Explore every episode of the podcast Doctor Vs Comedian
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode 217: Screen Acting / New Brunswick “Mystery” Illness | 11 Jul 2025 | 00:59:39 | |
Ali recently taught a class on “acting for the screen” at Queen’s University, so in our first half Asif asks him about this (1:24). They discuss how he was approached to teach this class as well as his IMDB resume. Asif asks about how Ali structured the class, ‘scene study’, filming auditions and the main take-home “tips” for screen acting. Then, they discuss the mysterious New Brunswick neurological illness which has been in the news as of late (39:28). Asif talks about how the cases were initially described by a single neurologist in New Brunswick and the subsequent investigation into the cases. He then goes over a recent research article which essentially found that there was no mystery – the patients examined actually all had known neurologic diseases. They discuss how the initial doctor and many of his patients are still convinced they have an undiagnosed neurologic illness; Asif then discusses why this might be as well as cognitive biases in medicine. The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions. Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com Follow us on Social media:Twitter: @doctorvcomedianInstagram: doctorvcomedian Show Notes:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Episode 216: In-Flight Entertainment / In-Flight Medical Emergencies | 04 Jul 2025 | 00:57:17 | |
Because Ali and Asif have been travelling a lot in the past few months, the guys chat about their favourite in-flight entertainment (5:17). They start off by talking about their typical “rituals” when flying. Then the guys discuss their go-to “comfort watches” when flying. They review movies and shows they have watched recently when flying. Finally, the guys each list their favourite movies related to air travel. Then, Ali asks Asif about in-flight medical emergencies (31:41). Asif describes how commonly these emergencies occur and what the most common types of emergencies are. He talks about what medical equipment is available on a plane and then discusses whether medical personnel have an ethical obligation to volunteer to help. Finally Asif tells a few stories about his physician friends who volunteered to aid in in-flight emergencies. The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions. Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com Follow us on Social media:Twitter: @doctorvcomedianInstagram: doctorvcomedian Show Notes:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Episode 207: Val Kilmer / Throat Cancer | 02 May 2025 | 00:40:58 | |
Today, Asif and Ali discuss the career of the late actor Val Kilmer (1:05). The guys start off by discussing the 2023 documentary about Kilmer entitled ‘Val’. They discuss Val’s early life and the tragic death of his younger brother from epilepsy. They discuss Kilmer’s early successes and how he was the youngest person admitted to Julliard in the drama department. They then go over their favourite Kilmer movies including ‘Top Secret’, ‘Top Gun’ (which Asif still hasn’t seen), ‘Willow’,’The Doors’, ‘True Romance’. ‘Tombstone’, ‘Batman Forever’, ‘Heat’, ‘The Island of Dr. Moreau’, ‘The Saint’, ‘Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang’, and ‘MacGruber’.
They then discuss his battle with throat cancer 27:06) and how Kilmer’s Christian Science beliefs influenced his treatment decisions. Ali then asks Asif about throat cancer. Asif describes what it is, how commonly it is seen. He then discusses the common symptoms and risk factors. Asif goes over how it is diagnosed, the treatment and the prognosis.
The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media: Twitter: @doctorvcomedian Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
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| Episode 117: Interview with Graham Clark (‘Stop Podcasting Yourself’) /Allergies and Allergy Bullying | 02 Jun 2023 | 01:08:04 | |
On a special episode, Ali and Asif interview comedian, producer and podcaster Graham Clark (‘Stop Podcasting Yourself’). The guys start off by asking Graham about his early days in comedy (with praise for the legendary Brent Butt) and his love of libraries. They then discuss how he got into podcasting, how they choose guests and the logo for ‘Stop Podcasting Yourself’. Ali then asks Dave about his beard and his beard paintings. They then discuss his one man show ‘Graham Clark reads the Phone Book’, his ‘Comedy Now’ special from several years ago, and the 24 hour comedy marathons he has done for charity. Graham then sticks around as the guys discuss food allergies (33:55). Asif reviews the common food allergies and Graham discusses his numerous allergies and how he deals with them. Asif then discuss allergy testing and Graham recounts his extreme reactions to these skin prick tests. Graham discusses how allergies were less emphasized when he was younger which segues into the topic of allergy bullying. Asif starts by starting off by discussing how common allergy bullying is in both the US and Canada. They discuss some lawsuits regarding allergy bullying in the USA as well as the controversy regarding allergy bullying in the kids movie ‘Peter Rabbit’. Graham then concludes by discussing how he avoids allergens in his daily life.
The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media: Twitter: @doctorvcomedian Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Episode 116: Screenwriting and the Writers Guild of America Strike (with Ramona Barckert) | 26 May 2023 | 00:59:08 | |
Today, Ali and Asif interview award winning screenwriter Ramona Barkert (‘Degrassi’, ‘The Hardy Boys’, ‘Wynona Earp’) about how one gets into screenwriting, the creative process and how “writers rooms” function (0:54). They discuss the term “showrunner” and what the duties of that position entail. Ramona then goes over how one writes a season of television, individual episodes and even individual scenes. Although Ramona is not a member of the Writers Guild of America, she then gives an outsiders view on the recent writers strike in the USA (33:36). They talk about the differences between screenwriting in the US and Canada and what the main issues are in the WGA strike. They then discuss about how some shows are still in production and how projects that continued in production during the last writer’s strike ended up as less than successful (ie ‘Quantum of Solace’). Finally Ramona and the guys discuss the issue of AI in screenwriting.
The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media: Twitter: @doctorvcomedian Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Episode 115: Michael J Fox, ‘Still’ and Parkinson’s Disease | 19 May 2023 | 00:54:27 | |
On today’s episode the guys discuss superstar actor Michael J Fox and the new documentary on his life, ‘Still’ (0:52). The guys start off with the discussion with the story behind the “J” in Michael's name and his early life in British Colombia. They then discuss when they first encountered him in the NBC sitcom ‘Family Ties’. Asif and Ali then discuss Fox’s breakthrough in ‘Back to the Future’, as well as his other hit films. They then discuss his return to television with ‘Spin City’ and how his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease at age 29 factored into this. They then discuss their thoughts on the new documentary on Fox’s life ‘Still’, directed by Davis Guggenheim.
Then the guys discuss Parkinson’s disease (27:02). Asif talks about what we know about the cause, the primary symptoms and how it is diagnosed. He then discusses the treatment how the the side effects from Parkinson’s disease medications can cause their own problems. Asif then goes over surgery for Parkinson’s, including deep brain stimulation. He then discuss a major scientific breakthrough in Parksonson’s disease via research funded by the Michael J Fox Foundation. The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media: Twitter: @doctorvcomedian Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
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| Episode 114: Jon Mulaney’s ‘Baby J’ / Cocaine Intoxication | 12 May 2023 | 01:06:07 | |
Today, to start off, the guys clarify an error from a few episodes ago regarding Netflix’s pricing tiers (1:24). Then Ali and Asif review Jon Mulaney’s new special ‘Baby J’ (4:20). Before this they briefly review Jon Mulaney’s career as a standup comedian and as a writer for ‘Saturday Night Live’ and ‘The Snack Lunch Bunch’. SPOILERS for the special start at 10:20. Then, since Mulaney’s special is about his recovery from cocaine addiction, Ali asks Asif about Cocaine toxicity (45:14). Asif first discusses the history of cocaine use and abuse throughout history. He then discusses how cocaine causes its effects on the body as well as the symptoms of cocaine intoxication. The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media: Twitter: @doctorvcomedian Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
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| Episode 113 Motley Crue / Ankylosing Spondylitis | 04 May 2023 | 00:47:56 | |
Today the guys discuss the legendary metal band Motley Crue as well as ankylosing spondylitis, a disease which Motley Crue Guitarist Mick Mars suffers from. But before this, Asif tells a little known story about Chris Rock from his childhood, which directly ties in to the whole Chris Rock/Will Smith slap (1:25).
Then they discuss Motley Crue (5:35), Ali’s early fandom and how Asif was “afraid” of metal bands back in the day. After recounting the early days of the band, the guys discuss how the band came up with their name. They then recount their infamous 1982 Canadian Tour and how the band’s controversial image was actually manufactured. They then discuss some of their infamous exploits including Vince Neil being found guilty of driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter as well as Nikki Sixx’ drug overdoses. The guys then discuss their mainstream breakthrough with 1989’s ‘Dr. Feelgood’. Ali and Asif then discuss the book and movie about the band, both entitled ‘The Dirt’. They then discuss Mick Mars’ lawsuit against the band, based on his diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis (28:42). Ali asks Asif about this disorder, what it is, what causes it and the common symptoms (30:57). Asif then gives the “red flags” regarding when to be worried about inflammatory back pain vs mechanical back pain. Asif discusses how ankylosing spondylitis is diagnosed as well as the prognosis and treatment.
The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media: Twitter: @doctorvcomedian Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
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| Bonus: Thoughts on ‘The Last of Us’ Finale | 30 Apr 2023 | 00:09:40 | |
As a bit of bonus content the guys first offer a correction about ‘Rick and Morty’ from a previous episode. Then, since it has been a month since the finale of ‘The Last of Us’, the guys give a SPOILER FILLED review of the finale and the series as whole. Plus Asif compares the show to the video game and whether the creators succeeded in proving that video games can be art. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Episode 111: Top 5 U2 songs / Gout | 28 Apr 2023 | 00:59:21 | |
Today, given the recent release of U2’s 40 song album ‘Songs of Surrender’ and their documentary on Disney plus, the guys discuss the band U2 (1:32) and give their top 5 U2 songs. Ali starts off by talking about the funny coincidence between his book and Bono’s book ‘Surrender’, as well the band ‘Inhaler’. They start off by discussing the early days of the band and their tremendous success over the years. They then discuss the new documentary on Disney Plus ‘Bono & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming, with Dave Letterman’ and whether 40 songs is too much for a new album. They talk about a hilarious incident between former Canadian prime minister Paul Martin and Bono. Then they both list their top 5 U2 songs (17:15).
U2’s drummer has had some health problems as of late… we have no evidence that he has gout, but nevertheless, the guys discuss gout in the second half of the pod (36:34). Asif talks about the definition of gout and how it is caused by the deposition of uric acid in your joints in people who have difficulty eliminating uric acid from your body. He then describes the classic exquisitely painful gout attacks. Asif then goes over the major foods that can trigger gouty attacks. The guys then discuss whether Ali was actually diagnosed with gout or not. Asif then talks about how you treat gout and prevent gouty attacks.
The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media: Twitter: @doctorvcomedian Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
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| Episode 110: Chris Farley / Atherosclerosis | 21 Apr 2023 | 00:58:51 | |
Today, Ali and Asif discuss the career of the legendary comedian Chris Farley (1:15). They go over his early life and then highlight some of his famous sketches including ‘Matt Foley’ and the Chippendales sketch with Patrick Swayze. They then transition into talking about his movies including ‘Tommy Boy’ and ‘Beverly Hills Ninja’, as well as the movies he ended up not making, including ‘Shrek’ and ‘The Cable Guy’. They discuss Chris’ love of John Belushi and how both comedians ended up dying from drug overdoses.
Heart disease and atherosclerosis were contributing factors in Chris Farley’s death from a drug overdose and in the second on half, the guys discuss atherosclerosis (35:43). Asif discusses the risk factors as well as the organs that atherosclerosis can affect (mainly heart, brains, intestines, peripheral blood vessels). The guys then take a quick aside to discuss the increased risk of atherosclerosis in South Asians. Then Asif talks about drugs and lifestyle modifications that can decrease your risk of atherosclerosis.
The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media: Twitter: @doctorvcomedian Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Episode 109: Chris Rock’s ‘Selective Outrage’ / Migraine | 14 Apr 2023 | 00:53:14 | |
Today, Ali and Asif review Chris Rock’s recent live Netflix special ‘Selective Outrage’ (0:53)(SPOILERS for the special follow). The guys actually decide to go through the special in chronological order and highlight the highs and lows of Chris’s set (end SPOILERS at 29:10). Then Ali asks Asif about migraines. Asif talks about how common migraines are and what the main symptoms are. He then discusses why we think migraines occur and what the main triggers are for migraine attacks. The guys then discuss what people can do to help with migraines. Finally Asif goes over when to worry about headaches and when you might need a brain scan.
The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media: Twitter: @doctorvcomedian Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Episode 108: ‘Party Down’/ Misophonia | 07 Apr 2023 | 00:47:35 | |
Today Ali and Asif discuss the cult classic TV show about caterers in Hollywood, ‘Party Down’ (3:57). Before getting into the show, Asif asks Ali about his highs and lows working as a caterer. Asif then tells an anecdote about him volunteering at Norman Jewison’s barbeque at the Toronto International Film Festival (the female Canadian rock star he saw there). Then the guys talk about how the television show ‘Party Down’ came about, its connection with Paul Rudd, its eventual cancellation and its recent return this year. Then, Ali and Asif talk about misophonia (34:23). Asif explains how the condition is literally the hatred of certain sounds ie chewing or slurping and how it is unclear if it is a psychological or mental disorder. He talks about how common it is and how people with misophonia have intense (anger) responses to triggering sounds. He then talks about the theories on why it develops, the treatment and the prognosis. The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media: Twitter: @doctorvcomedian Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
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| Episode 207: Snacks and Ultraprocessed Foods | 25 Apr 2025 | 00:49:43 | |
Today, Asif and Ali discuss ultraprocessed foods (no medical topic today). To start off, Asif quizzes Ali about his favorite snack foods (1:29). Then Ali gives Asif a quiz on ultraprocessed foods from the New York Times. They then discuss the obesity epidemic and the the theory that ultraprocessed foods may have contributed to this (25;17). They then go over the NOVA food classification system and give examples of ultraprocessed foods. Asif discusses how often people consume ultraprocessed foods and the scientific evidence that these might be detrimental to health. Finally, Asif and Ali discuss recommendations for trying to decrease your intake of ultraprocessed foods.
The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media: Twitter: @doctorvcomedian/ Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
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| Episode 107: Synesthesia / Synesthesia Quiz | 31 Mar 2023 | 00:31:50 | |
On today’s episode, Ali asks Asif about the phenomenon of synesthesia (2:33). Asif gives the definition of the term and gives several examples of synesthesia. He discusses how it is thought to possibly be genetic, and describes how common it is (occurs in 1 in 2000 people!). Asif talks about acquired cases (i.e. from strokes) as well as the theories as to what causes this phenomenon (disinhibited feedback between regions vs the amount or pattern of dendritic and/or axonal connections). Then Asif gives Ali a quiz on famous people who are reported to have synesthesia (17:44). The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media: Twitter: @doctorvcomedian Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
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| Episode 106: Stand Up Styles / Sleep Apnea | 24 Mar 2023 | 01:03:37 | |
On today’s episode, Asif asks Ali about different comedy styles and why aspiring comedians would choose to adopt a particular style (1:54). He goes over ‘one-liner’, ‘storytelling’, ‘observational’ styles. He then goes over comics who adopt characters, shock/insult comics, prop/magic/music comedians, and political comics. Then Ali asks Asif about obstructive sleep apnea (33:45). Asif talks about his personal experiences with being diagnosed with sleep apnea. He then goes over how common sleep apnea is, the causes, risk factors and symptoms. Asi discusses the warning signs as well as what the testing for sleep apnea entails. Asif then talks about CPAP as a treatment for sleep apnea, as well as other possible treatments.
The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media: Twitter: @doctorvcomedian Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
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| Episode 105: Interview with Dr. Mark Shapiro (‘Explore the Space’ Podcast) / Ted Lasso | 17 Mar 2023 | 00:50:37 | |
On this special episode, the guys interview physician and podcaster Dr. Mark Shapiro, host of the ‘Explore the Space’ podcast and ‘Med Lasso’. The guys ask Mark about his “origin story” and how he got started in medicine and podcasting. He goes into detail on how he eventually went into Internal Medicine and became a hospitalist. Mark discusses how the name “Explore the Space” came from the Saturday Night Live “More Cowbell” sketch…and then the guys take a digression to review their favourite SNL sketches. Asif then asks Mark about how he has come around to using social media to connect with others and as an advocacy tool. Ali then asks Mark about gun control… and Mark quickly points out how that term is used by pro-gun advocates to sow discord. Mark then addresses the controversy several years ago when physicians were told to “stay in your lane” regarding gun violence in the US.
The guys then segue into a discussion about entertainment, with Mark starting off by talking about his love for Robin Williams. The guys then discuss the influence of Robin Williams on the character of Ted Lasso. Mark discusses his love for ‘Ted Lasso’, how he decided to do the ‘Med Lasso’ episodes of his podcast and why ‘Ted Lasso’ resonates so much with the medical community. All three then preview the upcoming 3rd season of ‘Ted Lasso’. The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media: Twitter: @doctorvcomedian Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
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| Episode 104: 95th Oscars Preview | 10 Mar 2023 | 00:45:03 | |
In this special episode, the guys preview the 95th Annual Academy Awards Preview, taking place on March 12, 2023 (no medical topic this episode). The guys start off by discussing how other awards (SAG awards, Directors’ guild, Producers’ Guild, Golden Globes, Writer’s Guild can sometimes predict the Oscars. They guys then go through each category as well as their individual pics. During the Best Actress pics, the guys go over the controversy regarding the nomination of Andrea Riseborough and why the Academy launched an investigation into her nomination. They also discuss how her nomination may have excluded some prominent black actresses. The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media: Twitter: @doctorvcomedian Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
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| Episode 103: Community / Virtual Medicine | 03 Mar 2023 | 01:01:30 | |
Today, Ali and Asif debate the merits of the cult-classic television show ‘Community’ (1:31). They start off by discussing how it was created by Dan Harmon after ‘Rick and Morty’ and then discuss Harmon’s writing style. Then then discuss the sexual misconduct allegations against Dan Harmon and his eventual apology to Megan Ganz, one of the women he harassed. Then Asif discusses how he finds the show clever, but not especially funny…and Ali disagrees. Arguments ensue.
Then they discuss the pros and cons of virtual medicine (34:18). Asif starts by discussing the various types of virtual medicine and how its use has increased since the Covid-19 pandemic. He discusses the benefits of virtual medicine and uses ‘telestroke’ as an example. Ali discusses his negative experiences with virtual medicine and Asif talks about some of the concerns the medical community has with virtual medicine. The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media: Twitter: @doctorvcomedian Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
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| Episode 102: AI in Comedy / AI in Medicine | 24 Feb 2023 | 00:53:39 | |
Today the guys discuss the implication for Artificial Intelligence (AI) in comedy/entertainment and medicine. The guys go over the basics of AI (1:10) and discuss the rise of Chat GPT. Ali then references how he was on the CBC show “Because News” and how he competed with Chat GPT to come up with a sonnet about hamburgers. Ali then talks about AI in comedy and how some developers created a robot who does stand up comedy. Ali then gives examples of how AI created an “Ali Hassan” stand up routine as well as a screenplay based on Ali and Asif’s (and friends’) lives. They then discuss the use of ChatGPT by students and the concerns raised by academia.
Then Asif discuss AI in medicine (34:23. Asif starts the “Pie in the Sky” ideal of AI assisting doctors and patients. Asif reviews the use of AI to date in radiology, pathology, cardiology, neurology and in endoscopies. He then goes over the significant limitations and concerns associated with AI in medicine.
The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media: Twitter: @doctorvcomedian Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
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| Episode 101: ‘The Last of Us’ / Fungal Infections | 17 Feb 2023 | 00:43:19 | |
Today, Ali and Asif discuss the hit TV show ‘The Last of Us’ (0:56). Asif starts off by discussing the game it is based on and whether video games can be considered ‘art’. Then the guys discuss the challenges of adapting video games to other media. They then discuss the development of the show and how the creators avoided the ‘video game curse’. The guys then give their thoughts on the show. Then Ali asks Asif about fungal infections (22:13). Asif starts off by defining what fungi are and describes some common fungal infections found on the skin. He then talks about more invasive fungal infections in immunocompromised individuals. Finally, Ali asks Asif if the “zombie fungus” that can infect ants could jump to humans. The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media: Twitter: @doctorvcomedian Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
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| Episode 100: Interview With Dr. Glaucomflecken and Lady Glaucomflecken | 10 Feb 2023 | 00:39:04 | |
Today for our 100th episode, Asif and Ali welcome back one of their most popular guests, Will Flannary aka social media star Dr. Glaucomflecken. As a bonus they are also joined by Will’s wife Kristen Flannary, aka Lady Glaucomflecken. They guys ask Will and Kristin about their busy lives with Glaucomflecken.com and balancing work and family and how they met back in college. They then ask about Will’s cardiac arrest in 2020 and how Kristen had to do CPR on Will for 10 minutes. They clarify how Will had a cardiac arrest and not a heart attack and how doctors never found a cause for his arrest. They talk about Kristen’s role increasing awareness of both CPR as well as co-survivors of medical trauma.
The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media: Twitter: @doctorvcomedian Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Episode 99: Chris Hemsworth / Alzheimer’s Disease | 03 Feb 2023 | 00:44:58 | |
Today, Ali and Asif discuss the career of actor Chris Hemsworth. They discuss his background, his early roles and his breakthrough roles in “Star Trek” and ‘Thor” (1:00). Then Asif gives Ali a trivia quiz on all things Hemsworth. Then, the guys discuss how on Chris’ new show “Limitless”, he discusses that genetic testing reveals that he has an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Asif starts off by giving a bit of background on Allzheimers, what causes it and how common it is (15:49). He then talks about how it is diagnosed as well as the treatment and prognosis. Asif talks about the current treatment as well as the promising new drug Lecanemab. Then Ali brings up the testing done by Dr. Peter Attia on Limitless which revealed that Chris has 2 copies of the APOE4 gene which increases his risk of developing Alzheimer’s by 8-10 times.
The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media: Twitter: @doctorvcomedian Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Episode 98: Interview with Julie Nolke | 27 Jan 2023 | 00:42:16 | |
Today on a special episode, Ali and Asif interview actress, comedian and YouTube sensation Julie Nolke. They start off by discussing Julie’s background and how she almost pursued engineering before studying theatre. She then discusses how she struggled for years with auditioning before finding her voice on YouTube. They then discuss her viral hit video “Explaining the pandemic to my past self”, which has over 20 million views. Ali then asks Julie about online criticism which is often sexist when it comes to female comedians. Jule then describes her creative process and the work involved in putting out her weekly videos on her YouTube channel. The guys then ask Julie about her collaborations with Ryan George and Bruce McCulloch. Finally the guys talk about Julie and Ali both being cast on ‘Run the Burbs’ and discuss the second season of the hit sitcom. The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media: Twitter: @doctorvcomedian Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Episode 206: ‘Adolescence’ / Teenagers and Screens | 18 Apr 2025 | 00:53:02 | |
Today, Asif and Ali discuss the phenomenal Netflix series ‘Adolescence’ (1:28). They discuss the creation of the film and how star and co-creator Stephen Graham came up with the concept for the show to address misogyny and knife violence in the UK. The guys discuss incel culture, the book ‘The Game’ and Andrew Tate and how adolescence tackles these concepts. They then discuss the direction of the series, with each episode being filmed in one take. Then then discuss the tremendous acting in the series, including newcomer Owen Cooper.
Then they discuss the effects of social media on teenagers (24:14). They start off by discussing Australia’s new ban on social media for children until 16 as well as Vivek Murthy’s Surgeon General Report from a few years ago on teens and social media. Asif discusses some potential benefits of social media for teens before discussing the potential harms. He then discusses the evidence that is out there regarding whether social media is harmful to teens. Finally the guys go over some practical tips for parents regarding social media and their children.
The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
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Show Notes:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Episode 97: Mindy Kaling / Ozempic | 20 Jan 2023 | 00:45:40 | |
Today the guys discuss the career of actress and comedian Mindy Kaling (2:12). Ali and Asif start off her background and when they first saw her on television. They then talk about her roles in ‘The Office’, ‘The Mindy Project’ and her creating ‘Never Have I Ever’, as well as her book “Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?”. Then, Asif tells the unbelievable story about Mindy’s brother pretending to be black to get into medical school in the USA. The guys then discuss the diabetes and weight loss medication semaglutide (Ozempiv, Wegovy) (25:14). NB although the gossip pages have alleged Mindy Kaling has used this medication for weight loss, there is NO EVIDENCE that Mindy has used this medication. Asif talks about how the medication works and the evidence for its use in diabetes and obesity. The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media: Twitter: @doctorvcomedian Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Episode 96: Nepo Kids / Type 2 diabetes | 13 Jan 2023 | 01:02:24 | |
Today, Ali and Asif discuss the phenomenon of “Nepo Babies” in Hollywood (1:30). They talk about the origin of the term, which was coined by Meriem Derradji, a 25-year-old Canadian tech-support worker while commenting on Maude Apatow from ‘Euphoria’ being the daughter of Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann. Then the guys give the audience a quiz, asking if they can guess the famous father of the lead singer of the band ‘Inhaler’. Asif then asks Ali if he has encountered the “Nepo Baby” phenomenon over the course of his entertainment career. They then discuss various ‘Nepo Babies” in Hollywood as well as some quotes from them. Then the guys discuss Type 2 diabetes (37:06). They discuss the differences from Type 1 diabetes and how the incidence is increasing. They then discuss the causes and risk factors for Type 2 diabetes as well as how doctors test for it. Asif then goes over the complications as well as what people can do to help manage the disease.
The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
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Show Notes:
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| Episode 95: Celine Dion / Stiff-Person Syndrome | 06 Jan 2023 | 00:45:32 | |
The guys start off by welcoming everyone to 2023 and they also talk about their recent trip to Dubai. They then discuss the career of Celine Dion (4;16). Ali talks about how he heard about her in the 80’s while growing up in Quebec. They talk about her crossover success with her English albums and her mega hits “Beauty and the Beast” and “My Heart Will Go on”. They then go over some little known facts about her life and career. Then Ali asks Asif about Celine’s recent diagnosis of Stiff-Person Syndrome (26:53). Asif talks about the symptoms, cause and how it is diagnosed. He then goes over the treatment and prognosis for the disorder.
The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media: Twitter: @doctorvcomedian Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Episode 94: Favourite Entertainment from 2022 | 16 Dec 2022 | 00:52:17 | |
As a year-end treat, the guys go over their favourite entertainment from 2022… and decide to omit a medical topic. Ali and Asif start off by talking about their favourite books they read last year. Then they discuss what they listened to last year including music and podcasts. The guys then compare notes on their favourite tv shows and movies from this past year.
NB: The pod will be taking the next two weeks off. We will see all of you in the new year!
The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media: Twitter: @doctorvcomedian Instagram: doctorvcomedian Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Episode 93: Interview with Steve Way / Muscular Dystrophy | 09 Dec 2022 | 00:44:28 | |
WARNING: Explicit Language in this episode
Today Asif and Ali are pleased to welcome comedian Steve Way, co-star of the hit Hulu show ‘Ramy’ (0:57). They talk about how Steve got into comedy, his influences, and some of the barriers he has faced being a comedian with a disability. Ali then asks Steve about his past employment as a substitute teacher and Steve talks about how much he enjoyed interacting with and teaching high school students. They then discuss how Steve got his role on ‘Ramy’ and Bella Hadid playing his fiance this season. Ali then asks Steve about his advocacy for patients with disabilities. They then talk to Steve about living with his rare form of muscular dystrophy, Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy, his interaction with health professionals and his diagnostic odyssey. Steve highlights how important it is for health professionals to discuss reproductive issues with patients who have disabilities.
Check out Steve’s 1 hour set at Caveat in NYC on Dec 29!
Then Ali and Asif do deep dive into muscular dystrophy (28:37), specifically the most common form, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Asif goes over the cause, symptoms, prognosis and treatment. Then Asif discusses the rare entity Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy. He then goes over some potential existing gene therapies for muscular dystrophy.
The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media: Twitter: @doctorvcomedian Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Episode 92: Favourite Albums of 1992 / Circumcision | 02 Dec 2022 | 01:11:08 | |
Today the guys start of with some (good/bad??) news about the podcast TikTok account. Then the guys discuss their favourite albums from 1992 (5:25). The guys each give their top 10 lists from the year. Then Ali asks Asif about the sometimes controversial topic of circumcision (45:13). Asif talks about the history of the practice and some of the criticisms of it. Then Asif talks about whether there is evidence for health benefits from circumcision and also talks about the risks of the procedure. He then concludes by stating that most pediatrics groups do not recommend routine circumcision for all newborn males in North America; however if parents are considering the procedure for their child, it is important to discuss the risks and benefits with their doctor.
The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
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| Episode 91: Jay Leno | 25 Nov 2022 | 00:40:23 | |
Jay Leno is now at home recovering from serious burn injuries; on today’s episode, Asif and Ali discuss Jay’s career and accomplishments. However to start off, Ali asks Asif about how common burns are and the differences between first, second and third degree burns (1:20). Asif then goes over how to treat burns and the use of hyperbaric oxygen for burns. They then discuss Jay Leno’s career and his early life (and specifically mention that they will NOT be talking a lot about Conan or cars) (15:17). They discuss his early comedy career and how he became the heir apparent to Johnny Carson on “The Tonight Show”. They then discuss some infamous stories from Leno’s life. Finally Asif asks Ali about Jay Leno’s legacy in comedy. The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
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| Episode 90: The Crisis in Nursing (with Amie Archibald Varley and Sara Fung of The Gritty Nurse Podcast) | 18 Nov 2022 | 00:39:20 | |
On this special episode, Ali and Asif interview the hosts of ‘The Gritty Nurse Podcast’, Amie Archibald Varley and Sara Fung. They start off by asking Amie and Sara their origin stories, how they got into nursing and how they started their podcast. Amie and Sara then discuss the issues of hierarchy and bullying in the culture of nursing. They speak about the success of their podcast and their favorite episodes. They then discuss the current crisis in nursing in Canada and the rest of North America, violence towards health care professionals, and the issue of burnout in nursing.
The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
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| Episode 89: Twitter and Comedy / Twitter and Medicine | 11 Nov 2022 | 00:49:14 | |
With Elon Musk now having purchased Twitter, the guys devote an episode to Twitter and Comedy and Twitter and Medicine. Asif starts off by asking Ali if there is any positive effects of Twitter on Comedy (0:58); then Asif challenges Ali with the opposite question, namely “has Twitter ruined comedy”? Ali uses the examples of comedians getting canceled (ie Kurt Metzger) and why comedians need to be extra careful on social media. They then discuss how while comedians have to be careful, non-comedians need to be even more careful on social media. Asif then ask Ali about comedians stealing jokes from people on Twitter. Then Ali asks Asif about Twitter and medicine (24:28). Asif starts out with highlighting the good of Twitter and medicine including the ease of access, facilitating collaborations, extending reach and cutting edge information. Asif then asks the question “Would Hippocrates be on twitter”? Ali asks Asif about the credibility of medicine and they discuss how tweets have no conflicts of interest. Asif then discusses how doctors may be tweeting when they should be seeing patients. They then delve into the larger issue of doctors being “unprofessional” on Twitter. Asif talks about the mini-experiment he did asking doctors about whether they get consent beforehand. He then brings up the “medbikini” backlash on Twitter with respect to a vascular surgery article on “professional” behaviour on social media.
The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
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| Episode 88: Breast Cancer | 04 Nov 2022 | 00:33:26 | |
This past month was breast cancer awareness month and in the last episode we did the entertainment part, with an interview with musician and Bif Naked (who is herself a breast cancer survivor). Today we will be doing a deep dive into breast cancer. Asif starts out by mentioning that a lot of the main points for the episode today were informed by a conversation with Dr. Tulin Cil, breast surgical oncologist from the University of Toronto. Ali starts off by asking how common breast cancer is and what the main symptoms are. They then discuss the age it occurs and what the risk factors are for developing it. Asif specifically discusses the genetic risk factors and how “dense” breasts can predispose you to breast cancer. Asif then talks about how it is diagnosed and treated, as well as the prognosis, which is much better for those diagnosed early. They then discuss some “hot button” topics in breast cancer, including lowering the age of screening to 40, as well as the issue of prophylactic mastectomy.
The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Episode 205: Period Pain (w/ Kate Downey) | 11 Apr 2025 | 00:39:10 | |
Today Asif and Ali interview podcaster Kate Downey about period pain and her new podcast “Cramped”. The guys chat with Kate about why she wanted to start a podcast about period pain (dysmenorrhea) and her personal journey with what she calls ‘death cramps”. Kate then elaborates on why period pain is often treated differently than other types of pain and the relation between period pain and endometriosis. They then discuss how stigma and bias are intertwined with the lack of awareness of period pain. Finally Kate discusses new scientific breakthroughs in our understanding of period pain.
The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media: Twitter: @doctorvcomedian Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Episode 87: Interview with Bif Naked | 28 Oct 2022 | 00:43:22 | |
Today on a very special episode, the guys interview the trailblazing Canadian Music Icon Bif Naked. They start off by discussing Bif’s somewhat surprising connection to South Asia. Then then chat about Bif’s book from 2016 “I Bificius” and the challenges of opening yourself up in a memoir. Asif then asks Bif about her long standing fascination with medicine. Bif describes her lifelong interest in the field of medicine. Bif and the guys touch on her diagnosis of breast cancer and how that has informed her volunteer work as a death doula. Bif discusses her philanthropy, activism and how she thinks social media is actually a good thing (!). Then, in recognition of October being breast cancer awareness month, Bif highlights how important “the pink ribbon” movement is for those suffering from breast cancer and how vital it is to support charities that fund research into breast cancer. Finally, the guys discuss Bif’s new single “Rollerdome” and her upcoming album Champion, as well as the fact that she is the focus of the upcoming documentary by Jennifer Abbott entitled “Bif Naked: One of a Kind”. .
Catch Bif at her upcoming show on November 4th at the Bronson Centre in Ottawa, Ontario! The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
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| Episode 86: Robin Williams / Lewy Body Dementia | 21 Oct 2022 | 00:54:49 | |
Today, Ali and Asif discuss the career of the legendary actor and comedian Robin Williams. The guys start off by discussing their early exposure to Robin Williams including ‘Popeye’, ‘Mork and Mindy’ Robin’s early HBO specials (including Comic Relief). They then discuss some interesting facts about Robin’s early life. They go over some interesting trivia about Robin, his pivotal movies and his legacy in stand-up comedy. Then Ali asks Asif about Dementia with Lewy Bodies, which Robin suffered from. Asif starts off by defining what Lewy Bodies are and their connection to dementia and Parkinson’s disease. They then discuss the symptoms Robin suffered from and how these symptoms (retrospectively) fit completely the criteria for Dementia with Lewy Bodies. The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
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| Episode 85: Improving the Health Care of Trans Persons (with Drs. Laura Stratton & Carys Massarella) | 14 Oct 2022 | 01:04:10 | |
Today in follow up to our discussion of “Sort Of” with Bilal Baig, we discuss how to improve the health care of trans and non-binary persons. The guys start off their discussion with Dr. Laura Stratton, a family physician with a specialization in 2SLGBTQ+ care who practices at the Connect Clinic in Toronto, Ontario (3:53). They discusses the challenge of trans and non-binary persons in accessing health care. Then they ask Dr. Stratton about how to improve the training of family doctors in 2SLGBTQ+ health during their their residency training. The guys then ask Dr. Stratton about where doctors should start if they are uneducated about 2SLGBTQ+ health and the Trans Health Guide for physicians created by Rainbow Health Ontario and discuss why health care for trans and non-binary patients is such an urgent matter. Then the guys chat with Dr. Carys Masserella who is the lead physician at the transgender care clinic at Quest Community Health Centre in St. Catharines, Ontario (29:36) . They discuss how Dr. Masseralla decided on medicine as a career, specializing in emergency medicine, and how she started her transgender care clinic. They discuss how to improve the primary care of trans and non-binary patients including advice on when to refer for hormone therapy and surgery. Dr. Massarella also discusses the special situation of children who identify as trans and how to counsel parents in this situation. Asif then asks Dr. Massarella about the term “gender dysphoria” and about news reports that the diagnosis of gender dysphoria has been increasing over time. Ali then asks Dr. Massarella about her projects on Amazon Prime’s OUTtv channel “My Trans Journey '' and “Translating Beauty”. The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media: Twitter: @doctorvcomedian Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
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| Episode 84: Interview with Bilal Baig (‘Sort Of’) | 07 Oct 2022 | 00:51:30 | |
Today on a special episode, Ali and Asif interview Bilal Baig, star of the CBC and HBO Max series “Sort of” who made history by Made history by being the first South Asian, queer Muslim actor to star in a Canadian prime-time TV series. The guys start off by asking Bilal about their early life and growing up as a second generation South Asian in the Toronto area. Bilal talks about how initially they were a shy child but eventually found writing and theatre as a calling. Bilal then talks about the creation of their play “Acha Bacha”. They then describe creating ‘Sort Of’ with Fab Filippo. Ali asks Bilal about their comedy influences and their dry sense of humor displayed in ‘Sort Of’. All three then discuss the success and critical accolades given to ‘Sort Of’ (whose second season premieres Nov 15 on CBC and Dec 1 on HBO Max). The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
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Show Notes:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Episode 83: Best Movies of 1982 / Meat Allergy | 30 Sep 2022 | 00:51:01 | |
Today, Ali and Asif debate the best movies from 1982, one of the best years for movies ever (1:02)! See which ones they agree on, which ones they disagree on, which ones they shockingly have not seen. Then Ali asks Asif about meat allergies (39:20). Asif explains how the idea of mammalian meat allergies was first described and describes how they are caused by tick bites (and how they are NOT related to Lyme disease). Asif explains the allergic symptoms they develop and what meats provoke them. Asif then explains how to prevent it and how genetic engineering has now created pigs that do not cause this allergic reaction. The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
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Show Notes:
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| Episode 82: Polio / Polio Quiz | 23 Sep 2022 | 00:34:59 | |
Today, Asif and Ali discuss polio and it’s recent resurgence. Asif starts off by discussing the history of polio from Egyptian times to the 20th century. He then talks about the symptoms of polio and how some people can suffer from ‘post-polio syndrome’ years after infection. Asif then discusses how vaccination efforts have lead (up until recently) to near-eradication of the disease worldwide. He then discusses the relationship between vaccines and the new cases of polio (its complicated) seen the UK, Israel and the USA. In the second half of the show, Asif then quizzes Ali about 4 famous people who had polio in the “Doctor Vs Comedian Polio Quiz”. As a postscript, the guys discuss how Franklin Deleanor Rossevelt likely did NOT have polio, but more likely had Guillain Barre Syndrome. The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
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Show Notes:
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| Episode 81: ‘Is There Bacon in Heaven’ / Pulmonary Fibrosis | 16 Sep 2022 | 00:42:36 | |
Today on a special episode, we will be hearing a preview of Ali’s new book ‘Is There Bacon in Heaven’, published by Simon and Shuster, coming out Sept 27. Before Ali gets started Asif discusses summer entertainment he has consumed including ‘Prey’, ‘Archer’, ‘She-Hulk’, ‘Harley Quinn’, ‘Rings of Power’ and ‘House of the Dragon’. Ali then treats us to a funny and poignant chapter focusing on his father’s life and death. During the excerpt, they guys take a brief digression to discuss pulmonary fibrosis, a disease which Ali’s father suffered from. Asif talks about what it is, how it is diagnosed and the risk factors for developing it. He then discusses the prognosis and the limited treatments for the condition. The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
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Show Notes:
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| Episode 80: Ashton Kutcher / Vasculitis | 09 Sep 2022 | 00:39:19 | |
Today, the guys discuss the life and career of Ashton Kutcher (1:07). They discuss his early life, his family and how he became a model and later an actor. They discuss his early career hits, including ‘That 70’s Show’ and ‘Punk’d’. They discuss his marriages to Demi Moore and Mila Kunis and the fact that his girlfriend he was dating in 2001 was horrifically murdered by a serial killer. They discuss his business and investing career and how he is in some way more successful in the ventures as opposed to in acting. They also discuss his controversial ad for “Popchips” involving an Indian accent and brownface. They then discuss how Ashton Kutcher disclosed on an episode of ‘Running Wild with Bear Grylls: The Challenge” that he suffers from a rare form of vasculitis which caused problems with his vision, imbalance and equilibrium (16:49). Ali challenges Asif to do ‘House MD’- style detective work to try and figure out exactly what type of vasculitis Ashton had. Asif speculates that Ashton may have had a rare type of brain vasculitis called ‘Central Nervous System Vasculitis (or Angiitis)’. He then briefly discussed how it is also possible he may have had two other even rarer diseases: Susac’s Syndrome and CLIPPERS (chronic lymphocytic inflammation with pontine perivascular enhancement responsive to steroids). The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
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| Episode 79: This Hour has 22 Minutes (Part 2) - Interview with Trent McLellan | 02 Sep 2022 | 00:50:28 | |
For part 2 of our discussion of ‘This Hour has 22 minutes’, the guys interview one of the stars of ‘This Hour’ Trent McLellan. Trent talks about growing up in Newfoundland and his love of soccer. He talks working for frat the Boys and Girls Club eventually moving to Calgary and pursuing comedy. Trent talks about racism but also the fact that he never used racism as a “crutch”. They discuss the highs and lows of comedy, the need for perseverance, and how Trent eventually got the call to be on ‘This Hour has 22 Minutes’. Trent talks about how they come up with material on ‘This Hour’ and how to not worry about the lens with which people interpret one’s comedy writing, and ignoring the “comments section”. He talks about the pace of the show and how once you are done one episode, you are on to the next as well as his connection to fans of the show. Ali then asks Trent about the access the show has to politicians and how this is unique when comparing Canada to other countries. Finally, Trent discusses what to expect in the upcoming season of ‘This Hour has 22 Minutes’, premiering Sept 13.
The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media: Twitter: @doctorvcomedian Instagram: doctorvcomedian Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Episode 78: This Hour has 22 Minutes (Part 1) | 26 Aug 2022 | 00:30:19 | |
Today Ali and Asif discuss the Canadian comedy series This Hour has 22 minutes, which is celebrating it’s 30th season this year. They discuss the origins of the show and the original cast, including Cathy Jones, Rick Mercer, Greg Thomey, and Mary Walsh. They then discuss some of the other people who have appeared on the show in the past including Shaun Majumder, Colin Mochrie, Nathan Fielder, Gavin Crawford and Mark Critch. Then the guys bring up the groundbreaking nature of the show and how it influenced shows such as The Daily Show, The Colbert Report and Last Week Tonight. They talk about the classic bits from the show including Rick Mercer’s Rants, Talking to Americans and Raj Binder and how they seemed to always have intimate access to Canadian politicians. They then talk about some of the more controversial moments including Rob Ford calling 911 on Mary Walsh and Carolyn Parrish being forced out of the Liberal party after performing voodoo on a George Bush doll on ‘This Hour’.
The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media: Twitter: @doctorvcomedian Instagram: doctorvcomedian
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| Episode 204: ‘Apple Cider Vinegar’ and Belle Gibson / Measles | 04 Apr 2025 | 00:47:22 | |
Today, after a brief discussion of shows Ali and Asif have been watching lately – including ‘One Day’ and ‘Adolescence’ (as well as shows they bailed on… ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘The White Lotus’) – they discuss ‘Apple Cider Vinegar’ and Belle Gibson (7:43). They go over Belle Gibson’s rise from Instagram “Wellness Warrior” to being exposed as faking having brain cancer. They then discuss the Netflix TV show based on Belle Gibson’s story ‘Apple Cider Vinegar’. They discuss how the show weaves in Belle’s story with the fictionalized character of Milla who is closely based on Jessica Ainscough, a prominent Australian influencer who billed herself as Wellness Warrior who did in fact have cancer. They then give their thoughts on the show including Kaityn Dever’s amazing performance.
Then, based on the recent outbreaks in North America, Ali asks Asif about Measles (26:48). Asif talks about what it is and how it is one of the most contagious infectious diseases. Asif then talks about who is at risk of contracting measles including the unvaccinated, children under age 1 year and the immunocompromised. Asif goes over the symptoms and the potential fatal complications. He then goes over how it is treated. Then Ali asks Asif about the reasons for declining vaccination rates.
The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media: Twitter: @doctorvcomedian Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
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| Bonus: Better Call Saul and Anne Heche | 21 Aug 2022 | 00:04:20 | |
The guys provide a bonus mini-episode discussing two things from the news in the past week. First, Asif discusses the triumphant finale of ‘Better Call Saul’ and the amazing acting of Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks and especially Rhea Seahorn. Then they discuss the death of actress Anne Heche, and how some news organizations (The Washington Post) did not declare Heche as having died, even when she was declared neurologically dead.
The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media: Twitter: @doctorvcomedian Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
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| Episode 76: Brain Death and the Archie Battersbee Case | 19 Aug 2022 | 00:39:35 | |
On today’s special episode the guys forgo an entertainment topic to focus on the Archie Bastersbee case in the UK and the concept of brain death. They guys start off by discussing how he sustained a brain injury supposedly while doing a TikTok “Blackout challenge. They discuss how his doctors diagnosed him as “brain dead” but the family disagreed with the diagnosis and appealed to courts in the UK, as well as the UN. Asif then discusses the 2 different ways to diagnose death (cardiac and neurological) and the tests neurologists use to determine brain death. The guys also talk about the differences between this case and the Terri Schiavo case. Ali then asks Asif about a New Yorker article by Rachel Aviv which discusses the case of Jahi McMath. Using her case, the guys discuss how the diagnosis of brain death has come under scrutiny by some experts.
The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media: Twitter: @doctorvcomedian Instagram: doctorvcomedian
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| Episode 75: Garry Shandling / Hyperparathyroidism | 12 Aug 2022 | 01:00:58 | |
Today the guys discuss the life and career of Gary Shandling (1:25). They discuss his early life and how his brother’s death, a car accident and him crossing a comedy picket line were formative experiences for him. They discuss Shandling’s eventual appearance on ‘The Tonight Show’ and then the development of his groundbreaking sitcom “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show”. They then discuss how he followed this up with another landmark show “The Larry Sanders Show”. Later, they discuss his final projects and his untimely death in 2016. Then Ali asks Asif about hyperparathyroidism, which Shandling suffered from (44:00). Asif talks about the common symptoms ( "bones, stones, abdominal groans, and psychic moans/overtones") and the reasons why people develop the disease. He then discussed how it is diagnosed as well as the treatment of this disorder. The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.
Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay
Contact us at doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media: Twitter: @doctorvcomedian Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
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