The Rated Rx Podcast

In this special Rated Rx interview, Robbie sits down with Dr. Zack Meade, an anesthesiologist and major social media presence known for breaking down medical misinformation and educating patients online. They talk about why he started posting, how his content evolved from awkward early videos to confident patient-focused education, and why online medicine feels completely different from practicing in person. Zack opens up about the realities of online backlash, the communities that react the strongest, and the ground rules he follows to stay professional while still being funny. He also shares stories about hospital policies, case report controversies, naturopathic claims, wellness scams, and the strange world of “designer ECMO” at med spas. The conversation closes with the biggest lesson he learned from the comment section: patients need more time, more patience, and more understanding than most clinicians realize. This podcast is intended for entertainment and informational purposes only.

In this Adverse Reactions episode of the Rated Rx Podcast, Xavier Hill, Sam Llona, and Robbie Abasi react to a viral interview fail where the candidate didn’t even know which company they were interviewing with. The crew breaks down what actually matters in a pharmacy interview, how to recover when you blank, and the questions you should never ask unless you want an immediate rejection. They talk about the biggest green flags interviewers look for—being early, staying accountable, remembering names, looking prepared, and showing you can ease the team’s workload. They also cover the red flags that end interviews fast, including asking about drug tests, vacation limits, free perks, and bad-mouthing past employers. You hear real stories about awkward introductions, questionable grooming choices, and the surprising importance of color psychology when choosing what to wear. This podcast is intended for entertainment and informational purposes only.

In this Weekly Weigh-In from the Rated Rx Podcast, Sam Llona, Robbie Abasi, and Xavier Hill answer a listener question about how to crush your pharmacy interview without letting nerves take over. The crew shares stories from their own OSCEs, job interviews, and residency days, including a few disasters, and gives real advice on staying calm, showing people skills, and turning anxiety into confidence. They explain how to handle nervous habits like saying “um” too often, why silence can actually be powerful, and how to use small talk and observation to connect with interviewers. The conversation also covers practicing empathy questions, setting boundaries for inappropriate interview questions, and remembering that authenticity always beats perfection. This podcast is intended for entertainment and informational purposes only. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Under the Cap episode of the Rated Rx Podcast, Robbie Abasi, Sam Llona, and Xavier Hill dive into a Reddit thread that asks pharmacy technicians, “What’s one thing you wish patients knew?” The crew ranks the most-liked responses and shares their own stories from inpatient and compounding settings. From constant phone calls seconds after an order drops to the “fill them all” requests, they highlight how time pressure and unrealistic expectations make the job harder for everyone. You hear funny but real moments about mispronounced drugs, refill confusion, and the universal truth of pharmacy—everyone just needs a little more time. The conversation closes with shoutouts to pharmacy technicians, the unsung heroes who keep chaos from taking over. Original Reddit Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/PharmacyTechnician/comments/1cyt8fi/qotd_whats_one_thing_you_wish_patients_knew_at/ This podcast is intended for entertainment and informational purposes only. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Adverse Reactions episode of the Rated Rx Podcast, Xavier Hill, Sam Llona, and Robbie Abasi react to viral headlines about recent drug recalls and how misinformation spreads online. The crew breaks down how the recall process actually works, why clickbait articles cause panic, and what patients should really do if they think their medication is affected. They share real-world experiences from hospital and community settings, showing how pharmacists verify lot numbers, notify patients, and balance professional responsibility with setting boundaries online. The conversation gets honest about “rage bait,” accountability, and the pressure of being a licensed professional in the comment section. This podcast is intended for entertainment and informational purposes only. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Weekly Weigh In, Sam Llona, Robbie Abasi, and Xavier Hill answer a listener question about why pharmacists ask for your date of birth every time. They show how look alike names, same birthdays, and rushed handoffs lead to wrong patient errors, including a real mix up with a long acting injectable that forced a hospital policy change. You hear how teams prevent errors with multiple identifiers, barcoding, and good catch reporting, and why many near misses never get logged. The crew closes by debating biometric shortcuts and apps at pickup, and why patient safety still needs human checks. This podcast is intended for entertainment and informational purposes only. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Plan B Blind Draft from the Rated Rx Podcast, Sam Llona, Robbie Abasi, and Xavier Hill rank the classes and skills they wish pharmacy school actually taught. From “how to say we’re short-staffed in 14 professional tones” to “defensive counseling when every patient is a lawyer,” the crew mixes humor and truth to spotlight the skills every pharmacist learns the hard way. Between talk of refunds on half-empty bottles, the art of passive-aggressive communication, and real stories from practice, this episode captures the parts of pharmacy life that don’t make it into textbooks. You’ll hear laughter, frustration, and honesty about what it’s like to navigate patient interactions, burnout, and unrealistic expectations in healthcare. This podcast is intended for entertainment and informational purposes only. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Under the Cap episode of the Rated Rx Podcast, Robbie Abasi, Sam Llona, and Xavier Hill kick things off with a hilarious work rant about privacy, cameras, and the unexpected realities of hospital pharmacy life. Once the laughter settles, the team dives into this week’s theme—“Things I Wish I Knew in Pharmacy School.” They unpack a Pharmacy Times article called “The Three Skills You’ll Need Most” and explore how the profession is shifting from memorizing knowledge to mastering real-world skills. The crew breaks down what truly separates good pharmacists from great ones: communication that motivates, business adaptability in a broken PBM world, and AI fluency that keeps pharmacists relevant in the digital age. From workplace wedgie confessions to sharp commentary on billing, burnout, and automation, this episode blends humor with the hard truths every pharmacist and student should hear. This podcast is intended for entertainment and informational purposes only. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Adverse Reactions segment of the Rated Rx Podcast, Xavier Hill, Sam Llona, and Robbie Abasi react to a TikTok from Retail with Reece about the most important lessons learned in pharmacy school. The crew takes the viral video’s message about grades and networking and turns it into an open, honest conversation about what really matters after graduation. They talk about the value of communication, confidence, and relationships over GPA, sharing how networking opened unexpected doors in their own careers—from residency connections to real-world job offers. The discussion digs into what pharmacy schools get right, what they miss, and how students can balance grades with experience without losing themselves in the process. This podcast is intended for entertainment and informational purposes only. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Weekly Weigh-In from the Rated Rx Podcast, Sam Llona, Robbie Abasi, and Xavier Hill reflect on what pharmacy school actually prepares you for—and what it doesn’t. The crew debates whether the curriculum focuses too much on memorization and not enough on communication, empathy, and real-world problem-solving. Sam kicks things off with a story from his sterile compounding lab, where a testosterone formula failed a particle test, leading to a deep dive into benzyl alcohol chemistry and troubleshooting under pressure. From there, the team talks about the hands-on lessons that school often misses: learning to talk to doctors, managing burnout, and gaining confidence through real experience instead of just grades. This episode gives pharmacy students and professionals an honest look at what it takes to grow beyond the classroom and into the realities of patient care, teamwork, and communication. This podcast is intended for entertainment and informational purposes only. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This special crossover episode was originally featured on This Week in Pharmacy (TWiRx) from the Pharmacy Podcast Network on October 17, 2025. The Rated Rx Podcast crew—Robbie Abasi, Sam Llona, and Xavier Hill—join host Todd Eury for a candid takeover that blends humor, honesty, and hard truths about the profession. They talk about what pharmacy school doesn’t teach, how grades and residencies shape (and sometimes limit) career expectations, and why burnout often starts with unrealistic goals. The conversation covers ownership myths, the role of AI in pharmacy, and the responsibility pharmacists have to speak up when systems fail patients. It’s an open discussion between educators, practitioners, and innovators—each with a different view of where pharmacy stands today and where it’s headed next. This podcast is intended for entertainment and informational purposes only. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Rated Rx Podcast, Robbie Abasi, Sam Llona, and Xavier Hill celebrate Pharmacy Month by talking about the medications that changed the world. The crew shares their top picks—penicillin, smallpox vaccines, and antiretroviral drugs—and how each one reshaped public health. They move from past breakthroughs to future hopes, debating which conditions need the next big cure and why diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s still frustrate researchers and families alike. Later, things take a strange turn when they react to a viral TikTok of someone marinating chicken in NyQuil. You’ll hear the team’s pharmacist brains short-circuit as they try to make sense of it. From there, the Plan B Blind Draft introduces the wildest made-up medications imaginable, from freezing time pills to regret-free memory tabs. Robbie wraps with a new segment called Under the Cap, revisiting the story of thalidomide and the 1962 Kefauver-Harris Amendment that forever changed how the FDA approves drugs. The discussion shifts to today’s political climate, vaccine misinformation, and the importance of trusting experts over conspiracy headlines. The episode ends with a blunt reminder: read books, not comment sections. This podcast is intended for entertainment and informational purposes only. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Rated Rx Podcast, Robbie Abasi, Sam Llona, and Xavier Hill talk about what happens when personal data meets mental health apps. They share which wearables they actually use, how accurate the data feels, and whether the privacy tradeoff is worth it. You’ll hear about sleep tracking rings, guided meditation apps, and where the line falls between wellness and surveillance. The group also asks the bigger question: who regulates this stuff? They compare mental health apps to supplements—promises everywhere, oversight nowhere—and debate whether tech companies should face the same rules as drug makers. The conversation takes a turn into data tracking, government access, and whether devices like Neuralink cross an ethical line. In Pharmacy Fantasy, the crew imagines a world where pharmacists run a spaceship. From floating insulin vials to reconstituting antibiotics in zero gravity, things go sideways fast. They end with a Blind Draft of the worst things to find in a pharmacy fridge, and a reaction to a viral “food tampering” video that sparks a talk about safety seals, the Tylenol murders, and why pharmacists still trust but verify. This podcast is intended for entertainment and informational purposes only. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Rated Rx Podcast, Robbie Abasi, Sam Llona, and Xavier Hill sit down with their longtime friend and colleague Joelle Ayoub, now an associate professor at Western University of Health Sciences. Joelle talks about her path from math major to pharmacy educator, why she never lost her love for psychology and mentoring, and how she uses social media to connect with her students. You’ll hear stories about her own time as a student, including awkward immunization practicums, showing up late with Starbucks, and being called out in class. She also shares what it’s like to precept today’s students, from overthinking pencils and pens on exams to cramming empathy from YouTube videos overnight. In the Blind Draft, Joelle ranks the wildest student mishaps, from counseling the wrong patient to trying to reverse a vaccine error with another vaccine. The crew also reacts to a viral video on pharmacist burnout and debates whether pharmacy still offers a fulfilling career path—or if the system itself needs to change. This podcast is intended for entertainment and informational purposes only. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.