Podcasts can be an excellent, convenient way for healthcare providers to stay current on valuable information for their field. Research shows that healthcare podcasts have great potential as tools for continuing education and professional development in the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare information (Kiernan et al., 2023).
Are you interested in listening to healthcare podcasts, but are not sure where to start or which ones to trust? This post is for you!
The following podcasts are from credible content creators, who engage and inform their audiences:
Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) Podcasts
Drs. Mojola Omole and Blair Bigham discuss advances and issues at the forefront of Canadian healthcare, including real stories of healthcare professionals and their patients.
- Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, Amazon Music
- We liked: Stepping up: Canadian research in the shadow of cuts in the United States
Surgery 101 provides brief introductions of surgical topics for medical students, with easily digestible 10- to 20-minute episodes broken into chapters and key points of the topic.
- Produced with the help of the University of Alberta
- Available on LibSyn, Apple Podcasts, Spotify
- We liked: #422: Reflections on Surgical History
The Clinical Problem Solvers: Antiracism in Medicine Series
This podcast series from The Clinical Problem Solvers equips listeners from all healthcare backgrounds with tools to practice antiracism in their everyday practice.
- Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Google Play
- We liked: Episode 282: Anti-Racism in Medicine Series – Episode 20 – Medical Racism and Indigenous Peoples
Canadian Health Information Podcast
Host Avis Favaro provides in-depth conversations about Canadian healthcare with the people who know it best: those who work on the front lines or behind the scenes, and the patients accessing healthcare. From the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI).
- Available on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Amazon Music
- Some episodes available in French
- We liked: Nowhere Else to Go: Why Canadians Are Ending Up in Emergency Departments — Shelley Petit and Dr. Howard Ovens
White Coat Black Art with Dr. Brian Goldman
ER doctor Brian Goldman facilitates deep conversations with healthcare professionals and patients to explore what is and is not working in Canada’s healthcare landscape.
- Available through CBC Listen, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music
- We liked: Measles in Canada: Where we’re at and how we got here
Canadian nurses Sara Fung and Amie Archibald-Varley tackle the raw realities of working in healthcare through gritty, humorous storytelling. They share experiences and offer stories of hope and resilience while amplifying voices traditionally silenced in healthcare spaces.
- Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, YouTube
- We liked: We Need Another Leader: Navigating Difficult Times with Authentic Leadership, Courage and Clarity
A passionate group of newly retired Canadian nurses use their lived experience to help listeners navigate the challenges and opportunities of today’s nursing practice.
- Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast
- We liked: Kent Soltys and Lenora Marcellus: Supporting Early Career Nurses through Collaboration
EyeCan Podcast: Canadian Lens on Ophthalmology
Hosted by Dr. Guillermo Rocha, Dr. Setareh Ziai, Dr. Mona Dagher, and Dr. Hady Saheb, this series examines all aspects of being an ophthalmologist in Canada. The hosts speak with leaders in the field about their lived clinical experiences and explore current techniques and technologies.
- Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Overcast
- From the Canadian Ophthalmological Society
- We liked: EyeCan Season 5, Episode 3 - Ethics in Ophthalmology with guest Dr. Chryssa McAlister
Frankly Speaking About Family Medicine
A weekly podcast series covering newsworthy topics in primary care medicine.
- Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio and more
- We liked: From Diagnosis to Dialogue: Managing Measles in Primary Care
Providing education on emergency medicine for physicians, residents, students, nurses and paramedics.
- Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Android
- We liked: Episode 200 - How EM Experts Think: Strategies for Pre-Shift, Arrival Ritual, Staying Focused, Managing Interruptions, Cognitive Load & Negative Emotions, Resuscitation Mindset, Post-Resuscitation Recovery
Evaluating Healthcare Podcasts
How do I know if the information provided in healthcare podcasts is trustworthy and authoritative?
Following and listening to podcasts is an engaging way to learn and stay current, but you need to make sure the information you hear is credible and trustworthy. Whether you’re trying to decide what to listen to, or you’re already actively listening to something, keep these questions in mind:
- Do the authors have clinical credentials?
- Do the guests have relevant clinical credentials or lived experience related to the healthcare topic?
- Is the information evidence-based? Is the information based on results from medical research? Are appropriate study methodologies cited and interpreted? Are references included?
- Is the content recent? Reliable podcast episodes will provide the date the episode was released, so you can ensure you’re not listening to outdated information. Any cited references for the podcast episode should be relevant and up to date.
- What is the overall quality of the information? Are the tone and content unbiased, objective, and balanced? While some podcasts provide entertainment through personal and subjective experiences, any healthcare information presented should be unbiased and evidence-based. Refer to the hosts’ professional credentials and the description of the podcast episode.
If you are ever unsure of the quality of information being presented in a healthcare podcast, feel free to reach out to Library Services staff who are happy to discuss in a one-on-one consultation. Be sure to let us know which healthcare podcasts you enjoy listening to.
Happy listening!
References
Kiernan, M. A., Mitchell, B. G., & Russo, P. L. (2023). The power of podcasts: Exploring the endless possibilities of audio education and information in medicine, healthcare epidemiology, and antimicrobial stewardship. Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology, 3(1), e98. https://doi.org/10.1017/ash.2023.178.

Selena MacDonald
Librarian Educator
Nova Scotia Hospital, Central Zone