Shows
Surgeon, InterruptedYou Can’t Be Sassy and Wrong: Lessons from The ICU DoctorWhat if the most radical thing you could do in medicine wasn’t being tougher, but being more human?In this episode of Surgeon, Interrupted, Frances Mei sits down with The ICU Doctor to talk about identity, intuition, and breaking the unspoken rules of medical culture. From immigrant roots and imposter syndrome to building clinical “spidey sense,” digital medical education, and creating work environments that actually put people at ease, this conversation is a masterclass in reclaiming humanity inside the hospital.They unpack unhinged resident stories, intimidating attendings, reframing survival during training, and why asking someon...
2026-02-1034 min
ICU Doc TalkEp. 74 Cardiac Arrest After Heart SurgeryTalking about cardiac arrest in a patient after they’ve had heart surgery. Books discussed:Metabolical by Lustig The Glorious Cause by Middlekauff Original of Political Order by Fukuyama The Stand by Stephen KingBuy my books here:https://www.amazon.com/Wick-Welker/e/B00J21FNRI
2025-12-111h 17ICU Doc TalkEp. 73 Neuro Critical CareDiscussing high yield neuro critical care topics. Hot Takes From the Void: Trump Qatar Jet, Biden Dementia, Putin. Books: Chokepoint by Fishman, One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by El Akkad, Lord of the Flies by Golding My new book is out!!👇https://a.co/d/crihSjb
2025-05-1953 minICU Doc TalkEp. 72 V/Q MismatchDiscussing V/Q mismatch, dead space ventilation and hypoxemia. Hot Takes From the Void: Pope Trump, Deportation ‘travel assistance’, Alcatraz Book discussion: Money, Lies and God by Stewart, Fahrenheit 451 by Bradbury. Wick Welker’s bookshttps://www.amazon.com/Wick-Welker/e/B00J21FNRI
2025-05-0539 minICU Doc TalkEp. 71 Type A DissectionTalking about management of Type A Dissection. Hot Takes From the Void: Pope Francis, JD Vance, TarrifsMy author panel with Mary Robinette Kowalhttps://www.youtube.com/live/YRybNHh-YfM?si=SO2IgFMEbuvcQW1eWick Welker’s science fiction novels:https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00J21FNRI
2025-04-2248 minICU Doc TalkEp. 70 Choosing a Specialty, Pregnancy and ECMOHow to choose a medical specialty, discussing pregnancy and ECMO use. Hot Takes From the Void: Tariffs, Cory Booker, Susan Crawford. Books: Supremacy by Olson, Why Taiwan Matters by Brown, Worlds Without End by Impey, Slaughterhouse Five by Vonnegut, All Quiet by Remarque My next book out May 15th! DARK PROPHET https://a.co/d/0zWgmlP
2025-04-0349 minICU Doc TalkEp. 69 Critical Care Story TimeSharing bedside stories of the critically ill.**New segment** Hot Takes From the Void: A brief discussion of current news. This episode: SCOTUS pause on USAID funding, measles outbreak, Trump tariffs. Book reviews: Sourdough Culture by Pallant, Ejaculate Responsibly by Blair.
2025-03-0342 minICU Doc TalkEp. 68 My Book Reads of 2024Brief overview of the 90+ books I read in 2024. First half is nonfiction, second half fiction. The full list is here 👇https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_in_books/2024/53069903
2025-02-241h 02ICU Doc TalkEp. 67 Trauma SurgeryTalking about trauma resuscitation in the emergency department, the operating room and the ICU. Book discussion: Genghis Khan by Weatherford, A City on Mars by the Weinersmiths.
2025-02-1748 minICU Doc TalkEp. 66 American FascismTalking about current fascist insurgency in the US. Books: The Third Reich at War by Evans, The Handmaid’s Tale by Atwood.
2025-02-1155 minICU Doc TalkEp. 65 EpiduralsTalking about epidurals and neuraxial anesthesia. Books: Gangsters of Capitalism by Katz, It by Stephen King.
2025-01-2046 minICU Doc TalkEp. 64 Pulmonary HypertensionDiscussing the dangers and management of acute pulmonary hypertension. Also talking about insurers trying to limit anesthesia reimbursement and the United Health CEO assassination. Books: Psychopolitics by Han, Ubik by Phillip K Dick, Lancelot by Giles Kristian.
2024-12-1755 minICU Doc TalkEp. 63 Heart Block & Nuclear WarDiscussing heart block and its management. Books: Nuclear War by Jacobson and Strongmen by Ben-Ghiat.
2024-12-0345 minICU Doc TalkEp. 62 Leaving Social MediaMy thoughts on why I’ll no longer create social medial content. ECMO case study. Some life philosophy stuff. Book: Age of Revolutions by Zakaria.
2024-11-2545 minICU Doc TalkEp. 61 Heart ArrhythmiasDiscussing management of atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia. Books: The Singularity is Nearer by Kurzweil, Inferno by Hastings, Empire of Silence by Ruocchio.
2024-11-1754 minICU Doc TalkEp. 60 Trump & SleepJust a small discussion about the election and talking about sleep hygiene. Books: How Emotions Are Made by Barrett, Of Boys and Men by Reeves, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by PKD.
2024-11-1140 minICU Doc TalkEp. 59 UHC, Mental Health, HemodynamicsAnswering emails and questions. Books: The Man Who Broke Capitalism by Gelles, The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine by Pappe
2024-10-2742 minICU Doc TalkEp. 58 What Even is Blood Pressure?Discussing the math (just a lil) and clinical application of blood pressure and shock. Basic and complex topics to get you started or if you are actively managing patients. Book discussions: 1984 and Homage to Catalonia by Orwell, Spain in Our Hearts by Hochschild, My Disillusionment with Russia by Emma Goldman
2024-07-1551 minICU Doc TalkEp. 57 How to VoteTalking about US politics and history and how to be an informed voter in 2024. Lots of book recommendations.
2024-06-101h 11ICU Doc TalkEp. 56 How to SchoolTalking about how to study, take tests and be a successful student. Book discussion: Why Civil Resistance Works by Chenoweth, Travelers in the Third Reich by Boyd
2024-06-0347 minICU Doc TalkEp. 55 StoriesOne big story about a complex patient. Books: Nixonland by Perlstein, The Lathe of Heaven by Le Guin
2024-05-1742 minICU Doc TalkEp. 54 Communicating in MedicineTalking about work place conflict, defensiveness and effective communication. Books: The Anxious Generation by Haidt, The Dark Tower by Stephen King
2024-04-0944 minICU Doc TalkEp. 53 Conscious Sedation & WWITalking about anesthesia for conscious sedation. Book: To End All Wars by Hochschild
2024-03-2640 minICU Doc TalkEp. 52 Random Q&A, Civil WarsAnswering random medical questions from listeners. Book discussion is How Civil Wars Start by Barbara F. Walter
2024-03-0140 minICU Doc TalkEp. 51 Central LinesTalking about central lines. Book discussion: Technofeudalism by Yanis Varoufakis.
2024-02-2244 minICU Doc TalkEp. 50 Placing an IVTalking about IV basics. Book Discussion is about the Civil War, Battle Cry of Freedom by McPherson.
2024-02-1346 minICU Doc TalkEp. 49 TracheostomyDiscussing tracheostomy management in a critical setting. Book: The Value of Everything by Mazzucato
2024-01-2644 minICU Doc TalkEp. 48 My Book Reads from 2023Going over about 75 books I read in 2023: politics, economics, history, sci fi and fantasy.
2024-01-161h 062023-12-2011 minICU Doc TalkEp. 47 Crazy ICU WeekSharing stories about a particularly crazy week I had in the ICU. Book discussion: American Midnight by Hoschild and Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Sanderson.
2023-12-1543 minICU Doc TalkEp. 46 Tele ICUTalking about the practice of tele ICU. Books: The Rape of Nanking by Chang, Wellness by Hill.
2023-11-2739 minICU Doc TalkEp. 45 The LiverTalking about liver disease during critical illness. Books: Socialism: Utopian and Scientific by Engels, Blood Song by Ryan, The Name of the Wind by Rothfuss
2023-10-3049 minICU Doc TalkEp. 44 How to ArgueHow to have hard conversations with people. A little ECMO chat. Books: Skeptics Guide to the Universe by Novella, Think Again by Grant, Jade City by Lee, The Grace of Kings by Liu.
2023-10-2346 minICU Doc TalkMini #2 Palestinian and Israeli VictimsThe discourse is dead. Here are my thoughts if you want them. Thank you.
2023-10-1918 minICU Doc TalkEp. 43 Induction Agents, Congo, FaithTalking about propofol, etomidate and ketamine. Books: Cobalt Red by Kara, King Leopold’s Ghost by Hochschild. Also dicussiom about religious faith.
2023-10-161h 06ICU Doc TalkMini #2 Palestine and IsraelTwo books: The Way to the Spring by Ehrenreich, Except For Palestine by Hill
2023-10-1011 minICU Doc TalkEp. 42 Being a ParentMy experience being a dad. Book discussions are Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child by Gottman and Good Inside by Becky Kennedy.
2023-10-0242 min2023-09-2514 minICU Doc TalkEp. 41 ObesityTalking about obesity and anti-fat bias in medicine. Book discussions: What We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About Fat by Gordon and The Utopia of Rules by Graeber
2023-09-1944 min2023-09-121h 01ICU Doc TalkEp. 39 Random Q&A and Compassionate FeminismJust random questions and answers. Books: The Will to Change, Factfullness and surprise!
2023-09-0549 minICU Doc TalkEp. 38 Life > Career & The Fall of LiberalismTalking about how career should not be your priority. Book discussion: How Liberalism Failed, A Day of Fallen Night
2023-08-2945 minICU Doc TalkEp. 37 Staying Out of the ICU & The Supreme CourtDiscussing how to triage patients into the ICU. Book discussions: The Shadow Docket by Vladeck and Hyperion by Simmons
2023-06-0541 minICU Doc TalkEp. 36 Patient AnxietyDiscussing the impact and treatment of patient anxiety. Books: The Storm Before the Calm by Friedman and Dreams of Dying by Lietzau
2023-05-2346 minICU Doc TalkEp. 35 How to Write a Book & PovertyDiscussing how I go about writing books and how to pursue creative aspirations. Book discussion: Poverty, by America by Desmond
2023-04-1043 minICU Doc TalkEp. 34 Cardiac ICU & The Dawn of EverythingDifferent types of patients in a cardiac ICU. Discussing books The Dawn of Everything by Graeber and The Sword of Kaigen by Wang.
2023-04-0347 minICU Doc TalkEp. 33 God, Medicine & The French RevolutionTalking about religion, spirituality and faith in critical care. Book discussion: The French Revolution by Davidson; The Winter King by Cornwall
2023-03-2448 minICU Doc TalkEp. 32 Crisis ManagementDiscussing how to think in a crisis. Book review is Babel by Kuang
2023-03-1640 minICU Doc TalkEp. 31 POCUS & PutinTalking about point of care ultrasound and discussing the book The Road to Unfreedom by Snyder.
2023-02-2442 minICU Doc TalkEp. 30 ECPR & Political ExtremismTalking about ECMO during CPR. Book discussion: The Coming of the Third Reich by Evans and discussing political extremism.
2023-02-0745 minICU Doc TalkEp. 29 How to Teach, Damar Hamlin, Invisible WomenDiscussing teaching in a clinical setting, Damar Hamlin arrest and book discussion is Invisible Women by Pérez
2023-01-1941 minICU Doc TalkEp 28. Happy New Year & PolarizationAnswering a bunch of random questions. Book discussion: Why We’re Polarized by Ezra Klein.
2023-01-0240 minICU Doc TalkEp. 27 Crazy Day in the OR & MaoismDiscussing a crazy day in the OR. Book discussion: The Tragedy of Liberation by Dikotter.
2022-12-0738 minICU Doc TalkEp. 26 Confidence & CyberwarfareDiscussing how to be confident on the job. Book discussion about cyberwarfare: The is How They Tell Me the World Will End by Perlroth
2022-11-2939 minICU Doc TalkEp. 25 ICU Liberation & American ConservatismVery important protocol to get people out of the ICU. Book: The Right by Parenti
2022-11-1440 minICU Doc TalkEp. 25 How to Work and Be HappyDiscussing how to live meaningfully and also be gainfully employed. Book discussion: The Atlas of the Heart by Brown.
2022-11-0746 minICU Doc TalkEp. 24 Surgeons & Reframing CommunismTalking about my experience working with surgeons. Books discussion: Blackshirts and Reds by Parenti which gives a reframing of communist regimes.
2022-10-3144 minICU Doc TalkEp. 23 End of Life Care & The American EmpireDiscussing stories about end of life and the book How to Hide an Empire by Immerwahr.
2022-10-2441 minICU Doc TalkEp. 22 US Medical Education & Global CollapseDiscussing my opinions about US medical education and book discussion The End of the World is Just the Beginning by Zeihan.
2022-10-1746 minICU Doc TalkEp. 21 Crisis in the OR & Profits Over PatientsTalking about all the things that can go wrong during surgery. Also discussing the profit seeking model of American healthcare with book American Sickness by Rosenthal.
2022-10-1044 minICU Doc TalkEp. 20 Brain Death & CorruptionEverything you need to know about brain death. Most important episode I’ve done. Discussing how corruption works with Corruptible by Klaas.
2022-09-0549 minICU Doc TalkEp. 19 Substance Use Disorder and Corporate WokeismTreatment and management of patients hospitalized with various substance use disorders. Discussing Woke Inc. by Ramaswamy and how many try to rebrand corporate tokenism as Wokeism.
2022-08-2940 minICU Doc TalkEp. 18 Patient Story Time & Neoliberal TakeoverI share stories about patient experiences (all anonymized in both space and time) and discussing the book Evil Geniuses by Andersen about neoliberalism in the US.
2022-08-2240 minICU Doc TalkEp. 17 Hypoxia and Liberal FlawTalking about problems with the lungs and hypoxia. Discussing flaw and foibles of American liberalism with book Listen Liberal by Frank.
2022-08-1545 minICU Doc TalkEp. 16 The Heart and DebtTalking about the heart as an organ system in critical care. Discussing the nature of debt with the book Debt: The First 5,000 years by the late Graeber.
2022-08-0843 minICU Doc TalkEp. 15 The ICU Team and Liberation From OppressionGoing into detail about all the members of an ICU team. Book discussion is Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Freire.
2022-08-0143 minICU Doc TalkEp. 14 Shock and Taxing the Ultra Wealthy.Discussing different types of medical shock. Book discussion of The Triumph of Injustice by Sáez and how the ultra wealthy dodge taxes and what to do about it.
2022-07-2539 minICU Doc TalkEp. 13 Ultrasound and the News Media Complex.Talking about the importance of physical exam and ultrasound. Book review Hate Inc. by Taibbi.
2022-07-1841 minICU Doc TalkEp 12. Acidosis and Socialism PanicA fairly detailed discussion about acidosis and book discussion: The Road to Serfdom by Hayek.
2022-07-1141 minICU Doc TalkEp. 11 Best Books to Read Right Now.Brief glimpse of around 100 books about power, economics and race. The end has some sci fi and fantasy books, too!
2022-07-0454 minICU Doc TalkEp. 10 AbortionMy personal views about abortion. Two book discussions: Dead Blondes by Doyle and Hood Feminism by Kendall
2022-06-2737 minICU Doc TalkEp. 9 Medical shows vs Real Life, How Immigration WorksHow do medical shows match up to real life? Book discussion: Border and Rule by Walia.
2022-06-2042 minICU Doc TalkEp. 8 How to sedate & monopolization.How to safely sedate and treat pain in many scenarios. Book discussion: Goliath: The 100-Year War Between Monopoly Power and Democracy by Stoller.
2022-06-1348 minICU Doc TalkEp. 7 My path to medicine, corporate feudalismI get personal talking about my path to medicine and what I do today. Book analysis: Bullsh*t Jobs by Graber.
2022-06-0640 minICU Doc TalkEp. 6 How we die, critical theories.Trigger warning: talking about death and dying. How do we approach dying and what to do for loved ones. Book discussion: Cynical Theories by Pluckrose and Lindsay.
2022-05-3043 minICU Doc TalkEp. 5 How to treat pain, the filibusterTreating patient pain in many settings and also those with substance use disorder. Book discussion is Kill Switch by Jentleson about the rise and use of the American Filibuster.
2022-05-2340 minICU Doc TalkEp. 4 What even is anesthesia? Why are there poor countries?What is the practice of anesthesia? Book discussion: The Divide by Hickel
2022-05-1640 minICU Doc TalkEp. 3 COVID, ECMO, Seeing through disinformationMy experiences with COVID patients, putting them on ECMO, the tragedy of vaccine disinformation and book discussion: Calling Bullshit by Bergstrom
2022-05-0941 minICU Doc TalkEp. 2 Arrest, tricky stats, biasWhat to do when someone’s heart stops. Discuss difference between average and median. Analysis of the book Thinking, Fast and Slow by Khaneman.
2022-05-0234 min2022-04-2500 minICU Doc TalkEp. 1 Intro, RaDonda, Husel and NeoliberalismFirst 2 minutes bad sound, gets better after. Intro to me and my ramblings.
2022-04-2525 min