Rated Rx

Auxiliary Labels

This week on the Rated Rx Podcast, Robbie Abasi, Sam Llona, and Xavier Hill talk about the pushback patients give on medical devices. From compression stockings to CPAP machines, canes, and blood sugar checks, the crew shares the resistance they’ve seen and how education and design can make a difference.The Pharmacy Fantasy segment throws them into chaos with a “miracle pill” that lowers cholesterol, balances blood sugar, melts pounds, and hands out cash. With only 12 bottles to give, the team debates fairness, gatekeeping, and what this scenario says about pharmacists in real life.In the Blind Draft, they rank the most confusing and outrageous auxiliary labels, including “take until you stop hearing colors.” Robbie adds a rant about synesthesia and patients who see sounds in color. The episode wraps with a video reaction to a frustrated patient who felt abandoned by her psychiatrist, sparking a raw talk about patient autonomy, shared decision-making, and how far providers should go to involve patients in their own care.This podcast is intended for entertainment and informational purposes only. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Ethics of Pills and Prices

This week on the Rated Rx Podcast, Robbie Abasi, Sam Llona, and Xavier Hill break down the FDA’s new GLP-1 “green list” for compounding. You’ll hear why it raises quality standards and why patients will pay more.They talk through tough ethical calls: forced treatment in psychiatry, anticoagulation in gray cases, opioid management, and assisted suicide. You’ll see how their approach has shifted since graduation—less about memorizing the book, more about clinical judgment and emotional intelligence. They share advice for students and new grads: manage imposter syndrome, find mentors, set boundaries, and say no when needed.In Pharmacy Fantasy, they fix a “smart pill organizer” that makes life harder instead of easier. In the Blind Draft, they rank supplement label claims, from “immune to STDs on leap years” to other wild promises. They close with Adverse Reactions, where a patient celebrates paying “only” $120 a month for prescriptions. That sparks a real talk about drug prices, insurance gaps, and oversharing personal health information online.This podcast is intended for entertainment and informational purposes only. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just One More Question

This week on the Rated Rx Podcast, Robbie Abasi, Sam Llona, and Xavier Hill cover everything from Canadian pharmacy quirks to the future of Walgreens. Sam shares his trip up north and a surprising liquor store sign, while Xavier breaks down Walgreens’ new CEO and what it could mean for company culture and working conditions.The Weekly Weigh-In tackles a listener question about why doctors and pharmacists sometimes give different instructions and how patients can advocate for themselves when they feel rushed or confused. The crew shares real-life stories of mixed messages, from empty stomach prescriptions to pet meds gone sideways, and gives practical advice on what patients should always ask.Later, the Pharmacy Fantasy segment imagines what happens when an entire pharmacy staff wins the Powerball and leaves the manager alone to run the hospital pharmacy. Finally, the team plays a Blind Draft of the wildest just one more question moments and reacts to a viral video of a pharmacist breaking down mid-shift, sparking a raw conversation about burnout, workload, and supporting colleagues before they hit their limit.If you have ever wondered what pharmacy looks like behind the counter, from everyday confusion to once-in-a-lifetime chaos, this episode delivers laughs, honesty, and practical insight.This podcast is intended for entertainment and informational purposes only. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Handwriting Hell, Kombucha Cures & Sudafed Fights

This week on the Rated Rx Podcast, Robbie Abasi, Sam Llona, and Xavier Hill dig into the ripple effects of GLP-1s—not just for patients, but for the economy, grocery stores, and even airlines. From there, the conversation shifts to messy handwriting vs. e-scribing, and Robbie’s attempt to fix his penmanship by taking a Japanese class.The laughs keep rolling with a Pharmacy Phantasy scenario featuring the self-proclaimed “Kombucha King,” convinced his garage brew works better than lisinopril. The crew also runs a Blind Draft of the ultimate “Not My Job” pharmacy moments, and reacts to a viral video of a furious patient yelling over a one-hour wait—sparking a real talk about staffing shortages, Amazon Prime expectations, and how pharmacists can draw the line while staying professional.This podcast is intended for entertainment and informational purposes only. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peer-Reviewed Conversations - Special Guest Todd Eury

This week on the Rated Rx Podcast, pharmacists Robbie Abasi, Sam Llona, and Xavier Hill welcome Todd Eury, founder of the Pharmacy Podcast Network and one of the earliest voices in pharmacy podcasting. Todd shares the origins of PPN, how podcasting went from a niche experiment to a major educational platform, and why evidence-based podcasting could be the future of continuing education.The group dives into AI in healthcare—how pharmacists can use tools like ChatGPT responsibly, what happens when patients start citing AI in place of medical advice, and why the human touch will only grow more valuable as AI expands. Todd also talks about authenticity in podcasting, what separates strong content from noise, and why mission-driven shows have staying power.From vape-pen albuterol fantasies to a blind draft of “pharmacy topics that should never be a live podcast” (spoiler: Guess That Rash didn’t make the cut), the episode balances insight with plenty of laughs. They wrap with a look at TikTok misinformation—like the “dandelion cures everything” myth—and why professionals have a responsibility to correct false health claims without trashing their peers.If you care about the future of pharmacy media, patient trust, and how pharmacists can own the digital space, this conversation with the “RxPodfather” is a must-listen.This podcast is intended for entertainment and informational purposes only. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Safety, Shortcuts, and the Breakfast Gifts

This week on the Rated Rx Podcast, pharmacists Robbie Abasi, Sam Lona, and Xavier Hill dig into the gray areas where pharmacy practice meets real-world challenges. The Weekly Weigh-In calls out workplace “shortcuts” like leaving the safe open or relying on sticky notes, and why culture, accountability, and clear procedures make all the difference in patient safety.In Pharmacy Fantasy, the crew tackles a counseling nightmare: a patient on warfarin who’s also taking a laundry list of herbal supplements—St. John’s wort, ginkgo, turmeric, kava, melatonin, fish oil, garlic, ginger, elderberry, ashwagandha, and spirulina. They unpack which interactions matter most, how to keep patients engaged, and why counseling is as much about strategy as it is about knowledge.The episode wraps with a wild Reddit story about a technician receiving a highly inappropriate “gift,” sparking a frank discussion about professional boundaries, pharmacy culture, and how to respond when workplace lines are crossed.If you want practical insight on supplement interactions, patient counseling, and pharmacy culture—with some unfiltered bench-level honesty—this one’s for you.This podcast is intended for entertainment and informational purposes only. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grades, Houses, and Hydrocortisone - Special Guest Hila

This week on the Rated Rx Podcast, pharmacists Robbie Abasi, Sam Lona, and Xavier Hill sit down with Hila, a fourth-year pharmacy student from the University of Toronto, for a candid look at training on the other side of the border. Hila talks through Canada’s PharmD path, why U of T is moving to a three-year, year-round program, and the tradeoffs that come with accelerated timelines—more clinical exposure, but real burnout risk. She also breaks down Ontario’s expanding “minor ailments” prescribing (hello, bigger clinical role) and shares what school really costs, what new-grad pay looks like in Toronto vs. rural areas, and why many students still peek at U.S. opportunities.The weekly weigh-in tackles first-job counseling nerves: freezing mid-sentence, scaring patients with rare side effects, and handling the classic “Can I drink on rifampin?” conversation. Hila shares a humbling hydrocortisone story plus a simple community tactic for required counseling when patients try to bolt. From there, the team gets practical about documentation (be accurate without boxing yourself in), how to coach students without crushing them, and why the best preceptors set expectations, give timely feedback, and praise in public while correcting in private. They close with a Reddit story about a nightmare preceptor—and Hila’s take on turning school “essays” into usable, real-world workups.If you’re into real talk about pharmacy school, early-career confidence, and what great teaching looks like, you’ll like this one. Stick around to the end for Hila’s TikTok plug and how she’s building community for students.Disclaimer: This show is intended for entertainment and informational purposes only. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Letters, Algorithms, and Comfortable Shoes

This week on the Rated Rx Podcast, pharmacists Robbie, Sam, and Xavier rate what really makes a shift feel like “the best day ever”—from cloud-like work shoes and silent phones to the surprise of being sent home on a paid holiday. The light banter pivots into a lively “Pharmacy Fantasy” scenario: an AI side-kick that flags drug interactions in real time… then starts critiquing snack choices and interrupting prescribers. The crew debates whether advanced AI will free pharmacists for deeper patient care or just create new headaches—and whether pharmacy schools should start teaching “AI fluency” alongside kinetics.The conversation heats up when board certifications enter the ring. Are extra letters after your name worth the fees and renewal CEs, or does real-world experience speak louder?Finally, a “Plan B-but-before” question from a caller launches a frank (and often funny) dive into sex-ed gaps, birth-control basics, and how pharmacists can tackle misconceptions without judgment. If you’ve ever wondered how to balance tech innovations, professional credentials, and day-to-day sanity at the counter, this episode delivers insight with just the right dose of sarcasm.Enjoy the mix of straight talk and practical takeaways? Hit subscribe, leave a review, and share your own stories at RatedRxPodcast.com or @RatedRxPodcast on TikTok and Instagram.Disclaimer: This show is intended for entertainment and informational purposes only. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.