What better way to end the podcast season than with the creatures that make life a little softer, messier, and infinitely more lovable? Truly, there is both an overt and an unspoken deep emotional bond between humans and animals, especially pets like dogs and cats. From first-time pet parent mistakes to the realities of caring for aging pets, the episode explores the joy, grief, chaos, and companionship that come with opening your home to an animal. Because sometimes the best medicine, comfort, and unconditional love come with four legs and fur.

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Jesse Tong, DVM, a board-certified Emergency and General Practice Veterinarian based in New York City.

Dr. Tong received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from the University of Calgary - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, and then completed a Small Animal Rotating Internship at BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital in New York City. Dr. Tong is Fear Free-Certified and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-Certified.

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Behind every standing ovation is a body quietly keeping score. From Broadway stages to rehearsal studios, performing artists push physical limits in ways that blur the line between discipline and injury. This episode explores the often-hidden world of performing arts medicine—where physiatrists care for musicians, dancers, and artists navigating overuse injuries, recovery, and longevity in their craft. How do you treat a body that can’t simply “take time off”? And what does it mean to heal when performance itself is part of identity?

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. François DeAsis, DO, a physiatrist, performing arts medicine specialist, violinist and pianist (since the age of 4-years-old), and the founder of Medicine for Musicians, which that seeks to empower and support performing artists at every stage of their career, from education and outreach to personalized medical care.

Dr. DeAsis received his DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) from Midwestern University, completed his Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Residency at Nova Southeastern University, and is currently completing his Performing Arts Medicine Fellowship at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. Dr. DeAsis has worked with artists from all over the world, including those at The Juilliard School, Minnesota Orchestra, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and many other ensembles and universities.

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Toxicology lives at the intersection of chemistry, medicine, and survival—where everyday exposures and rare threats alike can shape human health in profound ways. From the silent danger of carbon monoxide to the rapid lethality of cyanide, and the complex line between poison and remedy, this conversation unpacks how toxins move through and impact the body. We explore the ongoing opioid crisis, the life-saving role of naloxone, and how clinicians respond in moments where minutes matter most. Along the way, the lens widens to include venom, environmental exposures, and even the realities of bioterrorism—revealing just how much of our world is defined by what we can’t see.

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Andaleeb Hamid Raja, MD, a double board-certified emergency medicine physician and medical toxicologist and assistant professor of medicine based in New York City.

Dr. Raja received her MD from Saba University School of Medicine and completed her Emergency Medicine Residency at Lincoln Medical Center and Medical Toxicology Fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh. Currently, Dr. Raja is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College and is the Assistant Program Director of Emergency Medicine Residency at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln.

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