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Today on a special episode, Ali discusses his recent hernia surgery (5:06). He talks about how our hernia episode from last year prompted him to go for this procedure as well as what tests were done beforehand. He then talks about his consultation with the surgeon and his decision whether or not to do laparoscopic surgery. Asif asks Ali about what prep Ali needed to do for the surgery as well as what the day of the surgery was like. Ali then provides an update on how he is doing in the recovery phase. Then the guys go back and listen to our discussion of hernias from an episode from last year (34:55).
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 [email protected]
Follow us on Social media:
Twitter: @doctorvcomedian
Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show notes:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today Ali and Asif (who is battling a cold) discuss the career of the late Bob Newhart (1:47). They discuss his early life and how he got started in comedy. They then discuss his phenomenal success with his debut album “The Button Down Mind of Bob Newhart”. They discuss his comedy style and why it has been so hard for others to duplicate it. They also go over a bit of trivia, namely how Bob Newhart at the first pay-per-view television special. They then go over his class television shows ‘ The Bob Newhart Show’ and ‘Newhart’, including the latter’s classic final episode.
Newhart died on July 18 2024, following a series of short illnesses; but during the time he was on ‘Newhart’, in 1985, he was taken to the ER due to secondary polycythemia. In the second half of the episode (28:29), Asif talks to Ali about the 3 different kinds of polycythemia. Asif describes how spurious polycythemia is actually due to volume contraction and how secondary polycythemia (which Newhart had) can be due to a variety of causes, including obstructive sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and heavy tobacco smoking. He then talks about polycythemia vera, which is actually a type of blood cancer. He then goes over the presenting symptoms, investigations and treatment for polycythemia.
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 [email protected]
Follow us on Social media:
Twitter: @doctorvcomedian
Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A few episodes ago, we discussed the AV club’s top 40 albums of all time. Today Ali gives us a list of his favorite comedy specials that did NOT make the list (1:12). Ali discusses the following albums (not in order):
John Mulaney - BABY J (2023)
Norm MacDonald – NOTHING SPECIAL (2022)
Patrice O’Neal - ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM (2011)
Chris Rock – BRING THE PAIN (1996)
Gary Gulman - NO CAN DEFEND (2012) / BORN ON THIRD BASE (2023)
Eddie Izzard - DRESS TO KILL (1999)
Bill Burr - I'M SORRY YOU FEEL THAT WAY (2014)
Mike Birbiglia - MY GIRLFRIEND’S BOYFRIEND (2013)
Ali Wong - BABY COBRA (2016)
Taylor Tomlinson – QUARTER-LIFE CRISIS (2020)
Then based on a listener suggestion and some recent news articles, the guys discuss whether it is possible to measure brain waves (25:18) (spoiler: it is and Asif does this every day at work). Asif talks about the history of recording brain waves aka electroencephalography or EEG. He goes into how it works, what the test consists of and what it is used for. The guys then loop back to the question from listener James about Apple’s patent for an Airpod that can measure brain waves. Ali then asks Asif about the drawbacks and dangers of EEG. Asif discusses some of the more dubious uses of EEG including qEEG and neurofeedback. He then goes over some news articles, including India convicting a woman using a brain wave test (the Brain Electrical Oscillations Signature test) and the questionable use of brain wave guided therapy on First Nations youth in Canada.
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 [email protected]
Follow us on Social media:
Twitter: @doctorvcomedian
Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today, Ali and Asif review the new documentary about Louis CK, ‘Sorry / Not Sorry’ (1:53). They start off by discussing Louis CK’s background, his blockbuster success as a stand up comedian and how he changed the financial model of stand up comedy specials. Then then discuss his sexual impropriety as outlined in the New York Times as well as in the documentary. The guys go over what they perceive as his lack of an apology as well as how CK was definitely not “canceled”.
Louis CK does suffer from male pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia), so in the second half of the episode, the guys discuss hair transplants (28:36) (N.B. Louis CK has never stated that he has had a hair transplant). Asif starts off by discussing how common baldness is and what causes it in most men. He then goes over other treatments for baldness like ‘Rogaine’ and ‘Propecia’. He then goes over what hair transplants entail, the procedure, the costs, and the outcomes.
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 [email protected]
Follow us on Social media:
Twitter: @doctorvcomedian
Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today, the guys discuss and review Eddie Murphy’s new Netflix movie ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’ (1:42). They start off by discussing Murphy’s early career, including his stand up, his breakthrough on ‘Saturday Night Live’, and his early movies ‘48 hours’ and ‘Trading Places’. They then discuss the blockbuster success of ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ and its soundtrack. They chat about the development of the first Beverly Hills Cop and how other actors such as Sylvester Stallone were considered for the role of Axel Foley. They then go over the other Beverly Hills Cop movies as well as a brief aside on Eddie Murphy movies that were “misses” . Ali and Asif then give their thoughts on the new movie.
Then, since Eddie Murphy got a meniscal tear when turning in bed, in the second half, Ali asks Asif about meniscus tears (33:25). Asif goes over the anatomy of the knee and how the menisci act as “shock absorbers” in the knee. He then goes over how common meniscal tears are and what the main symptoms of a tear would be. Ali then asks Asif about how these tears are diagnosed and their 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 [email protected]
Follow us on Social media:
Twitter: @doctorvcomedian
Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 [email protected]
Follow us on Social media:
Twitter: @doctorvcomedian
Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 [email protected]
Follow us on Social media:
Twitter: @doctorvcomedian
Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 [email protected]
Follow us on Social media:
Twitter: @doctorvcomedian
Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 [email protected]
Follow us on Social media:
Twitter: @doctorvcomedian
Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 [email protected]
Follow us on Social media:
Twitter: @doctorvcomedian
Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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