Is Laughter the best medicine? We attempt to answer this and other pressing questions in Doctor Vs Comedian. Dr Asif Doja is a pediatric neurologist and Ali Hassan is a stand up comedian and actor (CBC‘s Laugh Out Loud, Designated Survivor, Goon) who are each fascinated by what the other one does. In each episode, Asif picks a topic for Ali from comedy and entertainment and questions Ali about it. Then Ali picks a topic from medicine and health and grills Asif on that subject. We talk about serious subjects in an unserious way. If you want to hear about comedy, entertainment, health and wellness and don‘t want to have to choose between being entertaining AND informed, then this show is for you.
Episodes
Friday Aug 20, 2021
Friday Aug 20, 2021
To start the episode, Ali’s recounts a recent Drive-in comedy show he did with Shaun Majumder (1:03). Then Asif asks about the course Ali teaches at Queen’s University and whether you can “teach funny” (7:38). Ali then talks about various exercises he used with his students to develop their comedic skills. Ali then discusses various books on the history of comedy and to help with honing one’s stand up. Then Ali asks Asif about ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) (36:02). They discuss about how a listener suggested they address the topic and go over the symptoms and how there is often a delay in diagnosis. Asif clarifies that while Lou Gehrig had the disease, Stephen Hawking likely did not. They talk about the lack of effective treatments and the need for more advocacy regarding ALS. Finally, they discuss the case of Chris Snow, former Calgary Flames Assistant General Manager and his diagnosis and experimental treatment for a genetic form of ALS.
Show notes:
- The Stand-Up Comedian's Library: 21 Books For Comics Who Care About Their Craft: https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarahaswell/2019/04/26/the-stand-up-comedians-library-21-books-for-comics-who-care-about-their-craft/?sh=54ea44d565a5
- Time to diagnosis and factors affecting diagnostic delay in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: https://www.jns-journal.com/article/S0022-510X(20)30391-9/fulltext
- The Ice Bucket Challenge and the promise — and the pitfalls — of viral charity: https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2019/7/20/20699732/ice-bucket-challenge-viral-charity-als
- ‘I have been given a gift and extra time’: Flames assistant GM Chris Snow battles with ALS: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/article-i-have-been-given-a-gift-and-extra-time-flames-assistant-gm-chris-snow/
- https://www.kelsiesnowwrites.com/
- https://iamals.org/
- https://www.als.ca/
- https://alsactioncanada.org/
- www.als.org
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