The Dose

CBC

A weekly look at the health news that matters to you. Dr. Brian Goldman brings you the best science from top experts in plain language. He cuts through the BS and confusion to give you a dose of smart advice that you won’t find anywhere else. New episodes every Thursday.

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30 episodes
weekly
Avg 26 min
English

Episodes 30

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November 5 · 25 min
Why are more women freezing their eggs?
Egg freezing in Canada is on the rise! Dr. Caitlin Dunne, a B.C. fertility specialist says women are taking their fertility into their own hands, choosing to freeze their eggs while they achieve their goals and find the right partner. Curious about fertility treatments? Check out our previous episode on <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-podcasts/410-the-dose/episode/16171635-what-might-testosterone-replacement-therapy-mean-for-me" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank
October 29 · 23 min
What can ketamine do for my mental health?
Actor Matthew Perry’s death in 2023 sparked public debate around ketamine, and a new docuseries is once again drawing attention to the drug. Dr. Monika Hooper, a psychiatrist who co-founded a licensed ketamine clinic in Saskatoon, says medically supervised ketamine infusions may help people with certain mental health conditions. But she says they can take time to have an effect, and come at a cost. Curious about emerging medical treatments? Check out our <a href="https://www.
October 22 · 24 min
AI mammograms are improving breast cancer detection
AI-assisted mammograms are already a thing. They use deep learning to help detect breast cancer and, in some cases, predict your risk of getting it. Given that breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in Canada, University of Alberta professor Amber Simpson says the tech behind AI-assisted mammograms is promising and a potential step forward. Want to learn more about AI and health care? Listen to our episode on <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-podcasts/
October 15 · 24 min
Flu season's early! What should I do about it?
Look out Canada, flu season is here early! As influenza cases rise across the country, experts warn it's still too soon to say how bad this season will be. Alberta infectious diseases specialist Dr. Lynora Saxinger joins the show to talk everything flu, COVID-19 and RSV. She says wash your hands, stay indoors if you've got the sniffles and get your vaccines as soon as they're available. Want to learn more about RSV? Listen to our previous episode on <a href="https://www.cbc.c
October 14 · 24 min
What should people who’ve never smoked know about lung cancer?
Lung cancer is the deadliest cancer in Canada, and a growing number of never-smokers are getting diagnosed. Dr. Nicole Ezer, director of McGill University Health Centre's lung cancer screening centre, explains why this is happening and how workplace and environmental exposures may be contributing.
October 8 · 23 min
Why 'fibremaxxing' actually makes sense
Finally, a social media "maxxing" trend that gets it right! Most people don't eat nearly enough fibre, according to dietitian and nutritionist Nishta Saxena. She says it's easy to increase your fibre intake and with benefits ranging from gut health to mood to your cardiovascular system, "it's better to have a fart attack than a heart attack." Looking to improve your nutrition? Check out our episode on <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-podcasts/410-the-dose/episode/159679
October 1 · 22 min
Cancer blood tests: How accurate are they?
An estimated 240 Canadians die from cancer every day. Now, a growing number of companies are offering cancer-detecting blood tests. Some claim they can detect signs of more than 50 types of cancer. Princess Margaret oncologist and researcher Dr. Raymond Kim says these liquid biopsies show promise, but there are good reasons to think twice before paying for one. For transcripts of The Dose, please visit: <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/the-dose-transcripts-listen
September 24 · 23 min
What are the health risks of sports betting?
Sports betting ads promise big payouts and quick cash. But new research shows gambling-related ER visits nearly doubled in Ontario after online betting expanded, raising concerns about a larger public health issue. Addiction researcher Andrew Kim says avoiding specific games can lower the risk of developing a gambling problem. For transcripts of The Dose, please visit: <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/the-dose-transcripts-listen-1.6732281" rel="noopener noreferre
September 17 · 22 min
Would you take a drug that could prevent Alzheimer's?
More than 750,000 Canadians live with dementia, including Alzheimer’s. Many more, like host Dr. Brian Goldman, worry they could develop it. Now, U.K. researchers are testing whether the drug trontinemab could prevent Alzheimer’s before symptoms appear. Dr. Ramin Nilforooshan, a psychiatrist involved in the trials, explains what Alzheimer’s prevention could mean — and what you can do now. For transcripts of The Dose, please visit: <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/
September 10 · 20 min
Psychiatric labels — why some people want one!
Social media is filled with people discussing their mental health symptoms, often encouraging others to consider getting a diagnostic label as well. Dr. Gail Beck, a child psychiatrist at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre, says experts like her are seeing more young patients seeking a diagnosis, while others are asking about neurodivergence. For transcripts of The Dose, please visit:<a href="https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/the-dose-transcripts-listen-1.6732281" rel="
August 13 · 47 min
The Dose Summer Special 2026: Beyond the Hype
The Dose is currently on a summer break, but we wanted to feature some of our favourite shows while we’re away. This week, we've put together two episodes where we explore the science behind two popular wellness trends, including: What's the real evidence on injectable peptides and What do we know so far about psilocybin as a medical treatment? Have a listen. For transcripts of The Dose, please visit: <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/the-dose-transcripts-listen-1
July 16 · 51 min
The Dose Summer Special 2026: Figuring Out Food
This week, we’re revisiting two episodes that tackle big questions about weight management and nutrition: How healthy is eating one meal a day? And, how should you adapt your diet while taking GLP-1 drugs? We explore what the evidence says about these popular approaches and what they mean for your health. For more episodes of this podcast, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dose/id1498259551 " rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">click this link.</a>
June 18 · 26 min
How might a social media ban affect my child's mental health?
Canada's Bill C-34 aims to restrict social media access for people under the age of 16. Supporters say it could help reduce rising rates of depression, anxiety and social isolation. But Dr. Shimi Kang, a psychiatrist and clinical associate professor at UBC, says the proposed restrictions need more clarity, noting that social media can also help marginalized young people find support. For transcripts of The Dose, please visit: <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/the-
June 11 · 26 min
How can I stay healthy during the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected in Toronto and Vancouver for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but what does that mean for public health? Dr. Michelle Murti, medical officer of health for Toronto Public Health, says her team has planned for everything from infectious diseases to heat to food safety, and will be ready when the games kick off. For transcripts of The Dose, please visit: <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/the-dose-transcripts-listen-1.6732281" re
June 4 · 24 min
What do I need to know about the Ebola virus?
An Ebola outbreak coursing through the Democratic Republic of Congo has experts worried it might rival the worst outbreak in history. Dr. Joanne Liu was president of Doctors Without Borders during that deadly 2014 outbreak in West Africa. As countries like Canada suspend travel from Congo, Liu says border closures don't help mitigate the spread of disease — only treating Ebola can.  For transcripts of The Dose, please visit: <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/
May 28 · 27 min
What are the latest tick-borne diseases in Canada?
As ticks and tick-borne diseases rise across Canada due to warmer weather, experts are warning about two invasive species: the lone star and Asian longhorned ticks. Entomologist Jade Savage, creator and director of the <a href="https://etick.ca/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">eTick monitoring platform</a>, says authorities are closely tracking them. In the meantime, she gives practical steps we can take to reduce the risk of tick bites. For our episode on anaplasm
May 21 · 26 min
Should I be worried about my red eyes?
From seasonal allergies to infections, red eyes can have many causes. University of Calgary ophthalmologist Dr. Helen Chung talks about what’s behind eye redness, when drops can help, and when it’s time to see a doctor. For transcripts of The Dose, please visit: <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/the-dose-transcripts-listen-1.6732281" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">lnk.to/dose-transcripts.</a> Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the nex
May 14 · 22 min
Why do I need to know about Legionnaires' disease?
Toronto and Hamilton are experiencing outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease, a serious type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria. Infectious diseases physician Dr. Isaac Bogoch says it spreads through natural, as well as artificial water systems, like cooling towers, hot tubs, and plumbing, so it's important that buildings are up to code. For transcripts of The Dose, please visit: <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/the-dose-transcripts-listen-1.6732281" rel="noo
May 7 · 24 min
What do I need to know about hantavirus?
Three people have died after a hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship, and several others are seriously ill. While hantaviruses are typically carried by rodents and rarely infect humans, health officials are investigating the cases. Infectious diseases specialist Dr. Zain Chagla explains what you need to know about hantavirus and how to avoid infection.  For transcripts of The Dose, please visit: <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/the-dose-transcripts-liste
April 30 · 24 min
What should I know about ibogaine?
Psychedelics are a hot topic, and a drug called ibogaine is receiving attention after a recent shoutout from U.S. President Donald Trump. University of Calgary psychedelics researcher Leah Mayo explains what ibogaine is, and why limited high-quality research has her hesitant to recommend it. For transcripts of The Dose, please visit: <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/the-dose-transcripts-listen-1.6732281" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">lnk.to/dose-

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