TEC: Evidence Based Therapeutics
Therapeutics Education Collaboration
Medication Mythbusters – Home of the Best Science (BS) Medicine Podcast

The BS Medicine Podcast episodes are presented by James McCormack and Michael Allan. We try to promote healthy skepticism and critical thinking and most of the podcasts are presented in a case-based approach. We also try to inject some humour into the whole process to make the learning more interesting. Occasionally we have great guests like Mike Kolber, Tina Korownyk and Bruce Arroll help us out.

Most podcast episodes are available for free until they become archived after about 1-2 months. Every 4th episode or so is a “New Studies You Need to Know About” podcast and these will only be available to our Premium Podcast members. Premium members will also be able to listen to all archived episodes since episode #1.

Episode 437: Injecting evidence into Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections

In episode 437, Mike and James invite Joey Ton to help us work through all the evidence around Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections for tendinopathies. The best evidence for Achilles tendinopathy, lateral epicondylitis, and rotator cuff tendinopathy shows no difference in pain, function or return to sport when PRP is compared to dry needling or saline.

Show notes

Tools for Practice

Injecting Evidence into Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections

Episode 436: Hydrochlorothiazide and squamous cell skin cancer – what we know

In episode 436, Mike and James invite Samantha Moe to help us work through the recent evidence suggesting that hydrocholorothiazide is associated with squamous cell skin cancer. We go over all the numbers and talk about how we use cohort data to figure out if an association needs to influence our clinical practice. As always it is tricky.

Show notes

Tools for Practice

Hydrochlorothiazide and Squamous Cell Skin Cancer: Remember when hypertension was easy?

Episode 435: Unwrapping the subclinical hypothyroidism enigma

In episode 435, Mike and James unravel the evidence around thyroid testing. We talk about an approach to deal with the lack of research and the variation in the measurement of TSH and many other things. At the end we both complain of fatigue, dry skin, puffy eyes, anxiety and depression – and immediately get a TSH test.

Show notes

1) Tools for Practice

Helping physicians fatigued by TSH Screening and Subclinical Hypothyroidism

2) Thyroid hormones treatment for subclinical hypothyroidism: a clinical practice guideline

BMJ. 2019 May 14;365:l2006. doi: 10.1136/bmj.l2006

Episode 434: PREMIUM – finally, an LDL target trial

In episode 434, James and Mike discuss the Treat Stroke to Target trial where subjects were randomized to attain different LDL levels in patients experiencing a stroke or TIA. We talk about whether the results of this trial mean you need to measure LDL levels or just give more statin. Listen to find out.

Show notes

A Comparison of Two LDL Cholesterol Targets after Ischemic Stroke

N Engl J Med. 2019 Nov 18. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1910355

Episode 433: Yes, more diabetes trials

In episode 433, Mike and James get all sweet on the latest diabetic trials from 2019. We provide the results, the critique and the context and we do it all with our usual level of charm and wit – which is by all accounts at a level similar to the size of the effect that many diabetes medications have on CVD events. 

Show notes

Diabetes trials synopsis

Episode 430: All the evidence for all the medications for a failing heart

In episode 430, James and Mike do a review of all the best available evidence around medications for systolic heart failure. In this episode we start off by framing the risk associated with heart failure (mortality and hospitalizations for heart failure) and what the evidence is for exercise, salt, diuretics, digoxin and ISDN/hydralazine.

Show notes

Podcast handout

Episode 429: Deprescribing is an essential part of good prescribing – PART II

In episode 429, Mike and James continue their discussion with Barb Farrell around deprescribing. We talk in generalities, with occasional brilliant specificity, about the PPI/benzos/antipsychotics/glucose lowering medication deprescribing guidelines. In the end we come up with the astounding idea that maybe some people are on too many medications.

Show notes

1) Deprescribing guidelines and related tools

2) Deprescribing app

3) Specific guidelines 

PPIs

Benzodiazepines

Antipsychotics

Hypoglycemics 

Cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine 

4) Delphi priorities

5) Guideline methodology

6) MedStopper

Episode 428: Deprescribing is an essential part of good prescribing

In episode 428, Mike and James invite Barb Farrell to discuss all the great work being done by the people at deprescribing.org.  We discuss the general approach to deprescribing and why it is so important to keep this concept front and center of health discussions.

Show notes

1) Deprescribing guidelines and related tools

2) Deprescribing app

3) Specific guidelines 

PPIs

Benzodiazepines

Antipsychotics

Hypoglycemics 

Cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine 

4) Delphi priorities

5) Guideline methodology

See List of All Podcast Episodes

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BS Medicine Podcast

The 2026 MEME Conference – May 8-9, 2026

REGISTRATION IN JANUARY 2026

Making Evidence Matter For Everyone | May 8-9, 2026
From the clinicians who brought you the Best Science Medicine Course and the Meds Conference, as well as the BS Medicine Podcast and Tools for Practice

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BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

THE NUTRITION PROPOSITION BOOK

Check it out at nutritionproposition.com and think about picking up a copy on Amazon. All the evidence you ever wanted about nutrition and the only nutrition book that won’t tell you what to eat.

 

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