Doctor Vs Comedian

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 [email protected]

Follow us on Social media:

Twitter: @doctorvcomedian

Instagram: doctorvcomedian

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 [email protected]

Follow us on Social media:

Twitter: @doctorvcomedian

Instagram:   doctorvcomedian

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 [email protected]

Follow us on Social media:

Twitter: @doctorvcomedian

Instagram:   doctorvcomedian

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 [email protected]

Follow us on Social media:

Twitter: @doctorvcomedian

Instagram:   doctorvcomedian

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 [email protected]

Follow us on Social media:

Twitter: @doctorvcomedian

Instagram:   doctorvcomedian

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/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 [email protected]

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/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 [email protected]

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 [email protected]

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 [email protected]

Follow us on Social media:

Twitter: @doctorvcomedian

Instagram:  doctorvcomedian

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 [email protected]

Follow us on Social media:

Twitter: @doctorvcomedian

Instagram:  doctorvcomedian

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/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.