TRAILER.
Welcome to the podcast companion for the book, Life Interrupted: Dr. Dua's Survival Guide.
The book is a series of blogs which were written by my late younger brother, Dr. Manu Dua, as he battled metastatic cancer at age 34. After Manu battled multiple cancer surgeries, chemotherapy, cancer radiation treatment, immunotherapy, he learnt how to speak again, how to eat, how to swallow, how to chew, how to walk, at the time of a worldwide pandemic, COVID-19.
And somewhere, amidst all the pain, loss, and despair, he found the peace and happiness that he had not attained while he was healthy. He learnt from his mistakes, fought fear, found beauty in small things, wisdom in parents, and never lost hope.
Never did he question his fate nor stop fighting.
I am his sister and your host, Dr. Parul Dua Makkar. Manu died before this book or podcast could reach you. But it was his hope to help you see that even in the worst of times and under the worst of circumstances, the human mind, body, and soul, have a remarkable capacity to heal. That we are more powerful than we can ever imagine.
Thank you for being here, please enjoy!
E1: Dr. Howard Farran
Dr. Parul Dua Makkar joins the founder of DentalTown and one of Dr. Manu Dua's most esteemed mentors, Dr. Howard Farran.
Topics discussed:
Manu's immersion in the DentalTown Community - a place where he could be vulnerable.
Timing of Manu's death.
Why the book is titled "Life Interrupted."
Howard's advice to beating burnout - "your attitude determines your altitude, your attitude beats your aptitude."
The Dua Family journey from India to Canada.
What Howard learned from lecturing in 50 countries over 30 years.
Howard on a toxic workplace- "When you do things that you don't like to do for money, it always ends badly."
The Golden Rule: Treat other people how you would want to be treated.
Howard's lasting thoughts on Manu: "Manu was not your average bear, he would listen to you with empathy and concern, and share back what he knows. And he was hoping that it would be a relationship that would continue. He was the long-term connected relationship guy. And once you were connected to that guy, you had a friend for life."
FROM TODAY'S EPISODE:
Manu's book, Life Interrupted: Dr. Dua's Survival Guide.
Manu's first article, published in DentalTown.
Manu's last article in DentalTown, published posthumously.
Manu's appearance on Dentistry Uncensored with Howard Farran.
E2: Dr. Prabhdeep Chahal
Dr. Parul Dua Makkar joins pediatric dentist and fellow sister-in-mourning, Dr. Prabhdeep Chahal. Topics discussed:
How Prabhdeep came to get to know Manu.
How Prabhdeep wears all the hats: mom, wife, business owner, doctor.
Prabhdeep's children's understanding of loss.
Belonging to a sisterhood, helping each other in loss, through grief.
Normalizing sickness and health to children, to foster compassion.
Writing as a coping mechanism for Manu during treatment in the midst of the pandemic.
Seeing a life come full circle while in their 30's.
Consoling parents.
Writing as therapy for Parul and Prabhdeep.
Loss of a sibling means loss of immediate family, even if one also has a spouse and children.
Being there for others in times of joy AND sorrow.
Not blaming close ones for not knowing how to respond during times of grief.
Trauma changes people.
Trauma can change your priorities, your path.
Prabhdeep's final words to Manu: "Manu, you won."
From today's episode:
Prabhdeep's pediatric dental practice
Prabhdeep's contribution for the book, She Grieves
Find & follow Prabhdeep on Instagram @dr.prabhdeep.chahal
E3: Dr. Kulbir Manhas
Dr. Parul Dua Makkar joins periodontist and fan of awareness, meditation, consciousness, Dr. Kulbir Manhas.
Topics discussed:
How Manu and Kulbir met.
Manu's best era in his life.
Manu's scientific approach to how enjoy hockey.
The Old Soul factor.
Manu's calm before death.
Hope as a tool.
Process-driven vs. Content-driven way of living.
Archetypes of humanity.
Life needs contrast.
The role of luck.
A Porsche for the weekend.
Change in vitality for certain day-to-day grinds.
We are more than this body.
Why Parul wrote the Epilogue to the book.
Manu's appreciation of calm and the beauty of small things.
Manu and Maya.
Soul-level living.
Manu's lasting influence on Parul.
The friends and family that Manu was able to surround himself with are starts, where he's shining from and wherever they're shining from.
Kulbir's lasting thoughts on Manu: "At the end of life, what big picture have you been able to paint? He's done more than what many other people could. And I think he's also opening a field towards where his loved ones can actually keep moving forwards as well…"
From today's episode:
Kulbir's practice, CalgaryPerio.
Kulbir on YouTube.
E4: Dr. Dana Van Elslande
Dr. Parul Dua Makkar joins orthodontist and soul sister, Dr. Dana Van Elslande.
Topics discussed:
Manu, the rugby player.
Manu, the unfiltered friend.
Manu, the skilled practicioner.
Being outspoken about the reality of practicing dentistry.
Contemplating a career in dentistry, outside the operatory.
Manu going through cancer journey alone, found peace in writing.
Going through one difficult life event, does not provide immunity from another.
Chasing trophies.
Importance of listening to an elder.
"Mistakes don't define you, but they do transform you." - Parul
Parul completing Manu's work.
Manu and Maya's bond.
Manu's love for a good time and good food, and his alphabetically-organized spices.
Manu, the gamer… at the office.
Manu always had time for the people in his life.
The physical scarring and challenges of Manu's cancer surgeries.
Looking for meaning in tragedy.
Death as a non-event.
Three families, three losses.
Manu did it right - with grace, and peace, and class.
From today's episode:
New & Younger Dentists of Calgary Study Club.
Manu's last article in DentalTown, published posthumously.
Manu's appearance on Dentistry Uncensored with Dr. Howard Farran.
Dana's Orthodontic Practice in Calgary.
E5: Dr. Maninder Kahlon
Dr. Parul Dua Makkar joins Emergency Medicine Physician and younger brother figure, Dr. Maninder Kahlon.
Topics discussed:
Manu, the writer.
Meeting Manu.
Punjabi college boys and college parties.
How Maninder and Manu would relax after exams.
Manu, the foodie.
Delayed gratification.
Manu, the athlete.
Patience of a wise old man with child-like soul.
Manu, the well-rounded human.
Manu's use of language to portray comedic side and serious side.
Maninder's visits at the hospital during COVID: physically, a different Manu. Mentally, same bright light.
Manu protecting his parents from his medical struggles.
Parent/child role reversals.
COVID as potential factor in recovery.
Manu's lonely battle.
Time alone gave Manu time to reflect, write.
On being indestructible.
Manu's spiritual conclusions.
Cliché things.
Control, fear, freedom.
Exploring your true potential.
Finding your soul.
Leaving a legacy.
On trophies.
Life after dentistry.
On Maya.
Truth bombs and a loss to society.
Maninder's lasting memory: a straightforward no bullshit intelligent human being with a kind and generous heart.
Please support our mission by leaving a review, this helps the algorithms suggest this podcast to others. The first 10 listeners to submit a review will get a free signed copy of the book. The books have been donated by Dr. Sampada Deshpande. She is an author, an accomplished dentist, and an entrepreneur. Follow Dr. Parul Dua Makkar on IG @pdmfamilydental to find out when you have won.
From today's episode:
Manu's book.
E6: Dr. Laura Brenner
Dr. Parul Dua Makkar joins Dentist Career Coach and Cancer Patient Warrior/Survivor, Dr. Laura Brenner.
Topics discussed:
Laura and Manu's first connection.
Laura's impression from Manu's last article on DentalTown.
The importance of feeling understood by others.
The barriers to leaving clinical practice.
Without fear, there is no courage.
The definition of a warrior.
Getting comfortable with the idea of dying.
If you think about your life, what do you want the story to be?
Becoming more comfortable with death, as a culture.
The beauty of small things - one bite at a time, one breath at a time.
Anger and grief.
Karma.
Balancing gratitude + striving.
One's illness is community-changing.
Who are you when you are stripped of identity and constructs?
The problem with always trying to be positive.
The patient's burden to help others feel comfortable.
Laura's words to Manu, today: "This work that you are doing now is so important, your message is important, and you're impacting people. Thank you for connecting, for opening up our eyes, we just need to have a revolution in dentistry, and thank you for starting this revolution."
From today's episode:
Manu's book, Life Interrupted: Dr. Dua's Survival Guide.
Manu's first article, published in DentalTown.
Manu's last article in DentalTown, published posthumously.
Work with Dr. Laura Brenner.
Join her Dentist Side Gigs FBGroup.
Attend the Side Gig Summit at the Dental Festival to meet Laura & Parul in person.
Please support our mission by leaving a review, this helps the algorithms suggest this podcast to others. The first 10 listeners to submit a review will get a free signed copy of the book. The books have been donated by Dr. Sampada Deshpande. She is an author, an accomplished dentist, and an entrepreneur. Follow Parul on IG @pdmfamilydental to find out when you have won, as well as for additional updates.
E7: Dr. Branko Lazarevic
Dr. Parul Dua Makkar joins Hospitalist, Family and Rural Medicine Physician, and one of Manu's closest friends since university, Dr. Branko Lazarevic.
Topics discussed:
Manu and Branko's initial bond.
Manu and Branko's lasting bond.
Manu's return to work.
Manu's sell of his practice.
COVID's potential role in Manu's treatment.
Branko's acceptance and respect of Manu's approach to treatment.
Parul's loss off Manu goes beyond losing a sibling.
On Maya.
On parents.
Looking to gurus vs. looking inward.
Finding inner peace.
Manu and Branko, always fighters, never competitive.
Manu's appreciation for quality without the pretention.
The error of focusing on trophies vs. experiences.
Manu's ability to transcend material objects into shared experiences.
Manu's idea of wellness.
Manu & Branko's idea of time well-spent together.
Manu's shared dreams.
Branko's final exchanges with Manu.
Branko's message to Manu:
"I love you, we spent some incredible times together. We shaped each others lives and kept pushing each other, intricately weaving our realities and always striving for more. I am honoured to have known you, you inspire me every day and I always hear your voice in the background guiding me in difficult situations. Until we meet again brother."
From today's episode:
Manu's book, Life Interrupted: Dr. Dua's Survival Guide.
Please support our mission by leaving a review, this helps the algorithms suggest this podcast to others. The first 10 listeners to submit a review will get a free signed copy of the book. The books have been donated by Dr. Sampada Deshpande. She is an author, an accomplished dentist, and an entrepreneur. Follow Parul on IG @pdmfamilydental to find out when you have won, as well as for additional updates.
BONUS.
WITH ONE EPISODE REMAINING…
Please continue to support our mission by leaving a review wherever you listen, this helps the algorithms suggest this podcast to others. Leaving a review qualifies you to receive a free signed copy of the book. The books have been donated by Dr. Sampada Deshpande. She is an author, an accomplished dentist, and an entrepreneur. Follow Dr. Parul Dua Makkar on IG @pdmfamilydental to find out when you have won and for further details. Thank you for being here!
From this series:
Manu's first DentalTown article.
Manu's last article on DentalTown, published posthumously.
E8: In Closing…
Join Dr. Parul Dua Makkar as she honors these conversations, reflects on a wider perspective, and shares her take on the new-found meaning of the word, 'Legacy.' This episode is short, sweet, and dense with meaning. Thank you for being here.
Please support our mission by leaving a review, this helps the algorithms suggest this podcast to others. The first 10 listeners to submit a review will get a free signed copy of the book. The books have been donated by Dr. Sampada Deshpande. She is an author, an accomplished dentist, and an entrepreneur. Follow Dr. Parul Dua Makkar on IG @pdmfamilydental to find out when you have won.
From this series:
Manu's first DentalTown article.
Manu's last article on DentalTown, published posthumously.