Today the guys discuss the extremely popular HBO docuseries “Chimp Crazy (1:39). The guys discuss the background of the series and director Eric Good (Tiger King) developed the series. They then discuss how the series main subject, Tonia Haddix, got involved with keeping primates as pets in addition to discussing the involvement of actor Alan Cumming in the docuseries. Asif then asks Ali about an interview he did with journalist Sam Adams about the controversy behind the making of ‘Chimp Crazy’ and Eric Goode hiring a proxy director for the series. 

Ali then asks Asif about monkey (primate) attacks and monkey bites (25:11). Asif goes over how the two main causes of primate attacks are primate ownership and over-habituation. With regards to pet ownership, Asif outlines a few major gruesome pet chimpanzee attacks in the US and in particular the attack by a chimp named Travis whose victim was featured on ‘Oprah’. Asif then discusses overhabituation which is caused often by monkeys’ desire for human food. He discusses the risks of monkey bites including the potentially fatal disease caused by the ‘B-virus’. Asif then concludes by discussing how to avoid monkey bites when on vacation in tropical areas. 

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

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Show Notes:

• Is it ethical to watch the new docuseries Chimp Crazy? https://www.cbc.ca/arts/commotion/is-it-ethical-to-watch-the-new-docuseries-chimp-crazy-1.7301775
• The Grotesquerie of Chimp Crazy: https://slate.com/culture/2024/08/chimp-crazy-documentary-tonia-haddix-tonka-tiger-king-hbo-max.html
• She Faked Her Chimp’s Death. Then Things Went Apesh!t: https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/tonia-haddix-peta-tonka-fake-monkey-death-1388070/
• ‘Chimp Crazy’ Star Tonia Haddix Would Change (Almost) Nothing: https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/chimp-crazy-tonia-haddix-tonka-interview-1235093696/
• Here’s what the Toronto IKEA monkey is up to, 10 years later: https://toronto.citynews.ca/2022/12/09/toronto-ikea-monkey-10-years-later-darwin/
• Behind The Scenes: The Monkey From 'Speed Racer' Was A Jerk: https://www.cracked.com/article_32977_behind-the-scenes-the-monkey-from-speed-racer-was-a-jerk.html
• The Double Dishonesty of Chimp Crazy: https://www.vulture.com/article/chimp-crazy-director-deception-tonia-haddix.html
• The Will to Live: https://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/chimp-attack-victim-charla-nash-shows-her-face
• A Primate Party Gone Horribly Awry: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-mar-05-me-chimp5-story.html
• https://theconversation.com/why-monkeys-attack-people-a-primate-expert-explains-221547
• https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/5/hong-kongs-first-monkey-virus-case-what-do-we-know-about-the-b-virus
• Monkeys blamed for hundreds of puppy deaths captured in India: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/21/monkeys-blamed-for-hundreds-of-puppy-deaths-captured-in-india

Today, the guys discuss their top 5 episodes of the classic sitcom ‘Friends’. But they switch things up by doing the medical topic first by discussing Ketamine and its role in Matthew Perry’s death (3:53). Ali starts out by asking Asif about how exactly ketamine was involved in Matthew Perry’s drowning death. Asif then goes over the history of ketamine, how it works and how it is mainly used as anesthesia. Ali then asks him about how it has been increasingly used in depression and Asif goes over the scientific evidence for this (after a brief digression about electroconvulsive therapy). They then discuss the abuse potential of ketamine and the side effects. They then discuss a New York Times article from last discussing ketamine abuse, telemedicine and compounding pharmacies. They then wrap up the section by discussing the individuals arrested for providing the ketamine implicated in Matthew Perry’s death. Then in the second, more lighthearted half, the guys each list their top 5 ‘Friends’ episodes (31:43). 

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

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Show Notes:

• Ketamine: https://www.dea.gov/factsheets/ketamine
• Matthew Perry’s Death Shines a Harsh Light on Ketamine Treatment: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/19/arts/television/matthew-perry-ketamine-treatment.html
• Matthew Perry’s Assistant and Doctors Charged With Getting Him Ketamine: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/15/arts/television/matthew-perry-charges-ketamine.html
• A Fraught New Frontier in Telehealth: Ketamine: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/20/us/ketamine-telemedicine.html
• Ketamine and other glutamate receptor modulators for depression in adults with unipolar major depressive disorder: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8434915/
• FDA alerts health care professionals of potential risks associated with compounded ketamine nasal spray: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/fda-alerts-health-care-professionals-potential-risks-associated-compounded-ketamine-nasal-spray
• The One With.... Every Friends episode ranked worst to best: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/friends-episodes-ranked-best-worst-cast-b2469469.html
• I Have Ranked The Top 50 "Friends" Episodes: https://www.buzzfeed.com/hopelasater/best-friends-episodes-ranked

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses sexual abuse.

Today, the guys discuss the new Netflix documentary “Tell them you love me” (3:25) (Spoilers abound). They discuss the case of Anna Stubblefield, a tenured professor of ethics at Rutgers University, who initially started off aiding a young black man with cerebral palsy, Derrick Johnson, with facilitated communication but was eventually charged with sexually abusing Derrick. The guys start off by discussing Derrick’s early life and then Asif takes a medical aside and discusses cerebral palsy (6:37). Asif goes over what it is, how common it is and how it does not imply anything about cognitive capabilities. He goes over the causes, the different types as well as clues that might suggest an alternate diagnosis.

The guys then go back to the case of Anna Stubblefield (16:15) and discuss how Anna believed that facilitated communication ‘unlocked’ Derrick’s intelligence and how she felt he could consent to a romantic and sexual relationship. Ali then asks Asif about the scientific evidence behind facilitated communication and how it is considered by many organizations to be a pseudoscience (30:39). The guys then discuss the potential harms of facilitated communication, before wrapping up the complicated and disturbing case (36:49). 

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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• Tell Them You Love Me Doc Tells the Complicated True Story of Anna Stubblefield: https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/tell-them-you-love-me-release-date-news
• The Bizarre True Story Behind Netflix’s ‘Tell Them You Love Me’—Where Is Anna Stubblefield Now? https://www.forbes.com/sites/monicamercuri/2024/06/19/the-bizarre-true-story-behind-netflixs-tell-them-you-love-me--where-is-anna-stubblefield-now/
• The Strange Case of Anna Stubblefield: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/25/magazine/the-strange-case-of-anna-stubblefield.html
• The Strange Case of Anna Stubblefield, Revisited: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/05/magazine/the-strange-case-of-anna-stubblefield-revisited.html
• Cerebral Palsy: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538147/
• https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/pseudoscience/who-doing-pointing-when-communication-facilitated
• A history of facilitated communication: Science, pseudoscience, and antiscience science working group on facilitated communication: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1996-12698-001
• Facilitated Communication—what harm it can do: Confessions of a former facilitator: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17489539.2012.674680?journalCode=tebc20
• Systematic review of facilitated communication 2014–2018 finds no new evidence that messages delivered using facilitated communication are authored by the person with disability: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2396941518821570
• Facilitated Communication: https://www.asha.org/policy/ps2018-00352/
• Facilitated Communication: https://asatonline.org/for-parents/learn-more-about-specific-treatments/facilitated-communication/

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

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Show Notes:

• This Hour has 22 minutes: https://cmf-fmc.ca/news/this-hour-has-22-minutes/
• 22 Minutes at 22 Years: I Had No Idea I Shouldn't Have Done That: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2633201490
• 22 Minutes at 22 Years: Seize the Doris Day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXAu9PFNP5E
• Mayor Rob Ford calls police after ambush by 22 Minutes actress Mary Walsh: https://nationalpost.com/posted-toronto/mayor-rob-ford-calls-police-after-ambush-by-22-minutes-actress
• SNL's Prophet Muhammad sketch is a lot like old 22 Minutes joke: https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/snl-s-prophet-muhammad-sketch-is-a-lot-like-old-22-minutes-joke-1.3069201
• 22 Minutes at 22 Years: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFRV3a5X_m8

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:

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Show Notes:

• Why the media declared Anne Heche dead twice: https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2022/08/16/anne-heche-death-confusion

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

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Show Notes:

• Archie Battersbee case: a timeline of key events: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/aug/06/archie-battersbee-case-timeline-key-events-life-support-what-happened
• Determination of Brain Death/Death by Neurologic Criteria - The World Brain Death Project: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2769149
• What Does it Mean to Die? https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/02/05/what-does-it-mean-to-die

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:

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Show Notes:

• The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling: https://www.hbo.com/the-zen-diaries-of-garry-shandling
• The Comedian’s Comedian’s Comedian: https://www.gq.com/story/comedy-issue-garry-shandling
• WTF - Garry Shandling episodes: http://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/tag/Garry+Shandling
• Garry Shandling and the Disease You Didn’t Know About: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/04/garry-shandling-hyperparathyroidism/476445/
• Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee: https://www.netflix.com/watch/80181989?trackId=255824129&tctx=0%2C0%2CNAPA%40%40%7Cac7f46b4-66b3-40c0-87c0-c53e8c2ada67-99001210_titles%2F1%2F%2Fcomed%2F0%2F0%2CNAPA%40%40%7Cac7f46b4-66b3-40c0-87c0-c53e8c2ada67-99001210_titles%2F1%2F%2Fcomed%2F0%2F0%2Cunknown%2C%2Cac7f46b4-66b3-40c0-87c0-c53e8c2ada67-99001210%7C1%2CtitlesResults%2C80171362
• Primary Hyperparathyroidism: A Narrative Review of Diagnosis and Medical Management: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33918966/
• Primary hyperparathyroidism: review and recommendations on evaluation, diagnosis, and management. A Canadian and international consensus: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00198-016-3716-2
• The Association of Primary Hyperparathyroidism With Pancreatitis: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4428665/

Today we have a special food themed episode! First, the guys discuss Ali’s other podcast, ‘This Podcast is Delicious’ with Ali’s co-host Marco Timpano (0:52). They discuss Marco’s background and how he ended up podcasting. They then discuss how Ali and Marco met and the genesis for their podcast. They discuss how it used to be called ‘Eat and Drink’ and how it had been recently rebranded as ‘This Podcast is Delicious’.  Marco sticks around for the medical topic as the guys discuss physicians prescribing food to patients (35:46). Asif discusses the broader concept of ‘social prescribing’ which originated in the UK. He discusses the different types of food prescribing and some studies that have examined its effectiveness. The guys then discuss some potentially ethical issues associated with food prescribing. Finally they conclude with some thoughts on how medicine can incorporate food prescribing, such as so called ‘culinary medicine’ curricula. 

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:

• This Podcast is Delicious: https://shows.acast.com/eat-and-drink/episodes/deliciousness-begins-now
• http://www.marcotimpano.com/
• Social prescriptions: Why some health-care practitioners are prescribing food to their patients: https://theconversation.com/social-prescriptions-why-some-health-care-practitioners-are-prescribing-food-to-their-patients-182208
• Social Prescribing: https://www.england.nhs.uk/personalisedcare/social-prescribing/
• Food is medicine: actions to integrate food and nutrition into healthcare: https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m2482
• A Deficiency of Nutrition Education in Medical Training: https://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(14)00308-8/fulltext
• Nutrition in medical education: a systematic review: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2542519619301718
• Promoting Healthy Food Access and Nutrition in Primary Care: A Systematic Scoping Review of Food Prescription Programs: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/08901171211056584
• Social prescribing: less rhetoric and more reality. A systematic review of the evidence:
• Multisite Culinary Medicine Curriculum Is Associated With Cardioprotective Dietary Patterns and Lifestyle Medicine Competencies Among Medical Trainees: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1559827619901104

Today on a special episode, the guys don’t cover a medical topic and only discuss an entertainment one: the rise and fall of the WWE’s Vince McMahon (2:51). Even if you don’t like wrestling, or actively hate it, this episode is a fascinating listen. The guys start off by discussing why professional wrestling has continued to be popular over the years and how ‘meta’ commentary on wrestling has been covered by writers such as David Shoemaker. Asif then goes over the history of wrestling and discusses how the charge of wrestling being ‘fake’ has been around for over 100 years.  They then talk about the rise of Vince McMahon and how he changed the landscape of professional wrestling. They then discuss the recent allegations against Vince which prompted him to retire from the WWE. Finally, they discuss where the WWE is heading and the ‘Succession’-type backroom dealings in the organization. 

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:

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Show Notes:

• The Squared Circle: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/311224/the-squared-circle-by-david-shoemaker/9781592408818/excerpt
• The Comic Book Story of Professional Wrestling: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/558378/the-comic-book-story-of-professional-wrestling-by-aubrey-sitterson-art-by-chris-moreno/9780399580499
• Remembering When the Rodman-Malone NBA Finals Feud in 1998 Led to a WCW Match: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2771950-remembering-when-the-rodman-malone-nba-finals-feud-in-1998-led-to-a-wcw-match
• Linda McMahon Gets a Ringside Seat for TrumpMania: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/24/us/politics/linda-mcmahon-gets-a-ringside-seat-for-trumpmania.html
• Jimmy Snuka and the Death of Nancy Argentino: https://www.vicetv.com/en_us/video/jimmy-snuka-and-the-death-of-nancy-argentino/5e5ed68cd27129037a63680d
• WWE’s Vince McMahon Agreed to Pay $12 Million in Hush Money to Four Women: https://www.wsj.com/articles/wwes-vince-mcmahon-agreed-to-pay-12-million-in-hush-money-to-four-women-11657289742

Today, the guys discuss the career of the legendary A-lister Brad Pitt (1:21). They talk about his early life and roles. Then they discuss his philanthropy and personal life. Later the guys each list their 3 favourite Brad Pitt roles. Then Ali asks Asif about prosopagnosia, which Brad Pitt diagnosed himself with (33:24). Asif defines what it is (essentially ‘face blindness’) and how you can get it from an acquired brain injury. Asif then discusses the other developmental form which you can be born with and how the disorder may be more common than people think. 

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:

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Show Notes:

• Brad Pitt opens up his dream world: https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/brad-pitt-interview-2022/amp
• What Is Prosopagnosia, a Condition That Causes ‘Face Blindness’? https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/06/well/mind/prosopagnosia-face-blindness.html
• Prosopagnosia: current perspectives: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5398751/
• First report of prevalence of non-syndromic hereditary prosopagnosia (HPA): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16817175/
• Developmental prosopagnosia: https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(16)00047-6?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0960982216000476%3Fshowall%3Dtrue#relatedArticles

Today Ali and Asif discuss the legendary soundtrack from the movie ‘Singles’ which was released 30 years ago (0:57). The guys start off by discussing the movie ‘Singles’, Cameron Crowe and how the movie potentially influenced the creation of ‘Friends’. The guys then go through each song on the album and give their thoughts on each track. They highlight how the album gained exposure for some ‘up and coming’ bands at the time, including Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains and The Smashing Pumpkins.  Then Ali asks Asif about borderline personality disorder (BPD) (37:23). Asif starts off by talking about personality disorders and then explains the criteria for diagnosing someone with BPD. He then talks about risk factors for developing it as well as the neurobiology of BPD. He then concludes by discussing the treatment and prognosis of 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:

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Show Notes:

• Cameron Crowe on the ‘Singles’ Soundtrack, Chris Cornell: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/cameron-crowe-on-the-singles-soundtrack-chris-cornell-194903/
• Personality Disorders: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/personality-disorders/why-is-it-controversial/
• BPD family: https://www.bpdfamily.com/
• Borderline personality disorder: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673610614225?casa_token=_4MqATEboTMAAAAA:kFe4KpWO3I6GkTvJ17HxA0G_Ryhe3cRuh2ZKyOvePaT_A2Eu6mgAdpV4omjh7z0AhIlGYNldAg#box1
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT): https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/dialectical-behaviour-therapy

Today Ali and Asif present a special episode on all things Canada. They start off by Ali hosting the Canada Day celebrations in the Nation’s capital (1:02). Then they each discuss their favourite Canadian entertainment, including their favourite musicians, movies and TV shows (15:26). Then Ali asks Asif about the Canadian discovery of insulin (40:00). After a bit of background about the different types of diabetes, Asif discusses the discovery of insulin at the University of Toronto. Asif goes through the major players – Frederick G. Banting, John James Rickard Macleod, Charles Herbert Best and James Bertram Collip  – as well as the ensuing arguments and controversies amongst the group of researchers. He talks about their legacy, their Nobel prize win and how the discovery of insulin changed medicine forever.  

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:

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Show Notes:

• Reel Canada https://www.reelcanada.ca/
• The 25 Best Canadian movies: https://www.readersdigest.ca/culture/best-canadian-movies-ever/
• Who discovered insulin? https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323774#summary
• The Discovery of Insulin: https://www.historicacanada.ca/content/heritage-minutes/discovery-insulin

Today, after a digression about the hotel Ali is staying in for his comedy tour, Asif asks Ali about diversity in comedy (2:07). Specifically, Asif asks Ali about the diversity and comedy course he is teaching at Queen’s University. They discuss what compelled Ali to “pitch” the course to his department. Ali discusses how he discusses in the course how the origins of stand up comedy are racist. Asif asks Ali about how he evaluates the students in his course as well as what HE learned from his students. Then, Ali asks Asif about epilepsy (27:42). Asif defines both epilepsy and seizures and discusses how common epilepsy is. He then talks about different seizure types and different epilepsy syndromes. They discuss what investigations are required for patients with seizures as well as possible treatments. They then talk about what to avoid if you have epilepsy as well as the prognosis for pediatric patients with seizures. 

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:

• Heritage Minutes: Wilder Penfield: https://www.historicacanada.ca/content/heritage-minutes/wilder-penfield
• Epilepsy Foundation: https://www.epilepsy.com/
• Epilepsy Canada: https://www.epilepsy.ca/

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses sexual abuse.

Michael Jackson died 15 years ago, on June 25, 2009, so today the guys discuss his life and his controversies (2:56). They talk about Jackson’s early life, the success of the Jackson 5 and the abuse he  allegedly suffered at the hands of his father, Joe Jackson. They then discuss the success of his early solo records and the blockbuster success of ‘Thriller’. They also discuss his philanthropy and how that complicates people’s feelings for the singer. They then discuss the allegations of abuse against Michael Jackson and the 2019 documentary ‘Leaving Neverland’.  The guys then try to reconcile how despite the allegations, Michael Jackson songs are still played to this day. 

Since Jackson died of a propofol overdose, in the second half, the guys discuss this drug (24:11). Ali and Asif start off by going through the timeline of Jackson’s death and discussing the other drugs that were in his system. They discuss how Jackson’s personal doctor, Conrad Murray, administered benzodiazepines and propofol to Jackson. Asif discusses what propofol is, what it is commonly used for and the potential adverse effects. He then goes into detail about how propofol needs to be closely monitored when it is administered. 

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

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• Inside the Jackson machine: https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/jacksons-legacy-jackson-5
• 'We Are the World' at 30: 12 tales you might not know: https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2015/01/27/we-are-the-world-30th-anniversary/22395455/
• Michael Jackson: A Quarter-Century Of Sexual Abuse Allegations: https://www.npr.org/2019/03/05/699995484/michael-jackson-a-quarter-century-of-sexual-abuse-allegations
• Leaving Neverland: https://www.hbo.com/leaving-neverland
• Michael Jackson named top-earning dead celebrity for 5th time:https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/forbes-dead-celeb-earnings-2017-1.4378882
• Steven Tyler Confessed to ‘Crimes of Passion’ With a 16-Year-Old in His Own Memoir: https://www.vice.com/en/article/v7v54d/steven-tyler-child-sexual-assault-lawsuit-memoir
• TIMELINE: Michael Jackson's Final Days
• https://abcnews.go.com/2020/MichaelJackson/michael-jackson-final-days-timeline-year-death-king/story?id=10974394
• Propofol: https://www.drugs.com/monograph/propofol.html
• Propofol: https://www.drugs.com/monograph/propofol.htmlhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430884/
• Concerns mount over misuse of anaesthetic propofol among US health professionals: https://www.bmj.com/content/339/bmj.b3673
• Lasker Foundation 2018: https://laskerfoundation.org/announcing-the-2018-lasker-award-winners/
• Propofol and Green Urine: https://ekja.org/journal/view.php?doi=10.4097/kjae.2013.65.2.177
• Propofol-Induced Priapism, a Case Confirmed with Rechallenge: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1345/aph.1G555
• Michael Jackson’s doctor was much admired but financially strapped: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-feb-08-la-me-conrad-murray8-2010feb08-story.html
• Probe Into Matthew Perry’s Acquisition of Ketamine That Led to His Death Has Multiple Suspects: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/matthew-perry-death-investigation-multiple-suspects-1235933163/

We had so much listener interest in a Justin Bieber and Ramsay Hunt syndrome episode that we decided to release this episode early. Our next regular episode will come out on July 1. 

Pop superstar Justin Bieber recently was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome. Today the guys chat about Justin Bieber and then later discuss what exactly is Ramsay Hunt Syndrome. Ali starts us by regaling us with the tales of his visit to the Justin Bieber museum in Stratford, Ontario (1:08).  The guys then discuss how he was discovered by Scooter Braun and his mother’s involvement in his success. They discuss his numerous controversies but also  discuss the role of handlers and enablers with young stars and whether they bear some blame in these controversies. They then discuss some successes (Despacito, Tim Hortons collab) and his large charitable donations to the Philippines. Then Ali asks Asif about Ramsay Hunt syndrome (21:09). Asif explains that Justin has Ramsay Hunt syndrome type 2, and he then briefly explains what the other two types are. Asif explains the similarities and differences between Ramsay Hunt syndrome type 2 and Bell’s palsy. He also discusses how it is essentially shingles of your ear and facial nerve. He then talks about how you get it, what it looks like and how it is treated. Then he discusses the prognosis for Justin, based on the scientific literature.  

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:

• Justin Bieber Is Living the Dream: https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/03/fashion/03bieber.html
• Justin Bieber: The Billboard Cover Story: https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/justin-bieber-the-billboard-cover-story-1526286/
• White House Responds To ‘Deport Justin Bieber’ Petition, Refuse To Comment: http://www.entmania.com/2014/04/19/white-house-responds-deport-justin-bieber-petition-refuse-comment/
• Bill Hader Compares Saturday Night Live Hosts: Disses Justin Bieber, Calls Justin Timberlake a "Class Act": https://www.eonline.com/news/422260/bill-hader-compares-saturday-night-live-hosts-disses-justin-bieber-calls-justin-timberlake-a-class-act
• Justin Bieber: Bad Boy: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/justin-bieber-bad-boy-203535/
• Justin Bieber hopes Anne Frank ‘would have been a belieber’: https://www.cnn.com/2013/04/14/showbiz/bieber-anne-frank
• Justin Bieber Awarded Star On Philippines Walk Of Fame For Typhoon Haiyan Campaign: https://www.inquisitr.com/1138293/justin-bieber-star-philippines-walk-of-fame-typhoon-haiyan/
• Justin Bieber almost single-handedly turned around Tim Hortons: https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/15/investing/justin-bieber-tim-hortons-sales/index.html
• Ramsay Hunt Syndrome: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557409/
• Ramsay Hunt syndrome: https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/71/2/149
• Ramsay hunt syndrome: Clinical characterization of progressive myoclonus ataxia caused by GOSR2 mutation: https://movementdisorders.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/mds.25704
• Handlebar palsy--a compression syndrome of the deep terminal (motor) branch of the ulnar nerve in biking: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12382163/

Today, Asif and Ali discuss the new Disney Plus / Marvel TV show Ms. Marvel (0:53).. The guys start off by discussing the pronunciation of ‘Kamala’ in the show and highlight how she is the first South Asian and Muslim hero to headline her own show. They discuss the history of the character and the key individuals involved in her creation, G. Willow Wilson and Sana Sana Amanat.  They discuss the muslim showrunners and directors of the show, the terrific cast and how Asif thinks Ali should have been cast as the father in the show. Then they both give their thoughts on the series. Later, based on a listener's suggestion, Ali asks Asif about how and why doctors treat men and women’s pain differently (27:54). Asif discusses the literature which suggests that women get less effective pain treatment and are often given anti-anxiety medication instead of pain meds. He then discusses the evidence going back over 20 years which demonstrates this clear bias regarding pain, gender and medicine. Finally he discusses ways on how both patients and physicians can address this “pain gap”. 

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:

• What You Need to Know Before Seeing ‘Ms. Marvel’: https://www.theringer.com/marvel-cinematic-universe/2022/6/6/23155542/ms-marvel-kamala-khan-origin-story-disney
• All-New Marvel NOW! Q&A;: Ms. Marvel: https://web.archive.org/web/20131107052245/http://marvel.com/news/story/21466/all-new_marvel_now_qa_ms_marvel
• Women and pain: Disparities in experience and treatment: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/women-and-pain-disparities-in-experience-and-treatment-2017100912562
• How Doctors Take Women’s Pain Less Seriously: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/10/emergency-room-wait-times-sexism/410515
• Researcher says women less likely to get painkillers: https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/03/11/Researcher-says-women-less-likely-to-get-painkillers/2047605595600/
• Gender Biases in Adult Ratings of Pediatric Pain: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02739615.2014.849918
• Women Feel Pain More Intensely Than Men Do: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/women-feel-pain-more-intensely/
• Womens' pain not taken as seriously as mens' pain: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210406164124.htm
• Women’s pain is routinely underestimated, and gender stereotypes are to blame – new research: https://theconversation.com/womens-pain-is-routinely-underestimated-and-gender-stereotypes-are-to-blame-new-research-158599
• Gender Biases in Estimation of Others’ Pain: https://www.jpain.org/article/S1526-5900(21)00035-3/fulltext
• “Brave Men” and “Emotional Women”: A Theory-Guided Literature Review on Gender Bias in Health Care and Gendered Norms towards Patients with Chronic Pain: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5845507/
• The Gender Pain Gap: Why Women's Pain Isn't Taken as Seriously: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/a39763690/gender-pain-gap-explained/
• If Men Could Menstruate: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23293691.2019.1619050

Today, Ali and Asif discuss the life and career of the legendary comedian George Carlin and the recent HBO documentary on his life ‘American Dream’ (0:56). They discuss the importance of George Carlin, his background and his early influences. They also discuss how George Carlin re-invented himself several times in his career and his “7 words you can’t say on television” bit. They then give their thoughts on the documentary ‘American Dream’. Given Carlin’s history of marijuana use (and as a follow up to our conversation with Eman Husseini who touted the M and M look-alike edibles) Ali asks about how often kids inadvertently ingest cannabis and whether this has increased with legalization (28:32). Asif then discusses the common features of cannabis overdose in children. They then discuss the “look-alike” packaging of edibles as brand name candy and how ‘Big Candy’ is fighting back against this. Finally, Asif discusses what can be done to help prevent these overdoses. 

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:

• George Carlin, Comic Who Chafed at Society and Its Constraints, Dies at 71: https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/24/arts/24carlin.html
• What Judd Apatow Learned From George Carlin and Why His Comedy Remains so Relevant Today: https://variety.com/2022/tv/features/judd-apatow-george-carlins-american-dream-1235271427/
• More Young Kids Are Getting Sick From Cannabis Edibles: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/14/well/family/marijuana-edibles-children.html
• Unintentional Pediatric Exposures to Marijuana in Colorado, 2009-2016: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/2534480
• Edible Cannabis Exposures Among Children: 2017–2019: https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/147/4/e2020019893/180775/Edible-Cannabis-Exposures-Among-Children-2017-2019
• Unintentional Pediatric Cannabis Exposures After Legalization of Recreational Cannabis in Canada: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2787715
• Accidental Acute Cannabis Intoxication Presenting as Seizure in Pediatrics Patients: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7266508
• The truth behind the ‘first marijuana overdose death’ headlines: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2017/11/17/the-truth-behind-the-first-marijuana-overdose-death/
• Pediatric Death Due to Myocarditis After Exposure to Cannabis: https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1n10w5pc#main
• Big Candy Is Angry: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/22/style/edibles-marijuana.html

On this episode, the guys discuss the classic Canadian comedy crew, the Kids in the Hall (1:19). They discuss the origins of the group and how Lorne Michaels gave them their big break with their show on HBO and CBC. Ali then discusses his interactions with each member of the troupe (he has met them all!). They discuss the success of the ‘Kids in the Hall’ show as well as some of their less successful ventures (‘Brain Candy’, ‘When Death Comes to Town’). They discuss the legacy of the group as well as their new series on Amazon Prime. Then Ali asks Asif about the newsmaking disease monkeypox (42:57). Asif discusses the virus, how you get it and the symptoms. He also compares it to smallpox and discusses how waning immunity to smallpox may be causing these outbreaks. They then discuss whether it is sexually transmitted or not. They then discuss treatment and ‘ring vaccination’ to prevent outbreaks. 

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

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Show Notes:

• 40 at 40: Looking back at our Kids in the Hall oral history cover: https://nowtoronto.com/culture/comedy/40-at-40-looking-back-at-our-kids-in-the-hall-oral-history-cover
• Dave Foley doesn't really get why everyone loves The Kids In The Halls' "Doomsday DJ" sketch: https://www.avclub.com/dave-foley-the-kids-in-the-hall-doomsday-dj-1848986294
• So, Have You Heard About Monkeypox? https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2022/05/monkeypox-outbreak-covid-pandemic/629920/
• How Worried Should You Be About Monkeypox? https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/01/opinion/monkeypox-covid-vaccine.html
• Expert: Monkeypox likely spread by sex at 2 raves in Europe: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/expert-monkeypox-likely-spread-by-sex-at-2-raves-in-europe/2022/05/23/fdef8d88-da79-11ec-bc35-a91d0a94923b_story.html
• Quebec health ministry confirms 52 cases of monkeypox: https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/quebec-health-ministry-confirms-52-cases-of-monkeypox-1.5928440

On this episode, the guys discuss the new television show  Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (1:17). They start off by discussing their memories of watching Star Trek: The Original Series and list their favourite episodes. Then Asif let’s the cat out of the bag and announces that Ali has an upcoming role in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Ali talks about how he got the role and his experience on set. Then they discuss the premise of the show and give their thoughts on it (hint: they liked it). Then Ali asks Asif about the disease dopa-responsive and the CTV national news piece that Asif was featured on regarding the disorder (35:20). He starts off by defining the term “dystonia” and gives more common examples of dystonia (cervical dystonia, writer’s cramp). He then discusses how dopa-responsive dystonia can mimic cerebral palsy. Asif then goes over the genetic cause of the disease and the treatment – giving levadopa. 

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

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Show Notes:

• The Best Episodes Of Star Trek: The Original Series: https://www.looper.com/300780/the-best-episodes-of-star-trek-the-original-series/
• ‘Strange New Worlds’ Finds the Old-School ‘Star Trek’ Sweet Spot: https://www.theringer.com/tv/2022/5/6/23059306/star-trek-strange-new-worlds-premiere-review
• Rare condition sometimes mistaken for cerebral palsy: https://www.ctvnews.ca/rare-condition-sometimes-mistaken-for-cerebral-palsy-1.554322
• GTP Cyclohydrolase 1-Deficient Dopa-Responsive Dystonia: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1508/

(Our apologies about the quality of the sound on Asif’s track). Today, Ai and Asif discuss the history of comic book superhero Batman (0:55). They reminisce about the Batman TV show from the 1960’s and then speak about Tim Burton’s reimagining of the character in 1989 and the influence of Frank Miller’s ‘The Dark Knight Returns”. They discuss the casting of Michael Keaton and the follow up movie ‘Batman Returns’. They then discuss the diminishing returns of the Schumacher movies (although they did like Val Kilmer).  They then discuss the Christopher Nolan movies and the pinnacle of Batman movies ‘The Dark Knight’, featuring the award winning performance by Heath Ledger.  Then then discuss Ben Affleck and his portrayal of the character and Asif talks about the ‘Arkham’ video games series. The guys then give their thoughts on the new movie ‘The Batman’ (spoilers after 29:30). Then Ali asks Asif about the mysterious new disease anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis (38:20). Asif talks about the cause, the symptoms, how it often affects young women, and how it can be mistaken for psychiatric disease. Asif then discusses how he diagnosed the first Canadian patient with the disease almost 15 years with the help of Dr. Josep Dalmau. He then discusses the very unusual tumors (ovarian teratomas) that can be associated with the disorder. They then discuss the case of Susannah Calahan whose experience with the disease is documented in the book and movie Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness. 

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:

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Show Notes:

• Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. The disorder, the diagnosis and the immunobiology: https://www.antinmdafoundation.org/
• Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis in Japan: Long-term outcome without tumor removal: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2586938/
• The Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis Foundation: https://www.antinmdafoundation.org/
• Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness-  https://www.simonandschuster.ca/books/Brain-on-Fire/Susannah-Cahalan/9781982109486

Today Ali and Asif discuss the celebrated and award winning movie, Jane Campion’s ‘The Power of the Dog’ (1:12). They discuss the amazing cinematography and the performances by Benedict Cumberbatch, Jesse Plemons, Kirsten Dunst and Kodi Smit-McPhee.  At 16:32, spoilers for the movie and Asif’s opinions on the movie follow. In brief, Asif liked ¾ of the movie and ¾ of the actors and had problems with the rest. Then Ali asks Asif about Anthrax, how you get it, who is at risk and the symptoms (21:50). Asif then goes over the 4 different types of Anthrax (cutaneous, inhalational, gastrointestinal and intravenous) and how they present clinically. Asif then goes over the treatment with antibiotics and antitoxin. Then in a bonus section, Ali asks Asif about the 2001 Anthrax attacks in the USA (29:50). Asif goes over the targets and how the Anthrax was sent. Asif then goes over the FBI investigation and the prime suspect Bruce E Ivins. Asif then goes all ‘Serial’ and discusses the evidence for and against the case for Ivins being the prime suspect in the case. 

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:

• Jane Campion Talks About ‘The Power of the Dog’ and the Myth of the Sensitive Cowboy: https://www.indiewire.com/2021/09/western-power-of-the-dog-jane-campion-male-psyche-1234662474/
• Benedict Cumberbatch Smoked So Much Filming ‘Power of the Dog’ He Got Nicotine Poisoning 3 Times: https://www.indiewire.com/2021/11/benedict-cumberbatch-nicotine-poisining-power-of-the-dog-set-1234678662/
• Elisabeth Moss: Fred Armisen Is Best At Impersonating A 'Normal Person': https://www.huffpost.com/entry/elizabeth-moss-fred-armisen_n_1332911
• Amerithrax or Anthrax Investigation: https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/amerithrax-or-anthrax-investigation
• The Anthrax Investigation: https://www.npr.org/2011/02/15/93170200/timeline-how-the-anthrax-terror-unfolded
• The Anthrax Files: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/anthrax-files/
• Death in the Air: Revisiting the 2001 Anthrax Mailings and the Amerithrax Investigation: https://warontherocks.com/2019/01/death-in-the-air-revisiting-the-2001-anthrax-mailings-and-the-amerithrax-investigation/

Today on a special episode the guys interview superstar comedian Maz Jobrani. Maz discusses his early life, how he became interested in performing, and how he went to university originally to study political science. He then discusses being ‘political’ in comedy and how being Persian influences his comedy. The guys then discuss Maz’s ‘Tai Chi’ approach to hecklers and compare him to Canadian New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh. The guys then ask Maz about the genesis of his podcast ‘Back to School with Maz Jobrani’. Finally, Ali asks Maz about his advice for aspiring comedians and they discuss Maz’s upcoming shows May 20 and 21st in Ottawa and Toronto. 

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:

• Maz Jobrani - How to Handle a Drunk Trump Heckler: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXiGT8SPdFs
• Jagmeet Singh praised for 'calm and positive' reaction to anti-Muslim heckler: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/jagmeet-singh-stands-against-hate-1.4284473
• Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! https://www.npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/
• Back To School with Maz Jobrani: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/back-to-school-with-maz-jobrani/id1459194552

Today on a special episode the guys interview the El-Salomons – Jess Salomon and Eman El-Husseini. They discuss how they developed their joint comedy act (via a New Yorker style comic) and whether they prefer performing solo or together. Asif then asks Eman and Jess about performing with Patton Oswalt. Then they get into how the  pair became involved with the BBC World Service and ‘Comedians Vs the News’. They discuss some of their favourite guests and headlines from the show. Then everyone discusses some news stories from the first part of 2022, including the Freedom Convoy in Asif’s home town of Ottawa, perceptions of Justin Trudeau and the controversy about “Trump Avenue” in Ottawa. They also discuss how there was so much comedian outrage about the Will Smith/Chris Rock incident but so little about Louis CK winning a Grammy. 

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:

• The El Salomons: http://www.theelsalomons.com/
• Comedians vs the News: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w13xtvb4
• How the 'Battle of Billings Bridge' attracted hundreds of volunteers, trapped convoy for hours: https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/battle-of-billings-bridge-attracts-hundreds-of-volunteers-traps-convoy-for-hours
• Ottawa residents remain pro-Trump Avenue: https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/ottawa-residents-remain-pro-trump-avenue-1.5312628

The guys start off the episode by discussing the career of Gilbert Gottfried and the recent documentary ‘Gilbert’ (00:51).  They discuss how he often kept his private life out of the public eye, prior to the documentary. They discuss some things they did not know about him including his relationship with his wife and kids and his reputation amongst comedians as being frugal. They also chat about his roles in ‘Beverly Hills Cop 2’ and as Iago in ‘Aladdin’, as well as the duck from Aflac. They chat about how he was considered the ‘comic’s comic’ and how that reputation got him into hot water with jokes shortly after 9/11 (and  how he followed it up with ‘The Aristocrats’ joke). The guys then mention how he was fired from being the Aflac duck after tweets joking about the Japanese tsunami. Then, Ali asks Asif about the disease Gilbert suffered from, myotonic dystrophy (21:16). Asif outlines first what myotonia is, and then describes the two types of myotonic dystrophy, Type 1 and the kind Gilbert suffered from, Type 2. Asif then takes an aside to discuss ventricular tachycardia, which is a known complication of myotonic dystrophy. He then describes the genetics of myotonic dystrophy and how we think the gene changes cause symptoms. 

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

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Show Notes:

• ‘Gilbert’ trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03Uy88M3ymw
• Comedian Gilbert Gottfried died of rare, often overlooked disease: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/comedian-gilbert-gottfried-died-rare-often-overlooked-disease-rcna24129
• Myotonia on EMG:
• The myotonic dystrophies: molecular, clinical, and therapeutic challenges: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1474442212702041?casa_token=gwoUb9Y9J3kAAAAA:fmanUIZXvjc9-nB3ZN-rqfRlvkbZQvtQS0lnO7qAqpj9iiOWiI0z53-JazyjCGW0baS3ofFgDdcJ

Today, Ali and Asif start off the episode by addressing some listener mail. Then they discuss the  new documentary by Ron Howard out on Disney plus entitled “Jim Henson: Idea Man” (6:59). The guys go over Jim Henson’s early background, how he got into puppetry and his early successes appearing on American variety shows.  Asif and Ali then discuss when they first encountered Henson’s work. They then discuss Henson’s lifelong collaboration with puppeteer and filmmaker Frank Oz.    They then go over the successful and not so successful movies of Henson, the eventual sale of The Muppets to Disney and Henson’s legacy. 

 Jim Hensen died of toxic shock syndrome (TSS), so in the second half, Ali asks Asif about this diagnosis (36:19). Asif starts off by discussing the bacteria which cause TSS (Staph aureus and Group A strep) and how these bacteria produce toxins which cause TSS. He then talks about how common it is and the risk factors for developing TSS. Ali asks Asif about the relationship between hyper-absorbant tampons and TSS; Asif goes into detail about the history of this association and the increased incidence of this occurring in women using tampons in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. He then talks about the common presenting symptoms, the prognosis and how it is treated. 

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:

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• JFK Impersonator Vaughn Meader: Death of a Career: https://www.mobituaries.com/news/the-podcast/season-3/season-2/season-1/jfk-impersonator-vaughn-meader/
• Jim Henson: Idea Man: https://www.disneyplus.com/movies/jim-henson-idea-man/5oKOs85ntvJS
• Toxic Shock Syndrome: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459345/
• Toxic shock syndrome, tampons and laboratory standard–setting: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5436965/
• Toxic Shock Syndrome Treatment & Management: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/169177-treatment#d9
• Association of characteristics of tampon use with menstrual toxic shock syndrome in France: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(20)30052-3/fulltext

It's Doctor Vs Comedian Vs Dave Merheje (also a comedian)! On a special episode the guys interview actor and comedian Dave Merheje, star of the critically acclaimed Hulu series ‘Ramy’. They discuss Dave growing up in Windsor, Ontario and the influence of different cities on his comedy. Then they discuss how Dave developed his unique stand-up style of riffing and crowd work. Dave then discusses winning the Juno Award in 2019 for best comedy album for ‘Good Friend Bad Grammar’.  They then discuss Dave starring in ‘Mr D’ and eventually getting the role of Ahmed in ‘Ramy’. They then discuss Dave’s upcoming comedy tour this spring, ‘Comedy Night in Canada hosted by Rick Mercer’. 

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

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Show Notes:

• Windsor-born Dave Merheje wins comedy album of the year at JUNOS: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/windsor-born-dave-merheje-wins-comedy-album-of-the-year-at-junos-1.5059820
• Bella Hadid Joins ‘Ramy’ Season 3 in Recurring Role, Her First on a Scripted Series : https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/bella-hadid-ramy-season-3-1235220219/

Given his recent aphasia diagnosis, the guys reflect on the career of actor Bruce Willis (1:19). The guys talk about his career highlights including ‘Moonlighting’, ‘Die Hard’, ‘12 Monkeys’ and ‘The 6th Sense’. Then Ali asks Asif about aphasia (10:59). Asif reviews the main different types (Broca’s, Wernicke’s, conduction and global), the areas of the brain involved and how it is diagnosed. He talks about how strokes are the most common cause of aphasia, but also discusses the different types of ‘Primary Progressive Aphasia’, and postulates how Bruce Willis may have one of these.  Ali then discusses some of the concerns which have arisen recently about Bruce Willis’ behaviour on set and how this may have been related to aphasia (26:54). Finally, Ali and Asif seriously question how Willis’ handlers and managers continued to have him perform in movies, given the concerns raised. 

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:

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Show Notes:

• National Aphasia Association: https://www.aphasia.org/
• Primary progressive aphasia: a clinical approach:
• Bruce Willis is not alone: Other celebrities diagnosed with aphasia: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2022-03-30/bruce-willis-aphasia-emilia-clarke-sharon-stone
• Concerns about Bruce Willis’ declining cognitive state swirled around sets in recent years: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2022-03-30/bruce-willis-aphasia-memory-loss-cognitive-disorder
• Bruce Willis’ Directors Were Concerned With His Memory and Safety on Set Prior to Retirement: https://variety.com/2022/film/news/bruce-willis-aphasia-memory-directors-movies-1235219830/
• Kevin Smith apologizes to Bruce Willis for 10 years of Cop Out complaints: https://www.avclub.com/kevin-smith-apologizes-bruce-willis-cop-out-complaints-1848733647
• ‘Greedy and lazy’… all-too-Expendable Bruce Willis feels the wrath of Sylvester Stallone as he's replaced by Harrison Ford in Expendables 3: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/greedy-and-lazy-alltooexpendable-bruce-willis-feels-the-wrath-of-sylvester-stallone-as-he-s-replaced-by-harrison-ford-in-expendables-3-8749641.html

Due to the events occurring at the Oscars, Ali and Asif decided to record an emergency podcast. The guys recap the joke told by Chris Rock and the ensuing slap from Will Smith. Then Ali discusses various ‘defenses’ that have been given for Will Smith’s actions.  Asif then takes a digression to discuss alopecia areata (16:11), the disease which Will Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, suffers from.  Asif talks about how it is an autoimmune disease, goes over the presenting symptoms and discusses its treatment. Asif also discusses other types of hair loss which can occur in African American women. They then go back to talking about the Oscars and how the slapping incident detracted from other winners (25:43) including Ariana DeBose, Troy Katsur, Questlove, Jane Campion and CODA.  They discuss Will Smith’s speech and the audience reaction to it. The guys discuss varied opinions on the slapping incident including talking about articles from Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Jemele Hill. They also talk about Will Smith’s apology to Chris Rock on Instagram and Denzel Washington’s statement to Will Smith (“At your highest moment be careful, that’s when the devil comes for you”). Asif then asks Ali why he thinks it was a slap and not a punch and the implications of this incident on stand up 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

Follow us on Social media:

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Show Notes:

• Will Smith Did a Bad, Bad Thing: https://kareem.substack.com/p/will-smith-did-a-bad-bad-thing?s=r
• The Two Americas Debating Will Smith and Chris Rock: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/03/two-americas-debating-will-smith-chris-rock-oscars-slap/629407/
• White outrage about Will Smith’s slap is rooted in anti-Blackness. It’s inequality in plain sight: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/mar/29/white-outrage-about-will-smiths-slap-is-rooted-in-anti-blackness-its-inequality-in-plain-sight
• Jaden Smith, Tiffany Haddish, Cher & More React To Will Smith Slapping Chris Rock At The Oscars: https://etcanada.com/news/880389/jaden-smith-tiffany-haddish-cher-more-react-to-will-smith-slapping-chris-rock-at-the-oscars/
• Black women's hair: the main scalp dermatoses and aesthetic practices in women of African ethnicity: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4560533/
• Alopecia Areata: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1069931-overview

In this special episode, the guys preview the 95th Annual Academy Awards Preview, taking place on March 27, 2022 (no medical topic this episode). The guys start off by discussing the major controversy this year about the Academy leaving off certain categories on the televised show. They then talk about the minor controversy regarding how the earworm ‘We Don’t Talk About Bruno’ ended up NOT being nominated for best song. Then Asif gives his pics in 8 major Oscar categories. 

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

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Show Notes:

• Oscars 2022: Why is Encanto's We Don't Talk About Bruno not nominated? https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-60290152
• "Over 70 Hollywood heavy-hitters slam controversial Oscar changes in open letter": https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2022-03-09/oscars-controversy-live-show-open-letter-james-cameron
• Steven Spielberg Disagrees With Decision To Pre-Record Eight Oscar Categories, Not Optimistic About A Reversal: https://deadline.com/2022/03/steven-spielberg-oscars-controversy-statement-reaction-1234972587/
• Jessica Chastain says she'd skip Oscars red carpet to support Tammy Faye makeup team: https://ew.com/awards/oscars/jessica-chastain-oscars-red-carpet-tammy-faye-makeup-team/

Today Asif asks Ali about his involvement with Canada Reads, which returns on March 28, 2022 (4:43). After a brief digression about the band Genesis, Ali discusses the genesis of Canada Reads. He talks about how it was developed by the CBC and how the guests and books are selected. He then discusses notable guests and books and how he became involved with the show.  Then Asif discusses his favourite medical books (39:24): ‘The House of God’ by Samuel Shem, ‘An Anthropologist on Mars: Seven Paradoxical Tales’ by Oliver Sachs, ‘How Doctors Think’ by Jerome Groopman, and ‘When Breath Becomes Air’ by Paul Kalanithi. 

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:

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Show Notes:

• Canada Reads 2022: https://www.cbc.ca/books/canadareads/meet-the-canada-reads-2022-contenders-1.6326413
• Jerome Groopman: http://jeromegroopman.com/
• When Breath Becomes Air: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/258507/when-breath-becomes-air-by-paul-kalanithi/
• Five years later: Lucy Kalanithi on loss, grief and love: https://scopeblog.stanford.edu/2020/04/20/five-years-later-lucy-kalanithi-on-loss-grief-and-love/

Today, based on two listeners’ suggestions, Ali and Asif discuss ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’ and Trichotillomania. Asif admits to only having watched the pilot of ‘Mrs Maisel’ (2:26) and as such, Ali gives Asif a sales pitch on why the show should be watched. After a brief digression about TV shows that they were exposed to on airline flights, Ali compares ‘Mrs. Maisel’ to Amy Sherman-Palladino’s previous show ‘Gilmore Girls’ as well as musicals. Then Ali gushes about the expert acting of all the principal characters in the show, particularly Alex Bornstein, Tony Shaloub, Marin Hinkle and especially Rachel Brosnahan. Then Ali asks Asif about trichotillomania (28:47). Asif talks about the definition, how often it is seen and how it is diagnosed. Asif then discusses how it is different from OCD and why we think it occurs. Asif then talks about the long term consequences of trichotillomania including compulsive hair eating (trichophagia) and the treatment of 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

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Show Notes:

• The ‘marvelous’ Jewish story of Miriam Maisel: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/the-marvelous-jewish-story-of-miriam-maisel-517215
• How Joan Rivers Inspired The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel:: https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2018/12/218383/who-is-marvelous-mrs-maisel-based-on-real-joan-rivers
• The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel's Real-Life Inspirations: Joan Rivers, Phyllis Diller, and More: https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a25460957/marvelous-mrs-maisel-midge-real-life-inspiration-joan-rivers-phyllis-diller/
• The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel's Shy Baldwin Is a Fictional Character. But Is He Based on Harry Belafonte?: https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a30150990/marvelous-mrs-maisel-shy-baldwin-real-person-inspiration/
• Trichotillomania: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5328413/
• Treating trichotillomania: a meta-analysis of treatment effects and moderators for behavior therapy and serotonin reuptake inhibitors: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25108618/
• Trichotillomania: https://www.statpearls.com/ArticleLibrary/viewarticle/30593

Content Warning: Sexual Assault

Today, the guys discuss the new documentary series ‘We Need to Talk About Cosby” (1:12). They discuss director W. Kamau Bell and the reasons why he chose to make the series. They discuss how the documentary highlights the Bill Cosby’s accomplishments including his stand up comedy, his revolutionary role in ‘I Spy’, his influence on Black stunt people in Hollywood, his Civil Rights work and his promotion of historically Black colleges. Ali and Asif then discuss Cosby’s roles in ‘The Electric Company’, ‘Picture Pages’ and ‘Fat Albert’, as well as the legacy of “The Cosby Show’. They then talk about how Hannibal Buress’ comedy act called out attention to the allegations against Cosby. They guys then take a digression and Ali asks Asif about Spanish Fly, Rohypnal, GHB and Quaaludes (20:36).  The guys then conclude by discussing the crimes Bill Cosby is accused of and the 60 women who have come forward (35:31). 

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

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Show Notes:

• We Need to Talk About Cosby: https://www.sho.com/we-need-to-talk-about-cosby
• ‘We Need to Talk About Cosby.’ (Among Others.): https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/07/arts/television/bill-cosby-documentary-w-kamau-bell.html
• We Weren’t Wrong to Love ‘The Cosby Show’: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/14/opinion/cosby-show-documentary.html?searchResultPosition=1
• Cosby's legacy is a third rail conversation we need to have. W. Kamau Bell is ready: https://www.npr.org/2022/02/14/1080066719/bill-cosby-w-kamau-bell
• We Need to Talk About Cosby: https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/we-need-to-talk-about-cosby-tv-review-2022
• ‘We Need to Talk About Cosby’ Explores the Sickening Double Life of ‘America’s Dad’: https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-reviews/we-need-to-talk-about-cosby-review-1290186/
• Jerry Seinfeld Talks Steve Bannon and Bill Cosby at New Yorker Festival Q&A: https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/jerry-seinfeld-bill-cosby-new-yorker-festival-1202583520/
• Is "Spanish Fly" really an aphrodisiac?: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/health-and-nutrition-you-asked/spanish-fly-really-aphrodisiac
• Cantharidin for molluscum contagiosum: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7292508/
• Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB): A Newer Drug of Abuse: https://www.aafp.org/afp/2000/1201/p2478.html
• Drug-facilitated sexual assaults (DFSA): a serious underestimated issue: https://www.europeanreview.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/10577-10587.pdf

The guys start off the episode by discussing Ali and his family recently contracting Covid-19. Then they switch up the format by first discussing the history of opioids, the interplay between pharma and medicine in the marketing of opioids and the rise of Purdue pharma (5:29). They then talk about the opioid crisis, the rise of oxycontin and fentanyl, and the damage done. The guys then discuss the television show ‘Dopesick’, how it was developed, and it’s focus on the Appalachian area of the US (30:50). The guys praise the performances of all the actors and the writing of the series. Finally, Ali asks Asif about his personal experiences in learning about opioids in medical school and whether he prescribes them in his clinical practice (43:35). 

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:

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Show Notes:

• The Crime of the Century: https://www.hbo.com/documentaries/the-crime-of-the-century
• Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/612861/empire-of-pain-by-patrick-radden-keefe/9780385697545
• ‘The crisis was manufactured’: inside a damning film on the origins of the opioid epidemic: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/may/10/opioid-crisis-alex-gibney-the-crime-of-the-century
• A Timeline of the Real-Life Events From Hulu’s Dopesick: https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/a37885480/dopesick-on-hulu-timeline/
• The One-Paragraph Letter From 1980 That Fueled the Opioid Crisis: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/06/nejm-letter-opioids/528840/
• Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America: https://www.littlebrown.com/titles/beth-macy/dopesick/9780316551281/       
• ‘Dopesick’ Star Rosario Dawson Grateful for the Show’s Human Depiction of the Opioid Crisis: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/rosario-dawson-dopesick-hulu-opioid-crisis-1235049990/
• Dopesick review – the heinous truth behind America’s opioid emergency: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/nov/12/dopesick-review-the-heinous-truth-behind-americas-opioid-emergency
• Is 'Dopesick' a true story? Experts and the show's creators sort fact from fiction: https://www.npr.org/2021/11/08/1051475843/dopesick-hulu-true-story-opioid-addiction
• They Made the Most of the Opioid Crisis. Until They Didn’t: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/19/books/review/hard-sell-evan-hughes.html

It’s our 50th episode! To celebrate this, Asif asks Ali about his top 3 favorite comedy specials (1:31). Ali picks Dave Chapelle’s ‘Killing Them Softly’, Wanda Sykes’ Im’a Be Me’ and Eddie Izzard’s ‘Dress to Kill’ and discusses what makes these specials so good. Then Ali asks Asif about the biological basis of why we develop laughter (32:04). Asif goes over how laughter and humour develops in babies and what they find ‘funny’. Then, Asif talks about the areas of the brain where laughter originates and what areas of the brain when injured can cause you to lose your sense of humour. Finally he discusses the evolutionary basis of why laughter may have developed in 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

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Show Notes:

• The Man Who Broke the R. Kelly Story—Twice—on Whether This Time Will Be Different: https://slate.com/culture/2021/08/r-kelly-trial-2021-jim-derogatis-interview-abuse-charges.html
• Eddie Izzard clarifies personal feelings on gender fluidity following recent comments: https://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/a35235936/eddie-izzard-clarifies-gender-fluidity-feelings/
• Meet a scientist with a most delightful job: He studies baby laughter: https://ideas.ted.com/meet-a-scientist-with-a-most-delightful-job-he-studies-baby-laughter/
• The evolutionary origins of laughter are rooted more in survival than enjoyment: https://theconversation.com/the-evolutionary-origins-of-laughter-are-rooted-more-in-survival-than-enjoyment-57750
• Why do humans laugh? The evolutionary biology of laughter: https://slate.com/culture/2014/03/why-do-humans-laugh-the-evolutionary-biology-of-laughter.html
• How Laughter Works: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/emotions/laughter2.htm
• Neural correlates of laughter and humour: https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/126/10/2121/314497

To start the episode, Ali asks Asif about 2 movies he saw recently - Spider-Man: No Way Home and The Matrix Resurrections. Short story: one was good nostalgia and the other reminded him of the “member berries” from South Park. Then, Asif asks Ali about how comedians create personas for comedy (7:28). Ali also discusses how podcasts and twitter have made personas less common but also discusses the advantages of using a persona. The guys then discuss some classic comedians who have used personas such as Larry the Cable Guy and Andrew Dice Clay and others who have dropped personas such as Richard Pryor, George Carlin and Joan Rivers. Then Ali asks Asif to pick back up on their conversation on Physician Burnout from a few episodes back (23:57). The guys start the discussion by using the example of a video from friend of the show Dr. Glaucomflecken. Asif then discusses what individuals can do, but more importantly what organizations can do to help address burnout. 

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:

• Stand-Up Comedians and Their Alternate On-Stage Personas: https://www.vulture.com/2012/08/stand-up-comedians-and-their-alternate-on-stage-personas.htm
• Does Society Need Andrew Dice Clay?: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/26/style/andrew-dice-clay-star-is-born.html
• Dr. Glaucomflecken “Resiliency Pizza” Video: https://twitter.com/DGlaucomflecken/status/1440443128603762696
• Burnout isn’t due to resiliency deficit. It’s still a system issue: https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/physician-health/burnout-isn-t-due-resiliency-deficit-it-s-still-system-issue
• Resilience and Burnout Among Physicians and the General US Working Population: https: //jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2767829
• Physician burnout: contributors, consequences and solutions: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/joim.12752
• Executive Leadership and Physician Well-being. Nine Organizational Strategies to Promote Engagement and Reduce Burnout: https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(16)30625-5/fulltext

Today, Asif and Ali discuss Bon Jovi and the recent documentary series on the band “Thank you and Goodnight” on Disney Plus. Right at they beginning the discuss the director of the docuseries, Gotham Chopra and how he is related to health guru Deepak Chopra. Then then discuss Jon Bon Jovi and his band and Bon Jovi’s early influences including Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band and Southside Johnny and the Ashbury Jukes. They then discuss his first hit “Runaway” and how it led to the formation of the band. They discuss their subsequent albums and then their breakthrough album ‘Slippery When Wet”. They discuss their brief hiatus, their comeback, and later the issues that led to Ritchie Sambora leaving the band. They then discuss Bon Jovi’s induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Jon Bon Jovi’s politics and conclude by discussing their thoughts on the docuseries and the overall legacy of the band.

In the docuseries, Jon Bon Jovi is suffering from vocal cord issues, so in our second half, Ali asks Asif about vocal cord injuries. They start off by discussing Presbylaryngis or Vocal Fold Atrophy, which are natural changes in our vocal cords (folds), a condition which Jon Bon Jovi was diagnosed with. Asif discusses how sound is produced from the vocal folds in our larynx and what happens to the vocal folds as we age. After an aside about how Ali was the lead singer in a band, Asif discusses how presbylaryngis can be treated. The guys then discuss other types of vocal fold injury and vocal fold nodules in particular. Finally Asif gives tips on how to maintain good vocal health. 

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:

• Jon Bon Jovi Says He’s “More Than Capable” of Singing Following Vocal Cord Surgery: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/jon-bon-jovi-can-still-sing-following-vocal-cord-surgery-1235872294/
• 'I can only give the best': Bon Jovi on vocal surgery and the road to recovery: https://www.npr.org/2024/04/29/1247749402/jon-bon-jovi-thank-you-goodnight
• Presbylaryngis (Vocal Fold Atrophy): https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/presbylaryngis
• Vocal Polyps and Nodules: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/864565-overview
• Why singers like Sam Smith, Adele and Meghan Trainor are going silent: https://ew.com/article/2015/07/28/singers-vocal-cord-injuries/
• Why Are So Many Singers Suffering From Vocal-Cord Injuries? A Leading Surgeon Explains: https://www.vulture.com/2015/08/surgeon-explains-vocal-cord-injuries.html
• Close to Curtain Time: Management of the Injured Singer in the Acute Setting (In-Office and Backstage Evaluation): https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40136-023-00470-5
• 5 tips to take the best care of your voice for everyone who sings, from a speech pathologist: https://theconversation.com/5-tips-to-take-the-best-care-of-your-voice-for-everyone-who-sings-from-a-speech-pathologist-193222

Today on a  very special episode, Ali and Asif interview superstar podcaster Dr. Sydnee McElroy (Sawbones, Still Buffering). In their wide ranging conversation they discuss how she got started in podcasting with her husband, Justin McElroy, and how they developed the wildly successful podcast ‘Sawbones’. Then they discuss the evolution of her other podcast ‘Still Buffering’ which she co-hosts with her sisters. Later, they discuss her volunteer work with the homeless population in her city, physician burnout and Dr. McElroy’s advice on how to address it at an organizational and individual level. Finally they discuss the opioid crisis, how West Virginia is one of the worst affected States and Dr. McElroy’s efforts at harm reduction locally. 

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:

• Assessment of Changes in the Geographical Distribution of Opioid-Related Mortality Across the United States by Opioid Type, 1999-2016: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2725487
• Where opiates killed the most people in 2015: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/12/13/where-opiates-killed-the-most-people-in-2015/

Shout outs: Bif Naked, Dopesick

The guys start out discussing the recent snowstorms in North America, the politeness (or lack thereof) of Torontonians, Ali’s toothache and leaving your phone number with bakeries. Then the guys discuss the recent deaths of Louie Anderson and Bob Saget. They start by discussing the legendary Louie Anderson (5:40) his acting on shows such as ‘Baskets’ and his legacy in comedy.  The guys then discuss Bob Saget, his television work and the contrast to his outrageous stand up personality (17:48). They then discuss his legacy and the impact he made on his peers in the entertainment industry. Bob was also an advocate for scleroderma research, as his sister passed away from this disease several years ago. Ali then asks Asif about scleroderma (27:50) and Asif explains the manifestations of this disease and how it is one aspect of systemic sclerosis. Asif talks about the various symptoms, why it can be so hard to diagnose, and how it is treated. 

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:

• Louie Anderson, Iconic Stand-Up Comic and ‘Baskets’ Star, Dies at 68: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/louie-anderson-dead-comedian-baskets-star-1235078681/
• Wesley Snipes, Henry Winkler, Adam Sandler, George Wallace Remember Louie Anderson: “Heaven Has a Hell of an Open Mic Night Goin’ Right About Now: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/louie-anderson-dead-hollywood-tributes-1235078703/
• Bob Saget, comedian and 'Full House' star, dead at 65: https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/09/entertainment/bob-saget-death-full-house/index.html
• The Generators with Trent McClellan- Bob Saget: https://play.acast.com/s/the-generators-with-trent-mcclellan/bobsaget
• Weeks before he died, Bob Saget opened up about the tragic death of his sister: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bob-saget-sister-gay-scleroderma/
• Bob Saget Said He Would Keep Fighting Scleroderma 'Until I'm Gone' in Interview Weeks Before Death: https://people.com/tv/bob-saget-said-he-would-keep-fighting-scleroderma-until-im-gone-in-interview-weeks-before-death/
• Scleroderma Research Foundation: https://srfcure.org/
• Scleroderma Canada: https://www.scleroderma.ca/

Today on a special episode, the guys discuss the case of Mike Ward, who was accused of breaching the limits of free speech when he mocked a disabled singer named Jeremy Gabriel (“Petit Jeremy")...a case that went all the way up to the Supreme Court of Canada. They are joined by their special guest comedian and lawyer Jess Salomon (The Tonight Show, Comedians vs The News). After briefly chatting about Jess’ experiences with the Omicron variant, Jess and Ali disclose that they do know Mike Ward personally from the comedy world. Then they go over the facts of the case and summarize Mike’s joke. Asif then takes a short detour to discuss Treacher Collins Syndrome, the disease which Jeremy was afflicted with. Jess then summarizes the facts of the case and the Supreme Court Decision which was a 5-4 decision in favour of Mike Ward.  Jess and Ali discuss the limits of free speech and comedy and how things boil down to “what is the crux of the joke?”.

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:

• Mike Ward’s joke:
• Mike Ward on Joe Rogan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8reKTTTJZlE
• Comedian who mocked disabled child singer did not breach limits of free speech: Supreme Court: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mike-ward-scc-j%C3%A9r%C3%A9my-gabriel-1.6229032
• Comedian and Lawyer Explains Why the Quebec Human Rights Tribunal’s Finding Against Mike Ward Should Offend You: https://theinterrobang.com/comedian-lawyer-explains-canadian-human-rights-tribunals-finding-mike-ward-offend/

To start the episode, Ali talks about his new CBC show out now “Run the Burbs” and Ali’s appearance on “Family Feud Canada”. Betty White would have been 100 years old on Jan 17, 2022, so to commemorate this, the guys go over her life and career (7:36). They discuss her roles in “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”, “The Golden Girls” and her devotion to civil rights and animal charities. Then Ali asks Asif about Electronic Medical Records (EMR’s) by using Atul Gawande’s 2018 New Yorker article on the topic as a jumping off point (24:46). Asif goes over the good and bad of EMR’s and possible ways forward to make them useful to patients and physicians. 

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:

• Betty White on “The Golden Girls” -  “The Great Herring War”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80q1x-EN9qM
• Live With it - Betty White defied racist demands with her 1954 variety show: https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2021/12/31/betty-white-arthur-duncan-racism/
• Betty White Dies: The Golden Girls and Mary Tyler Moore Show Star Was 99: https://people.com/tv/betty-white-the-golden-girls-and-hot-in-cleveland-star-dead-at-99/
• Betty White, a Television Golden Girl From the Start, Is Dead at 99: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/31/arts/television/betty-white-dead.html
• How to support animal lover Betty White's favorite cause: https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/02/us/betty-white-animal-charities-iyw/index.html
• Why Doctors Hate Their Computers: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/11/12/why-doctors-hate-their-computers
• Electronic Medical Records, Burnout, And “Man’s 4th Best Hospital”: https://www.forbes.com/sites/judystone/2019/11/12/electronic-medical-records-burnout-and-mans-4th-best-hospital/?sh=53501f171099
• It’s Time for a New Kind of Electronic Health Record: https://hbr.org/2020/06/its-time-for-a-new-kind-of-electronic-health-record
• The effectiveness of EMR implementation regarding reducing documentation errors and waiting time for patients in outpatient clinics: a systematic review: https://f1000research.com/articles/10-514

Today, Ali and Asif discuss the career of the great Kal Penn (1:46). They discuss his early career all the way up to the release of his memoir, ‘You Can’t Be Serious”. They discuss his famous roles in ‘American Desi’, ‘Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle’, ‘Van Wilder’, ‘The Namesake’, ‘House’ and ‘Designated Survivor’.  They discuss Kal coming out as gay as well as his recent engagement. Then Ali asks Asif about Physician Burnout (33:01). Asif starts out by defining physician burnout and discusses the increase in physician burnout over time, which has been worsened with the Covid-19 pandemic. Asif then discusses how electronic medical records contribute to physician burnout. He then talks about the effects burnout has on health care delivery, patients and the physician workforce.

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:

• You Can’t be Serious: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/You-Cant-Be-Serious/Kal-Penn/9781982171384
• ‘Maybe I Do Have a Story to Tell’: Kal Penn on His Memoir: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/01/books/kal-penn-you-cant-be-serious-memoir-interview.html
• Kal Penn on his unlikely stardom: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kal-penn-on-his-unlikely-stardom/
• Kal Penn’s Memoir Is Exactly What We All Need Right Now: https://www.shondaland.com/inspire/books/a38127141/kal-penn-memoir/
• Kal Penn Reveals He's Engaged to Fiancé Josh and Details Their First Date in New Book: https://people.com/books/kal-penn-engagement-to-fiance-josh-first-date-new-book-you-cant-be-serious/
• Burnout isn’t due to resiliency deficit. It’s still a system issue: https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/physician-health/burnout-isn-t-due-resiliency-deficit-it-s-still-system-issue
• Physician burnout: contributors, consequences and solutions: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/joim.12752
• Physician Burnout, Interrupted: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2003149

As a year-end treat, the guys go over their favourite entertainment from 2021… and decide to omit the big 2021 medical topic, since people are likely tired of talking about the Covid-19 pandemic. Ali starts off by talking about his favourite books he read last year (1:44). Then Asif discusses new music he got into in 2021. The guys then compare notes on their favourite movies of 2021 and disagree intensely about Wes Anderson and ‘The French Dispatch’. Then the guys discuss their thoughts on  best TV shows they saw in 2021.

NB: The pod will be taking next week 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

Show Notes:  

• Asif’s fave music from 2021 playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4K3Z1XgNFU&list=PLh7rgup-OZBcIjrILdZ7in5hFZ_2uv1uJ
• Canada Reads: https://www.cbc.ca/books/canadareads

Today, Ali and Asif each list their top albums from one of the greatest years for music, 1991 (2:01). The guys go over their top albums, their honourable mentions and their lowlights of that year. Then, Ali asks Asif why the music from our youth connects so much with us (47:59). Asif discusses the research by Daniel Levitin on music and the brain and discusses why the songs from when we are young are “burned into our brains”. Asif then goes over the sociological reasons why we remember certain life events (we wouldn’t otherwise think about) when we hear a particular song.

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:

• Ali’s 1991 Top Album Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPJ2rcYQC88&list=PLh7rgup-OZBfxVyZVEg9YLAquqI538k36
• Asif’s 1991 Top Album Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qM0zINtulhM&list=PLh7rgup-OZBdHLoGtlLM-4nmV1BUcFMdp
• Was 1991 one of the greatest years in rock? Alan Cross votes ‘yes’: https://globalnews.ca/news/8195404/rock-music-greatest-year-1991/
• 1991: The Most Important Year in Pop-Music History: https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2015/05/1991-the-most-important-year-in-music/392642/
• Daniel Levitin – This Is Your Brain on Music: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/298964/this-is-your-brain-on-music-by-daniel-j-levitin/

• This Is Your Brain on Music: https://www.salon.com/2006/09/05/levitin/
• Musical nostalgia: The psychology and neuroscience for song preference and the reminiscence bump: https://slate.com/technology/2014/08/musical-nostalgia-the-psychology-and-neuroscience-for-song-preference-and-the-reminiscence-bump.html
•  Why we're obsessed with music from our youth: https://theconversation.com/why-were-obsessed-with-music-from-our-youth-154864
• Why our teenage music listening has a life-long impact: https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/bring-the-noise/music-from-our-teens/zvfphbk
• Q & A With Psychological Scientist Daniel Levitin (Part 2): https://www.psychologicalscience.org/uncategorized/q-a-with-daniel-levitin-part-2.html
• Anatomically distinct dopamine release during anticipation and experience of peak emotion to music: https://www.nature.com/articles/nn.2726#citeas

In response to a listener's question, the guys attempt to answer the questions: “What does it mean to be funny?” and “What does it mean to be healthy?”. After a brief digression about humour in rats, Ali discusses how ‘funny’ laughter and active listening are intricately linked (2:21). He outlines the 4 major concepts that people find amusement in: 1) the misfortunes of others; 2) expressions of otherwise forbidden emotions; 3) juxtaposition of incompatible concepts; 4) realizing that certain expectations have been violated. He discusses how something is more funny if geographical or emotional remoteness lends a bit of distance. He also discusses the old adage of ‘humour is tragedy plus time’, as well as the concept of timing, ‘too soon’ and how comedy is tension and release. Then, Asif discusses how “healthiness” to him means optimizing your health and reducing your risk of disease (30:13). He then describes the two easiest ways to stay healthy: eat in moderation and exercise regularly. Asif then discusses the importance of mental and emotional health and learning to ‘live’ with stress. He also discusses not ignoring signals with regards to your emotional and mental well being. 

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:

• What’s So Funny? The Science of Why We Laugh: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/whats-so-funny-the-science-of-why-we-laugh/
• Science deconstructs humor: What makes some things funny?: https://theconversation.com/science-deconstructs-humor-what-makes-some-things-funny-64414
• Colin and Brad -  Mousetrap Game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAZcJ2gCpEo

The guys start off this episode with Asif reviewing Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2:40). Then Asif asks Ali about his thoughts on Larry David, ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ and cringe comedy (12:16). Ali talks about the influence of Ricky Gervais (The Office) and Sacha Baron Cohen (Da Ali G Show) on cringe comedy. After an aside about the new Willow TV show, the guys talk about Larry David and why he is shocked that ‘Curb’ makes people cringe. They guys then talk about their favourite moments and characters from the show. Then Ali asks Asif about ‘male menopause’ (39:34) and they discuss why the preferred terms are Andropause or Male Hypogonadism. Asif goes over the symptoms and how one can be tested for it. Asif then goes over the options for treatment for diagnosed individuals, as well as some of the side effects of 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:

• How Larry David Makes You Cringe: https://medium.com/wisecrack/how-larry-david-makes-you-cringe-f6c1a1fa9ae4
• Watch the Evolution of Cringe Comedy in 9 Clips: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/29/arts/television/larry-david-curb-your-enthusiasm-cringe-comedy.html
• Larry David Is ‘Shocked’ That ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ Makes People Cringe: https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2020/01/larry-david-shocked-curb-your-enthusiasm-makes-people-cringe
• Every Episode of ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm,’ Ranked: https://www.theringer.com/tv/2020/3/23/21188827/curb-your-enthusiasm-episode-rankings-updated
• Sharing the Enthusiasm: https://www.theringer.com/tv/2021/11/19/22789464/curb-your-enthusiasm-cameos-oral-history
• Male menopause: Myth or reality? https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/mens-health/in-depth/male-menopause/art-20048056
• Male hypogonadism: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/male-hypogonadism/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354886
• Is testosterone therapy safe? Take a breath before you take the plunge: https://www.health.harvard.edu/mens-health/is-testosterone-therapy-safe-take-a-breath-before-you-take-the-plunge
• Testosterone Therapy for Hypogonadism Guideline Resources: https://www.endocrine.org/clinical-practice-guidelines/testosterone-therapy#2
• Testosterone Treatments: Why, When, and How? https://www.aafp.org/afp/2006/0501/p1591.html

The guys start off the episode with Asif discussing the problems faced by men after trying on their suits after 18 months of the Covid-19 pandemic (1:18). The guys then compare two albums released in the fall of 1991, Soundgarden’s ‘Badmotorfinger’ and U2’s ‘Achtung Baby’ (3:15). They start off by discussing ‘Badmotorfinger’ and the amazing productivity of Chris Cornell in the fall 1991 and the overall innovation of the album. The guys then discuss U2’s ‘Achtung Baby’; they discuss the tensions the band had when recording the album and how the documentary ‘From the Sky Down’ details the trials and tribulations of making this album. They discuss how the band writing the song “One”  was the breakthrough that saved the album and the band itself. The guys then give their preferences about which album they prefer. Asif then discusses OCD, a topic suggested by a listener (28:51). Asif goes over the symptoms and how common it is. He then goes over the difference between OCD and Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD).  He then discusses whether OCD is genetic and the recommended treatment for OCD. At the end of the episode, listen to hear about  a podcast we are currently "Obsessed" with...

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:

• Tomorrow Begat Tomorrow: An Oral History of Soundgarden’s Badmotorfinger: https://www.spin.com/2021/10/soundgarden-badmotorfinger-oral-history-30th-anniversary/
• 30 Years Ago: Soundgarden Break Through With ‘Badmotorfinger’: https://loudwire.com/soundgarden-badmotorfinger-anniversary/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral
• The Past Brought Into the Light: Breaking Down a U2 Breakthrough, Chord by Chord: https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/29/arts/television/from-the-sky-down-a-documentary-about-u2-review.html
• U2’s ‘Achtung Baby’ at 30: Looking Back at the Pioneering Rock Giants’ Greatest Album and Backstory: https://www.rockcellarmagazine.com/u2-achtung-baby-30th-anniversary-look-back-history-listen/
• I’m Not Brave at All: https://www.theplayerstribune.com/articles/corey-hirsch-nhl-hockey-mental-health
• Personality disorders: review and clinical application in daily practice: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22150659/
• Suicide ideation and attempts in obsessive-compulsive disorder: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31046037/
• Canadian clinical practice guidelines for the management of anxiety, posttraumatic stress and obsessive-compulsive disorders: https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-244X-14-S1-S1
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder and body dysmorphic disorder: treatment: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg31
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Diagnosis and Management: https://www.aafp.org/afp/2015/1115/p896.html
• Obsessed: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/obsessed/id1559480972

Today, Asif gets Ali’s thoughts on controversial comedian Shane Gillis (2:22). They discuss his background and his early start in comedy. They discuss his controversial exchange from his podcast that got him unhired from Saturday Night Live in 2019. Ali then gives his thoughts on Gillis’ hit special ‘Beautiful Dogs’. They then discuss their thoughts on his new Netflix show ‘Tires’ as well as their opinions on his standup in general. 

Then, based on the TV show ‘Sharp Objects’ as well as the news making Gypsy-Rose Blanchard, Ali asks Asif about Munchausen Syndrome aka factitious disorder imposed on self (26:31). Asif goes over the definition of the syndrome as well as why it was named after Munchausen. Asif then makes it clear how to differentiate it from conversion (functional) disorders as well as malingering (feigning symptoms for financial gain). Ali then asks Asif about what clues doctors into making this diagnosis. Asif then gives some examples of how people feign various illnesses. Asif then discusses what may be going on psychologically in patients with factitious disorder imposed on self. 

Ali asks Asif about Munchausen by proxy, which is now called factitious disorder imposed on another. Asif talks about how we can see parents doing this to their children and clarifies that it is not psychosis in parents, nor is it simply overly concerned parents; he makes it clear that this is a form of child abuse. 

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:

• New Faces Emerge At The World's Biggest Comedy Festival: https://www.npr.org/2019/07/30/746330491/new-faces-shine-at-the-worlds-biggest-comedy-festival
• ‘Tires’ Review: Netflix’s Workplace Comedy Sets a Low Bar for Itself, and Clears It: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/tires-review-shane-gillis-tv-review-1235904723/
• Forget ‘Seinfeld.’ ‘Tires’ really is a show about nothing: https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/2024/05/23/tires-shane-gillis-tv-review/
• Factitious Disorder Imposed on Self (Munchausen's Syndrome): https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/291304-overview?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwvIWzBhAlEiwAHHWgvdxf8TBbqkcektS9x-Iz1jD9HUgZZKKNLMKc7IL5nc914BSEHrelZRoC93gQAvD_BwE
• Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another (Munchausen by proxy): https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/295258-overview

The guys start off the episodes by discussing Ali’s recent attendance at a Toronto Maple Leafs game and his ‘Sophie’s Choice’ of needing to choose whether to cheer for Toronto or the Boston Bruins (1:40). Asif then discusses his thoughts on the recent movie by Denis Villeneuve ‘Dune”. Then Asif asks Ali about Kumail Nanjiani and his thoughts on his body transformation and the reasons Kumail has given about his reasons for getting into shape (9:42). They then talk about Kumail posting pics of his new bod on Instagram and the response (good and bad) to it. The guys go out of their way to emphasize that they do not feel that Kumail has done HGH or steroids. Then Asif goes over exactly what HGH and steroids are as well as the side effects of taking them (33:17). He then discusses how they are allegedly used by actors in Hollywood as well as in Bollywood. 

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:

• Clueless Gamer: "Shadow Of War" With Kumail Nanjiani | CONAN on TBS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txvKrTplOVs
• Kumail Nanjiani’s Feelings: The man in the Marvel suit confronts his body: https://www.vulture.com/article/kumail-nanjiani-eternals-profile.html?utm_source=tw&utm_medium=s1&utm_campaign=vulture
• Kumail Nanjiani Can Do Anything: https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a31195173/kumail-nanjiani-buff-interview/
• Tom and Lorenzo - Who Watches the Swole Men?On who gets to be an unhealthy hero and who doesn't:
• Steroids - Centre for addiction and mental health: https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/steroids
• Systematic review: the safety and efficacy of growth hormone in the healthy elderly: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17227934/
• Systematic review: the effects of growth hormone on athletic performance: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18347346/
• Hollywood and Steroids: When A-List Actors Go the A-Rod Route: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/hollywood-steroid-use-a-list-609091/
• The open secret to looking like a superhero: https://www.vox.com/the-goods/22760163/steroids-hgh-hollywood-actors-peds-performance-enhancing-drugs
• Hollywood’s Vial Bodies: https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2012/03/human-grown-hormone-hollywood-201203
• https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/instagram-fitness-influencers-scams
• Akshay Kumar: After 32 years of working out, I still don’t have more than 6 packshttps://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/akshay-kumar-after-32-years-of-working-out-i-still-dont-have-more-than-6-packs/articleshow/45258259.cms

Today, the guys switch things around by discussing the medical topic first -- Tics and Tourette Syndrome (1:02). Asif discusses what the symptoms of Tourette Syndrome are, how you diagnose it and what causes it. He also talks about other commonly associated conditions and why you often do NOT need to treat tics. Then Ali and Asif discuss Tourette Syndrome on tv shows, movies and especially social media (20:50). Asif discusses how he was asked to be on the TV show “Employable Me” as a medical expert on Tourette Syndrome and his reasons for declining the offer.  Asif discusses the finding of an increase in psychogenic tics over the Covid-19 pandemic and it’s possible relation to TikTok influencers. And as a bonus, at the end of the episode, Ali announces his casting in the new CBC sitcom “Run the Burbs”. 

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:

• Employable Me: https://www.tvo.org/programs/employable-me
• Asif’s Youtube Video On Tics and Tourette: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rL4HrZDLJN0
• TikTok Teens and K-Pop Stans Say They Sank Trump Rally: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/21/style/tiktok-trump-rally-tulsa.html
• The Superstars of Tourette’s TikTok: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/07/disability-influencers-tourette-tiktok/619468/
• COVID-19 related increase in childhood tics and tic-like attacks: https://adc.bmj.com/content/106/5/420
• Gen Z Is Developing Unexplained Tics After Going Online, And Doctors Are Concerned: https://www.vice.com/en/article/xgx3en/gen-z-is-developing-unexplained-tics-after-going-online-and-doctors-are-concerned
• Rapid Onset Functional Tic‐Like Behaviors in Young Females During the COVID‐19 Pandemic:
• Tics and TikTok: Functional Tics Spread Through Social Media: https://movementdisorders.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/mdc3.13267
• TikTok Tics: A Pandemic Within a Pandemic: https://movementdisorders.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/mdc3.13316
• What Happened to the Girls in Le Roy: https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/11/magazine/teenage-girls-twitching-le-roy.html

On today’s episode, after a brief discussion of Jerry Seinfeld’s “Is this Anything?”, Ali discusses how he and other comedians come up with material (2:21). He talks about writing out jokes, practicing them at open mics and refining them over time. He then talks about what happens when you recommend a joke to a comic. Then,  Asif discusses the health benefits of laughter on pain tolerance, interpersonal relationships and stress (29:17). He then discusses ‘laughter yoga’ and whether there is evidence for its use in medicine. Finally, he discusses so-called “laughing seizures”.  

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:

• Social Laughter Triggers Endogenous Opioid Release in Humans: https://www.jneurosci.org/content/37/25/6125
• Effects of laughter and relaxation on discomfort thresholds: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3302270/
• Six Science-Based Reasons Why Laughter Is The Best Medicine: https://www.forbes.com/sites/daviddisalvo/2017/06/05/six-science-based-reasons-why-laughter-is-the-best-medicine/?sh=65281b007f04
• Does laughing have a stress-buffering effect in daily life? An intensive longitudinal study: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0235851
• Laughter yoga versus group exercise program in elderly depressed women: a randomized controlled trial: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/gps.2545
• Laughter-inducing therapies: Systematic review and meta-analysis: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953619300851?via%3Dihub