Shows
Hidden Figures (Canada)Episode #15: Dr. Raywat DeonandanIn this episode, Dr. Raywat Deonandan talks with Annie about his journey from childhood in Guyana to pursuing a career in science and academia. He reflects on the importance of being brutally honest about personal goals and motivations in choosing a career path, and also emphasizes the role of academia in public health communication, the need for knowledge translation, and the challenges of balancing well-considered research with rapid responses in emergencies. Dr. Deonandan advocates for engaging conversations and meaningful relationships in knowledge exchange and highlights the complexities of knowledge mobilization and the importance of accessibility in academia.2024-10-3152 min
On Psych: Presented by the Ontario Psychological AssociationS3E8: What is a Public Health Panic with Dr. Raywat DeonandanOn this episode of the On Psych Podcast Dr. Jonathan Douglas and Dr. Raywat Deonandan sit down to discuss the variables that contribute towards a public health panic.ABOUT OUR GUEST:Raywat Deonandan, PhD, is an Epidemiologist and Associate Professor with the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Ottawa, as well as a Senior Fellow at Massey College, University of Toronto. An award-winning novelist and journalist, Deonandan became recognizable in national and international media during the COVID-19 pandemic, appearing in over 2000 newspaper, television, radio, and podcast interviews. He continues to advise...2024-05-2755 min
The DoseWhat's going on with H5N1 bird flu?H5N1 is in the news again, and this time it has spread to cattle in several U.S. states. It has even infected a dairy worker in Texas. Global health epidemiologist Raywat Deonandan explains how avian flu is spreading, how transmissible it is, what vaccines are available, and why we shouldn't be too worried just yet.For transcripts of The Dose, please visit: lnk.to/dose-transcripts. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. For more episodes of this podcast, click this link.2024-04-1819 min
The Big StoryMeasles are back. How worried should we be?Canada has already seen more cases of measles in 2024 than in all of 2023. And rates of the disease in Europe and the United States are also rising. Meanwhile, vaccine uptake for the MMR shot, which protects against measles, has collapsed in recent years.So how worried should we be about what is—for now—still just a handful of cases? Why have vaccine rates for a decades-old and proven vaccine fallen so quickly? What do you need to know about a disease that, just a few years ago, was all but eradicated in Canada?GUEST: Dr...2024-03-2123 minThe Big StoryWhy is everyone so sick this winter?It certainly seems like this season has been worse for illness than most previous years. But has it? If it has, is it the pandemic? Is it the "triple-demic"? Or is it a normal pre-pandemic cold and flu season that we use to just live through, or do we know it's worse?Whatever the reasons, hospitals are crammed, polls say nurses and doctors are fleeing their professions and we're trying to figure out: Will winters just be like this now? If they are, what do we do about that?GUEST: Dr. Raywat Deonandan, epidemiologist, science...2024-01-0420 min
The Deonandia PodcastSocial Media & The Transmission of Misinformation
This podcast episode was an assignment for one of my undergraduate students in another class (Satya Sarma). Satya chose to interview me for it! The topic is one close to my heart: public health information (and misinformation) in the age of COVID. It’s also available on YouTube as a video:
2023-12-1100 min
Friendly Pharmacy 5Dr. Raywat Deonandan: Is COVID-19 still a threat to us as individuals? FP5 Ep. 119In this episode, my guest is Dr. Raywat Deonandan, a renowned Epidemiologist and Professor at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Deonandan provides us with an expert update on the COVID-19 pandemic; from the classification of variants to the efficacy of the new monovalent vaccines, Dr. Deonandan breaks down the complex world of COVID-19 in an easy-to-understand way that you will find both engaging and insightful. We also discuss ongoing research into Long-Covid and innovative mucosal therapies that have the potential to prevent infection and possibly end the pandemic.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
01:23 Pandemic no longer an emergency and how this has...2023-12-0448 min
Roots of Reality#149 Pseudoscience in the Modern World with Dr. Raywat DeonandanIn this Roots of Reality Experiences episode, historian Ben Baumann speaks with epidemiologist and science communicator Dr. Raywat Deonandan about why pseudoscience is so popular, the impact of the pandemic on pseudoscience, and much more.
Bio- https://www.uottawa.ca/faculty-health-sciences/interdisciplinary/our-professors/raywat-deonandan
Twitter- https://twitter.com/deonandan?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Support Roots of Reality on Patreon: patreon.com/user?u=65707335
Follow Roots of Reality on Substack: https://rootsofreality.substack.com/
Subscribe for email notifications- rootsofreality.com/podcast/
If you like the podcast, leave a review at: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/root…ty/id...2023-11-211h 10The Deonandia PodcastIs It Time For Mainstream Scientists To Take UFO/UAPs Seriously?
Recent US congressional hearings focused on eyewitness testimony from two navy pilots who claimed to have encountered UFOs, and a highly ranked military intelligence officer who claimed to know of crashed UFO retrieval programs. In the wake of this event, Mike Donofrio and Dr Raywat Deonandan talk about the waning stigma of the UFO topic among mainstream scientists.
This podcast episode is also available as a video on YouTube:
2023-08-0700 min
Science MonkeyEpisode 20 – Protect Your Anus Ball (Lost episode #1 from 2017)
Yes, we’re back! Sort of. The first of two “lost” episodes, this session was recorded on Oct 13, 2017. Graham and Raywat ask, is the world really overpopulated? How do we measure that? What’s this thing called the Demographic Transition? We run through our regular science trivia segment, which is where Graham schools us about the kappa, which is a creature from Japanese folklore that steals your anus ball. Yes, your anus ball. Bet you didn’t even know you had one. And stay tuned for a bonus bit after the outtro!
2023-07-0300 min
2 Strangers Made A PodcastThe Friend of Mr RaywatIt was another moment when the kids wanted to chat music.2023-01-2916 minThe Big StoryYou can call it 'The Kraken', and everything else you need to know about the new Covid variantStop us if you've heard this one before: It's more contagious, we're seeing it make up a higher percentage of cases, hospitalizations are beginning to climb, and we don't yet know if it's more severe or not. Playing the role of Omicron in this winter's version of a January spike is sub-variant XBB 1.5, otherwise known as The Kraken.So should you be worried? Will vaccines still protect us? How will we know if it's time to be concerned? What should we be doing now to make sure we can have a safe winter? And should we just...2023-01-1221 min
Hamilton Today with Scott ThompsonIs vaccination fatigue to blame for surging flu hospitalization?The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson:Is the message about how important flu vaccination is this year getting through to everyone or are we facing a period of vaccination fatigue? Scott persues this with bioethicist Dr. Kerry Bowman and with epidemiologist Raywat Deonandan. Downtown Hamilton renovations are still underway, but could we lose more clients before they have wrapped up? Scott speaks with PJ Mercanti, CEO of Carmen’s Group, for more on that. How does the new gun control bill impact First Nations? Scholar Liam Midzain-Gobin has some answers for Scott. Hamilton’s city council want...2022-12-131h 18
The FEEDProfessor Raywat Deonandan / KPMG Survey / Theresa Bailey - Canadian Hockey Moms / Golden Rescue / Ontario SPCA and Humane Society - Animals in War Pin / Ryan Reynolds - Special Scout BadgeAnn Rohmer is with Professor Deonandan - discussion about BQ1.1 ....the fascinating & frightening details; another C-19 wave in the coming months? Will the Omicron tailored vaccine now going into arms work against this new and
challenging strain? What are the true Covid numbers these days (which are no longer being reported)
Despite concerns that the economy might be headed for recession, Canada’s small-and medium-sized business (SMBs) leaders are banking on big growth in the next three years, finds a new KPMG in Canada survey. Kevin Frankish discusses.
Jim Lang speaks with Theresa Bailey – founder of Canadian Hockey Moms; the grou...2022-10-1551 min
Front BurnerYour 4th dose questions answeredCanada's latest COVID-19 surge is being fuelled by the BA.5 variant. It's prompting some public health officials to make fourth jabs of a COVID-19 vaccine available to all adults. While most provinces are already offering fourth doses to their most vulnerable residents, some — such as New Brunswick, Quebec and P.E.I. — are urging the general adult population to sign up as well.
However experts are divided about the urgency at which Canadians should receive a second boost, and when.
Prof. Raywat Deonandan is an epidemiologist specializing in global health at the University of Ottawa. He breaks down what we need...2022-07-2121 minThe DoseWhat should I do when the mask mandates are lifted?Mask mandates have been lifted in several provinces, though some hospitals and long term care homes are still insisting on masks. But Omicron and subvariants have not disappeared. So this week we’re asking: What should I do when the mask mandates are lifted? Raywat Deonandan, an epidemiologist and associate professor at the University of Ottawa, helps us navigate.2022-06-1521 minScience MonkeyEpisode 19 – A Pox Upon Both Your Monkey Houses
After more than two years of podcasting silence, Science Monkey returns with a discussion of…. Monkeypox! Graham and Ray run down what we know of this disease, whether it really is a public health threat, and whether the poor monkeys really are to blame. Also: how much sex do men think women have on a monthly basis? What really is the closest planet to Earth? (It’s not what you think). How many teeth does Graham have? (Again, it’s not what you think). And why is Raywat suddenly unable to do simple statistics?
This episode is availa...2022-06-0100 min
Good Morning Hamilton with Rick ZamperinThe new wave of Monkeypox has made its way to Canada, the Trudeau gov. ban Huawei, Ontario's nurse shortage and more.The Good Morning Hamilton Podcast w/ Guest Host Scott Radley:
What’s the difference between the current inflation crisis and the one in the 70’s?
GUEST: Marvin Ryder, Professor with the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University.
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Monkeypox cases are rising around the world and there is several cases in Canada being investigated.
GUEST: Raywat Deonandan. Associate Professor, University of Ottawa & epidemiologist.
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The Canadian government announced yesterday that it will not allow Huawei onto it’s 5G networks.
GUEST: Carmi Levy Techno...2022-05-2046 min
On Psych: Presented by the Ontario Psychological AssociationS2 E5: Dr. Raywat Deonandan — Communicating Science to the PublicOn this episode of the On Psych Podcast Dr. Jonathan Douglas and Dr. Raywat Deonandan sit down to discuss the art of science communication in the public sphere. About Our GuestRaywat Deonandan, PhD, is an Epidemiologist and Associate Professor with the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Ottawa, as well as a Senior Fellow at Massey College, University of Toronto. An award-winning novelist and journalist, Deonandan became recognizable in national and international media during the COVID-19 pandemic, appearing in over 2000 newspaper, television, radio, and podcast interviews. He continues to advise government, media, c...2022-05-021h 12The DoseWhat can Canada take away from Denmark’s ‘live with COVID’ approach?Denmark was one of the first countries to lift all of its COVID-19 restrictions earlier this month.The government says they no longer consider COVID-19 "a socially critical disease" and they’re learning to live with it. What can Canada take away from Denmark’s ‘live with COVID’ approach? We find out from Raywat Deonandan, an epidemiologist and associate professor at the University of Ottawa.2022-02-1621 minThe FEEDDr. Raywat Deonandan / Dr. Cristina Popa / Demiesha Dennis / Black Moms Connection Financial Literacy Summit / Louis FrapportiAnn Rohmer speaks with Dr. Raywat Deonandan, an Epidemiologist and Science Communicator specializing in Global Health from the Faculty of Health Sciences at Ottawa University about learning to live with COVID 19 and the shift in public health messaging
Tina Cortese is with Dr. Cristina Popa - Emergency Department physician and lead at the Covid Assessment and Vaccination Centre. They discuss the availability of PAXLOVID and how the COVID at home program works.
Ann Rohmer speaks with Demiesha Dennis, the founder & CEO of Brown Girl Outdoor World, a group committed to changing the narratives assigned to the Black, Indigenous and People...2022-02-1258 min
Jeff McArthurWhy 'learning to live with COVID' messaging is problematicAlan speaks with Dr. Raywat Deonandan, Epidemiologist and Associate Professor at the University of Ottawa, about why public health messaging suggesting we 'learn to live with COVID' can be problematic.2022-02-0708 minThe Deonandia PodcastLet’s Talk About RAT Tests
Jan 28, 2022 — Today’s episode is the audio from a presentation I gave to Occupational Health Clinics For Ontario Workers Inc, or OHCOW, all about Rapid Antigen Tests, or RATs. You can download the slides from this link. And you can watch the presentation on YouTube.
2022-01-2900 min
Unpublished CafeCOVID: Omicron variant in CanadaHere we are, less than a week before Christmas. So many plans and gatherings.So much to do, so much to see. 2021 was going to make us forget about 2020. Afterall, the majority are double-vaccinated against Covid-19 and the numbers of infected were dropping. Then just weeks ago, a new variant was uncovered in South Africa and it’s spreading like wildfire around the globe and with it, more restrictions. The new variant is now the dominant variant with some unique characteristics, one of which is its extreme transmissibility. The healthcare sector is bracing for the next mass...2021-12-2126 min
Unpublished CafeOmicron comes to CanadaWell here we go again. Just as double vaccination rates are rising in Canada, so are the number of new cases of the latest variant of Covid-19: Omicron. Will it mean a fifth wave for Canada? It was discovered in a neighbourhood in South Africa. It was hitting younger people in the largely unvaccinated area. What concerned the epidemiologists was the ability of the virus to spread quickly and to evade protection. How this will impact us, if at all, is yet to be seen, but the federal government was quick to close the border to...2021-12-1034 minThe DoseWhat's safe this fall when it comes to indoor activities?As society reopens, everyone's comfort level with indoor socializing is different. Dr. Brian Goldman speaks with epidemiologist Raywat Deonandan about navigating safety and etiquette when it comes to indoor activities this fall.2021-11-1122 min
Unpublished CafeCOVID: Vaccine MandatesRemember when the pandemic started more than a year and a half ago? Lockdowns, masks, fear of the unknown. A vaccine against Covid-19 would spare us those restrictions and pave the way back to normal, or as normal as we might see. But it hasn’t. Now we have a divide between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated over mandatory vaccines and vaccine passports. Which side are you on? Not only have we had to wrestle with the pandemic and the battle over the unvaccinated, it comes in the middle of a federa...2021-09-1721 min
Real Talk Ryan JespersenSeptember 16, 2021 - Chrystia Freeland; Shakir Chambers; Mu Variant; AB Triage; Sculptor Slavo Cech5:39 | Sculptor Slavo Cech shares about raising $15,000 for the Real Talk Julie Rohr Scholarship Fund in one day, with the help of three generous art fans.
17:44 | Earnscliffe Strategy Group's Shakir Chambers examines the final days of the federal election and what's left for the parties to try.
51:46 | Epidemiologist Dr. Raywat Deonandan explains the implications of the COVID-19 variants, including Mu.
1:05:31 | #EatYourWords | Earlier in the summer, Alberta's premier balked at predictions of a COVID fourth wave and now he's admitting the pandemic is a health crisis.
1:08:52 | Epidemiologist Dr. Kirsten Fiest clarifies what triage in...2021-09-162h 04The Deonandia PodcastCOVID-19: Should You Give Your Child the Vaccine
May 28, 2021 — It’s a question I get a lot these days: should I give my child the COVID-19 vaccine? Well, it’s ultimately a personal decision that you should take up with your child’s pediatrician. In this brief episode, I outline a framework for how to think about risk vs reward. You can read my full take on the question at this blog post: “COVID-19: Should I Vaccinate My Child?”
This episode is also available as a YouTube video:
2021-05-2800 minThe Deonandia PodcastCOVID19: Interview with Sweden’s Dr Anders Tegnel
Today’s episode is the audio from an interview with Sweden’s Dr Anders Tegnell from March 3, 2021. The interview was organized and lead by Dr Ziad El-Khatib of the Facebook Epidemiology group, and is posted in full on YouTube:
2021-05-1100 min
IMPACT MedicomMYTHBUSTERS: Addressing COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Ep 3Welcome to IMPACT Medicom’s MYTHBUSTER series, addressing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. This series is aimed at health care professionals who are on the front lines of vaccine delivery, to help address common sources of misinformation around COVID-19 vaccines. In the third episode of the series, hosted by Anna Christofides (owner of IMPACT Medicom), we discuss with Dr. Raywat Deonandan:Strategies and tactics for discussing myths around COVID-19 with the publicThe difference between individual and population risk and how to discuss these concepts Lessons we can learn from other countries and experiencesThe efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines against known...2021-04-2833 minThe DoseWhat governments & individuals can do to tame Canada's third waveThe third wave of COVID is here in Ontario according to experts but epidemiologist Raywat Deonandan says there are steps governments and individuals can take to blunt its impact in Ontario -- or avoid the wave altogether in other regions of the country -- including closing schools.2021-03-1821 min
Unpublished CafeCOVID-19: The Vaccine RolloutPUBLISHED: 15/01/2021
10 months into the Covid 19 pandemic, and cases continue to rise across the country. A vaccine was supposed to bring this to an end, but the rollout has been hampered and political leaders are pointing the finger of blame at each other.
As we are in Ontario’s second lockdown, we are coming to you from a remote location and practicing physical distancing to enhance safety. According to the Federal Government, Canada has secured 80 million doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, enough to vaccinate the whole country twice as two doses is required.
...2021-01-1527 min
Hamilton Today with Scott ThompsonCounting down to the Ontario lockdown, China makes moves in Taiwan & Autonomous cars from AppleThe Scott Thompson Show Podcast
Since Ottawa has not COVID-19 patients in its hospitals, the mayor says that Ontario's lockdown is an unfair punishment for the city.
Guest: Dr. Raywat Deonandan is an Epidemiologist and Science Communicator, specializing in Global Health and the University of Ottawa
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The Canadian branch of the Bank of China and anti-abortion groups are among some of the recipients of the federal wage subsidy.
Guest: Amanda Connolly, Reporter for Global News
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Dr. Michael Wolfsson says that Canada has excellent...2020-12-2259 min
Sign Up For The FutureEpisode 2: Convergence of data science and epidemiologyHow do I train to become an epidemiologist? Why is data science important? How does data science and epidemiology help in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic?
Learn more about this field by listening to Dr. Raywat Deonandan-epidemiologist, science communicator, and associate professor from University of Ottawa.2020-12-2233 min
Sign Up For The FutureEpisode 2 trailer: Convergence of epidemiology and data scienceCheck out the new trailer!!!
In the upcoming episode on Dec 22, we will be joined by Dr. Raywat Deonandan, epidemiologist, science communicator and associate professor from University of Ottawa
He will be discussing what an epidemiologist does, what skills are needed to succeed in this field and how epidemiologists use data science.2020-12-1401 minThe Deonandia PodcastCOVID19: Answering Your COVID Vaccine Questions.
Dec 12, 2020 — In this special podcast episode, I’ve solicited pressing questions from the general public about the new COVID-19 vaccines. After receiving about 26 questions, I reached out to a true expert to help answer them: Dr Erling Rud, a virologist and vaccinologist with decades of experience researching vaccines for viruses like Ebola and HIV/AIDS. Erling does a scary impression of Liam Neeson, as well. This episode is available as an audio file and also as a YouTube video.
Here are the questions submitted by the public:
The Questions:
https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pag...2020-12-1200 minThe Deonandia PodcastCOVID19: Pandemics Are Worse for the Poor
Dec 11, 2020 — I was asked by a journalist to submit a two minute video on a topic related to COVID-19. I spoke too long and recorded a five minute one instead, so I re-recorded a shorter version. What to do with the original video? Well, I’m including it here as a podcast. The topic is how those at the lower rungs of the socio-economic ladder are always disproportionately affected by public health crises, never more so than with an infectious disease epidemic. This episode is also available as a Youtube video:
2020-12-1100 min
Jeff McArthurPossible second wave of insolvencies, “Go For Zero” & SnowbirdsRubin Ahmed Haq, GNR Personal finance expert about a possible second wave of insolvencies.
Epidemiologist, Dr. Raywat Deonandan, talks about New Zealand’s “Go For Zero” approach.
AND… our Travel and Insurance Specialist talks about Snowbirds defying Government orders and heading south!2020-11-1624 min
Unpublished CafeCOVID-19: Promising VaccinesPUBLISHED: 11/13/2020
The world has watched and waited for a COVID-19 vaccine. Could it be here by the end of the year?
This week, Pfizer announced some promising if not spectacular results from their testing of a vaccine - one that Canada has pre-ordered 20 million of. This vaccine requires two shots. so that 20 million only covers 10 million people. Earlier this year on the Unpublished Cafe, we asked the question How long did you think it would take to have a safe and effective vaccine!? Overwhelmingly, you estimated it would be longer than 12 months.
A...2020-11-1323 minThe Deonandia PodcastCOVID19: Elimination, Suppression, or Mitigation?
Nov 13, 2020 — The vaccine data are compelling and there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. But the tunnel is long and dark. So how do we manage until the vaccine gives us herd immunity? Right now all across Canada there is a call for a comprehensive strategy. I wrote about some of the options in my Nov 11 post. But since no one reads anymore, I’ve recorded a 17 minute podcast episode to explain it all.
This is one of those episodes that’s offered as both audio (via your preferred podcasting service) and video, via YoutTube:2020-11-1300 minThe Deonandia PodcastCOVID19: Why Are Cases Increasing But Deaths Are Not?
Sep 23, 2020 — Right now in Canada, new daily cases of COVID-19 are increasing seemingly exponentially. But we are not seeing a similar increase in either hospitalizations or deaths. Dr Deonandan presents five (and maybe a sixth) possible explanations. View the YouTube video of this podcast here.
2020-09-2300 minThe Deonandia PodcastCOVID19: What’s All This ‘Second Wave’ Business?
Sep 22, 2020 — Another brief podcast episode linked to an earlier blog post. In this one, I attempt to explain what we mean by a “second wave” of COVID-19, and how it is 100% driven by human behaviour. The original blog post is here, and the youtube video link is here:
2020-09-2200 min
Unpublished CafeUnpublished.TV: University StudentsPUBLISHED: 29/08/2020
University students in Canada have been back to class for at least a week - but what's changed as a result of the pandemic?
Colleges and universities are shifting to more of an online model with a few options for smaller in person learning. Not all students can afford to B-Y-O-D(evice), and internet connection may be another hurdle for some.
Many students saw their last semester go up in flames when the pandemic first arrived. Now, that the September semester is here, how's the lockdown recession going to affect their experience...2020-09-1530 minThe Deonandia PodcastCOVID19: Keeping Schools Safe
Sep 13, 2020 — I’ve been ignoring this podcast of late and focusing more on writing COVID-related blog posts. So I’ve decided to triple-down on the messaging and am recording both video and audio companion casts for the most read blog posts. Today, I talk about the overall plan for opening public schools safely in the era of COVID-19, as per this post. The video is here:
2020-09-1300 min
Jeff McArthurToday's PodcastJeff speaks with Toronto Sun Editor-in-Chief Adrienne Batra about Erin O'Toole's first press conference. Unifor rep Debbie Montgomery discusses bus driver concerns with back-to-school. Epidemiologist Raywat Deonandan addresses all of your covid concerns.2020-08-2529 min
Unpublished CafeCOVID-19: Vaccines in China and the UKPUBLISHED: 24/07/2020
More than half a million people worldwide have succumbed to the Covid 19 virus, almost nine thousand here in Canada.
While the race is on with researchers to develop a vaccine, there are two potential inoculations that could be the answer. When they may be available is the question? Researchers at Oxford University in the UK have developed one with AstraZeneca, while CanSino has also developed one with the Chinese military. While these are a step in the right direction, you won’t be rolling up your sleeve any time soon.
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GUESTS:
Ruth Mackli...2020-07-2420 min
Unpublished CafeUTV Launches with reflections on the last 4-months of COVID-19Join us Monday evenings at 8 pm ET for UnpublishedTV (UTV), a lively interactive panel discussion that looks at the burning issues in Canadian politics and around the world. Hosted by veteran radioman Ed Hand, this weekly streaming show is the newest production from Unpublished Media and the fourth in our suite of online media tools designed to help empower Canadians to bring about democratic change by influencing and impacting public policy decision-making in Canada.
The other web properties include:
UnpublishedOttawa.com: A self-publishing social media website for current affairs in Canada;
The Unpublished Café podcast; a...2020-07-1131 minScience MonkeyEpisode 18 – It’s Easy Being Good-Looking From Two Metres Away
As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, Science Monkey is once more brought to you from a distance, with Graham and Raywat recording from the comforts of their own homes. This is also our second ever video episode, which you can watch on YouTube. Or you can listen to audio version right here. In this episode, we answer more viewer questions, all about this wretched disease.
Science Monkey episode 18
2020-06-2700 min
Jeff McArthurWhy is Ontario still struggling to keep cases down while B.C and Quebec see a downturn?GUEST: Raywat Deonandan, Epidemiologist, Associate Professor, University of Ottawa2020-06-0307 min
Unpublished CafeCOVID-19: Second WavePUBLISHED: 24/05/2020
For more than two months Canadians have been cooped up and physically distancing to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Restrictions are gradually lifting as the infection rate is decreasing nationally.
But this means we are far from the end of the road. If there is one thing health experts agree on when it comes to the pandemic, it’s a second wave. Traditionally, these virus outbreaks can come in waves. If you think about the Spanish flu 100 years ago, there were three waves which claimed up to 70 million lives. The weather is be...2020-05-2418 minScience MonkeyEpisode 17 – Ma-Ma-Ma-My Corona
Science Monkey is back with a very special episode, from deep within the doldrums of pandemic quarantine. This is also our very first video podcast, which you can watch on YouTube. The audio was rendered from that Zoom video call so it is, shall we say, less than ideal. In the episode, we answer several questions about COVID-19 (the disease caused by the new coronavirus) that were sent in by listeners.
Science Monkey episode 17
2020-04-1700 min
Elisa Unfiltered : Living Life Out LoudCOVID19: The End Game with Dr. Raywat DeonandonTODAY, I am speaking with Dr. Ray Deonandan. Dr. Deonandan was put on my personal radar after I read a pubished article of his titled: COVID19: The End Game. Dr. Deonandan is an Epidemologist and professor at Ottawa University and this particular article has over 80,000 reads. It’s popularity, in my opinion, is because of his comprehensive prediction of what is actually going on in the world, what we need to expect here, and how this Virus is predicted to play out. In other words—the End Game. After reading the article, I finally had a sense of what we are in...2020-03-2554 minThe Deonandia PodcastWhat’s The Hook? Knowledge Translation and Media Best Practices For Researchers
April 29, 2019 — I was privileged to present to the PhD students of the Population Health program at the University of Ottawa. The topic was generally how to make a knowledge mobilization plan, but more specifically about how to turn one’s research into an opinion-editorial article. A PDF of my slides are available here.
2019-04-2900 minThe Deonandia PodcastIntroduction to Systematic Reviews
Mar 5, 2019 — This is the audio of a lecture I gave to an undergraduate class at the University of Ottawa, all about how to conduct a systematic literature review. You can access a PDF of my slides here.
2019-03-0500 minThe Deonandia PodcastIndigenous Health in Canada and Guyana
March 5, 2019 — This is the audio of a lecture I gave to undergraduate global health students at Carleton University in Ottawa. You can access the PDF of my slides here.
2019-03-0500 minThe Deonandia PodcastTruth and Dare
Jan 26, 2019 — This is the audio of the keynote address that I gave to attendees of the University of Ottawa Healthcare Symposium. To access a PDF of my slides click here.
2019-01-2600 minThe Deonandia PodcastCommunity Based Research
May 28, 2018 — This is the audio of a lecture I gave to a graduate class in Community Outreach and Media Relations in the Sciences. It was recorded using my bluetooth microphone, so the audio quality is not as great as it could be. A PDF of the class slides (with most photos removed) can be accessed here.
During the class, I conducted a simulated data collection exercise wherein a hat was passed around and students were asked to write questions on pieces of paper. Here are the ones that were legible:
2018-05-2800 minThe Deonandia PodcastAre Things Getting Better or Worse?
Sep 30, 2017 — This is the audio of the keynote lecture I gave at the Action Global Health Network conference at the University of Ottawa. A PDF of my slides can be accessed here.
2017-09-3000 minThe Deonandia PodcastGlobal Health Ethics: CHEO Grand Rounds
Sep 27, 2017 – I was invited to speak about global health ethics at the 6th annual CHEO Global Health Half Day. I recorded the audio of my presentation for your listening (dis)pleasure. To access a PDF of my presentation slides, click here.
2017-09-2700 minThe Deonandia PodcastResearch Ethics: Why You Need It
June 29, 2017 — This is the third of three presentations I gave to the attendees of a summer institute on social justice, hosted by the Indian Institute of Technology in Ahmedabad, India. Slides can be downloaded here.
2017-06-2900 minThe Deonandia PodcastSystematic Reviews: What Are They and How to Do Them
June 28, 2017 — This is the audio of a presentation I gave to attendees of a special summer workshop on social justice, hosted by the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar in Ahmedabad, India. The slides from the presentation are available here.
2017-06-2800 minThe Deonandia PodcastMeasuring Poverty
Please Banerghatta National Park
June 27, 2017 — This is the audio of a presentation I gave to doctoral and post-doctoral students attending a special summer workshop on social justice, hosted at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar in Ahmedabad, India. The air-conditioning in the room was rather loud, so I do apologize for the audio quality of the recording. The slides from my presentation are available here.
2017-06-2700 minThe Deonandia PodcastPsychotherapy for HIV/AIDS Patients in Uganda
This episode of the Deonandia podcast was produced by three students from my undergraduate international health class in October of 2015. Michelle Brazeau, Jessica Colbourne and Fallon Melville analyze a study titled, “Group support psychotherapy for depression treatment in people with HIV/AIDS in northern Uganda: a single-centre randomised controlled trial.”
2017-05-2900 minThe Deonandia PodcastHazardous Alcohol Drinking in Russia
Once more, I turn this podcast over to my undergraduate students in my 4th year international health class. This episode was recorded in 2015 by Anika Suri and Patrick Van Loon, and they chose to examine “Hazardous alcohol drinking and premature mortality in Russia: a population based case-control study.”
2017-05-2900 minThe Deonandia PodcastMaybe Baby? The Quest for Fertility Services Domestically and Abroad
April 25, 2017 — This is the audio of a presentation on Reproductive Tourism that I gave at a conference titled, Healthy Canada Conference 2017: Access to Affordable Medicines. Copies of the PowerPoint presentations from the event are downloadable here.
2017-04-2500 minThe Deonandia PodcastRefugee Health
On March 8, 2017, I gave a brief talk to students of the Medlife initiative at the University of Ottawa on the topic of refugee health. A PDF of my slides are available here.
2017-03-0800 minScience MonkeyEpisode 16 – A Reasonable Number of Vaginas
Science Monkey is back! We took a lengthy sabbatical to mourn the passing of our mascot, Ouie the magical wonderdog, whose pawsteps are audible in this particular episode, which of course was recorded before his passing.
On today’s show, we are joined by the erudite Dr Aparna Halpé for a session of The Facts and the Furious, during which we cover topics as diverse as:
How many elephants does a cloud weigh?
How many moonunits can the longest Lego tower be?
When does the horniest rodent in Australia stop rutting?
And what’s a rea...2017-02-2600 minThe Deonandia Podcast2016 OCUFA Teaching Award
Oct 30, 2016 — I’m quite honoured to be one of the five 2016 recipients of the prestigious OCUFA Teaching Award, which is given to exceptional professors from Ontario universities. The awards ceremony was yesterday at the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel in Toronto.
I took the liberty of recording both my introduction and my brief address at the ceremony. Sadly, I recorded it on my cell phone, which was inside my jacket pocket. So the audio quality is atrocious. Lots of scratching noises. Sorry. Clearly the award was not for best sound engineering.
The introduction is by Dr Judy...2016-10-3000 minThe Deonandia PodcastDefining Low Income and Poverty
Oct 22, 2016 — I was pleased to give a presentation to the attendees of the 9th Annual Dalla Lana School of Public Health Student-Led Conference: Secure Income, Secure Health. This episode is the audio of that presentation, recorded on my douchey bluetooth headset, hence the poor audio quality. The slides from that presentation are available here.
2016-10-2200 minThe Deonandia PodcastGlobal Health Ethics
This is the audio of a presentation I gave on Sep 24, 2016 at the AGHN Global Health conference in Ottawa. You can access a reduced set of the slides in PDF format here.
2016-09-2900 minThe Deonandia PodcastObstetric Care in Tanzania
Sep 9, 2016 — Dr Deonandan’s 4th year International Health students from 2015, Kristina Baier and Tujuanna Austin present this episode on the globality of maternal mortality. (Yes, globality is a word. I looked it up.) They discuss a paper called, “Maternal mortality and distance to facility-based obstetric care in rural southern Tanzania: a secondary analysis of cross-sectional census data in 226 000 households.” And no, they don’t really have a radio show. At least not yet.
2016-09-1900 minThe Deonandia PodcastClinical features of patients isolated for suspected Ebola virus disease
Sep 19, 2016 — As is tradition on this podcast, today’s episode is presented by students in Dr Deonandan’s 4th year International Health class from 2015. Amol Gill and Matthew Dawkins discuss the paper, “Clinical features of patients isolated for suspected Ebola virus disease at Connaught Hospital, Freetown, Sierra Leone: a retrospective cohort study“. They do so by interviewing a fictional expert named Max Lord, played by Mr Dawkins.
2016-09-1900 minThe Deonandia PodcastSelf-assessment of the Outcome of Early Medical Abortion
2016-09-0900 minThe Deonandia PodcastMobile Phone Reminders for Treatment of Children Infected with HIV in Cameroon
Sep 9, 2016 — Another of Dr Deonandan’s 4th year International Health students from 2015 presents this special episode. Jessica Rocheleau discusses the paper, “Effect of mobile phone reminders on follow-up medical care of children exposed to or infected with HIV in Cameroon (MORE CARE): a multicentre, single-blind, factorial, randomised controlled trial.”
2016-09-0900 minScience MonkeyEpisode 15 – Is Fluoride Safe?
The government puts fluoride in our drinking water. What is the evidence that this is safe? We examine two studies that purport to show a connection between fluoride in our water and both thyroid disease and lower IQ. We also learn a little about so-called “ecological” studies, some stuff about statistics, and whose name is the earliest in recorded history. So let’s get our learn on, people.
Links from today’s episode:
The full clip from Dr Strangelove
Are fluoride levels in drinking water associated with hypothyroidism prevalence in England? A large observational study of...2016-09-0400 minScience MonkeyEpisode 14 – Is Being Overweight Healthy? Fat Chance.
We go back to our roots and actually talk about the rigors (or lack thereof) of a scientific study. A famous JAMA paper suggested that slightly overweight people are healthier than “normal weight” people. Is that study rigorous…. or just ridiculous? We also learn where not to get stung by a bee, and why you probably shouldn’t insult a krav maga instructor.
Links from today’s episode:
Association of All-Cause Mortality With Overweight and Obesity Using Standard Body Mass Index Categories
Harvard researchers challenge results of obesity analysis
The Obesity Paradox – and commentary on the Flega...2016-08-2100 minScience MonkeyEpisode 13 – Two Facts, Too Furious(ly)
Recorded outside (hence the sound of passing airplanes) and with Graham annoyingly smacking the microphone (he’s learning, people, he’s learning), today’s episode features our second session of rapid-fire facts, and just the facts (ma’am). You’ll never believe what Alfred Kinsey put into his urethra, or what gas Henry Ford kept in a vial, or which animal we describe as a living surveillance camera.
Links from today’s episode:
Sperm Quality & Quantity Declining, Mounting Evidence Suggests
Science Monkey episode 13
2016-07-3100 minScience MonkeyEpisode 12 – Sexual Fluidity Is So Homo (Sapiens)
In celebration of Pride Week, today’s episode tackles the question of whether female sexual fluidity has evolutionary origins, based on a controversial article by Satoshi Kanazawa (link below). We recorded this outside, so you will hear sounds of actual nature –squirrels and birds– and the occasional airplane and siren… as well as Graham frequently banging the table for emphasis, which causes a weird warbling noise on the microphone. This episode is brought to you by Chekd and by our books.
Links from today’s episode:
Possible evolutionary origins of human female sexual fluidity, by Kanazawa...2016-07-1200 minScience MonkeyEpisode 11 – Homo Habitus (Not That There’s Anything Wrong With That)Once again, a listener (Mary Ellen) asks us via Twitter to tackle a big topic: is there such a thing as free will? Graham and Ray examine this question from the perspectives of quantum physics, neurology, multiverse theory, semantics, and sociology. That’s an easy topic for a 30 minute podcast featuring two slightly tipsy professors, right? This episode is brought to you by Chekd and by our books sold on Amazon.
Some of the things we talk about are:
Pierre Bourdieu and his theory of habitus
Are all the ants as heavy as all the hu...2016-06-2500 minScience MonkeyEpisode 10 – Boom Shakalaka! (Sweet, sweet potato)
Once more, the whiskey has begun to flow. In this episode, Graham and Ray tackle the question of how many published studies are likely invalid or not reproducible. We learn about Type I and Type II statistical errors, publication bias, the Proteus Phenomenon and the Winner’s Curse. As well, the wrath of Almighty Zod rains down in the form of thunder, eliciting a visit from Graham’s adorable dog Ouie. And we learn that Ray’s Wikipedia page has been taken down. (Hey, he never created it in the first place, so nothing lost, right?)
Links f...2016-05-2400 minScience MonkeyEpisode 9 – The Facts and the Furious
Graham & Ray answer listener questions (yes, we have listeners now), including one from a dog who is very concerned about how dependent human civilization is on the existence of the sun. (Dogs are deep, man). We also answer that critical question currently plaguing the Internet: is 2016 a cursed year for celebrity mortality?
Links from today’s show
Prince dead: Is the celebrity death curse of 2016 really a thing?
The Curse of 2016, The Worst Year on Record for Celebrity Deaths
Aaron Ramsey Can’t Stop Killing Famous People
Is 2016 cursed for celebrities?
Here’s what would...2016-05-1500 minScience MonkeyEpisode 8 – I’m Your Monkey
Graham and Ray are once more deep into the grown-up juice (i.e., whiskey), so much so that they confuse Willy Nelson with John Denver, Bob Denver, Bob Dylan, Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, and Cat Stevens. But they do eventually answer a question from a Twitter follower who asks, “Do we have too many friends?” This leads to discussion of Satoshi Kanazawa’s “Savannah Principle“, the ideas behind “knowledge mobilization“, and even an introduction to the science of bibliometrics.
Links from today’s show:
Why smart people are better off with fewer friends
Country roads, take me home… to my...2016-04-2900 minScience MonkeyEpisode 7 – My Computer Could Paint That
Graham and Ray are deep into the whiskey, and are mumbling their way through this episode, which is ostensibly about whether an artificial computer intelligence can be …wait for it… artistic. Be forewarned: there was a weird hum when we did the recording, but it was removed in post-production. As a result, the audio quality might be a bit less than optimal. In this episode, we return to our regular “Facts & The Furious” and “The Celestial Emporium of Benevolent Knowledge” segments. Also, Graham spoils the ending to the movie, Her, because that’s what he does; and Ray plugs the g...2016-04-1800 minScience MonkeyEpisode 6 – European On My Leg
Responding to a question on our Facebook page, in this episode Graham and Ray talk about whether the flu vaccine is safe, why the formulation changes every year, what disease surveillance systems are, and introduce the epidemiological concepts, “bias” and “confounding.”
We mention that many modern vaccines don’t have the actual infective organism, but instead are made up of subunits of the organism which act as antigens. Here is a summary of which vaccines are typically made of actual organisms and which are made from inactive subunits:
Important links:...2016-04-1000 minScience MonkeyEpisode 5 – That’s No Howler Monkey
How do “they” know what your “recommended daily allowance” is? Are diets truly evidence based? What’s the difference between a wet lab and a dry lab? In this episode, Graham and Ray reply to an actual listener question, as Rashi on Facebook wants to know how to navigate the confusing world of recommended diets. Yes, we talk about nutrition while eating pie and drinking whiskey. We also rename our “Didja Know That” segment to “The Facts and The Furious” because, you know, we’re clever and stuff. And our “Is This Still A Thing” segment is renamed “The Celestial E...2016-04-0400 minScience MonkeyEpisode 4 – Melancholy Sasquatch
How would space aliens behave toward us? Can we even conceptualize something that is truly alien? In today’s show, Graham and Ray discuss the various ways in which human beings might interact with our galactic brethren. Carl Sagan and Charles Pellegrino are name-checked, as is comedian Jerrod Carmichael.
In our Is This Still A Thing segment, Graham quotes the Daoist text Wen Shi Zhen Jing. And we find out what the strongest organism on Earth is!
Science Monkey episode 4
2016-03-2800 minScience MonkeyEpisode 3 – Gerbils, Gerbils, Gerbils! (And Coffee)
Java, cup o’ Joe, brown sludge, learning juice, jet fuel, or even a euphemism for sex –today’s episode is all about everyone’s favourite (legal) drug: coffee! What does this have to do with gerbils? Well…. you’ll see.
In today’s Rigorous of Ridiculous segment, Graham and Ray discuss “Coffee and Cancer of the Pancreas” and another retracted paper, “A computer application in mathematics.” We also continue our favourite segment, Didja Know, in which one monkey must determine which science “fact” is not particularly facty.
Science Monkey episode 3
2016-03-2100 minThe Deonandia PodcastCareer Advice for Health Sciences Students
Mar 19, 2016 — The Health Sciences Students Association of the University of Ottawa invited Dr Deonandan to say a few words about career planning. Here is the raw audio of that presentation.
2016-03-2000 minScience MonkeyEpisode 2 – To The Moon!
Graham and Ray discuss “moonshots”, those huge, government-led science initiatives that promise to change the world forever. Curing cancer? Living forever? Hover boards? Where should we focus our energies? We also introduce our new segment, Is This Still A Thing, in which we look at some examples of ancient civilizations dealing with scientific issues that continue to be relevant today. In this episode, Graham quotes from ancient historical and philosophical sources cited in The Shorter Science and Civilisation in China by Joseph Needham.
In our Rigorous or Ridiculous segment, we discuss the following two papers: “Celesti...2016-03-1500 minScience MonkeyEpisode 1 – Rigorous or Ridiculous?
Welcome to Science Monkey! In today’s episode, Graham and Ray talk about pseudoscience and why we are still engaged with it, even in the modern, technological era. We also shamelessly plug our books, Words Well Put and Nothing To Do With Skin. And Graham recommends his translation of Six Records of a Life Adrift, by Shen Fu.
Some of the things we mention include: a University course that has some anti-vaccination elements, a questionable diet described in the New York Times that purports to miraculously “cure” autism, why people tend to fall for pseudoscience, and a 199...2016-03-1500 minThe Deonandia PodcastHow to Teach Health Sciences – Interview with Kahina Abdesselam and Sam Ileka-Priouzeau
Kahina & Sam
Feb 7, 2016 — Sometime last year I sat down with two of my favourite young Epidemiologists, Kahina Abdesselam and Samuel Ileka-Priouzeau, to talk about a variety of issues around Epidemiology and health sciences education. The audio quality is poor, since it was recorded in the sun room on the roof of my condo. It took several months for me to figure out how to clean up the audio to a vaguely acceptable level, hence the delay in publishing this episode. There are still a few weird bumping noises early on.
We cursorily discussed the following papers:
2016-02-0800 minThe Deonandia PodcastEpidemiology Graduate Work – Interview with Priscilla Karnabi and Rami El-Sayegh
On Jan 24, 2016, I met up with some former students who are now pursuing graduate work in Vancouver. Priscilla Karnabi and Rami El-Sayegh sat down with me at a very loud coffee shop to tell me about their work and their thoughts about the future of Epidemiology, public health, and health sciences in general.
Here’s a pic of what I had for lunch, at the Flying Pig in Yaletown:
2016-01-2500 minThe Deonandia PodcastCareer Planning for Global Health Students
Dr Raywat Deonandan and Dr Gen Bois
Nov 8, 2015 — My presentation at the Global Health Students and Young Professional Summit in Montreal. I served on the career panel. I didn’t have any slides, but I think the audio is sufficient!
2015-11-0900 minThe Deonandia PodcastThe IJHS Podcast
Oct 13, 2015 – The inaugural podcast of the IJHS journal, which I founded and presently advise, features myself and Stephen Kutcher discussing the present Canadian federal election through the lens of health scientists. The episode is also available on The RISS-IJHS website (and their podcast feed), as well as on Youtube.
2015-10-1400 minThe Deonandia PodcastQ&A With Communications Expert Neil Hrab
Raywat Deonandan and Neil Hrab, National Press Club, Washington DC, Dec 31 2001
Feb 9, 2015 — Had a great conversation with my old friend Neil Hrab today, which was broadcast live on Youtube for the blogger-journalists of the Interdisciplinary Journal of Health Sciences.
For the event, I had made arrangements with the business centre of the Royal York Fairmont Hotel in Toronto, explaining to them that I needed a private room with good internet connection. I agreed to pay their price. However, when I got there I discovered (a) their hardwired computers don’t have sound boards or webcams, so a youtube b...2015-02-1000 minThe Deonandia PodcastTown Hall Meeting re: Canada Health Accord
May 21, 2014 — Sponsored by the Emerging Health Leaders of Ottawa, this panel presentation was held at the Ottawa Civic Hospital, and featured Dr Jack Kitts, Dr Chris Simpson, Dr Michael Rachlis, and Dr Raywat Deonandan.
You can access my slides are here, the official summary is here, and my follow-up blog post, in which I clarify some of the stats I cited, is here. Some photos from the event are here.
If you’re looking for a specific speaker, here are their start times: Rachlis: 11:23, Simpson: 33.16, Deonandan: 51:43, and Kitts: 1:13:00. Don’t forget to stay for the Q&A at the end!2014-05-2200 minThe Deonandia PodcastCafe Scientifique: Borders, Babies & Body Parts
On May 7, 2014, Dr Ron Labonte, Dr Raywat Deonandan and filmmaker Ric Esther Bienstock met at the Heart and Crown pub to speak to the public about issues in medical tourism. The discussion was moderated by Dr Valorie Crooks.
The brochure for the event is here. My blog post leading up to the event is here.
You can watch the video on Youtube:
2014-05-0800 minThe Deonandia PodcastGlobal population health indicators
Measuring the Health of Infants Children and Youth Image
This is a live lecture (from Feb 28, 2014) given by me (Dr Raywat Deonandan… in case you don’t know what site you’re on) at the Elizabeth Bruyere Hospital in Ottawa, on the topic of global population health indicators. The audience consisted of family medicine residents.
The audio is absolute shite. But that’s what you get. If you want to follow along, the slides are here. Please note that all content is proprietary and may not be reproduced without my permission, though you may share the link to this site...2014-03-0100 min