Where can I listen to this podcast?

This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.

Does this podcast accept guests?

Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.

Off The Charts

Claim This Podcast

by Dr. Bobby Parmar, ND

11 episodes

Updated Daily

Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇨🇦

Podcast Overview

How many podcasts could there poddibly be about correcting medical misinformation now? Why would I add my voice to the chorus that can be so deafening? I've had 18+ years of experience seeing tons and treating everything from A to Z and lemme tell you there's plenty I can add to the conversation. Dive with me into the science of medicine with a heaping side of sass and spice.

Language

🇺🇲

Publishing Since

11/12/2025

Visit Website View on Apple Podcasts RSS Feed

1 verified contact email on file for Off The Charts

Pitch yourself as a guest, propose sponsorships, or reach out directly to the host.

See contact details

Recent Episodes

June 18, 2026

Why We Need to Talk About Race in Medicine with Nneka Allen

What happens when race is treated as a side note in medicine, instead of a central part of how people move through the world?   In this episode of Off the Charts, Dr. Bobby Parmar sits down with Nneka Allen for a deeply personal and necessary conversation about race, medicine, Whiteness, anti-Blackness, and the lived experience of Black patients navigating healthcare systems that were not built with them in mind. They begin with a question that is often avoided: why are people so uncomfortable talking about race, even when race clearly shapes outcomes, experiences, and access to care? From there, the conversation moves through the history of slavery in Canada, the invention of Whiteness and Blackness as social constructs, the medical dehumanization of Black bodies, and the ways these histories continue to show up in modern healthcare. Bobby and Nneka also discuss fibroids, pain treatment, maternal mortality, medical mistrust, weathering, microaggressions, race-conscious care, and what it means to move from bystanding to truth-telling. This is not a conversation about blame for the sake of blame. It is a conversation about responsibility, awareness, history, and what clinicians need to understand if they are serious about providing better care. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN <ul> <li>Why race cannot be separated from conversations about medicine and healthcare</li> <li>How Whiteness and Blackness were socially constructed, and why that history still matters</li> <li>Why Black patients often cannot “escape” race in healthcare settings</li> <li>How medical systems have historically dehumanized Black bodies</li> <li>Why Black women’s experiences with fibroids, pain, hysterectomy, and maternal care require more attention</li> <li>What weathering means, and how chronic racist stress can affect health</li> <li>Why “microaggressions” may be better understood as racist abuse</li> <li>What institutional untrustworthiness means in healthcare</li> <li>Why race-conscious care matters more than simply having a provider who looks like you</li> <li>The difference between perpetrating, bystanding, truth-telling, and dissenting behaviors </li> </ul> TIMESTAMPS <ul> <li>00:00 — Opening: “Black people don’t have the luxury of escaping race”</li> <li>00:46 — Introducing Nneka Allen</li> <li>02:37 — Why people avoid talking about race</li> <li>05:29 — Slavery in Canada and the erasure of Black history</li> <li>07:34 — Non-Black people and the racial continuum</li> <li>08:19 — Why Black people can’t avoid race</li> <li>09:55 — Fibroids, Black women, and being treated as a footnote in medicine</li> <li>13:52 — Dr. Uché Blackstock, medical racism, and unequal care</li> <li>15:03 — Self-advocacy, alternative medicine, and distrust of the medical system</li> <li>19:08 — Medical experimentation, pain treatment, and maternal mortality</li> <li>20:29 — Chattel slavery and the dehumanization of Black bodies</li> <li>22:23 — The speculum, gynecology, and medical history</li> <li>23:13 — Slavery as an economic system</li> <li>26:16 — Storytelling, humanity, and listening differently</li> <li>28:42 — Community, survival, and collective care</li> <li>30:24 — The duty of non-Black clinicians</li> <li>31:39 — Weathering and the health effects of chronic racist stress</li> <li>32:49 — Microaggressions, racist abuse, and Ibram X. Kendi</li> <li>35:03 — Why minimizing racism causes harm</li> <li>36:30 — Nneka’s Substack and responding to racism</li> <li>38:15 — A bank incident and the cost of confronting racism</li> <li>42:22 — Diversity statements vs accountability</li> <li>43:58 — Does your doctor have to be Black?</li> <li>44:12 — What race-conscious care looks like</li> <li>48:30 — Medical distrust vs institutional untrustworthiness</li> <li>50:46 — Racism as behavior, not identity</li> <li>52:21 — Perpetrating, bystanding, truth-telling, and dissenting behaviors</li> <li>53:11 — Why silence is not neutral</li> </ul> ⚠️ This video is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting or stopping medication. REFERENCES Nneka Allen, The Empathy Agency <a href="https://www.theempathyagency.ca/meet-the-founder?utm_source=chatgpt.com">https://www.theempathyagency.ca/meet-the-founder</a> The Empathy Agency <a href="https://www.theempathyagency.ca/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">https://www.theempathyagency.ca/</a> Ian Williams, Disorientation: Being Black in the World <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/671554/disorientation-by-ian-williams/9781039000247?utm_source=chatgpt.com">https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/671554/disorientation-by-ian-williams/9781039000247</a> Dr. Uché Blackstock, Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/705871/legacy-by-uche-blackstock-md/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/705871/legacy-by-uche-blackstock-md/</a> Ibram X. Kendi, How to Be an Antiracist <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/564299/how-to-be-an-antiracist-by-ibram-x-kendi/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/564299/how-to-be-an-antiracist-by-ibram-x-kendi/</a> Audre Lorde, The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House <a href="https://awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu/communication/masters-tools-will-never-dismantle-masters-house-oct-29-1979?utm_source=chatgpt.com">https://awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu/communication/masters-tools-will-never-dismantle-masters-house-oct-29-1979</a> Canadian Museum for Human Rights, The story of Black slavery in Canadian history <a href="https://humanrights.ca/story/story-black-slavery-canadian-history?utm_source=chatgpt.com">https://humanrights.ca/story/story-black-slavery-canadian-history</a> The Underground Railroad in Canada <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/underground-railroad">https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/underground-railroad</a> Weathering hypothesis and racial health disparities <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10676285/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10676285/</a> Race-conscious medicine <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7544456/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7544456/</a> Institutional distrust and building institutional trustworthiness in healthcare <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7988507/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7988507/</a> Canadian Human Rights Commission: About discrimination <a href="https://www.chrc-ccdp.gc.ca/individuals/human-rights/about-discrimination?utm_source=chatgpt.com">https://www.chrc-ccdp.gc.ca/individuals/human-rights/about-discrimination</a> History of the speculum, J. Marion Sims, and medical experimentation on enslaved Black women <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/cancer-detectives-brief-history-speculum/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/cancer-detectives-brief-history-speculum/</a> Racial disparities in uterine fibroids and hysterectomy <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3874080/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3874080/</a> Racial disparities in pain treatment <a href="https://www.aamc.org/news/how-we-fail-black-patients-pain?utm_source=chatgpt.com">https://www.aamc.org/news/how-we-fail-black-patients-pain</a> Black maternal mortality and pregnancy-related mortality disparities <a href="https://projects.apnews.com/features/2023/from-birth-to-death/black-women-maternal-mortality-rate.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com"> https://projects.apnews.com/features/2023/from-birth-to-death/black-women-maternal-mortality-rate.html</a> CONNECT WITH GRAVITY HEALTH Website →<a href="https://www.gravityhealthclinics.com/"> https://www.gravityhealthclinics.com/ </a>Book a Consult →<a href="https://gravityhealth.janeapp.com/"> https://gravityhealth.janeapp.com/</a> FOLLOW US Gravity Health Clinics →<a href="https://www.instagram.com/gravityhealthclinics/"> https://www.instagram.com/gravityhealthclinics/ </a>Dr. Bobby Parmar, ND →<a href="https://www.instagram.com/docparmar_nd/"> https://www.instagram.com/docparmar_nd/ </a>Dr. Paul Maximus, ND →<a href="https://www.instagram.com/drmaximus/"> https://www.instagram.com/drmaximus/ </a>Nneka Allen / The Empathy Agency →<a href="https://www.theempathyagency.ca/?utm_source=chatgpt.com"> https://www.theempathyagency.ca/</a> Off the Charts is a podcast by Gravity Health, created for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or any other healthcare service, and should not be taken as medical advice. Listening to this podcast does not create a doctor–patient relationship. Listeners should always seek the guidance of qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical condition or treatment. For more information about content use and disclaimers, please visit: <a href="https://www.gravityhealthclinics.com/terms-of-use">https://www.gravityhealthclinics.com/terms-of-use </a><a href="https://www.gravityhealthclinics.com/medical-disclaimer">https://www.gravityhealthclinics.com/medical-disclaimer</a>

April 26, 2026

I Almost Fainted From My IUD — Why Is This Still Normal? | Dr Alex Dragan, ND

Why Women Aren’t Offered Pain Management for IUDs IUD insertion is often described as quick, simple, and routine. But for many patients, “routine” does not mean painless. In this episode of Off the Charts, Dr. Bobby Parmar, ND sits down with Dr. Alex Dragan, ND to ask a question that should feel obvious: Why are so many IUD procedures still done without adequate pain management? Starting with Dr. Dragan’s own experience of nearly passing out during IUD insertion, they unpack what actually happens during the procedure, why some patients experience intense pain, dizziness, or near-fainting, and how that reality has been minimized, normalized, or dismissed in clinical practice. From there, the conversation moves beyond IUDs. They examine how outdated assumptions, gaps in training, misinformation, and systemic bias shape the way women’s pain is understood and treated — and why something as basic as pain relief is still inconsistent across providers. This is not a takedown of individual practitioners. It is a closer look at the gap between what patients experience, what medicine has normalized, and what better, more informed care could look like. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN <ul> <li>Why IUD insertion can be significantly more painful for some patients than expected</li> <li>What actually happens physiologically during an IUD procedure (and why pain varies)</li> <li>The role of the cervix, nerve pathways, and the vagal response in pain and fainting</li> <li>Why pain management isn’t consistently offered — even when options exist</li> <li>The difference between ibuprofen, local anesthesia, and newer tools like Penthrox</li> <li>How fear, misinformation, and real patient experiences all shape perception of IUDs</li> <li>Why IUDs are used for more than contraception (including heavy bleeding and perimenopause)</li> <li>How consent, communication, and patient trust influence the overall experience</li> <li>What a more informed, patient-centered approach to procedures could look like </li> </ul> TIMESTAMPS <ul> <li>00:00 — Opening: “Why don’t we offer pain management?”</li> <li>01:30 — A real IUD experience (pain, dizziness, near fainting)</li> <li>04:45 — What actually happens during insertion</li> <li>08:20 — The cervix, nerves, and the vagal response</li> <li>12:10 — Why pain has been minimized in clinical settings</li> <li>16:30 — What pain management options exist (and why they’re not always used)</li> <li>22:40 — IUD myths vs reality</li> <li>28:15 — Fear, TikTok, and patient perception</li> <li>34:20 — IUDs beyond birth control (bleeding, perimenopause)</li> <li>40:10 — What better care could look like</li> </ul> ⚠️ This video is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting or stopping medication. TOP REFERENCES: Pain Management for Gynecologic Procedures American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) https://www.acog.org/ Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (IUDs) ACOG Practice Bulletin https://www.acog.org/ Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Guidelines NICE Guideline NG88 https://www.nice.org.uk/ Endometriosis Overview World Health Organization (WHO) https://www.who.int/ Vasovagal Syncope (Fainting Response) StatPearls / NCBI https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ CONNECT WITH GRAVITY HEALTH Book a Consult → https://gravityhealth.janeapp.com/ Gravity Health Clinics → https://www.gravityhealthclinics.com/ Mint Reproductive Health → https://mintreproductivehealth.com/ FOLLOW US Gravity Health Clinics → https://www.instagram.com/gravityhealthclinics/ Dr. Bobby Parmar, ND → https://www.instagram.com/docparmar_nd/ Dr. Paul Maximus, ND → https://www.instagram.com/drmaximus/ Dr. Alex Dragan, ND → https://www.instagram.com/dralexdragan/ Off the Charts is a podcast by Gravity Health, created for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or any other healthcare service, and should not be taken as medical advice. Listening to this podcast does not create a doctor–patient relationship. Listeners should always seek the guidance of qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical condition or treatment. For more information about content use and disclaimers, please visit: https://www.gravityhealthclinics.com/terms-of-use https://www.gravityhealthclinics.com/medical-disclaimer

April 1, 2026

Why Confident People Can Feel Powerless in a Medical Setting with Dara Parker

Have you ever left a medical appointment feeling unsettled — not because of what was said, but because of how it felt? You understood the recommendations. You answered the questions. And yet, something didn’t quite land. In this episode of Off the Charts, Dr. Bobby Parmar sits down with Dara Parker to examine that gap — the space between how care is delivered, and how it is actually experienced by patients. Drawing from lived experience, they explore why even confident, well-resourced individuals can feel hesitant, exposed, or less certain of themselves in a clinical setting — and why patients don’t always share everything, even when it matters. This isn’t framed as a failure of individual practitioners. Instead, the conversation looks at the systems, training, and cultural norms that shape how care is practiced — often in ways that are difficult to see from within. The question isn’t simply whether healthcare is working or failing. It’s whether we are paying close enough attention to how it is being experienced. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN <ul> <li>Why medical interactions can feel misaligned, even when technically correct</li> <li>How assumptions and communication style shape patient trust</li> <li>Why patients don’t always share everything — even when it matters</li> <li>The role of power dynamics in clinical environments</li> <li>How bias operates within systems, not just individuals</li> <li>What a more collaborative, patient-centered approach to care could look like </li> </ul> TIMESTAMPS <ul> <li>0:00 – Opening: When care feels “off” </li> <li>1:12 – Introducing Dara Parker 2:42 – “Mediocre” experiences across the system </li> <li>4:19 – Is healthcare shaped by bias? </li> <li>6:15 – Systems, assumptions, and lived experience </li> <li>8:12 – Awareness doesn’t remove bias </li> <li>10:33 – Pain, dismissal, and women’s bodies </li> <li>12:16 – The role of humility in medicine </li> <li>14:27 – Patients, information, and trust </li> <li>19:06 – Lived experience and belief </li> <li>20:15 – Assumptions in practice (birth control example) </li> <li>21:54 – Why patients hold things back </li> <li>24:56 – Confidence vs vulnerability in clinical settings </li> <li>26:06 – Physical and emotional exposure </li> <li>29:37 – What a different experience can feel like </li> </ul> ⚠️ This video is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting or stopping medication. REFERENCES The Yentl Syndrome  Bernadine Healy, The New England Journal of Medicine  <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/abs/10.1056/NEJM199107253250408 " target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.nejm.org/doi/abs/10.1056/NEJM199107253250408 </a> The Girl Who Cried Pain: A Bias against Women in the Treatment of Pain  Diane E. Hoffmann and Anita J. Tarzian  <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1111/j.1748-720X.2001.tb00037.x" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1111/j.1748-720X.2001.tb00037.x  </a> Pain Management for In-Office Uterine and Cervical Procedures  American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists  <a href="https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/clinical-consensus/articles/2025/05/pain-management-for-in-office-uterine-and-cervical-procedures">https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/clinical-consensus/articles/2025/05/pain-management-for-in-office-uterine-and-cervical-procedures</a> Implicit Bias in Healthcare Professionals: A Systematic Review  Clemence FitzGerald and Samia Hurst  <a href="https://bmcmedethics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12910-017-0179-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://bmcmedethics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12910-017-0179-8</a>   Prevalence of and Factors Associated With Patient Nondisclosure of Medically Relevant Information to Clinicians  Andrea G. Levy et al.  <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2716996  " target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2716996  </a> Towards a Sociological Understanding of Medical Gaslighting in Western Health Care  Jessica C.H. Sebring  <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1467-9566.13367  ">https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1467-9566.13367</a> Overview of the National Institutes of Health Investment in Women’s Health Research National Academies / NIH  <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK612400/">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK612400/</a>     CONNECT WITH GRAVITY HEALTH <ul> <li>Website → <a href="https://www.gravityhealthclinics.com/">https://www.gravityhealthclinics.com/ </a></li> <li>Book a Consult → <a href="https://gravityhealth.janeapp.com/">https://gravityhealth.janeapp.com/ </a></li> </ul> FOLLOW US <ul> <li>Gravity Health Clinics → <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gravityhealthclinics/">https://www.instagram.com/gravityhealthclinics/ </a></li> <li>Dr. Bobby Parmar → <a href="https://www.instagram.com/docparmar_nd/">https://www.instagram.com/docparmar_nd/ </a></li> <li>Dr. Paul Maximus → <a href="https://www.instagram.com/drmaximus/">https://www.instagram.com/drmaximus/ </a></li> <li>Dara Parker → <a href="https://www.daraparker.com/">https://www.daraparker.com/ </a></li> </ul> Off the Charts is a podcast by Gravity Health, created for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or any other healthcare service, and should not be taken as medical advice. Listening to this podcast does not create a doctor–patient relationship. Listeners should always seek the guidance of qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical condition or treatment. For more information about content use and disclaimers, please visit: <ul> <li><a href="https://www.gravityhealthclinics.com/terms-of-use">https://www.gravityhealthclinics.com/terms-of-use</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.gravityhealthclinics.com/medical-disclaimer">https://www.gravityhealthclinics.com/medical-disclaimer</a> </li> </ul>

11 total episodes available

Similar Podcasts

Discover related shows you might enjoy

The Nutrition Diva's Quick and Dirty Tips for Eating Well and Feeling Fabulous

QuickAndDirtyTips.com, Monica Reinagel

Butts & Guts: A Cleveland Clinic Digestive Health Podcast

Cleveland Clinic Digestive Disease & Surgery Institute

Live Your Own Fit | LYF Performance

Pete Jacobs

Deep-dive analytics for Off The Charts

Frequently asked questions

Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

What is Off The Charts?: How many podcasts could there poddibly be about correcting medical misinformation now? Why would I add my voice to the chorus that can be so deafening? I've had 18+ years of experience seeing tons and treating everything from A to Z and lemme tell you there's plenty I can add to the conversation. Dive with me into the science of medicine with a heaping side of sass and spice.
How often does this podcast release new episodes?: This podcast updates daily.
Where can I listen to this podcast?: This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
Does this podcast accept guests?: Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.

Legal Disclaimer

Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.

All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.

We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.

While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.

By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.