Let’s Talk Lungs Podcast
Tune in to Let’s Talk Lungs podcast as we explore ways to improve lung health, one breath at a time. This podcast addresses threats to lung health, how to protect yourself, and shares insights on living well with lung disease. Be inspired by leaders, researchers, and individuals on a lung health journey, and discover how we can help you breathe a little easier.
Protecting Young Lungs: Understanding Youth Vaping
As young people head back to school, conversations about vaping and nicotine are more important than ever.
In this episode of Let’s Talk Lungs podcast, host Bethany sits down with respirologist Dr. Erika Penz to take a closer look at youth vaping. They explore what we know about vaping and its impact on health, what parents and educators should know about the products young people may be using.
Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, educator or someone who supports young people, this episode offers trusted information to help you better understand youth vaping and support...
Part 1 Clearing the Air: Radon Reduction and Healthier Homes
On this episode of Let’s Talk Lungs Podcast, host Bethany is joined by two Tod(d)s – Todd Despins, owner and operator of Vent Pro Mechanical, and Tod Boss, sales manager at Fantech. Both Tod(d)s are radon mitigators certified through the Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program and long-time friends of Lung Saskatchewan.
Bethany, Todd, and Tod discuss radon reduction, indoor air quality, the lung health impacts, and answer questions about what homeowners can do to breathe better in their homes.
Pulmonary Hypertension: From Diagnosis to Daily Life
Join Lung Saskatchewan’s Let’s Talk Lungs hosts Trent and Lori for a timely conversation with Dr. Moaaz Rashad, a Saskatoon-based respirologist with a clinical interest in pulmonary hypertension (PH).
Pulmonary hypertension can be complex, and often misunderstood. In this episode, Dr. Rashad breaks down what PH is, what causes it, and how it can affect day-to-day life. Together, we’ll explore symptoms and warning signs that may prompt an evaluation, and practical strategies that can help people living with PH navigate daily routines, manage challenges, and feel more supported over time.
About Our Episode Gues...
Quitting Smoking and Breathing Easier
In this episode of Let's Talk Lungs, host Bethany is joined by Dr. Erika Penz, Associate Professor and Division Head of Respirology and Sleep Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. Bethany and Dr. Penz discuss quitting smoking while managing lung disease, the positive impacts of quitting on your health, cessation strategies, and available supports.
About our episode guest:
Erika Penz is Associate Professor and Division Head of Respirology and Sleep Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. She is Physician Co-Lead for the COPD Provincial Clinical Network.
Dr Penz’s main research focus includes burden...
From Symptoms to Solutions: A Practical Approach to Identifying and Managing Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
In this episode, Dr. Mohit Bhutani will be diving into what Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency is and why it matters; unpacking its genetic roots, how it affects the lungs, and the critical importance of early recognition. We’ll walk through the common signs, symptoms, and risk factors that may signal Alpha-1, and discuss when testing or further evaluation should be considered. We will also explore practical management strategies, including lifestyle approaches and available treatments, to help individuals and families take charge of their health. Finally, we’ll highlight ways to access support and resources, empowering listeners to advocate for themselves, their...
Engineering Immunity: The Future of mRNA Technology and Respiratory Vaccines
Join Lung Saskatchewan’s Let’s Talk Lungs hosts Trent and Lori for a timely conversation with Dr. Kyle Brown, Associate Director, Field Medical Advisor, Moderna Canada.
mRNA technology has already changed the game, and its potential in respiratory health is still unfolding. In this episode, Dr. Brown will unpack what’s on the horizon: how mRNA platforms are evolving, what that could mean for the next generation of respiratory vaccines, and where the most exciting innovation may be headed.
Dr. Brown brings expertise in Medical Affairs & Medical Information and a deep background in infectious disease...
A Second Breath, A Stronger Voice. A Singer's Lung Transplant Story.
To celebrate National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Month, Let’s Talk Lungs podcast host Nurse Jill sits down with professional singer and double lung transplant recipient Darcy Murdoch. He shares his powerful journey from losing his breath to finding his voice again. Celebrating 11 years with his new lungs, Darcy reflects on life after transplant, the gift of organ donation, and what it truly means to receive a second breath—and a stronger voice.
Darcy Murdoch is a professional singer and entertainer originally from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, now based in Vancouver. Performing under the name Bobby Bacchus, Darcy is known f...
Part 2: Surviving Lung Cancer. Let’s Talk Radon!
Get inspired as Nurse Jill chats with two remarkable young women who have turned a scary diagnosis into an opportunity to empower people to know about radon and how to reduce their risk of lung cancer.
About Episode Guests
Christine Elliott is an author, speaker, and mentor to people who have experienced disease, disaster, or adversity. She is the host of The Live Free Podcast, The Evolution of You. Her journey as a two-time cancer survivor enables her to connect with people on a personal level. She is an advocate for health and a lung ambassador...
Holiday Episode
As we wrap up the first year of the Let’s Talk Lungs podcast, hosts Trent and Lori are celebrating with a special holiday episode! Join them as they reflect on a year of meaningful conversations about lung health and thank our guests, listeners, and sponsors for making it all possible. They’ll also give listeners a sneak peek at what’s coming in 2026, new episodes, new voices, and even more stories to help us all breathe a little easier!
Real Talk on Quitting Smoking
In this episode of Let’s Talk Lungs, brand new host Bethany Verma, Lung Saskatchewan's Health Promotion Manager, has a conversation with Jenna Anderson, licensed pharmacist and Manager of Professional Practice at Pharmacy Association of Saskatchewan, and Leon Ferguson, Saskatchewan Quits ambassador. Bethany, Jenna, and Leon chat all things quitting - supports available, how to navigate nicotine replacement therapy and medications, and tips for quitting amidst the stress that can come with the holiday season.
This episode is sponsored by Nicorette.
Ready! Set! Breathe – With COPD!
In this episode of Let’s Talk Lungs Inspired Breathing hosts, Lori and Trent have a conversation with Dr. Mohit Bhutani, Professor in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta. In their conversation with Dr. Bhutani they will talk about all things COPD – the new Canadian and global guidelines for treatment; the upcoming role biologic therapies will play in disease management; and what the future holds in terms of research directions, and disease remission.
This episode is sponsored in part by the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation.
About Dr. Mohit Bhutani
Dr. Mohit...
Wildfires on the Rise: Impact & Inequities in Indigenous Populations
In this episode of Let’s Talk Lungs Inspired Breathing hosts, Lori and Trent will be talking with Dr. Jaris Swidrovich from the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto. In this conversation, they will uncover the health inequities that exist among our Indigenous populations in relation to exposure to wildfires and just how it is impacting their health.
This episode is sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim.
About Dr. Jaris Swidrovich
Dr. Jaris Swidrovich, BSP, PharmD, PhD, AAHIVP, RPh (he/they) is an Assistant Professor, Tenure Stream, and Indigenous Engagement Lead in th...
Part 1: Radon 101: The Lung Cancer Risk you can’t see, taste, or smell.
In this episode of Let’s Talk Lungs, Nurse Jill chats with Regional Radiation Specialist Sandy Hutchison from Health Canada about all things radon. Tune in to learn about this radioactive gas and what you can do to reduce your lung cancer risk.
About Episode Guest
Sandy Hutchison has energetically walked and talked all things radon across Manitoba and Saskatchewan since 2008. The Regional Radiation Specialist position sits within the Environmental Health Program of Health Canada. The duties of this position are non-regulatory; instead, Sandy works to collaborate and build partnerships that improve education and awareness about the...
Kids and Asthma! Where is Science Taking Us?
In this episode of Let’s Talk Lungs Inspired Breathing hosts Lori and Trent have a conversation with Dr. Connie Yang, Pediatric Respirologist at Toronto’s SickKids. In their conversation with Dr. Yang they will explore recent changes to asthma management for kids and also talk about what the future holds in terms of research directions, and disease remission.
This episode is sponsored by GSK.
About Dr. Connie Yang
Dr. Connie Yang is a pediatric respirologist at the Hospital for Sick Children where she is the Medical Director of their Asthma Program and the Sc...
RSV and Infants – When It’s More Than Just a Cold
In this episode of Let’s Talk Lungs Inspired Breathing, hosts Lori and Trent have a conversation with Dr. Cora Constantinescu, pediatrician and infectious disease physician at Alberta Children’s Hospital. With RSV making headlines and spreading more widely each season, Dr. Constantinescu helps us unpack what this virus means for infants, who is most at risk, and what families can do to protect their little ones.
From prevention strategies for pregnant individuals to the role of antibody therapies and the latest vaccine developments, Dr. Constantinescu brings clarity, compassion, and science to a topic on the minds of m...
Building Trust in mRNA Technology: A New Era in Prevention and Therapies
In this episode of Let’s Talk Lungs, Inspired Breathing hosts Lori and Trent have a conversation with Dr. Kyle Brown, Associate Director, Field Medical Advisor for Moderna Canada. In their conversation, they will explore mRNA as a technology and learn why it is such a good fit for vaccines and other therapies.
This episode is sponsored by Moderna Canada.
About Dr. Kyle Brown
Kyle is the Associate Director, Field Medical Advisor for Moderna Canada, and brings his expertise in Medical Affairs & Medical Information to our conversation today. Kyle obtained his B.Sc and Ph...
RSV and Other Respiratory Vaccines! What Do I Need to Know?
In this episode of Let’s Talk Lungs Inspired Breathing hosts, Lori and Trent will be talking with Dr. George Zhanel from the Max Rady College of Medicine at the University of Manitoba. In this conversation, they will uncover everything we should know about RSV and other respiratory viruses and vaccines.
This episode is sponsored by Pfizer Canada.
About Dr. George Zhanel
Dr. Zhanel is a microbiologist and pharmacologist who is presently a professor and associate head of the Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, at the Max Rady College of Medicine at the Universit...
I Smell Smoke! How to Protect Yourself During Wildfire Season!
In this episode of Let’s Talk Lungs, Inspired Breathing hosts, Lori and Trent, are joined by Lung Saskatchewan nurses and respiratory educators Jill and Jaimie to talk about wildfires. Listen in to find out who is most at risk when air quality is poor due to wildfires, and what to do to stay well both indoors and outdoors.
This episode is sponsored in part by SaskEnergy. Thank you to CTV Saskatoon for promoting this episode.
About the Episode Guests
Jill Hubick is the Manager of Community Care and Education for Lung Saskatchewan. Among her ro...
Unleashing Discovery in Research: The Value of Investment, Partnership, and Impact
In this episode of Let’s Talk Lungs, Inspired Breathing hosts, Lori and Trent have a lively conversation with Dr. Baljit Singh, Vice President of Research at the University of Saskatchewan. Dr. Singh will talk about his early days as a young researcher and how Lung Sask supported his research work in lung health. Dr. Singh will also speak to the strength of Saskatchewan research, the importance of investing in research, and will connect how research contributes to health and wellness.
This episode is sponsored in part by the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation.
About Dr. Bal...
Ready! Set! Breathe – With Severe Asthma!
Healthcare professionals, in this episode of Let’s Talk Lungs, Inspired Breathing hosts Lori and Trent sit down with Dr. Brianne Philipenko, Respirologist in the Division of Respirology, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan, to talk about what’s new in the treatment of severe asthma. Tune in to find out just how far we have come in the management of severe asthma.
About Dr. Brianne Philipenko
Dr. Philipenko is a Saskatoon respirologist and an Assistant Professor in the Division of Respirology at the University of Saskatchewan. She completed her medical training...
How is your Lung Life? Tips on how to protect and love your lungs
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with episode three of Let’s Talk Lungs! Nurse Jill chats with Dr. Samir Gupta on a vital topic: How’s Your Lung Life? Discover expert insights and practical tips to love and care for your lungs. Don’t miss this special episode—your lungs will thank you!
Demystifying ILD
Healthcare professionals, don’t miss this episode of Let's Talk Lungs where you will hear Lung Sask Inspired Breathing hosts Lori and Trent have a conversation with Dr. Shane Shapera from the Toronto General Hospital. In this episode, they will take a deep dive into everything you need to know about ILD (interstitial lung disease).
RSV and You: How you can protect yourself from this common lung infection
In the premiere episode of Let's Talk Lungs, Dr. Alex Wong shares expert tips on protecting yourself from RSV, a common lung infection. Hosted by Nurse Jill, this episode offers practical advice for safeguarding your lung health. Don't miss out—tune in for essential insights!
