Join Lung Saskatchewan’s Let’s Talk Lungs hosts Trent and Lori for a timely conversation with Dr. Moaaz Rashad, a Saskatoon-based respirologist with a clinical interest in pulmonary hypertension (PH).

Pulmonary hypertension can be complex, and often misunderstood. In this episode, Dr. Rashad breaks down what PH is, what causes it, and how it can affect day-to-day life. Together, we’ll explore symptoms and warning signs that may prompt an evaluation, and practical strategies that can help people living with PH navigate daily routines, manage challenges, and feel more supported over time.

About Our Episode Guest Dr. Moaaz Rashad, MD is a respirologist in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, providing specialist care for people with lung and breathing conditions.

This podcast episode is supported through a Lung Saskatchewan and AstraZeneca partnership.

In this episode of Let's Talk Lungs, host Bethany is joined by Dr. Erika Penz, Associate Professor and Division Head of Respirology and Sleep Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. Bethany and Dr. Penz discuss quitting smoking while managing lung disease, the positive impacts of quitting on your health, cessation strategies, and available supports.

About our episode guest:

Erika Penz is Associate Professor and Division Head of Respirology and Sleep Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. She is Physician Co-Lead for the COPD Provincial Clinical Network.

Dr Penz’s main research focus includes burden of disease studies, with a focus on lung health, including tobacco cessation, effects of vaping, and management of severe asthma and COPD. She is co-author of the 2023 CTS Position Statement on Climate Change and Choice of Inhalers for Patients with Respiratory Disease as well as the 2023 CTS Guideline on Pharmacotherapy in Patients with Stable COPD and 2025 CTS Guideline on Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency targeted testing and augmentation therapy.

She is Associate Editor for COPD at the CHEST Journal. She also serves as Past President for the Canadian Thoracic Society and is an Advisory Board member of the Institute for Cancer Research of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

In this episode, Dr. Mohit Bhutani will be diving into what Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency is and why it matters; unpacking its genetic roots, how it affects the lungs, and the critical importance of early recognition. We’ll walk through the common signs, symptoms, and risk factors that may signal Alpha-1, and discuss when testing or further evaluation should be considered. We will also explore practical management strategies, including lifestyle approaches and available treatments, to help individuals and families take charge of their health. Finally, we’ll highlight ways to access support and resources, empowering listeners to advocate for themselves, their loved ones, or the patients they care for who are living with Alpha-1.

About Our Episode Guest

Dr. Mohit Bhutani, MD, FRCPC, FCCP is an accomplished physician and researcher specializing in respiratory and critical care medicine. With extensive clinical experience and a strong commitment to evidence-based practice, he has dedicated his career to improving patient outcomes through thoughtful diagnosis, innovative treatment, and compassionate care. Dr. Bhutani is also actively involved in medical education and community outreach, helping clinicians and the public better understand complex health conditions. His passion for mentorship, advocacy, and clear communication makes him a trusted voice in the field and a valuable guest for our conversation.

This podcast episode is supported through a Lung Saskatchewan and Takeda partnership.

Join Lung Saskatchewan’s Let’s Talk Lungs hosts Trent and Lori for a timely conversation with Dr. Kyle Brown, Associate Director, Field Medical Advisor, Moderna Canada.

mRNA technology has already changed the game, and its potential in respiratory health is still unfolding. In this episode, Dr. Brown will unpack what’s on the horizon: how mRNA platforms are evolving, what that could mean for the next generation of respiratory vaccines, and where the most exciting innovation may be headed.

Dr. Brown brings expertise in Medical Affairs & Medical Information and a deep background in infectious disease, vaccine development (human & animal), molecular biology, and mRNA technology. He earned his B.Sc. and Ph.D. in Medical Microbiology from the University of Manitoba and completed post-doctoral research with VIDO at the University of Saskatchewan.

This episode is sponsored by Moderna Canada.

To celebrate National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Month, Let’s Talk Lungs podcast host Nurse Jill sits down with professional singer and double lung transplant recipient Darcy Murdoch. He shares his powerful journey from losing his breath to finding his voice again. Celebrating 11 years with his new lungs, Darcy reflects on life after transplant, the gift of organ donation, and what it truly means to receive a second breath—and a stronger voice.

Darcy Murdoch is a professional singer and entertainer originally from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, now based in Vancouver. Performing under the name Bobby Bacchus, Darcy is known for his smooth crooner style and timeless repertoire, delighting audiences across Western Canada for decades.

In 2011, Darcy was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a progressive lung disease that took away his breath—and his ability to sing. After receiving a life-saving double lung transplant in January 2015, Darcy returned to the stage with renewed purpose. Today, he uses both his voice and his story to advocate for lung health and organ donation as a lung ambassador and health advocate. Whether inspiring audiences through music, sharing hope and gratitude, or even donning a Santa suit—having performed over 64 shows this past holiday season—Darcy continues to remind us of all of the power of second chances.

Get inspired as Nurse Jill chats with two remarkable young women who have turned a scary diagnosis into an opportunity to empower people to know about radon and how to reduce their risk of lung cancer. About Episode Guests Christine Elliott is an author, speaker, and mentor to people who have experienced disease, disaster, or adversity. She is the host of The Live Free Podcast, The Evolution of You. Her journey as a two-time cancer survivor enables her to connect with people on a personal level. She is an advocate for health and a lung ambassador with Lung Saskatchewan.

Kerri Mossing is a successful real estate agent, mom, wife, and lung cancer survivor. She is a strong health advocate and lung ambassador for Lung Saskatchewan. She is passionate about empowering people to test for and reduce the radon levels in their homes, with the hopes of preventing someone else from being diagnosed with lung cancer diagnosis in the future.

As we wrap up the first year of the Let’s Talk Lungs podcast, hosts Trent and Lori are celebrating with a special holiday episode! Join them as they reflect on a year of meaningful conversations about lung health and thank our guests, listeners, and sponsors for making it all possible. They’ll also give listeners a sneak peek at what’s coming in 2026, new episodes, new voices, and even more stories to help us all breathe a little easier!

In this episode of Let’s Talk Lungs, brand new host Bethany Verma, Lung Saskatchewan's Health Promotion Manager, has a conversation with Jenna Anderson, licensed pharmacist and Manager of Professional Practice at Pharmacy Association of Saskatchewan, and Leon Ferguson, Saskatchewan Quits ambassador. Bethany, Jenna, and Leon chat all things quitting - supports available, how to navigate nicotine replacement therapy and medications, and tips for quitting amidst the stress that can come with the holiday season.

This episode is sponsored by Nicorette.