Doctor Vs Comedian

(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 [email protected]

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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

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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 [email protected]

Follow us on Social media:

Twitter: @doctorvcomedian

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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/

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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 [email protected]

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

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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 [email protected]

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

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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 [email protected]

Follow us on Social media:

Twitter: @doctorvcomedian

Instagram:  doctorvcomedian

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

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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 [email protected]

Follow us on Social media:

Twitter: @doctorvcomedian

Instagram:  doctorvcomedian

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/

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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 [email protected]

Follow us on Social media:

Twitter: @doctorvcomedian

Instagram:  doctorvcomedian

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

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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 [email protected]

Follow us on Social media:

Twitter: @doctorvcomedian

Instagram:  doctorvcomedian

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

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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 [email protected]

Follow us on Social media:

Twitter: @doctorvcomedian

Instagram:  doctorvcomedian

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/

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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 [email protected]

Follow us on Social media:

Twitter: @doctorvcomedian

Instagram:  doctorvcomedian

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/

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