x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

This Is Why with Dr. Busti

Anthony Busti, MD, PharmD, MSc, FNLA, FAHA

This Is Why exists to help medical professionals understand the why behind the decisions they make every day in patient care. Our approach is about integrating evidence, clinical relevance and real-world application so that what your learn connects directly with the patients you serve.

education medicine

All Episodes

12:26

How to Study Smarter for the NAPLEX: What’s Really...

This Is Why with Dr. Busti ·

2025/10/27

The NAPLEX isn’t testing everything you’ve ever learned — it’s measuring what matters most for entry-level pharmacist competence. In this episode of This Is Why, Dr. Busti explains how the NAPLEX is built by the NABP, why understanding its blueprint helps you focus your studying, and how to avoid wasting time on untested or emerging content. Drawing on his own experience as a pharmacist, physician, and nurse — and decades teaching pharmacy students — he reveals the process behind question val...

en-us

8:30

How to Study Smarter for the NCLEX-RN: Focus on What...

This Is Why with Dr. Busti ·

2025/10/27

Passing the NCLEX-RN isn’t about memorizing more — it’s about understanding what truly matters and how the exam is built to measure it. In this episode of This Is Why, Dr. Busti, a physician and pharmacist who began his healthcare career as a registered nurse, breaks down how the NCLEX-RN is developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) — and what that means for your study plan. You’ll learn how to recognize high-yield, testable concepts, why some new content won’t app...

en-us

21:43

Mastering Pneumonia on Exams: Empiric Treatment...

This Is Why with Dr. Busti ·

2025/10/07

In this episode of This Is Why, Dr. Busti walks through a real-world board-style question on community-acquired pneumonia — connecting core pathophysiology to exam reasoning and clinical judgment. Using a 54-year-old patient case, you’ll learn how to differentiate inpatient versus outpatient management, apply CURB-65 and PSI scoring tools, and identify sepsis criteria that drive treatment decisions. Dr. Busti also unpacks the rationale behind antibiotic selection, comparing macrolide monother...

en-us

35:50

Smoking Cessation Pharmacology: Guiding Patients with...

This Is Why with Dr. Busti ·

2025/10/07

Dr. Busti reviews pharmacologic options for smoking cessation—bupropion, nicotine replacement therapy, and varenicline—highlighting mechanisms, dosing strategies, and safety considerations. Learn how to integrate these therapies with behavioral approaches, tailor choices to patient comorbidities, and monitor for clinically relevant risks. Access bonus materials and downloads at https://thisiswhy.health Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide ...

en-us

34:05

SSRI Antidepressants Pharmacology | Mechanism, Uses,...

This Is Why with Dr. Busti ·

2025/10/07

Dr. Busti reviews selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)—their mechanism, first-line indications, key side effects, and clinical pearls. Learn why SSRIs are widely used for depression and anxiety, how to avoid pitfalls like QT prolongation and drug interactions, and what to monitor to optimize patient care. Access bonus materials and downloads at https://thisiswhy.health Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnos...

en-us

39:17

TCAs (Tricyclic Antidepressants): Uses, Risks &...

This Is Why with Dr. Busti ·

2025/10/07

Dr. Busti reviews tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)—their history, evolving role, and why they remain relevant today. Learn how tertiary vs. secondary amines differ, why lower doses are effective for pain and insomnia, and how overdose risks tie back to sodium channel blockade. Practical monitoring, counseling tips, and clinical pearls are highlighted to help you apply TCAs safely and effectively. Access bonus materials and downloads at https://thisiswhy.health Disclaimer: This content is fo...

en-us

37:54

MAOIs (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors): Mechanism,...

This Is Why with Dr. Busti ·

2025/10/07

Dr. Busti breaks down monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)—where they still fit in modern care, how they work, and how to use them safely. In this episode you’ll learn: Why MAOIs remain relevant for treatment-resistant depressionHow irreversible MAO-A/B inhibition elevates serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopaminePractical washout rules (why 14 days after MAOI, generally 7 days before starting an MAOI; longer with fluoxetine)High-yield differences (e.g., selegiline transdermal for depression v...

en-us

29:20

SNRI Antidepressants Explained: Mechanism, Uses,...

This Is Why with Dr. Busti ·

2025/10/07

Discover serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)—safe, effective antidepressants for depression, anxiety, and pain syndromes. In this episode, you’ll learn: - How SNRIs work in the brain and differ from SSRIs, TCAs, and MAOIs - Key medications: venlafaxine, desvenlafaxine, duloxetine, milnacipran, levomilnacipran - Important side effects, including blood pressure changes and SIADH in older adults - Tips for safe switching, monitoring, and counseling patients 💡 Access bonus...

en-us

36:25

Atypical Antidepressants Explained: Mechanisms, Uses,...

This Is Why with Dr. Busti ·

2025/10/07

Dr. Busti explores the atypical antidepressants—bupropion, mirtazapine, trazodone, vilazodone, and vortioxetine. Learn how these agents differ from SSRIs/SNRIs, when to use them, and how their unique side effect profiles can actually guide therapy. Access bonus materials and downloads at https://thisiswhy.health Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other q...

en-us

44:25

Inhaled Corticosteroids: Asthma First-Line, COPD When...

This Is Why with Dr. Busti ·

2025/10/07

A practical pharmacology review of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in asthma and COPD. Dr. Busti explains why ICS are first-line therapy in asthma, their selective role in COPD, key mechanisms, dosing strategies, side effects, and patient counseling points to improve adherence and outcomes. Access bonus materials and downloads at https://thisiswhy.health Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek...

en-us

48:10

Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs): Mechanisms, Uses, and...

This Is Why with Dr. Busti ·

2025/10/07

Dr. Busti reviews Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs)—how they work, why they outperformed H2 blockers, key clinical uses, and important risks. From GERD to GI bleeds, learn the why behind PPIs so you can apply them safely in practice. Access bonus materials and downloads at https://thisiswhy.health Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health prov...

en-us

37:43

Potassium Competitive Acid Blockers Explained: How...

This Is Why with Dr. Busti ·

2025/10/07

In this episode of This Is Why, Dr. Busti unpacks the pharmacology and clinical relevance of the potassium-competitive acid blocker (P-CAB) class—featuring vonoprazan, the newest option in acid suppression therapy. You’ll learn how P-CABs compare to H₂ receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in terms of mechanism, onset, and duration of acid control. Dr. Busti explains the unique pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties that make vonoprazan a valuable alternative for pati...

en-us

16:07

EBM Steps 4 & 5: Apply and Assess to Transform...

This Is Why with Dr. Busti ·

2025/10/06

The final two steps of Evidence-Based Medicine—Apply and Assess—focus on turning knowledge into better patient outcomes. Dr. Busti explains how to apply evidence to real-world practice, integrate patient preferences, and assess the impact of your decisions to continually improve care. Discover how adapting your approach over time creates a more patient-centered, evidence-driven practice. Access bonus materials and downloads at https://thisiswhy.health Disclaimer: This content is for educati...

en-us

15:04

EBM in Real Life: When I Didn’t Know the “Why” (Deep...

This Is Why with Dr. Busti ·

2025/10/06

In this personal reflection, Dr. Busti shares a formative moment of cognitive dissonance that reshaped his approach to evidence-based medicine. When a simple question exposed a knowledge gap, it sparked a lifelong commitment to understanding the “why” behind clinical decisions—and to teaching with honesty and humility. Access bonus materials and downloads at https://thisiswhy.health Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diag...

en-us

18:40

EBM and Cognitive Dissonance: Turning Gaps into Growth

This Is Why with Dr. Busti ·

2025/10/06

Cognitive dissonance—the moment we realize we don’t know something we should—can either hinder or grow us. In this episode, Dr. Busti explains how understanding and managing dissonance within the Evidence-Based Medicine framework strengthens humility, reflection, and better patient care. Learn to turn uncertainty into growth and develop true cognitive resonance. Access bonus materials and downloads at https://thisiswhy.health Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is ...

en-us

44:06

Thyroid Hormone Replacement - Levothyroxine...

This Is Why with Dr. Busti ·

2025/10/06

Levothyroxine is first-line for hypothyroidism, but getting it right requires precision. In this episode, Dr. Busti explains the TSH–T4–T3 feedback loop, why T4 is preferred over T3 or desiccated thyroid, and how half-life and protein binding shape dosing and monitoring. We cover steady-state timing (6–8 weeks), dose step sizes, manufacturer switches, and how food and cation supplements (calcium, iron, magnesium) alter absorption. You’ll also learn how anticonvulsants, rifampin, beta-blockers...

en-us

38:21

EBM Step 2: How to Find the Best Evidence Fast

This Is Why with Dr. Busti ·

2025/10/06

Step 2 of the EBM process is all about how to acquire evidence efficiently. Dr. Busti explains how to turn your PICO question into an effective search strategy, use Boolean logic and MESH terms, and select the best databases for your clinical question. Learn to differentiate primary, secondary, and tertiary literature and find the most relevant evidence quickly without missing key studies. Access bonus materials and downloads at https://thisiswhy.health Disclaimer: This content is for educati...

en-us

27:53

EBM Step 1: Ask Better Clinical Questions (PICO to...

This Is Why with Dr. Busti ·

2025/10/06

Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) has been shaping clinical decision-making for more than three decades. In this episode, Dr. Busti walks through Step 1 of the 5 A’s — Ask, focusing on how to craft clear, answerable clinical questions that drive better evidence searches and stronger patient care decisions. You’ll learn the difference between background and foreground questions, explore the structure of PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome), and understand how extensions like PICOT...

en-us

21:12

EBM Step 3: How to Critically Appraise Evidence Like...

This Is Why with Dr. Busti ·

2025/10/06

Step 3 of Evidence-Based Medicine focuses on appraising the evidence. Dr. Busti explains how to systematically evaluate research using validated critical appraisal tools (CATs), detect bias, and interpret the quality of data before applying it to patient care. Learn to distinguish strong evidence from weak studies and develop a reliable, reproducible process for evidence-based decision-making. Access bonus materials and downloads at https://thisiswhy.health Disclaimer: This content is for e...

en-us

63:44

Thiazide Diuretics: Mechanisms, Side Effects, and...

This Is Why with Dr. Busti ·

2025/10/06

Thiazide diuretics have been essential in managing hypertension and remain one of the most widely prescribed drug classes today. But their value becomes clearer when you understand the “why.” In this episode, Dr. Busti explains the mechanism of thiazides at the distal convoluted tubule, how this drives sodium handling, and why their clinical effects differ from loop diuretics. We cover the key agents — hydrochlorothiazide, chlorthalidone, indapamide, and metolazone — and discuss their use in...

en-us

47 results

Similar Podcasts

Science Talk

Albert Einstein College of Medicine

五分钟心理学

柠檬心理

Daily Facts

Amalia Dupray and Montgomery Jones.

Les dents et dodo

BFMTV

Veterinary Clinical Podcasts

The Royal Veterinary College