Episodes

March 24, 2022

Episode 55: 95th Annual Academy Awards Preview

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 Acad...

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March 17, 2022

Episode 54: Canada Reads / Top Medical Books

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 develo...

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March 10, 2022

Episode 53: ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’ / Trichotillomania

Today, based on two listeners’ suggestions, Ali and Asif discuss ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’ and Trichotillomania. Asif admits to only having watched the pilot of ‘Mrs Maisel’ (2:26) and as such, Ali gives Asif a sales pitch ...

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March 3, 2022

Episode 52: ‘We Need to Talk About Cosby’ / Spanish Fly, Rohypnal, GHB

Content Warning: Sexual Assault Today, the guys discuss the new documentary series ‘We Need to Talk About Cosby” (1:12). They discuss director W. Kamau Bell and the reasons why he chose to make the series. They discuss how th...

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Feb. 24, 2022

Episode 51: The Opioid Crisis / ‘Dopesick’

The guys start off the episode by discussing Ali and his family recently contracting Covid-19. Then they switch up the format by first discussing the history of opioids, the interplay between pharma and medicine in the market...

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Feb. 17, 2022

Episode 50: Favourite Comedy Specials/ Laughter

It’s our 50th episode! To celebrate this, Asif asks Ali about his top 3 favorite comedy specials (1:31). Ali picks Dave Chapelle’s ‘Killing Them Softly’, Wanda Sykes’ Im’a Be Me’ and Eddie Izzard’s ‘Dress to Kill’ and discuss...

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Feb. 10, 2022

Episode 49: Personas in Comedy / Physician Burnout (Part 2)

To start the episode, Ali asks Asif about 2 movies he saw recently - Spider-Man: No Way Home and The Matrix Resurrections. Short story: one was good nostalgia and the other reminded him of the “member berries” from South Park...

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Feb. 3, 2022

Episode 48: Interview with Dr. Sydnee McElroy (Sawbones, Still Buffe…

Today on a very special episode, Ali and Asif interview superstar podcaster Dr. Sydnee McElroy (Sawbones, Still Buffering). In their wide ranging conversation they discuss how she got started in podcasting with her husband, ...

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Jan. 27, 2022

Episode 47: Remembering Louie Anderson & Bob Saget / Scleroderma

The guys start out discussing the recent snowstorms in North America, the politeness (or lack thereof) of Torontonians, Ali’s toothache and leaving your phone number with bakeries. Then the guys discuss the recent deaths of L...

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Jan. 20, 2022

Episode 46: The Limits of Comedy and Free Speech (with Jess Salomon)

Today on a special episode, the guys discuss the case of Mike Ward, who was accused of breaching the limits of free speech when he mocked a disabled singer named Jeremy Gabriel (“Petit Jeremy")...a case that went all the way ...

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Jan. 13, 2022

Episode 45: Betty White / Electronic Medical Records (EMR’s)

To start the episode, Ali talks about his new CBC show out now “Run the Burbs” and Ali’s appearance on “Family Feud Canada”. Betty White would have been 100 years old on Jan 17, 2022, so to commemorate this, the guys go over ...

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Jan. 6, 2022

Episode 44: Kal Penn / Physician Burnout (Part 1)

Today, Ali and Asif discuss the career of the great Kal Penn (1:46). They discuss his early career all the way up to the release of his memoir, ‘You Can’t Be Serious”. They discuss his famous roles in ‘American Desi’, ‘Harold...

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Dec. 23, 2021

Episode 43: Favourite Entertainment from 2021

As a year-end treat, the guys go over their favourite entertainment from 2021… and decide to omit the big 2021 medical topic, since people are likely tired of talking about the Covid-19 pandemic. Ali starts off by talking abo...

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Dec. 16, 2021

Episode 42: Top 1991 Albums / Why do we love music from our youth?

Today, Ali and Asif each list their top albums from one of the greatest years for music, 1991 (2:01). The guys go over their top albums, their honourable mentions and their lowlights of that year. Then, Ali asks Asif why the ...

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Dec. 9, 2021

Episode 41: What does it mean to be funny? / What does it mean to be …

In response to a listener's question, the guys attempt to answer the questions: “What does it mean to be funny?” and “What does it mean to be healthy?”. After a brief digression about humour in rats, Ali discusses how ‘funny’...

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Dec. 2, 2021

Episode 40: Larry David, ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ and Cringe Comedy / A…

The guys start off this episode with Asif reviewing Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2:40). Then Asif asks Ali about his thoughts on Larry David, ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ and cringe comedy (12:16). Ali talks about the...

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Nov. 25, 2021

Episode 39: ‘Badmotorfinger’ vs ‘Achtung Baby’ / OCD

The guys start off the episode with Asif discussing the problems faced by men after trying on their suits after 18 months of the Covid-19 pandemic (1:18). The guys then compare two albums released in the fall of 1991, Soundga...

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Nov. 18, 2021

Episode 38: Kumail Nanjiani gets ripped / HGH and steroid use in Holl…

The guys start off the episodes by discussing Ali’s recent attendance at a Toronto Maple Leafs game and his ‘Sophie’s Choice’ of needing to choose whether to cheer for Toronto or the Boston Bruins (1:40). Asif then discusses ...

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Nov. 11, 2021

Episode 37: TikTok and Tourette

Today, the guys switch things around by discussing the medical topic first -- Tics and Tourette Syndrome (1:02). Asif discusses what the symptoms of Tourette Syndrome are, how you diagnose it and what causes it. He also talks...

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Nov. 4, 2021

Episode 36: Coming up with material / Laughter & Medicine

On today’s episode, after a brief discussion of Jerry Seinfeld’s “Is this Anything?”, Ali discusses how he and other comedians come up with material (2:21). He talks about writing out jokes, practicing them at open mics and r...

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Oct. 28, 2021

Episode 35: ‘Use Your Illusion’ vs ‘The Black Album’ / Vitamins

Today, in honour of the 30th anniversary of the release of Guns N’ Roses’ ‘Use Your Illusion 1 and 2’ and Metallica’s ‘Black Album’, the guys debate which album is better (and yes, we know UYI is 2 albums -- we’re counting th...

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Oct. 21, 2021

Episode 34: Squid Game / Is it Ok for Doctors to Cry?

Today, the guys discuss the hit Netflix Show ‘Squid Game’ (1:13) and the influence of Korea on popular culture (BTS, ‘Parasite’) . They talk about how it was developed by writer/director Hwang Dong-hyuk , Netflix and Ted Sara...

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Oct. 14, 2021

Episode 33: Are the Origins of Stand up Racist? / The ‘Hidden Curricu…

Today, Asif asks Ali about the controversial origins of stand up comedy (1:05). Ali explains that stand up comedy evolved from vaudeville and that vaudeville itself evolved from minstrel shows. With respect to minstrel shows,...

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Oct. 7, 2021

Episode 32: ‘Seinfeld’ Top 5’s / Body Odour

Today, the guys start off the pod with a bit of banter about ‘banter’. Then, in honour of ‘Seinfeld’ being released on Netflix this month, Asif and Ali discuss their thoughts and memories of the sitcom. Then they both debate ...

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