At just 22 years old, John embarked on his personal training business, but life had an unexpected twist. At the age of 27, he was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), a debilitating autoimmune disease that targets the spine, hips, and even vital organs. This progressive disease threatened to derail his dreams and ambitions. However, John's resilience and unwavering spirit shone through. He refused to be defined by his diagnosis and embraced a powerful mantra: "I'm more than the bad things that happen to me." With a plan of action firmly in place, John used his own experiences to empower others facing similar challenges, offering them hope and a path forward through fitness. John joins the fellas to talk all about his experience as a trainer living with AS! 

Check out John’s book here - https://www.amazon.com/Through-Pain-Suffering-Triumph-Personal-ebook/dp/B0C8L8X2R7

Join the post-episode conversation over on Discord! https://discord.gg/expeUDN

Fighting Back with Fitness: John's Triumph Over Ankylosing Spondylitis

Sickboy is determined to break down the stigma associated with illness and disease. Join Jeremie, Brian and Taylor as they tackle health taboos with people who have experienced them firsthand. Taking the lead from Jeremie's life long battle with Cystic Fibrosis, the three best friends help us understand that sometimes the best way to deal with illness, disease and life is simply to laugh. 
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Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

Humor isn't just medicine for the soul; it's also a scalpel that dissects the complex anatomy of our mental and physical health. This week Jer and Tay are joined by best-selling author and psychiatrist, Dr. Damon Tweedy.  
 From discussing the stigmas that shadow mental health in marginalized communities to the transformative power of integrating mental health care into everyday medical practice, the conversation covers significant ground. Dr. Tweedy shares his evolution from cardiology to psychiatry, emphasizing the critical role of mental health in medical education and the larger healthcare ecosystem. Stick around for the wrap up, as we continue the mental health talk where Jer shares a real life nightmare where he may or may not have had a psychotic break. Was it intrusive cognitions? Was it a complete psychotic break? Tune in to the end to find out!  Catch the full video version of this episode on YouTube! 
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Black Man in a White Coat Fighting For Mental Health

When the game ends but the battle just begins, former NHL player Daniel Carcillo lays bare the hard-hitting truth about sports concussions and the healing journey beyond the rink. Carcillo joins the fellas for a compelling chat surrounding his intense struggle with mental health following repetitive head trauma and the lack of proactive education and support from the NHL and its Players' Association (NHLPA). Delving deeper, he underscores the necessity of informed consent and advocates for the continuation of physical aspects of hockey, albeit with greater transparency about their risks. Carcillo's personal recovery story transitions into an exploration of unconventional therapies, highlighting his transformative experiences with psychedelics, particularly psilocybin, and their integration with talk therapy. 
 Catch the full video version of this episode on YouTube! 
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The NHL Has A Head Trauma Problem

In a dance designed for two, what happens when the music stops for one? This week Jer and Tay go OG FGF mode. After introducing the newest member of the team, Haeley, Jer delves into the complex world of conjoined twins, particularly focusing on the rare and heartbreaking scenario where one twin dies but the other lives. We explore the various types of conjoined twins and the medical intricacies involved, from shared organs to separate sensations. Modern medicine offers some the possibility of separation, yet for others, like the famed Abby and Brittany Hensel, separation is not a viable option. To cap it all off, a small exploration of the meaning of Glass Child Syndrome. Not a kid that’s fragile, but a kid who feels like people see right through them.  
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What Happens When One Conjoined Twin Dies?

Sometimes, the world we see isn't just defined by light and shadows, but by the stories we tell and the voices we hear. Mara Hutchinson offers the fellas a candid glimpse into her life with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), a rare eye disease that affects the retina. She’s lived a journey marked not just by challenges but also by profound resilience. Mara delves into how navigating the world with a white cane (or white stick, depending who you ask) is more than an exercise in mobility—it's a statement of independence and identity. In the wrap, the boys keep the visual disorders going with prosopometamorphopsia. If Picasso was a sociopathic god who designed people, he might have envisioned something like “propsy” as Jer puts it. 
 Catch the full video version of this episode on YouTube. 
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Legally Blind or Faking It? - Retinitis Pigmentosa

Life is a storyboard, and every chapter counts, especially those we write in advance. Karine Diedrich, the Director of Advance Care Planning at the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) unravels the threads of advance care planning—a blueprint for future healthcare that aligns deeply with one's values and wishes. Karine explains the crucial distinctions between a living will and advance care directives, spotlighting the importance of the Platinum Rule: treating others with the dignity they define. In the Wrap Up the fellas take a deep dive under the surface of the ocean to explore the possibilities of age reversal. In 2023, Dr Joseph Dituri challenged himself to spend 100 days in a habitat located 30 feet underwater. Scuba Steve would be proud, but Brian isn’t impressed. 
 Catch the full video version of this episode on YouTube. Follow Sickboy on Instagram, TikTok and Discord!

Fighting Back with Fitness: John's Triumph Over Ankylosing Spondylitis

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