Reviews

Sorry this is a long and rambling review tl;dr engaging and fun podcast if you have an interest in psychiatry, some episodes more suited to laypeople than others. episode i listened was the chronic pain episode. Alexandras story was super interesting! and often any questions or comments i had were later articulated in the episode lol. when alexandra said her dad was a top neurosurgeon a lot of things clicked for me - i wanted that to be explored that further before i listened on and realised she herself had a lot of insight - re her father also being sick yet still (presumably) working the crazy hours neurosurgeons work and what that normalised for her. re the comments on 'labs are fine' as a phrase and dr roche's comment about there always more tests to run - i agree completely with dr duncan that more tests are often not helpful or evidence based. (tho alexandra is right, the phrase 'the tests are normal' can be terrifying i imagine when you are experiencing symptoms and see diagnosis as the key to finding a cure). i'm def biased as someone with an interest in FND, which is ofc v different from a rare atypical presentation of an autoimmune disorder, in that with FND you can run as many obscure tests as you like but you wont find anything diagnostic (beyond hoover's i guess). running more tests is an understandable urge, and im guilty of using tests as a way of reassuring pt's we are taking them seriously. but in FND and other somatisisation syndromes (and i reckon in chronic pain where in many cases theres no identifiable injury/pathology) this often increases pt anxiety and makes it harder for them to accept the eventual diagnosis of FND, leading to worse outcomes. great episode, made me think and made me smile (we dont use the phrase 'being pimped' re being quizzed on rounds where i live, so the imagery was poor preston being forced to work a street corner lol). Re the podcast in general , most of the time I enjoy the episodes without guests more. I came by the podcast via Presro memes but am now a huge fan of Margaret , her experience and knowledge shines especially in the episodes relating to pain and psychotherapy. She needs to do more self promotion , I only realised she had a sub stack like on my tenth episode when she mentioned it in the backpain one. Preston sometimes doesn’t react to Margaret’s jokes (tho he is great at enabling comedy and acting as an audience stand-in) which annoys me (e.g Preston: I’ve never regretted a hard run. Margaret: that makes one of us. Cue crickets) but that’s a petty complaint. Cannabis episode was great, felt very even handed. Loved the freud episode, Preston articulated my thoughts on it that it seems fun but also fluffy but maybe I’m just hating outside the club (institute of psychoanalytics call me back pls). Margaret mentioned some great research to look into. A great thing is how the podcast will mention research that interested listeners can look into if they want to learn more. The only reason I’ve rated not rated 5 stars is that I find the level it’s aimed at feels like it’s varied - sometimes I find myself a little bored with episodes that spend a lot of time going over basics most learn in med school. On the other hand this will be a plus point for layperson listeners - it gives very accessible overview of topics e.g. the eating disorder episodes. Would love if there was an episode on FND and/or somatisation disorders , as i feel like they’re touched on it in some of the pain episodes but not fully.

I am already a big fan of this podcast. But the recent episode on the history of Lithium was just *chef’s kiss*!

I love the science and also application during the podcast

Hi! I recently found your show and have been binge listening since. I’m a PMHNP in Texas and really appreciate what y’all are doing with this show! I love the length of the episodes because I usually listen while doing a long run (I’m training for a fall marathon!).

No need to apologize for when an episode “runs long”, I could keep listening for hours! Love hour+ podcasts

I have listened to this podcast almost all day today! Margaret and Preston are similar and different in ways where they bring different perspectives to the same topic and bounce a lot of ideas off of each other. I like that they don’t always 100% agree or have the same take. They cover difficult topics with humor while still being respectful for the subject which is really hard to do well! I also love the long episode length so that they can really get more in depth with a topic. Thank you for making this podcast!!!!!!!!

I love listening to this podcast on my long runs and commutes to work. Preston and Margaret have such great banter and bounce ideas off each other in such an interesting way, offering their experiences and insights on patient care, burnout, work-life balance, residency and academics. They do a great job of balancing honest, vulnerable conversations with digestible discussions about medicine. As a nursing student , I really appreciate the psychological implications on pathologies I would have otherwise never considered to lead to mental health complications. Whether you are in the healthcare field, considering a career in healthcare or curious about mental health and psychiatry, you MUST LISTEN to this podcast!

I love listening to this podcast! So informative, and I like the banter between you two. Listened to two episodes on my long run today and it kept me so entertained!

I regularly tell my friends that I think they make this podcast specifically for me. Every time a new episode comes out the topic pleasantly surprises me. I could never be a medical doctor but I’ve always been super interested in psych and I am a scientist so the focus on science, research, and clinical work is fascinating to me. Preston and Margaret are so funny they regularly make me laugh out loud. Quickly becoming one of my favorite podcasts <3

Funny I especially liked how they explained the terms they use. And the cohosts make it funny, where even a nonclinican can enjoy

As an incoming psychiatry resident, How to Be Patient has been very thought-provoking. The hosts, psych residents themselves, bring a refreshing mix of clinical insight, self-awareness, and humor to each episode. I love how they weave pop culture into deeper conversations about identity, growth, and what it really means to care for others and ourselves. Their honesty and relatability make the podcast feel like a conversation with trusted mentors and friends. I love it!!!

Pls disregard the previous review criticizing the laughter. In a world where prospects are bleak, we need silliness and joy more than ever. Love the pod!

I laughed out loud so many times this episode, how refreshing and delightful. It’s so great to hear medical professionals be real humans and talk about their work with passion at the same time. Keep up the good work

Besides listening to your pod every week and being so excited for the next episode to come out- I am taking Step 1 next week and have been the most anxious I have ever felt. I took a break to lay down and put the social anxiety episode on and it really helped me take a beat. Your voices are calming, your dynamic is great, and I love watching your growth as podcast hosts. As a med student, learning from residents helps so much because of your perspective, where you are in training, and more relatability. You guys rock, thanks for doing this in your busy schedule, love your stuff- cheering you on!

I'm really enjoying the content about exercise and mental health! I'm a school psych, and way back in 2004 I was writing grad school papers on mental health and the rise of high stakes testing particularly because when there is more of an emphasis on the tests, there is less time for play & physical activity for kids. I love my local run club, and started my own at the middle school where I work. It's important to note that run clubs should welcome all paces, and that run/walk intervals *are* running. Running is intimidating enough, no need to make it exclusionary!

Thank you for talking about hard things and sharing information with all of us. This podcast is so well done and impactful for a variety of people at different stages of their lives.

Just found this a week ago. 30 yr critical care + multiple subspecialties nurse here. I’m still working hard despite my own significant complicated medical/surgical/ mental/neurodivergent challenges 😉. I love hearing your empathy for people. And discussion about how to not people please patients. Honesty is sometimes a difficult topic to have with patients but it truly is the kindest. Detaching with love is the healthiest maneuver for me in relation to patients, and coworkers. The pandemic broke so many of us AND it also gave space for such new creative means of communication. Great podcast. Looking forward to more.

I’m a young attending physician in a different field/subspecialty but very much enjoy this podcast. It resonates both as a person and as a physician on many levels. Well done and thanks! I can’t wait to see and hear how it evolves 😊 (Wow, that sounds super clinical but here we are 😂.)

I’ve worked in behavioral health for 10 years. 6 as a tech, 4 as an RN. Now, starting out my journey as a PMHNP. This approach to education/knowledge/perspective-sharing is so palatable. I’m engaged through the entirety of the episodes and find myself excited at the connections they draw or ideas sparked through their discourse. Currently in my #1 spot, favorite podcast! Keep it coming.

I'm a school psych and have really enjoyed the episodes so far! The SAD one was fab for letting me know I'm on the right track with my practices for this time of year. Thanks Preston & Margaret!

It’s good but one continues to talk over/interrupt the other which is getting tough to enjoy.

This podcast offers a refreshing and earnest view into your journeys into psychiatry and what goes into that training and practice. I'm not in healthcare but I really appreciate the window into your world, especially given how I engage in my own mental health journey. As the pod progresses, building out on patient experiences is something I really look forward to.

This is fantastic and what a pair!!! Let’s go for next week!!!

This guy has helped me understand the doctors I work with better. Looking forward to listening!