
How much protein do you need if you’re trying to lose weight but also retain, or even build, muscle mass? What’s better—plant- or animal-based protein? Why is protein so key in preventing sarcopenia, or age-related decline in strength? And, is it possible to consume too much protein? In a special feature interview with protein expert Stuart Phillips of McMaster University, guest host Leslie Beck, Medcan’s director of food and nutrition and the Globe and Mail’s nutrition columnist, tackles these ...
Aug 23, 2021•45 min•Season 1Ep. 80
Imagine this: you’re young, active and healthy, with ambitious goals. Then, suddenly, you have to rethink it all when you receive a life-changing health diagnosis. How do you come to terms with it? How do you keep pushing forward? That’s exactly what Taylor Efford—a Toronto-based content creator, comedian and actor with a large social media following—had to confront last year when, at 25 years old, she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Instead of carrying on like nothing had changed, she disco...
Aug 16, 2021•38 min•Season 1Ep. 79
Former professional rugby player Phil Mackenzie is working out less than he ever has—yet he feels like he’s in the best shape of his life. What’s going on? Host Shaun Francis investigates with a feature interview that finds Phil fresh off covering Olympic rugby sevens for the CBC. But what Phil’s best known for lately is Leansquad, the online fitness business that has made him one of the most-followed Canadians working in the online fitness space. Phil tells the story of his fascinating career, ...
Aug 09, 2021•33 min•Season 1Ep. 78
For too long, getting adequate mental health care has been difficult. There’s the stigma that, unfortunately, comes with saying you need help. And once you are ready to seek out care, where do you go? Who do you turn to? How can you get the mental health care you need in a timely fashion? Dr. David Goldbloom is a celebrated psychiatrist, professor and the senior medical advisor for Toronto’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. In his new book, We Can Do Better: Urgent Innovations to Improve ...
Aug 02, 2021•33 min•Season 1Ep. 77
Do you think you have what it takes to be an Olympian? Never mind the athletic ability—could you withstand the pressure, the weight of the world watching you compete on the world’s biggest stage? Dane Jensen—CEO of consulting firm Third Factor and the author of The Power of Pressure: Why Pressure Isn’t the Problem, It’s the Solution— is the guy Canadian Olympic-level athletes and coaches call when they need help handling that pressure. An expert on the subject, Jensen believes that we can not on...
Jul 26, 2021•38 min•Season 1Ep. 76
Gyms have been closed for months—we’ve had no access to training equipment, go-to yoga studios or favourite spin classes. But now, with fitness facilities reopening across the country, we have an opportunity. We can get back into our fitness regimens—or start completely new ones. Here, Stephen Salzmann, Medcan director of fitness, and fitness manager Anna Topali joined Eat Move Think executive producer Christopher Shulgan for a Medcan webinar about turning exercise into a habit that’s a seamless...
Jul 19, 2021•28 min•Season 1Ep. 75
We’re back again this week with journalist Celeste Headlee, whose conversation with Dr. Jack Muskat, Medcan’s clinical director of mental health, was so captivating we had to dedicate two episodes to it. In her book, Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving , Headlee argues that our obsession with productivity is enabling burnout culture and harming our health. When we last left Headlee and Dr. Muskat, the duo explored the surprising historical evolution of work...
Jul 12, 2021•23 min•Season 1Ep. 74
The British philosopher Bertrand Russell called it “the cult of efficiency”—the drive among high-performers to accomplish more, to be productive, to work . But lately that cult has been pushing more people to burnout and languishing. What’s going on? In evolutionary terms, the cult of efficiency is a recent invention that contradicts the way humans have survived for millennia, according to Celeste Headlee, author of the book, Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underli...
Jul 05, 2021•25 min•Season 1Ep. 73
If you could take a pill that makes you healthier and helped you live longer, would you? The good news is, you don’t need a prescription at all—you just need to move. Yet, so many of us don’t meet the minimum recommended levels of movement; in fact, 1.5 billion people around the world are so inactive they are at greater risk of everything from heart disease to cancer and even dementia. The problem? Our world—full of quick Uber trips and easy convenience with a click of the button from the couch—...
Jun 28, 2021•28 min•Season 1Ep. 72
Those who are focused on optimal longevity tend to be obsessed with diet and exercise. But what if something else is as important, if not more important, to living a long and healthy life? That’s the argument science journalist and bestselling author Marta Zaraska makes in her book Growing Young: How Friendship, Optimism and Kindness Can Help You Live to 100 . As it turns out, having a strong, supportive social network is key to our longevity — in fact, Zaraska says it can lower your mortality r...
Jun 21, 2021•31 min•Season 1Ep. 71
