The Unsung Lung Podcast

Lung health is important. Join host Jacob Sperling, Health Promotion Coordinator for Alberta Lung, as he delves into the world of lung health and lung disease. 1 in 5 Albertans will struggle with lung disease in their lifetime. We need to make lung health a central focus in our overall well-being. This podcast aims to educate you, the listener, on how to protect yourself and embrace compassion for others who are struggling with lung disease. To support our podcast, please visit www.patreon.com/unsunglung. We appreciate every supporter and every dollar goes to helping Canadians with lung disease!

Episodes

Oct 1, 2025

32 min

October's edition of The Unsung Lung Podcast puts the future at the forefront. Jacob chats with Dr. Giovani Ferrara, a Professor of Medicine at the University of Alberta, about all things wearable technology and lung health. They discuss using AI to predict lung health flare-ups, digital health and its real life applications, and how individual statistics can have population-wide impacts. This is the show if you love technology in any form!
Stay Connected:
To find programs and initiatives offered by Alberta Lung, visit: www.ablung.ca
For more information about the show, visit: www.ablung.ca/unsung-lung
 
"As Always... Just Remember to Breathe"

Oct 1, 2025

32 min

Sep 1, 2025

40 min

On September's edition of The Unsung Lung Podcast, we take a step back and look at lung health research from a 20,000 foot view. Jacob speaks with Dr. Robin Urquhart, an Associate Professor at Dalhousie University and Canadian Cancer Society Endowed Chair. They chat about Dr. Urquhart's academic journey, her current research on lung cancer outside the smoking realm, and the future of lung health research. Join Jacob as he dives deep into the world of environmental toxins and how we investigate them.
Stay Connected:
To find programs and initiatives offered by Alberta Lung, visit: www.ablung.ca
For more information about the show, visit: www.ablung.ca/unsung-lung
 
"As Always... Just Remember to Breathe"

Sep 1, 2025

40 min

Aug 1, 2025

33 min

August's episode releases right before Heritage Day in Alberta and what better way to celebrate all the different cultures in Canada than with a discussion that touches each and every part of our great nation! On this edition of The Unsung Lung Podcast, Jacob talks with Manuel Escoto about the Canadian Donation and Transplantation Research Program (CDTRP). They discuss Manuel's own journey with organ transplant, how the CDTRP helps Canadians dealing with complex health issues, and the amazing benefits of Alberta Lung's Breathing Space. This episode blends patients, families, donors, and transplantation all into one little bite-sized snack for your ears:)
Stay Connected:
To find programs and initiatives offered by Alberta Lung, visit: www.ablung.ca
For more information about the show, visit: www.ablung.ca/unsung-lung
To access CDTRP resources, visit: https://cdtrp.ca/en/
 
"As Always... Just Remember to Breathe"

Aug 1, 2025

33 min

Jul 6, 2025

34 min

You probably know that this podcast is brought to you by Alberta Lung, but do you know what other health programs your local not-for-profit lung health charity has to offer? On July's edition of The Unsung Lung Podcast, Jacob chats with Jamie Happy, Alberta Lung's Health Promotion Coordinator! They discuss the main health initiatives at Alberta Lung, new and exciting programs that the organization is rolling out, and update you on Breathing Space! Sometimes we just have to reconnect to our roots and this podcast would be nothing without Alberta Lung so we thought we'd dedicate an episode to our amazing founding organization.
Stay Connected:
To find programs and initiatives offered by Alberta Lung, visit: www.ablung.ca
For more information about the show, visit: www.ablung.ca/unsung-lung
 
"As Always... Just Remember to Breathe" 

Jul 6, 2025

34 min

Jun 1, 2025

31 min

Vaping is sort of an enigma. It must be bad for us, right? But there seems to be limited research into its negative health consequences. On June's episode of The Unsung Lung Podcast, Jacob chats with Dr. Janice Leung, a Principal Investigator for the new CLOUD Study: the Canadian Lung Outcomes in Users of Vaping Devices Study. They discuss the format of the research, what kinds of toxins we already know are present in vaping devices, and why so many Canadian youth are turning to vaping. This is a great chat showcasing cutting edge lung health research in Canada.
Stay Connected:
To find programs and initiatives offered by Alberta Lung, visit: www.ablung.ca
For more information about the show, visit: www.ablung.ca/unsung-lung
To learn more about the CLOUD Study, visit: www.cloudstudy.ca
To participate in the Edmonton study, email ecig@ualberta.ca or call (780) 492-1121
 
"As Always, Just Remember to Breathe"

Jun 1, 2025

31 min

May 1, 2025

35 min

Our guests on May's edition of The Unsung Lung Podcast are Chamber Reclaimers: they are building better, more efficient, and more portable inhaler chambers. Jacob chats with Hollo Medical's co-founders, Dr. David Hodgson and Sara Fedullo, to discuss their new product and how it is an improvement on products currently available on the market. They cover topics like medical engineering, product design, and awards that their new product has already taken home! This is a perfect episode for those who love innovations in lung health happening right here in Canada.
Stay Connected:
To find programs and initiatives offered by Alberta Lung, visit: www.ablung.ca
For more information about the show, visit: www.ablung.ca/unsung-lung
 
"As Always... Just Remember to Breathe"

May 1, 2025

35 min

Apr 1, 2025

32 min

On this edition of The Unsung Lung Podcast, we follow our guest from volunteer to career! Jacob sits down with Alberta Lung Volunteer and Respiratory Therapist, Robyn Gilmore, to chat about her path to becoming an RT. They discuss Alberta Lung's Breathe Smart! Program, what helpful leadership can do, and the life of a hospital-based RT. We follow Robyn's journey from Alberta Lung helper to respiratory warrior!
Stay Connected:
To find programs and initiatives offered by Alberta Lung, visit: www.ablung.ca
For more information about the show, visit: www.ablung.ca/unsung-lung
"As Always... Just Remember to Breathe"

Apr 1, 2025

32 min

Mar 1, 2025

40 min

It's our second month in a row of talking to a patient advocate and this conversation certainly did not disappoint. On March's edition of The Unsung Lung Podcast, Jacob chats with Dave Rasmussen, an advocate for those facing pulmonary fibrosis. They discuss Dave's diagnosis, his love of sport, and how he has more than doubled his life expectancy since diagnosis (hence, being called an outlier)! This is a great episode for those looking for a little extra motivation.
Stay Connected:
To find programs and initiatives offered by Alberta Lung, visit: www.ablung.ca
For more information about the show, visit: www.ablung.ca/unsung-lung
 
"As Always... Just Remember to Breathe"

Mar 1, 2025

40 min

Feb 1, 2025

31 min

When nobody else will listen, stand up for yourself! On this edition of The Unsung Lung Podcast, Jacob sits down with Maureen Harper, a patient diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension. They discuss the signs and symptoms of PH, the importance of patient advocacy, and how a lump on the front of her leg (of all places) led to her eventual diagnosis of a lung disease! This is a great episode for tips and tricks to maneuver through the healthcare system when things aren't exactly going your way.
Stay Connected:
To find programs and initiatives offered by Alberta Lung, visit: www.ablung.ca
For more information about the show, visit: www.ablung.ca/unsung-lung
 
"As Always... Just Remember to Breathe"

Feb 1, 2025

31 min

Jan 3, 2025

31 min

This is a fun one! For the first episode of 2025, Jacob chats with Mercedes and Anastasia from Small Bits of Happiness. They discuss how seeing the good in life and introducing joy in everyday activities can boost your lung and overall health! If you are looking for tips and tricks to make the regular a little more extraordinary, this is the episode for you!
Stay Connected:
To find programs and initiatives offered by Alberta Lung, visit: www.ablung.ca
For more information about the show, visit: www.ablung.ca/unsung-lung
 
"As Always... Just Remember to Breathe"

Jan 3, 2025

31 min

Alberta Lung

Founded in the 1930’s by the Kinsmen Club to aid in the Tuberculosis epidemic, Alberta Lung now operates to raise funds for research, prevention of lung disease, and patient supports. Our vision is to create a world free of lung disease, and our goals are to help save lives, promote greater understanding of lung disease, and create positive change in lung health. Visit us online at www.ablung.ca to learn more about all our initiatives!

Copyright 2022 All rights reserved.

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Version: 20241125